Can’t wait to see all that when you drive your camper van to Tucson again with Mavis, Marco! Now it’s time to finish that sportster project. Photos please!
I've been having a play with the air forks on the NS400R. One of those 80's gimmicks I think. The NS400 is loaded up with them. Anti dive forks ~ TRAC ~ Torque reactive Anti-Dive control, ATAC ~ Auto-Controlled Torque Amplification chamber. Weirdly, the ATAC is only fitted to two of the three cylinders.Going back to the air forks, Its basically a way of pressurising the system so I suppose we'd call it pre-load now. The trouble is the system is only recommended for a maximum of 6 psi, so If you get over zealous with the pump you could blow the fork seals. I use a push bike hand pump. Even so, with such low pressures its hard to get the settings just right. I'm using 3 psi at the moment and it feels just about right for my weight. I suppose you could put a heavier or lighter grade oil in too which would do a similar thing. I guess all those fancy systems kept the decal makers happy. Lol
Had another go at my Ducati today. I thought it had a knackered starter sparg because it won't turn over with a charged battery. I put the KTM battery on it today, which is fully charged and has more cranking power than the Duc's. It turned it over but only just and not enough to fire it up. But t shows the sprag must be engaging. Then I added a booster pack to the party. It turned it over but very slowly and eventually it started. Is there such a thing as a lazy starter motor?
May be corroded connections resulting in a lot of resistance. Clean all the connections between the battery and starter, and any grounds that may be involved.
So my mate has bought a Ktm 690 adventure for offroad jaunts with me, we both still have Triumphs. Yesterday presented a free afternoon and the plan was for a maiden run out for him off tarmac. His being a Ktm obviously means it has err character (faults/foibles). Electrics don't seem a strong point and the starter solenoid failed. Have you every tried bumping a 690 single? Experience told me not to bother trying and so a " magic key" was employed for the rest of the day. Seat flicks off and a tyre lever stuck across the heavy wires and problem solved although filling up at petrol stations involved a push off the forecourt to literally spark up elsewhere
I'm on my other phone now so have more pictures. And a pint of shandy in Kettlewell to finish. "How much!!" X2 pints of shandy and x2 bags of crisps.... £18.35
And no, in the top pic is not my mate having a pee although it does look like it. Sadly in 2019, a local lad to me, known by my eldest son, lost his life here when he crashed into the gate.
Going to take the starter off today and check it's condition then clean every connection from the starter earth backwards. It has upgraded copper leads fitted and it was starting fine when it came back to me serviced after a long lay-up. I'm suspecting there's corrosion in the starter motor. It was OK so if I can get away with sticking to lead acid instead of going lithium that will be a bonus.
@Eldon it looks like you had a cracking day out!! Today I took my Hyperstrada and accompanied Helmut to AP Workshops to have his Tuono serviced, stopping at The Piston Club on the way back, 168 mile round trip. Not the most scenic of rides by a long stretch and traffic was really heavy but it was still nice to have the day together.
We did, focus of the day was my mate enjoying himself and he said he had. He's an accomplished "trackdayer" and can show me the way around Cadwell etc. He knows them quite intimately having crashed at most circuits Offroad with rocks and other slippery stuff It was a good day with plenty of p taking especially the throw it on the floor, my legs weren't long enough Err yours are 2" longer than mine and I'm still stood up
Going downhill yesterday, about 40 mph offroad with a number of jumps, one in particular was a heavy landing with bash plate contact on the floor I thought I'd best take a look tonight and inspect any damage And before you say it, did I tell you I'd lost 7 kg? Umm might have to ramp the suspension up a bit to avoid more battle scars......
Dropped the GSXR off for the Almeria trip today. It's hidden in there somewhere Not sure about the colour of the shirts for this trip though
Morning stop at a cafe on the CL500 and met a CB500F owner - there may be some Honda ride-outs planned!