Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Keep it on, just clean it every few rides

Fair enough.

Mine was absolutely caked the last time I removed it, but I like having the protection to stop things getting stuck in there.

Think you're right, having a slightly dirtier bike is probably better than losing a finger. Really need to step my cleaning game up and get a pressure washer.

Use decent paper towels and or wet wipes to clean the gunk out.

Not a fan of pressure washing, usually a hose pipe is fine but usually wastes lots of water. Just use a pressure sprayer with water to rinse.

Anyone Reccomend a kit of valve shims (will check size needed). Swapped them around to the limit with my small stash over the years but finally have i think an eroding exhaust valve seat, so need a different size shim again.
Bmw/aprillia want £12 per piece, and would be basically guessing at which I need, seen some kits for around £100 for a moderate selection seems about right money?

Serious point - mpg? Don’t worry about it, balance any financial worries with fun!!! Hard to type what I mean but mpg means F all. Enjoy and stay safe.

MPG on a motorbike thread, wait till he sees what MPG gets out of a tuned 2 stroke.

Changing riding style and can increase MPG. Things like keeping the throttle opening constant help. Then I can get the 225-250 4 stroke supermotos from 50mpg to 20mpg. 20 mpg was fun and got even lower on a track day with 10year old cut wets.

BMW/aprilia so the rotax 4/5 valve a cylinder?

There are kits but never used them. Try the owners clubs as they may have an exchange scheme.

A stiff brush it good too for this kinda thing.

You can get the open type sprocket covers if you so wish.

I used to get 180 mi tank not hanging about. God i do miss that turbine engine, so smooth, effortless and rapid.

a pressure washer

I mean they're great things to have, but I personally wouldn't use one on a bike. There's too much risk of the blast getting into bearings and other nooks and crannies.

Screwfix degreaser, a stiff round sash type paint brush plus one of those brutal plastic bike ones is a better idea imo.

Also just in case you didn't know, if you buy a Kärcher pressure washer you're meant to refer to it as a Kärcher rather than a pressure washer, to make sure people know you bought a Kärcher ;)

If petrol wasn’t remortgage per fill-up, I wouldn’t be worrying. I’m not worrying but it does mean I’m watching the fuel gauge.

@skinny good shout, a stiff brush worked well this time once I discovered the nest of grot behind the sprocket cover. Will take a look at what other covers are available, preferably not in anodised red like so many crf owners love to fit.

@hugo7 I can understand why some people aren't keen to use them on bikes, personally haven't had any issues (incl electronics on Italian machines), although maybe it's luck. Will persevere with the degreaser and stiff brush method for now whilst I'm still getting into a cleaning routine with the bike. Oh and totally agree about dropping the brand name, people seem to love doing this with a Dyson too I feel.

So long as you don’t directly aim at seals and bearings at close range and extended periods, it can’t be an issue. I clean the DR down occasionally, and when I do I just keep waving the pressure washer from a distance and never perpendicular.

Why not run with the original cover and just clean it every other ride?

All good advice. Basically I was a bit of a wet wipe last week and rode the bike in some awful conditions, which I definitely shouldn't have done on my own. New tyres became a slick and bike was a right state. Won't be repeating this is in a hurry so unlikely to be a big issue. Like you say takes 2 secs to remove the sprocket cover.

Haven’t touched the DR since paying out the new bearings and tyres. Cried off from one group ride. Likely not going out with them this weekend either. Really need to get some ducks in a row.

Once you ride with others it’s a little difficult to ride alone again. At least when you fall off there’s someone to laugh at you.

Yeah that one. Uk forums are dead now for those bikes unfortunately.

Is one of the exhaust valves seems to keep closing up its gap every 6 to 8 k. Not massive but it is on the move. Cyl heads are cheap though so will just swap it out when it inevitable eats through the seat

Are these group rides with the trf? Despite being bang in the middle of 3 groups think I'll join the Cambridge squad later this month.

In navigation news I've now got the OS map app which brilliant for finding byways when it actually wants to track my location. Turns out riding with one glove off in Jan/Feb to refresh it every 2mins isn't ideal.

Local guys I know. A few are also members off GLASS/TRF but these are not organised through those channels.

It helps to be part of the groups but I don’t play well with others.

The glove struggle is real.

So, the lady DOESNT come with the bike. But I’m super excited to have bought this lovely old thing (again, the bike, not the lady) !!

Turns out it’s an R65LS and was say for 6 years but battery on charge fired straight up even with 6 year old fuel in it !!

Waiting for it to be delivered up here to the Isle of Harris. Cannot wait. A lot of cleaning and new fluids, brake pads, lines etc and off we go to some of the loveliest roads I’ve ever seen with no traffic !

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Awesome! You must get the correct fairing though! Better than a Katana. Better looking than most of today's bikes too. https://www.motorworks.co.uk/vlive/Shop/Parts.php?T=5&NU=10&M=20&Ct=UA&SbCt=BA_10_20_UA_20

Ironically your 6 year old fuel is much better for the bike than the modern stuff. If I don't ride my K1100 often enough the fuel dissolves the pump.

Beautiful - just right for Harris.

Thanks lads. Yep. Fairing (the proper one) and new seat are first cab on the rank. It was actually designed by the Katana designer. Stoked. Can’t wait for it to arrive !!!