And today's commuting highlight is...

And today's commuting highlight is...

Author
Discussion

SteelerSE

1,885 posts

155 months

Wednesday 1st March 2017
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Great run in yesterday - I only had to stop at two red lights before getting to Kensington. I quickly lost count after that but just stopping twice to get that far is a win.

Today I will mostly be sitting at home and not traipsing into London. Excellent.

kiethton

13,883 posts

179 months

Wednesday 1st March 2017
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Back on the bike this morning after collecting it yesterday evening

The cam chain tensioner issue is resolved, the indicators now work and the exhaust is back on - can really see the gasses form the exhaust hole though - also seem to have a big flat spot at ~6k rpm - related?

So much better than before though! - thanks for yesterday's welder link - looks a little far from me but a friend in the office has suggested maidstone exhausts? - else thinking it may be best to just bite the bullet and bullet and get some replacement stainless downpipes

Sea Demon

1,156 posts

212 months

Wednesday 1st March 2017
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Friend of mine had a car exhaust made at Maidstone exhaust centre, done a really good job so I'm sure the bloke there could help you out & get that fixed - the flat spot probably is related to the hole.

If the pipes have to come off in order to get in and do the welding, you might be better off just fitting some decent 2nd hand pipes.

I was riding with a big bang R1 with akra's and flame spitting Superduke through Lewisham and down the OKR this morning - was nice for the ears.

If you can get to Dartford during the week & the pipes exposed & ready to weld, friend of mine runs a garage who could weld it for you - Scotts performance/Biddenden Motor Works, Fulwich Road, Dartford - specialise in BMW's but they could weld that for you I'm sure.

Also, if the pipe is split 3.5" long you could try chemical metal, I used it successfully on a car exhaust manifold which had cracked but if the actual hole is 3.5" round, it probably wont work.


Edited by Sea Demon on Wednesday 1st March 09:38

SteelerSE

1,885 posts

155 months

Wednesday 1st March 2017
quotequote all
You could try an exhaust wrap/repair of some kind? Otherwise I bought some Motad downpipes for my old VFR800 which were ideal. They are a bh to fit though and the guy that used to do that work for me swore he'd never take on another VFR again. Lots of issues with rusted on studs in the head of the engine which you really don't want to break.

Sea Demon

1,156 posts

212 months

Wednesday 1st March 2017
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Can anyone recommend a cheap Bluetooth set for the bike? I always only seem to get called when Im on the bike laugh

Tribal Chestnut

2,997 posts

181 months

Wednesday 1st March 2017
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Sea Demon said:
Can anyone recommend a cheap Bluetooth set for the bike? I always only seem to get called when Im on the bike laugh
fk that! Not being contactable is part of the joy of being on a bike these days.

The only exception might be some sort of device to chat with pillion/other riders on a big trip.

Biker 1

7,694 posts

118 months

Wednesday 1st March 2017
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Tribal Chestnut said:
fk that! Not being contactable is part of the joy of being on a bike these days.
yes Next they'll be offering built-in facebook on bikes....

kiethton

13,883 posts

179 months

Wednesday 1st March 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for the pointers for welders, much appreciated.

Thinking to wait until my remortgage is done, I've got some cash and then I'll get it sorted - at least thin I'll have enough of a buffer to cover a replacement if needed

Myles Peraua

Original Poster:

19,532 posts

202 months

Wednesday 1st March 2017
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Sea Demon said:
Can anyone recommend a cheap Bluetooth set for the bike? I always only seem to get called when Im on the bike laugh
Search on eBay, there are loads around £25, they do work although they won't pair up with the more fussy Bluetooth devices (aka BMW!).

kiethton

13,883 posts

179 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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Good run in today, traffic seemed a little worse than normal though?

Biker 1

7,694 posts

118 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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Finally a nice sunny morning!!!! Decided to take the scenic route as I woke up early by mistake. Went through a 'Road Closed, Access Only' sign, nearly crashed into the road works, then pulled a power wheelie by mistake in 4th riding over a ridge in the road; I was almost vertical for a moment & thought I'd end up flipping. Adrenaline rush better than super strength coffee in the morning!

E36GUY

5,906 posts

217 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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Very quick run in for me. The usual gridlock between Letchworth and Stevenage was notably completely absent this morning which was odd for a Thursday and I breezed through. Blimmin windy though!!

sjtscott

4,215 posts

230 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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Pothole said:
So you weren't making the point that this meant your test should have gone ahead?
Nope, at the time I was irritated but that was forgotten after my third visit to the same test centre less than 2 months later for my second actual test where I passed which I did 6 days before Christmas in 1996. The mission for me was time critical to get my full license before the end of 1996 - so I would have been some of the last people to have a full unrestricted bike license after passing one single practical test on a 125

Sea Demon

1,156 posts

212 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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Myles Peraua said:
Search on eBay, there are loads around £25, they do work although they won't pair up with the more fussy Bluetooth devices (aka BMW!).
Sorted - bought a 2nd hand one for £30 been used once apparently, doesn't play music but that's what the engine/exhaust is for right biggrin

J B L

4,199 posts

214 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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As highlights go, that's a good one! This was last night commuting back up from Frimley to Rugby. Last 8 miles.

Beat that (actually, don't)








And the importance of good gear:

These jeans are probably close to 15 years old. They were given to me by my old boss when I was passing my bike test in 2009.
They're Hein Gericke Gore Tex. Must have cost a fortune at the time and I believe from the time when HG were making good stuff!
The protection in the knee is polysterene. It exploded on impact. My knee is intact.



Alpinestar Andes jacket is not expensive but has all the protection well held in all critical locations. I fell on my shoulder and it's my £20 waterproof that took the brunt of that. I also reckon my left arm got trapped between me and the road which is probably why my left shoulder feels sprained. Second pic below shows a small hole where the forearm protection is. Forearm is fine.
As for the shoulder, Doc said rest it, painkillers, couple of days should do it. Changing gears in car is painful so is lifting a full kettle. That's it.






Boots. I don't think the bike fell on my foot but the left one definitely hit the ground and both dragged. Daytona's inner ankle protection and quality stitching did their job:






And finally gloves. I have always praised the Spadas for their wet and cold protection but considering the left one was dragged between me and the road, it shows the little plastic sliders did their job very well. No stitching came off I could reuse them tomorrow although, at £62 a pair, I'll get some brand new ones!





Back story: crash happened last evening at around 7pm. Road was pitch dark and although I was on a straight someone pulled out from the right turning right.
I only saw his black Audi at the last minute as it was pretty much black car on black road on black sky.
Triupmh headlights not good enough for these conditions even with uprated Osram nightbreaker bulbs. That's lesson one for selecting next commuting bike.
Not using that roads in winter / dark is lesson 2. Too many small intersection hidden like this one.
I couldn't see him from afar for the bushes obstructing the junction and couldn't see his lights as he was angled slightly to the right.




Swerved round his bonnet. Probably dabbed the front brake. Greasy/wet road. Front tyre just broke away and I was sliding and rolling over the kerb, into the grass verge. Bike slid 30m down the road.

I am very conscious that I have used a life up here!

The driver said he didn't see me for the car that was following me. He focused on his headlights, not mine and thought he had the time to pull out.

He was more shocked than me I think. Called me twice last night and once this morning. All details were excahnged, witness (car behind me) came up good so should be straightforward enough.


outnumbered

4,067 posts

233 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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That was a close call, glad your kit did what it was supposed to. Do you know how fast you were going when he pulled out ? Sounds like you did well to swerve and miss rather than going smack into the side.

E36GUY

5,906 posts

217 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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Sorry to see that fella. Glad you're OK!

Biker 1

7,694 posts

118 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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yikesyikes Holy smokes that looks bad!
Good to see gear doing its stuff properly - I've seen too many, mostly young people, with no gloves, regular trousers, trainers, etc to make me wince..... What state is your lid in?

J B L

4,199 posts

214 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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Biker 1 said:
yikesyikes Holy smokes that looks bad!
Good to see gear doing its stuff properly - I've seen too many, mostly young people, with no gloves, regular trousers, trainers, etc to make me wince..... What state is your lid in?
Head didn't touch the ground. Helmet is intact. A little muddy but undamaged.


K8-600

1,724 posts

111 months

Thursday 2nd March 2017
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I was out today trying to get my camera sorted out (Drift Ghost-S) when I caught this poor old dear taking a trip.

https://youtu.be/_L9_Wq7H-fo

Still need to figure out why the sound is so bad!