What did you do to your bike today?

Griffo · 16 Feb 2013 at 11:23

I got the bike back yesterday afternoon. Fork seals were indeed perfectly fine, so they just did MOT and steering head bearing, and freed up the spindle so I could go get my new front tyre. Total cost was 90 something quid. So yes, positive review from me

.

I love the feeling of new tyres, all of a sudden the bike feels neutral and more than willing to lean one way or the other

. Happy days!

Incinerat0r · 16 Feb 2013 at 16:45

Stuck the new gasket on (didn't have to drain the oil) and fixed the oil leak. Fixed the rear seat (cable came off so I couldn't open it). Then gave the chain a clean and lubing, cleaned the rest of the bike dusted off the leathers and took it for a blast in this glorious sunshine

edd1e · 16 Feb 2013 at 18:00

Rode it.. and got it filthy

All clean again now though... until tomorrow when i'm heading to a 675 meet.

Really not enjoying running it in, can't go above 6,000rpm...

PU7E · 16 Feb 2013 at 18:21

edd1e said:
Rode it.. and got it filthy

All clean again now though... until tomorrow when i'm heading to a 675 meet.

Really not enjoying running it in, can't go above 6,000rpm...

Can't be many miles of: weeeeeeeeee-grumble 6k weeeeeeeeee-grumble 6k grumble left now

edd1e · 16 Feb 2013 at 18:27

About 200miles left

I can then take it to 8,000rpm. The manual says to not take it above 8,000rom until you've done 1,000miles.. i think that is OTT though. All the people I speak to just say either ride it normally after 200miles or just take it easy for first 500miles.

PU7E · 16 Feb 2013 at 18:30

Dam, you could just do laps of the M25, it'd be under 6k the entire time and you'd get the miles count up

Griffo · 17 Feb 2013 at 09:46

You're also supposed to vary engine speed and avoid holding a constant rpm for time, so the laps of the M25 would be hilarious repetition of 20 to 80 to 20 to 80

Danm54 · 17 Feb 2013 at 09:51

edd1e said:
About 200miles left I can then take it to 8,000rpm. The manual says to not take it above 8,000rom until you've done 1,000miles.. i think that is OTT though. All the people I speak to just say either ride it normally after 200miles or just take it easy for first 500miles.

Hard acceleration is what you need to be doing! The rev limit is apparently for the bearings to bed in but hard acceleration up to that point will bed the piston rings in much better that just taking it easy.

The old way of gently gently doesn't really apply now due to much better machining, casting etc.

Have a read here
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

metbandit1 · 17 Feb 2013 at 11:46

Danm54 said:
Hard acceleration is what you need to be doing! The rev limit is apparently for the bearings to bed in but hard acceleration up to that point will bed the piston rings in much better that just taking it easy.

The old way of gently gently doesn't really apply now due to much better machining, casting etc.

Have a read here
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

I thought you use that technique if you want the most power out of an engine but it wont last very long.
However if you do it the careful way it wont be as powerful but it'll last longer.

On Holiday · 17 Feb 2013 at 13:18

Ignoring the "break-in" just leads to higher oil usage apparently?
* Source is a bike dealer

Then again, never believe everything a salesman says!

Rilot · 17 Feb 2013 at 17:17

Today I fitted the rearsets. Those AP rearsets really are a thing of beauty. Perfectly machined.

Gearshift side:

Brake side:

Some more pics with the new exhaust hanger and tail tidy:

Belly pan is still off the bike as I need to decide where to move the wiring for the rear brake light switch.

Danm54 · 17 Feb 2013 at 19:56

metbandit1 said:
I thought you use that technique if you want the most power out of an engine but it wont last very long.
However if you do it the careful way it wont be as powerful but it'll last longer.

If the rings dont bed in right you'll use oil, glaze the bores etc. The loss of potential power is no biggy on a road bike but using oil is.

I'm certainly no expert on bearings but on a bike, especially a modern one, the machining tolerances are extremely high, there shouldn't be anything too tight a fit to need bedding in.

I only rebuilt the top end on my gsxr but I kept to the manufacturers rev limits, just made sure the engine was under as much load as possible during that time.

Yaayuh! · 17 Feb 2013 at 22:01

Rilot: Phwooaarr!!

stiv121 · 17 Feb 2013 at 22:31

Your bike makes me wet Rilot

Maybe I can afford one come end of summer but I'll still have around 10 months on my restriction. Don't know if it's possible to restrict them to 33bhp, would probably end up getting pulled riding that beast unrestricted. It simply looks and sounds too good

Well orderd a new rear tire, EBC HH front brake pads,K&N filter and usual servicing stuff for the Bandit. Also got a nice RST slice black and white leather jacket for a treat for myself on my new job.

.one. · 18 Feb 2013 at 23:47

Washed the winter grud off the zzr yesterday ready for polishing.

And lovely day today so had a spin on the zx to dust off the cobwebs.

AndyCr15 · 19 Feb 2013 at 08:13

Can I ask, I know quite a few people with 2 bikes. I'm thinking myself I may get a second this year, but why would you have two almost identical?

Rilot · 19 Feb 2013 at 08:26

AndyCr15 said:
Can I ask, I know quite a few people with 2 bikes. I'm thinking myself I may get a second this year, but why would you have two almost identical?

I was wondering this too. I would place the ZZR and the ZX in the same category of Sports Touring.

Yaayuh! · 19 Feb 2013 at 08:27

AndyCr15 said:
Can I ask, I know quite a few people with 2 bikes. I'm thinking myself I may get a second this year, but why would you have two almost identical?

One built and maintained for commuting/touring (Like a ZZR) and another reserved for hooning about (like a ZXR)?
That's what i want really.

AndyCr15 · 19 Feb 2013 at 08:35

Rossi~ said:
One built and maintained for commuting/touring (Like a ZZR) and another reserved for hooning about (like a ZXR)?
That's what i want really.

But even then, surely they're still very similar? Most people will have two quite different bikes.

So, I have a naked bike, I may get a sports tourer or sports bike for longer journeys.

Yaayuh! · 19 Feb 2013 at 08:38

AndyCr15 said:
But even then, surely they're still very similar? Most people will have two quite different bikes.

So, I have a naked bike, I may get a sports tourer or sports bike for longer journeys.

If you like the ride position and general aspects of the bike then why not? Being familiar with the ins and outs of a bike has it's advantages not only in riding but maintenance and troubleshooting.