What did you do to your motorcycle today?

[Captain Starlet]

Had to double check I was in the right thread with the beaut E46 vert above!

Continuing with tidying up the bike:
New clutch lever
Sanded down mirror arms and lacquered
New rubber covers for mirror bases
New bolts for mirror bases as current ones were chewed up a bit.

Have to remove the tank later and fit a new petrol gauge float/sender as I fried the existing one a few days ago when I reconnected the wiring harness incorrectly (Honda made two wiring harness plugs the same shape and it was 1am).

Learning a lot and understanding how everything works.

Yesterday I was ‘testing’ the front brake after changing the fluid and it locked up on a bit of gravel in the middle of the road. The front wheel slid to one side and I put my foot down to stop me dropping the bike. Have a nice big lump on my calf now thanks to the foot rest


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Brilliant work, love all these small improvements. The attention to detail is great.

 

[saxo_man]

Fitted a new fuel gauge sender that inadvertently wrecked last week. One bolt holding the tank on, easy bike to take apart. Fitted a used one rather than a copy one, as I think stuff like this needs to be genuine.

 

[saxo_man]

I was out last weekend on the bike at night and it was very hard to see anything on the back roads, it was appalling to be honest.
I cleaned inside the headlight (dead flies and coating on inside of glass) and changed the filament 35w bulb to an LED bulb. There was a bit of rust on the headlight casing so I treated that and then sprayed it with matt black paint. New springs and screws added to the light fitting too.
The visibility is perfect now, I enjoyed the spin tonight, and matches in with the led indicators too. I painted the sidelight bulb blue, that is temporary until get an led off eBay.
Handlebar area is looking tidy now with everything replaced or painted, and I treated the surface rust on the frame/chassis and painted it black.
Next plan is clean up the silver metal covers on the lower part of the bike and sort the pillion foot pegs that are loose and fall down too easily.

 

[Gareth]

Got it out for its first proper scalp today. I love bikes,

All ready to leave this morning,

On our way home,

Finally made it home after 6 hours out,

Dirty girl all cleaned up and ready for the next outing,

 

[hannakournikova]

@Gareth whats the belt interval like on the WC monsters?

 

[Nicky]

Washed the pair of them yesterday and then took the MT09 out for its first proper squeeze after getting absolutely drenched when I had it out on Monday afternoon.

Going to see about getting a steering damper and then ring Clarence Bell at PLR to get the suspension set for my weight and riding style… It’s an absolute hoot to ride as is to be fair.

 

[Gareth]

@Gareth whats the belt interval like on the WC monsters?

Had mine done in Nov 2022 as part of the sale and reading only you get them done every 5 years and the Desmo service is done at 18k miles. So, I'm probably 2 years away from my Desmo service and will change the belts then too. Will probably keep it for another year after that then see what I fancy next. V4 Pikes Peaks might be affordable to me by then

 

[hannakournikova]

Had mine done in Nov 2022 as part of the sale and reading only you get them done every 5 years and the Desmo service is done at 18k miles. So, I'm probably 2 years away from my Desmo service and will change the belts then too. Will probably keep it for another year after that then see what I fancy next. V4 Pikes Peaks might be affordable to me by then

2 years on the air cooled ones

 

[Gareth]

2 years on the air cooled ones

I'm gonna call Millsport tomorrow and ask. Belts used to be every 2 years, but Ducati came out themselves and said the Desmo service moved to 30k kms/18k miles and belts every 5 years.

 

[mikey]

Bought it….then Sod’s Law had to get a puncture repair on the back tyre with a thorn through it when I came home Never ridden a bike with such a tight, precise gearbox. Auto blipper is unreal.
Reliability TBC….

Edit just to say for all the negative comments you hear about McCallens motorcycles, they couldn’t do enough for me today to get the puncture sorted at zero notice with a full workshop. Phillip himself and Marty in service took it on themselves to get it done for me ASAP

 

[wes]

Lovely, health to ride. Been torturing myself to get another bike let my last one go back about 10years ago for a 2nd car regret not just holding onto it now lol

 

[Slimsbikers]

Bought it….then Sod’s Law had to get a puncture repair on the back tyre with a thorn through it when I came home Never ridden a bike with such a tight, precise gearbox. Auto blipper is unreal.
Reliability TBC….

Edit just to say for all the negative comments you hear about McCallens motorcycles, they couldn’t do enough for me today to get the puncture sorted at zero notice with a full workshop. Phillip himself and Marty in service took it on themselves to get it done for me ASAP
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Lovely bike. Health to ride

 

[Lee]

Bought it….then Sod’s Law had to get a puncture repair on the back tyre with a thorn through it when I came home Never ridden a bike with such a tight, precise gearbox. Auto blipper is unreal.
Reliability TBC….

Edit just to say for all the negative comments you hear about McCallens motorcycles, they couldn’t do enough for me today to get the puncture sorted at zero notice with a full workshop. Phillip himself and Marty in service took it on themselves to get it done for me ASAP
View attachment 429578

So... Maybe you need a few runs out, but what are your feelings towards this after an MT10?

 

[Brian mc21]

Had it out for a run. Second time out since my accident which was a year ago yesterday. Strange being out and realising you can’t ride it the way you normally would or want to for now but we will get there. So different, things like remembering which way the road you have been on loads of times goes etc.

 

[mikey]

So... Maybe you need a few runs out, but what are your feelings towards this after an MT10?

Very first thing I noticed was the riding position is a lot more sport bike oriented, legs are higher and bars are lower and it is very narrow compared to the MT thanks to the V4 engine.
Engine is by nature a lot smoother but feels angrier, doesn’t like being at part throttle at low speeds, hunting almost like an older car with a high lift cam wanting you to drive it on. May just be whatever map settings it is in at the moment. Have no idea how to work any of the electronics or what they mean No physical owners handbook so have sent to Aprilia for the downloadable PDF I’ll have to read through.
Absolutely zero underseat storage so have to stick the backpack on for even carrying the disk lock!
Don’t know if the suspension is in soft mode but it’s very comfortable and less jarring than the MT was.

Get you up to AH Superbikes and get my old MT bought. She’s a good one

 

[wes]

Very first thing I noticed was the riding position is a lot more sport bike oriented, legs are higher and bars are lower and it is very narrow compared to the MT thanks to the V4 engine.
Engine is by nature a lot smoother but feels angrier, doesn’t like being at part throttle at low speeds, hunting almost like an older car with a high lift cam wanting you to drive it on. May just be whatever map settings it is in at the moment. Have no idea how to work any of the electronics or what they mean No physical owners handbook so have sent to Aprilia for the downloadable PDF I’ll have to read through.
Absolutely zero underseat storage so have to stick the backpack on for even carrying the disk lock!
Don’t know if the suspension is in soft mode but it’s very comfortable and less jarring than the MT was.

Get you up to AH Superbikes and get my old MT bought. She’s a good one

He keeps some great stock. Got some lovely ducati's and an mv agusta the other day

 

[Lee]

Very first thing I noticed was the riding position is a lot more sport bike oriented, legs are higher and bars are lower and it is very narrow compared to the MT thanks to the V4 engine.
Engine is by nature a lot smoother but feels angrier, doesn’t like being at part throttle at low speeds, hunting almost like an older car with a high lift cam wanting you to drive it on. May just be whatever map settings it is in at the moment. Have no idea how to work any of the electronics or what they mean No physical owners handbook so have sent to Aprilia for the downloadable PDF I’ll have to read through.
Absolutely zero underseat storage so have to stick the backpack on for even carrying the disk lock!
Don’t know if the suspension is in soft mode but it’s very comfortable and less jarring than the MT was.

Get you up to AH Superbikes and get my old MT bought. She’s a good one

The Tuonos are a lovely machine. Well finished. Just been on for a look at your old MT10, it looks in good nick! I'd have to shift on the FZ1S before I'd do anything. But definitely considering an MT10.

 

[Alan_B]

Very first thing I noticed was the riding position is a lot more sport bike oriented, legs are higher and bars are lower and it is very narrow compared to the MT thanks to the V4 engine.
Engine is by nature a lot smoother but feels angrier, doesn’t like being at part throttle at low speeds, hunting almost like an older car with a high lift cam wanting you to drive it on. May just be whatever map settings it is in at the moment. Have no idea how to work any of the electronics or what they mean No physical owners handbook so have sent to Aprilia for the downloadable PDF I’ll have to read through.
Absolutely zero underseat storage so have to stick the backpack on for even carrying the disk lock!
Don’t know if the suspension is in soft mode but it’s very comfortable and less jarring than the MT was.

Get you up to AH Superbikes and get my old MT bought. She’s a good one

I had to google how to turn the traction control on haha. If you look for the silver + / - buttons in the right bar then I think that is a quick was to turn everything up or down. Could be wrong though. And actually the manual isn’t much help tbh

 

[Gareth]

New pads all round on the Monster last night. Need to replace the fluid over the weekend. Calipers were tidied up too before refitting. The chain looks terrible, but it's only surface wear. I plan of replacing the c&s this year too.

 

[Apis]

New pads all round on the Monster last night. Need to replace the fluid over the weekend. Calipers were tidied up too before refitting. The chain looks terrible, but it's only surface wear. I plan of replacing the c&s this year too.

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I will probably get spanked for suggesting this, but in my opinion that's what snowfoam does to a bike. Calipers, chain, sprocket, wheel bearings, just seems all wrong to me.

 

[mikey]

Wired in the optimate battery charger, rigged up a handlebar bag to carry a few small things (zero, I mean zero underseat storage on the Aprilia and I don’t want to go down the route of tank bags or tail boxes) but most importantly I pulled the baffle out of the exhaust The V4 is a bit of an odd sound, doesn’t sound like a twin, doesn’t sound like a Honda V4, doesn’t sound like a Ducati V4, doesn’t sound like a crossplane Yamaha. Has its own unique note.

 

[Gareth]

I will probably get spanked for suggesting this, but in my opinion that's what snowfoam does to a bike. Calipers, chain, sprocket, wheel bearings, just seems all wrong to me.

Why do you think that? The snowfoam I use is pH neutral and wheel bearings have rubber dust seals that will keep water out too. I'm very particular about keeping my bikes as clean and well looked after as possible. Been doing the same thing for over 20 years and not had any issues aside from routine maintenance.

 

[Slimsbikers]

Wired in the optimate battery charger, rigged up a handlebar bag to carry a few small things (zero, I mean zero underseat storage on the Aprilia and I don’t want to go down the route of tank bags or tail boxes) but most importantly I pulled the baffle out of the exhaust The V4 is a bit of an odd sound, doesn’t sound like a twin, doesn’t sound like a Honda V4, doesn’t sound like a Ducati V4, doesn’t sound like a crossplane Yamaha. Has its own unique note.
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Doesn't sound like any other V4 but does sound f@@king class Best sounding bike about imo!

 

[Apis]

Why do you think that? The snowfoam I use is pH neutral and wheel bearings have rubber dust seals that will keep water out too. I'm very particular about keeping my bikes as clean and well looked after as possible. Been doing the same thing for over 20 years and not had any issues aside from routine maintenance.

Apart from the look of that chain, it's the thought of a detergent allowed to sit there creeping in around all those mechanical parts like brake pins and pistons and generally anything with moving parts. I suppose I was raised with an oily rag philosophy that you might see on old machines keeping all the mechanical bits well maintained. Don't take it personally, I know plenty of folk do it but it just gives me the creeps when i see it, lol.

 

[saxo_man]

Cleaned it and put a few miles on it. 20 years old now