Who rides motorcycles?

[CalG]

When I was in high school, I would get out the BSA 441 "Victim" (Victor). After working way too hard to get it started, I would ride the mile over to the empty field next to the school building (It's not empty now ;-)
There, I would race up and down and throw great lurid slides across the frozen ground and snow.

Oh, That was in North Dakota! Winters were cold! I could only go for about 1/2 hour befor it was time to ride home and warm up. The roads were often hard packed snow, slippery stuff. Sometimes too slippery.

Great fun!

 

[scootr]

I went back and made sure I was on Amazon Canada and found it and it's $100 CA, and this one I can add to cart

View attachment 4015553

Mine just arrived. Unpacked and inspected them. I'm actually pleased. Zippers and straps seem to be decent quality. They are soft sided and narrow when empty. In the picture they must be stuffed with paper or something. Really for the price I'm happy with them. here is a pic just thrown over the seat. Will post a photo when the frames come and I get them on the bike too.

 

[mrmikey]

Glad it worked out for you Scootr.
I bough one of their talbags figuring I could use it for a backrest which it looked like I could going by the pic. It arrived and it was all of 2-3" high maybe, I think it also said it would hold a helmet, a skid lid maybe....back it went.

 

[scootr]

I found this battery voltage meter / phone charger on Amazon for $15
Peace of mind to know the battery is okay to shut off out in the wilderness plus a phone charger.

Amazon.com

 

[LouNY]

I found this battery voltage meter / phone charger on Amazon for $15
Peace of mind to know the battery is okay to shut off out in the wilderness plus a phone charger.

Amazon.com

However a bad battery can have a surface voltage from the charging coil so as to appear good until the engine is shut down.

 

[scootr]

However a bad battery can have a surface voltage from the charging coil so as to appear good until the engine is shut down.

Good point, that can be. But daily monitoring a battery like the voltage drop under starting load will indicate a potential problem before it quits. Barring a catastrophic failure. Having a meter is better than not and a phone charger is a must if using a map guide. I plan to carry a jump start I already have too. I don't want to get stuck with a dead battery miles from home.

 

[scootr]

I installed that meter/usb port thingy on the handlebars. It has an on/off switch which makes it easy to check the battery charge when it's sitting now as it has for a week while I make some changes. I changed the front sprocket 15T to 14T yesterday and finish the skid plate installation. Unfortunately the EVAP canister and bracket had to be removed to make the skid plate fit. So now I'm modifying the bracket and moving it's location higher up on the frame but, the welder is acting up and needs some attention now...new stinger arrived.
I got the saddlebag supports installed and rear rack remounted. What a CF that was with 2 different Chinese mods trying to mount on the same brackets. But it feels solid and will keep the bags off the pipe on 1 side and out of the pokes on the other.
Bought some new tires and cheap changer /balancer set up. The fun continues, I do enjoy improving things.

 

[LouNY]

I installed that meter/usb port thingy on the handlebars. It has an on/off switch which makes it easy to check the battery charge when it's sitting now as it has for a week while I make some changes. I changed the front sprocket 15T to 14T yesterday and finish the skid plate installation. Unfortunately the EVAP canister and bracket had to be removed to make the skid plate fit. So now I'm modifying the bracket and moving it's location higher up on the frame but, the welder is acting up and needs some attention now...new stinger arrived.
I got the saddlebag supports installed and rear rack remounted. What a CF that was with 2 different Chinese mods trying to mount on the same brackets. But it feels solid and will keep the bags off the pipe on 1 side and out of the pokes on the other.
Bought some new tires and cheap changer /balancer set up. The fun continues, I do enjoy improving things.

I see a couple of persuaders on the floor there.

 

[scootr]

I see a couple of persuaders on the floor there.

Good eye. I had to remove a canister bracket for the EVAP system. Mostly with the grinder but the access angle was poor. The big hammer and chisel finished that and removed a fuel line support loop. All so I can raise the EVAP can up (above the skid plate) and reinstall... California only bikes have that EVAP can I think Case you didn't know it's a charcoal canister that collects gas fumes and sends them to the combustion chamber (I didn't know until I had to deal with it)
Anyway I got the title transferred today at my little AAA office. Quick and easy compared to our nightmarish DMV. So she's mine in the eyes of the state... Bought insurance with my reular State Farm agent. It cost a little more than Gieco but coverage was double with uninsured driver.
Being there are 10 mil illegals driving around that seemed like a good idea.
Time for supper. Have a good night.

 

[CalG]

One or the shortest connection hoses to the fuel evap system on my "new" Vespa GTS250 was broken (due to age) when I got the bike home. Who knows how long it had been so.

It's in such a PIA location, I just pulled another hose off the fuel injection manifold and capped the port.

I hope no one notices.....

The bike runs just fine without it! ;-)

I had to run into town after supper this evening. I took the Honda VFR800. Dang I like that bike. It does everything so well.
The night air was cool for a change....Nice.

 

[CalG]

 

[scootr]

I'm posting a tire changer review here cuz I told somebody in what did you buy I would...
All Amazon cheap products aka not the best but it'll do quality.
Tire changer $44 > Amazon.com: TUFFIOM 16-21 Inch Tire Changing Stand, Off-Road VehicleMotorcycleDirt Bike Stand Tire Changing Bead Remover, Tire Changing Repair Kit : Automotive
Tire balancer $51 > Amazon.com: Orion Motor Tech Motorcycle Bike Wheel Balancer, Tire Balancer Stand with Adjustable Centering Cones, Heavy Duty Motorcycle Wheel Balancing Stand, Portable Bicycle Wheel Balancer for up to 12" Tires : Automotive
Tire spoons $10 > amazon.com/dp/B0D4KFCFVY?ref=fed_asin_title
Wheel weights $20 > Amazon.com: DEWHEL 14 Pack Brass Motorcycle Reusable Wheel Spoke Balance Weights Refill Kits Compatible with Super Moto,Dual sport,metric cruisers,vintage,or any other spoked wheels : Automotive
Install assist tool $10 >https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW1ZYFR9?ref=fed_asin_title&th=1
$135 total >For the prive of what they charge locally I'm in the tire change business.
Quality on all items was acceptable. I had only one issue with the changer. See in the pics it has a center axle the hub slides onto and a big wing nut threads on the hold the wheel. Well the rod was the same 15mm size as my hubs but somehow they made threads on the end that actually increased the outside dimension on the threaded section. And it was a no go until I sanded off the excess which removed about half the thread but it still works. 3 stars, other wise it works okay, the bead breaker is fine and it was surprisingly stable on a table top. Good for $44 once you remedy the thread debacle.
The balancer works a charm. Maybe $10 overpriced but hey, free shipping on everything.
The cheap spoons worked great. Good tube safe finish. And perfect size. I also have a pr of HF spoons and they are kinda big for MC tires but I did need a 3rd spoon once and it came in handy... also if HF spoons are all you have they can work. It's all I had for the rear tire and I made it work.
The little red bead stop acts like a permanent spoon when installing to hold your starting point down. $10 for a 3rd hand you can use over and over.
I'm happy with it all and looking forward to many more changes.
By the way, I went with a D606 rear and MT-21 front

 

[LouNY]

I have a similar balancer that I got 15-20 years ago, only used it a half dozen times. But it sure was handy to have.

 

[Grumpycat]

I approve of anyone changing their own tires.

The caveat with that balancer is the 4 bearings must be parallel and square to the shaft. My first cost twice as much from the NoMar people and was junk. Surrendered and purchased a Marc Parnes balancer and have nothing but smiles. The Marc Parnes is so sensive it will try to balance the wing nuts on its cones with no wheel mounted. Uses a single bearing on the 1/2” shaft at each end.

During the peak 5 years of my riding I mounted about 60 tubeless motorcycle tires for myself and friends I rode with. 24 of my own tires.

Used a Cycle Hill changing stand from NoMar.

 

[scootr]

Very nice stand. I'm jealous

 

[CalG]

It's not for everyone, but for M/C wheel balancing, I use an "adapted" lawn mower blade balancer

I don't use the supplied base, but rather a longer pointed metal rod made from a punch.

I have had to spin up a variety of special adaptors to fit the various bikes I've had over the years.

I just plumb the pin vertical in the bench vise. Place the wheel /tire assembly on the cone (with custom adaptors as required) set up some sort of reference at the wheel rim, and then slowly spin the wheel.

The high spot is light! So on goes one of those sticky weights!

I've done both VFR (Sport bike) and Scooter tires this year.

I KNOW the sport bike jobe is good for over 100mph. ;-) And the scooter is smooth as silk up to 70mph.

An option for any who might want to try.

Fortunately, I have several lathes to spin up any adaptors needed.

 

[Grumpycat]

The high spot is light! So on goes one of those sticky weights!

I use inexpensive clear shipping tape to attach used weights when balancing so as to easily move them around. Then replace with new weights with new double-sided tape they come with.

There was a time during COVID new weights were difficult to come by. Bought some double sided tape and reused weights for a while. The new tape wasn't as good as what Motion Pro used on new weights but apparently Good Enough™. Scraping old tape off was tedious.

 

[Grumpycat]

Very nice stand. I'm jealous

Thanks! It paid for itself in more ways than one. I could mount a tire any time, the night before a ride if necessary. But always on my schedule and not when a shop had an opening in their schedule.

 

[scootr]

I bought the best cheapie changer I could find as I'm not anticipating using it a whole lot. After using it to change and balance 2 tires it is financially a wash. Next time it is free changes. Plus the satisfaction of DIY

 

[not2old]

I was too cheap to buy a changer and suffer because of it. I wrestle with them on a carpet, on the floor. I recently installed a rear knobby right after a new front on my Sportster. Had sore knuckles for a few days. I'm going to look into a changer for next time.