Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Yeah, you'll wear something else out before you snap a camchain with manual tensioners.
I've done way over 10k now since I fitted one to GSXR #1 and haven't had to touch it. Still runs fine (55k ish total now, the speedo and everything stopped working a while back.....)

There is a way to force the tensioner to extend a bit..I think. Or putting a couple of washers some where in the tensioner can't remember if it was the sv tensioner

Not sure it's the SV. After taking the ratchet spring out, the rod doesn't seem to have any way of extending beyond the machined stop.

@Jung Want to send me a couple from your side of the pond if I paid you? Can't seem to find any for a K5+ on this side.

Might be worthwhile to email or call steve jordan motorcycles as he and his wife used to race sv.

One for the motorbikers to sign as they are looking to charge for motorbike parking

https://consultation.hackney.gov.uk/parking-services/motorcycles/

First day out since October!

Gave it a proper spring clean yesterday so just pumping up the tyres before a quick hour out to check brakes, drive etc.

Started first click despite being sat for 5 months. No trickle charge or anything.

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Nice, hope you made it home before the rain. You've more faith than me leaving it for that long without any charge. Looks ridiculously clean.

Yeah - made it just before the rain. Still a little damp out so it’s not quite as clean already.

Clean routine was:

1. Pressure washer all the grime
   
2. Heavy application of muc-off
   
3. Agitate with sponge and wait
   
4. Wash off with pressure washer
   
5. Heavy application of sdoc100 gel
   
6. Wait 20 mins
   
7. Wash off with pressure washer
   
8. Dry with chamois
   
9. Apply ptfe
   
10. Dry with chamois
    
11. Apply chain lube
    
12. Refill scottoiler
    
    

Took a solid 2 hours to clean but worth it as it only really gets the proper treatment twice a year.

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Try scrwfix no nonsense degreaser, stronger than muc off but still water soluble, don't leave it on painted surfaces for more than a few minutes neat (dilute 1 degrease to 3 or 5 waters for non gunky stuff). Way cheaper too

Sorry to spam.
Before I ebay/gumtree. Anyone on here interested in hein gericke goretex pro jacket/pants. 48 jacket. I'm 186cm, 78kg and fits good with space. Got thinsulate liner.
D30 level 2 armour (I replaced with this)
Pants are dungarees and jacket over the top.

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Bit of a CSB/TL:DR, lots of progress.

A few weeks ago I passed Mod1 with a clean run, but failed Mod2 because I took an evasive manoeuvre - chopped lanes on a nasty roundabout, car was stuck between lanes against a central reservation and cars did panic things around it, so option 1; lifesaver’d, swerved a bit, and crossed the white line to avoid option 2: getting rear-ended during an emergency stop.

Gutted, examiner only saw me change lanes, and didn’t care why. Horribly annoying as again it was a clean run until that point.

I have a Mod2 re-test next week, but used the downtime to get the 125 working best as possible. Appreciate why it’s 10 working days between re-tests, I was livid for a week.
My braking is on-point though - avoided T-boning a solid 90degree turn across my path yesterday while training on the Bandit 600. Nasty roundabout. Coming around in lane 1, audi cuts me up from lane 2 to take the exit I’m already passing. Scary close.

So much work done to the cafe’d GN125 in the mean time, not just adding thicker foam to the seat and a new cover. Mechanics had already replaced tyres for Pirelli City Demon, and fitted brand new forks, and I already popped on flipped clubmans, new levers, new indicators, bar end mirrors etc.

Over the weeks I sorted:
350mm Hagon rear shocks (replacing 310mm oem)
New exhaust gasket (after new exhaust a few weeks back)
Massive overhaul on the Mikuni carb - new diaphragm, new top plate and spring, new choke assembly, new idle screw, etc - I bought a NOS Mikuni CV to cannibalise to rebuild the original
HiFloFiltro air filter
HiFloFiltro oil filter, fresh oil
Removed top case of engine, sealant to fix oil leak
New carb-engine gasket, o-rings where missing, new fuel line (thanks E5)
IN valve tappet clearance
New tacho cable
New sidelight bulb
Tightened side stand with a thicker washer to reduce suicide a little.
ProGrip 714’s
Plus some other bits like chain slack, lots of rattlecan action to tidy up surface rust.

Got it MOT’d this morning and it passed without any issues. Only advisory was for solo rider only, as I’d removed the pillion pegs, grab bar, and flattened the seat. Tester even complimented how smooth it was running, that normally they have much more rattle from the tappets.

Must say, after doing all that stuff with the air filter, carb and engine it certainly cleared up the running issues. No bogging, no sputtering, no high idle or hanging and very rare idle drop/stall issues. Been really bullying it into corners, pinning it into the red before shifting, and getting the most out of the tyres and the engine. Feel quite confident leaning it hard as necessary. It’ll sit at 60mph on the flat, even creep over that at times, so now 50mph cruise is easy on anything but an incline, and lots of throttle left when leaning tight around roundabouts.

Fingers crossed I can sort the last of the niggles and tidy-ups, pass Mod2, and let someone else benefit from my hard work in return for cash toward a big boy bike.

For sure I’ll miss the 85mpg, though.

Talk to me dude. If not now considering how things are, maybe at some point in future if I scootch you over some casheesh. I bought a jacket from you donkeys ago, but keen on this. Probably not trousers as I got stumpier legs than you do, but also maybe yes and get them adjusted.

@Soul Everything I've looked at keeps bringing me back to the tracer. You upgrade the fork internals?

Yeah not going anywhere so message me when suitable, once the wind turns. And you can come try.

What jacket? I dont think so

No but I did go to MCT suspension to dial it all in. Well worth the trip and the cost.

I’m actually thinking of changing bike at the moment.

Not because I don’t love the bike but because we get 15-20% of BMWs at work. Tempting.

Had a test ride for shits and giggles on the 1250GS. It's on the money, the perfect bike really. It was so ridiculously capable it kinda defied belief. It wasn't...mental fun, but just worked in ways that I didn't think possible. On road or otherwise.
Tempting, but way waaay out of my budget, if you can, you should.

@skinny Most excellent my good man. Not sure, it was a Rapha Jacket quite some time ago. It's still going strong after multiple crashes and miles.

Maybe too early for a midlife crisis but given the mileage I’m doing on motorways, I’m tempted by the r1250rt not the gs.

Heated. Seat.

Have a word with yourselves you two. :)

No love for the rs then? Apparently the new one is pretty good.

Too sporty. I do about 90 miles a day with over half of that on motorways or 60mph A roads.

The Tracer GT has a nice upright seating position but wind protection is shit.

Tempted by the RT because of the wind protect / comfort. The GS is also great but it feels like it will just be another more expensive version of the Tracer.

I garaged the Tracer in late October last year and was about to start commuting on it again this month. Anything that keeps me on the bike for another month or two would be grreat.

I think the weight will be a ball ache in the city. The ktm smt was so good for everything, wind protection with a Palmer screen was great. Maybe try a different (Palmer) screen? I did a 180 mile round commute on the ktm for a while. Did 1,000km days no issues, and at autobahn speeds.

The blackbird was a total ball ache in the city manoeuvring around.

http://palmerproducts.co.uk/

Might give it a go but i think it's also around the legs etc.

Weight is super low on the RT so i'm keen to test one out re: maneuverability.
We've got underground parking so i don't need to worry about squeezing it into a space!

COG on blackbird was very low, but it's long so getting between cars was sometimes hard and the weight was noticeable when going slow. It will be harder to ride, but do try.

Big bikes can be hustled easily, I've seen a police rider do it, but it takes skill.

Well yeah legs are a bit exposed. I used to wear ski pants over my leathers in winter.

We'll see. Most of the traffic is in on the A10 so not much need to squeeze between non-moving traffic but filtering in slower moving traffic which will be easier.

Had a test ride booked in for Tuesday this week but wasn't in London (obvs) so didn't go. Might try and find one more locally on Sunday...

I used to commute into town on beemers - boxers and rode k’s for work - few years back though. With the boxers (all rs versions)- I bought a scooter. They were really not the ideal cross town in traffic bike, pots sticking out, heavy etc. Got a bit wearisome quickly . The k was a bit better though. I am now a bit of a scooter convert and if I had a big commute would have a good look at a 650 one