Bad luck with bikes (rant warning)

knockout_bar · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Karma :

Ever just felt like giving up because there's always something wrong with your bike?

Well it all started back in the summer. Went to Bristol with my cousin. Left our bikes in a "secure" car park, we didn't feel like leaving them outside because it was starting to hailstone. So, off we go around the bike shops. Get back an hour later to find some fucker's pinched my ignition barrel Mad

. Manage to get her started, but am riding without any lights, only hand signals (which no one takes any notice of anyway!).

Next thing that happens is I find a nail in the back tyre!!!!!!!!!! I figure it'd be best if I pulled it out, didn't want the tyre bursting whilst I was riding. Out comes the nail, and suprise suprise, the tyre goes flatter than a pancake. So off goes my cousin to get me a replacement inner tube. Took us about 4 hours to change the inner tube (I couldn't get the tyre off, we had to get my uncle to do it). We get it changed and back on the bike, but the back end is jumping all over the place. Ok, this is annoying, but I can live with it (keep in mind that i'm still riding with no lights).

This one was my fault, when I put the wheel back on after I replaced the inner tube, I forgot to put a split pin back in the arm that holds the rear drum assembly in place. Well, the bolt came off, and the brake actuating lever wrapped itself around the spindle Evil or Very Mad

(I know this was my fault, but I was seriously fuming by this point). So i'm now riding without a back brake and with no lights Thumbs Down

.

A good moment happens, I managed to hotwire the bike so the lights work when the engine is running Very Happy

.

Then it goes downhill again.

Was at my gf's house. Bike was in the garage locked up. I had a look the next day, and the back tyre was flat. So, pumped the tyre back up, left it over night. Checked it the next day and it was fine Confused

. So, thought i'd best have a look at it. Got the bike outside. Found out that the inner tube wasn't fully under the tyre. So, spent about 2 hours poking it back under the tyre with some spoons. Pumped the tyre up, everything's fine. Back isn't jumping around anymore Smile

.

Leave the bike in my grandads garage for a few weeks. The space was available and the weather was crap. Went out for a ride with my cousin, the tyre had gone down a bit, but understandable given the circumstances.

'nother good thing to happen. I manage to find a replacement brake actuating lever Very Happy

. Fits on perfectly, so I take the bike back home.

On a ride out with Mattish from the forum, and my back tyre goes flat, no punctures or anything Confused

. So I manage to ride to the garage and found out that the tyre pressure was 8 PSI Confused

. So pumped the tyre up, but it only lasted about an hour. So off to the garage again (it's free air so i'm not loosing out), this time it's 4 PSI Shocked

. So pump the tyre up again and I head back home. The tyre now decides to play ball and is fine for the next few days. So, I figure the dust cap was probably on wrong or something. Checked it today and the rear tyre is practically flush with the ground Evil or Very Mad

. I go to wheel it down to the garage but a brief inspection of the tyre shows me that the inner tube is working it's way from underneath the tyre again Evil or Very Mad

. It's nice weather here as well Evil or Very Mad

.

At this precise moment in time, I feel like throwing the bike in a ditch and putting a match to it, but I need to sell it to raise money for a bigger bike Evil or Very Mad

(i'm very pissed off if you can't tell).

By the way, this has all happened within a period of about 3 months Neutral

.
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125 trail bike, custom bars, handguards etc. - ?500.

"egg flied lice" - R6jonny (inspired by McGee) Thumbs Up

riichy · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Karma :

come to riichy.........there there thats better Mr. Green

......

ps chin up Very Happy

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.......... PLOD ............ zx636 2004

mattish · Spanner Monkey Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Karma :

Glad to see you got back ok on that tyre, sounds like the tubes probably got 'snake bite' Sad

probably best to fit your new tube.

Ta for waiting for me to get some fuel too, need to unblock my reserve line again, its horrible having fuel and not being able to use it Laughing

Keep smiling it will get better Thumbs Up

NSR Mick · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Karma :

sounds like when i first started riding, dont worry mate it does get better Wink

, you always learn from your mistakes / bad luck

pipnet11 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 17 Sep 2004 Karma :

It all seems to happen at once eh? Id get that back tyre fixed! sounds like a leaky valve to me. Riding with the tyre coming off the rim, as it sounds like you were, is bloody dangerous!!

Ride safe Thumbs Up

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I love the girls that do, I hate the girls that dont, I hate the girls who say they will and then they say they wont, but the girl I like most of all and I think youll say Im right, is the girl who says she never has but looks as though she might. - Max Bygraves

knockout_bar · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Karma :

Section59 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

doesn't sound like the tyre is seated on the rim particularly well.

Put a load of air in with the valve core out until the tyre pops itself on properly (80-90psi sometimes required) then let it back down and replace the valve core. Now inflate to the correct pressure.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.