What did you do to your bike today?

[V650]

Fitted a Puig screen to the CB500X 

Helps with the buffeting I was getting with stock screen

 

[S-Westerly]

9 hours ago, Mawsley said:

I haven’t.
 

My idea of mechanics is to sit in a dealership cafe pondering over whether to eat a lot of cake or all of the cake while someone who knows what end of a spanner to hold does black magic to my machine.

 

I could teach myself spannering, but life is short.

A man after my own heart. 

[Richard]

Well , I got the Buell Mot’d and found that I can manage to ride it again, without too much pain. So I will tax it next spring and run for local stuff.

[Bianco2564]

Put the engine back into the RGV.

 

[Simon Davey]

That looks "factory fresh". 

[Motomike1400]

Sold it! The BMW R1250R.

A perfectly good bike. Just didn't do it for me. And too many doubts on reliability (rightly or wrongly, who knows)? And the Honda X-ADV 750 needs to be sold too.

So now, just keeping the Honda Rebel 1100 DCT, the Guzzi V7 Classic, and new to me CBR650R E-clutch.   Different bikes for different uses/moods/helmets!

[RideWithStyles]

26 minutes ago, Motomike1400 said:

 

. And too many doubts on reliability (rightly or wrongly, who knows)?

 Just keeping the Guzzi V7 Classic, 

I wont go into the other bikes but this requirement to that bike - holy moly, really?

Edited October 24, 2024 by RideWithStyles
Auto bs

[Motomike1400]

3 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

I wont go into the other bikes but this requirement to that bike - holy moly, really?

Guess you refer to Guzzi reliability?  Had it since new 2010. Used mainly for short trips circa 20 miles in all weather conditions but has done 600 mile trip over 2 days. Over 20000 miles it's blown 1 fuse, and recently replaced the H4 headlamp bulb. Always starts first time, does 60 imperial mpg, and is just a nice bike to ride.  While I've had the Guzzi I've also had, and sold, Africa Twin, BMW F800GS & S1000R, Z900RS,  new Goldwing, 1290 Superduke, T120 Bonneville, and California 1400. The AT was good, did 36000 miles in 5 years. The California 1400 did 28000 miles, and had 2 ABS brake sensors fail. The other bikes while good in some ways just didn't interest me enough to keep.

Happy now to plod about within the speed limits, no off roading now, with the occasional blast a little above the limit...without the risk of losing my licence . So the 3 bikes I intend to keep cover the rides I now do and will probably last me till I give it all up.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

A while ago I fitted TEC progressive springs and adjustable caps to my Bobber. TEC said to use the original spacer tubes but that resulted in massive preload and no negative adjustment left. Plus refitting the caps was a nightmare.  

 

As a result they reviewed their specifications and sent me slightly shorter spacers. Fitting the caps was easier but the ride has been harsher than I like even with the caps wound fully up. 

 

So this morning I removed the spacers and cut 15mm of them. That leaves the spacers just proud of the suspension tubes with the front wheel off the ground. Pretty much what the oem spacers and springs looked like. 

 

So fitting the caps is now a doddle and I've got more adjustment to play with. 

 

 

[RideWithStyles]

Me and my brother have had our fair share of Italian stuff over the years on both two and four wheels. 

Yes the guzzi as a general they aint as reliable (some ain’t bothered but for me it needs to be a sure thing) and some units are good as gold but as like many things use them as intended and they fair better, like most Italian stuff they don’t like to be left in a garage and neglected as thats the worst thing possible prime example ducati of old and the belts.
Plus the dealer network wasn’t as positive where I am.

you’ve definitely had a quite varied bike experience, 

dont get me wrong love guzzi and so very nearly got one V7 or the V9 with those positive aspects you mentioned too but fully knowing the risks, the reason it lost out was because I most likely wouldn’t use it very often (daily or every weekend) and it would be my only bike so it’s more likely to be a poor experience for me and seeing guzzi as a brand.
Maybe in the future .

[Bianco2564]

Spent a couple of hours carefully scraping the paint off the top yoke. Decided to leave it a natural finish to match the bottom yoke. Bought a new steering stem nut, the old one was beyond salvation.

 

[Simon Davey]

That's a great idea for the finish. What did you use?

[Bianco2564]

1 minute ago, Simon Davey said:

That's a great idea for the finish. What did you use?

That is just the bare alloy, just scraped all the paint off with a thin blade and buffed it with a fine brass wire brush, it was in really good condition underneath.

Was in two minds whether to repaint it black, but I quite like it as is.

[Pie man]

Purchased some more XCP, set about cleaning the bike (I hate cleaning bikes) Oh and I hate cleaning spokes. Anyhow, removed all the plastics and belly pan, now its all covered in XCP. Well, were I could get it 

[Bianco2564]

Stripped and painted the fairing brackets, headlamp bracket, Speedo & tachometer mount and upper fairing bracket.

Repaired a broken wire for the speedo back light.

 

[onesea]

Insured them £167 for the pair.

[Simon Davey]

That's a bargain! 

[Mawsley]

After I’ve run the daughter to work because she’s concerned her car is making a scary noise, rack fitting time. Then it’ll be time for a coffee and an online hunt for a rear seat and sissy bar so wifey can come out. 

[Mawsley]

Fitted the air filter rain cover - £45 in the UK, £1.72 from China. If companies didn't take the piss so hard I'd use them, but this took the biscuit.

[Bianco2564]

Reassembled the RGV clocks and refitted back on the bike.

 

 

[S-Westerly]

Failed to pick it up from daughter's place.  She's in Germany and son in law is working. Tomorrow we are away for a few days so it's going to be Sunday now. Typically today was a glorious day but Sunday is supposed to be wet. Not a happy camper. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I got to ride the Bobber for a change so tested my DIY alterations to TEC's suspension spacers. The front end is much nicer. 

[Tinkicker]

I peered through the shed window to review the battery voltage.  12.7v.  I shivered and walked back in the house.

 

Rock hard biker me.

[S-Westerly]

Haven't yet but will be prepping bike for trip up to Northumberland tomorrow.  Currently sleeting heavily  but tomorrow is supposed to be fine but cold. It'll be a thrash up the motorway as interesting roads may be icy etc.

[Simon Davey]

Safe journey @S-Westerly