Motorbikes

Longest oil change on anything in like forever.

I know how to do an oil change, 20 minutes on a car, about 30 on bikes I've done in the past, mainly a Bandit.

This thing though...............aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggh.

My mate suggested a few weeks ago to remove the fairings. I'm like nah, no need to do that. I learned some wisdom though, I needed to removed the side fairing and what I can only describe as a filler fairing, at the bottom, behind the front wheel. No problems though, easy enough. I had already dropped the oil by now.

On to the filter.

Hand tight? Try welded on. It had one of those nuts on the end but that was made of cheese, soon rounded that off. So out with the strap clamp. Nope, Put all the force and leverage I could on it, the filter wouldn't budge.

I don't like bodging but I had little choice. I had to get releasing oil on it, let it soak for 20 minutes, then got the knockometer (technical term for hammer, sounds better) and a screwdriver. I hammered (knockometered) it through, both sides, being careful of course to avoid the thread for the filter on the engine. I found a tech drawing online that showed the threaded lug didn't go all the way to the end of the filter, so room to play with. The srewdriver provided more leverage but it still wouldn't budge. So, I put my foot on it, the handle and put some weight on it. The screwdriver bent. Not the end of the world, now the screwdriver pointed up, so gave me more clearance and leverage. Finally, I felt it move. The filter was loose.

It was just that 1/4 turn, the rest was done by hand. I have a feeling the previous owner overdid it, plus to be fair, the filter gets some crud from the front wheel.

Anyway, all done, it will now be done every year, regardless, so I shouldn't have this problem again.

Oh, took me 3 hours. :headbang:


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hand tight only for oil filters, but like you i bought the bike off a ham fisted k******d ..first time i done my FZ1 they must have swung on it to secure too because my chain tool just span on it, the specific one that grips the end...nope never budged it, another strap thing...zilch so like you resorted to a screwdriver through it ...that just ended up ripping the material. Now I'm really goosed, i bought a set of pliers that managed to thankfully get the b*****d thing off...yes just hand tight for me
 
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Ricardodaforce said:
I always check the forecast and dress appropriately!
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Dress for the slide not for the ride....the forecast predicted thunder and rain ;):rolleyes::D not saw a cloud ..i always wear leather trousers, proper boots, proper gloves, and a proper jacket with good armour, my jacket does have vents. Never made a blind bit of difference. The only thing that would have worked would be a mesh jacket, but for the amount of use id get out of it its not worth it, 12 hour days on the bike have knackered me this time, im glad i brought my down gilet along for the ride :headbang: just as bad at the hotel of a night, amazingly for a 4 star hotel it never had air conditioning
 
This was the only disappointment of my recent trip. First the ride up the Umbrail was done in rain, which isn’t ideal for the views; and secondly because the road was closed at the very top for a cycling event. That was particularly galling because it leads directly into the legendary Stelvio Pass.

A good reason to go back.

View: https://youtu.be/5oUX4lXB1LI
 
I’m riding a Speed Twin 1200 today.

I just could not live with a bike like this. For me it would be ok for short journeys only.
Riding position is very cramped (and I’m only 1.74m).
Seat is hard.
Clocks are too low.
No wind protection.
No cruise control.
No road presence, it feels very small.

I suspect my views would be in the minority though.
 
Ricardodaforce said:
I’m riding a Speed Twin 1200 today.

I just could not live with a bike like this. For me it would be ok for short journeys only.

Seat is hard.
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Sounds a bit like my interceptor in some ways, I’m made up with it for my riding though.
I can do 300 miles with a few stops but motorways aren’t comfy over 60mph and the seat is very uncomfortable after 50 miles. And I have the supposedly more comfy touring seat
I have recommendations for custom seat people so that’s the next step and may get a small screen for trips we’re planning to Scotland.
I’ve never been big on faired bikes though, mostly had naked bikes. Definitely need to just get fitter
 
Ricardodaforce said:
This was the only disappointment of my recent trip. First the ride up the Umbrail was done in rain, which isn’t ideal for the views; and secondly because the road was closed at the very top for a cycling event. That was particularly galling because it leads directly into the legendary Stelvio Pass.

A good reason to go back.

View: https://youtu.be/5oUX4lXB1LI
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I’ve just used Google Maps to work out how close I was to the Stelvio.

305 metres.

That. Is. Very. Annoying.
 
Bloody cyclists!!! :P
 
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2 new Triumphs on the way.


Speed 400 Model

Discover the Speed 400 bringing Triumph’s unmistakeable stripped back custom style, agile handling, responsive performance and category-defining build quality to a new class of rider.
www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk
 
Soft skull? ;)
 
Ricardodaforce said:
2 new Triumphs on the way.


Speed 400 Model

Discover the Speed 400 bringing Triumph’s unmistakeable stripped back custom style, agile handling, responsive performance and category-defining build quality to a new class of rider.
www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk
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Pricing “will be competitively priced versus the key competitors in each market,” according to Triumph.
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So for an Indian collaboration, that SHOULD be the Royal Enfields... Bet it's closer to double that though!
 
As you imply, that's a BIG IF!

I like the look of the Triumphs - quite "baby Bonnie" like from the right hand side apart from the missing (visible!) shocks.
 
back up north of the border for a week from next Sunday...looking at the weather forecast its your more traditional Scottish weather il be experiencing this week ...best take my spare gortex gloves to think last week i was moaning it was too hot...id planned to do a couple of nights wild camping this trip up around appelcross this time, but il check the weather nearer the time and may leave it till my next planned trip up there in august
 
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SOMETHING DIFFERENT. Can anyone explain the workings of a ''Catch Can'' as I understand it ,it is a device that collects vapour from a crank case breather, In doing so excess oil and water vapour is trapped in this vessel. Some catch cans, can I am told , be taken apart and emptied .Others it seems are a expendable item ,how do you know it they are full. Some have an electrical cab
BTW the bike that I have is a 1923 Raleigh.....................no catch can on this ,simple basic 250 side valve!!!
 
Usually (but not always) used on direct injected motors. Most are serviceable so can be taken apart for inspection and cleaning/emptying. Once you've had one fitted for a while, you'll know how long it takes to fill up so you can judge how often you want/need to empty it.
 
My wrists (and 4R5E!) are both aching just looking at that - but my eyes are pleased!!!
 
Maybe it’s because I came to motorcycling late and or I’m not particularly interested in Moto GP, but sports bikes just don’t interest me at all.
I do know that I’m in the minority with that view.
 
Ricardodaforce said:
Maybe it’s because I came to motorcycling late and or I’m not particularly interested in Moto GP, but sports bikes just don’t interest me at all.
I do know that I’m in the minority with that view.
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I know a number of people who don’t like sports bikes and prefer “proper bikes”, but I grew up with the likes of Barry Sheene as my hero and so always been into sports bikes, and still am even though I’ve gone over to the dark side ;)
 
snerkler said:
I know a number of people who don’t like sports bikes and prefer “proper bikes”, but I grew up with the likes of Barry Sheene as my hero and so always been into sports bikes, and still am even though I’ve gone over to the dark side ;)
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How would you define a proper bike?

Barry Sheene certainly was a character eh. I think motorsport in general suffers from a lack of them nowadays.

The other thing I struggle to understand is the cult of the BMW R1250 Adventure.
Who needs an adventure bike so big and heavy? Even the 1200cc version of what I have weighs 50kg more than my bike. I’m sure that when it comes to the BMW it’s all about show. I see so many with full metal panniers on that I’m sure have probably never been more than 50 miles from home.
 
Ricardodaforce said:
How would you define a proper bike?

Barry Sheene certainly was a character eh. I think motorsport in general suffers from a lack of them nowadays.

The other thing I struggle to understand is the cult of the BMW R1250 Adventure.
Who needs an adventure bike so big and heavy? Even the 1200cc version of what I have weighs 50kg more than my bike. I’m sure that when it comes to the BMW it’s all about show. I see so many with full metal panniers on that I’m sure have probably never been more than 50 miles from home.
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Their words, not mine ;)

I had an R1200GS Adventure, probably the best bike I've owned overall. First of all it's the only bike that's ever properly fit me, secondly it's ideal for the British roads, especially those around Derbyshire. It soaks up all the bumps with ease, but performs so much better than it looks like it should. The balance and chassis were spot on, and due to the height advantage being able to see over cars, drystone walls, hedge etc you could make great progress and not having to do the point and squirt you do on a Sportsbike for example. If it wasn't for my fibro affecting my arms and shoulders I'd have another in a heartbeat (y)

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i loved my sportsbikes when i had them, i couldn't manage to get my knee up on the pegs of one nowadays for any length of time to be worth it, i've rode my mates ninja since i've broken my leg but it was just for a couple of miles before i had to swap back, my FZ1 is a sports tourer, derived from the R1 but with a bit more relaxed geometry not as an insane top speed but it will shift if i want it too, especially when i hit that 7000 revs, but i can ride it sedately and had no problem doing the slow speed exercises when i was doing my advanced riding on it i can ride it practically at 1 mph without even needing to drag the rear brake, for me it really is an ideal bike..i love all kinds of bikes apart from cruisers, despite a few of my mates having harleys, indians and chops ive never been interested ( though i did once have a twin engines triumph chop / drag bike when i was going through a BSH stage) , im only in my 50's and not ready for the cruisers just yet, maybe in 25 or 30 years i think peoples interpretations of "proper motor bikes" are the triumph bonny styled bikes with bench seats . when i do have to eventually get rid of the FZ il probably go down the adventure bike style, more for the comfort but il miss the power of light weight and 150 bhp of tuned engine...bikes for life ive had at least one bike and sometimes a couple at a time since i was 16...41 years, god knows what ive spent in petrol in them over the years but ive enjoyed every single penny of it
 
I agree with you JohnC6 . The majority of motorists dont care about M/C . I will not ride when it is or has been raining. Nor will I ride when there are hire cars with Asian drivers . My response to club members when they ask why I am absent on club rides that I would prefer to be dead in bed rather than dead on the road.
One of the worst experiences is having a large 4x4 driving close behind you any car for that matter.
 
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