The friendly "dumb" bike questions thread

[black-k1]

boyse7en said:

black-k1 said:

Gixer968CS said:

black-k1 said:

edpryce said:

black-k1 said:

Top-boxes - the work of the devil!

the work of the devil is riding with the weight of a chain in a rucksack

I don't disagree. That's what tail packs are for.

Been riding bikes for 37 years and always thought top boxes looked awful and never had. Ridden sports bikes all that time until two years ago. Bought a GS1200 as I wanted something my girlfriend would be comfortable on. Anyway alos boughtthe BMW boxes and I now run all the time with a top box (I commute 60 miles a day) and my life is transformed!! The great thing about 53 is that I don't care how people think I look and having a top box just adds a whole other (fantastic) dimension to biking. Parked up and carrying kit/helmet? Nope its in the box. Groceries/wine/beer on the way home? Yep, it in the top box.....

It's basic physics! Dynamically, the worst place to add extra weight on a motorcycle is high and behind the rear axle. Aerodynamically, the worst place to add extra drag/a flat side for cross winds on a motorcycle is high and behind the rear axle.

Where does a top-box sit?

Someone might suggest that the rider of a GS is less concerned about motorcycle dynamics and aerodynamics

I've had a top box on my F800S for about 10 years now, and never notice any ill effects on the handling or aerodynamics. Can get a weekend away clothing in there, shopping and gym kit... only time i ever really noticed any ill effects was when i bought two five litre containers of paint and several bags of nails, but i think that may have been a teensy bit overweight.

None of that changes the basic physics!

[CousinDupree]

boyse7en said:

I've had a top box on my F800S for about 10 years now, and never notice any ill effects on the handling or aerodynamics. Can get a weekend away clothing in there, shopping and gym kit... only time i ever really noticed any ill effects was when i bought two five litre containers of paint and several bags of nails, but i think that may have been a teensy bit overweight.

Yep. Aero isn't great, but then there's usually a slim chap right in front of it.

For commuting and practical use, they are invaluable!

[bogie]

If you need a disc lock for insurance purpose when out and about, i have been using an Abus alarmed model for about 5 years now. Changed the battery once over that time. Locks the bike and really loud if bike moved. No concerns about driving off with it on, as soon as you pick the bike up off the side stand it goes off, and startles you ...whilst you feel like a plonker for forgetting about it Its small enough to live under the seat.

[Cbull]

Looking into acquiring the stuff required to replace my own tyres for the motorbikes and cars again. I already have a cheap compressor from Lidl which has apparently 9.6 CFM. I've read 15+ CFM is what you should look for BUT will mine actually work to inflate new tyres on the rim?

[Krikkit]

Cbull said:

Looking into acquiring the stuff required to replace my own tyres for the motorbikes and cars again. I already have a cheap compressor from Lidl which has apparently 9.6 CFM. I've read 15+ CFM is what you should look for BUT will mine actually work to inflate new tyres on the rim?

Yes, easily. CFM is important for tools that use a lot of air continuously, e.g. spray guns, impact wrenches etc

For inflation it's just the pressure that really matters, although you might use a full tank getting a new car tyre up to spec.

[Cbull]

Krikkit said:

Cbull said:

Looking into acquiring the stuff required to replace my own tyres for the motorbikes and cars again. I already have a cheap compressor from Lidl which has apparently 9.6 CFM. I've read 15+ CFM is what you should look for BUT will mine actually work to inflate new tyres on the rim?

Yes, easily. CFM is important for tools that use a lot of air continuously, e.g. spray guns, impact wrenches etc

For inflation it's just the pressure that really matters, although you might use a full tank getting a new car tyre up to spec.

Excellent! Thank you very much. Time to compile a list of cheap tools and re-watch all the You Tube videos

While I'm here, any recommendation for a cheapo bead breaker suitable for both car and motorbike would be greatly appreciated.

[TooLateForAName]

Cbull said:

Krikkit said:

Cbull said:

Looking into acquiring the stuff required to replace my own tyres for the motorbikes and cars again. I already have a cheap compressor from Lidl which has apparently 9.6 CFM. I've read 15+ CFM is what you should look for BUT will mine actually work to inflate new tyres on the rim?

Yes, easily. CFM is important for tools that use a lot of air continuously, e.g. spray guns, impact wrenches etc

For inflation it's just the pressure that really matters, although you might use a full tank getting a new car tyre up to spec.

Excellent! Thank you very much. Time to compile a list of cheap tools and re-watch all the You Tube videos

While I'm here, any recommendation for a cheapo bead breaker suitable for both car and motorbike would be greatly appreciated.

I'd say that you do need a decent amount of air for tyre fitting. The initial bit to get the bead to hold needs a decent amount of air.

[Krikkit]

TooLateForAName said:

I'd say that you do need a decent amount of air for tyre fitting. The initial bit to get the bead to hold needs a decent amount of air.

You need a reasonable amount, but you don't need it particularly rapidly.

My 50L will completely inflate a car tyre in less than a minute, and bike tyres are even smaller.

[Cbull]

Last question on this ha ha. I was looking on getting one of the below kits to balance the wheels. My mate says it'll be fine BUT they're not accurate enough and will you'll feel it at high speeds. Is that true? I guess why they have wheel balancing machines that are a few thousand pounds.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Bike-Wheel-B...

Also, can you use them to balance car wheels?

Edit: Nope, need a Bubble Balancer for car tyres.

Edited by Cbull on Monday 9th March 14:21

[tvrolet]

Cbull said:

Looking into acquiring the stuff required to replace my own tyres for the motorbikes and cars again. I already have a cheap compressor from Lidl which has apparently 9.6 CFM. I've read 15+ CFM is what you should look for BUT will mine actually work to inflate new tyres on the rim?

Cant help with the compressor as mine's a big 'un
But I'm presuming you've got (or are getting) one of these tyre change table thingies that bolt to the floor, that you can clamp the wheel to, and has a big level/bar thing to break the bead. When I was changing bike tyres at home a few years ago once you got the wheel off and on the floor you coulf break the bead by standing on the tyre and using your heel, and then swap the tyre with tyre levers and a knee on the rim.

Modern tyres on big bikes are much stiffer now. OK, my bike is particularly heavy and maybe its tyres are particularly stiff but with it all clamped down it takes 2 of us hanging off a 5-foot bar to break the bead! I've done it 3 times now, and each time it's a bolt-down and 2-person's weight to get the tyre off. This is, of course, a manual tyre changing table. A hydraulic bead breaker would of course work. But don't expect to break the bead of 'some' modern tyres without the proper tools.

Cbull said:

Last question on this ha ha. I was looking on getting one of the below kits to balance the wheels. My mate says it'll be fine BUT they're not accurate enough and will you'll feel it at high speeds. Is that true? I guess why they have wheel balancing machines that are a few thousand pounds.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Bike-Wheel-B...

Also, can you use them to balance car wheels?

I have one of these and it works fine; albeit mine doesn't have the fancy stand, I made up brackets to the axle/bearing thing on axle stands. I also put on what I thought was a properly balanced wheel and it picked up an inbalance. There is way less friction with these things over standard wheel bearings.
Obviously it's not smart enough to pick up the balance from one site to the other, so the best you can do is add weight equally to both sides or dead centre and maybe that's not ideal for super-wide rims-tyres.

As to cars wheels it's not going to work properly on 2 counts. First it mounts the wheel by cones into the wheel bearing/hub either side. You won't be able to mount a car wheel unless you make up some hub/bracket. Second unless it's a Model T car tyres are sufficiently wide you need to balance each side rather than just total weight at one point.

[Cbull]

Thanks tvrolet, much appreciated

The videos I've seen certainly don't show people hanging off the bars and getting frustrated at all but some of the comments on these videos do highlight it. I'm the kind of person where everything ends up being much harder than it should be, so I'm looking forward to that bit ha ha. Guess you live and learn, shall just have to bite the bullet and crack on with it

[tvrolet]

I think my tyres are exceptionally solid - you can sit on just the tyre alone off the rim and it doesn't deform. But not too different to the tyres you'll find on the back of any other heavyweight tourer. I guess sports bike tyres will be softer with the expectation of flexing more; likewise smaller bikes. But anything off a big Indian/Harley/GoldWing/Rocket 3 is going to be a bugger to change without proper gear. Depends what you expect to change I guess.

[AceOfHearts]

CousinDupree said:

Lukas239 said:

Anyone ever downsized their only bike? I'm considering a switch from a bike with ~90hp to ~45hp and I've tried to convince myself it's a stupid idea but cant.

Wondered if anyone had and regretted/enjoyed it.

Yes and all the better for it. Nimble light bikes can be great around town / off road or pottering about, making sports / adventure bikes feel like tanks.

It depends on your expectations - and size!

45bhp is fine for most situations, and still great fun in the right bike!

[SBDJ]

Cbull said:

Last question on this ha ha. I was looking on getting one of the below kits to balance the wheels. My mate says it'll be fine BUT they're not accurate enough and will you'll feel it at high speeds. Is that true?

It'll be fine, I've balanced loads of tyres with one and had no problems even at speed.

I also use a one of the manual tables bolted to the ground and had no problems breaking beads with it.

[pessimal]

Action cameras

I want to start using one, but am not keen on strapping something as large as a go pro to my helmet.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a smaller / cheaper camera to strap to my helmet.

Thanks

[anonymous-user]

Absolute noob about to start learning to ride.

Best tips / videos, etc to watch?

I'm not looking into "big" bikes / sports but to join friends who do a bit of Enduro / Trail riding. (125 or 250)

[Catnapper]

pessimal said:

Action cameras

I want to start using one, but am not keen on strapping something as large as a go pro to my helmet.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a smaller / cheaper camera to strap to my helmet.

Thanks

Not condoning drilling a hole in a helmet but I have this camera on a basic stand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd-tQr1mtBc
https://www.joovuu.com/gb/?a=techmoan%3Fa%3Dtechmo...

Edited by Catnapper on Thursday 12th March 14:40

[Kiribati268]

This is probably very much a dumb question!

Do all back protectors fit all jackets?

I'm not yet riding but want to sort things for before I do. I have an IXS textile jacket that has a zip at the bottom with a standard crappy foam protector velcro'd in. I've looked at getting a 'proper' one but there's nothing that says what protector fits what jacket.

When i unzip the jacket the area the protector slides into is massive, so it needs to attach somehow or it will slide around and fall diagonally. Looking around it seems most just slide in. Or will it velcro to the strap in the jacket? All the videos/write ups don't actually say how they fit.

[gareth h]

Kiribati268 said:

This is probably very much a dumb question!

Do all back protectors fit all jackets?

I'm not yet riding but want to sort things for before I do. I have an IXS textile jacket that has a zip at the bottom with a standard crappy foam protector velcro'd in. I've looked at getting a 'proper' one but there's nothing that says what protector fits what jacket.

When i unzip the jacket the area the protector slides into is massive, so it needs to attach somehow or it will slide around and fall diagonally. Looking around it seems most just slide in. Or will it velcro to the strap in the jacket? All the videos/write ups don't actually say how they fit.

You can get different sizes, probably best to take your jacket into a shop and try a few

[GriffoDP]

Try definitely for these. I've finally found nirvana and have a protector that fits two jackets, but I think it was mostly luck!

Remember if you're going belt and braces there's always 'standalone' protectors too.