What did you do to your bike today?

[Tinkicker]

To cap it off.

Voltages peaked around 2pm @ 14.5 and 14.4v respectively.

 

We are now in maintenance mode with storage at 13.4v and bike at 13.3v.  Probably meter error causing the slight discrepancy. Both seem to be getting buzzed in turn with 13.4v/ 0.5A for storage and 0.2amps for bike, for a few seconds, probably once every minute or so.

 

If both are showing 12.6v in the morning, I will be a happy bunny.

 

Hope it has a few of you putting your thinking caps on.

Edited September 12, 2024 by Tinkicker

[Stu]

50 minutes ago, Tinkicker said:

To cap it off.

Voltages peaked around 2pm @ 14.5 and 14.4v respectively.

 

We are now in maintenance mode with storage at 13.4v and bike at 13.3v.  Probably meter error causing the slight discrepancy. Both seem to be getting buzzed in turn with 13.4v/ 0.5A for storage and 0.2amps for bike, for a few seconds, probably once every minute or so.

 

If both are showing 12.6v in the morning, I will be a happy bunny.

 

Hope it has a few of you putting your thinking caps on.

Do you think this should have had its own thread to make it easier to find? 

 

It's all good info and will be useful to others 

[Tinkicker]

Perhaps.  Twas never intended to be a thread. It just kinda evolved.  

[Stu]

13 minutes ago, Tinkicker said:

Perhaps.  Twas never intended to be a thread. It just kinda evolved.  

Yeah that's the trouble with this sort of thing

[Joe85]

Rediscovered how much I love riding it in “rain” mode. 
 

It’s so civil and bouncy. 

[Simon Davey]

1 hour ago, Joe85 said:

Rediscovered how much I love riding it in “rain” mode. 
 

It’s so civil and bouncy. 

 

Was it raining though?

[Joe85]

It was the day before, but I decided to leave it that mode today for the morning commute. Very pleasant compared to the rock solid dynamic and race modes that feel like you have a wooden wheels on.
 

 

[Simon Davey]

9 minutes ago, Joe85 said:

It was the day before, but I decided to leave it that mode today for the morning commute. Very pleasant compared to the rock solid dynamic and race modes that feel like you have a wooden wheels on.
 

 

 

Ah right, I see....

So you'll be looking at something with a nice boxer engine soon.

 

[bonio]

Used to put mine into Soft when doin a motorway. I miss that sofa-and-slippers plush feeling.

[Tinkicker]

Not up at the crack of dawn this morning, but when I checked at around 9am, both batteries were in maintenance mode, so that is good enough for me.

0 amps getting drawn from panel and bike battery at 13.4v was getting hit with 0.1A every minute or so.  Since nothing was coming from the panel, the storage battery at 13.5v, may be deemed by the controller to be slightly overcharged and the system is balancing itself by drawing excess power from storage and passing it to bike.

 

Very happy that the panel and system will keep up easily, even on cloudy winter days.

 

 

Edited September 13, 2024 by Tinkicker

[Tinkicker]

This morning it was time for VFRs pre winter layup oil change.  I hate having to remove panels to get access for service items, even if it is not a particularly onerous task.  Perhaps 20 - 25 mins in total to remove and refit.  Side panels are easy, do not like removing the undertray, even if it is just four bolts.  Dunno why, but I dislike it.  Side panels are just one bolt and five zeus fastners.

 

I doubt I will get many more rides this season.  Was hoping for a bit more VFR action this week, but this weeks holiday has been a washout weather wise.

Of course, back at work Monday, so nice weather forecast...

Maybe I will get out tomorrow and again next weekend.  I am not topping off the fuel now.  Just using what is left in the tank, it will be drained out at the end of the month and put in the cars and the bike put on SORN.

 

I am going to miss her.  This is a good sign.  When I worked at the motorcycle activity centre, I was completely biked out.  Took many years to get the slightest bit of interest in motorcycles back.  First, it was the technical aspect of owning and restoring, and riding was done just as a means of exercising my bikes.

 

This year, something has changed.  My passion for riding is starting to return and I am feeling genuinly sad to be putting her away by the end of the month.

 

Oil changed, winter storage fuel is on its way, to preserve the fuel system over winter and I have the battery maintenance system sorted.  A final wash and a spray with silicone spray will see her under her dust covers. Only time I will see her over winter is when I pull the wheels for new tyres fitting.  Otherwise she will be completely undisturbed. 

 

 

Sad times.  End of the season for restored bikes that will never see rain or road salt ever again.  That BT023 front tyre is also date stamped 2012 so time to go.  A pair of michelin road 6s are in her future.

Edited September 13, 2024 by Tinkicker

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

Today I watched the blind spot mirror fall off my offside rear view mirror and disappear beneath the wheels of a truck. I didn't think it was worth stopping to go back for it.

[Nick the wanderer]

Love all the solar power stuff, I'm going to power our summer shed eventually for lights and phone charging etc, a south facing roof somewhere around the 30' angle it gets plenty of sun, when it's out.

For the bike I use one of the Oxford ones, kept my XSR battery well alive since 2016 (yes I know I'm tempting fate) Same sort of angle in a skylight, south facing. Highly recommended.

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/206242

[Tinkicker]

Had a ride out on the VFR, maybe 25 miles.  In truth, I just did not gel with it today. 

Every corner was taken like a thruppenny bit, not smooth at all.  Every road junction I pulled out of ran wider than I planned.  Very wobbly ride, esp at walking pace manouvres.  VFR 1.  TK riding placement accuracy 0.

 

For some reason, the bike felt alien to me.  Tyre pressures checked before setting out and OK.  36 front, and a couple of pumps with foot pump, 42 rear.

 

Whether I now have no faith in the tyres, after finding them to be over 12 years old I dunno, but it felt like a start of season first ride, not an end of season ride.

 

Only difference from before, is that today I had a sweatshirt on under my jacket, not just the usual T shirt.

 

Very odd.

 

Another thing I have noticed.  There seems to be a quarter of bikes around today, compared to other sunny saturday morning rides earlier in the summer.  I wonder if some of the bikes are already being parked up for winter?

 

Will get little yeller out this afternoon.  That is a sure fire hoot of a ride.

Edited September 14, 2024 by Tinkicker

[rob m]

21 minutes ago, Tinkicker said:

Had a ride out on the VFR, maybe 25 miles.  In truth, I just did not gel with it today. 

Every corner was taken like a thruppenny bit, not smooth at all.  Every road junction I pulled out of ran wider than I planned.  Very wobbly ride, esp at walking pace manouvres.  VFR 1.  TK riding placement accuracy 0.

 

For some reason, the bike felt alien to me.  Tyre pressures checked before setting out and OK.  36 front, and a couple of pumps with foot pump, 42 rear.

 

Whether I now have no faith in the tyres, after finding them to be over 12 years old I dunno, but it felt like a start of season first ride, not an end of season ride.

 

Only difference from before, is that today I had a sweatshirt on under my jacket, not just the usual T shirt.

 

Very odd.

 

Will get little yeller out this afternoon.  That is a sure fire hoot of a ride.

It happens mate. There's been times I've been totally at one with my K1300S and then other times I've struggled to enjoy the ride. For me. it's all in my head. When it's good though it's the best feeling in the world.

 

Hopefully after it's winter layoff and a new set of tyres, you'll love it again. I really like VFRs, despite never owning one.

Edited September 14, 2024 by rob m

[rob m]

4 hours ago, Nick the wanderer said:

Love all the solar power stuff, I'm going to power our summer shed eventually for lights and phone charging etc, a south facing roof somewhere around the 30' angle it gets plenty of sun, when it's out.

For the bike I use one of the Oxford ones, kept my XSR battery well alive since 2016 (yes I know I'm tempting fate) Same sort of angle in a skylight, south facing. Highly recommended.

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/206242

Thanks for the reminder! Just ordered one from SBS, have been considering it for a while as my bike lives outside and my Stormex cover has a slot for it. 

[Fish]

Installed a satnav mount on the XSR

[Simon Davey]

48 minutes ago, Fish said:

Installed a satnav mount on the XSR

 

I do like the Zumo, looks like a good position.

 

 

[rob m]

Put it in the wrong thread 

Edited September 15, 2024 by rob m

[Tinkicker]

I think this will be the final post on the solar project.  Up and about at 7am or thereabouts this morning.

Anyways I checked the voltages.

 

Storage 12.7v.

Bike 12.8v.

 

Both a very healthy state for a rested battery.

 

Typically the bike voltmeter undereads the system meter by 0.1v, so the blocking diode in the circuit is preventing the bike discharging back into the system.  This is as hoped.

 

The weather today has been absolutely horrendous.  Dark, with a low overcast and heavy rain all day.  A typical poor winters day.

 

A check of the voltages at 2pm to simulate the 6 hours of useable daylight in mid winter reveals.

 

Despite the charge amperage showing 0.0A whenever I checked, some must have been flowing, just less than the gauge resolution.

 

Storage battery showing 13.1v and bike showing 13.0v.

 

The system has managed to replenish its own power consumption, parasitic drain from the bike and both batteries self discharge rates during a very dark and dismal day.

 

I will still have to monitor it through the shed window in the depths of winter, but I do not think it will need any outside intervention.  A couple of hours of bright sunshine every few days, or even a brighter day than today should keep it tickled pink and back at maintenance volts.

Edited September 15, 2024 by Tinkicker

[Mickly]

Rolled it out of the garage & Oh Billhooks, rear tyre flat.

At least it’s in the middle so could be plugged.

[Stu]

4 hours ago, Mickly said:

Rolled it out of the garage & Oh Billhooks, rear tyre flat.

At least it’s in the middle so could be plugged.

 

Snap! 

 

Just over 1500 miles on a new tyre too! 

 

Pulled it off and plugged it already 

 

 

Oh and first ever puncture in 20 odd years of riding so good going really 

[Bianco2564]

Did a bit more on the RGV over the weekend.

Fitted the power valves back into the barrels, pic shown up the exhaust port.

Refitted the RH foot peg, rear brake master cylinder and caliper.

Stripped and painted some radiator brackets

 

 

[Gerontious]

Cleaned and oiled the chain and sat back satisfied (for about a minute) then I had a good look at the rear sprocket - I think the time is fast approaching where the whole drive train will need replacing. So that’s the task for this winter. Get the parts together so it can be replaced without having to pay for the whole shebang at once. Sprockets first then a chain. 26,000 miles and only one adjustment. I’m not sure if that’s good bad or about average.

[bonio]

Mine's lasted just 18.5k. Two adjustments. But tbf I haven't looked after it as well as I should.

Getting a new set on Friday.