What did you do to your bike today? (part 4)

Annual service in Craigs motorcycles, just because of warranty ( one more year). 300 total, 160 in labour - 2 hrs

Fixed two more punctures in the rear tyre. Had a couple of scary moments on the way home, mostly when leaning to the right.

Cleaned bike when I got home and could hear a bubbling sound when running engine to dry it out, turned out to be air escaping onto the wet tarmac.

Dug a nasty horseshoe shaped piece of metal out of the tread, so out came the plugger. fixed that, then discovered it was leaking from previous plug so out came the slime. In goes the slime, run engine in gear to spread around tyre and pump up. thought all was fine until a slow inspection of all the tyre. found a very small leak in one of the sipes groove, not sure what caused that but there was nought stuck in it, but slime would not seal it so had to plug that as well. three punctures in one tyre in less than a week!! what are the odds?!!!

PS on way home tractors had left the road plastered in mud and what looked like diesel. no warning signs put out, and it was on a fast stretch where I can get a move on, so its a good job I came home in daylight

Fitted hyperpro steering damper bought from a member of the ZRX O.C very pleased with it !

Cheers

Ian

Fitted hyperpro steering damper bought from a member of the ZRX O.C very pleased with it !

Damper.jpg

Cheers

Ian

 

Gotta love a bit of bling

Fitted hyperpro steering damper bought from a member of the ZRX O.C very pleased with it !

Damper.jpg

Cheers

Ian

 

Gotta love a bit of bling

Agreed although she does shake her head a bit when accelerating hard out of bends and the roads round here aren't the smoothest so maybe it will help!

Does look good as well lol.

Cheers

Ian

Replaced the front pads on the Silverwing.

Been a definite drop off in front braking power in the last couple of hundred miles.

I had replaced the front caliper about 3000miles ago and the pads were fine, the bike weighs 250kgs and only has a weedy single disc so looks like its quite heavy on the brakes.

VFR800 Vtec. Did the "Pair mod" "flapper" the snorkel and the fan reverse mod. plus R&G frame sliders. Its turned my snarling buckey heavy beast into a snarling ...... pussycat.

VFR800 Vtec. Did the "Pair mod" "flapper" the snorkel and the fan reverse mod. plus R&G frame sliders. Its turned my snarling buckey heavy beast into a snarling ...... pussycat.

Did this to my 1st Vfr800 years ago, but soon changed it back, okay if you keep revs near redline, but takes away low down torque needed when 2 up with luggage, mind you, you say yours is a track tool only, so should be okay enjoy.

No! I wasn't saying I use it as a track tool. Only that the previous owner wore the tires evenly as if it had been on the track. I mostly commute on it It does a low of mid to low speed.

No! I wasn't saying I use it as a track tool. Only that the previous owner wore the tires evenly as if it had been on the track. I mostly commute on it It does a low of mid to low speed.

 

Okay sorry my mistake, does it make a difference on the v-tec? Must admit I do like the mid range yank when the V-tec kicks in, but can't warrant spending out every year on full service cost for Valves by Honda Dealer!!!

Hence I stick with the Old pre V-tec Vfr800, so far no complaint's on the 3 I owned, bloody cheap and reliable as hell!

Sold it. At least the 125.

Popped an ad up on face ache a little over a week ago. No response to it so though sod it I will insure and use it. Set up insurance and messages an hour later.

Young Lad and hi mates came last night with the dosh in hand. I don’t think he had ridden a gated bike before. He had no gloves so I have him an old pair. I hope he got home safely. He was being followed by his mates and told me he had ridden geared bikes but not for a while.

Sold it. At least the 125.

Popped an ad up on face ache a little over a week ago. No response to it so though sod it I will insure and use it. Set up insurance and messages an hour later.

Young Lad and hi mates came last night with the dosh in hand. I don’t think he had ridden a gated bike before. He had no gloves so I have him an old pair. I hope he got home safely. He was being followed by his mates and told me he had ridden geared bikes but not for a while.

 

I'd put an extra lock on the Kawasaki if I were you .

I did. I had the same thought.

but can't warrant spending out every year on full service cost for Valves by Honda Dealer!

I asked my local mechanics about it for the 16K service and he said don't bother - maybe at 32K but never seen a wrong one. Actually I was finishing up the coolant fill and a neighbor came over. Apparently he has also owned 3 and told be a story about his attempt to get his valves looked at. The guy said; "see that shelf with the dusty boxes? That's where we keep the replacement shims."

but can't warrant spending out every year on full service cost for Valves by Honda Dealer!

I asked my local mechanics about it for the 16K service and he said don't bother - maybe at 32K but never seen a wrong one. Actually I was finishing up the coolant fill and a neighbor came over. Apparently he has also owned 3 and told be a story about his attempt to get his valves looked at. The guy said; "see that shelf with the dusty boxes? That's where we keep the replacement shims."

 

This is the usual story for these! They never need an adjustment at 16k

Took things off.

 

 

Gave everything and good clean (give or take a radiator).

 

 

Now just to get the new tyres on...

 

 

...And fit a small pile of carbon fibre!

Looked at my bike whilst I claybarred, polished and waxed my hand me down car from the wife. To say it's been neglected is an understatement but for a 9yr old car it's now looking great nice glassy finish on the paintwork now. 1st time I've used a claybar not gimmicky a v good product!

"Most tenuous motorbike related post of the year! *****" MCN

Can't even get the alternator cover off, there's an O-ring around the starter motor that can make this quite "tricky".

https://i.imgur.com/uP4NjIV.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

If anyone needs me I'll be hysterically crying into my tampons like the massive woman that I am

Can't even get the alternator cover off, there's an O-ring around the starter motor that can make this quite "tricky".

https://i.imgur.com/uP4NjIV.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

If anyone needs me I'll be hysterically crying into my tampons like the massive woman that I am

 

Well as far as I can see from the photo , you haven't taken all the bolts out yet .

That's because I'd loosely put them back in so I don't ave to remember where they went. Today I decided to stop messing about, why do I mess about? I love washing line, it's flexible enough to thread through holes but doesn't stretch..

https://i.imgur.com/gVPUQl3.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

A few good tugs and off it came. Behold!

https://i.imgur.com/N8bI2Xh.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

https://i.imgur.com/QH5gT95.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

Slapped in the replacement stator from a 1500 mile bike, cleaned up the gasket face on the cover but reused the old gasket because it didn't rip aaaaannd...!

https://i.imgur.com/m2P0YwM.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

Yassss.

Get a new bike they said. One with less miles on it they said. Then you won't have to fix it all the time they said. Liars.

That's because I'd loosely put them back in so I don't ave to remember where they went. Today I decided to stop messing about, why do I mess about? I love washing line, it's flexible enough to thread through holes but doesn't stretch..

https://i.imgur.com/gVPUQl3.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

A few good tugs and off it came. Behold!

https://i.imgur.com/N8bI2Xh.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

https://i.imgur.com/QH5gT95.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

Slapped in the replacement stator from a 1500 mile bike, cleaned up the gasket face on the cover but reused the old gasket because it didn't rip aaaaannd...!

https://i.imgur.com/m2P0YwM.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

Yassss.

Get a new bike they said. One with less miles on it they said. Then you won't have to fix it all the time they said. Liars.

 

Well done !

Is that a voltmeter on the dash though?

Not strictly today but the bikes have been calling. But no riding, only a bit of fixing.

Well, first a little ride actually to get some bits from the bike shop.

https://i.imgur.com/wuUSV9Rl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

I just wanted some oil, a new plug, fork seals, bit of brake juice but I came back with a light up alarm clock, 6 pack of scholl foot scrub and a soft leather purse (fork seals within).

First a simple engine oil change, which I took pictures of because of the almost vaguely interesting lack of a sump bolt hole on this CG engine...

https://i.imgur.com/MUtsA9hl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

Instead you just drain it from the filter cap end.

https://i.imgur.com/Ehf9Zwol.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

On to the forks, it might not be completely obvious but the leg on the left here is not just filthy but oily...

https://i.imgur.com/4BbpMGYl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

To be fair the forks have been running without dust seals for some time due to the kit I got years ago from wemoto or the likes having the wrong type. It included an 'innery' type but my legs require the 'overy' type.

https://i.imgur.com/EOwjKeKl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

Anyway let's get them whipped apart. The springs don't come out of the top of the fork on these so you can't just push the stanchions in then rapidly pull them out with a whack, the springs don't let you get in far enough.

I think previously I just whacked em against the side of the vice jaws but in the interests of not mullering the top of the soft fork lowers any further I crafted a bit of fine wooden apparatus.

https://i.imgur.com/r2anznyl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

https://i.imgur.com/iRzvPCdl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

Two or three smashes later and pop goes the weasel.

https://i.imgur.com/jCd8HQQl.jpg' alt='IMGUR>'>

Awaiting some bushes and some other bits but in the mean time I might have a go at filling the hundreds of pits in the chrome with araldite hmmm...

Gave it a bit of a clean up, lube chain etc.......and now about to order Motul 5100 and HiFlo filter. It's coming to that time!