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Good job man and thanks for sharing the journey and taking the time and energy to capture all the pics.

You mention being "...about as wide-open air-wise as one could get without the freak/freak-like setup. After the “Ghetto Freak” modification and subsequent rejetting to 147.5 mains..." I would have thought this set-up is just as open as the 'real' Freak ? Can you help me understand why it is not and why, therefore, you wouldn't jet up to a 155 or something ??



I had a tough time getting mains locally. I was looking at more than a week shippping delay getting anything at 150+. I also didn't like the idea of paying a shipping rate that costed about what the mains did. Dinqua and EnglishYankee came through for me and provided the 147.5/145 combo. Right now I'm testing the mains (147.5) and may switch my stock 142 pilots to the 145's at a later date. I've read many times to do things incrementally, evaluate, then carry on. I may bump the 147.5's up some later as well to further evaluate performance. Rejetting is much easier (for me) to do now. Doesn't make too much sense to me to pay for lets say 3 dyno runs and not have a handful of jets ready to change to for each run.

This whole modification was more than just performance as I called out above. I forgot to mention that I now have a hidden place to carry stuff (tools etc.), I was never a big fan of the leather strap-on tool pouches.

I feel (subjective without dyno) performance is noticeably better in the mid-range than my previous setup. I'm assuming it's because of the greater gas flow (main size increase) and greater air-intake. Too early to tell how this is going to affect my mileage, but I'll report honestly later on.

I used the RC-2340 pods. Free shipping (at least to the US) at the link provided when you use the "shipping coupon code". They ship indirectly via K&N. K&N did screw up the order and initially shipped only one pod. One phone call to the above link and they made it right with 3-day shipping on K&N's nickel. These smaller pods make it possible to use most of the airbox and all airbox mounting points (two bolts in rear and bushings in the front).

I now believe (probably incorrectly) I've take the 790 as far as it will go without radical changes. "Radical" is subjective, but to me it means: big bore, cam change, carb change, nitrous, port/polishing etc. I'm currently unwilling to go "radical" (famous last words).

When I first bought this bike I had about a week left with my old '77 OIF Bonneville. I thought the OIF could blow this new Hinckley 790 away on the straight-away (my old Norton still could). Now I can't be sure.

Regards,

Tom