Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

That sucks Soul. Bloody lock stops always seem to break / crack too easily. Sorry dude.

Brickman - Sidi Trials boots are a good compromise if you don't want a full on off road boot. They're a lot more flexible and look cool too.

I've a pair of Gericke Tuareg or something like that. Think they or something very very similar is available in a number of different brandings.

Bought mine new and they were very waterproof, nowadays, still pretty damn watertight.

Seen them crop up on ebay every so often.

👍🏻

Daytona voyager have lasted me years, I've had them resoled by Daytona for a reasonable price (around £60 from memory).

Now it's getting lighter and I don't need them I'm thinking about fitting spotlights/foglights to my engine bars. The main aim is to increase cars visibility of me - going on the principle of it being easier to spot wider objects and low lights on the edge would create a visual triangle.

That being the case, I don't think I need to spend a fortune on motorcycle spot lights. I was looking into those cheap USB battery pack mtb lights and planning on adapting. But Aliexpress throws up these cheaper ones:

Description:

Power: 10W;
Voltage: 10-30V DC;
Light Type: With 10W CREE Chip LED ;
Color Temperature: 6500K (White);
Luminous Flux: 650LM;
Waterproof Rate: IP67;

I was then going to fix some sort of mesh/grill to protect them and came across these tweeter grills, which are the rough size and already shaped.

**For the electrical install what do I need to know? **

I guess I need some sort of resister to convert whatever the Triumph battery puts out, plus some sort of switch and/or mechanism to prevent the lights running when the bike is off?

There aren't any immediate plans to add more gadgets, but I have an optimate cable and would be adding a fog light cable. As it's not unrealistic to think heated grips and a micro USB power cable could also be added, would it be worth having some sort of mini-switch to prevent a nest of cables attached to my battery?

Any thoughts welcome. Cheers.

Sounds like a nice project, keep us updated with pictures when it progresses

Fuck, will the lease company be ok with a damaged lockstop?

That largely depends on whether or not I lease another bike from them after this one expires.

Sucks so much. Sorry for you mate.

I guess the lesson is, fully comp or don't get a lease bike.

Still at your fully comp price, you're not much out of pocket! Given claiming would have raised your premium.

That taxi driver will get his karma.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142288612775?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

To do or not to do? Could really do with a slightly stiffer bike, but that means the front end will need attention immediately after.

The Fukin Want.

Is it possible to jump start a motorcycle from a running car? Or will it cook your electrics?

I've done this, bandit 600 and Volvo 240. Worked fine for me.

^ Agreed. Done this too, works fine.

Don't run the car. Keep the car off and just use the battery.

The cars alternator could fry your electrics. The battery alone should be more than capable of starting your bike.

Thanks for that.

This. Car battery even in a low state of charge should have plenty of ponies for any bike ever.

Lidl/aldi do reasonable smart chargers capable of the smaller mc batteries for about £12 a few times per year, very handy thing to have!

I wonder how the alternator could fry the electrics. If you had a fault that drew massive amperage through the wiring you might burn the wiring out but otherwise the bike is going to draw the normal amount of amps from the car. The increased voltage that is usually present when the alternator is charging the battery should be within the bikes normal capacity as it also has an alternator that charges a 12v battery.

I'd like to know though because I've always instinctively avoided jumping the bike from the car. I have one of those antigravity batteries to jump the BMW these days.

Be fine I'd give it a bit to put some charge in to the battery.

Also to airhead? How would it damage the electronics of the bike?

I would disagree with you, it all depends on the bikes engine size.

My guzzi has a bigger starter motor than my old fiat 999 FIRE engines (and maybe 127)

Short answer is that you're bypassing the bikes regulator. And without knowing the car in question, it could put more voltage (engine running) into the bike than the bike can handle. It might not. But given that the bike will start just off the car battery, there is no need to run the car and risk anything.
So it may be fine, it may not. Why risk it when there is no need? If you know the voltage regulation of both circuit, then I'm sure you know enough to know what to do.

The zip has busted on my Sidi, are they repairable or am I looking at a new pair?
If repairable, am I looking at a specialist or will Timpsons (or equivalent) be capable?
Thanks x

That is the interesting, both vehicles with charging systems working properly should be at the same voltage (i know 14.4 - 13.8) Also jumper cables aren't as thick as the cables from the motorbike battery to the starter motor, so have often wonder where this adage comes from.

Do you attach the the earth to the battery or to the engine?

Are they waterproof? As that could be an issue. Might be worthwhile to look at stan the leather man and see what he says.