Billet clutch cover for B-King

Another average picture but if you look carefully the cover's engraved with the B-King logo. It's billet which I had made as a one off. My guess is it's actually etched and I'm considering picking out the words in enamel.
The fella who did it supplied new stainless bolts too. Nice job and all up 25 quid.
Find him on eBay he sells Hayabusa covers with the symbol on and he'll engrave whatever you want. On reflection I would have had the logo bigger but we did the whole negoitaition by email and I'm pretty happy really.

Stainless reservoir covers B-King

Stainless clutch and brake fluid reservoir covers, look the business, they come from Germany, cost me £30, they've gone up because of the pathetic rate for the £ against the Euro. Look on eBay, they're around £8 delivered to UK.

Garage girl

So, this picture seems to one of the most popular from the pics I did the other night. Whatever you think of the exhausts... they make the pictures.
My lady, my bike... how happy am I?
(I've promised to fix her CBR 600 this weekend and she's promised I can do some more pictures. Fair enough then)
See all her pictures right click HERE

'How wide do you want that rear tyre Sir?'

This is a work in progress on the excellent www.suzukib-king.org forum. It's a 360. Nice

B-King and the Princess

I needed some pics of the bike and here they are, my gorgeous lady helped too.
See more pics HERE

B-King nose fairing

Saved myself a whole six quid by ordering the OE Suzuki nose screen from the States after a successful bid on eBay.

£65 delivered after the Dollar conversion, it's £71 plus delivery from Suzuki dealer in the UK, well that's the cheapest I could find it.

It arrived Saturday and closer study reveals my first challenge for the BK.

Now, I don't mind taking bits off, the bike: mudguard taillight... easy. Straight bolt on replacement, new engraved billet clutch cover or the hydraulic reservoir covers in stainless, simple... but the screen has a problem.

I'm going to need to drill into my pristine headlight cover... four holes.
I'm not keen so may go the silicone route and stick it on.

Added June 6th 2009 And here it is fitted right click HERE, it was easy

Here it is fitted, easier than thought see how click HERE

Pillion on the B-King... it ain't that bad

Travelled around 400 miles over the Bank Holiday weekend, all two up after my lady's CBR decided it didn't want to play.
Now I'd never seen myself using it much for two-up work, it lacks even the smallest luggage cubby hole and when I do take it a distance I intend to put a tail pack exactly where the pillion seat is (and some bloke in the USA has fitted a tank bag... which I'll look into)
Anyway the new tyre scrubbed in well and all I can say is that once you are used to the weight and setting her up properly for a series of bends, you barely notice the passenger and performance is unaffected.
Last night, after these pics were taken, a pal of mine fitted a non-slip cover to the seat. Makes life as pillion a little easier. But my lady (5ft 4ins) assures me it really is fine and she prefers it to other pillion positions.
So, the B-King really is a decent two-up motorcycle, shocker.
Ok, it's no Goldwing but we did a couple of hundred miles on Sunday with some pals, varied speeds, all A and B roads, probably two and half hours throughout the afternoon, and we were both pretty relaxed at the end.

Rye, East Sussex, Friday May 22

B-King for every occasion

"I like the B-King mainly because it can be anything you want it to be when it comes to enjoyable riding. This is a bike that delivers mass enjoyment on the road and is even surprisingly capable on the track. But you must always remain respectful to the power lurking inside, because like a lion keeper with one arm you may never be in total control..."

Tester Niall Mackenzie at Visordown.com
Pic: Cycleconnections.com

Quarter in 10.42 secs ... terminal 143.99 mph

'Speak softly, and carry a big stick'

Rear Sportmax Qualifier D209.... Ouch!

So, I was getting a little concerned: rear tyre pressure should be 42psi. Checked it, 30 pumped it up. 24 hours later it's down again.
Now, forgetting the childish guffaws from the back from anyone who thinks a tyre that keeps going down on you is funny, the slow loss of pressure was becoming a concern and you couldn't be sure it was safe.
I suspected a valve or the outside possibility that the tyre wasn't seated properly on the six-inch rim.
Anyway, a quick trip to my local branch of Laguna Motorcycles informed me it had a tiny hole.
"No we wouldn't recommend repairing it sir, a new one is £143."
Bugger...
And then two minutes later the fella (he wasn't a mechanic, he was 'technician') called back and told me the 200 section rear tyre on B-King is special and "...that's £173" (and he was right it's got NK on the end though I'm unsure why the one used on the ZX12 isn't ok)
The news spoilt my weekend I can tell you.
And, they had to order it in and it won't be ready for three days so I left it there.
Interestingly, I could tell the tyre was going down (stop giggling) and despite my relative inexperience with this hefty machine, it still handled ok.
So, while I spend the next two days worrying that those nice technicians will be 'test riding' the BK in their workshop **, I'm thinking:
A. I really could have bought it cheaper on the 'net, but by the time I take into account travelling, getting someone to fit it etc etc, that £173 is no TOO bad.
B. How come Maxxis can knock out a pair of Tyres for the BK at £135 and how much crappier can they really be?
The Sportmax seems to be the best there is for the moment, but anyone out there have any suggestions?
(Yep, I know, safety, OE, best there is at the moment etc etc)

** Note added Tuesday May 19 2009. Actually having just collected the bike, they've done a good job. Laguna on Ellingham Ind Est in Ashford. Nice blokes, nice enough shop too, and they looked after the bike well.

Couple of points:
Sportmax Qualifier D209 200/55 17. Speed rating W... which Dunlop says can't be repaired, no matter how tiny the hole (interestingly I picked up the old tyre and it was really light, only a few pounds, certainly a lot less than most tyres I'm used to lugging around off of old middleweights. That'll be progress then, eh?)

Bike test day that left me 'needing' a B-King

Some pics of me with the bikes I tried on the day I decided to get the B-King

Harley-Davidson Street Glide. New model, liked it, big vibes though and after the Goldwing (see below) I rode it like my old Sportster.... managed to get sparks off the undercarriage at 70mph then dropped it when I tried a slow speed u-turn. Oops.
Tons of attitude, crap suspension., outshone in every department by a Jap copy.
You either love it or loathe it... probably not for me (and I've loved Harleys for more than 30 years, I remember the launch of the XLCR and walking five miles as a teenager to see the one on display that was promoting a Brut competition to win one. Still love that bike but now know the reality of owning the old Sportster ironhead)


Honda Goldwing, (pictured behind the DN-01) loved it, easy to ride, obviously needs care when parking, a magic carpet that belies its huge bulk but a genius machine. Great radio too, stupendous price but worth every penny.

Honda DN-01. Like it or loathe it you have to admire Honda for making it a reality after the showbike. It looks brilliant, just needs a proper quick engine. It's the first bike I've properly grounded on a racetrack. The Honda guy was really cool about it and let me ride the Goldwing – I don't think he understood why I wanted to try it out anyway. Top people on the Honda stand at this press day in Bedfordshire.


Yamaha VMAX. Already mentioned here. Amazing machine. We should celebrate its existence. I love it but it's too costly for me (£16,000 in UK). On the day it was almost completely commandeered by some former TV Gladiator lass.. But much to her apparent upset, I got have a blast on the track.

And finally Suzuki's finest:

Suzuki VZR1800 (M1800). V twin super chop. I love this. Proper quick,it handles, turns heads. Buy one, if you can, test ride one just to say you've been there.



And then the B-King, pictured behind the VZR, a rarity still, as I've said here in these pages, I bought one just on the strength of 45-minute rides on each of these (the one I bought HERE). But the B-King is special, and it's a bargain.

And the Suzuki press folk are top notch too, sorting me some suspension info from their press set up boys.

For sale B-King 470hp

Coolest part of this ad is the dealer 'Life is too short to ride a boring mortorcycle'. Fair point I reckon. Anyway, look at this from the BikeTrader site today (have a BIG wedge of cash handy too).

The Ad says:

"Full Description

Manual 6 speed, This is possibly the highest specification and most powerful B-KING TURBO in the UK, producing a genuine 470 BHP at the rear wheel yet still being totally reliable and very rider friendly ( if youve got the B--LS ) Built for ourselves by the world famous Jack Frost owner of the legendry holeshot racing stable now based in Ireland. who we believe to be the best in the business, Hence no time or expense has been spared what so ever in creating this ultimate road legal missile. Over £12000 spent on building the motor alone. So not just a big turbo kit from the states bolted onto a virtually standard motor. Hence must not be confused with cheaper imitation B-KING TURBOS that have recently started to appear. After all mr frost is not the current uk landspeed record holder and has been since 2004 for nothing is he. Please ring for full specification and all info of this destined to be world famous machine. serious inquiries only please as this is a very very serious and unique peace of motorcycle engineering. reluctantly for sale due to new and latest vmax twin turbo project. offers in the region of £25,000"

Chequered Flag Extreme Cycles

Website: Go to Dealer's Website

Contact number: (01422) 202665

In the black

Tail tidy has seen off the long mudguard but this pic - shot on my phone at a service station on the M4 less than an hour after collecting the bike - has a bit of attitude (and Photoshop work).
I'm beginning to change my mind about the original pipes though.
So here it was, full tank of super unleaded and ready for another 130 miles maximum before I'll have to stop... 50 minutes running then. She's no tourer but I've still managed 40-odd to the gallon (UK gallon of course), or around 8 or 9 miles to the litre.

B-King versus VMAX

I've ridden both the B-King and VMAX, and as I've said, I wanted a B-King.
So, I bought one (if I'd have had the cash of that Remington bloke in the 1970s, I would probably have bought the company). 500 miles later, I still can't believe it sits quietly in my garage... remember that feeling?
It isn't just the cost that makes it so attractive, the B-King really is the fastest naked bike though I'm still constantly amazed at how much its looks are hated.
Compared with the VMAX, the B-King rides on more race-biased tyres and it handles superbly... this bike is easy to ride and flatters even average riders.
The VMAX is still phenomenal and the fact it even exists means we should all hanker after one in our garage.
It as easy to ride fast as the B-King, but cornering takes a little more forethought.
But remember,Yamaha wants 16 grand for one, that's twice the price... and the B-King's controversial looks mean it's still reasonably exclusive.
Buy a B-King and if you can afford a VMAX, buy two B-Kings so your mate (or missus) can keep up.
However, to see what US tester Motorcyclist thought in a direct face off between the two machines right click HERE.
The BK wins in a straight drag race over the quarter (BK:10.13 secs, VM: 10.41s and in the 60-80mph roll on in top gear BK:2.49s, VM 2.66s).
And Motorcyclist finishes off the full test with a look at the custom options for the B-King (and VMAX) including the utterly brilliant machine pictured above.
Right click HERE for the German manufacturer which manages to cram on even bigger tyres... and a strange belt to at least make it look as though it's supercharged.
Nice work.