What did you do to your bike today?
- Thread starter edd1e
- Start date
Soldato
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nice bike and everything but feels like its super impractical for UK roads.
Always wondered this..in hindsight would you have made the same purchase?
nice bike and everything but feels like its super impractical for UK roads.
Yes for sure, it was the bike (a red ducati sportsbike) i've wanted for years but circumstances and/or having the balls to do it stopped me. i don't commute on it or do long rides often, if i did i doubt i'd have bought it. it's great for short blasts with not much traffic around and for looking at
Soldato
Picked her up! Looks better than the day I purchased it tbh, as they fixed a couple of bits that were damaged when I got it
Sadly today's weather wasn't the warm and blue skies of yesterday, so my first ride in nearly 7 months was a wet one, but it's great to have her back in the garage.
Added bonus, for some reason my excess was waived - even though I was deemed 100% at fault - so that's a few quid I can spend on new kit or bike bits. Nice.
Sadly today's weather wasn't the warm and blue skies of yesterday, so my first ride in nearly 7 months was a wet one, but it's great to have her back in the garage.
Added bonus, for some reason my excess was waived - even though I was deemed 100% at fault - so that's a few quid I can spend on new kit or bike bits. Nice.
Associate
MOT'd the S1000RR (pass- remembered to whack the horn beforehand!)
Celebrated with a new pair of boots (A* SMX6-v2s). Super comfy and way easier to get on and off than my TCX Goretex thingies. Of course it rained on the way home.
Celebrated with a new pair of boots (A* SMX6-v2s). Super comfy and way easier to get on and off than my TCX Goretex thingies. Of course it rained on the way home.
Attended a Triumph On Tour event at Bridge in Exeter and rode the 2023 Street Triple RS for an hour. I didn’t realise it was guided until I got there and it was utterly fantastic.
Very enjoyable bike and a great experience. Very impressed that Triumph do events like this.
Very enjoyable bike and a great experience. Very impressed that Triumph do events like this.
Associate
Was it like bike safe, run by the local police?
Soldato
Just gave her a wash - and sadly it seems that in the nearly 6 months BMW had it, there is now a bit of corrosion here and there - noticed so far is the brake lever bolt, and worst was the chain! Guessing it was moved outside into the rain as/when they needed the space.
Used a wire brush to try taking the surface rust off the chain, but it still looks a bit pants - shame, as other than the crash damage, I kept the bike looking as close to new as I could.
I doubt firing an email off to BMW will yield anything, it's a shame a so-called premium brand, doesn't seem to take care of thing ls to the level you would expect - grumble grumble.
Used a wire brush to try taking the surface rust off the chain, but it still looks a bit pants - shame, as other than the crash damage, I kept the bike looking as close to new as I could.
I doubt firing an email off to BMW will yield anything, it's a shame a so-called premium brand, doesn't seem to take care of thing ls to the level you would expect - grumble grumble.
Man of Honour
No it's just a test ride event run by triumph
Associate
Installed an AC Schnitzer bar conversion. Major PITA, meant having to dismantle the top half of the bike. Feels great though, think I might sell the MT-09 as the Beemer now does comfort as well as everything else. Then washed it
@CGrieves - Have you roadtested that set up yet? Or just sat on it on your drive? Wondered how the buffeting would be after altering the riding position.
I wanted to do that convertion to my GSXR1000 when I had it 10 year ago, but I see a few pics of it and it didn't suit the GSXR at all. That looks good on the S1000 though
I wanted to do that convertion to my GSXR1000 when I had it 10 year ago, but I see a few pics of it and it didn't suit the GSXR at all. That looks good on the S1000 though
Associate
Yeah small ride yesterday and a longer one today. The kit comes with spacers to lift the fairing and avoid interference with the controls, which also means a slightly taller airstream at speed. It definitely puts your head in the wind slightly more, but at 70/80 it's still comfortable. Honestly if it discourages me from going faster, it's a good thing.@CGrieves - Have you roadtested that set up yet? Or just sat on it on your drive? Wondered how the buffeting would be after altering the riding position.
I wanted to do that convertion to my GSXR1000 when I had it 10 year ago, but I see a few pics of it and it didn't suit the GSXR at all. That looks good on the S1000 though
I'm actually considering some lower/flatter bars as a compromise as ideally I'd like the grips slightly further forwards. They're 28mm clamps so plenty of options available.
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Soldato
Rode over to my dad's to replace a stripped exhaust stud, which was easy, but also tried to diagnose why the old girl was running like a bag of crud this morning.
Dug my way down to the carbs, took them out and had a thorough look and a wipe over, couldn't see anything obvious, so put it all back together and she fired up and ran a treat, so no idea what that's all about.
Then we had a go at starting the Norton International my old man has been doing a nut and bolt rebuild/resto on, but fuel started piddling out of the carb. Float seemed ok, but it may be the wrong float bowl, his carb is a TT carb, which is different apparently.
Se we had a real fun day of "Just crap in the carb....." lol
Dug my way down to the carbs, took them out and had a thorough look and a wipe over, couldn't see anything obvious, so put it all back together and she fired up and ran a treat, so no idea what that's all about.
Then we had a go at starting the Norton International my old man has been doing a nut and bolt rebuild/resto on, but fuel started piddling out of the carb. Float seemed ok, but it may be the wrong float bowl, his carb is a TT carb, which is different apparently.
Se we had a real fun day of "Just crap in the carb....." lol
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The bike needed a full service. Oil, filters, plugs, throttles balanced, gearbox oil, final drive oil, driveshaft condition check and spline lube, brakes cleaned and condition checked. A pair of tyres too. Oh, and front wheel bearings.
So I employed some child labour. He was initially enthusiastic but after he lost the skin on his knuckles for the second time, not so much. Character building though!
Went for Michelin Road 6 tyres. I’m a big fan of the Road 5 so have high hopes for these. If I can get the RT round Church corner at Thruxton at over 110mph whilst also being able to scrape the foot pegs on the B3081 in torrential downpours, they’ll be winners. I’ll report back.
So I employed some child labour. He was initially enthusiastic but after he lost the skin on his knuckles for the second time, not so much. Character building though!
Went for Michelin Road 6 tyres. I’m a big fan of the Road 5 so have high hopes for these. If I can get the RT round Church corner at Thruxton at over 110mph whilst also being able to scrape the foot pegs on the B3081 in torrential downpours, they’ll be winners. I’ll report back.
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Associate
New battery as I stupidly left the bike off charge since last September and the old one wouldn't hold any charge whatsoever. Optimate3 now plugged in whenever the bike's in the garage.
MOT booked for tomorrow. MOT & tax ran out last October, she's been SORN'd since.
And finally, a long overdue oil and filter change. I'm terrible, last time was probably ~April 2020. I don't do many miles. 1200 miles last year, 3200 the year before and 2700 the year before that. Still no excuse though:
MOT booked for tomorrow. MOT & tax ran out last October, she's been SORN'd since.
And finally, a long overdue oil and filter change. I'm terrible, last time was probably ~April 2020. I don't do many miles. 1200 miles last year, 3200 the year before and 2700 the year before that. Still no excuse though:
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Test rode the new Tiger 1200 GT Pro and the BMW R1250GSA. The Triumph was a great bike, loved every second of the test ride and the engine was fantastic. I know lots of people have mentioned vibrations in reviews online, and yes there was some vibes but nothing that would annoy me.
I left the test ride convinced I’d be putting a deposit down on the Tiger…..but after the GS test ride I ended up putting a deposit down on that. Pick up my new bike on Saturday. I needed a change from the VFR as it was just causing pain after every ride. Got arthritis in my neck and lower back pain so ultimately the GS is that comfy it’s something I could enjoy riding again.
I found it slightly better than the Tiger for me, but if anyone is looking for a big adventure bike you should definitely give the Tiger a shot. That engine noise is addictive.
I left the test ride convinced I’d be putting a deposit down on the Tiger…..but after the GS test ride I ended up putting a deposit down on that. Pick up my new bike on Saturday. I needed a change from the VFR as it was just causing pain after every ride. Got arthritis in my neck and lower back pain so ultimately the GS is that comfy it’s something I could enjoy riding again.
I found it slightly better than the Tiger for me, but if anyone is looking for a big adventure bike you should definitely give the Tiger a shot. That engine noise is addictive.
Associate
Bike now MOT'd and taxed. Hopefully I can get back into it. I lost the love last year. If not, I'll sell it.
Man of Honour
Oil and filter change done. Spotted a tiny weep from one of the coolant hoses as well so tightened the clip up which seems to have solved it.
Next up is chain and sprockets, I've got all the bits but I'm now considering getting one of the black RK chains which will go lovely with the gold stealth sprocket. Not sure I can justify £125 on just the chain thought when the DID one I've already got will do the job.
Next up is chain and sprockets, I've got all the bits but I'm now considering getting one of the black RK chains which will go lovely with the gold stealth sprocket. Not sure I can justify £125 on just the chain thought when the DID one I've already got will do the job.
Soldato
Took the S1000R to get fuel last night, seen as the stuff in the tank, has been sat since the 10th of September! And unfortunately, there now seems to be a ticking sound on the left-hand side of the engine, the side damaged in the crash and fixed by BMW!
I'm in two minds what to do - if I call my insurer/BMW to get it looked at, then I'll lose the bike for goodness knows how long, right as I'm just about getting bike-fit again
Maybe I should give it a longer run, just to see if it settles down - what a bloody nightmare!
Edit: having a mooch on a couple of S1000R(R) forums, the general consensus is that the engines are pretty noisy, one even suggested that if left sitting unused for a while the exhaust flaps in the headers can cause rattles... wasn't aware of flaps, other than where you'd expect them near the end can - but this gives me a bit of hope at least.
I'm in two minds what to do - if I call my insurer/BMW to get it looked at, then I'll lose the bike for goodness knows how long, right as I'm just about getting bike-fit again
Maybe I should give it a longer run, just to see if it settles down - what a bloody nightmare!
Edit: having a mooch on a couple of S1000R(R) forums, the general consensus is that the engines are pretty noisy, one even suggested that if left sitting unused for a while the exhaust flaps in the headers can cause rattles... wasn't aware of flaps, other than where you'd expect them near the end can - but this gives me a bit of hope at least.
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