What did you do to your bike today?

[MikeHorton]

Here's the cheaper ones I bought 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331892381446?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=y_rAqIWsTU2&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=ZPITfT4aSPa&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[Stu]

16 minutes ago, MikeHorton said:

Try a flairosol for applications of ACF. I use a paint sprayer for a good coating in the autumn then use a flairosol for top up coats  comes out like a mist better than the actual pump bottles acf supply and like a standard aerosol. You can get cheaper generic flairosols on ebay etc 

 

https://www.flairosol.com/?msclkid=de2830f2197411bd65da532de01981d5

 

Thanks I will check that out as this is one thing I have been struggling with 

 

I have just got a decent spray bottle and saw a tip about heating the ACF50 up before applying which worked and was better but it was still too much applied in one go 

[Pie man]

13 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

Thanks I will check that out as this is one thing I have been struggling with 

 

I have just got a decent spray bottle and saw a tip about heating the ACF50 up before applying which worked and was better but it was still too much applied in one go 

I used to drop the tin of ACF50 in a bucket of hot water for 15mins before applying, now use XCP, applies very easily straight out of the tin.

[Stu]

4 minutes ago, Pie man said:

I used to drop the tin of ACF50 in a bucket of hot water for 15mins before applying, now use XCP, applies very easily straight out of the tin.

 

Thats what I did I put the bottle in hot water till it warmed up 

[Pie man]

1 minute ago, Stu said:

 

Thats what I did I put the bottle in hot water till it warmed up 

XCP applies straight from the tin, just like deodorant  

[Stu]

Just now, Pie man said:

XCP applies straight from the tin, just like deodorant  

 

Does it stop you deteriorating 

[MikeHorton]

21 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

Thats what I did I put the bottle in hot water till it warmed up 

Yep I warm it up too even I. The paint sprayer it flows better. Bennetts bike social dodgy a recent test of rust inhibitors pieman uses xcp which I think it the best stuff now but I have a large bottle of acf I'll swap over after that's all gone. I do have some techcote acs in an aerosol to top up that gets a good rating too and is less messy but needs more applications 

 

 

Edited February 5, 2023 by MikeHorton

[Pie man]

26 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

Does it stop you deteriorating 

It smell's better 

[S-Westerly]

I use XCP but get it applied by All Year Biker. One application lasts a good 9 months in my experience. Tend to get it done once a leave.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I awoke the Bobber from its winter slumber. Due to family issues I've had no time since the autumn to do anything with it. A bit of air in the tyres and it rumbled into life first touch of the button. 

 

I had almost forgotten what a lunatic machine it is. 

[Trooper74]

Rode to work today .... cold crisp winters morning , just 24 miles mostly motorway ,,,, in jeans ,,,, wasn't too bad. Top end warm enough, feet warm .... legs ..... nicely frozen lol ... 

New light came on the dash for the first time .... a snowflake .... means under 4 deg c, alledgley... modern bikes eh !

 

Edited February 7, 2023 by Trooper74

[onesea]

52 minutes ago, Trooper74 said:

Rode to work today .... cold crisp winters morning , just 24 miles mostly motorway ,,,, in jeans ,,,, wasn't too bad. Top end warm enough, feet warm .... legs ..... nicely frozen lol ... 

New light came on the dash for the first time .... a snowflake .... means under 4 deg c, alledgley... modern bikes eh !

 

 I ride the CBR home at 2 in morning only 2 miles.

Bloody hell wind chill through helmet, my jaw was frozen.

Never had issue with other bikes it will be the different sitting position me thinks...

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

7 hours ago, onesea said:

 I ride the CBR home at 2 in morning only 2 miles.

Bloody hell wind chill through helmet, my jaw was frozen.

Never had issue with other bikes it will be the different sitting position me thinks...

Try a buff with a keffiyeh wrapped round your neck. The combination both keeps any draughts out and kills noise levels. 

 

For added kudos leave a short length of the keffiyek flying in the breeze. Then you can pretend to be Biggles in his Sopwith Camel shooting down the hun in BMWs and Audis. 

 

Not too much flying in the wind or it will go into your back wheel which isn't good. 

[Pie man]

8 hours ago, Trooper74 said:

Rode to work today .... cold crisp winters morning , just 24 miles mostly motorway ,,,, in jeans ,,,, wasn't too bad. Top end warm enough, feet warm .... legs ..... nicely frozen lol ... 

New light came on the dash for the first time .... a snowflake .... means under 4 deg c, alledgley... modern bikes eh !

 

or was the light telling you something else, could the V-Strom be an overly sensitive or easily offended motorcycle, who believes it is entitled to special treatment on account of their supposedly unique characteristics 

[Trooper74]

12 minutes ago, Pie man said:

or was the light telling you something else, could the V-Strom be an overly sensitive or easily offended motorcycle, who believes it is entitled to special treatment on account of their supposedly unique characteristics 

lol lol

[MikeHorton]

Finally took the bike out today 1st time since September. Felt as if I'd not been off it, started no issues and  fuel stabiliser kept the e10 fresh. Only a short trip to a work Venue to check it out for parking and changing facilities as I'm on a course there next week and car parking  a no no, trains and tram too much of a faff. I just need to remember to wear some baselayer leggings as the boots rubbed my scar on my leg. Was concerned the AT would be too heavy for me after my op but gladly it's all good. Only downside was my 1st ride was in the dark and to West Brom hardly scenic. Got to try the Denali mini horn to remind a taxi driver I was there and it is a great investment it was effective!

 

Edited February 8, 2023 by MikeHorton

[billy sugger]

1 hour ago, MikeHorton said:

Finally took the bike out today 1st time since September. Felt as if I'd not been off it, started no issues and  fuel stabiliser kept the e5 fresh. Only a short trip to a work Venue to check it out for parking and changing facilities as I'm on a course there next week and car parking  a no no, trains and tram too much of a faff. I just need to remember to wear some baselayer leggings as the boots rubbed my scar on my leg. Was concerned the AT would be too heavy for me after my op but gladly it's all good. Only downside was my 1st ride was in the dark and to West Brom hardly scenic. Got to try the Denali mini horn to remind a taxi driver I was there and it is a great investment it was effective!

 

It's good that you were able to get back out on it, and I hope it gets better the more you use it

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I forgot to mention re. waking up the Bobber from its winter slumber. The last time I rode it was in September, then from October onwards life went to hell and back so it's sat untouched since. It had E10 in it which didn't seem to cause any issues despite what the doom and gloom merchants predicted.

[MikeHorton]

1 hour ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

I forgot to mention re. waking up the Bobber from its winter slumber. The last time I rode it was in September, then from October onwards life went to hell and back so it's sat untouched since. It had E10 in it which didn't seem to cause any issues despite what the doom and gloom merchants predicted.

Yes I've heard horror stories but none from anyone I know. I played it safe and put the stabiliser in on advice of dealer and independent mechanic. It's good to press the start button after so long and it just fires up

[Stu]

Mine has been left since October with E10 in and fired up first time and rode and ran lovely with no issues either 

[Steve_M]

43 minutes ago, Stu said:

Mine has been left since October with E10 in and fired up first time and rode and ran lovely with no issues either 

My SV650 took several attempts this afternoon. Then I remembered it’s a carb model and needed me to operate the choke. Still took three goes to run smoothly.

 

I then had the scariest ride I’ve ever had at 10mph. Down the drive which is a bit bumpy but that didn’t explain why the damn bike was all over the place. I went back up to the house and checked the tyre pressures. Bugger. The front didn’t register, and the only pump  have runs off the car’s power take off - and the car is currently in Glasgow.

Edited February 8, 2023 by Steve_M

[Mickly]

Had some fun with fitting my new Gerbing heated gloves today.
Took the front cover off the tank, fitted the link lead to the battery and lost one of the edge clips down into the tight recesses under the tank and to add insult to injury the bloody gloves wouldn’t work !!
So … after much head scratching ( & reading up on line ) I realised that although there was an inline fuse holder, there was actually no fuse in it & there was a selection provided with the gloves, so once the correct fuse was identified & fitted, the gloves worked
I then tried to search for the missing edge clip, lifted the tank, took out the battery & removed bits of bodywork, no joy so started reassembling it only to find out that one of the battery terminal bolts had decided to do one !!
Gave up looking and procured a new bolt, edge clip and finished the job … as I was putting the bike away I spotted the missing bolt on the drive cunningly camouflaged the same colour as the block paving… god I love working on bikes

[MikeHorton]

2 hours ago, Mickly said:

Had some fun with fitting my new Gerbing heated gloves today.
Took the front cover off the tank, fitted the link lead to the battery and lost one of the edge clips down into the tight recesses under the tank and to add insult to injury the bloody gloves wouldn’t work !!
So … after much head scratching ( & reading up on line ) I realised that although there was an inline fuse holder, there was actually no fuse in it & there was a selection provided with the gloves, so once the correct fuse was identified & fitted, the gloves worked
I then tried to search for the missing edge clip, lifted the tank, took out the battery & removed bits of bodywork, no joy so started reassembling it only to find out that one of the battery terminal bolts had decided to do one !!
Gave up looking and procured a new bolt, edge clip and finished the job … as I was putting the bike away I spotted the missing bolt on the drive cunningly camouflaged the same colour as the block paving… god I love working on bikes 

Quick straightforward job then

[Mickly]

2 hours ago, MikeHorton said:

Quick straightforward job then

About 3 hours in all

[Pie man]

On 07/02/2023 at 20:43, MikeHorton said:

Finally took the bike out today 1st time since September. Felt as if I'd not been off it, started no issues and  fuel stabiliser kept the e10 fresh. Only a short trip to a work Venue to check it out for parking and changing facilities as I'm on a course there next week and car parking  a no no, trains and tram too much of a faff. I just need to remember to wear some baselayer leggings as the boots rubbed my scar on my leg. Was concerned the AT would be too heavy for me after my op but gladly it's all good. Only downside was my 1st ride was in the dark and to West Brom hardly scenic. Got to try the Denali mini horn to remind a taxi driver I was there and it is a great investment it was effective!

 

Mike, Have you got the panniers for the HATAS or just run with a top box, & how does it fair with the box on the back at Mway speed.