Been feeling a bit out-of-sorts the past few days, so as the day started sunny and well above freezing thought I’d get out for a ride. It’s been exactly two weeks since last one which may be a factor in my down mood. Just starting the engine and pulling away instantly make me feel better
I decided to mostly stick to major roads as everywhere was very damp and mucky from all the rain, as evident by all the flooded fields.
The sun continued until lunch time so when I was passing the Harley dealers in Uppingham and saw the burger van outside was open thought I’d give it a try. Burger was nice and having passed that way dozens of times over the years I thought it was about time I actually went in a had a close look at the bikes. Not really seen Harleys up close before and I found that in the flesh they aren’t any better than the pictures.
After lunch the clouds arrived so I headed home, after 3 hours riding I felt much uplifted.
Once home I gave the bike and myself a good hose down to wash off the mud and grassy stuff.
When I had first set off I in the morning I noticed my left indicators weren’t working necessitating the use of hand signals all day, so after the hose down I had the rear indicator lens off to get to the LED unit and found that the 0V wire wasn’t actually measuring as connected to anything. So this weekend I’ll be taking things apart to fix it. (And it was only two days ago I was saying about how the wiring for the rear is a real pain to get too!)
After the weather had eased a little I set to work today to fix the non-functioning indicator I discovered yesterday. I got the tail light unit unbolted and exposed all the electrical connectors inside the mudguard cavity, which was also packed with mud and grassy stuff, so I gave everything a good clean before disconnecting the wires.
The ground wires to the indicators tested OK so I decided to give all the connectors a douse of switch cleaner and connect the indicators back up to see if they worked, and the did, hurray! The indicators have loose fitting bullet connectors so I guess one had come dislodged to cause the problem.
I had difficulty with the other connectors which are of a sealed waterproof sort and it seems that the seals in them had puffed up from the solvents I’d cleaned things with I had to pick out the seals to get the connectors to mate properly. Fortunately everything seemed to work so I decided to put everything back together again. The contact pins look gold plated so hopefully they’ll survive getting damp.
I had also managed to break the retaining clip on the number plate light connector I did think about using a dab of glue, but it felt like it might hold OK, especially as all the connector are crammed into a very tight space.
The connectors look the same sort as the heated grips I had a problem with and buying new connectors for them is already on my shopping list, so I should have spares if I need a proper fix for the tail-lights
Though I got a shower in the first half hour and the sun didn’t arrive until lunch-time.
Probably shouldn’t have gone as this morning I pulled something in my back whilst getting breakfast ingredients out the fridge, so despite dosing up on Ibuprofen my back is definitely feeling the 5 hours of riding. Currently trying a beer shaped muscle relaxant…
Today was my first opportunity for a few weeks to get out on the bike.
Started off at 5c, warming to 7c three hours later as I rode onto the drive. It was a little cool, but enjoyed the A49 and A41 which is one of my local favourite rides.
Roads were mainly dry, but a lot of standing water around. Bike was filthy when I got home, so waited for it to cool and then gave it a good clean and oiled the chain before putting it back in the garage.
I stopped off in Market Drayton for some lunch.
This is the problem I found last week - sunny, dry days but the roads are just not drying out. Lot’s of standing water as well. Hate this time of year!
I know - bike is still dirty from Friday so debating whether to clean it today (we’ve been away). Going out tomorrow so probably leave it until after then
I managed to actually get out on the Tiger today for the first time in several weeks. These past few weeks its either been near freezing or pouring with rain, but today it was almost 8 degrees and it hasn’t rained for almost 48 hours so the roads have had a chance to dry out a bit!
I stuck to the A roads which weren’t too bad, largely dry and not too mucky. It was really good to get out on the bike - I feel a lot better now. I get restless if I can’t ride for a sustained period
Picked my Speedy up from MoT so about three miles in total, but good to be back on it😁
Passed but a comment about front brake giving inconsistent effort, or something. Will have a fiddle when I change oil and filter.
For the last few days I’ve been trying to decide whether to buy a different silencer for the Speed triple….
I’ve seen one on line (like the one in this photo) that I quite like, for a good price with the dB killer in it…
Decision decisions….
Aesthetics are purely personal of course, but I think the twin under seat exhausts on the 1050 series ST are one of things that make it one of the best looking bikes you can buy.
It ‘cleans up’ the back of the bike and I quite like it for that, although the lines are somewhat undermined by the billboard that is the UK number plate.
As my back has recovered and it’s not raining I had run out of excuses, so this morning the bike got a hose down, the chain cleaned, adjusted and lubed, and the engine oil topped up. Everything ready for the next muddy ride…
I had to pick out the seals to get the connectors to mate properly. Fortunately everything seemed to work so I decided to put everything back together again. The contact pins look gold plated so hopefully they’ll survive getting damp.
