V650

Did Mine in 2022 @56 years young Theory test €45 IBT (CBT) €350 ( Cat A test ) Lessons before Test €100 1.5hrs Bike Rental for Test ( As Versys 650 was not Cat A ) €180 Actual Test €85 It was snowing and blowing a gale on the day but passed with 0 faults

Did a great job on it

Got out for a scoot yesterday after what seems like an eternity With a new storm every few days the roads are in an absolutely manky state here in Ireland The usual rigmarole is to clean the bike then go out for a spin to blow it dry as it lives under a cover in the garden But every time I go out it comes back manky So as part of my Christmas prez I got one of these Works great and is surprisingly powerful for the size of it Gave it a try yesterday after fitting a new clutch lever ( dropped the bike in the wind ) before Christmas

possibly also replace the drain plug with something like this Idea being that if there is a chance that any thread left might strip on the next oil change https://www.louis.ie/en/stahlbus-oil-drain-valve-10002846?partner=googlesea-ir&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI--bR3ZGZgwMVGZRQBh1HowRsEAQYByABEgJNKvD_BwE&filter_bike_id=1259&filter_article_number=10002845

Apparently this has been reversed / overturned after complaints https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Whistlestop-Cafe-Whitby-01947606060-100063717453684/ What fool thought this was a good idea is mind boggling what a muppet

I got a 2019 CB500x at end of July Very happy with it A little lighter than the Versy 650 I had and a lot better fuel economy ( 90 mpg If the trip comp is to be believed ) parts are cheap enough and the engine is bulletproof Changed the tyres for a more Road based ride as I will not intentionally be going off road

Very Nice

When the Fork seal leaked on the 500X the oil dripped down on to the Disc and pads I had tried cleaning the oil with brake cleaner and isopropyl alcohol & sanded the pads down a bit but no joy had no stopping power at all So got some EBC FA196 HH Sintered pads and fitted today Went for a 100KM Jolly in the hills just to test

New Tyre time again Battlax T31 on the CB500X as it will never intentionally go off road Was looking for something that will last a bit as the Original Dunlop Mix trail were done afterabout 6k miles Waiting for the weather to clear up a little to test them out

I also have Garmin XT and use the Myroute app to send routes from the pc to the garmin I did have an old phone ( samsung J7 ) in a waterproof case mounted on the handlebars but more times than not I could not see what was on the screen with the glare from the plastic window on the cheapo waterproof case

I assume that by having no running water you mean you don't have access to a hosepipe ? as opposed to you don't have access to water When I am washing my bike out in the front garden I use a plastic basin with some water and washing up liquid and a sponge I use a watering can to rinse it off afterwards ( sure you could get a basin and watering can in the pound shop ) I know some do not like to use washing up liquid as it has salt in it but i'm not that bothered Sometimes I will get out the hosepipe and run it down the side of the house and give the bike a good wash but 9 times out of ten I just use the basin and watering can

As Stu suggested clean off the area and make sure that there is a leak and not just chain oil / grease If there is a leak there is an oil seal behind the sprocket and another site suggests it is part no https://ie.fowlersparts.co.uk/parts/view/T3600112 and Cheap as chips at 8 quid https://www.thetriumphforum.com/threads/front-sprocket-oil-leak.31037/

Got around to a couple of bits Replaced the garmin Zumo Mount as the ball clamp one stuck too far out so replaced with ali one that was a better fit on to the existing bar https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000993642247.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.11.63fe1802fH4pnl Also fitted Honda Tank pad

There can also be bargains to be had in the secondhand / used market for some good gear at cheaper prices And there is also the security of your bike to consider you can often get good disc locks and chains at good prices in the used marked

Oil through the exhaust could possibly be damaged head gasket / incorrectly torqued ( If it has one ) allowing oil in to the combustion chamber if you are convinced the piston rings / valves are good Have you done a compression test ?

I would say also make sure to buy some quality bike gear Jacket, boots, gloves, trousers & of course a good quality Helmet Not saying you should buy the most expensive but don,t go for the cheapest I came back to bikes after a 30 year gap on a Versys 650 Recently sold that and got a Honda CB500X which is a few KG lighter and considerably better mpg I was lucky enough to have a road nearby with a roundabout at each end an close to 1 km of good straight road in between with little to no traffic so I got quite a few hrs practice till I got my confidence and put about 50K KM on the Versys before selling it on

Some Crimpers like the one in your link have interchangeable jaws maybe same company can supply smaller crimp jaws Like the one in this photo on ebay

"Judean People's Front" or was it the popular peoples front of Judea ? I must be getting old

Also a decent fast memory card will cost you a couple of quid too

Had to change one of the fork seals on the new to me 2019 Honda CB500X I must admit I was surprised that it had gone as it has low miles ( 5000) thought it may be just dirt so I made a seal scraper and ran it through a couple of times but no joy So bought an original Honda seal and swapped it & changed the oil in both forks The oil in the right hand fork with the leaking seal was considerably dirtier than the left

Bear in mind that there is now a Zumo XT2 so support for the zumo XT may not be for much longer I think they have been around about 3 years now I have the Zumo XT and find it ok there are some issues with Bluetooth but If you don't use the voice guidance that wont be an issue for you I also use Myroute app and I find it works well on the Zumo I can create my route on MRA on the pc & and email it to myself then open the email on the phone and transfer the route via Bluetooth works a treat ^You may find this site useful https://www.zumouserforums.co.uk

Happens to us all

Half a wooden whiskey barrel Fill bottom half with concrete insert chain & anchor Fill top with dirt and a plant

Fitted some amazon 10W spotlights on a sw motech light bar on the CB500X

Scary stuff Glad you are ok