Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Good shout. Thanks.

Would recommend Daytona, if you are looking second hand they do a decent resoling service for not too much money. I have a pair that are 15 years old, have had the soles done twice.

Large in general. Although the toe is quite boxy, therefore spacious too.

@hugo7 @Airhead thanks. I’m too poor at the moment, but putting on less-than-dry Tractech’s the day after saturating the kit really begged for a second pair. Will keep those two suggestions in mind.

If you're skint, I'd suggest getting something cheap and 2nd hand off eBay. Old motorcycle kit that isn't especially desirable is usually pretty cheap, eg.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274215965054

Fwiw my Stylemartin were nearly new 2nd hand for <£100

Used to do a fair amount of winter riding with plastic bags on the feet between 2 pairs of socks and newspaper stuffed up the jacket.

Definitely follow up hugo7's tip too. I picked up an incredible 2nd hand Rukka jacket which was perfect for 10 years until it finally sacrificed itself to save my skin in an accident. It was probably 15 years old when I bought it.

Also, whatever happened to fairings made out of estate agents boards, every courier in London had a winter set of those, usually on a VT500 or CB4o0.

No boots keep the water out forever. Although around £200/275 seems to be the sweet spot between cheaper boots that say they are waterproof and achieving a half day of keeping the rain away. For multi day trips your feet will get wet, take spare socks/seal skinz/sandwich bags.
I got some falcon aventour (?) boots two years ago at launch date, think they were £160 (replaced a set of sidi courier that were 5 years old when i got them but finally fell apart), retail now is much higher than that.
They are ok! Keep water out for around 3 to 4 hours (frequent oiling required), stiff enough for mild offroad fun, dropped bike and other people have ridden into side of us a few times and my legs and ankles arent broken. After a month of constant use (courier) they were sofr enough for walking around in a normal amount for an mc boot with any protection, space for extra thick socks and plastic bags in winter, not so baggy as to be a problem in summer (on hot days run the top open). Got a vibram sole unit and non Newton ankle protection (not strong enough for proper offroad) and buckles are similar quality to the ancient sidi. Some folk have had the buckles break after short time, guess they just had bad ones.
Edit these are old now (got them in 2017 not used much the last year), New ones are called evo, only difference i can see is an extra ankle pad on inside and they lost the grippy mountain boot like vibram sole for an urban trainer looking no name sole, probably better for city use but try pushing a bike out of anything with thise smooth things!

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Disagree. I have some sidi st goretex and I never got wet. I did some long rides in the rain.

Thinking of selling my scruffy SV if there's any interest - under a grand, low mileage.

Fwiw my Goretex TCX S-Speed have been fine* in the rain. Although I've only ever commuted c.1hr in them.

*Except for their first outing where I got caught with in-boot leathers and all the rain ran down my leg into the top. Toes were dry tho.

@PhilDAS

I was trying to ignore this

PM’d

I imagine the couriers were solid when new, but that was a while ago!

To be honest I was a little surprised just how wet the inside of the RST Tractech Evo’s were, for a not-cheap ‘Waterproof’ shoe. The main thing was as wet as they were, they weren’t cold. I hadn’t treated them so maybe some waterproofing compound would have aided. Maybe they have a gap somewhere between sole and shoe, or maybe it was just torrential (it felt torrential). They haven’t leaked through in any regular rainy ride so far.

Sorry.

@Jung Wasn't the tensioners. They were spotless. Seems like new cam chains. This will be very interesting.

The tensioners come out clean but the self regulating spring can weaken and that affects the ratcheting mechanism. Seems odd as your bike isn't that high mileage.

Are you doing the chain replacement? Does it need the sprockets replaced too?

That's the initial idea I had as well, but the tensioners came out at maximum length. It's on about 65k so whilst not crazy high, it's high enough I reckon.

The tensioners weren't the screw style ones I was expecting. They were the bolt ones with the pressure port.
Still deciding on how to proceed. The motor still runs, but I won't be using it. Gotta decide on whether to install manual tensioners, replace the cam chains and guides, or just buy a new new engine and call it a day.

You could measure the chain and see how far it has stretched and have a look at the sprocket condition. Then cost the replacement and the labour or how hard it is to do. Is the SV forum sv650.org still about? They were handy for me. There may be a guide to do it.

Yeah there are plenty, just not sure I have the time or inclination to do so at the moment. Reckon I'm just going to SORN the bike for the time being then crack on when summer is in full tilt.
Got my eye on another twin for touring at the moment.

They always come out at maximum extension mate (at least it they’re the type I think.) stick a couple of manual tensioners in, it’ll almost certainly see out the life of the engine.

Anyone with balls/boobs of steel?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EML-Yamaha-880-Halco-sidecar/124102584856

Just to wrap up to my dull brake pad chat.

The sintered / organic combo works well. Although the lack of bit on the rear is still a bit disconcerting after being so used to it's over braking.

Front does feel better though. Still half thinking about the 3 pot upgrade, but going to park it for a while.

Main thing was it was so nice going for a ride on Sunday.

Yeah they're back in and its just as rattly as before. Reckon I might see what the heads are saying and if it's not horrendous, might just lump some manual tensioners in there. It's a 650, it's not going to rip the chain apart.