Transalp project

**thepom** · 16th June 2011, 15:40

Yeah his is a 650 so dont know if they are the same,

**Skinny_Birdman** · 20th June 2011, 19:21

Originally Posted by Transalper

It was weeping.

Poor thing, I don't blame it.

**CRM** · 18th July 2011, 16:04

Having a "fix the tranny for Spring" day

.

Changed the oil and filter

Check the air cleaner

(Massive Job)
Realise it isn't servicable and should replace

Do some research in the interwebs and find K & N's are the biz

Email Whites who are NZ agents

Wait

Wish I'd wiped my hands a bit better before I started typing on my beautiful Mac bluetooth keyboard

While I "wait" I have my heated grips to install...

**timg** · 18th July 2011, 21:24

Originally Posted by CRM

Having a "fix the tranny for Spring" day

.

Changed the oil and filter

Check the air cleaner

(Massive Job)
Realise it isn't servicable and should replace

Do some research in the interwebs and find K & N's are the biz

Email Whites who are NZ agents

Wait

Wish I'd wiped my hands a bit better before I started typing on my beautiful Mac bluetooth keyboard

While I "wait" I have my heated grips to install...

You don't have to strip the fairings etc as the book tels you. See this post http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1130068570 If your aircleaner is in good nic you can blow it out from the underside with compressed air. Should last between major services. The genuine Honda item is around $100

The K & N is not recommended if you are using your bike in dusty conditions, like shingle roads for instance. Fine for seal use tho. Search the www - there's a how to do somewhere to convert the paper filter to a reuseable oiled foam filter. Cheers, T.

**CRM** · 19th July 2011, 09:35

Originally Posted by timg

You don't have to strip the fairings etc as the book tels you. See this post http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1130068570 If your aircleaner is in good nic you can blow it out from the underside with compressed air. Should last between major services. The genuine Honda item is around $100

The K & N is not recommended if you are using your bike in dusty conditions, like shingle roads for instance. Fine for seal use tho. Search the www - there's a how to do somewhere to convert the paper filter to a reuseable oiled foam filter. Cheers, T.

Yeah Tim I tried the method of opening up the fairing without taking off but I couldn't get one of the plugs out of the tank - there is a crack in my fairing and I was concerned if I put too much pressure on it then it might get worse. I didn't have to take it right off just took off the screen and instrument surround and the bolts on the front and slid the whole thing forward. Getting the tank off was a bit scary - all the wires and tubes to disconnect - specially as the tank was 3/4 full

.

So you are saying the K&N is too open for dusty conditions? Is there any cleanable foam filter for the Transalp that you know of that will keep dust out? My neighbour is a mechanic and tells me that too much compressed air on paper filters can wreck them. Maybe I'll just try the vacuum cleaner on it. It's really not that dirty but I liked the idea of a more free-flowing filter.

Just been reading the Transalp.Org site. Some interesting tips on there.

**CRM** · 19th July 2011, 13:18

All done

! I decided that the vacuum cleaner treatment would do for now for the air cleaner so that's back in

.
The heated grips were interesting but worked perfectly once I got all the wires routed and taped up so that's another tick

I haven't glued them on as I am keeping an eye out for some new bars. They are a good tight fit so so should be fine for now.
I put the spare pegs I got with the bike on - all good for river crossings now

Just need to get some soft pannier frame things now so I don't toast another set of panniers on the muffler

Eurobike has them for $115 - sounds an okay deal

Probably should get some engine guards at the same time but can't afford right now.
Then to put the new T63 on the back and all good for a trip around the South Island in August

**Skinny_Birdman** · 24th July 2011, 11:31

I have just had the interesting experience of getting WoFs at VTNZ. My Tranny breezed through, but D's failed first because its headlight was "too low" (arguably because there was no one sitting on it at the time), and then once I fixed that because the headlight apparently dips the wrong way (at the time I bought it the bike had a brand new WoF from VTNZ in Tauranga, and I haven't touched the headlight).

At this point the benefits of having two identical bikes become apparent. Swap the headlights (1.5 hours worth), get the WoF and make a mental note never to darken their doors again.
My next acquisition will be a new centrestand for mine. I like the genuine Honda article which D's came with, and which appears to be available at quite a reasonable price here.
Incidentally, replacing the chocka stock air filter on D's with a K & N appears to make quite a difference to its starting and running. I also replaced mine, so I have a fairly new stock air filter (~3000km) in a box in my shed now. If you want one to experiment on, give me a shout CRM.

**CRM** · 27th July 2011, 09:59

Originally Posted by Skinny_Birdman

My next acquisition will be a new centrestand for mine. I like the genuine Honda article which D's came with, and which appears to be available at quite a reasonable price here.
Incidentally, replacing the chocka stock air filter on D's with a K & N appears to make quite a difference to its starting and running. I also replaced mine, so I have a fairly new stock air filter (~3000km) in a box in my shed now. If you want one to experiment on, give me a shout CRM.

Okay I'll keep that in mind. I like the idea of the better response with the K & N - but not the thought that it lets dust through as people seem to indicate. Have you come across or heard about these DNA filters? Cycletreads do them for the Tranny - expensive though but reusable. Seem to offer high flow but really good filtering.

**CRM** · 10th August 2011, 16:19

I'm toying with selling the TA - need the money, plus looking at maybe flying down and picking up something cheaper at the bottom of the South Island and riding it back rather than riding right down and back on the TA. It's a long way from Whangarei when I've only got two weeks to do it and lots of clients to visit.

So if anyone is interested I'm after $6500. Not listing on TM at this stage. More details over on the trading area. PM me if interested.

**Skinny_Birdman** · 10th August 2011, 17:33

Boooo!!!!!
Seriously, you'll go a long way to find a comfier bike to pile on the miles with - and I've tried a few. When I bought D's I rode from the Mount to Welly with only a coffee/gas stop, then from the Ferry to Chch with only a gas stop. I've never even considered that on another bike.

**CRM** · 11th August 2011, 09:07

Originally Posted by Skinny_Birdman

Boooo!!!!!
Seriously, you'll go a long way to find a comfier bike to pile on the miles with - and I've tried a few. When I bought D's I rode from the Mount to Welly with only a coffee/gas stop, then from the Ferry to Chch with only a gas stop. I've never even considered that on another bike.

Yeah I totally agree - and if it doesn't sell I'll be relieved. If it does I'd seriously look at replacing with this one. Or something like this for the trip that I could re-sell without too many tears

. Just need to free up some funds at the moment

.

**Transalper** · 3rd September 2011, 10:09

Update on good old 'Big Blue' the 600 from me.
Well, finally back on the road, WOF and REG yesterday, a week earlier than planned.

Now having thoughts about the Dusty Butt two day run two up.

I made the offer to my potential pillion last night and she is interested

but a bit worried about the length of the days after I told her we'd be setting off around 7:30am or earlier each day and it was dark when we got back to base both days when done this year.
Told her we can skip some bits if time and energy run out, or if she has just had enough. Won't worry me too much as I've done all or in case there is new stuff most of it before.
I'm thinking Mitas E09 or maybe I'd get away with E10 tyres front and rear and maybe I should look at a new clutch before it too. What do you think about the clutch Skinney Birdman? It will probably be ok for quite a while as is under normal conditions but DB1k two up maybe time to do the clutch first?

Also been talking to another friend about the paint and the new train of though is big blue will stay blue but just one blue (the lighter one) all over and get the Transalp, Honda and Rally Touring wording back on it too. Not going to happen this season though.
Tweaked the topbox mount to stop it floating around so much while we had that conversation.
Still have plans to have the seat modded to help stop my pillion sliding forward so easily and get a real bash plate, also thinking some nice alloy bars and the Storm Bark Busters might be nice but for now the focus may be just what's needed to get it DB1k battle ready.

**Skinny_Birdman** · 3rd September 2011, 17:46

I often hemmed and hawed about the clutch. It always felt a bit 'soft' to me, especially under strain. I priced new genuine Honda plates at ~$400, at which point I applied my normal maxim, "If it ain't completely f***ed, don't fix it".

D and I used to ride it two up quite a bit (around town I quite enjoyed going pillion with D riding

), and never had a major problem. I'd go out for a ride with J on the pillion say up Dyers Pass or over to Akaroa and see if it does anything untoward. If it doesn't I'd leave it alone. If you do end up doing it, you get the plates, I'll give you a hand to slot them in. Should be a piece of the proverbial.

**Skinny_Birdman** · 3rd September 2011, 17:51

I now have the genuine Honda centrestand on mine. Ended up reasonably cheap ($319 landed) and looks (and works) the biz. Final pre DB prerequisite is (maybe) a GPS. And perhaps a decent adv helmet.
We'll have to see though, having thoughts about another TT related holiday

, which would involve radical spending cuts and a downstream reduction in core services. But no asset sales.