Breezin

Thanks both -- sensible advice.

I certainly will be measuring it to the bike before cutting, but the OCD me wants it to conform to the 'standard' as written down.

I have a regular 15/38 sprocket setup, which won't change -- new ones fitted but same size.

Other suppliers say the chain is 100 with a split or rivet link supplied. But no listing I can find states clearly whether the additional link is included in the count or is additional to the 100. 

I'm stumped. The chain on my bike is supposed to be 100 links long. The one I bought has 110.

So it would make sense to cut off 10, right? But what happens with the extra join link? Do I cut at 99, and add the joiner, or do I cut at at 100?

Other suppliers of this chain pack 100 plus the additional link. But the chain that I've taken off the bike has just 100.

Asking now, because I really don't want to risk having a brand new chain that's one link short!

Michelin micro inflator (not tiny, but fits easily in the tank bag) and some tyreweld did the job for me a few weeks back -- on a tubed tyre. Lucky or what?

1 hour ago, Throttled said:

 I would also not buy a helmet without trying it on first, but will remember next time to look up the online price in the shop.

I'd much prefer to buy in a bricks&mortar shop, but the price difference is just too much.
I bought my current HJC helmet online after spending about 30 minutes with a very decent sales guy in  a shop. I offered to buy at the online price + pp. He said he would do it for the helmet in stock, but not for one that he would have to order in. So, because I didn't like the colour of the in-stock lid I had to order online. He actually was quite understanding about it.

On 10/06/2022 at 23:13, MikeHorton said:

I might put some keis heated clothing on my Xmas list! 

First mention of Xmas in 2022. Congratulations!

On 09/05/2022 at 09:02, fullscreenaging said:

I have found that 

 

15,895 Hz on a SINE wavelength matches, and completely negates my tinnitus. 
Cheers for that @Mississippi Bullfrog

 

Brilliant.  I haven't ir a little...  not really an issue but great to hear there's a  solution!

I don't think anyone here deliberately has it in for the biker. I do think some have been affected by the prevailing attitudes of officialdom and media in focusing on the rider's potential culpability rather than the facts.

S/he's a learner. So what,  beyond judgey assumptions? There is zero evidence against them but lots of suggestions as to best practice, with predictable conclusions drawn.

The driver, on the facts shown, is entirely and solely guilty of causing this accident.

You can do all the courses you want, and ride as carefully as you can, but you will never account for the fact that you are sharing the road with potentially lethal idiots, many of whom lately are busy on their phone. Let's not encourage them with misplaced reasonableness.

I'm quite sure that many of the bikers killed or maimed in these situations are perfectly competent and innocent.

2 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

It is not. You were avoiding the need for braking in anger by observing the hazard, reduced speed, early application of the brakes. That is precisely the point.

 

The point made about the video is that an inexperienced rider seems to have been travelling at speed as they approached a vehicle they could clearly see was encroaching on their line of sight. Either they were travelling far too fast to begin with or failed to brake progressively and early.

 

The rider could have taken steps to mitigate the car driver's mistake. It would appear they did not.

All right. I think the problem here is my loose use of the phrase 'in anger'. By that I mean using them for real, as opposed to testing (as I was out on a brake test/bedding in ride). A measured response, not a frantic stoppie.

So we are not really in disagreement, except on the point of speeding. There is no evidence that the bike in this incident was speeding. On that basis, biker 100% innocent; driver 100% guilty; tabloid 100% wrong.

Away from generalities...

So actually  I left the house today and within 100 metres some nonce in a beemer stops at the T as I approach on the main road. He is wanting to pull out and turn right. As always, I observe that his wheels are stopped turning before  I proceed, at about 20-25mph.

About 15 yards out, a faulty chip in his head tells him to advance. Don't ask me why. My generously equipped horns, which are a feature on the Interceptor, go on, as do my brakes.He stops again, wearing an expression of utter bewilderment.

What did I do wrong?

Why is braking in these circumstances a 'fail'?

6 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

If you had to use your brakes 4 times in anger in 20 miles you might want to rethink how you are anticipating potential hazards. Sounds harsh, but it's a skill worth honing. I ride a lot and can't remember the last time I had to use my brakes for the unexpected. Given how long the car was clearly presenting a potential threat before the biker appeared - and given the speed he appeared at so close to the hazard - the biker has to take some responsibility for the collision. 

 

It may be someone else's initial mistake but it usually takes two to make a collision happen. Have a look at the Dan Dan the Fireman channel. He's always banging on about hazard perception. I learnt a lot from watching him, even though most of the time he's like a stuck record. But he makes the point that the majority of motorcycle accidents can be avoided.

Are you seriously saying that you can ride 20 miles or so through busy town streets and suburban roads without once using your brakes in response to the actions of a third party?

Along with having a crystal ball, you must give us the Amazon link for that magic carpet you're on!

There's a redtop rag insinuating that somehow it's the biker's fault here. It just isn't.

Of course you have to look out for idiots,  but that will reduce, not eliminate the danger, and it's not necessarily your fault if there's an accident. Nothing in this video tells us that the rider wasn't paying attention.

I took my bike on a 20 mile urban ride yesterday to bed in brakes (posted separately on that). I had to use them in anger 4 times when drivers or pedestrians did stupid things.

Too many happy to condemn the biker here. We can't anticipate everything. 100% the driver's fault unless there is clear evidence of speeding.

Nothing to do with the new laws either. He just pulled across traffic when he shouldn't have, and is lucky he didn't kill someone as a result.

I just came across this, so not sure if my advice is of any use, but that sounds exacly like the bike is in limp mode, with the ECU limiting power to protect the engine. This happened to my Interceptot when the speedo cable failed, and then the regulator-rectifier -- both reeplaced under warranty.

Are there no warning lights showing? Even if not, you could take a look using an ecu fault reader. Here's where I got mine: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284045492532.

Thanks guys for the reassuring inputs. We're off to Spain in a few days on it and a lot at stake, so the new 'problem' has been wrecking my head.

43 minutes ago, keith1200rs said:

Does it have drilled discs? They can make buzzing noises

They have holes drilled, yes, if that's what you mean? Didn't know that. If it's a 'normal' sound I really don't mind... not that loud.

2 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

They may bed in and it will quieten down, always wise to go easy on new pads for a couple of hundred miles. I always put a very thin smear of copper assembly compound on pads. It isn't always necessary but I've found I get less issues.

Hope that's it. I used copper grease on the pad backs last time, but took Ari's advice this time.

I changed brake pads today, front and rear on the Interceptor 650. EBC organic.

All well on the test ride after, except for a strange, medium-pitch buzzing when front brake was applied medium to hard, fading after maybe 20 seconds.  Sounds almost electronic rather than mechanical. Didn't sound like brake squeal that I've heard of  but never actually heard. (I didn't use copper grease cos Ari on Revzilla said not to bother.)

Checked pads fitment and they look OK. Hoping it's just bedding in, but wonder if anyone here has experienced similar.

I'm thinking of doing similar, two up on my Interceptor 650 (my passenger is small & light), but staying in France.

Am I mad?

On 02/03/2022 at 14:08, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

Without wanting to reopen another chain lube conversation I have to say that on my workhorse the Gidibii oiler I fitted (same as the Nemo 2 just direct from the factory where they are made rather than via a middle man) has kept the chain in brilliant condition over this winter. I have been using up all the old half empty cans of various oils lying around the garage, from gear oil to cheap 20W50 engine oil. Everything works well in it.

+1 on this. Very effective and a great way to use the last dregs from the engine oil cans.

Didn't know Gidibi was actually a Nemo. Thought it was just a very well-made knockoff! All the sweeter...

Thanks all. Looks like Colgate is not an option then.

It's a fairly big scratch, incurred when I actually nutted a railing. I think I can live with it though, rather than risk ruining the rest of the visor.

I've read that you can use it to get rid of visor scratches, but that it has to be one without abrasive particles.

Anyone ever tried it?

23 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

 

I keep toying with trying a yellow bulb to make a more distinctive light in traffic.

Was thinking of doing that myself... I saw one on a bike the other day, and it was the most noticeable object in the street.

On 09/02/2022 at 12:20, S-Westerly said:

Replaced my headlights with H11 Osram Nightbreaker Laser bulbs. In daylight they look much brighter. Have to see how they perform on Friday night. Have a shorter predicted life span but given the few hours I am actually using full beam lighting I don't really see this as an issue.

Put one of those in mine about a year back. Found out when the bike was being serviced that it had blown (I hadn't been doing any night stuff) -- so I had been riding around with no light during daytime.

They replaced with standard, and tbh I don't really notice much difference, even in the dark over the winter.

On 02/02/2022 at 21:06, onesea said:

BMW - break my wallet

 

I hear rumour there own brand sat nav, can only navigate between BMW dealers.

 

So the sales men can ply you with free coffee.  Whilst freezing your wallet for more accessories a service and maybe even another bike. 

 

You get sold an expensive bike that can do 1000’s of miles however as soon as it gets to 10,000 they recommend you protect your investment and buy a new one!

I've been mulling over an RNineT as a long-term prospect of late, gradually shifting away from my Kawa 900rs fantasy. The main thing stopping full conversion is my experience with BMW dealers via my missus' Mini.

I was thinking more that it might be a positive, and add to the onus on car drivers to take more care about motorcyclists.

I don't get the hostility towards cyclists (which seems quite a recent phenomenon, probably encouraged by media that get a huge wedge of their money selling cars). I'd much rather share the road with cyclists (yes, I am one of those too) than with greedy, entitled SUV drivers. Yes, there are the few idiots, often in lycra, who insist on blocking the road etc, but every group has its share of those types.