What did you do to your bike today?

[Guest]

Deffo an odd one, you weren't going that fast and the bend wasn't exactly tight. Weird.

 

Somebody asked me whether it could have been an earth tremor.......so I've been looking at some of the locals on FB to see if they're mentioning something like that.

[fastbob]

Starting from Coventry I went Redditch , Bromsgrove , Kidderminster then veered off north to the unimaginatively titled Food Stop at Bridgnorth . Lots of bikes outside but I couldn't be arsed queuing for a cup of tea. Onwards to Ludlow via the northern side of Clee Hill , up to Craven Arms and then west to Newtown via the Vale of Kerry ( Ceri ) which skirts the southern end of the Long Mynd .From Newtown to Machynlleth and then a diversion into Borth for some very good Fish and Chips on the beach . Into Aberystwyth for petrol , onto the A44 then on a whim I cut across to Devil's Bridge and took the narrow mountain road through Cwmrystwyth to Rhayader . With the sun getting low at my back I came home in perfect riding conditions via Leominster , Bromyard , Worcester and Stratford upon Avon . A lovely day out in beautiful weather on some of my favourite roads . I did keep a lookout for the intrepid Smallfrown but I think he's gone back up north now .

[DJP]

So just been watching it through and I have noticed at around 4 or 5 seconds in theres a slight change in road surface which looks slightly horrible could that have been the problem?

 

I'd go with that. On my way to work there's a patch of road surface with an odd texture which always seems to make the bike wobble.

It never does it anywhere else.

[Stu]

I bet the old codger fell asleep and the wobble woke him up

[rennie]

Was it windy [mention]XTreme[/mention] ? Strange!

[Guest Richzx6r]

Was it windy @XTreme ? Strange!

 

Only from his arse

[Guest]

Was it windy @XTreme ? Strange!

 

No.....dead calm!

If you look at the vid you see me looking behind....cos my first thought was puncture.

It had that feel to it.

[Guest Richzx6r]

At least you didn't come off...

[Mawsley]

At least you didn't come off...

 

I imagine it’s been years since that’s happened.

*not that I spend a lot of time imagining Xtreme coming in any form.

**damn, now I have a very unwelcome mental image

[TimR]

It's not what I did......it's what the bike did!

Going into a left hander this morning and the bike threw a wobbler going into a left hand bend.

When it happened I initially thought a puncture or diesel on the road. But there was no puncture, and when I rode back to check the bend it was clear.

However, looking at the video it seems more like a sort of head shake because you can see the screen moving.

Tyres and pressures are fine, no play in wheel bearings, steering head bearings are moving freely......there's literally nothing I can pinpoint.

I've had plenty of back end slides before on bikes, but on each occasion I knew what had caused it......usually me too heavy on the footbrake. But this time I didn't touch the brake!

This one's a mystery to me......here it is.....

 

So just been watching it through and I have noticed at around 4 or 5 seconds in theres a slight change in road surface which looks slightly horrible could that have been the problem?

 

Going to assume a lot of hgv traffic use that route .

As Rich says watch the video and the issues follow that dark banding which runs wide .

In hot weather heavy hgv traffic can push the surface into ripples on bends especially if carrying a bit of speed.

[Gerontious]

Cleaning it, once I can get motivated.

[JRH]

Out on the loan bike CBF1000. So far after 35 miles handling v good. Needs more revs than the GSF and the clutch is heavier.

Now stopped for coffee and bacon sandwich. And i am pleased to report that Touchdown Cafe at Wellesbourne is open again.

Edited September 14, 2020 by JRH

[JRH]

Just a few pictures from Touchdown Cafe.

[Guest Richzx6r]

Not a great deal for me but I have literally just messed about with the suspension settings and putting everything to its mid point settings to get a benchmark for any further setup changes, though I'll hazard that the whole caboodle could do with an overhaul though with this I know not what I'm doing as I have never done it before so who can I turn to for help/knowledge?

[S-Westerly]

There are a few outfits who specialise is setting up bike suspension. Might be worth trying one of them. I know a guy on the Multistrada forum had his done, cost less than a hundred quid and he reckoned it transformed his bike.

[Guest]

It's not what I did......it's what the bike did!

Going into a left hander this morning and the bike threw a wobbler going into a left hand bend.

When it happened I initially thought a puncture or diesel on the road. But there was no puncture, and when I rode back to check the bend it was clear.

However, looking at the video it seems more like a sort of head shake because you can see the screen moving.

Tyres and pressures are fine, no play in wheel bearings, steering head bearings are moving freely......there's literally nothing I can pinpoint.

I've had plenty of back end slides before on bikes, but on each occasion I knew what had caused it......usually me too heavy on the footbrake. But this time I didn't touch the brake!

This one's a mystery to me......here it is.....

 

So just been watching it through and I have noticed at around 4 or 5 seconds in theres a slight change in road surface which looks slightly horrible could that have been the problem?

 

Going to assume a lot of hgv traffic use that route .

As Rich says watch the video and the issues follow that dark banding which runs wide .

In hot weather heavy hgv traffic can push the surface into ripples on bends especially if carrying a bit of speed.

 

Went passed the bend slowly in the car this morning and it looks like there are dried up traces of oil running sideways at certain parts.

I can't say that's what caused it for sure......but it's a possibility.

[Gerontious]

Cleaned the chain with paraffin and then oiled it with gear oil. checked the slack - perfect. a 10 minute job. Beginning to think about suspension upgrades now.

[Mawsley]

Piled up the latest delivery of parts next to the GTS. At some point I've a good day or two to spend in the garage with a load of spanners and a big hammer.

[Guest]

Remember the slide I had on Sunday?

Well I checked the bike over......nothing unusual there.

So this afternoon I took it round that bend again to see if there was a repeat!

.......and nothing!

Bear in mind I've gone round that bend on every bike I've had here for nearly 15 years.......as it's only about 200 yards from the house.

And that slide never happened before......so it had to have been something on that road at that time.

[linuxrob]

Not a great deal for me but I have literally just messed about with the suspension settings and putting everything to its mid point settings to get a benchmark for any further setup changes, though I'll hazard that the whole caboodle could do with an overhaul though with this I know not what I'm doing as I have never done it before so who can I turn to for help/knowledge?

 

watch some of the dave moss stuff on setting sag etc, a good starting point

[Mr Fro]

I had to jump over mine about a million times today to rewire the milling machine motor and connect it to a phase converter.

The good news is that it works and I now have a load of Bridgeport electricy bits to flog on.

The down side is that I really need to thin out the number of bikes and get the garage organised.

[Pie man]

Installed some mahoossive 'Bumot Panniers and toolbox'

[Guest]

Installed some mahoossive 'Bumot Panniers and toolbox'

IMG_20200916_171326_143.jpg

 

Those things are huge!

[skyrider]

yep careful filtering with those things

[Pie man]

Installed some mahoossive 'Bumot Panniers and toolbox'

IMG_20200916_171326_143.jpg

 

Those things are huge!

To be fair, they do look bigger in the picture, although the 40l & 36l panniers arnt that wide, total width 101cm . however my shit photography still doesn't make it anymore convincing. .