What have you done for your bike today????

[lucifer_mr2]

I've had the speedo fall out (the cable at the back) while riding. Also had a mirror swing around, I think someone tried to play with it while it was parked.

[the mole]

New chain and front sprocket.

[adidasguy]

That's why I bought a couple box-o-bolts. Today I cleaned them with a vibrator cleaner/de-greaser and now am sorting them.
Ever since Suzi lost a fender bolt and now have to find bolts to put original parts back onto Junior, this has saved my life.



(That doesn't include other stuff that doesn't fit into the parts cleaner)
Buy crap - run it through the cleaner and it's like brand new. Cool!    Saves a ton of money.

So that's what I did for my bikes today because it rained all day. Used the "car" to go to Aurora and get a tire balanced.  (They love getting in parts that have been cleaned, degreased and polished. I LOVE that my toy!) Bought fuel filters for Suzi and Junior. They gave me some extra high grade fuel line case I needed it and I love the Suzuki Owners Club discount. Always 10%. Sometimes even more if you ask  

Cheers: "You walk into a place where everybody knows your name (and your bike)"

Some of us are lucky to have a really great dealer with a service department that knows their stuff. They told me how to put the SV650 clutch on and what clutch cable to use. Sweet! I'll get the cable at Thursday's SOC meeting.

I did take the suggestion and removed the Dunlop logos from the front forks. Too cold and 100% humidity not good to do any painting. Maybe tomorrow.
Might put on a cool aluminum chain guard onto Suzi and the rear hugger back on to Junior. Don't know what to do with 5 extra chain guards. Trash day is Monday and the garage is getting cleaned out so I can put both bikes in when the weather gets really bad (car moves from street to carport).

[Janx101]

did my best to use up some of the outer edge tread on the tyres.. and didnt run into the 14tonnes of fallen tree that was across one of the backroads!

after my 103km loop i appreciated my bike even more than before  .. cant wait to get the new rubber on it .. the previous owner was mainly a commuter and the current rear looks like \_/ kinda .. and the front has leading edge scalloping.... which reminds me... what causes leading edge scalloping?.. must do a thread search....

[ver4]

Yesterday I fixed my hanging idle problem, so I took it out for a short ride.  Hopefully, the idle doesn't creep back up.

[tb0lt]

That's why I bought a couple box-o-bolts. Today I cleaned them with a vibrator cleaner/de-greaser and now am sorting them.
Ever since Suzi lost a fender bolt and now have to find bolts to put original parts back onto Junior, this has saved my life.

What vibrating cleaner do you use? Is it anything like the ultrasonic cleaner they sell at Harbor Freight?  I've been thinking about getting one of those.

[adidasguy]

Cleaner I use:

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-hd-vibratory-tumbler-w-media-pushbutton.html

(Same one Jay Leno uses!)

[adidasguy]

Added NEODYMIUM magnets to selected locations to the frame and inside fairings a few weeks ago. Waited to see if they worked before posting.
Yes, I no longer have to wait for stop lights. A few I still wait, but those are broken sensors where I have to wait in my car, too.
Didn't buy the ones at the bike shop. Bought the real grade N52 ones and big ones. Need to make a special wooden tool to separate them. Get your finger between them and you get a blood blister or bruised finger. Slap them to the frame and they will never ever fall off. (Now I know how magicians do some of their tricks. Put somerthing in your palm. Move a NEODYMIUM magnet on the other side of your hand and wow - things magically move around!)

Just try to remove a 2" x 1" x 1/2" thick Grade N52 - Black Rubber Coated NdFeB, Grade N52 magnet from your bike frame!

Specs:
    * Dimensions: 2" x 1" x 1/2" thick
    * Tolerances: ±0.004" x ±0.004" x ±0.004"
    * Material: NdFeB, Grade N52
    * Plating/Coating: Black Rubber
    * Magnetization Direction: Thru Thickness
    * Weight: 3.89 oz (110.2 g)
    * Pull Force, Case 1: 63.02 lbs
    * Pull Force, Case 2: 114.8 lbs
    * Surface Field: 3904 Gauss
    * Max Operating Temp: 176ºF (80ºC)
    * Brmax: 14,800 Gauss
    * BHmax: 52 MGOe

So cool! Drop a screw and you know where you'll find it.

[pave_spectre]

You want neodymium magnets, just grab some dead hard drives and pull them apart.

[adidasguy]

The magnets in a hard drive are hardly 2"x1"x1/2".
They are very small. They do not have a pull force of over 62 POUNDS.
The size of a magnet makes a HUGE difference.
Try picking up 20 pounds with a magnet from a hard drive. Now try 20 pounds with the magnet I use.
The field of a magnet in a hard drive doesn't leave the hard drive enclosure. If it did, it would affect drives next to it.
A 1"x2"x1/2" magnet will totally destroy tour computer.

You need a strong magnet when it is 2: to 6" from the traffic signal wire. A hard drive magnet won't do it - even if placed on the cement. It is just too small and weak.

Neodynium magnets come in various strengths, too: N48, N52, etc.

You need to read up on magnets, types, shape, size, direction of magnetization and field strength.

[tb0lt]

Added NEODYMIUM magnets to selected locations to the frame and inside fairings a few weeks ago. Waited to see if they worked before posting.
Yes, I no longer have to wait for stop lights. A few I still wait, but those are broken sensors where I have to wait in my car, too.
Didn't buy the ones at the bike shop. Bought the real grade N52 ones and big ones. Need to make a special wooden tool to separate them. Get your finger between them and you get a blood blister or bruised finger. Slap them to the frame and they will never ever fall off. (Now I know how magicians do some of their tricks. Put somerthing in your palm. Move a NEODYMIUM magnet on the other side of your hand and wow - things magically move around!)

Just try to remove a 2" x 1" x 1/2" thick Grade N52 - Black Rubber Coated NdFeB, Grade N52 magnet from your bike frame!

Specs:
    * Dimensions: 2" x 1" x 1/2" thick
    * Tolerances: ±0.004" x ±0.004" x ±0.004"
    * Material: NdFeB, Grade N52
    * Plating/Coating: Black Rubber
    * Magnetization Direction: Thru Thickness
    * Weight: 3.89 oz (110.2 g)
    * Pull Force, Case 1: 63.02 lbs
    * Pull Force, Case 2: 114.8 lbs
    * Surface Field: 3904 Gauss
    * Max Operating Temp: 176ºF (80ºC)
    * Brmax: 14,800 Gauss
    * BHmax: 52 MGOe

So cool! Drop a screw and you know where you'll find it.

At first, I thought you were kidding. Please do keep us posted on the ongoing experience of this setup. Aren't you worried about picking up debris from the road?

[reload]

hahaha there could be a county's worth of iron filings attached to the bike

[sotomoto]

 I bought new handlebars and front brake lever after an accident i had.   
I will replace them, maybe tomorrow.

[adidasguy]

Bike shops sell signal switching magnets. I bought real good strong ones.
Debris has been no problem. They're string enough to trip the sensors but high enough not to pick up every little thing on the road. If they do pick up anything - it'd stick to the magnet. Once the magnet is on the bike, nearly impossible to remove. I have one in the center front and one on each end of the center stand. That gives lots of coverage for road sensors so my position on the road is less critical than if I just had one weak magnet.

Knowing the types of sensor patterns and where to be helps. You can google that information.

They work great as places to hold screws and bolts when working on the bike. One stuck to the end of a long bolt is great to locate that screw you dropped and don't know where it is. Wave it around and anything within 6 inches or more you find. They're strong enough you can use them to magnetize your screw drivers.

(Try that with tiny magnets from a hard drive!)

[saxman]

SV650 throttle bodies showed up today. Now I get to disassemble, and find a way to make two into one... i.e. the sensors from each on only one throttle body.

These are way nicer than the gsxr units I was going to use, and have all the sensors I though I was going to have to fabricate mounts and such for, etc.

WAY larger too... which means they won't bolt up quite as easily, but that's ok, I'll just mill out some adapter plates.

[adidasguy]

Junior got his smoke turn signals and smoke tail light installed. Left: before. Right: after. Inset: In use (turn signal and running light. STOP light is much brighter)
Even though the turn signals are smoke, they look a little orange with the flash or bright light because they have orange bulbs.
The smoke tail light is not Clear Alternatives. They don't illuminate the license plate   (a DOT requirement   ) so I bought a tail light from Europe where laws are very strict regarding after market parts - so there are white LED's that illuminate the license plate.
Total time to install: 3 minutes for everything. Nice to buy something that is an exact perfect fit.

Not a bad look for a 1992 GS500  
Still deciding on what color to paint the gray fiberglass of the Gimbel seat. Although a gray doesn't look that bad  

Front orange reflectors were missing so I found a set for a Bandit for 99 cents and put those on the front fork. Now Junior is 100% legal (maybe not required in your state, but reflectors are required in Washington and I think DOT). Buddha's stator cover and fork brace go on next.

I think I'll order the same turn signals for Suzi. You can't buy presents for one bike unless you buy the other one presents. The company has excellent products and ships very fast.

UPDATE: Yes, I did order them for Suzi. I looked at the new lights on Junior tonight in the dark. They look great at night. I LOVE that the tail light illuminates the license place (which Clear Alternatives does not do). So Suzi will get that tail light and turn signals. Clear Alternatives tail will go for sale or in the trash. Also ordered European head light for Junior. In Europe, the round head light includes a small parking light that the US models do not have. So I guess that means I'll have a headlight for sale or the trash bin in a couple weeks.

[XLAR8]

well i got the first service done  , now all i need is the weekend to get here so i can go for a decent ride 

[adidasguy]

Do Seattle style: ride in the rain. Serves 3 purposes:

1. Washes the bike
2. Washes your clothes (sprinkle with some soap before heading out)
3. You get a bath, too.

Just watch out for wet leaves: those suckers are like ice.

[Anderw]

I finally succumb to fitting my handlebar muffs



In other news I have bought a K6 Suzuki SV650 Sport 

k7 Gs500f now forsale 

[mister]

In other news I have bought a K6 Suzuki SV650 Sport 

Well? Spill the beans. What's it ride like, handling, comfort, mileage, etc., etc.?

Michael