The friendly "dumb" bike questions thread

[MrGman]

MikeyB99 said:

One for the full-on sportsbike riders here (or anyone else who may know!) - have seen 4/5 of people now wearing a full set of leathers but with a cotton t-shirt over the top - is there any rhyme or reason to this or just personal taste?

Specifically saw someone yesterday morning on an S1000RR - full leathers, but a completely blank/plain white T-shirt over the top??

Just something some people do, usually on “jixxers”

[Krikkit]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

My preferred method is with a stanley knife blade - use it like a razor (i.e. gently and with a high angle of incidence to the surface) and it comes off nicely without marking the surface.

I've done head gaskets that way and it works brilliantly.

[CaptainSlow]

Trail braking...do people use it for the road?

[naetype]

Krikkit said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

My preferred method is with a stanley knife blade - use it like a razor (i.e. gently and with a high angle of incidence to the surface) and it comes off nicely without marking the surface.

I've done head gaskets that way and it works brilliantly.

Old credit/store/loyalty card... Job jobbed.

[Prof Prolapse]

Krikkit said:

My preferred method is with a stanley knife blade - use it like a razor (i.e. gently and with a high angle of incidence to the surface) and it comes off nicely without marking the surface.

I've done head gaskets that way and it works brilliantly.

Only done it a few times, but whilst I don't mind using a razor blade, on HG you tend to have a better angle to work on, for the side of a bike with engine in situ I'd be looking to use a plastic scraper of some type, and just use the razor for the stubborn bits to save you inadvertently hacking something. Then a very high number wet&dry to finish.

As for solvent to assist, I've always just used whatever penetrating oil I've had to hand.

Then I'd probably use the thread sealer type product anyway, after that effort I'd sooner live in ignorance if it still leaked.

[dern]

CaptainSlow said:

Trail braking...do people use it for the road?

Braking while entering the corner? Yes, if appropriate and I can stop in the distance I can see.

[tvrolet]

Prof Prolapse said:

Krikkit said:

My preferred method is with a stanley knife blade - use it like a razor (i.e. gently and with a high angle of incidence to the surface) and it comes off nicely without marking the surface.

I've done head gaskets that way and it works brilliantly.

Only done it a few times, but whilst I don't mind using a razor blade, on HG you tend to have a better angle to work on, for the side of a bike with engine in situ I'd be looking to use a plastic scraper of some type, and just use the razor for the stubborn bits to save you inadvertently hacking something. Then a very high number wet&dry to finish.

As for solvent to assist, I've always just used whatever penetrating oil I've had to hand.

Then I'd probably use the thread sealer type product anyway, after that effort I'd sooner live in ignorance if it still leaked.

...and you can't go wrong with a spray and rub down with brake/clutch cleaner. Helps cleaning gasket surfaces too

[tvrolet]

CaptainSlow said:

Trail braking...do people use it for the road?

Yes, easing off as the lean increases...and more back brake than front.

Can open - worms everywhere.

[TheInternet]

Two piece textile wearers: do you zip or otherwise connect together your jacket to trousers? Yes/no/sometimes/always?

[cbmotorsport]

MikeyB99 said:

One for the full-on sportsbike riders here (or anyone else who may know!) - have seen 4/5 of people now wearing a full set of leathers but with a cotton t-shirt over the top - is there any rhyme or reason to this or just personal taste?

Specifically saw someone yesterday morning on an S1000RR - full leathers, but a completely blank/plain white T-shirt over the top??

I'm not one of these types, but I've seen the question asked before, answers range from for added warmth to keeping my leathers clean, to better visibility.

Can't see it myself, so possibly just a 'fashion' thing.

[MrGman]

TheInternet said:

Two piece textile wearers: do you zip or otherwise connect together your jacket to trousers? Yes/no/sometimes/always?

I always zip together, warmer in the colder months and probably adds a bit of extra protection in a fall

[SpeckledJim]

Just a guess - to keep the dead flies off your shoulders?

[Krikkit]

MrGman said:

TheInternet said:

Two piece textile wearers: do you zip or otherwise connect together your jacket to trousers? Yes/no/sometimes/always?

I always zip together, warmer in the colder months and probably adds a bit of extra protection in a fall

Me too - keeps the breeze/rain out, and stops them riding up/down in a fall...

[Stuart70]

Leather trousers, textile jacket here and no, I don’t zip them together - I probably should. I guess there is a risk that the jacket “rides up” in an accident?

[RizzoTheRat]

TheInternet said:

Two piece textile wearers: do you zip or otherwise connect together your jacket to trousers? Yes/no/sometimes/always?

Always, the zips there why not use it? My previous set of kit didn't zip together and the zip definitly keeps the breeze out. Mine even has an extra bib section that zips in to the trousers to turn them in dungarees/salopets for really cold weather

[Dakkon]

MrGman said:

TheInternet said:

Two piece textile wearers: do you zip or otherwise connect together your jacket to trousers? Yes/no/sometimes/always?

I always zip together, warmer in the colder months and probably adds a bit of extra protection in a fall

To give the opposite opinion, I never zip together even in winter months, never been cold, does depend how good the textiles are I suspect.

[Slacey]

cbmotorsport said:

MikeyB99 said:

One for the full-on sportsbike riders here (or anyone else who may know!) - have seen 4/5 of people now wearing a full set of leathers but with a cotton t-shirt over the top - is there any rhyme or reason to this or just personal taste?

Specifically saw someone yesterday morning on an S1000RR - full leathers, but a completely blank/plain white T-shirt over the top??

I'm not one of these types, but I've seen the question asked before, answers range from for added warmth to keeping my leathers clean, to better visibility.

Can't see it myself, so possibly just a 'fashion' thing.

A plain T-shirt, not sure. A couple of the riding groups round by me do wear cotton shirts over their leathers with the groups logo on them.

[bogie]

Apparently the t-shirt over leathers things is for those that dont like cleaning their leathers ....you know those days when there seem to be clouds of midges about. Easy to put the t-shirt in the wash. I wonder what these smart riders do about their bikes ?

One of my jackets is fly splattered already this year and will stay like that until a) i get caught out in the rain and they wash off or b) its time for a kit clean mid winter

[CousinDupree]

bogie said:

Apparently the t-shirt over leathers things is for those that dont like cleaning their leathers ....you know those days when there seem to be clouds of midges about. Easy to put the t-shirt in the wash. I wonder what these smart riders do about their bikes ?

One of my jackets is fly splattered already this year and will stay like that until a) i get caught out in the rain and they wash off or b) its time for a kit clean mid winter

Yep, like the folks that wear an old shirt back to front in Asia, to keep their attire clean.

[moanthebairns]

naetype said:

Krikkit said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

My preferred method is with a stanley knife blade - use it like a razor (i.e. gently and with a high angle of incidence to the surface) and it comes off nicely without marking the surface.

I've done head gaskets that way and it works brilliantly.

Old credit/store/loyalty card... Job jobbed.

ohhhhh good one that, I did use brake cleaner and time lots of it.....bds still leaking though