It's the weekend, who's doing bikey things?
Discussion
That time of the week again!
I'm planning to get the Venom off the bench this afternoon. It's had a lot of work done over the winter; new valve springs (found one of the inlet springs had broken plus it had new ones in which are apparently crap so some new old stock ones have gone in), new inlet valve and guide and seat re-cut. Timing also retarded quite a bit which apparently helps with running on modern fuel and it was a bit too advanced anyway.
Fired it up last weekend and it sounded like a different bike but annoyingly the clutch wouldn't free. A strip down showed the clutch was full of oil and the plates had stuck. It's been standing a couple of years. That's sorted now so I want to check it'll go in gear ok but it's too cold to take it for a proper run!
Other than that, watch the Argentinian MotoGP
Anyone else got bikey plans?
I'm planning to get the Venom off the bench this afternoon. It's had a lot of work done over the winter; new valve springs (found one of the inlet springs had broken plus it had new ones in which are apparently crap so some new old stock ones have gone in), new inlet valve and guide and seat re-cut. Timing also retarded quite a bit which apparently helps with running on modern fuel and it was a bit too advanced anyway.
Fired it up last weekend and it sounded like a different bike but annoyingly the clutch wouldn't free. A strip down showed the clutch was full of oil and the plates had stuck. It's been standing a couple of years. That's sorted now so I want to check it'll go in gear ok but it's too cold to take it for a proper run!
Other than that, watch the Argentinian MotoGP

Anyone else got bikey plans?
Final packing/checking of the Strom before I get the ferry to Caen on thursday evening. For some reason I'm incredibly nervous this time? Got to get the Oxford panniers sorted out, Irish/UK passports checked, sd cards, etc etc.
Down to north of Bordeaux Friday, Bilbao by saturday, day off sunday, Leon monday, Braga Tuesday, Lugo wednesday, Ovideo thursday, Bilbao again friday and the ferry home from Bilbao on saturday afternoon.
Down to north of Bordeaux Friday, Bilbao by saturday, day off sunday, Leon monday, Braga Tuesday, Lugo wednesday, Ovideo thursday, Bilbao again friday and the ferry home from Bilbao on saturday afternoon.
Biker9090 said:
Final packing/checking of the Strom before I get the ferry to Caen on thursday evening. For some reason I'm incredibly nervous this time? Got to get the Oxford panniers sorted out, Irish/UK passports checked, sd cards, etc etc.
Down to north of Bordeaux Friday, Bilbao by saturday, day off sunday, Leon monday, Braga Tuesday, Lugo wednesday, Ovideo thursday, Bilbao again friday and the ferry home from Bilbao on saturday afternoon.
Enjoy your trip, hope it all goes well and the nerves smooth out. Down to north of Bordeaux Friday, Bilbao by saturday, day off sunday, Leon monday, Braga Tuesday, Lugo wednesday, Ovideo thursday, Bilbao again friday and the ferry home from Bilbao on saturday afternoon.

Discovered I've definitely had my monies worth out of the back tyre, so the RS is off the road until that's sorted. Ahem.

Considering taxing the Yam but round here they're still flinging salt down.
Living vicariously through MotoGP, definitely.
I rode from Newcastle to Glasgow on Thursday via Morpeth, Selkirk and Peebles. Pretty much every field entrance or exit was covered in mud which the farmers had dragged onto the roads. Plus there was sleet at points so probably salt in there too.
So a wash, and catch up of MotoGP. Plus see what bolts vibrated out after 1,400 miles round Germany in the last fortnight
So a wash, and catch up of MotoGP. Plus see what bolts vibrated out after 1,400 miles round Germany in the last fortnight
Was heading off to Castle Combe for the NG test day to help a mate out, however there was a space that came up so ended up booking on. I had quite a big crash at Donington last year and had to rebuild my bike so I'm quite excited to get back on track and just be in the paddock environment again. Once you've been in a good paddock, you never want to be out of it!
Bob_Defly said:
I went to put the wheels back on the Speed Twin last night, only to find that the shop had put the rear tyre on the wrong way around. Back to the shop today, muppets.
Oh and I broke a couple of ribs, so everything is going slowly and painfully.
They switched it around in 15 mins, which makes me question the amount they charge. Oh and I broke a couple of ribs, so everything is going slowly and painfully.

Anyway, on now.

Bob_Defly said:
Is that Mutants? Interested in your feedback on them, considering using them on my R1250RS for a future trip to Morocco. Given all the lovely forest roads near you, I'm assuming they'll see gravel at some point.hiccy18 said:
Is that Mutants? Interested in your feedback on them, considering using them on my R1250RS for a future trip to Morocco. Given all the lovely forest roads near you, I'm assuming they'll see gravel at some point.
Yep, I didn't get them for off-road though, there is just a ton of gravel on the roads near me, had a few buttock clenching slides last year. Thought I would try these over my normal Road 6's.I can't understand how any tyre that isn't an off road biased knobbly can be any better than any other road tyre, on gravel
Gravel has no grip in itself to the tarmac so you have to cut through the gravel to the tarmac below or at least into a decent depth of gravel (on a gravel road) to get some grip
A knobbly might but even that isn't guaranteed but any fat road tyre just can't IMO
Happy for someone to explain what I'm missing
Gravel has no grip in itself to the tarmac so you have to cut through the gravel to the tarmac below or at least into a decent depth of gravel (on a gravel road) to get some grip
A knobbly might but even that isn't guaranteed but any fat road tyre just can't IMO
Happy for someone to explain what I'm missing
Marquezs Stabilisers said:
I rode from Newcastle to Glasgow on Thursday via Morpeth, Selkirk and Peebles. Pretty much every field entrance or exit was covered in mud which the farmers had dragged onto the roads. Plus there was sleet at points so probably salt in there too.
So a wash, and catch up of MotoGP. Plus see what bolts vibrated out after 1,400 miles round Germany in the last fortnight
I'm from Morpeth, did you just pass on the A1?So a wash, and catch up of MotoGP. Plus see what bolts vibrated out after 1,400 miles round Germany in the last fortnight
It's still around the 1 or 2 degrees here in the mornings getting up to a high of 5 degrees through the day. Roads are still salty and slippery.
KTMsm said:
I can't understand how any tyre that isn't an off road biased knobbly can be any better than any other road tyre, on gravel
Gravel has no grip in itself to the tarmac so you have to cut through the gravel to the tarmac below or at least into a decent depth of gravel (on a gravel road) to get some grip
A knobbly might but even that isn't guaranteed but any fat road tyre just can't IMO
Happy for someone to explain what I'm missing
No you are correct, the Mutants will probably be better at shifting water but will offer no benefit on gravel.Gravel has no grip in itself to the tarmac so you have to cut through the gravel to the tarmac below or at least into a decent depth of gravel (on a gravel road) to get some grip
A knobbly might but even that isn't guaranteed but any fat road tyre just can't IMO
Happy for someone to explain what I'm missing
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