MyBB Motorcycle Owners Thread

[Zuner]

Even new batteries cant live on the shelf indefinitely. Dry batteries can stand forever, but as soon as you put acid into them they cant stand for very long without use. New flooded batteries have a shelf life of up to a year depending on the tech (usually only a couple of months) until you start using it. Once you start using it, it will sulphate if it stands, so being disconnected on the shelf or in the bike has no difference, its still bad.
We sell a crapload of bike batteries at the end of winter because they stand through the winter and they die. Even if they're disconnected.

Been seeing this whole dry battery with bottle of acid thing being sold after having searched for a new battery. very interesting.

 

[Mars]

Been seeing this whole dry battery with bottle of acid thing being sold after having searched for a new battery. very interesting.

Motorcycle batteries have been sold this way since I can remember and I've been in batteries for about 20 years.

 

[GhostSixFour]

Even new batteries cant live on the shelf indefinitely. Dry batteries can stand forever, but as soon as you put acid into them they cant stand for very long without use. New flooded batteries have a shelf life of up to a year depending on the tech (usually only a couple of months) until you start using it. Once you start using it, it will sulphate if it stands, so being disconnected on the shelf or in the bike has no difference, its still bad.
We sell a crapload of bike batteries at the end of winter because they stand through the winter and they die. Even if they're disconnected.

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[Blu82]

So yesterday my chain decided to jump off the sprocket and climb onto the sprocket with the teeth between the links. The chain was on its last legs and I am fairly surprised BMW OK'ed it last November. The service of Bavarian Centurion is impecable however, called them at eight and they were picking me an the bike up 15 minutes later and I am due to pick up the bike this afternoon.

 

[Zuner]

So yesterday my chain decided to jump off the sprocket and climb onto the sprocket with the teeth between the links. The chain was on its last legs and I am fairly surprised BMW OK'ed it last November. The service of Bavarian Centurion is impecable however, called them at eight and they were picking me an the bike up 15 minutes later and I am due to pick up the bike this afternoon.

I just looked at my chain the other day, the tightness is in spec but towards the loose side, never tightened a chain before, gotta do it sometime though.
Chain is factory, o-ring type, has 23258km on it.

 

[Mista_Mobsta]

I just looked at my chain the other day, the tightness is in spec but towards the loose side, never tightened a chain before, gotta do it sometime though.
Chain is factory, o-ring type, has 23258km on it.

Sheesh that is crazy! Better to take a proper look at it every time you wash the bike as it is pretty catastrophic once a chain decides to let go. It's pretty easy to adjust the chain if you have a basic toolkit and a breaker bar. Even easier if you have a paddock stand or center stand.

 

[Zuner]

Sheesh that is crazy! Better to take a proper look at it every time you wash the bike as it is pretty catastrophic once a chain decides to let go. It's pretty easy to adjust the chain if you have a basic toolkit and a breaker bar. Even easier if you have a paddock stand or center stand.

Just to be clear, i got the bike at 12k km previous owner may or may not have adjusted the chain before (they were a biker family, and the dad knew his stuff).
But in my ownership over the last 2.5 years I've not needed to adjust it.

I don't have a paddock or center stand, i do have a decent toolkit and am mechanically inclined, though having never done it, it'll still be a learning experience.

Edit: just realized i put new tyres on last year, so it would have been adjusted then right?

 

[Steamy Tom]

Just to be clear, i got the bike at 12k km previous owner may or may not have adjusted the chain before (they were a biker family, and the dad knew his stuff).
But in my ownership over the last 2.5 years I've not needed to adjust it.

I don't have a paddock or center stand, i do have a decent toolkit and am mechanically inclined, though having never done it, it'll still be a learning experience.

Edit: just realized i put new tyres on last year, so it would have been adjusted then right?

yeah they would have tensioned it again

 

[Sinbad]

You should be checking your chain every 500km or so. Once mine started stretching, it stretched fast.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Sheesh that is crazy! Better to take a proper look at it every time you wash the bike as it is pretty catastrophic once a chain decides to let go. It's pretty easy to adjust the chain if you have a basic toolkit and a breaker bar. Even easier if you have a paddock stand or center stand.

Which part is crazy?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Just to be clear, i got the bike at 12k km previous owner may or may not have adjusted the chain before (they were a biker family, and the dad knew his stuff).
But in my ownership over the last 2.5 years I've not needed to adjust it.

I don't have a paddock or center stand, i do have a decent toolkit and am mechanically inclined, though having never done it, it'll still be a learning experience.

Edit: just realized i put new tyres on last year, so it would have been adjusted then right?

There's adjusting the chain (taking links out) and then there is doing the wheel alignment and setting the wheel further back.

In 36,000 km on my Triumph with the original chain only the latter ever happened.

Personally I reckon if you are taking links out that's a sign you should rather just replace the chain.

****

And yes a tyre change would have done it, if there was enough gap left to take it out further.

This is why I love me some belt.

 

[Zuner]

You should be checking your chain every 500km or so. Once mine started stretching, it stretched fast.

I usually check when i re-grease, but haven't greased in a while as i haven't been riding.
Took the bike up to JHB the other day which is when i checked everything.

On a side note that's when the battery gave out on me, besides quick self discharge the battery was fine so i used my powerbank jump starter to get going and i would be fine after that until the bike sat again.
However in jhb after sitting for about 30min, after a 1hour ride, the bike was completely dead, no dash lights, nothing. Luckily i always ride with the powerbank jump starter and a tyre repair kit with co2 canisters.

Anyway once i jumped it, since the battery was so dead it was doing some weird stuff. dash kept rebooting, and somehow the idle was at about 5-6k rpm.
Strange thing is its a mechanical throttle both for idle and the actual throttle. Solved it by stopping and connecting the jump starter to it for a few min to get the battery voltage up a bit.

Haven't ridden since, need a new battery first.

 

[Zuner]

There's adjusting the chain (taking links out) and then there is doing the wheel alignment and setting the wheel further back.

In 36,000 km on my Triumph with the original chain only the latter ever happened.

Personally I reckon if you are taking links out that's a sign you should rather just replace the chain.

****

And yes a tyre change would have done it, if there was enough gap left to take it out further.

This is why I love me some belt.

I wouldn't take links out, if it comes to that i'll replace.
With my luck it'll come off/snap on a fast bend with oncoming traffic or something.

I'll go check how much space is left for a wheel alignment adjust.
Edit:

 

[Sinbad]

plenty

 

[FlexSA]

Eish I cringed for you there hahaha, ja I saw it had fat slicks on as well, but doesn't it have a higher center of gravity? I've never ridden a dirt bike.

Yeah it does, so quite a lots has to be done to setup to me it do what it does on tar.
I am not 100% sure what happened with that crash though.
Lost the front first, and I think it was due to a moment in lack of concentration where I closed throttle a bit too much going into the corner and opened too fast and unsettled the suspension.

1st bike I am riding behind is my dad that joined us for his first time on that bike. Second guy is my brother on his brand new Husky

 

[Blu82]

You should be checking your chain every 500km or so. Once mine started stretching, it stretched fast.

Mine was checked in November and I was looking at mine recently and thinking replacement is in order.

 

[Steamy Tom]

i need to replace mine soon, and since im replacing the chain i beleive you have to do the sprockets also... im considering doing it myself, but will need a chain breaker.

anyone done this before?

 

[FlexSA]

i need to replace mine soon, and since im replacing the chain i beleive you have to do the sprockets also... im considering doing it myself, but will need a chain breaker.

anyone done this before?

It is a good idea to do it like that yes to avoid strange chain wear. But if your sprocket still looks 100% then some people just replace the chain, but it is not advisable though imo. Do you not have a master link on your chain?

 

[Steamy Tom]

It is a good idea to do it like that yes to avoid strange chain wear. But if your sprocket still looks 100% then some people just replace the chain, but it is not advisable though imo. Do you not have a master link on your chain?

my current chain was riveted, but i dont care about the current one, i can cut it with a grinder even, i believe you need that tool for the new one?

also how could you tell your sprocket is fine unless you can overlay it ona new one and see it?

 

[SauRoNZA]

i need to replace mine soon, and since im replacing the chain i beleive you have to do the sprockets also... im considering doing it myself, but will need a chain breaker.

anyone done this before?

One can actually change the chain (and sprockets) without the breaker tool but usually you need one to put the new chain together, but not always.

Only really necessary to replace sprockets if they are worn somewhat and then more importantly the front over the rear...or was that the other way round, now I can’t remember.