What did you do to your bike today?

Done a few bits on the RS earlier I've been putting off. New air filter, fuel tap/filters and fitted a genuine flasher relay.

Someone's meant to be coming from Torquay to buy it after 6pm today. :( Onwards and upwards though.

*EDIT* Oh, a quick one I took earlier of how it currently stands. If it doesn't go later, I'll polish the swing arm to match the frame. :p

7830812936_0d7aa3e60e_b.jpg
 
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Not really, only had it two months and been able to ride it 4 weeks or so, feels a bit rushed compared to how long I normally keep vehicles.

But everything is working on it at the mo (rare for an Aprilia lol), so thought I'd put it up at a price I was happy to sell for and see who bites.
 
Where are people getting top-boxes from? Would love one that can take a full-sized helmet to chuck on the back of my Baby Varadero. Are fitments usually universal or would I require a matched base plate?
 
Went to overtake someone who was doing 40 on an NSL back road (with no painted markings) and the idiot pulled across my path, nearly hitting me and forcing me to back out of it. He then stuck his car in the middle of the road so I couldn't get past him. It wasn't as though I'd come across him and tried to go straight past at a million mph, I slowed down to his speed and waited until there was a safe place to pass.

I've never encountered someone like this before today. I don't get it.
 
Morbius said:
Went to overtake someone who was doing 40 on an NSL back road (with no painted markings) and the idiot pulled across my path, nearly hitting me and forcing me to back out of it. He then stuck his car in the middle of the road so I couldn't get past him. It wasn't as though I'd come across him and tried to go straight past at a million mph, I slowed down to his speed and waited until there was a safe place to pass.

I've never encountered someone like this before today. I don't get it.
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It always astounds me what nutters there are on the roads day to day and for some reason you notice it more on a bike... whether that's because more people hate bikers, who knows... I mean, then if something had happened he'd have been banging on to the police how stupid you was... so, did you just cruise behind or leave him for dead at a safer point?
 
pugheaven said:
It always astounds me what nutters there are on the roads day to day and for some reason you notice it more on a bike... whether that's because more people hate bikers, who knows... I mean, then if something had happened he'd have been banging on to the police how stupid you was... so, did you just cruise behind or leave him for dead at a safer point?
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I just waited behind him and hoped he wasn't going the same way as me. Luckily a short while later he went straight past my turn off so I got rid of him.
 
Well you did the right thing... when going between two lanes and filtering through, I noticed in the past that a few people love to look in the mirror, see a biker and then they close the gap on purpose... astounding.... it's like they're jealous and don't like you making up or saving time.

It's one of the bonuses of biking for petes sake, let us have it... morons. I've had it happen twice, luckily I always filter slowly anyway waiting for someone to either not notice or pull out to block... so is never a problem.. still annoys though.
 
The other week i was waiting behind a car at some road work traffic lights, on a little 125 so did'nt wanna push my way to the front, so waited patiently lol. Anyways onto what happened to me, lights went green cars in front started pulling away, as did I, next thing i see to my right was a Range Rover overtaking me. They pushed there way in, forcing me to brake, nothing i can do Vs a range rover with a moron of a driver behind the wheel. So i hit the horn and did the usual hand gestures.

What makes it worse was the stupid woman driving it pulled into a pub car park all of 200 meters passed the lights, at which point i lifted my visor up and shouted, where did you learn to drive, then carried on my way.

So i totally agree that some drivers just don't either like bikers, or just don't really care, there are many out there sadly, but there are more drivers that notice and let bikers passed around my area thank god lol.
 
Drove to work, but the weekend I dropped a K&N high performance filter into my Harley 1200 Sportster, which has been stage 1 tuned, made quite a significant difference, as the unwashable air filter was probably two years old. Pull a lot better now, think its also using less fuel.
 
Sin_Chase said:
Where are people getting top-boxes from? Would love one that can take a full-sized helmet to chuck on the back of my Baby Varadero. Are fitments usually universal or would I require a matched base plate?
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I have a Givi V46N topbox that I'm not using. It's got a few scratches but if you want it, feel free to make me an offer. :)
 
VoG said:
Rear brake or front, because they can be straightened you know?.
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Thanks for the reply :) I didn't think about straightening it to be honest, it's going in for a full service next week so I'll ask them about it then, I have a replacement here though if it's not possible. On the plus side, I gave the bike a good clean a couple of days ago and it looks great.

I've found some people closing gaps to overtake recently, it's pathetic. But one thing I like about riding a motorbike...free parking!
 
I finally got round to changing my brake lines from the OEM to Hel lines (I've had them around 2 months :D).

This was the first time I've ever done brake lines, or bled a brake system, and it took me a little longer than I expected but I did stop regularly to check YouTube videos of people bleeding their lines.

I also put in new pads, some EBC black organic ones, which was probably a little mistake as the whole braking system feels different now and I've no idea if it's the Hel lines, the pads or a combination of both. Don't get me wrong everything works but it does feel a little weird. I'll get used to it.

I just got back from a little ride, taking in all speed limits, and am still in one piece so alls good.

Also just had my first biker at the side of the road stop to see if all OK and before I could come to a stop he gave me the thumbs up and waved me on.

I'm glad I did it myself and not pay someone to do it as these things are relatively simple. I think the Haynes manual marks them as harder than they are to weed out people who are not confident working on parts of the bike that are bloody crucial. 3 spanner not 4 Haynes.

Oh and for the next few rides my paranoia will have me being uber careful on the bike :D
 
After replacing lines to braided hose your brakes should be rock solid one finger braking e.t.c if they feel a little spongy then you may have a little air still trapped in the system.

As for being paranoid just make sure there are no leaks at the brake nipples and your fasteners and your good to go.

After I fit new lines I check for the above a couple of days in a row.

On older bikes the difference is night and day old rubber brake lines tend swell with age.

As for the haynes manuals they can be a little incomplete but ok for most things if not all, but if you intend on keeping the bike for any period of time and wish todo more in-depth stuff a workshop manual is a much better option.
 
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Finally started to work on the bike.

:eek: omg the tank is far more rusted than I thought, the sludge the sludge. Petrol is brown and gritty. I hope it was all at bottom and just got stirred up when I took it off.

Now trying to find someone who sells por15 motorcycle repair kit with next day delivery, so far haven't found the next day delivery part.

Also god I hate not having a proper garage. Went to take some alen screwed out and guess what can't find my set off Allen keys.

So just got a peg baord off eBay, to keep things neat and tidy.
All in all a terriable day with not much achieved.
 
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Glaucus said:
Finally started to work on the bike.

:eek: omg the tank is far more rusted than I thought, the sludge the sludge. Petrol is brown and gritty. I hope it was all at bottom and just got stirred up when I took it off.

Know trying to find someone who sells por15 motorcycle repair kit with next day delivery, so far haven't found the next day delivery part.

Also god I hate not having a proper garage. Went to take some alen screwed out and guess what can't find my set off Allen keys.

So just got a peg baord off eBay, to keep things neat and tidy.
All in all a terriable day with not much achieved.
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if its really bad inside the tank,clean it out and use this to seal it

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Petseal-U...49?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3cca006439
 
Took the bike for a service yesterday to find out the back wheel was missing a spacer and the bearings had crushed. Did the last mechanic just forget to put it in? The shop I took it to showed me the part, it wasn't small.
 
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