Late season maintenance makes me sad [pic heavy]

[4strings]

So I did a bunch of maintenance and mods recently and I'm finally sitting down to write them up.   

My rear tire was pretty much bald in the middle so I had to get a new one.  If I was doing the rear, I should probably get the equally (6 yr) old front tire, that came on it when I bought it, changed.  If I had the tires off, I could repaint the rims black because the black that was on there was peeling off.  If I had the rims off, I should also replace the sprockets and chain that were all worn.  I also wanted to try the 15t front sprocket mod since it is so easy and, I found out my front brake pads were basically gone as well.  That is the long of the short of it.  Also, the poor-man's bike lift works good, as long as you don't knock it off it's tripod (AKA. collapse the center stand).






Getting tires off

I removed the wheels from the bike.  Now it was time to break the bead on the tires.  For the front tire, I started with a bench vise that was not actually attached to anything.  It squished the tire but didn't break the bead, so I stood on a shovel in the same spot and that did the trick. 








The rear wouldn't budge with the shovel so I made a bead breaker with a 7' 2X4 and a short 2X2.  I backed up my car and stuck the board under the hitch receiver.  I promptly broke the 2X4 while simultaneously wondering when I had my last tetanus booster and imagining what lock-jaw feels like  .  It was a crap piece of 2x4 so I got another nailed the 2X2 back onto that one; after ten more minutes, I had that tire off the bead as well.







Strippin
To strip the paint, I got this gel stripper so it would kinda stick on the paint as well as all this other stuff



It looks like someone just grabbed matte black spray paint and painted these things.  That paint was coming off in flakes.  Under that crap paint job was off-white, and finally what I think was factory white paint.  The base white was so stubborn and took forever to come off.  It turned out that I needed 3 cans of black and 2 cans of primer in the end.



Lots of Stripper later and one wheel was AMAZING.  Every bit of paint had come clean off.  I spent more time wiping it off with shop towels than I did scrubbing at it with steel wool.  The other wheel was much more stubborn; I ended up getting to the base coat and leaving it there.  I figure, if it has stayed this hard so far, I don't think it will peel off anytime soon.  Here are some more pics.  I also couldn't get the rear disk off.  I snapped my Harbor Freight Allen wrench, and we rounded off the bolt with a Craftsman wrench.  We'll figure it out when they need replacing  .







For painting, I just did primer, black, and as much clear-coat as I felt like putting on.  Unfortunately I rushed it and it kind of messed up the very edge of the rims.  Then I levered on a new pair of Pirelli Sport Demons.  That didn't help the paint any either.







I started painting in the daylight, and it went into night time.  I did the painting outside in the light from my car's headlights (resulting in a dead car battery the next morning).  I dried them inside overnight by hanging them up.









I will probably do some touchup later but I would recommend that if you are painting the rims strip them, lever on the tires, then cover the tires and paint.  Wait for a whole day for the paint to dry.  I didn't and when the tire popped onto its bead it blew the paint off in that area.

So my front brake pads were basically gone.  Found that out when I was 60 miles from home.  I did a LOT of engine braking to get back and that is a ton of fun in Milwaukee-construction stop and go traffic.






I got a new set of EBC HH brake pads



I got a new chain and sprocket set but they gave me a front sprocket with a flange for a 94 + when I actually called and asked if it would be without a flange.  Then they sent me a 15 tooth which I already ordered for cheaper elsewhere.  On the third try, I got the right 16.  These all had to be ordered and so, were about a week and a half between deliveries. 

The chain came with a rivet style master link.  I took it to the dealer and they gave me a clip style because it was cheaper than having them install it for me. I tried to put it in but it was too tight and it got stuck while in the chain.  I actually got it in but the links wouldn't bend!  Ahhhh, it won't end!  I had to take the swing arm off to get the chain back off again  . I took it back; they pressed out the master link and riveted in the original master link for me, free-of-charge!

Finally, I got it back together with the encouragement from my riding buddy   . 
She was down and out for a good three weeks .  I have to put in a good word for Pirelli Sport Demons.  They are cheap and feel exceptional.  I know anything is an improvement from 6 year old tires but these are great.

I actually forgot what riding felt like for a bit and I hate that feeling.  It sucked but is so worth it.

[mike__R]

Just a general question does anybody know what material the wheels are made of?  That one looked amazing stripped of paint - if it is aluminum I'd be tempted to strip mine down and leave it bare.

Wouldn't want to do that with steel (unless it was stainless).

[XLAR8]

wow look at that back tyre ever go around a corner?


talk about your chicken strips

[4strings]

I agree, that one looked AWESOME.  The problem was that the base coat on the other was not going anywhere soon.  I even tried MEK that my buddy (Licensed aircraft mechanic looking for a job)  swears will eat a hole in the earth.  Otherwise I would have been tempted to leave them too.  I I am pretty sure the wheels are aluminum because they don't weigh very much for their mass.  If it was steel, I feel I would need two hands to pick them up even though the spokes are hollow.  If you are going that route, try very hard to get the disks off first.  It makes everything easier.

[4strings]

Not often  , JK.  I wish we had more that were closer (SE, W.I.)  .  It pretty much looked that way when I bought her and they are 6 years old.   

[Twism86]

Im glad someone else used the same bike lift method as me. Stick a 2x4 under it and try not to bump into too hard  Nice work!

[pave_spectre]

wow look at that back tyre ever go around a corner?


talk about your chicken strips

Looks like an NT Tyre. My rear one is starting to look like that.

[XLAR8]

wow look at that back tyre ever go around a corner?


talk about your chicken strips

Looks like an NT Tyre. My rear one is starting to look like that.

i think we need a how to go around a corner 101 thread lol
i must admit if i only ride to and from work its only left hand turns and i have to hit the twisties on the weekend to even it out.

[runabout879]

wow look at that back tyre ever go around a corner?


talk about your chicken strips

Looks like an NT Tyre. My rear one is starting to look like that.

Mine was starting to look like that when I got it from my brother. I know he liked to take it on the twisties, but I don't think the POs before him did. I would say they only used it to commute to/from work, but it had less than 10k miles over 11 years.

[chilloutdamnit]

i think we need a how to go around a corner 101 thread lol
i must admit if i only ride to and from work its only left hand turns and i have to hit the twisties on the weekend to even it out.

I don't get how you can only take left turns to and from work. Don't you have to take a right for every left on the return trip?

[mister]

i think we need a how to go around a corner 101 thread lol
i must admit if i only ride to and from work its only left hand turns and i have to hit the twisties on the weekend to even it out.

I don't get how you can only take left turns to and from work. Don't you have to take a right for every left on the return trip?

Not if they are all "no right turn" in which case you need to go past the corner and take 3 lefts to get onto the road you were not allowed to turn right on - or take a different way home.

Michael