What did you do to your bike today?

Insurnace have picked it up, hopefuly she'll be repaired and back with me soon waiting on the engineers report.

Pretty convinced on buying it back if it's written off cosmetically.

Anyone had any experience with that?
 
New can and tank protectors.

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Insurnace have picked it up, hopefuly she'll be repaired and back with me soon waiting on the engineers report.

Pretty convinced on buying it back if it's written off cosmetically.

Anyone had any experience with that?
Yup, several times (cars and bikes).
Just tell them you want it back and they’ll deduct usually about a 3rd from the payout value.
 
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After my 1290 Superduke exhibited issues with turning on more frequently it seemed apparent the dreaded switchgear failure struck mine. Exhibits itself by an inability to even get the ignition on and/or ignition comes on and off rapidly over and over even when not pushing the ignition switch. It seems the ECU monitors for resistance on the ignition switch (from an open circuit state) and something in the wiring/switchgear just wears out over time and causes constant resistance or open circuit even when buttons are pushed or not.

Anyway......£190 later and a new switchgear is in my possession and installed in what I thought would be a relatively simple job.

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The cable is routed in a way that you need to remove the following:

  • Seats
  • Side fairings
  • Fuel Tank
  • Upper Air Box/Filter
  • Throttle Body trumpets
  • Lower airbox section
  • Air rams
  • Front cowling/Headlight linkage
  • Side cable cowling
Which looks like this :o

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KTM designers also excelled themself in the design of a small plastic shaft that the headlight links to and also serves as the method to adjust headlight throw. Mine snapped in half, of course.

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Drew up a few designs in CAD and after a few prototypes printed up a replacement. Had to cut threads in it with another self tapping screw of the same type the headlight uses but once done served as a good replacement.

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It's always... Always! The things you look at and think "yeah quick easy 20 minute job" that end up with the bike completely naked and you questioning your life choices :cry:
 
Thanks to the very kind generosity of a fellow forum member, I finally got the equipment and time to balance the carbs on the ZX-9R. They weren't *too* far out, but they're a lot closer now. Was a pita to fit one of the take-off nipples (lol.....nipples). Advice is to drain the coolant system and remove the hoses. Balls to that, took the carbs off, which is quicker and easier, and finagled it in!
Did have a brain-fart on the test ride, forgot to reattach one of the vacuum lines. She was spitting a fair few flames out the back, and sounded epic, but back to normal now. She picks up off idle better now, and I'm sure she's pulling a little harder. Fun times! Cheers @Old Geezer

Buggardly Nipples!!!

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Close. Technically within spec.....

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Much much better. Tadaaa!!

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Lovely day today but I was too busy doing DIY on the house to get out on it. But in between jobs, while waiting for filler and paint to dry I managed to get the bike ready for the next clear day. Wiped it down (it wasn't dirty but didn't have a cover on it in the garage), got the tyres back up to the right pressure, lubed the chain, checked fluid levels, adjusted the handguards and ran the engine for a bit as it's not been run for a while. Also installed the comms unit in my helmet which will be useful for the satnav etc.

Ready for riding season now.
 
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I didn't go out either on the bike. Instead it was my toddler's day on his balance bike out around Shakerley Mere. So happy for him. :D

On the other hand, I discovered some nice lanes around where I will have a crack at. Also, I have bought some goodies for the Blackbird, wire brush to get some surface rust off, black anti rust paint for the subframe, Muc off chain lube and cleaner, Muc off degreaser to clean the outside of the radiator and last but not the least Autosol Metal Polish for the exhaust. Just waiting for the Dr. Downpipe exhaust cleaner.
 
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