alol74

Recently bought a Renntec rack for my Bandit 600N - http://www.renntec.co.uk/suzuki_gsf600n ... ck_carrier all looks fine, mounted it on the bike no problem, but discovered that it says that the top weight to be carried on it is 2.5 kilos !

A google search has revealed that it CAN break and it DOES sometimes... So my question is - has anyone got any experience with it, any stories ?

And if it s for 2.5 Kg load... what on Earth would I use it for ? A pack of sugar ?

Alan (megawatt) would be better than me to answer... but here's my two penth(or whatever the saying is!!)

How do you feel on the bike height wise one up? Would you benefit from jacking the bike up?

If not I'm guessing you could turn the shock up so it's stiffer, but not sure thats the best way to go about it!?!?!

Maybe a new shock would be the answer, maybe from another bike....? Bandits and Sv's etc don't have the best suspension. I know you can fit the Gixxer shock into the SV, not sure about the bandit though!

I wouldn't mind jacking the bike up a bit as I have no problems holding bike with both feet firmly on the ground... How do you jack it up though?

Gixxers shocks seem to be suitable for Bandits - that is what I have heard too, but buying second hand shocks from ebay even for 50 quid isn't very reassuring

I seem to need to buy a jack up kit...

Alan (megawatt) would be better than me to answer... but here's my two penth(or whatever the saying is!!)

How do you feel on the bike height wise one up? Would you benefit from jacking the bike up?

If not I'm guessing you could turn the shock up so it's stiffer, but not sure thats the best way to go about it!?!?!

Maybe a new shock would be the answer, maybe from another bike....? Bandits and Sv's etc don't have the best suspension. I know you can fit the Gixxer shock into the SV, not sure about the bandit though!

I wouldn't mind jacking the bike up a bit as I have no problems holding bike with both feet firmly on the ground... How do you jack it up though?

Gixxers shocks seem to be suitable for Bandits - that is what I have heard too, but buying second hand shocks from ebay even for 50 quid isn't very reassuring

Hi all,

Got a problem - my Bandit seems to be hitting rear hugger when we go over a bump or hit a bigger pothole if I take my missus as a pillion. I've already adjusted the shock to the second from the top value of the spring preloader adjuster. Is it just not designed to take 2 or is it a problem with shock ?

I've not fitted my Paintgard stuff yet. Got a week off....so that was one of the jobs planned. Steve from Paintgard was very helpfull and offered a lot of advice on how to fit it. Said I could phone him if I ran into any probs. So I'll be interested on how you get on with it. Keep us posted.

Cheers,

Bob

Sorted it out. Really impressed with this stuff. had a bit of a problem with air bubbles but has managed to get them all out. Keep your hands moist !

Ordered stuff from Paintgard... will let you know how I'm getting on with it installation.

thanks for your answers, everyone.

Hi everyone,

Can anyone suggest what can be done to stop leather jeans (made by Gear) slowly but surely rubbing off paint of the side of my bike's tank ? (Bandit 600) ? The inner side of jeans on knee level gets painted after each ride and it seems that the tank is loosing its lacquer and paint... not quickly but surely

Any ideas ?

Thanks

Why wouldnt it have been, its new you can see that, where i go I can watch them do it, seems an odd question

hmmm sorry I think I wasn't too clear about it... The thing is - I don't know how CORRECT scrub-in procedure looks like, how long it takes and so on.... Just wanted to collect observations from other bikers ... I didn't smoke anything BTW - just didn't know how its called

Hi everyone.

Just a wee question - once new tyre is installed (front or rear) - how do you do it's Scrub-in ? How would you know that it has been done for you (by, say, tyre fitter?)

Thanks

Got this one http://www.marushin-helmets.co.uk/marushin_tiger.htm for my wife, with totally reflecting illegal lid It fits on my head too, even better than my Caberg V2 407 so I'm very envious

 

Whats a 'totally reflecting illegal lid'?

Nah, all i meant is that the lid is very reflective - cannot see face behind it...

Got this one http://www.marushin-helmets.co.uk/marushin_tiger.htm for my wife, with totally reflecting illegal lid It fits on my head too, even better than my Caberg V2 407 so I'm very envious

see the 4806?

the tyre was manufactured week 48, 2006..

Hope that helps

I should clarify, tyres do have a shelf life. IIRC its about 6 years. I stand to be corrected though.

Edit again: found this for ya: http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

it may be a car tyre... but the logic holds true

Thanks a lot, appreciate that.

Hi all,

I've just bought my first big bike - Suzuki Bandit 600N 1998. Went through MOT no problem but they mentioned that front tyre is old (it has full tread, virtually untouched, but the bike has not been used for a few years...) Anyway, the tyre has wee cracks on sides - like when rubber gets old it cracks... They have suggested replacing it... is there an assessment that I can do to find out how long it will last ? well, even roughly ?

Thanks

well i failed my theory by 1 point on hazard perception... i have never been any good at exams and as soon as i got in there my mind went blank... proper p****d off and i dunno if i can put myself through that again...

ever tried training DVDs ? Worked magic for me...

Might be a bit of confusion here, my fault.

I know it's quite common for learners to forget to cancel indicators, especially if they're car drivers but let me explain.

I was asked by the examiner to go right on a roundabout so I had my right indicator on while going round the roundabout, the mistake I made was leaving it on and not swittching to the left indicator just before I exited the roundabout.

What is worrying me is that I never ever had a problem with indicators at all, wether it being choosing the correct one at the correct time or remembering to cancel (I have slight OCD anyway and cancel them every couple of minutes anyhow, not joking).

Just hoping I don't do it again, or something similar on my re-test.

I used to train a procedure of going through roundabouts, so when under a bit of pressure my hands would do what is required without paying too much attention... That helped quite a bit

I'm so glad that I don't care any more, but my missus will have to go through this

After passing my mod 1 way back in November I decided with a month left on my CBT it was time to attempt the Mod 2 test.

After visiting Geneva in July and seeing all of the lads riding Aspilla RSV4 or fireblades and hearing them roar up the roads my mind was set I wanted to pass my test and one day join them.

Back in England I got back to work and the booking of Mod 2 got put back a bit in priorities but eventually in July I booked it.

Come to this week, nerves are killing me im looking at all the test routes that could be taken and on the sunday I went out for a ride to try out some of the test routes. This helped me relax a bit but my main concern was high speed riding. Having spent the last two years riding in town I never really had the opportunity to get onto dual carrigeways or country roads so was quite a bit nervous about this.

After a really bad nights sleep with Flu i really thought the gods were against me for my test today. Arrived at the test centre 30 minutes early and sat in the boiling hot waiting room. (Didn't do my nerves any good). Then some teenagers came in to take their driving test and having passed my driving test about 5 years ago I couldn't believe I was putting myself through this experience again and knew how they all felt.

Then my instructor turns up and after checking my details and certificates we had outside for the eyesight test. After fumbling around with the ear piece which is quite difficult to put on when your hands are shaking and sweaty, he asks me a few questions. What affects would a pillion make when riding, what checks should you make before riding and also what checks to make on the chain.

We set off for the test and did a few town routes and then through an industrial estate when he asked me to pull over and the pull off. Then off into the countryside. This is where it got interesting. Unbeknown to the instructor a road on the test route was closed for maintenance meaning we had to turn down a road that lead out into the countryside. My instructor not being from my town said over the radio that he was now lost and had no idea where we were or where we were going.

After he noticed I was making all the decisions at the junctions on where to turn he asked if I knew the way, to which I nooded and he sat back and followed me.

After spending all the test in the countryside we headed back into town and then too the test centre, where he thanked me for a lovely ride on a very scenic route.

I passed my test with only 2 minors but more surpisingly not one minor for observations which was amazing.

I didn't have one lesson and did the test on my R125, i know im stuck on this for 2 years but just knowing its over and I can ride any bike in two years time is bliss.

My advice which has been given so many times is think of the instructor as a sat nav in your ear. It made me relax loads.

Safe riding

Congrats on passing.

To do a CBT or any training you WILL need a provisional license. And to get that license I think you just need an UK address. You will have to send your passport with £50 fee and you will get your provisional license.

Read here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/NeedANewOrUpdatedLicence/DG_10012514

I doubt any school can train non-residents, not mentioning taking them to public roads.

haha glad i'm not the only one then!

No, you are not... I do the same too..

?

Get out a bit more, see if you can do a 1 day DAS or something (yeah I know, money money money). I'd also highly recommend BikeSafe which is a day with the police for £45 - absolute bargain.

Just keep it up mate, you're so close.

 

I had a look into Bikesafe but its only for bikers with a full licence..but sounds a good day for anyone for the future

 

Not sure where you picked that up mate but I just did it last saturday. L plates and all...

I was told to b*gger off last time when I showed up on my trusty 125 I actually parked besides to someone's Hayabusa

Anyway, the biker cop who I arranged the course with popped around and said:

- Are you actually a learner ?

- Well, yes, I have not got full bike license yet - and I did tell you that before...

- Sorry, but you have to get it first in order to get on BikeSafe...

- Oh well...

Here in Fife they clearly have different rules to the ones over there...

Here is my 2 pence worth...

Ask for a few hours of mock tests with your instructor... This is what I did and what made me pass Mod 2 !!!

We're moving over to metric so everything is in KPH now.

50KPH is around 32mph. 3rd gear on a 125, 2nd gear on a 500.

on 500cc its a piece a cake, I used to put it in 2nd gear at the beginning of the arc and then just slightly rolled throttle on when I was on the straight line. Can't even imagine doing it on my 125... Unless you have something beefier like Aprilia or Yamaha DT125 2-strokes...

Yeah, it's all a PITA. DSA rules, the line in the sand etc.

Soon as this is over I'll go back to my normal riding/driving (which the police said was the safe 'good' way to ride for someone of my experience).

Quite looking forward to the IAM, that seems to teach you how to be a better and generally far more competent rider (no silly rules).

I'll ask for BikeSafe again as I was told to p*ss off last time when I popped in for a Sunday session and they realised that I'm still with "L" plates on my trusty 125cc LOL