Being as tight as a fishes @rs3 doesn't pay

[Mr Merde]

Could do... but might not also. 2 teeth on the back is generally pretty subtle when it comes to revs in top. You'll probably have a little less throttle open, but the vac might be higher... hard to say, probably not much in it. Some will get better mileage from an extra couple of teeth, some will get worse.

My bike only has the 5 gears so from 4th to 5th is almost like an overdrive on a car, in fact it is quite easy to be cruising along in 4th gear and not realise it until one looks at the rev counter.

Fuel consumption has a lot to do with how you ride your bike.

If you are ripping the shit out of the bike, going up and down the gears like a whirlwind and generally having lots of stop start moments then you are going to use a lot more fuel than if you kept at a constand speed where you arent stressing the engine, where the revs are not going thru the roof and you get to your destination pretty mush at the same time.

[Mr Merde]

Owwwwwch!

The actual ban was for 2 years, they slapped 15 points on my licence (12 is max allowed) and these stay for 7 years. The ban doesnt wipe them. I couldnt get insurance and without it you cant ride (compolsory 3rd party insurance is a scam). They also fined me 400 UKP and gave me a 2 year conditional discharge (If I got caught doing any thing wrong in those 2 years I would go inside).

Was bit worth it?

Too bloody right it was. My only regret is that I didnt get anywhere near my objective (200mph).

I was young at the time (only 40 years old) and still feeling my oats.


Forgot to mention that I actually rode away from the Stroud Magistrates Court on the same bike with the cops and court officials watching. They took away my British drivers licence but my NZ onbe was valid, the bike was taxed and I was insured under it. Traffic cops followed me all the way to the Servern Bridge just itching for me to something wrong. I didnt oblige them.

[R6_kid:Me]

Bearings can be bought much cheaper directly from a bearing shop (saeco etc) than you will get from any bike shop, sometimes to the tune of $50+ cheaper. You only need to know the identification number on the bearing to get a replacement.

You can then put a post on KB asking for help. I've done steering head bearings before, as has The Stranger, and many other KBers. Wheel bearings and Swingarm bearings are more than likely a much simpler job.

Going larger on the front sprocket by 1 or 2 teeth will stop your chain from wearing out so fast as the radius it of the sprocket is larger the chain wont have to take such a tight turn around it, you will however need to compensate at the rear to maintain standard gearing or you'll probably stretch the chain anyway.

Also 'arm wrenching accleration' is just asking for chain/tyre wear, take it easy/smoothly and you'll take longer to wear out you're chain/sprockets/tyres.

Further more, you can get some pretty good deals if you shop around for some good touring tyres. If you need to save money then you're going to need to compromise... go for harder tyres, you'll have to take it easy for a bit longer til they warm up, but thats a small price to pay for much longer lasting tyres. The other option is to try and get hold of some good condition second hand tyres, I know cycletreads hold some good second hand stock, generally OEM fitment tyres with low use that have been replaced to suit the owners liking.

I'm riding a GSXR1000K3 for commuting, sure im only doing 200km a week, but my 'race tyres' are still lasting me really well, and when you consider I only paid $50 for the rear tyre i'd say it's already paid for itself by now in just over 1000km... (off the shelf price is about $400)

[martybabe]

Tough breaks my man, feel for ya, if you aint got the dosh you aint got the dosh, doesn't matter if it was a couple hndy to fix the lot if you ain't got it.

Good luck to ya dude, hope things pick up soon. Good write up by the way, shame it's a bit bleak, stick at it mate, it'll come good. Photo shop a smiley on your pile of merde avatar, think positive mate.

[Taz]

So you're travelling around 50,000 kms a year. oil and filter should be changed every 5 - 10,000 kms so every 5-10 weeks for you. Once you get the swingarm bearings changed and new chain and sprockets look at getting a scott oiler. Worth their weight in gold.
As you've worked out - a stitch in time saves nine......
Andy.

P.S can you not find work closer to home? You could afford to take a pay drop and still come out ahead??
Maybe an old corolla would be cheaper to run??

[mstriumph]

sorry to hear that MM ............ that bike needs attention!

mebbe you could cut down on luxuries like food and heating to pay for it?

[Mr Merde]

So you're travelling around 50,000 kms a year. oil and filter should be changed every 5 - 10,000 kms so every 5-10 weeks for you. Once you get the swingarm bearings changed and new chain and sprockets look at getting a scott oiler. Worth their weight in gold.
As you've worked out - a stitch in time saves nine......
Andy.

P.S can you not find work closer to home? You could afford to take a pay drop and still come out ahead??
Maybe an old corolla would be cheaper to run??

Been doing the oil and basic stuff.

Have been looking at a Scott oiler so your post is close to my thinking there.

Never had a car licence. 52 years old and been on bikes since I was 15.

I've been looking for work in the Franklin area but not a lot going for a network\IT engineer down this way.

Chris

[Mr Merde]

Part 1 -- Done.

New sprockets and chain now on the bike. Gave the chain a squirt of lube. Spins sweet as now.

Now to work on the rest of the bike.

At least I woill be able to get to work now.



Part 2 to organise.

-New Tyres - front and back

-replacement headlights. Factory too expensive.

-arrange for swinging arm bearings to be installed.

-might as well replace the steering head bearings while i'm there, had them since I thought they were shot and had handling problems.

-just noticed number plate light is blown, replace

-since bike is being made pretty I may as well replace all the brake pads.

- change oil, filters, spark plugs etc.

-remount the front indicators.



Whoa I am in danger of actually having a completely road worthy bike here if Im not carefull


Next thing I will be actually cleaning and polishing the old thing.


Better slow down.