Only five and a bit weeks till we set off for Romania. But I seem to be finding problem after problem at the moment.
Chain and sprockets a couple of weeks ago, plus a new battery. My front Conti Trail Attack seems to have developed cracks in the bottom of the tread. And Just spent another £70 on back brake bits. And I'm still on the hunt for a tool tube to bolt on somewhere.
Add pre-trip-paranoia to this and things are looking grim at the moment, please tell me it will be OK.
It WILL be ok. Have a blast!
I'm Going to France In Spetember, new boots rear brake pads etc it's just being sensible. have a great tripo cheers Spud :wink:
You'd be doing this stuff anyway so, as Spud says, it's just sensible. I went to Scotland thinking I had enough tread on the back tyre then spent half the week worrying about it. I should've just done it before I went. :roll:
Rob you're doing the right thing simply by doing the required maintenance. Focussing too hard on the 'what-ifs' will keep the bike in the shed putting on weight.
Sounds like it's a trip you've planned and thought about so you've done the hard bit. Now there's just the enjoyment of the ride and adventure...... and telling us all about it.
+ 1 Using my acute bad timing skills I've managed to have all 3 bikes off the road at the same time :roll: the only thing that's revved up at the moment is my cheque book :shock:
Every quid you don't spend now its easily translated to petrol or beer on the road :5moped
Always makes me smile when talking to folk who are non bikers,they have this image that bike travel is cheap,our week to Mugello came in with a credit card bill for over a grand travelling there and back,400 pound hotel bill in Florence plus food,and direct debit bill for the peage and the 600 Euros we took in cash.
Ontop of that,tyres that were all but brand new(always go away with new tyres),chain sprockets,various other bits and bobs fitted,took a R/R and spare clutch cable and left a brand new alternator with friends with instructions to DHL 24 hour it if needed,and a heavy weight credit card in case it all went belly up.
We live in a cheap country when it comes to bike bits and spares,buy e'm here before you go you'll save both money and a lot less grief.
4 weeks thursday will on the Portsmouth/St Malo ferry for Le-mans,just about recovered from the 140 euro's that it cost for a battery for my K1200 last year!!! :shock:
Pah! That's nothing Rob, by a used Saab 9-5, like mine and know the true meaning of expense, utter unreliability and lack of movement / travel.
:evil:
As for the bike, I suspect you are just worrying about it because the trip is coming up. Better these little wrinkles show up now than later, when they are hard to fix. I'd say this is actually good luck!
Enjoy your trip.
Rob, if you were not asking these questions it would be worrying. I think it is something we all do before a run or even on the weekly/daily checks.
Once you hit the continent you will be fine, go and ENJOY, oh and BTW, pictures please.
It is just pre-trip nerves. And the thought that if this big blue thing fails then all bets are off!
To be fair, the wife has had a lot on her plate too. She cant decide what clothes to take. So I think I have come out in sympathy.
Got to agree with you Chris. We went off to Italy at the beginning of June. Last minute decision to see some family. I had half a mind to drive or ride. Once we did the maths, it was an easy choice to jump on Ryanair.
Travelling on a bike is an art form,it's what we do it's an addiction,this year was different,by the time we were due to go to Mugello normally we would have done at least two shake down runs,Le-Mans has been moved from April to september and we didn't go to the NW200,so we knew the first 500 miles would be tough and it was,but what I enjoy,ride all day,decent hotel,good meal,go to bed,up for breakfast,out the door and ride all day,again!!
One of the advantages of being a little older!!,is when the dipstick behind the hotel reception views you with distain as you walk through the door with 600 miles of crap on you,the look on their face when they check the register they realise you've booked the Penthouse,you can see the cogs working thinking you've got a few more bob in your pocket than what they thought 20 seconds ago,pre concieved ideas and all that!!!.
Oddly enough I got jumpy about the bike as well for some reason,it gets ridden pretty hard but ran like a good'un,the down side of doing holidays and travelling Europe,I/we have zero interest in riding in the UK,I'll go out to mid Wales during the week with no traffic and no law,but ride a bike of a weekend :( ,just a great way of getting banned,the way I ride a bike.
Advise the wife (no point in trying to TELL her...) to buy some cheap T shirts and underwear from Mattelan so she can wear and then bin. Tell her the hotel will have a hair dryer (lie if you have to). You could do the same, but you'll only be allowed one half of one of the three cases you'll be taking anyway and mostof that will be tools and spares :lol:
The guru is Chris C and his missus - she uses vac bags.
Nothing to do with me,I ride the bike,my other half does the packing(I'm not allowed),it's a shame I didn't get to take some photos of what we took to Mugello and how we packed it,I know our blue pillow on the topbox looks daft but there's 25 years of R+D gone into that bag and the zip on the side,and the straps that hold it on.
As for tee shirts/socks/pants,anything during the year that we don't like not happy with gets put to one side and is used when we are on the road and gets dumped every day,even silly things like hair shampoo,why take a bottle when those small sache's will do,hair dryers,yep we take one I'll sort it out and take a photo,about the size of a pair of glass's case.
Vac bags are to my missus are like a good torque wrench to me, Her bag is like sTardust when she starts pulling stuff out of it.
Just got done with a 1700 mile trip to NY (Rochester) and back. Caned it the whole way (75-80mph for the whole tank, often, and two up) Not a hiccup.
What ARE you worrying about, get out there!!!
Cosmo
Quote from: "Chris Canning"One of the advantages of being a little older!!,is when the dipstick behind the hotel reception views you with distain as you walk through the door with 600 miles of crap on you.
I must say I've never experienced that in 20 years or so of touring in France* on the bike regardless of how much I've spent. I remember the chef and kitchen porter manhandling my Commando into the kitchen storeroom of a little place in the Pyrenees so it would be safe overnight.....
*UK of course an entirely different matter.
Quote from: "iansoady"Quote from: "Chris Canning"One of the advantages of being a little older!!,is when the dipstick behind the hotel reception views you with distain as you walk through the door with 600 miles of crap on you.
I must say I've never experienced that in 20 years or so of touring in France* on the bike regardless of how much I've spent. I remember the chef and kitchen porter manhandling my Commando into the kitchen storeroom of a little place in the Pyrenees so it would be safe overnight.....
*UK of course an entirely different matter.
Holiday Inn Cottbus
Although actual fact been told a hotel is full when we knew it wasn't in Luxembourg although the reception was English!!!.
As for France the game has changed by some margin riding wise,blow in the bag kits,dressed up like Coco the Clown,and they all stick to the speed limits :(
No I've never had anytrouble with hotels either in France,but there's a bit more to Europe than just one country.
Bob. We learned about recycling clothing a few years ago. It's pretty much the basics now and buy the rest if needed. Oh, but of course, I have the right hand pannier to myself.
We never book hotels. We just turn up. Unlike you Chris, I dont need the penthouse suite. And i'm with Ian as well on the hotel front, never had a problem. But then we are happy with anything from a three star and up. Never thought I would say THAT on a bike forum. In 2010 we were coming back from Italy, got to Dijon late afternoon and the heavens opened. First hotel was an Ibis, full. Went down to the Novotel, the wife went in looking like a drowned rat and we got straight in.
I need to ask about the vac bags Chris, I understand that it can all be packed away before you go, but what happens when you stop for the night on route and need a clean pair, you then need to re-seal them. At this point I was going to make a joke about your wife's sucking power, but it would be inappropriate.
Just put the clothes in, roll the bag either up or flat with the air cap off and lean on it with your knee to stop the air going back in and screw the air cap on,one instant flat bag,and I mean flat.
We got the Penthouse by mistake,and when my wife read the info in it when we got unpacked and realised that by booking early it should have been cheaper went down stair and got it for 50 quid a night :D ,instead of 200.
As for pre booking hotels,means we can ride all day or stop and turn up at midnight,more than once we've spent hours trying find a couple of spare rooms for us two and a mate,3/4 hotels later fully booked on the trot :evil: ,could have been another 300 miles up the road instead of faffing about.
Hair dryer photo,the glass's case some you idea for reference in size.
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h185/wing2541/Florence2012.jpg)
Quote from: "Chris Canning"Just put the clothes in, roll the bag either up or flat with the air cap off and lean on it with your knee to stop the air going back in and screw the air cap on,one instant flat bag,and I mean flat.
That's spooky. The wife waved some under my nose about a minute before reading that. I know the ones.
I think I can beat the mini hairdriers. She has just bought a set of hair straighteners that would fit in the palm of your hand.
We don't book hotels in advance, because if we did, it would all go tits-up. It always does. We now just get to a point in the afternoon where we decide to start looking for a place. Gives a chance to scout round the area and have a nose.
That's neat, what make and where did you get it if you don't mind?
My missus discovered vac bags some time ago, I soon discovered what it meant was the same size bag as before just weighing twice as much, now she carry's a portable scale as well :roll:
I use waterproof camping bags which you squeeze the air out off, then at night I put some air back and use it as a pillow.
I dont plan my trips to much I just have an idea where I want to go, and I just go with the flow on the day. I find that way I end up having to talk to people which makes a change for being as I am an antisocial barsteward :x :roll:
Can get a bit iffy when you don't know where the next petrol station is and you dont speak the local lingo :oops:
cheers spud :wink:
Quote from: "robxxxx"Quote from: "Chris Canning"Just put the clothes in, roll the bag either up or flat with the air cap off and lean on it with your knee to stop the air going back in and screw the air cap on,one instant flat bag,and I mean flat.
That's spooky. The wife waved some under my nose about a minute before reading that. I know the ones.
I think I can beat the mini hairdriers. She has just bought a set of hair straighteners that would fit in the palm of your hand.
We don't book hotels in advance, because if we did, it would all go tits-up. It always does. We now just get to a point in the afternoon where we decide to start looking for a place. Gives a chance to scout round the area and have a nose.
We did the on spec thing for 25 years I guess and it just got too much hassle particularly in the peak season, pre booking, most hotels now don't even take a credit card number,only if you intend rolling up after 7pm,so if it all goes pete tong with the net and smart phones you can cancel or just don''t tell e'm,although our last day in the Alps on the way to Italy we did on spec,and got lucky but it was early in the afternoon,and by 4 pm it was a mad rush with folk coming in asking about rooms,as most of the bikers that turned up had booked in advance.
This was at the bottom of the Col du Mont Cenis.
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h185/wing2541/Florence2012083-1.jpg)#
What makes it so different for us,as travelling Europe is all we do,we know distance/time and know how to plan a day and hotels along the way,doesn't sound very exciting but some of the route we went on to Mugello a few weeks ago we must have travel on 20/30 times but riding the bike is just as much fun :D
Re the vacum bags,as Nial said the weight comes as a shock,there was a thread on here the other week about Givi boxs and how much they carry,I dread to think what is in our 50L box,we don't do panniers,but if we did almost certainley you would have a weight problem because you can cram so much in.
Quote from: "Sin_Tiger"That's neat, what make and where did you get it if you don't mind?
My missus discovered vac bags some time ago, I soon discovered what it meant was the same size bag as before just weighing twice as much, now she carry's a portable scale as well :roll:
My wife informs me :oops:
The one on the left was bought in Assen in Holland,the one on the right was purchase out of the Daily Mail,advertised as the worlds smallest hairdryer :roll:,but that was some years ago!!
Will do some research on that then, thanks.
I got news last night that she has already booked flights, hotel and tickets for the CN Classics weekend, now its up to me to get my backside in gear for leave and flights. If anyone else is going .......
Sod, sorry about the hijack, I'll start another thread :oops:
Quote from: "Sin_Tiger"Will do some research on that then, thanks.
I got news last night that she has already booked flights, hotel and tickets for the CN Classics weekend, now its up to me to get my backside in gear for leave and flights. If anyone else is going .......
Sod, sorry about the hijack, I'll start another thread :oops:
Well go on then....... :roll:
I'm at work, remember work :P
New front tyre fitted, put a few miles on it today, but still need a few more miles to scrub it in. Back brake pistons and seals done as well.
Not 100% happy with the front end. Not sure if its just me or head bearings showing signs of wear? I just cant seem to keep her straight at very low speed. Does that make sense? Can't feel any notches or play when the front wheel is off the ground. This might have to wait until after the trip. More money.......
Low speed vagueness is a symptom of head bearings too tight. My Blackbird felt like someone was sitting on the back leaning from side to side when I fitted taper bearings. I went back to OEM Honda supplied ball races and all was well again.
If you've had the front wheel off the ground and the head bearings feel good,and the bike is wandering around,jack the preload up to max and ride the bike again,if it's wandering around it'll be down at the back for some reason,and of course I'm assuming you have a new tyre on the back,becuase surely your not going that distance with part worn one are you :?
The back tyre has a LOT of tread left on it and I am going on it. I will try the preload and check the tightness of bearings. I only notice it at very low/crawling speeds. Otherwise its fine at any other speed.
Just going to pop out for another hour or so to stick some more miles on the front tyre. :D
Quote from: "robxxxx"The back tyre has a LOT of tread left on it and I am going on it. I will try the preload and check the tightness of bearings. I only notice it at very low/crawling speeds. Otherwise its fine at any other speed.
Just going to pop out for another hour or so to stick some more miles on the front tyre. :D
It could be the head bearings as they seem to eat them!
Jack up the front end and try going from lock to lock but VERY gently and slowly, if they are just on their way it is only delicate movement will detect the worn bearings.
Not wishing to tell you how to suck eggs, just past experience. Best to change before you go as it will annoy the hell on the trip.
Yes, head bearings do have a notch. ordering now. I will replace the fork oil while i'm at it. Then that's it. I hope........
Bearings and fork oil arrive tomorrow. Have most of it stripped down, one question though. How does the top yoke come off? Handlebars and top head nut are off but I cant see whats still holding it in place. Am I not being brutal enough?
Forks are out. I pulled the the springs and checked the oil level. One seemed to be 17cm and the other was 18.5 cm from top of fork tube. I am going with 10w oil. Anyone care to recommend an air gap?
Oh and just to make my day, most of the bolts on the mud guard were seized solid. And whats the chuffin crack with those two bolts on top of the mudguard with the crap little spring clip type things to screw into. ended up grinding them off.
If the top yoke is like the Steamer, you have to take the tank off, or move it out the way so you can then turn the yoke 180 degrees as it has a lip that attaches to the frame as a security device.
Cheer's for that, just found Mustang's thread as well.
OK, a penultimate post. If all goes well the Big Blue Ba*stard should be back on the road thursday. Just wanted to give some observations on the head bearing swop.
THE BAD.
The Triumph service manual is of no help whatsoever(Almost).
The bottom yolk race are a sod to get off.
Those mudguard bolts and fittings. ( I want to meet the man who at the design meeting said...." I know, we'll use oversized fairing grommets and cheap flat nuts to hold it in place". I not only want to meet him, but I want to congratulate him on his astute business acumen. I then want to punch him in the face as hard as possible.
The top yolk on my 2005 has to be forced/pulled off. NOT like a steamer, where you turn it to disengage the headstock. PLEASE NOTE Girly owners.
THE GOOD.
The freezer is your friend. Bottom yolk and top bearing in overnight. Helps no end easing them on.
Wickes do a furniture leg that's 32mm x 800mm. The perfect drift for that bottom race.
You can buy slim adjustable spanners, to adjust bearing tension, from most good tool shops. The only special tool you will need.
Once the forks were out, the wear on the bearings was more pronounced. Glad that I have done it though. The forks were a piece of cake to replace the oil. My advice would be to leave them inverted overnight then pump them a few times and leave for an hour or more to get the last bit of crap out. They seem to lock if left compressed, but a good tug gets them free again.
Plan to get it all rolling again on Thursday, will let you know how it goes.
To remove bottom races I find careful use of an angle grinder makes short work of it; grinding through the race but not the stem (obviously)!
Bottom race came off a treat on mine..good solid thwack with a drift. As for the well nuts on the mudguard.. I feel your pain, I managed to cut down the nut so saving the bolt and the rubber insert..re assembled with a nylocks, just did one side tho as it wasnt necessary to remove all 4.
I see the speedo has gone belly up as well!!!
Aaahhh, been spying on me have you. Big Brother Chris knows all. Any chance you can do me the lottery numbers for this week Chris. :wink:
Yes, more problems. I have only had time to get out on it a couple of times since doing the bearings and the speedo has been a problem. Pulled the wheel to see if the drive was seated ok, and that was fine. But I think it may be further up the cable. When I put the fairing back on I did look at the speedo connector and think it looked like it was pulled a bit tight, if you know what I mean. So I will try and get a look at it this weekend. I took a look at how much a new one is and almost fell over!
Apart from that the steering bearings are good, think I might need to tighten them up just a fraction as I noticed a very, very slight handle bar wobble at illegal speeds. But to my mind, the fork oil has been the big improvement.
The saga continues........
I had one go down in 2000 while travelling Spain,they need to be treated with some reverance,ie even the drive needs flushing out with WD and regreasing properly,it's not just a seating issue.
Can't tell you the lottery numbers,but I can tell you if you have a problem with a 955 you've a better chance of sorting it on here rather than the other channel.