The "Today I did something to my bike" thread

frozenfrozen · 03-08-2017 09:12PM

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

It was actually fine. Did lots of touring on it and some track days. You had to tug the lever a bit harder but the stopping power was there.

Any bike I've had since then with 4-pot calipers has better braking power IN THEORY but it's a pain in the ass keeping all the pistons clean and unseized, one finger braking when it's all working perfectly but so what. I never did anything to the CBR's brakes other than change pads and I had that bike for 100,000km.

there are those 6 pot ones on hyabusas that everyone changes because they are forever in need of cleaning and minding.. think they change them to 4 pots

doing 4 sets of seals between both calipers was enough for me!

Hotblack Desiato · 03-08-2017 09:41PM

LOL one of the most popular mods for US owners of my bike is to change the 4-pots for Hayabusa 6-pots!

Fine if you live in a dry/warm US state with no salt on the roads, bloody stuff :mad:

Triumphs, despite not having fancy expensive Brembo bits, and using Japanese parts, are often said to have among the best stock brake setups - lots of braking power but very prone to seizing. Braided lines as stock, and I have a theory that they use piston seals which are slightly different than OEM Japanese, the calipers are standard Nissin or whatever.

zubair · 04-08-2017 10:53AM

Just get better tyres, they're far more important when it comes to stopping power, the rest of us SV owners all survived with stock brakes and yours have certainly had more attention than mine ever did. Sometimes small flaws on our bikes (SV = budget brakes and suspension) can cause upgrade obsession and can send you down the rabbit hole, I am sure there's nothing wrong with the brakes by the sounds of things.

frozenfrozen · 04-08-2017 12:38PM

there's nothing wrong with the brakes now that I've been at them

Hotblack Desiato · 05-08-2017 12:31AM

Ask any racer and they'll tell you that the big gains in laptime aren't power or brakes but getting the suspension sorted.

I miss riding what was (at the time) an out and out sportsbike because I could whack up the preload and damping at the front end. I'm a "front end feel" kinda rider and need confidence in it to push on, the back end follows

Was a big shock to the system 11 years ago when I did off-road riding in Queensland (in the exact spot where Simon Pavey earned his spurs) it was hard work! and the opposite of road or track riding - the bike didn't always go where the front was pointing! I survived (just about) but that night when I was out with the mrs we walked past a place offering on-road tours - I could have hired a Ducati and hooned it on tarmac all day for the same money...

CJhaughey · 14-08-2017 10:23PM

Bled the brakes, old fluid looked like rusty water.
Fitted new Chinese levers they are much nicer to look at and have a better reach adjustment.
Kept the old ones as spares under the seat.

frozenfrozen · 16-08-2017 12:05PM

Going to try use ACF 50 to lube cables now. It's listed on the can as being good for plane throttle cables so that sounds good enough for me.

clutch is fine and light how I have it adjusted now but I want to move the reach out further so I can use 2 fingers but it gets way too heavy as it is at the moment so going to look at the cable routing and also at the mechanism down at the clutch and see if that needs lubing too.

throttle snaps back fine but the pull is heavy so hopefully just lubing will sort that out.

from looking it up a good tip I found was to lube the clutch cable upside down so the grime that has got in from up at the lever can be pushed out the shortest route.. makes sense but I never would have thought to do that myself

stewygriffin · 16-08-2017 12:49PM

Bought Road Racer. Gave the S1K a clean down,a bit of ACF50. Then took her for a quick spin out to Howth and then Skerries.

16-08-2017 07:04PM

Has the BMW relegated the R1 now? Do you get much use out of it these days

stewygriffin · 16-08-2017 08:52PM

Zaiden Fit Schoolmarm wrote: »

Has the BMW relegated the R1 now? Do you get much use out of it these days

Nah the R1 still gets used a bit.
Might take her out for a spin tomorrow,if the weather holds up.

frozenfrozen · 17-08-2017 10:54AM

I've run out of wurth chain wax, should I go for their 'high performance dry lube' or stick with another can of the wax?

price difference is only 2 euro or something so it doesn't really matter

Pugzilla · 17-08-2017 11:04AM

I use gear oil for my chains, can be a bit messy to apply, but it's what the manufacturers recommend.

Wonda-Boy · 17-08-2017 12:32PM

frozenfrozen wrote: »

I've run out of wurth chain wax, should I go for their 'high performance dry lube' or stick with another can of the wax?

price difference is only 2 euro or something so it doesn't really matter

Use ATF fluid, its basically scott-oil but alot cheaper in a different colour. I never use wax as it tends to "grind" the dirt in the chain if not really kept on top of and a pain in the hoop to take off again.

Alot of people assume you just keep topping the wax up, but you really need to clean the wax off every time to apply the new wax.

Far to much hassle for an international jet setter like myself!!!

frozenfrozen · 17-08-2017 12:43PM

I clean the wax off with kerosene will have a look at other stuff though like gear oil and atf fluid.

bike isn't starting now. turning over not catching. I ran it yesterday after rerouting the clutch cable when cleaning and lubing it to make sure I hadn't done anything wrong.

going to stick the battery on charge for a while (first time since getting the alarm removed) and see if an extra bit of power gets it sparking again.

next step then will be pulling plugs to check for spark. hate doing this because I have to do so much cleaning before hand to stop **** from falling into the cylinders. at the moment it sounds just like there's no spark, turning over very well and I can hear the pump etc.

stewygriffin · 17-08-2017 02:11PM

Got the R1 out for a spin.
Thanks to Cotters for a great deal on some new Forma race boots.Well happy with the quality and comfort of them.
Also got my dual lock tabs in Lidl Blanchardstown at lunchtime.

Hotblack Desiato · 17-08-2017 08:22PM

You don't need to pull a plug to check for a spark if you have an old plug handy, pull off the HT cap and stick the old plug in and ground it against the engine case (hold it by the threaded part only unless you like electric shocks!!!)

I've been using chain wax for the last couple of years and it doesn't attract/hold dirt like the sticky type lubes do. I got a can of the Wurth dry lube recently and used it for the first time a few days ago, seems ok so far.

Scottoilers are great but mine packed up and replacing the whole reservoir/valve thingy isn't cheap

frozenfrozen · 17-08-2017 08:25PM

didn't think of doing that.. I have the old plugs handy one is very clean so will use that one thanks.

I think I might go with the dry lube just to try it, I have done the wax and wouldn't mind it again but just think I'll try something different. I would buy a scottoiler at a cheap price but no way at full price I don't do the mileage at all for it to be worth it. only did 10k km in the last year, barely long enough to set up a scottoilers flow rate properly!

stewygriffin · 19-08-2017 03:02PM

Today i dusted down the Suzuki "burger van" ,topped her up with some oil,did the tyre pressures and gave her a spin.

Guess where i ended up?

CJhaughey · 19-08-2017 10:46PM

stewygriffin wrote: »

Today i dusted down the Suzuki "burger van" ,topped her up with some oil,did the tyre pressures and gave her a spin.

Guess where i ended up?

You should apply for a parking spot there, at least paint a box for yourself!

frozenfrozen · 20-08-2017 10:46AM

bike out yesterday took a bit to get it started but just kept turning it over and it burst into life with a puff of black smoke.

after then was fine, starting up as normal and not smoking at all or anything.

ride itself felt very bad. bouncy pogo stick, unstable, couldn't hold a line and was pushing wide in every bend, felt low on power and overall just like wrestling a little pig around the place got home and could barely put my foot down to get off the bike from being out for 2 hours on the balls of my feet wrestling it.. no idea what was wrong, checked tyre pressures and they were fine but used a different gauge to normal so that could have been it. I also was very tired going out but still wanted to take it for a spin to make sure it got up to temperature after not starting for the couple of days. roads were so slick and greasy. was probably 95% the fact I was wrecked tired going out but anyway

think I'm going to finally going to have to do that valve adjustment and have a peak at valve stems if I can to see if oil is getting through which would explain the puff of black smoke(?)

it's burning a little bit of oil but nothing to be worried about according to the usage I've seen online.. I'd obviously like for it not to burn a drop but it spends most of its life at high rpm so... think it took an extra 200ml of oil in around 3,000km.. but could do with another drop in now as it's approaching just over low level as opposed to how it was just under high level on the sight glass

there's no oil showing in the airbox sight glass thing

blade1 · 23-08-2017 02:19PM

Time to service the front brakes on the ZZR.
Ordered a new set but first out with the old.

Scrub the discs with a scourer and soapy water five times and a couple of times with brake cleaner.
Also loosened the buttons with my special button loosening tool!

Then cleaned the pistons.

And finally, cleaned out the old and applied new grease on the wheel bearings and axle.

GBX · 23-08-2017 02:35PM

I only saw a video of that button loosening tool ... must try it on mine

stewygriffin · 29-08-2017 04:59PM

Today i dusted down the Suzuki Burger Van and went to Moka Cafe on the Howth Road in Blackbanks Garden Centre for some nice food.
The owner is dead sound,shes a biker as is her husband.
So this place is very Biker friendly.
Good food and great atmosphere too.

Why not stop off next time any of you are heading down the Howth Road out onto the coast road to Howth.

Synthol · 29-08-2017 05:59PM

stewygriffin wrote: »

Today i dusted down the Suzuki Burger Van and went to Moka Cafe on the Howth Road in Blackbanks Garden Centre for some nice food.
The owner is dead sound,shes a biker as is her husband.
So this place is very Biker friendly.
Good food and great atmosphere too.

Why not stop off next time any of you are heading down the Howth Road out onto the coast road to Howth.

Should have bought Piaggio MP3

Synthol · 29-08-2017 06:01PM

frozenfrozen wrote: »

bike out yesterday took a bit to get it started but just kept turning it over and it burst into life with a puff of black smoke.

after then was fine, starting up as normal and not smoking at all or anything.

ride itself felt very bad. bouncy pogo stick, unstable, couldn't hold a line and was pushing wide in every bend, felt low on power and overall just like wrestling a little pig around the place got home and could barely put my foot down to get off the bike from being out for 2 hours on the balls of my feet wrestling it.. no idea what was wrong, checked tyre pressures and they were fine but used a different gauge to normal so that could have been it. I also was very tired going out but still wanted to take it for a spin to make sure it got up to temperature after not starting for the couple of days. roads were so slick and greasy. was probably 95% the fact I was wrecked tired going out but anyway

think I'm going to finally going to have to do that valve adjustment and have a peak at valve stems if I can to see if oil is getting through which would explain the puff of black smoke(?)

it's burning a little bit of oil but nothing to be worried about according to the usage I've seen online.. I'd obviously like for it not to burn a drop but it spends most of its life at high rpm so... think it took an extra 200ml of oil in around 3,000km.. but could do with another drop in now as it's approaching just over low level as opposed to how it was just under high level on the sight glass

there's no oil showing in the airbox sight glass thing

Just buy a new bike m8. How much are you wasting on it? You probably could have bought a brand new one already.

frozenfrozen · 29-08-2017 06:28PM

Synthol wrote: »

Just buy a new bike m8. How much are you wasting on it? You probably could have bought a brand new one already.

If I was to sell it now I would turn a profit

Synthol · 29-08-2017 06:45PM

frozenfrozen wrote: »

If I was to sell it now I would turn a profit

I could just import one from The UK instead of paying 50% to get one here. Whatever your asking I bet I could find an identical one or a better one for cheaper. You seem like one of those wizards who put a 15 year old bike on donedeal for 6k and then wonder why is nobody buying it. The prices in this country are pathetic.

frozenfrozen · 29-08-2017 07:00PM

Synthol wrote: »

I could just import one from The UK instead of paying 50% to get one here. Whatever your asking I bet I could find an identical one or a better one for cheaper. You seem like one of those wizards who put a 15 year old bike on donedeal for 6k and then wonder why is nobody buying it. The prices in this country are pathetic.

Hehe

stewygriffin · 29-08-2017 07:41PM

Synthol wrote: »

Should have bought Piaggio MP3

God only knows what i might buy next.:pac:

blade1 · 01-09-2017 07:40PM

Fitted rack and box for a little trip on Sunday.
Before

Bit of a pain fitting rack, rear fairings and grab rail have to come off and space is tight to bolt it on.

Kappa 46litre box to finish off

The "Today I did something to my bike" thread

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