The friendly "dumb" bike questions thread
Discussion
Lukas239 said:
Best security devices/options and how they effect your insurance. Just bought my first bike and won't it to remain mine, not some little s
ts.
Big heavy duty ground anchor, Almax chains. The biggest chain you can get at home, the biggest chain you can carry for where you park up at work. ts.Lukas239 said:
Best security devices/options and how they effect your insurance. Just bought my first bike and won't it to remain mine, not some little sts.
I’ve got a heavy duty Abus chain, and an Abus disc lock. I use them both. ts.Chain is the business as it’s not only very well made, it *looks* heavy duty, which I think is half the purpose to be honest... visual deterrent is important. The disc lock is a decent bit of kit and will help to deter the opportunist.
Were about £100 each.
My bike lives outside 365 days a year and I’ve had zero issues so far.... touches wood...
Also, when at home it stays covered which I know sounds silly but all the evidence suggests that helps too. If possible get a cover where you can weave the chain through the cover. Just adds to the faff factor if anyone wants to try and have a go.
Use any degreaser you want to shift the gunk around your chain (based on the other thread), It really doesn’t matter if it gets on the chain either, given how much gunk you appear to have got on it. You can always add a bit more lube afterwards if you want to.
I get aerosol ones just because they are even less effort to shift it, just press the button and it shifts any old crap.
I get aerosol ones just because they are even less effort to shift it, just press the button and it shifts any old crap.
Lukas239 said:
Best security devices/options and how they effect your insurance. Just bought my first bike and won't it to remain mine, not some little sts.
Security is a multi layered thing and nothing will stand up to an angle grinder. However, they don't really want the hassle of getting caught in the act, so layer up your security so that it'll take them a while to free your bike. It's a total ball ache to unlock everything but it may stop them helping themselves. Disc lock on each wheel, Burly chain attached to a fixed object, steering lock always on, and anything else you can add, U-Lock through front wheel, one of those brake lock things on your bar. Tracker if you've got the money and it's an expensive bike. ts.Krikkit said:
A cloth with a fan of petrol is about the best degreaser there is imo, cheap and easy.
fk using petrol. White paraffin costs about a quid more a gallon, doesn’t smell terrible, is less likely to damage rubber/plastics, won’t rot your skin, and is less of a fire risk.
I’m a cheap b
d too, but that’s just a terrible idea to me.Prof Prolapse said:
Krikkit said:
A cloth with a fan of petrol is about the best degreaser there is imo, cheap and easy.
fk using petrol. White paraffin costs about a quid more a gallon, doesn’t smell terrible, is less likely to damage rubber/plastics, won’t rot your skin, and is less of a fire risk.
I’m a cheap b
d too, but that’s just a terrible idea to me.Most bike plastics are fine with petrol, they're designed to be near/holding it anyway.
I use Break/Clutch cleaner here and there. It seems a lot stronger than the canned de-greaser so be careful where you use it as it'll peel off your paint. The spray is great for them hard to reach areas, usually about £4 a can. Potentially as bad suggestion if it's just general gunk but it's an option for that stubborn stuff.
Cbull said:
A friend has a Yamaha YBR 125 (2016) but the exhaust looks/sounds dreadful. is it just a case of buying any old slip on exhaust to swap over or is there something more specific he should be looking at to replace it?
IMHO slip on exhausts on a 125 sound even worse than the standard ones. Krikkit said:
Prof Prolapse said:
Krikkit said:
A cloth with a fan of petrol is about the best degreaser there is imo, cheap and easy.
fk using petrol. White paraffin costs about a quid more a gallon, doesn’t smell terrible, is less likely to damage rubber/plastics, won’t rot your skin, and is less of a fire risk.
I’m a cheap b
d too, but that’s just a terrible idea to me.Most bike plastics are fine with petrol, they're designed to be near/holding it anyway.
RizzoTheRat said:
Wouldn't diesel be better than petrol? Less volatile and leaves a nice oily layer behind afterwards.
He’s after a degreaser, not a greaser. The gunk is fling at the front sprocket from an overly lubed chain.
Have to say that diesel is possibly the worst idea for cleaning and the worst idea for lubing a chain too. Use a proper degreaser where it’s needed and the same for lube where needed.
Krikkit said:
To be honest I find the smell of paraffin slightly sickening for some reason. I've never encountered a decent degreaser that doesn't stink tae fook, so they're all well ventilated only.
Most bike plastics are fine with petrol, they're designed to be near/holding it anyway.
I'm not sure plastics and paint is really petrol safe for more than occasional splashings but I'm not going to argue about it. I'd still be concerned about the longevity of rubber in items like rings in your chain when continually exposed to petrol however.Most bike plastics are fine with petrol, they're designed to be near/holding it anyway.
Even rubber used on gaitors in on things like your rear brake lever, you shouldn't even be using petroleum based grease on, let alone pure petrol.
I'm not obsessive though. I'd happily use petrol it if caught short. Although I bulk buy small crates of GT85 then replace every so many years, so don't recall ever needing to. Worst case scenario I just use that stuff as a degreaser.
Cbull said:
Ha this is also very true, it was purchased against my advice.
Seen a couple of videos. I think the exhaust may have to be cut off and and a new one welded back on. Not sure if that's standard practice though.
Why bother? Just get a bigger bike. As above, 4 stroke 125s sound sSeen a couple of videos. I think the exhaust may have to be cut off and and a new one welded back on. Not sure if that's standard practice though.
t with modified exhausts.Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff