The friendly "dumb" bike questions thread

[naetype]

Cbull said:

Ha you can but expect the inevitable.

Yeah I'll take off the front sprocket cover tonight and have proper listen. Saying that, I'm still convinced it's coming from the back wheel.

Bear in mind that most swingarms are hollow so the sound travels along them. Where you hear it is not necessarily the source.

[leighz]

Cbull said:

Ha you can but expect the inevitable.

Yeah I'll take off the front sprocket cover tonight and have proper listen. Saying that, I'm still convinced it's coming from the back wheel.

sounds crunchy - my guess is a disintegrated sprocket carrier bearing - take your rear wheel off and check all the bearings

[curlie467]

Jazoli said:

Cbull said:

Nipped to Halfords last night but they didn't have any in stock. However, I did to pick an inner tube for my push bike, fitted it and managed to burst it. The wife shat herself, it was some bang

Anyway, previously I'd questioned a knocking sound and feel under my feet and I eventually put it down to a loose chain. So last night I tightened it (probably a little too much), in doing so I realised its not the chain. There's quite a loud knocking noise and I feel the vibes in the pegs, its more prevalent at slower speeds. It's getting louder and more often too, quite embarrassing tbh. Is it wheel bearings? There's no wobbles or anything, just clicking...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9R7vrwtFLk&in...

Thanks

Worn front sprocket? rear cush drive? front sprocket nut come loose? (it happens, and it sounds like it to me), you really don't want to ride it until you have found the source of the noise as if something fails it could have you off.

Edited by Jazoli on Tuesday 20th February 09:15

I agree. Sounds chain/drive related.

Get it on the stand and check all the links on the chain first, you'll see a stiff link as it comes off the sprocket but get both hands on it and try to move every link.

If you don't find one, get the front cover off and check the sprocket etc.

Then check the cush drive for slop.

[Krikkit]

It certainly sounds like a broken-up bearing to me. Are they usually ball or roller?

[Cbull]

Thanks for all the input chaps

leighz & Krikkit spot on.

Got home last night and thought I really needed to sort it out as it felt so horrid. Took the front sprocket cover off, nut a little loose which I tightened but I noticed a bit of rubber on the back wheel that loose. Really didn't want to take the back wheel as it's a ball ache for me to get the thing back on. Anyway, took it and bearing and spring things fell all over the place. It was the sprocket bearing, the other 2 was fine. Took the wheel to a good local garage (2Machs) and 15 minutes later it was all sorted for £25.

It feels much much better now. Well happy with it. Couldn't quite get the chain slack right after a few attempts so it's a tad too tight for now.

Typically you fix one problem and another comes along. The gear lever feels stiff so this weekends job is to try and take that apart and give it a little TLC

[cmaguire]

Better a tad loose than tight.
Your new sprocket bearing and the gearbox output shaft bearing won't like it. And it saps power.

[Cbull]

Alrighty, shall sort it out tonight Think it's set about 30mm slack rather than 35-40.

[Dakkon]

In view of this is a thread where we can ask potentially very obvious questions:

Chain tension / slack?

I have been told on my VFR about 1 - 2 inches is fine, currently though, the chain is quite slack when I push down, but fairly tight if I push it up? I am concerned about over tightening the chain, which I have down by mistake on my previous VFR.

[Krikkit]

Best bet is check the service manual for the procedure for testing the tension - it'll vary depending on manufacturer.

[Krikkit]

Looking for Dakkon's bike (assuming profile is accurate) the manual says 0.6-1.0 in of slack.

Manual is easily available as a pdf online.

[cbmotorsport]

Normally just do it by eye. It doesn't have to be exact. Loose or tight will affect the gear changes, so you'll know as soon as you ride on it..

[Krikkit]

OK, stupid question inbound (although I think I know the answer!)

When fitting a new exhaust is it always necessary to have a remap? Is the effect as pronounced on bikes with a cat as opposed to without?

As an example, I've been looking at the 696 Monster - obviously I'd like to spring straight away for a set of Termis, but it's £1k+ even for the cheapest option, as it includes an ECU. What I'm wondering is if all the other aftermarket exhausts will need the same?

[bogie]

Usually you change just slip on end pipes that leave the O2 sensor in place (on modern bikes with cats) No need to remap.

When you do a full system inc the header, usually lose the cat and sensor then you need a tuner fitting. You usually gain more power this way.

If the termis include the headers then no doubt they come with ECU and correct map

[Krikkit]

Thanks, I thought as much.

[Cbull]

2 silly questions

Is there a difference between these..
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00QTDM6P4/?coliid=I1E...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Battery-Tender-081-0158-C...

There's only room for one connection on the my battery which currently has the heated gloves attached. Is there a way to connect more to it by means of some sort of 1 connection to the battery with multiple connections linked?

Thanks.

[cbmotorsport]

Cbull said:

2 silly questions

Is there a difference between these..
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00QTDM6P4/?coliid=I1E...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Battery-Tender-081-0158-C...

There's only room for one connection on the my battery which currently has the heated gloves attached. Is there a way to connect more to it by means of some sort of 1 connection to the battery with multiple connections linked?

Thanks.

What bike?

[Cbull]

cbmotorsport said:

What bike?

Kawasaki ZX6R J2 (2001)

[cbmotorsport]

Ah..ok, wondered if it might have an outlet from the loom, but not new enough.

[Jazoli]

Cbull said:

2 silly questions

Is there a difference between these..
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00QTDM6P4/?coliid=I1E...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Battery-Tender-081-0158-C...

There's only room for one connection on the my battery which currently has the heated gloves attached. Is there a way to connect more to it by means of some sort of 1 connection to the battery with multiple connections linked?

Thanks.

Fit and extra fusebox to the bike then run all your accessories from it, best way is to use a relay from a switched live to the fusebox then you won't flatten your battery when you leave your heated grips on



Something like that, there all all sorts available.

[RizzoTheRat]

Ideally you want to fit a relay switched by something that's only on the with ignition, that switches a fused line directly from the battery which you then run anything else off.
Having had some untidy DIY versions over the years I now have one of these fitted to my bike, which runs my intercom, radio, spot lights, heated grips, heated jacket, phone charger, satnav, laptop charger, waffle iron and curling tongs.

https://www.nippynormans.com/f650stf650csf650gsf65...