What have you done to your bike today? Archive.

[M.C]

^ The patron saint of motorcycle tinkering must be on holiday.

Concluded I need an abba stand (inb4...), can't see a way to lift the (front of the) bike without removing the exhaust.

[grr666]

[Hawkeye1250FA]

Thought it was about time I adjusted the suspension on the 1250 to see if it helps the vibration thats appeared.

It has.

Must better with a slightly softer setting.
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1993 RF400R - 2002 Bandit 1200 - 2012 1250 FA

[M.C]

[Petemate]

Fitted a new headlight bulb - the old one (35/35) blew its dipped filament on the way home from the 'H' yesterday - I was glad of the ambient lighting from the day runners. As promised a week or two ago, I have fitted a 60/55; we will see how it goes over the next week or so.
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82 not out....1983 Honda LA250 Custom
2008 Saab 9-3 1.9 Tid 150 Vector Sport estate
2005 Stirling Eccles Topaz 2-berth

[Pigeon]

[Pigeon]

Since the fork change, I've gained stability and comfort, but lost the 250cc handling, the pick any line I want, brake any where I want, accelerate nearly anywhere etc
I was no longer hustling and on the boil and more heaving and on a simmer

It tipped in ok, but just before apex, had to use body weight, arms and pegs to heave it over and she understeered a little and I couldn't tighten the line if I got it wrong.

I'm exaggerating the description, but that's what it felt like. I was still fairly quick, but not "at one" with my motorcycle.


Had a day at work spent trying not to rage quit, much anger and frustration. All I could think is, you get one life, why the fuck are you wasting it here!?!?!?
Thinking about children in India getting gold from motherboards, people in Africa dying of dysentery and the very fortunate position I'm in by being born in England.....didn't help.

Came home and took the front end off my Striple again.

Put the forks back to +1mm on stock above yokes.
Backed out 1/3 turn of rear shock preload
Added 2 clicks of slow speed comp and took out 4 clicks of rebound. Left the Hi Speed comp alone for today.

Having re-read GoStar pages, it sounded like I might have too much rebound comp. Because the rear shock is staying compressed for too long and the front is unloaded into the bend.
Plus if the fork oil is too thick, then comp up front is slowed. But being basic forks, that kinda works both ways, thick oil slows rebound too. I have no adjustment up front beyond oil + springs + preload spacers.

So on the rear shock, less preload, more comp damping, less rebound.
On front, lowered forks back through yokes for comfort.


Didn't measure any sag. I know roughly where it is and this is just minor tweaks. I'll go by feel from now.

But feck me, what a result. The bike is sooo nearly back to its 250cc handling best, but with the added advantage of being significantly more comfortable. Relaxed riding position and a pretty smooth ride too.

I ragged her silly for 60 miles this evening across my favourite local roads. Braking later, getting on the throttle earlier. To the point where again, I'm so far behind the bike. Basically not breaking anywhere, just settling for a millisecond, throwing it in and getting straight on the gas again.
As a test, I came barrelling into a corner much faster than I would, then trail braked into the corner. No dive, let go of the brakes and no understeer.

Chickenstrips are the smallest they've ever been and the balance is now back to pushing the rear 1/3 more than the front (I feel happier this way).

I'm not saying I'm quick or competent. Simply that the mods have (finally) worked for me and I feel "at one" with the bike again, able to change direction, or line or apex without feeling tense, quite the opposite. And this is 6ft2 16 stone with a 46l topbox of tools + snacks.

I'm happy the spring rate is right, the oil level could probably come down 5mm and the weight down from 15w to 10w (after 30 miles hoon, the handling was getting better, which I assumed was oil thinning).

Quick around the twisty, narrow farm b-roads, stable on the wide sweeping NSL's
The near perfect compromise. She's all-day comfortable, but shown some twisties (even with a topbox full of crap) and we're onnit

Once again, she's all about the hustle

VERY happy chappy

[.....]

Have Öhlins offered you a job yet Pigeon?

[choogh]

Those who know about the beemers dry clutch units, will also know just what a ball ache it is to access them.
So, today I removed the seat, battery and all of the fairings (R1200rt), removed the petrol tank, rear portion of the exhaust and various cable ties and connectors..
Still a few hours work BEFORE I get close the removing the rear end of the bike, then perhaps in this life time, gain access to the clutch..
What a crazy set up, plus 12 hours work to change a clutch !!!!!
Only a BMW 😱
____________________
Current Squadron:
R1200rt. Virago 535
Loro Sono tra noi.

[Matt B]

[M.C]

[yen_powell]

Just popped a new front tyre on, waiting for a while to make sure it is holding air before I put the wheel back on.

Did the rear a few weeks back and struggled getting the new tyre on, not usually a problem, The rear was a Bridgestone T30 GT which was all I could get at short notice (mother of all punctures courtesy of a giant drill bit). Front was a doddle in comparison and was my preferred tyre, anAvon Storm 2, with a rear Avon now set aside to go on when the T30 squares off.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[M.C]

My local tyre place fitted a tyre for a fiver. They also replaced the valve on a woman's tyre for a fiver, I think they charge that for everything

Edit: glued the cracked mudguard, re-fitted it to the bike but now one of the brake cowls seems to be fowling the disc Also lubed the chain to within an inch of its life as it had started to get a bit rusty.

[Pigeon]

[Pigeon]

[M.C]

Hmm that's them I'll be honest I took them off in a hurry, but the way I put them back seemed to be the only way they fit. I'll have another look tomorrow.

[Pigeon]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Replaced the one bolt on the front mudguard on the GSXR50 that was wrecked.

That is pretty much everything done before I get it MOTed and register it. And then decide what to do with it.

All the best

Katy
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[M.C]

Fitted those bits properly thanks to Pigeon Fixed the seat lock; the cable had popped out of its holder, but you can pop the seat off easily enough anyway. Small steps

[Petemate]

Checked and lubed the chain.
Checked the oil level. (OK)
Took it on two shopping runs, giving it some.
I and the bike still alive.
LOL.
____________________
82 not out....1983 Honda LA250 Custom
2008 Saab 9-3 1.9 Tid 150 Vector Sport estate
2005 Stirling Eccles Topaz 2-berth

[ThatDippyTwat]

Project - Cut through siezed fine adjust on old clutch mount, freed cable without a mark, so reused on new, shiny levers. "Engineered" (bodged) a plate for the universal brake switch on the rear, will do until the OEM one arrives on what must be a very slow boat from Spain. Added a bit more copper silicone to a tiny bit of blow on the exhaust.

To Do -
Get smaller sized female Lucar's for front brake switch, make up adaptor wires.
Replace headlamp bulb.
MOT it.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[Groove]

Fitted ebc pads all round on the speed. Huge improvement even though I only had a 3 mile test ride. Unfortunately I've now realised how soft the front is under braking. The rear still seems to just be for show though

Not sure what was on before but they had plenty of 'life' left but lacked any initial bite at all.
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|| Past: 1991 Kawasaki ZXR 250 ~ 2003 Honda CBR 600 F Sport ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1999 Yamaha R1 ~ 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R J ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1998 Honda VTR1000F Firestorm ~ K1 GSXR 600 Track bike ~ K6 GSXR 1000 ~ 2006 Speed Triple 1050 || Current: 2005 R1 https://www.adrucore.co.uk

[Pigeon]

Don't know if its a Triumph / Brembo rear thing. But if there isn't a decent amount of travel in the rear brake pedal, then absolutely feck all happens at the back.

Even with 30mm travel, its still pretty crap.

[chickenstrip]

[Matt B]