Motorcycles BS Thread 2.0

Just finished with the fender I was paid to do. I have 1 hour and 10min into the fender. Came out pretty good. Had a bit of trouble with the clear but after trying twice and cleaning it off I got it. It has a one coat of primer, one coat of base black and one coat of clear. I didn’t do a full on cut and buff because that takes a couple hours and he didn’t pay for that. Did used a cutting compound on a stiff pad then a polish with a soft pad. It looks like a factory paint job. I am happy with how it turned out.

For clarity when I say I had trouble with the clear is when I was applying it I was getting some fish eye. It was caused by some contamination. So after trying twice I cleaned it with alcohol and put it back in the oven for a few minutes. Then lowered the KV setting, and had the powder gun father away from the part and that did the trick. Still learning what works best.

 

This is what happens when your an idiot and wear shorts while powder coating. The inside of the oven door is freaking hot and you can’t use your leg to stop the door. Duh!!
Yes I am an idiot. Lol

Spoiler

 

I couldn't stand that. I would have stuck a needle it that as soon as it bubbled

 

I think I found the odd feeling in the wheels, appears the spokes need tightened.
I watched a few videos on how to do it by ear, and I think it's closer than it was, but does anyone use a spoke torque wrench or recommend one?

Edit, Everybody like Tusk products,

$90 Tusk Spoke Torque Wrench Kit

https://www.amazon.com/Tusk-Spoke-W...5&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY
But this one has more and better reviews, plus more head selection.

$80 Uharbour Spoke Torque Wrench, Motorcycle Spoke Wrench with 5.1-6.9mm Wrench Heads, Bike Torque Wrench, Spoke Torque Wrench for Dirt Bike Tool Kit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DMSSTGF7?smid=A1I5K6P50DTEF7&th=1

 

In case anyone wants to follow me this weekend.....

https://spotwalla.com/trip/1073-a7838ec-ae44/view

Goes live sometime after 7:00 am.

 

Anyone interested in a garmin inreach mini? SOS, sattellite texting, location sharing and bread crumbing, etc. I haven't used it in a couple years. There is a mini 2 out now for about $400, but the original is still supported and worked great for me. I just don't really go offroad out of cell service much anymore and hate to see it sitting around.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/592606/

Mine is the all black/gray version. Plans for it are something like $8 or $15/mo, and I would just activate it for the summer and deactivate it in the late Fall.


Buy-it-now's on fleabay are around $200 for used ones. I was going to list on Facebook around $150, probably go lower for y'all.

 

I have one. Dont really use it. Always read and makes sense that they arent really accurate on a used/dirty wheel which the spokes do get dirt in

 

I read that too and agree with it, but this is a fairly new wheel and nothing is seized just yet.
I get a weird popping sound when I'm sitting on it and move it back and forth. Wheel in the air does not make the sound. I have a dial gauge and currently the wheel is only out by a few thousandths of an inch after I tightened them, didn't think to check before of course. I don't think it was perfectly true to begin with.

 

Wheel in the air as in the suspension still has weight on it or suspension is fully released?

 

Suspension fully released/drooped sitting on center stand. It may just be the chain and it is lubed, I can manually push the chain side to side on the sprocket and kind of duplicate the sound. Spokes are tight and ring the same tone as the front. But it only makes the sound on the ground.

 

Id bet its suspension or something that moves with

 

I usually do reset my mileage trip with each fill up. I’ll do this wanting to have an idea/ prepare in advance to fill up. Also like others said to tell if it’s not night right mpg wise. Spoiled with my current bike as first bikes didn’t have anything but the trip odometer. I purposely ran those out to learn how far they could go. Yes one time I walked a while lol. To old for that shit now. Lol

 

nah, it's rotational. I'm not jumping up and down in the seat, just backing it out of the garage. It's a fairly consistent pop, not random. Can't hear it at all when riding. Just went for a short ride and didn't notice anything unusual.
I have some chain wax coming Friday, I'll see if that stops it. Kind of tired of oil flinging all over the place anyway.

 

Always done it by ear. I feel like one could make a lil crowfoot to attach to a 10$ 1/4in inlb torque wrench to tighten a few to spec and get the sound then do the rest of the wheel.

I have a mini 2 and bring it back online for when I'm out in the boonies. Good peace of mind.

 

I love this thread...I live vicariously here.

50+ years riding all over street and off road and 15 yrs teaching it are all behind me. I'm to old with to many replacement parts in me to risk falling.

The dirt bikes, yummy. I miss my KTM 640 Adventure. With that 7 gallon tank I could run all day in the wide open deserts of the Southwest.

I think this shot is somewhere in the Bradshaw Mountains.

 

Same.

 

Just got one

 

They're great little things, I just don't remember the last time I was out in the boonies and needed it, yay marriage and a kid hah. I looked online and I haven't had service on it since Dec 2022, figured I should sell it while it still has some value to it. Plus my phone has satellite SOS now built in for the more casual adventures.

Shoot, if I get $100 on it I'll be happy. I got my value out of it.

Edit: actually, I do know the last time, it was my birthday three years ago, june 15 2022. 2023 got rained out, and 2024 was with the kiddo.

 

Yeah the satellite functionality of phones isnt quite the same as the garmin inreach uses the "Iridium network" which at this point is still essentially the best for such communications off grid. Needless to say it still has its place.

But yeah wife n kids tends to ruin.... err... change things (spoken from an almost 36yr old unmarried no kids no debt dude.... im at a crux of my life right now choosing a path before its too late... tho it sure feals like its way to late )


Good moto things tho... after work today rode the super tenere to deliver a tent I was getting ride of and run some errands. 72 n sunny with minimal humidity at 7pm... beautiful evening for some moto