Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

What high temperature grease for motorcycle brake caliper pins?

(Something easily obtained online in the UK)

Was thinking about this:
ProSlip Brake Grease Kit - OEM Caliper Pin Grease

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07886FP12/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_3Je0DbM1TP0AR

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See, this is the problem with shit like this. Now I want one and a bunch of other bikes to tinker with.

I use cera tec, can get it at most motor factors, about £6 a tube which will prob last long enough to loose it before it runs out. Also yamalube lical is a high enough temp waterproof grease designed for outboard motor applications, i use it for head bearings, esp where the frame gets hot (oil in frame bikes).

Cheers.

Now lets have a long discussion about caliper pins and brake pads. ;)

What brake system, tokico, nissin meh. How is the pin held in place.

Having been through this shite with MK1 MR2 rear calipers and bindit front calipers. There are a few differing types.

Ceratec was made as copper grease (metal/magnetic content) can affect abs sensors. Ceratec has no metallic/magnetic content.

CSB Update!!

I now hold a CBT in my mitts! I don’t think this should be so freely handed to any little scrote after a morning’s riding and a U-turn, but I suppose that’s on the head of the various training bodies across the country to make that call.

The CBT took til lunchtime today, as it was broken into sessions. I’ve apparently met and surpassed all the necessary standards, so in good position for a DAS.

Wednesday last week was the first time I’d ever even sat on a motorbike, no mean feat to get the confidence to go around 45mph on a little 125cc. Wednesday was basic manoeuvres in the car park. I really didn’t like shifting though - foot was slipping in the flat crepe-soled boots and the shifting felt bad. It was a late start and a few delays so no point going on the road.

Thursday I went to the huge ass warehouse-sized moto kit shop here in Swindon and spent probably 4 hours in there. Exhausting. No way I could trust riding on the road without proper kit, and since I plan on going DAS then better start from day one (/two) in correct kit.

Took ages, trying so much kit to see what felt best. Ten mins or so in each helmet to check for fit and comfort. Eventually I went for an HJC flip-front for comfort and glad I did. Apart from the weight penalty it’s just so much nicer. RST boots and “pro-series” jacket and trousers too. All the armour, all the insulation, and confidence if I spill.

So anyway Friday first another practice in the car-park to try get used to riding in boots, but still the shifting felt bad. Once on the road I got flustered a couple times, especially since it was getting to lunch time. Around 40 mins on the road, and two stalls I think. One before and one after a junction. By the second it was clear I needed to shake it out. After lunch another 30-40 minutes that felt better but not great. U-turn and emergency stop easily ticked off, but it was getting to kids kick-out time so we postponed the rest til today.

Today was a massive improvement. The time to let it all sink in, felt like a different rider.

Before we started, the shifter had already been hammered back out, and then I moaned the position of the peg, it was also dented so that got hammered back. Then suddenly shifting felt a whole lot better. I suppose when it last got dropped by a student (not me!) it was all dented inward too much.

An hour and a half non-stop, getting up to 40 on the dual carriageway and over 45mph once we were out on (50) country roads. Nearly made it back without stalling once, but just ran out of revs when holding it steady waiting to join on a roundabout, was in too high a gear. Car went round way slower than necessary and I ran out of throttle to ease off!

When we got back I had 10 or 15 mins in the carpark on the 600. Felt amazing. All the controls felt more positive, but instant arm-ache from the weight!

Anyway. Theory test booked for the 3rd December (earliest available date), and then if I pass it I’ll have an ‘assessment’ on the 600 and get started on training properly.

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Reminds me of the excitement when I learnt! Congrats.

And the weight shouldn't be an arm ache, perhaps you were tensing.

I remember the first time I let out the clutch on a 600, it felt so powerful. Good luck with the theory, sounds like you will find it easier than you think. You'll be a biker in time for spring.

Yea it was literally just the weight of the steering on my skinny arms, having just jumped off a Yamaha 125 lawnmower. All the nerves have gone now!

I’d already ordered Motorcycle Roadcraft Police Rider’s Handbook, Lee Parks’ Total Control, and the Twist of the Wrist books. When I’m learning I need to understand why/how, remove the uncertainty of something before putting it into practice. Lots of great reading to do before I can next jump on a bike.

You’re right. It’s so great. Watching how quickly those revs go up, and how smooth. It felt effortless compared to bullying a small engine into doing some work. I think if I was only planning commuting and not touring then a 125 would be easy to nip around on.

Tried the online theory practices and got 48/50. More concerned about the notoriously bad hazard perception software.

You really start learning once you pass your test. Had a friend who passed and had a SV1000 waiting. Went out for the first ride and found out very quickly that he'd not yet learnt to ride round a roundabout at speed. He bottled it and nearly crashed into the pavement. :0

Good innit. Have fun.

I was pleasantly surprised at how good the hazard perception software was compared to when I took my car test (15 or so years ago). It’s fairly easy to get near enough full marks but if you’re not confident there are some ‘tricks’ to make sure you don’t miss anything.

What was the 600? I tried three different bikes on my DAS - sv650, er6n and hornet. All different to ride, mainly I think due to engine type.

My instructor gave me that police book. I read it a few times, and learnt a few things. It's good.
Coming from cycling your hazard perception and awareness will be pretty good already (unless you're one of those terrible cyclists in bad cycling thread! ;).) So it's more about controlling the bike.
When I passed I spend a long time going to car parks and getting my slow manoeuvring down and building from there. Check out motorbike gymkhana, awesome stuff.
If you do get into it look at joining a local ROSPA group and going out with them/instructor.

I used to hunk a blackbird around at 72kg, with serious cyclist arms. You'll be fine. It's just able learning to get the bike to do the work for you. A lot comes from the hips and legs.

Enjoy! Motorbikes are awesome.

I remember almost dropping my ancient kawasaki in town when standing over it, and my my foot slipped a bit and I was just off balance enough that i couldn't pull it upright. I managed to hold it in place so it didn't knock over the other bikes parked next to it (in comical domino style) but i had no strength to lift it upright. Luckily a big guy was walking past at just the right moment and grabbed the handles at the back and lifted it. Mega cold sweats though just from thinking about it!

All been there! Did you try back squatting it?

I remember putting my foot down in the dark onto a leaf, went straight over. Thankfully I had full boots on with exoskeleton so was fine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfsUZDA8CoI

First time i went out on my Honda NC700S after passing my test i was still in peddle bike mode and flipped the side stand before trying to leg over the bike. Of course, as soon as the weight transferred to that side, i didn't have the strength to hold it up. Dropped it right on my leg. Humbling.

Stock Nissin callipers from an air-cooled Triumph twin.

If we are going to get into a grease discussion, please can every product mentioned be readily available from a UK internet retailer?

The outcome from the last brake pad discussion was buy a pair only available from foreign websites with a total cost inc. P&P that was on par with buying a new set of callipers. So I just bought a set of EBC for £14-20.

don’t think this should be so freely handed to any little scrote after a morning’s riding and a U-turn, but I suppose that’s on the head of the various training bodies across the country to make that call.

Girl on my last CBT was not passed. So I do think examiners or what ever they're called do think about who they pass.

More concerned about the notoriously bad hazard perception software.

Download the app. It's worth whatever it costs.

The hazard perception software is fine, it just has a timing you need to get used to. If you imagine usually you'd count something; "one, and, two, and, three, etc" I used to count "and, press". Obvs ymmv.

I used to hunk a blackbird around at 72kg, with serious cyclist arms. You'll be fine. It's just able learning to get the bike to do the work for you. A lot comes from the hips and legs.

On the subject of moving heavy bikes, something my uncle told me that I've found useful for stationary manuvers, was to push handlebars on the opposite side rather than pulling them like you normally would. If that makes sense?

Countersteering is that? You should be doing that all the time with a motorbike and it surprised me that it's not really part of the training.

In Japan you have to be able to pick up a large dummy bike that's on it's side to pass the full licence. It's one reason why the 400 class was so popular in Japan.

I had to pick up a full dress fully loaded Harley Ultra a few times when touring in NZ, you really need to use the squatting method shown in the video then.

Countersteering is that?

I guess. But I think of counter-steering as something you do when moving - which TBH is an action I think everyone does more or less unconsciously.

I meant more when you are trying to wheel or re-position a bike. In that scenario it's more of a forced / deliberate action.

You might be surprised it's not exactly second nature to a lot of people. I understand that one of the reasons it doesn't get explained a lot during training is because the trainers have a tendancy to think you must be doing it or you wouldn't be able to go round a corner.

Personally I've always had to be very aware of it and conscious of the force and feedback from the handlebars but I'm used to riding in town so my low speed manoeuvring was second nature and the high speed cornering is a bit less natural. It is possible to ride a bike by pulling on the handlebars rather than pushing, probably more people doing that than you would think, normally they struggle with the low speed u turn though.

Yeah you might be right.

But to some extent I feel that there's an internet amplification - either from forum/youtube comments, or just content creators in need of content.