Praise and flame the 954 :!:

Headshake. :x

vibration and heat everything is awsome

1) Head shake was a problem. Installed a damper and that took care of it.

2) Factory suspension settings are too soft in the rear. I moved the spring to 6th position from soft and preload and rebound are now 1 1/2 turns out from stiff. Much better now. Played with the front but the factory setting seemed to be best for me.

3) Transmission is very clunky from 1st to 2nd. You have to really give a good kick to the shifter to pass neutral. This seems to be a Honda thing as my friends 929 is the same way and so is my 400ex quad. The R1 has a more positive feel, almost as if the transmission wants to go to 2nd on its own.

4) Could probably have used a larger radiator. This mother likes to run a bit on the hot side.

None of these things are that big of a deal though. Other than that, I'm very happy with the bike.

The things that ive noticed are:
1) Jittery handeling; Put on scotts, adj front and rear suspension that took care of that.
2) clunky tranny; put synthetic blend that took a lot out, getting ready to put full blend in I think it will take care of that.
3) id like to see a bit moore power for stunnting, however the power is still good enough to do any trick there is to do. Certainly enough power for all out twisties wouldnt want any more for that.
4) I came off of a FZR 600 this thing handles twice as good as that, lot more stabel in the curves and I can carry alot more speed than before and am safer at speed.
5) Optimum balance, The overall balance of the bike is extreemly good.
er um Illl keep thinking :!: :roll:

so very smooth, it's easy like sunday morning.

everyone else who rides one cept gnt and stuna is a bitch

cough -wow can i stroke yer gun while deliver me officer- cough truck cough

agreed about the heat, the headshake, and stock suspension settings which should be adjusted for each rider anyhow.

the transmission i never had a problem with...its rough from 1-2 but i was told by the service people at the dealer that its a beefed up one since the 929 had alot of poopping out of gears and such. dunno how true it is but they said dont be too gentle and i've yet to have a problem since.,

Sooth as silk, (scotts damper, stiffened rear shock), runs somewhat cool,(water wetter), no tranny issues here. I love my 954 & plan on keeping it, even if I do get the 1000. 8)

i really just like the riding posture, the seat is crap though

Plan on keeping it. At least until the the V-4 Duc is available. :D Would love to have one of the new bikes but cant justify the hit I would take on selling the 954. Besides, my ride is dialed in and looks great. The 954 gives me all I can handle.

No complaints here. The best bike I've owned.

well as with any bike ya try and do the things you want to it
i used and adjusted from there the sportbike riders settings for the suspension
my butt is gettin used to the seat
added a hyper-pro damper
akro full evo sys
techlusion fuel injection

i get to ride the gixxers and the new cbr1000 daily as i work in a dealership
my 954 is still what i want to get on at the end of everyday
has and will give me miles of smiles

yes it runs hot(gonna go to engine ice )
but other than that whooooooooo hoooooooo

Sooth as silk, (scotts damper, stiffened rear shock), runs somewhat cool,(water wetter), no tranny issues here. I love my 954 & plan on keeping it, even if I do get the 1000. 8)

Is water wetter to be used with just straight water? or does it also work as an additive to normal coolant? I'm thinking of trying some.

you can run just watter wetter or engine ice all by themselves. (most tracks up here require that) to dilute it you would use distilled water. Never tap water.
and yes you can also mix it with standard antifreeze. that's what I did but the advantages aren't as good as running it by itself...

everyone else who rides one cept gnt and stuna is a bitch

cough -wow can i stroke yer gun while deliver me officer- cough truck cough

Actually he wanted to see my BIG GUN and I wouldnt let him so I told him to contact you to see youres :twisted:

cons - seat is garbage, runs hot, front end is tooo light.

pros - wheelie machine, looks incredible, plenty of power, front end is light :D , brakes are awesome, etc etc

Welcome snig, youre right about one thing it is a wheelie machine. :wink:

Did anyone get the head bearing recall, and if yes, did it improve head shake.

everyone heres had the headset recall done i think, i know i have, i dont know how it relates to headshake though, these 954s are squirelly anyho, i read mostly that over time if the situation was bad the headset would grind in and cause less slower and less efficient turning capablities

I had the recall done and when they took the bearings out of it they were crushed. The headshake I got the scotts and that took care of that. I dont have a head shake anymore. If you dont have a steering damper then get one, and get a good one, Scotts, olins ext..... :!:
With Stunnas recent post on HID xenon headlights I have realized that at night you cant see very well. Not well enough to go fast with and be able to see well enough to be safe. Thats on my list of dont likes now. Ill be taking care of that shortly with the kit he talked about. :wink:

The stock footpegs SUCK. Pretty much agree with everything else. I love mine.

Seat sucks, just like my 929's seat. That is my only complaint, I love the bike over all.

the seat is fuckin perfect, i think you are all lazy

Well I got to agree with pip I dont have a problem with the seat, i ride for hours and the seat is the last of my problems. 8)

Love the seat, it gives you all the feedback you need. You dont need a spongy seat muting the road and making it more dificult to get off in corners.

that what i think, i was contemplating taking it off and having a hard seat, anyone ever put snowboard pants on over there regular gear cause its that fucking cold and then almost fly off the side of the bike first turn cause you forgot that shit slips and slides more than a greased up rave boy , fuckin aye, hahahah, i have

Just the heat on my legs, other that that not a thing

that what i think, i was contemplating taking it off and having a hard seat, anyone ever put snowboard pants on over there regular gear cause its that fucking cold and then almost fly off the side of the bike first turn cause you forgot that shit slips and slides more than a greased up rave boy , fuckin aye, hahahah, i have

hahahahahaha...ive done that.

Vicious
adidas runnin pants SLIP

hot damn

When I first bought the 54 I started up a hill in second and hammered it and being that it was in the middle of winter I was wearing coveralls and if it wasnt for the tail being the way it was id of slid right off of the thing :!:

is that head shake in the 02 only cause my 03 doesnt seem to do that ........yet?? :eek:

yeah, the 02's had a stearing bearing recall. they wre the ones that would sometimes have some headshake but both my 03's had some front end wobbles after 120 in the curves when I'd hit little bumbs or cracks and a steering damper did wonders on it's stability. made it less edgy.

hey thanx again gntbldr i just got back to riding i totaled my 900 rr , and went with the 954 it seems to be an awsome bike , so you think i should get a steering dampner huh? :wink:

Run full synthetic oil and change it every 1000 miles or less.

yup. :)

first of all fellas, the steering head bearing replacement on the 02 954 was NOT A RECALL, it was a product update campaign. I still have the letter honda sent me when this came out. this bike rules, i came from a vtr 1000 to this, the bike does not have a single flaw, i think all you fellas are just talentless hacks, you know, crappy seat, easy wheelies, ergos etc, just being honest, this is the best forum on the internet, all the fucking gxrs and r1s know really well what my tailight looks like. talk at ya later fellas :P

the steering head bearing replacement on the 02 954 was NOT A RECALL, it was a product update campaign.

okey dokey spikey. ;)

LOVED MINE!!!

Yup alittle on the hot side, but I am in South Florida. and my 1000rr seems to run just about as hot with a 41% larger radiator... :?

Damper killed all the headshake, didn't mind the seat guess I was concentrating on riding the HELL out of it :D .

Sure did wheelie easy. Loved it, love the 1000RR even more.