Winter plans?

[alex]

Anyone got anything planned for their bikes over the winter? Deep cleans? Conversions to track or from track to road? Maintenance? Or do you just never stop riding

I'm very much missing riding atm, annoyed at having to leave it 100+ miles from home to keep it safe, #londonliving

 

[Ajj]

Keep on using it, on good days.
Maybe change the exhaust system and add some Alpha Racing trinkets.

I hate London and avoid it at all costs. Having said that I was in Chelsea a couple of weeks ago, which was quite nice.

 

[pauly]

Done 560 miles on it now, so finished riding it this year. Looking forward to getting it serviced and unlocked over the winter. Ready for weather permitting, March next year.

 

[RickS1K]

Where do I start.. over the summer I turned my garage from a dumping ground with motorbikes in it, into a proper garage: Duramat flooring (with thanks to Mr Smooth for help with that), better ceiling lighting (LED hexagon lights), wall cupboards etc. I also got some extra electrical sockets installed and wall mounted my trickle chargers. I've just bought a new mechanics chair as the uneven pre-duramat floor destroyed my old one, and also bought some polishing tools as I need to correct a few blemishes on the bikes and my car.

First up is the Gen 2. Planning a fairings off deep clean. As the pic shows, the colour coded rad/oil guards have done their job over a number of years and need some tlc. They are a bit dirty in the pic, but you can see that the paint has come off in various areas. I am trying to decide if I should clean and repaint them myself or have them professionally done - the guy that services it recommended a company that will clean the old paint off and put a cerakaote finish on them - only thing is he can't do a blue that's close to the bluefire colour, so I'd have to go for a black or grey colour, which could be OK. For just a little bit more than that would cost, I could buy another set from R&G but I was never that impressed by the finish, so a tougher finish might last longer - any thoughts on that? Any alternatives anyone can suggest?

 

[Fraggle]

If we get some nice weather before the salt arrives, I might get the S1 out. Otherwise I have my Honda for when the weather goes nasty. Though if I don't need to go out, I won't. Done enough riding in the rain for commuting.

 

[IMORTAL_Indian]

i miss riding but need to pull my finger out and investigate loss of power on the last day at Mugello earlier this year. The more wiser people have suggested its the ignition coils so have picked up 1 full set of 2nd hand ones.... Just need to get the tank off and have a dig around... watch a few YT videos and FB DIY Mechanics make it seem simple enough but hate it when I have a couple of screws left in the tray.... if anyone is around to give a helping hand (Carshalton, Surrey) .... beer/curry tea/biscuits are available...

I do have a infra red temp gun.... I guess need to start with knowing which one is duff

 

[Ajj]

i miss riding but need to pull my finger out and investigate loss of power on the last day at Mugello earlier this year. The more wiser people have suggested its the ignition coils so have picked up 1 full set of 2nd hand ones.... Just need to get the tank off and have a dig around... watch a few YT videos and FB DIY Mechanics make it seem simple enough but hate it when I have a couple of screws left in the tray.... if anyone is around to give a helping hand (Carshalton, Surrey) .... beer/curry tea/biscuits are available...

I do have a infra red temp gun.... I guess need to start with knowing which one is duff

It is an easy job.
Gen3, would be happy to help.
PM me your number.

 

[masho46]

Anyone got anything planned for their bikes over the winter? Deep cleans? Conversions to track or from track to road? Maintenance? Or do you just never stop riding

I'm very much missing riding atm, annoyed at having to leave it 100+ miles from home to keep it safe, #londonliving

Ride as much as possible weather permitting.Once the salt goes down thats it and when the frosts appear in she comes on stands full tank of fuel a covering of acf-50 and on a trickle charger.Then the website searches for how to improve with aftermarket parts begins.

 

[alex]

Where do I start.. over the summer I turned my garage from a dumping ground with motorbikes in it, into a proper garage: Duramat flooring (with thanks to Mr Smooth for help with that), better ceiling lighting (LED hexagon lights), wall cupboards etc. I also got some extra electrical sockets installed and wall mounted my trickle chargers. I've just bought a new mechanics chair as the uneven pre-duramat floor destroyed my old one, and also bought some polishing tools as I need to correct a few blemishes on the bikes and my car.

First up is the Gen 2. Planning a fairings off deep clean. As the pic shows, the colour coded rad/oil guards have done their job over a number of years and need some tlc. They are a bit dirty in the pic, but you can see that the paint has come off in various areas. I am trying to decide if I should clean and repaint them myself or have them professionally done - the guy that services it recommended a company that will clean the old paint off and put a cerakaote finish on them - only thing is he can't do a blue that's close to the bluefire colour, so I'd have to go for a black or grey colour, which could be OK. For just a little bit more than that would cost, I could buy another set from R&G but I was never that impressed by the finish, so a tougher finish might last longer - any thoughts on that? Any alternatives anyone can suggest?

I'd probably just rattle can them black.

 

[alex]

Ride as much as possible weather permitting.Once the salt goes down thats it and when the frosts appear in she comes on stands full tank of fuel a covering of acf-50 and on a trickle charger.Then the website searches for how to improve with aftermarket parts begins.

Website searching when not riding gets me in trouble...

 

[TheGodfather]

Got Cartegena in a few weeks if that counts

 

[alex]

Got Cartegena in a few weeks if that counts

Some people have too much time off

 

[RickS1K]

I'd probably just rattle can them black.

mm. this is escalating rapidly. I'm designing a mini paint studio.... When I first read Alexs reply, my reaction was 'well if I'm paining them, they're staying blue...' ... and of course that turns out to be completely possible and limited only by my abilities. Having checked another thread on here for the paint code I can get colour coded bluefire paint in an aerosol... what could possibly go wrong

Having never attempted anything like this just one Q, if anyone knows... PaintNuts can supply different kits... with primer and lacquer. I guess i'll lightly sand what I can of the grills, to key the paint. The bits that have already gone to the metal will benefit from primer. I suppose the Q is will that part of the bike benefit from the lacquer or is that more for the fairing plastics...?

 

[Ajj]

Best option would be to cerakote, but that might be close to the price of new guards.
With regards to your question I personally wouldn't bother but no harm in doing so.

Just had a thought, what about getting it anodised?

 

[RickS1K]

Best option would be to cerakote, but that might be close to the price of new guards.
With regards to your question I personally wouldn't bother but no harm in doing so.

You're right on price - Cerakote option is £60 vs brand new parts for £70.. The bluefire paint kit is under £40, so all perfectly doable. I'll look at anodising but I quite fancy having a go at painting them - if I make an arse of it, they'll be straight off to get done properly.

 

[Ajj]

Go for it, as you want to have a go.
The only reason I suggested anodising is because the same will happen again, paint coming off.

There is a guy on FB, Matthew Hudson, who may do the cerakote cheaper, if interested. Not sure what you'll have to search but he has a YouTube channel: Dirty Garage Guy.

 

[MrSmooth]

@RickS1K keep us posted as I have exactly the same oil/rad guards in the royal blue colour with the same issues. I hadn't thought of using a rattle can with them. Worth a try! I tend to spray paint in the garden on a dry day, suspending the part from a wire between two solid posts, only the grass below gets a dusting of paint.

As for my own 2018 Gen 3 K46 bike, which is due its 18K service. I took the forks out in preparation to sending them up to a suspension specialist. I also bought new K-Tech springs (10.5Nm) from the K-Tech website to support my 130kg fat b'stard frame. In the end after talking to said suspension specialist, who rubbished the DDC system on the phone to me and suggested I ditch them in favour of an appropriate brand new system which didn't suit my pocket. I ended up taking them to my local BMW dealer, Bähnstormers Alton, who have serviced them for me and swapped the springs for £180. I really didn't want to ship my springs via a courier over 200 miles away. The Race Tech fork spring compressor I would have needed was over £200, yes I could have bought it and probably got close to my money back afterwards from a certain auction site, but I didn't want the hassle.

So now I have decided to do the 18k service myself, can anyone on this site share the Gen 3 workshop manual in a .pdf format on a Google Drive link. It has always been a confidence thing with me and servicing my own bikes.

 

[Fraggle]

mm. this is escalating rapidly. I'm designing a mini paint studio.... When I first read Alexs reply, my reaction was 'well if I'm paining them, they're staying blue...' ... and of course that turns out to be completely possible and limited only by my abilities. Having checked another thread on here for the paint code I can get colour coded bluefire paint in an aerosol... what could possibly go wrong

Having never attempted anything like this just one Q, if anyone knows... PaintNuts can supply different kits... with primer and lacquer. I guess i'll lightly sand what I can of the grills, to key the paint. The bits that have already gone to the metal will benefit from primer. I suppose the Q is will that part of the bike benefit from the lacquer or is that more for the fairing plastics...?

For best results, leave the paint cans in a bucket of warm water before using them. Helps with the consistency

 

[Ajj]

Also after prepping, wear gloves, clean parts with something like isopropanol and spray on a warm day.

 

[Timbo s2]

shock out and off to MCT for a service. Wheels and bodywork off for good clean, change oil, brake fluid and air filter. Lube suspension pivots. Repair front potentiometer. Thinks thats all really; kinda run out of bits to fit...