The Motorbikerist Thread

[240PP]

[tim]

I done did a stupid.

Was out all weekend biking (3 out of 4 in action, don't mind if I do) but Sunday was 110 miles in the pissing rain on the RT. It didn't bother it, or me particularly, other than being filthy afterwards. I gave it a hose down when I got back to get the worst of it off and wheeled it back into the garage, left it on the side stand to let the water drain off and thought I'll go back to it in a day or two and clean it up properly.

This morning I go to move it outside and found it had a completely flat rear tyre. Balls. It's a single sided swingarm but you still need to remove the exhaust to get the wheel out. One of the 3 heat shield screws would not budge, but with the other two off it would swivel enough out of the way to gain access to the exhaust clamp. Which was also stuck fast.

I gave it some WD40, but, my mistake was not leaving it long enough to penetrate, and the fvcker sheared off with one big grunt of the socket drive.

Balls.

Now I have an exhaust I can't remove to access a wheel I can't get out. There's only one thing for it...

BMW EMERGENCY SERVICES! Not exactly an emergency, but that's what they call themselves. 3 hours later it was in a van on it's way to Reiten Motorrad in Suffolk, and they've just called me to say they're on it already. I'm told they've found a cut in the tyre but it might be repairable, so fingers crossed there. Hopefully a bit of labour to drill out the bolts and replace them shouldn't be too painful all told.

In future I'll take more care to remove the heat shield and clean out all the crud that gets behind it on the exhaust clamps, or at least leave the WD40 a lot longer. :-\

Edit: Balls. Needs a new tyre.

[NotoriousREV]

Instructions for using WD-40:

1. Spray it on liberally
2. Go and have a brew
3. Wait longer
4. Not yet
5. Bit more
6. OK, give it a go now

[Simon]

Plus-gas is better IME

[mik]

Instructions for using WD-40:

1. Spray it on liberally
2. Go and have a brew
3. Wait longer
4. Not yet
5. Bit more
6. OK, give it a go now

Smack item with centre-punch before trying to move it. /flewy

[Marv]

Shonky Beemers. I took off the rear wheel from my CBF125 last weekend, to have a new tyre fitted. It unbolted with minimal fuss

[JLv3.0]

This thread understandably went very quiet over the winter, didn't it! Nothing to report here tbh - the S10 still doing its job as the daily plugger with aplomb.

I took the jizzy rearsets off the BMW and put the stock ones back on with Gilles lowering adaptors. My shit legs just couldn't get on with the high pegs and riding was bloody uncomfortable. Should have done it years back! Different world.

[NotoriousREV]

I’ve now done 6800 miles on the KTM since July last year. Nothing to report except it’s absolutely fucking filthy. Oh, and I’m still getting the occasional false neutral between 5th/6th which is pissing me off.

Because it’s covered in ACF-50, you’re not supposed to wash it (unless you want to reapply the coating each time) until they stop salting the roads. Looking beyond the grime, there doesn’t appear to be any signs of corrosion but when spring finally arrives it’ll be nice to give it a bloody good scrub.

I was having a chat with another biker whilst stopped at the lights last night. He was after a KTM and asked me about whether the dealers were any good. I said they seemed to be but explained there’s none local to Manchester and because there’s so few you need to book your servicing months in advance. Which reminds me, my next service is due in 3000 miles time.

[V8Granite]

Instructions for using WD-40:

1. Spray it on liberally
2. Go and have a brew
3. Wait longer
4. Not yet
5. Bit more
6. OK, give it a go now

Smack item with centre-punch before trying to move it. /flewy

Also tighten before loosening.

Also Molykote or Copper grease on exhaust clamps and they always come off for me. Stainless is a pain as when stainless and stainless Gauls up it’s pretty much game over.

Dave!

[Barry]

Fazer update, seeing as its working again and I'm not stewing about it.

Put it in for service, fitting the rear shock and new CCT before Xmas. Got it back and it was stuttering in top, I moaned on FB about it, and the owners group. Sent it back to the mechanic as I figured it worked before he had it so he was obliged to find out why it wasn't now! Long story short, he tried all sorts, swapping coils, ECU, checking wiring, insisting at every turn it was electrical issues. I told him on day one if felt like fuel starvation.

After several weeks of him not doing much and me having to use the car (to be fair it was fking freezing anyway) I eventually went down there and told him straight that i wanted him to clean the carbs. He protested but seeing as I'd sanctioned the work he agreed. I went down last Sat and quelle surprise the bike is running fine again. He has only charged me for the carb clean and MOT (that ran out while in his care anyway grr).

Been using it all week, it's a bit rough but running fine, new shock is nice, motor is near silent compared to before too. Mileage just passed 67k.

Tracer was pressed into service for a week during this period, and that was enough to ruin a few fasteners and mild steel parts, testament to the build quality and ACF50 on the Fazer which doesn't seem to look any worse than when I bought it (was always scruffy).

TripleR has been tucked up in warm bed since about November and it's staying there until we get some spring rain to wash those bloody roads...

[evostick]

TripleR has been tucked up in warm bed since about November and it's staying there until we get some spring rain to wash those bloody roads...

As has my very shiny XJR.

I've changed the brake lines as mentioned. Fighting the urge to swap the bars for something lower. What I WILL do is get a PC fitted/set up and some progressive springs up front. The front end is terrible in fast corners.

Apparently, with the fueling mapped properly, it can put out a tyre shredding 120 rwbhp.

[tim]

Collected the RT lunchtime - £210 including the new tyre wasn't too bad. Superb service by Reiten Motorrad as usual. I layed a darkie turning out onto the main road because I momentarily forgot I had a new tyre on. Oops.

[JLv3.0]

I layed a darkie

That's a bit racist mate.

[Simon]

I layed a darkie

That's a bit racist mate.

[evostick]

I layed a darkie

That's a bit racist mate.

Surely less racist than not laying a darkie?

[Coaster1]

Any good Youtube bike review channel recommendations chaps?

I subscribe to MCN but that’s it.

[JLv3.0]

What kind of thing are you after watching? Actual specific reviews of specific bikes, or just bikey content?

[Coaster1]

Perhaps Carfection /old EVO diaries equivalent?

I don’t watch many, only if the bikes that are of interest to me.

Like this one short and sweet. (And I like the bike)

[JLv3.0]

You're probably best off sticking with MCN, tbh - Neevesy pushes the right buttons for me.

I watch the following but none of them are review sites as such although reviews do come up - it's more stories and bantz innit:

44 Teeth - some reviews but mainly bants, events and adventures
Motorcyclist Magazine - for the DIY articles
Revzilla - mainly for gear reviews but all their vids are good value and worth a watch if you're interested
FortNine - I just find Ryan quite entertaining
Fast Bikes Magazine - self-explanatory really
Max Wrist - just watch it and you'll see why

Anything specific I'm after, I just search for it

[Coaster1]

Good stuff JL, cheers