What did you do to your bike today?

[S-Westerly]

5 minutes ago, Yorky said:

Got to say those are the smallest "crash bars" i've ever seen

They aren't, they are just protection for the cylinder heads. Behave more like bungs. The crash bars are something I'm still thinking about.

[V650]

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 

[V650]

3 hours ago, S-Westerly said:

Collected my shiny new toy from Frasers of Gloucester.  Rode the 5 miles home but added another 50 for fun. Apart from being restricted to 4500 rpm for running in (and that's virtually impossible) it caused me to have a shit eating grin plastered over my face. Really nice bike to ride and for me possibly better than the Multistrada although it's really too early to tell but first impressions are "this is fun!"

Very Nice

[bonio]

14 hours ago, S-Westerly said:

Took out Gap insurance. Premium was £114 which given the price of the bike seemed quite reasonable. 

I did this for the MV when I got it. 5 years cover. Was a whole lot cheaper than a decent tracker.

[Fiddlesticks]

Recently stopped for a rider on a new BMW who was SMIDSY'd by someone pulling out of a side road. One of the first things he said was "Kicking myself, I didn't take out gap insurance".

[RideWithStyles]

23 hours ago, S-Westerly said:

Took out Gap insurance. Premium was £114 which given the price of the bike seemed quite reasonable. 

Very much so for the benefit it will do which is unusual. Recently most policies like these have become very costly with poor returns on a worthy item that makes picking them harder to justify but that one is certainly gold ticket if things go pear.

[Interference Fit]

Limped home (less than a mile thankfully) stuck in gear as my quick shifter rod and shift lever arm decided to get a divorce - the nut, bolt and collar nowhere to be found (on a Friday night, down a country lane with a torch).

 

 

[Bender]

On 14/12/2023 at 15:18, S-Westerly said:

Collected my shiny new toy from Frasers of Gloucester.  Rode the 5 miles home but added another 50 for fun. Apart from being restricted to 4500 rpm for running in (and that's virtually impossible) it caused me to have a shit eating grin plastered over my face. Really nice bike to ride and for me possibly better than the Multistrada although it's really too early to tell but first impressions are "this is fun!"

Looking forward to a proper comparison with the Strada once you've had a few proper runs.

[Interference Fit]

On 14/12/2023 at 15:18, S-Westerly said:

Collected my shiny new toy from Frasers of Gloucester.  Rode the 5 miles home but added another 50 for fun. Apart from being restricted to 4500 rpm for running in (and that's virtually impossible) it caused me to have a shit eating grin plastered over my face. Really nice bike to ride and for me possibly better than the Multistrada although it's really too early to tell but first impressions are "this is fun!"

Oooh, lovely - this, the new Stelvio and the Multistrada V2S are currently top of my list so I'll be really keen to hear what you think of it?

[RideWithStyles]

22 minutes ago, Interference Fit said:

Limped home (less than a mile thankfully) stuck in gear as my quick shifter rod and shift lever arm decided to get a divorce - the nut, bolt and collar nowhere to be found (on a Friday night, down a country lane with a torch).

 

 

, feel for you but at least it wasnt far.

 

Doubt you'll find them, the daytona i had was so upset i was swapping it for a different bike the side air scoop on the left side faring couldn't handle the break up and decided to not stay on the anymore while on the way to the dealer...

im sure it was still there over half way through the journey of about 10 miles with a few round abouts, in daylight on reasonably wide roads with low grass sides . I never did find it even looking twice on both sides of the road and that was with a part much bigger.

[Interference Fit]

2 minutes ago, RideWithStyles said:

, feel for you but at least it wasnt far.

 

Doubt you'll find them, the daytona i had was so upset i was swapping it for a different bike the side air scoop on the left side faring couldn't handle the break up and decided to not stay on the anymore while on the way to the dealer...

im sure it was still there over half way through the journey of about 10 miles with a few round abouts, in daylight on reasonably wide roads with low grass sides . I never did find it even looking twice on both sides of the road and that was with a part much bigger.

This stuff happens I guess - I must say it felt a bit weird waggling my left foot around looking for the shift lever to find it swinging freely! 

[RideWithStyles]

Reminds me of horse riding....but i wont go into that.

 

when the dealer replaces the escaped parts (free of charge), that would make me ocd and paranoid so id use some mid strength thread locker (red i think). apply some to both ends of the rod and nuts.

If it was me id be checking every nut and bolt on the bike even after it had been to the dealer while i was at it.
if your keeping the bike maybe have a self check over every so many miles, just less what youve got to now maybe?

[Interference Fit]

7 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

Reminds me of horse riding....but i wont go into that.

 

when the dealer replaces the escaped parts (free of charge), that would make me ocd and paranoid so id use some mid strength thread locker (red i think). apply some to both ends of the rod and nuts.

If it was me id be checking every nut and bolt on the bike even after it had been to the dealer while i was at it.
if your keeping the bike maybe have a self check over every so many miles, just less what youve got to now maybe?

The quick shifter was a dealer fit accessory, so I think that is the smoking gun - probably not either torqued up correctly or no thread lock used - I'll ensure both.

 

This sort of stuff is always a good barometer of how good a dealer's aftersales service and customer care is. I understand this stuff happens, it's how it's addressed that matters.

 

I'm definitely not keeping the bike though - far to revvy and racy for me. Looks great, sounds great, feels great, box ticked, 80's/90's me satisfied, but I want something more upright with a more relaxed vibe and bank vault of torque. I wound it up in second last night and it not only scared me, but made me feel nauseous as I suffer from motion sickness, so need a bike where the fun and USP is delivered at more pedestrian speed and revs.

 

Notwithstanding, I LOVE my CBR, just not my forever bike. When they land in the UK, I'd like to try a new Stelvio and compare with e V2S Multistrada and see how they feel. New KTM990 appeals, but maybe still a bit 'intense'.

Edited December 16, 2023 by Interference Fit

[Mickly]

10 hours ago, Interference Fit said:

Limped home (less than a mile thankfully) stuck in gear as my quick shifter rod and shift lever arm decided to get a divorce - the nut, bolt and collar nowhere to be found (on a Friday night, down a country lane with a torch).

 

 

I had this happen with a gear lever, luckily I noticed within about 1/2 mile of the last gear change.

Went back the following day with a hoe ( gardening tool - you dirty minded lot ) and while poking through the undergrowth I was accosted by a couple of Coppers who thought I was looking for magic mushrooms -  after clearing up the misunderstanding I thanked them for letting me know that there were some around , they obviously didn’t see the funny side as an hour later another van stopped with about 8 of them in checking me out again.

Took me about 2 hours to find the gear lever.

[RideWithStyles]

 

7 hours ago, Interference Fit said:

The quick shifter was a dealer fit accessory, so I think that is the smoking gun - probably not either torqued up correctly or no thread lock used - I'll ensure both.

 

This sort of stuff is always a good barometer of how good a dealer's aftersales service and customer care is. I understand this stuff happens, it's how it's addressed that matters.

 

I'm definitely not keeping the bike though - far to revvy and racy for me. Looks great, sounds great, feels great, box ticked, 80's/90's me satisfied, but I want something more upright with a more relaxed vibe and bank vault of torque. I wound it up in second last night and it not only scared me, but made me feel nauseous as I suffer from motion sickness, so need a bike where the fun and USP is delivered at more pedestrian speed and revs.

 

Notwithstanding, I LOVE my CBR, just not my forever bike. When they land in the UK, I'd like to try a new Stelvio and compare with e V2S Multistrada and see how they feel. New KTM990 appeals, but maybe still a bit 'intense'.

Yeah probably just not done the job properly.
I suspect the suspension is bobbing about for the first 1/4-1/2 travel too much and giving u motion sickness. 

A real close up picture of the tyre , fork sanction and shock shaft (both unclean after ride) will tell alot.

twin or triples engines would be good to try my friend. Useable torque low down and not desperate for revs to work.

for me triples are just soo good, sound amazing, smooth but still has a nack of interesting and really good on the road that not too dissimilar to a inline4 so it wont be shock. Now dont get me wrong twins are great too for road use that would be happy at the slower and gentlemen pace, still even a mid capacity engine (500 cc 46hp) are still very quick and able that the only things that could out run me was super cars above far above 100mph and other quick bikes but for me more vibration which as the reason i had to sell mine.

 

now id avoid very adventure type bikes if motion sickness is a problem, they generally have long but very soft suspension at the top of their travel, yes you could turn the adjuster in but depending on how is internals have been set this might make it too stiff and unforgiving just to tune out the top half, that then would mean extra money and finding a good suspension specialist to rebuild it.

 

5 hours ago, Mickly said:

I Went back the following day with a hoe ( gardening tool - you dirty minded lot ) and while poking through the undergrowth I was accosted by a couple of Coppers who thought I was looking for magic mushrooms -  after clearing up I thanked them for letting me know that there were some around , they obviously didn’t see the funny side as an hour later another van stopped with about 8 of them in checking me out again.

Took me about 2 hours to find the gear lever.

To late, it was a lady variant.

thought they grew in the ground?

 

well shame about the shrooms but yey for finding the lever

Edited December 16, 2023 by RideWithStyles

[Joe85]

Nearly got wiped out on the 2nd ride on the GS. At a busy junction just by my house as i'm going straight ahead a guy in an Audi TT (who is behind a van and wholly obscured by it) decides he's had enough of waiting and just goes for it; an outrageous bit of driving. Genuinely just turns right across oncoming traffic to cut through a petrol garage and skip the traffic queue.

 

 

Thankfully (being a 40mph) road, i'm wary of riding at speed through that junction and (luckily for him) I'd dropped my speed so was a second behind where I should be. Annoyingly, forgot to attach the GoPro, as it was a disgraceful move. I'd turn into the garage and got alongside him, and he did stop and apologise. Regardless, that sort of negligence should carry a permanent ban.

Edited December 16, 2023 by Joe85

[Fiddlesticks]

7 minutes ago, Joe85 said:

Nearly got wiped out on the 2nd ride on the GS. At a busy junction just by my house as i'm going straight ahead a guy in an Audi TT (who is behind a van and wholly obscured by it) decides he's had enough of waiting and just goes for it; an outrageous bit of driving. Genuinely just turns right across oncoming traffic to cut through a petrol garage and skip the traffic queue.

 

 

Thankfully (being a 40mph) road, i'm wary of riding at speed through that junction and (luckily for him) I'd dropped my speed so was a second behind where I should be. Annoyingly, forgot to attach the GoPro, as it was a disgraceful move. I'd turn into the garage and got alongside him, and he did stop and apologise. Regardless, that sort of negligence should carry a permanent ban.

I've had he same thing happen. It really does pay to slow down and anticipate idiots pulling out on you. Glad you're OK.

[Joe85]

Thanks all. Here's the junction, just so you know what I mean. Arrow is the maneuver he made, without looking. I was about where the letter L is; enough space to stop, but not enough so as to not make your sphincter pukker up. ar*ehole.

 

[S-Westerly]

So I've done another 100 miles or so on the Guzzi including going up Fish  Hill on the A44. The more I ride it the more I like it. With it being lower than the Multistrada it seems to go into corners easier. The lights are way better than the Multistrada's. Having heated grips is a novelty for me and one I quickly got to like. The brakes are excellent and having an effective rear brake is a pleasant change. Not sure about the Pirelli Angel GT 2 tyres. A couple of times on the country roads there was a slight squiffle which I can't remember having with the PR6's. The Ohlins suspension is nice as well. So far so very good.

[Pie man]

20 minutes ago, S-Westerly said:

So I've done another 100 miles or so on the Guzzi including going up Fish  Hill on the A44. The more I ride it the more I like it. With it being lower than the Multistrada it seems to go into corners easier. The lights are way better than the Multistrada's. Having heated grips is a novelty for me and one I quickly got to like. The brakes are excellent and having an effective rear brake is a pleasant change. Not sure about the Pirelli Angel GT 2 tyres. A couple of times on the country roads there was a slight squiffle which I can't remember having with the PR6's. The Ohlins suspension is nice as well. So far so very good.

If I can have a favourite hill, it has to be Fish Hill  Glad you're enjoying the new bike, I must admit, if I was going for a road bike, it would be the Guzzi. I've not had a set of PAGT2, more of a Michelin fanboy, and after having a set of PR6s, nothing else seems to come close 

[Interference Fit]

10 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

 

Yeah probably just not done the job properly.
I suspect the suspension is bobbing about for the first 1/4-1/2 travel too much and giving u motion sickness. 

A real close up picture of the tyre , fork sanction and shock shaft (both unclean after ride) will tell alot.

 

 

now id avoid very adventure type bikes if motion sickness is a problem, they generally have long but very soft suspension at the top of their travel, yes you could turn the adjuster in but depending on how is internals have been set this might make it too stiff and unforgiving just to tune out the top half, that then would mean extra money and finding a good suspension specialist to rebuild it.

 

 

 

My motion sickness is caused by fierce acceleration and hard braking - the up and down element doesn't impact me strangely. Literally as I sored past 9k rpm and it really became to pull hard, I felt my stomach go and the dizziness kick in. I get it in a car if I have to hit the brakes hard - it's an instant reaction. 

 

The good news is that my supplying Honda dealer were straight on the phone this morning, (responding to my e-mail from last night), hugely apologetic and stated they had a full quick shifter kit in stock that I could have and either have the bike recovered to them using the breakdown cover for them to fit at once or, (knowing I'm a hobbyist engineer / mechanic) said I could call in to collect (I'm local) and fit myself, or they would post it to me.

 

An hour later and all was fitted and right with the world - great service I must say from Bill Smith's Honda in Chester. 

[RideWithStyles]

thats great news, though if you wanted to truly test their service you could of let them collect it, fitted it and possibly returned it.

 

Oh never mentioned the sickness before sorry. If thats the case then for tour next bike going for a large capacity sports or stourer or adventure is gonna be real self restraint of not your licence like most people but maybe the cleaners and dizzying weave also could feel like wasted if your that tyoe of person, so maybe a different aspect of biking might suit better? 

Indian scout.

 

Indian chief or super chief for size your height will definitely pull this one off.

 

 

 

 

 

Or Triumph speed master.

Edited December 16, 2023 by RideWithStyles

[Interference Fit]

16 minutes ago, RideWithStyles said:

thats great news, though if you wanted to truly test their service you could of let them collect it, fitted it and possibly returned it.

 

Oh never mentioned the sickness before sorry. If thats the case then for tour next bike going for a large capacity sports or stourer or adventure is gonna be real self restraint of not your licence like most people but maybe the cleaners and dizzying weave also could feel like wasted if your that tyoe of person, so maybe a different aspect of biking might suit better? 

Indian scout.

 

Indian chief or super chief for size your height will definitely pull this one off.

 

 

 

 

 

Or Triumph speed master.

I like the scout bobber far more but like the Sportster S HD, hear that the rear suspension is 'compromised'. A test ride is the only way I guess. I'm still drawn to the HD Sportglide, but expect the Stelvio or Multistrada to be a good Goldilocks perhaps. 

 

I wanted to ride the bike asap so didn't want to wait for collection and delivery when they're not to far away, plus I had to go into town for another errand so made sense to call past and collect. I'm looking forward to a good ride out tomorrow as the weather is nice and dry round these parts. 

[Ian Frog]

By way of a test ride I suppose. 

First time I have ridden the Harley Dyna.

Since delivery it has had the stage one hardware installed and as it was a nice morning we headed over to the 2 flags café for brekky.

Happy to report she is sweet to ride and breakfast was good lol.

Cheers 

Ian

[S-Westerly]

Well despite blocked roads, floods and cyclists I did manage to do the Cheddar Gorge. I'd forgotten how grotty Cheddar village had become and as for Somerset roads the less said the better.