The friendly "dumb" bike questions thread
Discussion
This feels a genuinely stupid question and I know it will have been covered a hundred times on here but...
Filling up the bike, sitting on it or standing to the side? I've only had to fill mine twice but I've done it standing to the side, but I end up having to prop the bike up to get it near full as it's at a fair angle when on it's side stand (maybe 3/4 full at a push).
And again, as I'm fairly new to this, what's the script with shops etc and helmets/facemasks? I ride with a snood anyway so no biggie but things like petrol stations, nipping in to the coopy etc, do you take it off or keep it on?
Filling up the bike, sitting on it or standing to the side? I've only had to fill mine twice but I've done it standing to the side, but I end up having to prop the bike up to get it near full as it's at a fair angle when on it's side stand (maybe 3/4 full at a push).
And again, as I'm fairly new to this, what's the script with shops etc and helmets/facemasks? I ride with a snood anyway so no biggie but things like petrol stations, nipping in to the coopy etc, do you take it off or keep it on?
I habitually fill mine sitting on the bike, always done it. Been shouted at by one petrol station person in 20 years.
Going in to pay I leave the helmet on, did actually ask one attendant if they wanted the money or not when they got grumpy (helped that I had the right cash in my hand). Again one incident in 20 years.
Going in to pay I leave the helmet on, did actually ask one attendant if they wanted the money or not when they got grumpy (helped that I had the right cash in my hand). Again one incident in 20 years.
I don't fill up while sitting on the bike - the ground around pumps can be slippy with spilt diesel, and if you spill petrol it's likely to head straight for your gentlemen's region. I get enough in when it's on the sidestand, I don't worry about having a little unused space at the top of the tank.
Morrisson's petrols stations won't even turn the pumps on unless you take your helmet off in my experience, so I avoid them.
Morrisson's petrols stations won't even turn the pumps on unless you take your helmet off in my experience, so I avoid them.
Always off the bike to fill it up.. just in case.
Usually the side stand too.
Always keep my helmet on, never usually have a problem with that, but if they ask me to remove it I usually will as I’ve got more important things to be worrying about/doing.
During these COVID times I’ve only been asked once to remove it and that was in Switzerland.
Back home, at least Shell listened to riders:
Usually the side stand too.
Always keep my helmet on, never usually have a problem with that, but if they ask me to remove it I usually will as I’ve got more important things to be worrying about/doing.
During these COVID times I’ve only been asked once to remove it and that was in Switzerland.
Back home, at least Shell listened to riders:
As already said - fill up off the bike and I keep my lid on. Never been asked to take it off, although one petrol station asked me to move to a different pump as their camera hadn't picked up my reg plate - in fairness I'd picked the one furthest away from the kiosk and right next to the exit in a massive station.
Magic, cheers all. It's something I hadn't thought about until going to actually fill up, despite having spend probably hundreds of hours in petrol stations 
Was crap weather but got out for a wee run as I'm on holiday. Just throughout town and past the shops but confidence is really improving, though not feeling cocky, thnakfully
Was crap weather but got out for a wee run as I'm on holiday. Just throughout town and past the shops but confidence is really improving, though not feeling cocky, thnakfully
Thanks for the advice further up the thread- I've ended up going for heated grips over the alternatives as I've got fairly large hands so didn't think muffs would be that comfortable and from a vanity perspective I hate the look of them. Heated gloves seemed a great option but a faff to attach every morning and adjust individually, not to mention the price.
So far heated grips look like they'll be a good, relatively cheap solution however I've noticed that as they heat up the left grip starts twisting quite freely which has meant on a few occasions the clutch has hit the cable and I've not been able to fully pull the clutch in. Obviously this has something to do with the glue as it heats up- is this normal or has it been poorly fitted?
So far heated grips look like they'll be a good, relatively cheap solution however I've noticed that as they heat up the left grip starts twisting quite freely which has meant on a few occasions the clutch has hit the cable and I've not been able to fully pull the clutch in. Obviously this has something to do with the glue as it heats up- is this normal or has it been poorly fitted?
Bumblebee7 said:
Thanks for the advice further up the thread- I've ended up going for heated grips over the alternatives as I've got fairly large hands so didn't think muffs would be that comfortable and from a vanity perspective I hate the look of them. Heated gloves seemed a great option but a faff to attach every morning and adjust individually, not to mention the price.
So far heated grips look like they'll be a good, relatively cheap solution however I've noticed that as they heat up the left grip starts twisting quite freely which has meant on a few occasions the clutch has hit the cable and I've not been able to fully pull the clutch in. Obviously this has something to do with the glue as it heats up- is this normal or has it been poorly fitted?
That isn't normal. You probably need to re-fit them.So far heated grips look like they'll be a good, relatively cheap solution however I've noticed that as they heat up the left grip starts twisting quite freely which has meant on a few occasions the clutch has hit the cable and I've not been able to fully pull the clutch in. Obviously this has something to do with the glue as it heats up- is this normal or has it been poorly fitted?
silobass said:
Are heated grips easy to fit? I thought it would be OK but I've just watched a video and it's putting me off. I was OK until the guy started sanding down the handle bars to make them fit.
Not particularly difficult, some heated grips are smart so you just connect them to the battery and they know if the bike is off to avoid draining the battery if you leave them on. You may need to sand the bars slightly but not much.
The worst part is getting the old grips off if you don’t want to cut them!
silobass said:
Are heated grips easy to fit? I thought it would be OK but I've just watched a video and it's putting me off. I was OK until the guy started sanding down the handle bars to make them fit.
It mostly depends on the throttle tube for your bike. I did have to modify mine to make heated grips fit. It might be worth getting a spare throttle tube before you start if you rely on your bike.Speed addicted said:
Not particularly difficult, some heated grips are smart so you just connect them to the battery and they know if the bike is off to avoid draining the battery if you leave them on.
You may need to sand the bars slightly but not much.
The worst part is getting the old grips off if you don’t want to cut them!
A bit of compressed air will see them slide off easily, I can't see why you wouldn't just cut them off, they are dirt cheap.You may need to sand the bars slightly but not much.
The worst part is getting the old grips off if you don’t want to cut them!
I'd also recommend the Oxford grips, they will turn them off when they detect battery voltage drop, the R&G ones and most others don't which flatten the battery.
BigGingerBob said:
Are bikes going through a similar Covid price poost as cars at the moment?
I'm looking for my first bike and prices are mad, they seem to start at 1500 even for a sheddy Bandit
Not sure it's directly related to covid but bike prices seem to have been on the ride steadily for the last 2 years or so. I'm looking for my first bike and prices are mad, they seem to start at 1500 even for a sheddy Bandit
You used to be able to get a ZZR600 with MOT for £700 or so, now they seem to start at £1000 with no mot! They're not even meant to be that good a bike!
My advice is keep looking, bargains do come up but the sensibly priced bikes seem to get snapped up fast so be prepared to move quickly I.e same day or no later than next day to go and view.
Got the dreaded email - "Redhill test centre (Surrey) in Tier 4, tomorrow's test cancelled (for the second time)...".
Quick look online, nothing in Crawley but a spot open in Brighton for 10am. Booked, passed, relieved.
Back on the phone to my instructors, spot open for a days training on Jan 2nd and test slots available end Jan onwards.
Roll on Spring.
Quick look online, nothing in Crawley but a spot open in Brighton for 10am. Booked, passed, relieved.
Back on the phone to my instructors, spot open for a days training on Jan 2nd and test slots available end Jan onwards.
Roll on Spring.
How do I tell when my chain needs changing ? And do I always need to change the sprockets at the same time as the chain ?
For bicycle chains there's a cheap tool you can buy that measures chain stretch - when its stretched 1% it's time for a new one. Is there something similar for motorbike chains ?
For bicycle chains there's a cheap tool you can buy that measures chain stretch - when its stretched 1% it's time for a new one. Is there something similar for motorbike chains ?
Seight_Returns said:
How do I tell when my chain needs changing ? And do I always need to change the sprockets at the same time as the chain ?
For bicycle chains there's a cheap tool you can buy that measures chain stretch - when its stretched 1% it's time for a new one. Is there something similar for motorbike chains ?
Change chain when adjusters are at the end and cant be adjusted any further, or when the sprockets are damaged/uneven. Yes always change the chain and sprocket together and dont buy cheap, look at the gold ones.For bicycle chains there's a cheap tool you can buy that measures chain stretch - when its stretched 1% it's time for a new one. Is there something similar for motorbike chains ?
Edited by A500leroy on Tuesday 29th December 18:20
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