The friendly "dumb" bike questions thread
Discussion
Ok, there seems to be a consensus there then. I've looked through the workshop manual and can't see anything too taxing. No call to remove front brakes, just the wheel speed sensor. Probably my only doubt is about getting the rear wheel aligned but I'll aim to just put it back how it is now, going off the exposed threads on the adjusters.
It's on a centre stand so a bit of rope off the rafters should do for the front. Is a jack & bit of wood under the sump an option? It doesn't strike me as the best plan but shouldn't need much force to lift the front wheel. Probably a bigger risk is the whole thing tipping backwards.
It's on a centre stand so a bit of rope off the rafters should do for the front. Is a jack & bit of wood under the sump an option? It doesn't strike me as the best plan but shouldn't need much force to lift the front wheel. Probably a bigger risk is the whole thing tipping backwards.
TheInternet said:
Ok, there seems to be a consensus there then. I've looked through the workshop manual and can't see anything too taxing. No call to remove front brakes, just the wheel speed sensor. Probably my only doubt is about getting the rear wheel aligned but I'll aim to just put it back how it is now, going off the exposed threads on the adjusters.
It's on a centre stand so a bit of rope off the rafters should do for the front. Is a jack & bit of wood under the sump an option? It doesn't strike me as the best plan but shouldn't need much force to lift the front wheel. Probably a bigger risk is the whole thing tipping backwards.
A combination support methods is best IMO. A jack under the sump, with a bit of wood for protection, is fine to lift the front, but will be pretty unstable if the rear is on a paddock stand, so a rope to rafters (I use an A-frame ladder instead) makes it nice and stable if you're decent with knots (use a ratchet strap if you don't know how to do a truckers hitch).It's on a centre stand so a bit of rope off the rafters should do for the front. Is a jack & bit of wood under the sump an option? It doesn't strike me as the best plan but shouldn't need much force to lift the front wheel. Probably a bigger risk is the whole thing tipping backwards.
Some bikes have holes around the lower engine mounts, presumably intended for a belly pan or sump guard, that you can stick a bar through and put the ends on axle stands, or I've seen people put the front axle back in and put an axle stand under it to take the weight.
Rear wheel alignment shouldn't be an issue, just slacken both adjusters by the same amount and lock them off, then make sure you tighten them by the same amount afterwards, you do need to make sure you're pushing the wheel forwards when you do up the axle nut though so it's tight both sides.
Personally I pop the calipers off and give them a clean while the wheel's off, but it's probably not necessary and I wouldn't recommend messing with brakes if you're not comfortable spannering.
Can a battery go duff in a year?
I put a new one on a year ago. Used the bike over the summer with no issues. It's stored in an outdoor metal storage shed.
Tried to start the bike up last weekend and the fuel pumps sounded a little slow to prime etc, and when trying to start it I got a bit of a clicking/grinding noise and it didn't try to turn over, so I figured that the battery had ran low over winter and in the cold. I fully charged it, and still get the same issue. Chucked my battery booster onto it and the bike fired right up.
Almost as though the crankage amps aren't up to it?
The fact that it fired up with my booster leads me to think it's the battery rather than a wider issue - Am I correct in that? A year doesn't seem like a long time!
Cheers
I put a new one on a year ago. Used the bike over the summer with no issues. It's stored in an outdoor metal storage shed.
Tried to start the bike up last weekend and the fuel pumps sounded a little slow to prime etc, and when trying to start it I got a bit of a clicking/grinding noise and it didn't try to turn over, so I figured that the battery had ran low over winter and in the cold. I fully charged it, and still get the same issue. Chucked my battery booster onto it and the bike fired right up.
Almost as though the crankage amps aren't up to it?
The fact that it fired up with my booster leads me to think it's the battery rather than a wider issue - Am I correct in that? A year doesn't seem like a long time!
Cheers
Sycamore said:
Can a battery go duff in a year?
I put a new one on a year ago. Used the bike over the summer with no issues. It's stored in an outdoor metal storage shed.
Tried to start the bike up last weekend and the fuel pumps sounded a little slow to prime etc, and when trying to start it I got a bit of a clicking/grinding noise and it didn't try to turn over, so I figured that the battery had ran low over winter and in the cold. I fully charged it, and still get the same issue. Chucked my battery booster onto it and the bike fired right up.
Almost as though the crankage amps aren't up to it?
The fact that it fired up with my booster leads me to think it's the battery rather than a wider issue - Am I correct in that? A year doesn't seem like a long time!
Cheers
Does your bike have an alarm/immobiliser/tracker?I put a new one on a year ago. Used the bike over the summer with no issues. It's stored in an outdoor metal storage shed.
Tried to start the bike up last weekend and the fuel pumps sounded a little slow to prime etc, and when trying to start it I got a bit of a clicking/grinding noise and it didn't try to turn over, so I figured that the battery had ran low over winter and in the cold. I fully charged it, and still get the same issue. Chucked my battery booster onto it and the bike fired right up.
Almost as though the crankage amps aren't up to it?
The fact that it fired up with my booster leads me to think it's the battery rather than a wider issue - Am I correct in that? A year doesn't seem like a long time!
Cheers
If so,a combination of that and the cold will kill a battery over the winter. I take the batteries off both of mine in December,even though they’re in an integral garage. The Mrs loves it when I
I put them in the cupboard in the utility room.
Sycamore said:
Can a battery go duff in a year?
I put a new one on a year ago. Used the bike over the summer with no issues. It's stored in an outdoor metal storage shed.
Assuming you mean it hasn't been used since Octoberish you've done well to get to this point and it still has juice to prime the fuel pump.I put a new one on a year ago. Used the bike over the summer with no issues. It's stored in an outdoor metal storage shed.
Even disconnected a battery will loose charge over time. Connected even a small battery drain will flatten it.
Some people keep theirs on permanent 'smart' chargers, I tend to charge mine once a month when not in use.
Lead acid batteries don't like being completely flat so it may be done for but if you charge it asap with a good quality smart charger you may get away with it.
I suspect the battery did die over winter, though even charging it fully now it doesn't have enough crank to turn the bike over unless I put my battery jumpack on. I suppose it being in the cold and running down has knackered something.
I'll get a trickle charger on order, along with a new battery
I'll get a trickle charger on order, along with a new battery
trickywoo said:
Assuming you mean it hasn't been used since Octoberish you've done well to get to this point and it still has juice to prime the fuel pump.
Even disconnected a battery will loose charge over time. Connected even a small battery drain will flatten it.
Some people keep theirs on permanent 'smart' chargers, I tend to charge mine once a month when not in use.
Lead acid batteries don't like being completely flat so it may be done for but if you charge it asap with a good quality smart charger you may get away with it.
Likewise, although I plug mine in every weekend for an hour or so until the green 'ready' LED lights up.Even disconnected a battery will loose charge over time. Connected even a small battery drain will flatten it.
Some people keep theirs on permanent 'smart' chargers, I tend to charge mine once a month when not in use.
Lead acid batteries don't like being completely flat so it may be done for but if you charge it asap with a good quality smart charger you may get away with it.
Usually I go for a Saturday or Sunday ride when its dry in the winter, but this year has been total & utter s
t - nonstop rain which seems to start on a Thursday & not dry out until Sunday night. I haven't ridden for weeks!PLEASE can winter just bloody well end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Bikes are mechanical beasts much like cars.
If you're happy to buy a car without any history then you'll be at home with something that's under yours thighs with no weather protection at 70mph that's seen no oil or love bar a intensive £40 valet.
If you're happy to buy a car without any history then you'll be at home with something that's under yours thighs with no weather protection at 70mph that's seen no oil or love bar a intensive £40 valet.
If you can't tell whether a bike has been serviced then leave it to someone else...Biker 1 said:
Likewise, although I plug mine in every weekend for an hour or so until the green 'ready' LED lights up.
Usually I go for a Saturday or Sunday ride when its dry in the winter, but this year has been total & utter st - nonstop rain which seems to start on a Thursday & not dry out until Sunday night. I haven't ridden for weeks!
PLEASE can winter just bloody well end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cold doesn't help either. The battery in my FireBlade is reasonably new but my garage got down to -10 over this winter. Battery was at about 10V when it refused to start and barely brought the dash on. However, with a charger, it's come back on - and then a thrash round the highlands helped too. Usually I go for a Saturday or Sunday ride when its dry in the winter, but this year has been total & utter s
t - nonstop rain which seems to start on a Thursday & not dry out until Sunday night. I haven't ridden for weeks!PLEASE can winter just bloody well end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sycamore said:
Can a battery go duff in a year?
100%. I've actually just installed a kill switch on my lesser used bike to stop this. No clock or anything sensitive to worry about. I can pop the seat off, twist the switch and ride off happily. I'll still throw a charger on it every so often to keep things in check. Disconnecting them and keeping them relatively warm will prolong life massively when they're not in use.
trickywoo said:
For the exact reasons you say nobody should just be riding a bike between garage services without looking at it anyway.
If it passes a mot it’s not dangerous at that point. If it doesn’t smoke or rattle the engine is likely fine.
It’s much easier to learn and do the basics on a bike compared to a car.
I’d rather buy a private owner maintained bike than a dealer one with full history that has only had minimum oil changes.
The issue is proof of servicing. I'd want to see a spreadsheet and receipts etc along with an understanding of the keeper and his abilities. I.eIf it passes a mot it’s not dangerous at that point. If it doesn’t smoke or rattle the engine is likely fine.
It’s much easier to learn and do the basics on a bike compared to a car.
I’d rather buy a private owner maintained bike than a dealer one with full history that has only had minimum oil changes.
Speaking with him. Bought from a dealer- I can't do that.
The issues with learning the basics on a bike - you are learning, how often will you change something? Did you do it right?
black-k1 said:
Biker 1 said:
PLEASE can winter just bloody well end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm with you 100% on that! 
It’s the bloody rain at home that was getting to me.
Ok, got a weird one.
I was starting up my 85 Gpz600r for the first time this year. Eventually got it going (it’s a bit grumpy after being sat for a while), as the bike was running and warming up I noticed some oil/brake fluid on the front wheel. The bottom of the calliper was wet but it may have run down the fork.
The. I looked over at my 2014 Triumph explorer and there was some oil /brake fluid on the front wheel. It’s definitely oily so it’s not mouse piss.
So I reckon I have 3 possible things happening.
1. Simultaneous random leaks from two bikes with a 30 year age gap.
2 . Aberdeenshire winter weather has done something to the bikes, but not the Ducati parked between them.
3. Someone’s sneaking into my locked shed and messing with the bikes in a very odd prank.
I was starting up my 85 Gpz600r for the first time this year. Eventually got it going (it’s a bit grumpy after being sat for a while), as the bike was running and warming up I noticed some oil/brake fluid on the front wheel. The bottom of the calliper was wet but it may have run down the fork.
The. I looked over at my 2014 Triumph explorer and there was some oil /brake fluid on the front wheel. It’s definitely oily so it’s not mouse piss.
So I reckon I have 3 possible things happening.
1. Simultaneous random leaks from two bikes with a 30 year age gap.
2 . Aberdeenshire winter weather has done something to the bikes, but not the Ducati parked between them.
3. Someone’s sneaking into my locked shed and messing with the bikes in a very odd prank.
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