What did you do to your bike today?

[tom_e]

Took it to the post office to pick up some stuff for the delivery of my SV650S tonight, dressed for the heat rather than the biblical rain I got caught in on the way home so was swimming by the time I got back

It would also appear one of my "waterproof" boots is no longer waterproof, oh well good reason for an upgrade.

 

[Tefal]

Took it to the post office to pick up some stuff for the delivery of my SV650S tonight, dressed for the heat rather than the biblical rain I got caught in on the way home so was swimming by the time I got back

It would also appear one of my "waterproof" boots is no longer waterproof, oh well good reason for an upgrade.

Did the water come through the top though a Inc enough waterproof pants

 

[Griffo]

Sheesh Tefal, I'm glad you avoided major pain.

When I had my very small in comparison off I had similar sleepless nights for a short time. As some other wise soul said above, your brain is trying to make sense of everything that a. did happen; b. you thought would happen; c. didn't actually happen.

I think you already know this but do take and push to get back on a bike soon. I had to wait several weeks to get back on, and it took several more weeks (well, I actually sold it, but that was a combo of accident and living in London) to start to get confidence back.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I took the baffle back out. Much happier now!
Dunno if I mentioned I had my front wheel bearing replaced after it started squealing then grinding and pulling. The tell-tale sign I ignored was rust dust gathering on one end of the spindle/wheel centre. And initial squealing which I put down to pads.

Then I had the 42k service. BMW Maidenhead were helpful and managed to squeeze in the service at the same time as doing my surprise visit for the bearing (I was booked in for two weeks later).

 

[ConTRo13R]

Made myself a clear lens for the CBR F3 and retro-fitted a HID projector. Needs some fine adjustments of the cut off level but need some real dark first.

Its not perfect but I'm very pleased with it.

So i went from this to this..

Broke the angel eye by burning it with too much voltage replacement on its way so may get pics up with the lights actually working.

Which color temperature do people prefer 4000k or 6000k?

 

[Participant]

4300k for me, for OEM colour temperature and rice avoidance.

When I ordered my HIDs for my bike, they accidentally sent me 6000k bulbs. I fitted them while I waited for them to send me the 4300k I'd ordered and whilst they looked fairly cool and pure white with a tinge of blue in the day, they were just too washed out and blue for effective use at night in my opinion. They also looked just that little bit too chav.

Even 4300ks are much whiter than any halogen bulb that's worth its salt.

I'd probably have plumped for 5000k if they'd sold them in that temperature.

 

[Dogbreath]

That just looks wrong. Two projectors next to each other might have looked a little better, or better still continue the white/black flashes down across the headlamp lens to reduce the "wrong headlamp fitted" look.

e.g. something like this, but preferably not drawn with the artistic talent of a baboon, which is all I can manage. You could use vinyl or spray it.

 

[wazza300]

Can't you just stick in the hid bulb in the original headlight/lense?

 

[ConTRo13R]

In a reflector housing it just blinds the retinas out of dainty drivers eyes.

Now i do like that idea DogBreath! one to think over

 

[Griffo]

And blinding oncoming traffic is called a bad idea, and helps propagate "bloody bikers" mentality.

Dogbreath: Hah, that looks pretty good!

 

[tom_e]

Did the water come through the top though a Inc enough waterproof pants

Nope my trousers underneath my waterproof over trousers were still dry and so was the lining at the top of the boot it literally was just a puddle right in the bottom of the boot, I've emailed sportsbikeshop and their CS has always been spot on so I'm going to send them back they've not had enough wear to be failing already.

 

[wazza300]

Is it illegal though to put hid bulb into existing lease?

I wanna install one,who cares about dazzling car drivers haha

 

[4T5]

Just coming up to 2 months owning my Trophy & I'v done nearly 3k in that time, Bikes unbelievably comfy.

I do intend getting another bike for Fun as soon as I have a bit of spare cash, Can't decide which route to go yet so will prob end up with 4 - 5 bikes in the end.

 

[tom_e]

Just generally had a poke around my new bike to see what's what, it's in almost perfect condition which isn't bad for 10 years and a little over 20k miles.
Going to fit some new front and rear pegs but that's about all it really needs to get it looking brand new, the tires don't look like they've done any more than enough to scrub them in either.

Fitted a 12v/5v USB socket under my pillion seat, wanted to get it on the handlebars but there's sod all room but at least now I've got it somewhere just in case and fitted my oxford oximiser lead.

 

[Captain]

Just coming up to 2 months owning my Trophy & I'v done nearly 3k in that time, Bikes unbelievably comfy.

I do intend getting another bike for Fun as soon as I have a bit of spare cash, Can't decide which route to go yet so will prob end up with 4 - 5 bikes in the end.

Would you recommend the Aprilia dorsoduro? I think you had the 1200 didnt you? I'm really fond of the 750 as a first bike.

 

[4T5]

I had the Aprilia Shiver SL750, Was a great bike but always had it in the back of my mind if it goes wrong I'm going to have to wait weeks for the parts & pay through the nose. Bike went well though & handled brilliantly.There is a big following for Apes of all kinds though so plenty of info out there on what to watch out for etc

With the Jap bikes & my Triumph a lot of parts are generic so can be bought a lot cheaper, Stuff like pads, calipers, levers, fixings & fasteners can be bought off whoever does them cheapest.

 

[Glaucus]

Well I haven't ridden it in almost two years. No power. Pulled the battery out and zero water in it. Topped it up and stuck it on charge, will see tomorrow if it's salvaged or DOA.

Then I need to book it in for an MOT. Any idea how much it would be for MOT place to replace front fork seals?

 

[TallPaul_S]

Would you recommend the Aprilia dorsoduro? I think you had the 1200 didnt you? I'm really fond of the 750 as a first bike.

I was looking at Shivers and still contemplate a dorsoduro every so often

Beware, the tank range on the 'duro is terrible, I think it's around 100 miles. The main thing is decent dealer support, if you haven't got a dealer or an Aprilia specialist close-by, I'd think twice. Luckily in Kent there's one in Canturbury, then another in East Grinstead in West Sussex, but then it's Croydon for the next one.

Main thing you'll notice is their values plummet, and they don't seem to sell that well - good when you're buying but not when you come to sell. No way on earth I'd buy one brand new, you can get a decent low mileage one of either for £4k.


On another note, I test rode an MT-09 and an MT-09 tracer today at the Box Hill MT Tour event.

Thoughts on the MT09:

God it's upright! Fairly comfy though, seat is quite hard, the complaints about the suspension are justified, it was a little too 'bouncy' for my liking on the front end. The throttle killed it for me though, very jerky at low speeds when you're trying to maintain a constant throttle through 30-40 limits and over bumpy roads, a slight movement of a mm sent a surge through the bike. It would probably be something you'd get used too, maybe half the issue was the very light throttle.

Engine was great though, although we didn't get to enjoy it much. Feels like it needs to be 'on it' all the time though, not a bike you can just cruise around on.

MT-09 Tracer:

I can now see the attraction of bikes like these, the S1000XR, Multistrada, etc. Dead comfy, easy for me to flat foot at 6ft 4, didn't feel big at all. With a bigger screen you could rattle off the motorway miles and then still have some (a lot of!) fun when you get to the twisty roads, it handled just as good as the MT09. The throttle was slightly better on this, but still not perfect. Maybe coming from a carbed bike means an injected and fly by wire bike will need some getting used too, but again it ruined the whole bike for me, the rest of it was fantastic - even the suspension felt better damped and more firm at the from end, but that throttle would make me have second thoughts.

I can now see my perfect 2 bike garage being a sport/upright tourer/do-it-all bike for commuting/long distance/eurotrips and a slight mad litre naked bike for the weekend.

 

[wazza300]

Well I haven't ridden it in almost two years. No power. Pulled the battery out and zero water in it. Topped it up and stuck it on charge, will see tomorrow if it's salvaged or DOA.

Then I need to book it in for an MOT. Any idea how much it would be for MOT place to replace front fork seals?

depends on the bike,£175 for my zx10r

 

[One]

Well yesterday I put on some lovely new exhausts. I put in new air filters and I also put a new side stand spring on. Today I went out for a ride and it was really great, although half an hour in my exhaust fell off

Fortunately I was on a country road with no one around. My bike got really loud on the left side and then I peered down and realised my exhaust was gone, I pulled over, turned around and raced back to where my bike go loud. There it was on the side verge. Scratched to hell Prior to that though they sounded great cracking and popping when off throttle. New one ordered. I now need to get some nylocks and some loc-tite to make sure they're not going to come off next time!

It's the biggest thing to be vibrated off my bike so far...