The "Today I did something to my bike" thread

D3V!L wrote: »

I doubt it was my doing. Havent been in there since I collected the bike from new. Unless they have a proper shake up and get rid of their shocking attitude I won't set foot in the place again.

Yea they can wind people up alright. I swore blind (as you know) that I'd never touch them again, and honestly I wouldn't have had my son not gone up to look at a bike.

Almost sticks in my throat to say it but I've been very pleased with them so far, but that said my bike hasn't missed a beat either.. As I type I recall an intermittent problem with the headlights but they sorted it no bother.

I made an idiot of myself up there recently. I thought I had a problem with the lights on the clocks, went up and told them there was a problem.

The clocks weren't lighting up, but when I rocked them with my hand they'd come on.. So I showed their 'master mechanics' (when they couldn't find a fault).. So all cock sure of myself I showed him the fault, when I moved the unit with my hand the clocks would light up.

Smiling at me like the cat who got the cream the mechanic showed me the ambient light sensor on the display, when I moved the clocks my hand covered the sensor and the lights would come on Duh

Cool.

Put the bar's on first because the plate attaches to them. Use copper grease on the plate bolts because you'll need to remove it for servicing and you don't want ceased bolts.

Alternatively and if I can recall properly, I think I was going to drill a large enough hole in the plate to allow me drain the oil without having the take the plate off.

The HEED stuff is excellent quality.

Kenzie Yummy Slogan wrote: »

The bars look easy enough to fit, I offered them up to the bike and sure enough it is straight forward, the engine guard seems a bit different though, I need to remove a bolt from the side stand is how i'm reading the instructions.

(I have a centre stand fitted as well)

Yes, they supply a longer bolt to replace the side stand bolt.

I'm raging I didn't take photos during the assembly of mine now. I think there's a little work in the bolts around the stands but nothing snaggy.

If you think of it this evening go and spray those bolts down with some WD40 as a precaution.

You'll notice the bit of extra weight on the bike when its all fitted, but I think its worth it. I liked the bars for traveling, you can hang extra luggage off them. I had a bicycle water bottle holder on one side of mine and a small bicycle saddle bag which I'd put on to hold change for tolls.

The plate reduces ground clearance, bad with a pillion but you won't notice it one up riding.

Despite the extra weight they're a great addition to a fantastic motorbike. I say it all the time, but I loved my Vstrom and its the one bike I'm sorry I ever got rid of.. I'd say I'll have one again some day.

Bolts are ceased solid so can't fit the crash bars, I even rounded one of them in the process, off to the bike shop on Thursday for fitting.

Cayden Defeated Thunderstorm wrote: »

They're the bolts in the bike frame?.

They're in tight, but if you're using good quality (ie fitting) tools you should have been able to get them out.

My bike was the DL650.

Yes they are the ones. I have a socket and ratchet set and could not shift them, I just gave up after the first one rounded for fear of making it worse.

Probably need an air gun or something to shift them, I put all my weight on it and i'm not a small man by no means, yet it still rounded.

The DL650 is more preferred to the DL1000 is it?

Gavin wrote: »

Manual impact wrench/driver

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-Expert-22322-Screwdriver-12-Piece/dp/B0001K9R8U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1536670391&sr=8-2&keywords=manual+impact+wrench

Excellent for this sort of stuck on bolt.

Might look into buying that actually.

listermint wrote: »

Here is a solid technique ive used in the past. My own DL650 ive had to drill out fairing bolts before.

Such a pain.
But this technique is ideal for that localised bolt you have there.

https://tinyurl.com/Youtube-Allen-Bolt

Jasus :eek:

Could I even manage it without damaging the frame.

Could be a case of a drill alright.

listermint wrote: »

Well realistcally it just slow and methodical . Your shocking the bolt into action. have to catch it right and have a reasonable chisel.

Can't get at the bolt with a chisel without damaging the frame

Looks like an impact driver is needed.

Have to get one small area painted on the bike as well, don't know the name of it nor do I know if it is removable, will post it once I get home.

I'll give it one last go in the morning, if it doesn't work then it will have to be a workshop job. I considered an airgun but was advised against it by a previous poster.

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

You might as well get a proper 1/2" breaker bar if you intend to ever change chain and sprockets yourself. I can undo the front sprocket nut no problem with one of these while sitting on the bike and using the back brake to lock the wheel. (on some bikes it's allegedly possible to chip a tooth off 1st gear if trying to use that to hold the sprocket)

On my bike with single sided swingarm it's needed to undo the very tight rear wheel nut if taking the wheel off.

Not dear either

Plenty of leverage on that.

I plan to do as much as possible, still in the learning phase of it all but who wasn’t at some point or another. I’d pick up one of those in most diy stores would I?

listermint wrote: »

Motor factors or Halfords

Thank you listermint

Cayden Defeated Thunderstorm wrote: »

If you're just starting out then I'd recommend starting with good quality tools, starting with any of the Halfords 'Advanced' range (used to be called 'Professional').

The carry a life time warranty, no quibbles. I've been using Halfords range on cars and bikes for years and only broke one ratchet ~ it was entirely my fault, I stripe it changing suspension units on my sons car, it was changed without receipt & no questions asked.

For the 150 piece you'll pay €160 and €210 for the 200 piece socket set. Sounds expensive but it'll pay for itself in savings many, many times over.

The set I have is powerfix, cost €90 in Lidl, was doing the job fine until the other day. The Halfords set looks cheap to me, unless I am looking at the wrong ones altogether, which might well be the case.

Think i'll go back in and have a look at those sets and to buy a power bar as well, that's what they are called is it?

I borrowed one earlier on from one of the neighbours around here that i'm friendly with, it worked.

Crash bars and engine guard are fitted now, will upload pictures later this evening.

Next on that agenda is heated grips and handguards, both the Oxford brand.

I'll be broke by the end of it all :pac:

Laptop caught a virus when I tried to upload on tinypic so I have to resort to the mobile to upload the photos of the crash bars, they look well.

blade1 wrote: »

You can use tinypic on your mobile as well

New parts look the job.
How old is the bike?
Paint flaking a lot for what seems a fairly new bike.

Really :eek:

She’s a 2011

Can that part be removed or what is it covering?