Motorcycles BS Thread 2.0

@MagtechPA good choice for a starter.Good job on practicing.Definately look where you are going, Not where you are.
To solidify this.I was at the dealer this summer while a buddy got his bike inspected.This particular dealer has a tight turn to get into the shop.While a was sitting there bsing with my buddy,i observed each mechanic come back from his road test.Each one looking well into the distance.Kinda reiterated the look where you going not where you are.Guys with lots of riding time,riding bike that they are not familiar with in a tight turn,all doing it.

 

Thanks to all for the advice, I'm glad to be learning more about this and improving my skills at the same time. I love this bike so far and see myself owning it for years to come.

Yep! I always pre-flight the bike before I ride. I'm a pretty meticulous guy by nature, so it comes naturally.

You're absolutely right. During my MSF course, my instructors pounded that concept into my head (for good reason). "Head and eyes up!"
It's absolutely true and I'm kicking myself for looking down in that parking lot, can't believe I did that. If nothing else, it was a learning experience and will further solidify the correct technique with me going forward.

The tires are definitely not dry-rotted and look good to me, so I guess I will keep them on for now. That's good news since I didn't want to spend too much money at the end of the riding season.

I do have a cheapo Harbor Freight battery tender on it, but as I said in the earlier post, it only gave me one good start on the battery which suggests the battery is indeed toast. I've used this battery tender on my Mustang in the wintertime (storage) for the past three years and it's always kept the battery in top shape, so I trust the tender.

Thanks again everybody, will be doing some research on the battery and report back with updates.

 

Watch that amperage. Not sure which HF charger you have, but you really should invest in one that's made for bikes. Most of the cheapie chargers for cars are 10A/2A, and bike chargers are always under 6A. The issue with charging at higher amperage is that the you can boil the battery, or cause gel to recede from the terminals inside if you have AGM Maintenance free which you probably do on a '07. This leads to premature battery weakening/ death. Side Note: If you ever see a battery boiling while you're charging it, unplug the charger from the wall instead of removing cables from battery!!! Those bubbles are hydrogen and they make BIG BOOM, which was experienced first hand about 10 years ago on a sailboat. My uncle was removing cables from a boiling battery that was connected to a charger and one tiny spark found one tiny bubble.

Buy the cheapest Battery Tender Junior, and install the pigtail on the bike. It charges at less than 1 amp, and is made for the job. Once you have the pigtail ring terminals installed on your battery and tucked away, you won't need to remove seat or plastics to charge. The unit is very tiny with about a 15 foot cord. I have one that stays in my tank bag in case it's needed away from home, and I also carry the jumper cables (included with the unit) to attach from the pigtail to a car battery in case of emergency.

Motorcycle stuff at WalMart seems to be somewhat seasonal, and the last couple I've bought were marked down to $18.88! https://www.walmart.com/ip/Battery-Tender-Jr-12V/15779492. They also sell a USB attachment which is damn handy. You can grab them on Amazon, and one year I handed them out as stocking-stuffers to motorcycle friends while we were on a trip. They were a hit!

$18 Battery Tender Quick Disconnect USB Charger Adapter - Charge Mobile Devices with 12V Vehicle Battery on The Go - 081-0158

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-081-0158-Disconnect-Smartphone/dp/B00DJ5KEF4.

 

Awesome advice yet again, very much appreciated.

I guess it's obvious by now that I am a car guy and also brand new to motorcycles. I keep assuming that tools and techniques that I've used with cars are perfectly applicable for motorcycles, such as jumping the battery from the Taco and using my automotive charger. I need to slow down and think before I do stuff to this bike.
The advice I'm getting here is very valuable to me.

I will pick up the Battery Tender Junior tonight on my way home.

 

We were all new riders once. I want to do what I can to make sure you get as much joy out of motorcycles as I have for the last 30+ years, with less scars and titanium. Lots of old guys helped me a ton along the way, and as an old guy I now understand why.

So you're aware, there's nothing wrong with jumping a bike from a car, if proper precautions are taken. The main thing that makes it go bad for people (myself included) is jumping a bike with cables made for a car. In most cases, bikes are too tight to fit the cables which causes all kinds of havoc when they short. Many moons ago, I used to keep a couple of wires with alligator clips on the ends strapped to the frame under a side cover. The pigtail and jumper cables that come with the battery tender are a much more elegant solution.

 

im not gonna read up, but never ever jump a bike from a car that is RUNNING. you will burn up the bikes rectifier

 

One more piece of the Speed Triple carbon puzzle! Just need the filler panels that go between the tail and tank, and the seat cowl. Then I think I will have the tank wrapped in a custom black and dark grey Union Jack graphic similar to this.

 

Update:
So I replaced the battery and had the bike out on Saturday and Sunday, and it ran great! The battery shows 14 volts at idle, so I guess the stator is working. I also bought a Battery Tender Junior and it works great!

The weather is supposed to be nice this coming Wednesday so I will take it out after work. Next weekend looks to be pretty cold, so I think I may be done for the season until next spring.

Thanks again for all the help, more updates to come as I continue to improve my skills and learn about the bike.

 

Some articles I came across today...

2 new HD's:
https://www.autoblog.com/2019/11/05...etfighter-1250-975-motorcycles/#slide-2183049

Aston Martin, pretty wild:
https://www.autoblog.com/2019/11/05/aston-martin-brough-superior-amb-001-motorcycle/

 

this week Long Island NY had its first frost of the season and the first forecasted snow is possible to happen later in the week....

would like to hear from the many seasoned vets here about bike winterization

please share what you do and or don't do

I know this is a topic that has been touched upon before but none the less, I aint gonna use the search function for this and have already beaten the topic to death with youtube videos, simply looking to hear/read what you guys do

 

The Bronx is cool. Wait for the Custom 1250 to come out

 

Fill gas tank, put in stabilizer, and connect tender

 

Fill gas tank, put in stabilizer, either rock the bike back and forth a bit or take a short ride. Connect battery tender.

 

I'm sure I'll order a new "Dirt Glide" when available.

The new HD's

Everyone over 55, Thanks not a "real" Harley WTF are the doing?
Everyone 24-54, HDs are all the same, old technology that leaks, I would never buy one, WTF are the doing?
Everyone 15-23, Motorcycles are scary, WTF are they doing

That Aston Martin is to a track bike as a Tacoma is to the Mars Rover. Style exercise that will NEVER see the light of day....EVER.


Not enough to slosh the fuel treatment around, you need to run the bike for a bit so it gets in the carb passages and fills the float bowls. I prefer the Startron stuff or the stuff Helix sells, not Stabil. With a carbureted bike and new ethanol/ reformulated gas. This must be done or you will have a $500 repair bill in 120 days. If possible please search out and top up with non-ethanol gasoline.

 

but @uurx doesnt have a carb. Carbs are the devil And I refuse to own one again. FI > CB

 

lol


i should have been more specific and requested replies regarding fuel injection specifically


that being said, carbs are not the devil.... efi is preferred but carbed machines are equally as fun

 

Yeah didn't see his request, I was actually talking to MagtechPA. Yeah, I still have some stuff with carbs, its not that they suddenly stopped working, its the stuff they sell us and call it "gasoline" has changed a great deal over the years.

 

The riding season in the northeast is winding down ...

Similar to what others said - fuel stabilizer, battery tender, cover, and the sportbike I put up on front/rear stands just because I have them.

You're itching for another bike already I can tell haha

I just like seeing what bikes are out there, not really biased on brand. Also doubt I'll ever buy new - deals on lightly used ones are just too good in comparison.

Agreed... the Aston is motorcycle art, whoever can afford the $100k price tag on a limited production track-only bike is likely a collector that won’t be riding it much.

 

Ride that joker. There are still sunny days with clear roads in the dead of winter, unless we are talking Alaska.

For the lawnmower, fill gas completely, add stabilizer, run to fill passageways, then connect to tender. Change oil in spring and it fires right up. For motorcycle would put on stands, big bike like a harley would move everyso often (I ride my bikes).

 

Im good for at least a year. Only 220 miles on my 2019

just added an air cleaner (sorry for the arrows, was explaining to gf what i changed and why i had to spend $150) and I ordered a sissy bar.

my riding season is over, unless there's a day over 65, and I have some time.