The girl decided to spew the coolant today lucky on the way to the trumpet garage, this was after my off last Thursday. Went up to see about repairs and I think she had enough anybody knows the best way to tidy up the frame scratches ?
Might be worth trying somewhere like ChipsAway or a friendly car alloy wheel refurbisher? Otherwise it's trying to find a good colour match for touch-up paint (guessing Triumph won't be much help) and some careful polishing.
The rain finally stopped so I went for a little 100mile ride before it started again with only time for a quick coffee stop.
Nice trip via Loomies today and stopped by a local church in Chilton Foliat on the way home for a scenic photo shoot.
Weather was just too perfect not to go out for a few hours ride It took my mind off the coming long weekend's motorcycle camping trip I volunteered for despite me vowing 'never again' after last time. (Weather forecast is for 3 wet days including warnings of thunder and torrential rain )
Back & White number plates… There was an article in the press recently clarifying the recent changes, vehicles registered prior to Jan 1st 1980 can now display a black/white, black/ silver, black/grey plates. Vehicles re-registered as a ‘classic’ for vehicle taxation purposes built later than this date must display a yellow & black plate 4D plates are now an MOT failure.
Speedmaster adjuster bolts advice. I had my rear rear tyre replaced the other day as I picked up some road shrapnel, (a bit of a road worn key), and decided to change as sometimes take my other half in the back. I went for a ride and had a new noise coming from the back wheel. When I got home I jacked up the back and span the wheel, it all seemed ok apart from back disc rubbing slightly on pads. I checked bolt adjusters and the RHS was 11.1mm and the LHS was 11.8mm My question is would that make a difference to wheel alignment and cause the rubbing? ...and should any adjustment be done on the side stand or on a lift? The chain tension is within the given range.
Perhaps this would be more appropriate in the 'Technical Help' forum, but answering here anyway... I would set the adjusters equal on both sides as a matter of course and check the torque setting when undoing axle to see if it was tightened correctly. Do you know adjusters matched before the wheel change? I can't see why they would have needed to be changed for tyre replacement, so perhaps the sliders aren't sitting flat on the adjuster bolts head? To answer your questions... I can imagine that with wheel axle being a little crooked that might cause brakes to rub, if say the caliper carrier was flush to the swingarm rather than the spacer in the wheel (though I find all my brakes rub a tiny bit anyway). I could also imagine things moving slightly under changing load causing some noise. Having said that, I'm just speculating here and the 0.7mm difference isn't massive. I don't think it should matter whether the bike is on a side stand or not when making adjustments. I personally use a rear paddock stand because that makes everything simpler (bike upright with no weight on wheel).
Hermann - Yep, everything that Brown Mouse says. May be worth looking to see that your chain is running straight just to confirm everything is ok. I always put the bike up on something so that the rear wheel is running freely - paddock stand/jack/centrestand/bag of cement/pile of bricks etc. Do the chain adjustment in the normal manner by loosening axle nut, loosening both adjustment lock nuts and then using one of these - along with the measurements on the adjustment bolts and axle I use for all chain adjustments to ensure the rear sprocket aligns with the front sprocket. There are more expensive and more accurate measuring devices available but this will give you some peace of mind that the wheel is running true. Over... PS - you need a better camera
Did a trial pack for tomorrow's camping trip to make sure I know exactly how straps and bungees go on the bike. There's thunderstorms forecast and I don't want to be faffing around with loading up in the rain any more than absolutely necessary. I also came up with a new use for a mouse mat... No, not for doing yoga or gymnastics, something to counteract the tendency of the wasp waisted tank to funnel water to places I don't want it! Cut to size, with two cable ties as loops to attach to braces clips. Slightly more 'elegant' than the carrier bags tucked through belt I used in Scotland last year.
Hey hey , got the old Daytona 1000 running beautifully at last!! Ive had a misfire on it now for months & just could`nt understand why it decided to fire on two pots instead of four. Now because im tight & i dont need the thing for work ive stripped & rebuilt the carbs umpteen times. All the electrics checked n double checked etc. I would`nt buy anything till i`d exhausted my limited knowledge but to save a buck humungous patience lol. Any how she`s fired up a treat at last & i have no clue why So now i have spent some cash on badly needed new fuel pipes im off to bleed the clutch/brakes etc & hopefully get her MOT`d in the next couple of weeks
Took my trophy 1200 out with my other half on the back to look at royal enfields in Watford. I've been thinking about one for a few years but never seen any in the flesh. Sat on the interceptor 650, Continental GT 650 and the meteor. The other half hopped onto the pillion seat of the interceptor to test and we decided it's all a bit tight. It really needs a longer seat, I don't know why they stop so short with the space behind. Anyway, scrub that one. I liked the GT better anyway, but the finish on both didn't impress me. I didn't go looking critically but bits just stood out to me. However I did like the Himalayan and the Meteor. I sat on the meteor and it's feels a big comfy bike, I liked it. It felt bigger than the Interceptor. But 350 with 21bhp just isn't enough in my opinion, especially two-up. I thought the build quality was better on the meteor though. So looks like Royal Enfield isn't going to scratch that itch. I was going to stop in at the KTM dealer in Hemel, but the town was very busy and I just couldn't be bothered. I just can't get over their looks. (apologies to all KTM owners, and I hear they are great bikes...). I thought If I saw them in the flesh my opinion might change. While out on the trophy I admit I lost all desire for a 2nd bike or a replacement anyway. It just seems to fit my style and carries us both without a problem. Even around the tight twisty bumpy back roads that I like (ok not the bumps) it was close to perfect to me. Perhaps I should ride more and read/watch reviews a lot less.... It's just I've had the trophy for nearly 20 years and I keep thinking maybe I'm missing something. ABS? and maybe a lighter bike? Filling up I noticed that the fuel is now labeled E10, initially I thought the response was a bit soft on the fuel (last tank was the premium 98, which always feels better to me.....all in he mind?). But after a couple of hours I'd forgotten about it so I suppose it's fine, I just won't fill up with it before winter when the bike gets used less and a tank will see me through. I'd bought myself some Bull-it lined covex jeans a few months ago and had only used them on the hotter days and I was beginning to think I'd made a mistake, because they are warm and scratchy. In todays cooler temperatures plus I got caught in some heavy rain, I've changed my mind. They were perfect. Just not the jeans for the higher UK temps. I'm off to watch some bike reviews on youtube.... (well it's raining now so what else is there to do?)
Removed, check and cleaned my front calipers on my 94 speed triple again. Get some juddering when braking hard. Replaced the pads, cleaned disc bobbins and rubbed down and swapped over discs. Will see if it is any better in a couple of weeks at Cadwell.
