aprilian bandit Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Just put my deposit down on a 52 plate Thundercat... so I'm just after a few pointers for living with it... Bike will mostly be used for commuting / distance work so I'll be racking the miles up. I'm thinking of either Pirelli Diablo Stradas / Bridgestone BT020's / Metzeler Z6's - any preference between these of Cat owners out there? Bearing in mind riding will include cold / wet / winter. What "quality" of oil do you guys use? I'm torn between splashing the extra on Castrol, or just sticking with Halfords as I've always used in the B12. Is it a motor that loves the cheap stuff or does it need to be mollycoddled? What kind of fuel economy / tank range do they tend to give? Riding style is... "brisk" (my commute is 30 miles of fast kinky A roads. I know the proper answer will come to me in time - just after a heads up really. Any common niggles that people have had? I'm aware of the mild steel exhaust, and apparently the shock's short lived (aren't they all?). Also, what are the mileage intervals for services? Cheers for any help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Section 8 Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 (edited) dfsfdsf Edited April 8, 2021 by Section 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aprilian bandit Posted March 19, 2007 Author Share Posted March 19, 2007 How long would you expect plain Diablos to last? I'm a bit dubious about sticking something so soft on as I use em on the mille and don't see 2.5k from the back (but oh how much fun those 2.5k are ) The Halfords oil is a force of habit from the agricultural bandit engine, but rest assured the mille already get's the good stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisw Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 I use to put BT020 rear and BT010 front on my old Cat. Handled spot on come rain /shine or even snow. I'd get 6000 mile out of a rear before changing when I use to change both tyres as a matter of course, whether the front was ready or not. Currently ride standard Diablos on my 04 R6 and get about 5500miles out of them. You wouldn't need anything above standard on a Cat. Milage wise on a daily commute of about 25 miles each way some of which was stop start all the time in Nottingham I would get 162 miles to a tank before fuel light would come on. As regards to oil, keep with the good stuff Castrol/Mobil1 don't use Halfords stuff it's not worth it in the long run. Service intervals are every 6000 miles and that plate (Upto 1999 plates were 4000 then it went to 6000). One thing I'm aware of that plays up regular is the Fuel level sensor. The wire seems to break from the solder and you'll get the rev counter goin between the actual revs and then nothing and then reading 3000rpm (may have been 8000) then back to actual revs. if this happens, lift the tank (drained) no need to remove it, and remove the fuel level sensor, if it is purely the wire that has broke from the solder, then solder it back up and refit (may need a new gasket). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aprilian bandit Posted March 20, 2007 Author Share Posted March 20, 2007 Cool, tyre mileage doesn't sound too bad then, so I'll probably try some Diablos on it first Tank range sounds good too, will certainly be a welcome change to easily get more than 100 miles to reserve! Expensive oil it is - especially if it's only changed ever 6000 miles! I'll bear the fuel sensor in mind too, I'm confused how it plays with the revs - but electrickery is odd... Thanks for that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisw Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 The TCat has a couple of built in fault codes and it shows the fault by playing with the rev counter deliberate. 1st code is rev counter at 8000 for 3 seconds then actual revs and keeps flicking between the 2. 2nd code is rev counter at 3000 for 3 seconds then actual revs and keeps flicking between the 2. If the fuel sensor or the fuel light bulb blows it shows one of these codes (just can't remember which). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willenium Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I've got a Pirelli Diablo on the rear of my Cat which I find gives sufficient traction even in the winter. Going to be trying some BT-014s when I get some spare cash. Recommended oil is Silkolene Pro 4 which I will be using soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Section 8 Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 (edited) fdgdf Edited April 8, 2021 by Section 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aprilian bandit Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 Cheers for your input guys Can't wait to pick her up tomorrow, will treat myself to a nice little 250 mile round trip to test her out properly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willenium Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 will stay away from the stones mate What else is good besides the Diablo then? Bearing in mind the Cat is substantially heavier than the R6 and as a result, handles a bit crap compared to my old SM. I've heard nothing but good about the 014 but obviously I don't speak from experience in that department. How about the Avon Viper? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty-Cat Posted April 17, 2007 Share Posted April 17, 2007 What else is good besides the Diablo then? Bearing in mind the Cat is substantially heavier than the R6 and as a result, handles a bit crap compared to my old SM. I've heard nothing but good about the 014 but obviously I don't speak from experience in that department. How about the Avon Viper? IF YOU WANT A REAL STICKY TYRE FOR THE SUMMER TO IMPROVE YOUR HANDLING TRY A MICHELIN PP 2CT - BUT WONT BE MUCH GOOD ON A T/CAT AT WINTER. I ONLY GOT 1800 MILES OUT OF 2 BT014 BRIDGY'S - EXCELLENT TYRE BUT SOFT COMPOUND ALL OVER AND WEAR OUT QUICK DOWN THE CENTER LINE - SO NOT MUCH GOOD FOR COMUTING. ALL ROUND - I WOULD USE A BRIDGESTONE BT020. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willenium Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 ALL ROUND - I WOULD USE A BRIDGESTONE BT020. Ok I'll bear that in mind. I know somewhere I can get a good deal on a set of Michelin Pilot Sports. Any of you tried these on a Cat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty-Cat Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 Ok I'll bear that in mind. I know somewhere I can get a good deal on a set of Michelin Pilot Sports. Any of you tried these on a Cat? yeh - they are good - on a par with the 020's..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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