What have you done to your bike today?

[to v or not to v]

wiped the layer of dust off it as i happened to be passing by with a wet cloth in my hand.

must book an MOT and get back out there.
____________________
current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
its old and fat, but its a damned good ride. the bikes not bad either.

[ThatDippyTwat]

[Nobby the Bastard]

I'm still seriously pissed off that I wasn't in a position to buy it off Sophie.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[ThatDippyTwat]

I lucked out. And bugged Sophie every so often about selling it. Not many bikes I want like I wanted this one. Maybe a original V-Max.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[hellkat]

[hellkat]

Took the GSX for a blast over to the Ace Caff.
Got rid of some cobwebs - both me and the bike
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[to v or not to v]

started it up for the first time in about 8 months. fired up almost immediately which was a relief.
let it run until the fan kicked in. the garage had that lovely hot engine/fuel smell after.
____________________
current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
its old and fat, but its a damned good ride. the bikes not bad either.

[hellkat]

Took the Suzuki to work today.
Just to see how it felt being in the saddle right across town again.

Been over 6 years since I regularly commuted along there.
I mostly enjoyed going my usual route except the traffic on The Highway was *mental*.

I stopped at several traffic lights with a chap on a Triumph (?sprint) and asked him how long has it been this bad? and he says, oh its usually mainly on Tuesdays that its this bad - but its not great.
Apparently Fridays is less busy cos everyone works from home.
And its 20mph almost all the way from the Limehouse Link

So by the time I got to Trafalgar Square, I was very pleased to be able to treat myself to a leisurely cruise down The Mall.

Might do it another day soon.
Have to get used to a v.heavy rucksack with sturdy lock and chain, laptop, books etc though not a fan of that
I must have used to be stronger cos I didnt use to mind that sort of weight in a rucksack. Might need to "man up" a bit, been a few years!
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[grr666]

[to v or not to v]

taxed and MOT'd it.
tried a local back road garage after having a less than stellar experience with the local Suzuki dealer last year.
turned out to be a nice bunch of fellas who like a chat and a giggle.
a refreshing change from a lot of places these days that feel so clinical and only interested in your money.
____________________
current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
its old and fat, but its a damned good ride. the bikes not bad either.

[hellkat]

Took it to Halfords today and bought some chain lube (whoop-di-doo!) - which I was horrified to discover smells like bubble gum, WTF, have the car-detailer fancy smells invaded every single vehicle industry?

Then I remembered how much I hate lubing chains, especially as I am very out of practice ... got some on the back tyre, etc, fucking annoying.

Bought some 20/50 oil too - but wasnt 'til I got halfway home that I realised I usually buy that for the SNARLEY, and not really sure I can use it in the Suzuki, even though it's even older (1986).

What oil should I be using in a bike of that many years?
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[to v or not to v]

my gsx550 used to take 10w40
____________________
current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
its old and fat, but its a damned good ride. the bikes not bad either.

[to v or not to v]

took it for its first joy ride of the year. had forgotten just how much fun it can be.
____________________
current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
its old and fat, but its a damned good ride. the bikes not bad either.

[Easy-X]

[hellkat]

Thank you, I shall go out tomorrow and get some
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[MCN]

[Easy-X]

I usually see 20W50 mentioned more for "agricultural engines" i.e. old Triumphs and errr... Harleys in general
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Easy-X]

Update on the kid next door's 125...

If you recall the garage said "catastrophic loss of compression" for the non-start issue so the kid went out and bought a spare engine Compression on this one is also bad but 60psi bad so maybe it can be salvaged. He's looking at rebuilding one good engine out of the two or scrapping it altogether and getting a replacement bike.

Oh dear All I could do was point out the time it'll take might be offset by the learning experience but I have a feeling he needs a working bike urgently.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[grr666]

Accidentally killed it. Then brought it back to life again. Tried to fit the "plug and play" Denali mini sound-bomb horn
I bought some time ago because the factory fit one sounds like road runner. Plug and play it said....

It took out the horn, indicators, headlights, tail lights, turn signals and hazards and the bugger wouldn't start either.
I had power to my TFT screen, injectors were priming on turning the key but it would NOT start no matter what.
It may have even been the immobiliser? Who knows?

Called Fowlers after re fitment of stock horn because warranty and was told it could be collected (at my cost) on
14th July... Investigation of fault commencing on 17th. This prompted me to RTFM and locate the fuse boxes
(there's 3). I had a look and fortunately the first fuse I pulled was the one that had gone, a single 7.5a micro blade
fuse that is seemingly the mainstay of all the lights, horn and starter.

Anyways, started first time once that was replaced by one of the handy spares Yamaha also supplied in the fuse boxes.

Glad Grr is glad.
____________________
Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Hong Kong Phooey]

[grr666]

[Easy-X]

Went to stick on some tank pads. The supposedly aluminium tank cover is actually some form of metallic marzipan so just to cover up the scratches

Anyhoo, first side looks lovely. Completely lashed up the other side It's Friday, I'll blame it on low beer levels.
____________________
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[to v or not to v]

rebuilt the fuel tap after i started to get a slight petrol leak when switching between on and off.
for once an easy job that went without any problems being encountered.
____________________
current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
its old and fat, but its a damned good ride. the bikes not bad either.

[Bhud]

Actually yesterday by the time of this post. But I made a little bit of progress in removing components from the sides of the engine of the fucked bike (pistons and rings) I pictured in The Workshop. The alternator, clutch, external gear selector mech, clutch, starter and starter clutch, front sprocket and chain, points, advancer unit, electrical connections all have to be removed/disconnected before I can remove the engine, then put it on something and split the cases. The cases need to be split to pick out bits of rings and piston from the engine. So it's all happening. It's a big task but I'm going to be chipping at it every evening until it's done. Only one booboo so far: breaking the crank's positioning spindle for setting the ATU at TDC. I can fix that though. It's a very old engine and there will be many other challenges, seized bolts, snapped spindles etc. in this process. But it's got to be done... I will renew some wear items, get the cylinders professionally bored, fit oversized new pistons and rings (already got them) and check lots of wear items inside the engine. I know the seals and bearings are all good but that's it. This work feels strangely like an act of defiance... When done, this engine will be like new. And the rest of the bike I put together myself, frame up, so I know it's already good. It will be done. I am all-in.

[Easy-X]