What did you do to your bike today?

[Fish]

Simple little mod of moving the rearsets on the XSR from the lower to upper position and took a test ride. A little more sporty position, but after an hour in the saddle nothing to moan about.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

On 10/08/2024 at 20:03, muldoon74 said:

having received all the bits n bobs (other than those I thought I had..) went to adjust chain..

 

Found that with the adaptor fitted neither my torque bar nor breaker bar fit in between nut and exhaust. 

 

Then found out my 14mm socket from the set I've had for years will round off the nut (it's not hexagonal but the many pointed type).. So had to stop that. 

 

Went to B and Q, no hexagonal 14mm sockets.

 

Went to Halfords.. Hurray! a hexagonal 14mm socket! Asked the staff member to open cabinet but he said "you'll need to ask someone else with a headset I'm too busy".. Then went back to sorting his scooters out...

 

I walked out. Mood I was in I may have thumped the ignorant **** but decided to just leave instead.

 

Chain is probably about 600 miles past when chain should have been done (according to recommendations of every 600 miles).. 

 

Should be OK for a ride out tomorrow but my Grail ride to Tyndrum (and beyond?) is on hold until I get chain done. 

 

It's a 2022 model CB125F, done 1900 miles. I've read (whether true or not) of people doing thousands of miles on them totally neglecting the chain etc but I don't want to be that guy... 

 

As a side note, can the exhaust be loosened to allow me access to the nut in order to loosen it? 

Yes you can loosen the exhaust if necessary.   

 

Chains on 125s tend to be pretty weak so they need adjusting more frequently.  It's worth looking at alternatives that might be more robust. 

 

Chain wear is also affected by maintenance. My Bobber chain gets waxed after every ride, it's a 15 second job, and it hasn't needed adjusting in over 5000 miles.  

[RideWithStyles]

Yes Muldoon you dont want to be “that guy”. Chains are the weakest part in the link….

anyway they all differ quality, in wear and use so it could last ages like that to just steadly get worst and stuffer with droop before it locks up wheel or takes out a casing/actuation rod in dramatic fashion.

125s chains aint much bigger than a bicycle chain, as std their up to the job when new (if specd, made and supplied by a trusted brand) but their durability is hit and miss even if its maintenance is correct.
that’s no excuse to buy a really good strong one and not bother to maintain it…

Chain will give up or be worn out at some point, just that how much neglect will speed it up.
As MBF said you could loosen it to give you a little bit of room. 

[husoi]

New insurance for shadow.

60 quid gone

Personal cover with green flag.

All 3 vehicles covered. Another 162 quid gone

[husoi]

@Simon Davey

I was being sarcastic

How many people can complain about a comprehensive policy for 60 quid?

[S-Westerly]

14 minutes ago, husoi said:

@Simon Davey

I was being sarcastic

How many people can complain about a comprehensive policy for 60 quid?

Maybe he thought you were channeling your inner Scotsman?

[RideWithStyles]

Don’t worry SD , I’m used to Yorkshire people so I thought he was being serious .

[Simon Davey]

I just sympathise with anyone who has to spend money. 

[Fish]

Took a little trip down to HM Racing in Edenbridge for a suspension setup on my XSR. Due to rider weight options have to be investigated, and I didn't think that I was that heavy compared to some. Guess Yamaha do the suspension setups for the average 50kg adult.  

[Simon Davey]

51 minutes ago, Fish said:

Took a little trip down to HM Racing in Edenbridge for a suspension setup on my XSR. Due to rider weight options have to be investigated, and I didn't think that I was that heavy compared to some. Guess Yamaha do the suspension setups for the average 50kg adult.  

Great to get it set up right though. 

Would be interested to know how/if it improves the ride. 

[bonio]

3 hours ago, Fish said:

Took a little trip down to HM Racing in Edenbridge for a suspension setup on my XSR. Due to rider weight options have to be investigated, and I didn't think that I was that heavy compared to some. Guess Yamaha do the suspension setups for the average 50kg adult.  

I've heard it said that Japanese bikes are generally set up for lightweights. They always suit me just fine

[S-Westerly]

Your average Japanese is probably considerably lighter than the average westerner these days.

[AstronautNinja]

Stood and looked longingly at the bike whilst day dreaming about my first blast out as soon as I pass. Soon baby soon. 

[Simon Davey]

11 hours ago, bonio said:

I've heard it said that Japanese bikes are generally set up for lightweights. They always suit me just fine

 

9 hours ago, S-Westerly said:

Your average Japanese is probably considerably lighter than the average westerner these days.

 

My user manual says it's set up for a 68kg rider. 

That ain't me

[S-Westerly]

1 hour ago, Simon Davey said:

 

 

My user manual says it's set up for a 68kg rider. 

That ain't me

Nor me either! I must investigate what the Guzzi's is although as its got fancy Ohlins electronic suspension I'm not sure what is supposed to happen.

[RideWithStyles]

Yes well they like to look after their home market first then a bit of scope afterwards for the chunky foreigners, makes sense.

guzzi will be a bit more accommodating as it would be set up for a European…taller and slightly slender maybe with small feet and hands.

depending on the bike (make and model) and its base set up (region and vaguely a customer in mind) also spec (design and cost) of what or how much adjustment is allowed.

so a fully electric/actuators suspension may have options of preload, rebound and or compression adjustments (also depending on it actual variable finite adjustment) on the fly in real time. Anything else will be one or inbetween.

does those adjustments allow for a good base set up?

preload ramps are restricted set steps and crude adjustments.

Twin rings are the best but can be awkward to adjust.

hydrolic are easy and costly but is it set within its restricted range correctly for everyone? A good few maybe but not everyone or they’re needs case,Some sometimes they need resetting.

its the same with compression or rebound. Does the range mean that your inbetween ideal setting for each case? 

 

 

Edited August 13, 2024 by RideWithStyles

[smallfrowne]

Seeing as though we're geeking about preload adjusters I'll add that the stock Z900RS shock has the twin ring setup but the lock ring on top was a pain to loosen off because it dragged the bottom one with it, with not a lot of room to get another c spanner in. I hate setting preload at the best of times . 

 

The maxton shocks are great though, no lock ring at all. They just have a few grub screws to add friction to the apparatus, which is already set from the shop and doesn't need adjusting at all, you simply turn the ring with a spludger (a specially cut down screw driver, so just a handle and a bar) and leave it. It's my fave. 

[RideWithStyles]

1 hour ago, smallfrowne said:

Seeing as though we're geeking about preload adjusters I'll add that the stock Z900RS shock has the twin ring setup but the lock ring on top was a pain to loosen off because it dragged the bottom one with it, with not a lot of room to get another c spanner in. I hate setting preload at the best of times . 

 

The maxton shocks are great though, no lock ring at all. They just have a few grub screws to add friction to the apparatus, which is already set from the shop and doesn't need adjusting at all, you simply turn the ring with a spludger (a specially cut down screw driver, so just a handle and a bar) and leave it. It's my fave. 

Wd40 or my fave is gt86. Also if the threads are dirty that doesn’t help.

if the the two rings would move together in unison then that is fine.

 

If that’s the locking mechanism I think it is I’m not as keen as you have to screw the grubs into a tight thread of the body to lock it in place, very potential to damage the thread each time which then makes making adjustment a royal pain and worse than the two ring arrangement does. 

[smallfrowne]

4 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

Wd40 or my fave is gt86. Also if the threads are dirty that doesn’t help.

if the the two rings would move together in unison then that is fine.

 

If that’s the locking mechanism I think it is I’m not as keen as you have to screw the grubs into a tight thread of the body to lock it in place, very potential to damage the thread each time which then makes making adjustment a royal pain and worse than the two ring arrangement does. 

Ah of course, a bit of lube would've been nice. Next time. 

 

The grub screws on the maxton push onto some bits of plastic, which then touches the threads, so they act like a nyloc nut, and once set (by maxton) are not touched again. 

 

Edit: just to add that gt85 is the go to scent for Friday nights whereas wd40 is just a nice everyday wear. 

 

Double edit: I had to read the manual for that maxton tidbit

Edited August 13, 2024 by smallfrowne

[Bianco2564]

I stopped buying WD40 aerosols, way too expensive.

I now buy 5 litres of DW40 from Smith & Allen off eBay, £22 with free delivery.

[JRH]

Actually yesterday, on the way back from the tag ride noticed the fairing started to vibrate and wobble. After a rummage around on my return found that 1 of the 2 bolts that hold the centre fitting had gone AWOL.

Replace it with an M5 SS bolt from stock. Not an easy task without removing the whole fairing but doable.

[Bianco2564]

Dropped the RGV frame and repair piece up to the fabricators near Newark.

 

[Simon Davey]

That looks as good as new @Bianco2564

[Bianco2564]

23 minutes ago, Simon Davey said:

That looks as good as new @Bianco2564

It is a brand new piece,it’s such a common issue with the RGV and Aprilia RS 250, TTW have this on the shelf.

[Simon Davey]

Ah right, that'll be why