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

[prmas]

I replaced the front tyre which I destroyed on the track on Monday and while the wheel was off I took the fork legs out and changed the oil to 15 grade. I have not ridden it since as I am still shaving the "marbles" of the rear tyre. It is very interesting that the original front BT45 which had about 30% tread remaining was totally destroyed in 24 laps of Phillip Island but the new rear Michelin Pilot Street Radial escaped almost unharmed except for large amounts of rubber deposited on both sides, especially the left. It is really hard to remove but underneath the tyre is almost unmarked. The RH side looks like new again. I am very impressed by the MPSR and now have it at both ends. The grip of the new MPSR on the track was amazing and I felt very confident in riding the GS MUCH harder than I ever have before. Full throttle through the fast sweepers was no problem. I know that it is a low powered bike but I was quicker through some of the corners, particularly the tighter ones, than many much more powerful bikes. 

[HotrodScamp]

I took my bike to see the second tallest lighthouse in the US



Then we went to the beach 



Then we came home and had a beer   

[radodrill]

Then we came home and had a beer   

Where's the pic of the bike with it's beer? 

[HotrodScamp]

[BockinBboy]

^ Ha! Love it! Can't wait till the weather turns back around here... Adventures like the above will return

- Bboy

[peteGS]

On Sunday I needed to adjust the clutch but because of the recessed lock nut and adjuster on the 450 (not sure if the 500 is the same), I ended up making a tool for the job... works like a charm, clutch adjustment takes 10 seconds instead of hours cursing trying to get a spanner in there...

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[gsJack]

GS500 is same for push rod free play adjustment, I just take a 10mm deep socket and clamp vice grips on the outer end of it and reach thru socket with a screwdriver the same way.  Works for me.

[adidasguy]

That tool already exists. Called "pass through socket set".
I have a Kobalt brand one. Sears makes them, too. Extremely handy!


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[Merc110]

Cleaned carbs and did a long overdue rejet! Very happy with results! 

[Suzuki Stevo]

hours cursing trying to get a spanner in there...

Or, you note the location of the slot in the adjuster screw #6, lets say 12:00 is where you want it to be after tightening the lock nut #5. Now take just the 10mm socket and tighten the lock nut #5. OK after tightening #5 the adjuster slot went to 1:00 (too far). So the next time put the adjuster slot at 11:00 and this time when you tighten #5 the adjuster slot rotates to 12:00 when tightened. Now go have a beer, pat yourself on the back because you didn't have to waste a 10mm socket or your time making an unneeded tool or have to spend any money on a pass through socket set. It is a rough adjustment anyway, it doesn't need to be exact, it's 1/4-1/2 out.

I have had that style of adjuster on many bikes since the 70's (Yamaha for one) and I have never held the adjuster while tightening the lock nut IIRC...but now you do have a cool home made tool so party on!   
CCPDYMMV

[ParkerMax]

Picked up my bike from the mechanic. I had my tyres replaced with Pirelli Sport Demons 110/70-70 front and 130/80-17 rear. Does the normal 33psi and 36psi apply for the tyres?

I'm going to redo my clutch again as the clutch does not fully change when I change gear. Will follow that picture above!

[ausgs]

installed Zero Gravity Double Bubble, big improvement over useless stock screen

[Stop6SNE3d]

I rode her!!

[adidasguy]

Worked on Zak's bike. Trying to determine what is wrong with his carbs. His run rich, with fluttering at 4-5k rpm.
Swapping with another set which is jetted the same, his bike runs perfect (lunchbox and V&H).
So today we got out and used for the first time the Gunson Carbtune. Basically, it is a glass spark plug that lets you see the color of the combustion.
His carbs are yellow - rich. Other set is Bunsen burner blue - ideal. (whitish is lean).
Fascinating to see the color of the burn.
Next weekend we will continue to determine why his carbs are always rich.

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[Badot]

Worked on Zak's bike. Trying to determine what is wrong with his carbs. His run rich, with fluttering at 4-5k rpm.
Swapping with another set which is jetted the same, his bike runs perfect (lunchbox and V&H).
So today we got out and used for the first time the Gunson Carbtune. Basically, it is a glass spark plug that lets you see the color of the combustion.
His carbs are yellow - rich. Other set is Bunsen burner blue - ideal. (whitish is lean).
Fascinating to see the color of the burn.
Next weekend we will continue to determine why his carbs are always rich.

Looked up a video... that thing is cool! Never thought you could do it by combustion color but it makes sense.

[adidasguy]

Looked up a video... that thing is cool! Never thought you could do it by combustion color but it makes sense.

Yes - carbs are a mystery. Cool tool. Now we have to determine WHY an (supposedly) identical set of carbs are so different.
Maybe Budha can PM me a phone number? Love to pick your brain on this. I want to learn more.

It is fun mentoring Zak (ID = usernamezpd) I think I learn as much as he learns. Good thing is having extra bikes. When his GS is torn apart he can borrow one to get home.

Going to try heated grips on Brian's bike. Then I have a set of R&G heated grips I might as well put on Suzi. Then we can compare cheaper brand to ultra-expensive. First Brian wants to replace the handlebars. Before we aborted because his bars are not the best, we did replace the throttle with an R1 tube. His comments will come in a few days after riding with the different tube.

Overall a fun day in the Bike Cave. Even if everything didn't get done or fixed or replaced or upgraded, we learned a lot and are ready to do more next week.

Next Saturday is the Euro Show in Lynnwood so Sunday will be the wrenching day. Some wrenching early before riding top the show (which is FREE!)

[peteGS]

Aaah you got the fancy full kit Addy! Nice tool that one, but I have just the single size and tool so have to do one at a time.

I must pull it out again one day and see how my mixture is looking since I started all that fiddling...

Do you have the Morgan Carbtune for carb sync as well? I find it quite awesome also...

[adidasguy]

Love the Morgan carb tune. I have the 4 channrl version just in case...

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Fixed my tach, aired up the tires, and am going to pull her out of the shop today on lunch! Not ready for shred season to be over, but I'm ready to get some 2 wheel time

[peteGS]

Love the Morgan carb tune. I have the 4 channrl version just in case...

Yes indeedly! And I also have the 4 channel... will come in handy when I finally get my hands on a Kat