Topic: The Happy-ish Thread. Share your small wins and mixed blessings.

[Alan F.]

A KZ750 twin, subscribed.

I remember a conversation about 20 years ago with a guy that had a CB750 twin, I knew he meant Kawasaki but he was beginning to get angry when I asked a 3rd time so I asked about handling and performance and let him tell a few stories.

[grcamna2]

There are probably apps like that available but I haven't looked into it. I'm interested in going confidently wherever the road takes me, which has so far included dirt, gravel, unmaintained roads, double track.... I'm sure I'll take it to some more challenging places eventually. This wheel rides so much smoother than the stock 18 that I'd seriously consider keeping it if I switch to street tires.

Did you build that wheel ?

Do you find the 21" taking away from quick steering(when trying to miss ruts,etc. in the roads)of the original front wheel?
They do manufacture 80(street)/20(dirt)dual purpose tires in 21" which stick to the road excellent and corner good,plus Interstate and do ok in the dirt if you take the pressure down 5lbs before hitting the dirt. Which size is your 21" tire in width ?
I've ridden w/ a small mountain bike pump to add more after the dirt('pocket rocket')which is small enough to carry in a jacket pocket.

[Alan F.]

This Shinko 244 is 2.75x21 (apparently only available in the States) has a P speed rating for 94mph. These tires are really good on the street and they're 50/50. They stick very well on pavement and off, I've only tried them in dry dirt and gravel, I hear they're bad in mud. Yes I built this wheel, it's a stock steel 21" rim from an RE Himalayan laced and trued by me to a stock RE Interceptor 650 front hub with custom length stainless spokes. After experimenting with tire pressures on this bike I like 24psi front and rear. I carry a $10 Walmart bicycle pump small enough to fit in a tank bag but can provide 40psi (eventually) if needed, but 24psi is good for all terrain I'll ever encounter, I'm not in the camp that claims airing down is necessary, no need to discuss that.

For highway riding, which I've done, this setup isn't as good as street tires. With my previous worn out stock Pirelli phantom sportscomps I did a top speed test and hit low 90s mph, with these Shinko 244s I don't really want to go much above 80, and I have no need to go much above 70 anyway.

[grcamna2]

This Shinko 244 is 2.75x21 (apparently only available in the States) has a P speed rating for 94mph. These tires are really good on the street and they're 50/50. They stick very well on pavement and off, I've only tried them in dry dirt and gravel, I hear they're bad in mud. Yes I built this wheel, it's a stock steel 21" rim from an RE Himalayan laced and trued by me to a stock RE Interceptor 650 front hub with custom length stainless spokes. After experimenting with tire pressures on this bike I like 24psi front and rear. I carry a $10 Walmart bicycle pump small enough to fit in a tank bag but can provide 40psi (eventually) if needed, but 24psi is good for all terrain I'll ever encounter, I'm not in the camp that claims airing down is necessary, no need to discuss that.

For highway riding, which I've done, this setup isn't as good as street tires. With my previous worn out stock Pirelli phantom sportscomps I did a top speed test and hit low 90s mph, with these Shinko 244s I don't really want to go much above 80, and I have no need to go much above 70 anyway.

I've laced and trued wheels w/ Buchanan SS spokes and they're very solid when trued-up evenly tight;I use their special spoke thread lube which helps to overcome friction when I give them a final torque.
Buchanan also provides their good size custom spoke wrench which makes it less of a struggle to finish them up.
Looks good Alan.

[Alan F.]

Thanks Man, no real need for deep pockets when bargain hunting will do the trick. I think I probably saved 60% over current prices.

[jgger]

Alan, that 21 on the front will roll over the bumps and dips much smoother than the 18. Back in the 70's when I raced desert that was all we ran on the front. Most bikes came with a 275/21 but that didn't work as well as running a 350/21. On the soft sand the 350 would float better and the 275' s had a tendency to knife into the soft stuff at just the wrong moment. For the riding you are talking about doing, your 275 should ne just about perfect. If you are going to be mud riding alot give the fatter tire a try if it will fit.

BTW it looks good on that RE, nice job.

[Alan F.]

Thanks Jggr, I appreciate your input. There will certainly be muddy trails and loose sand but I'm hoping to find some easier stuff just to get out there. Surprisingly that's a tall order here in the far northeast but I'm searching for someplace nearby.

Edit: that I can ride legally...

[grcamna2]

Thanks Jggr, I appreciate your input. There will certainly be muddy trails and loose sand but I'm hoping to find some easier stuff just to get out there. Surprisingly that's a tall order here in the far northeast but I'm searching for someplace nearby.

Edit: that I can ride legally...

Be nice if you're able to find some connecting 'green trails' close to a rails-to-trails type bike path?,etc..    Please let me know if adv-rider or some place may know of a special App to locate connecting? public use trails Nationwide.. asking alot.

[Alan F.]

ADVrider was bought up by "that company that buys up forums..." and while it contains lots of great info, it'll never be the same. Everyone worth their salt went over to ADVbikes.com where there is an ongoing thread called Garmin vs Phone (with a poll which sucks less)
https://advbikes.com/threads/garmin-vs-phone.660/
You'll find info on all of the good apps there, but of course the best ones aren't free.

[grcamna2]

ADVrider was bought up by "that company that buys up forums..." and while it contains lots of great info, it'll never be the same. Everyone worth their salt went over to ADVbikes.com where there is an ongoing thread called Garmin vs Phone (with a poll which sucks less)
https://advbikes.com/threads/garmin-vs-phone.660/
You'll find info on all of the good apps there, but of course the best ones aren't free.

I see  ok.

[BenelliSEI]

Been thinking about replacing our oil fired, forced air furnace with a heat pump, for a few years. Costs and payback calculations had me dragging my feet. Applied for a federally sponsored grant a few weeks ago and imagine my surprise when we got “fully approved” for about 1/2 the full cost of the project! No more excuses…….

Best of all, I won’t have to keep our uphill, 750’ driveway clear for the oil truck!

Contractor is set for installation on Thursday/Friday. I need to pull 6-700 litres of oil out of the tank. Called a neighbour that has a 400 litre fuel box on the back of his farm truck and he generously offered to lend it to me, along with a portable 110V pump that should do the job (tank is in our basement). I tuned up his ‘77 GoldWing a few months ago, so he’s happy to help. Living in the country is great!

[Alan F.]

Yesterday I received the recall notice from Royal Enfield for my brake calipers. I bought this bike with 36xx miles and it's up to 73xx now with no issues, I thought it was out of the range of affected VIN#s. This morning I called a dealer nearby and they set me up with an appointment for tomorrow morning. 
I'd already taken tomorrow (an unseasonable 70°F) and Thursday (an insalely unseasonable 80°F) off planning to ride, so no problem.

The story is that the calipers were made in a hurry to get bikes out of the factory, and they anodized before machining instead of after. So some calipers wind up with pistons binding with corrosion. New calipers for free at 73xx miles sounds good and the shop is only 20 miles away. I just hope they have a quick and easy time of it.

[grcamna2]

Yesterday I received the recall notice from Royal Enfield for my brake calipers. I bought this bike with 36xx miles and it's up to 73xx now with no issues, I thought it was out of the range of affected VIN#s. This morning I called a dealer nearby and they set me up with an appointment for tomorrow morning. 
I'd already taken tomorrow (an unseasonable 70°F) and Thursday (an insalely unseasonable 80°F) off planning to ride, so no problem.

The story is that the calipers were made in a hurry to get bikes out of the factory, and they anodized before machining instead of after. So some calipers wind up with pistons binding with corrosion. New calipers for free at 73xx miles sounds good and the shop is only 20 miles away. I just hope they have a quick and easy time of it.

Alan,will you need to now re-install your original front wheel before going to that dealership ?

[BenelliSEI]

Been thinking about replacing our oil fired, forced air furnace with a heat pump, for a few years. Costs and payback calculations had me dragging my feet. Applied for a federally sponsored grant a few weeks ago and imagine my surprise when we got “fully approved” for about 1/2 the full cost of the project! No more excuses…….

Best of all, I won’t have to keep our uphill, 750’ driveway clear for the oil truck!

Scheduled for November 6th. Neat!

[Alan F.]

Been thinking about replacing our oil fired, forced air furnace with a heat pump, for a few years. Costs and payback calculations had me dragging my feet. Applied for a federally sponsored grant a few weeks ago and imagine my surprise when we got “fully approved” for about 1/2 the full cost of the project! No more excuses…….

Best of all, I won’t have to keep our uphill, 750’ driveway clear for the oil truck!

Scheduled for November 6th. Neat!

Sweet! Can't wait to hear your impressions.

Alan,will you need to now re-install your original front wheel before going to that dealership ?

It's not a warranty related issue so I'm not concerned about arriving with a stock wheel.

[Biffer]

Finished up my 20 radiation treatments for prostate cancer about four weeks ago. The side effects are starting to fade, and I'm sleeping a bit better, not needing to pee 4 times a night. Amazing how we take simple things for granted.

[Alan F.]

That's good progress Biffer, happy news is good news keep it coming.

[Terry in Australia]

Yesterday I received the recall notice from Royal Enfield for my brake calipers. I bought this bike with 36xx miles and it's up to 73xx now with no issues, I thought it was out of the range of affected VIN#s. This morning I called a dealer nearby and they set me up with an appointment for tomorrow morning. 
I'd already taken tomorrow (an unseasonable 70°F) and Thursday (an insalely unseasonable 80°F) off planning to ride, so no problem.

The story is that the calipers were made in a hurry to get bikes out of the factory, and they anodized before machining instead of after. So some calipers wind up with pistons binding with corrosion. New calipers for free at 73xx miles sounds good and the shop is only 20 miles away. I just hope they have a quick and easy time of it.

That’s good to know Alan, we’re having that problem with my son’s 2019 GT650. I’ll have to ring the dealer and book it in. Last time I rode it the front brake was binding badly.

[grcamna2]

Been thinking about replacing our oil fired, forced air furnace with a heat pump, for a few years. Costs and payback calculations had me dragging my feet. Applied for a federally sponsored grant a few weeks ago and imagine my surprise when we got “fully approved” for about 1/2 the full cost of the project! No more excuses…….

Best of all, I won’t have to keep our uphill, 750’ driveway clear for the oil truck!

Scheduled for November 6th. Neat!

Sweet! Can't wait to hear your impressions.

Alan,will you need to now re-install your original front wheel before going to that dealership ?

It's not a warranty related issue so I'm not concerned about arriving with a stock wheel.

They install a pair of fresh calipers at no charge to you ? 

[newday777]

Finished up my 20 radiation treatments for prostate cancer about four weeks ago. The side effects are starting to fade, and I'm sleeping a bit better, not needing to pee 4 times a night. Amazing how we take simple things for granted.

That is good news.

Welcome aboard the forum from across the border in NH.
Go to the new members section and introduce yourself and your bike(s).

[Alan F.]

Yeah Bill, freebie. It's a genuine NHTSA recall here in the States, but they don't replace the pads.
I'm not sure about anywhere else though.
Terry if you can't get any traction with RE I've read that disassembly, cleaning, greasing with red rubber grease or Brembo grease and reassembling does the job long term. RE states the recall is for areas that salt their roads, I've read that the issue happens in Thailand too but RE there ignores everything. Not too encouraging.

[grcamna2]

Yeah Bill, freebie. It's a genuine NHTSA recall here in the States, but they don't replace the pads.
I'm not sure about anywhere else though.
Terry if you can't get any traction with RE I've read that disassembly, cleaning, greasing with red rubber grease or Brembo grease and reassembling does the job long term. RE states the recall is for areas that salt their roads, I've read that the issue happens in Thailand too but RE there ignores everything. Not too encouraging.

You get new 'stoppers' 
Alan,will you try the DOT 5 silicone fluid,as long as they're installing all that ?

[Alan F.]

I'll always stay with DOT4.

[Dime]

I live with PTSD, Bi Polar, Anxiety, ADHD and am most likely Autistic.

This time of year till New Years day can be very challenging.  This year I am also coping with a back back that has me laid up.

Now with all that being said I have breath in my lungs, I have my witts about me and I have the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

I have been through some substantial things in my life. Vehicle crashes that should of left me dead. Prison time. Time in and around the MC world (no regrets either).

All in all the trials and tribulations have brought me to a place of thankfulness. It was and is a blessing. Even now the struggles I face day to day. It is like they say there is not testimony without a test. May God be glorified.

Hope you all have a fabulous day

[grcamna2]

I live with PTSD, Bi Polar, Anxiety, ADHD and am most likely Autistic.

This time of year till New Years day can be very challenging.  This year I am also coping with a back back that has me laid up.

Now with all that being said I have breath in my lungs, I have my witts about me and I have the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

I have been through some substantial things in my life. Vehicle crashes that should of left me dead. Prison time. Time in and around the MC world (no regrets either).

All in all the trials and tribulations have brought me to a place of thankfulness. It was and is a blessing. Even now the struggles I face day to day. It is like they say there is not testimony without a test. May God be glorified.

Hope you all have a fabulous day

I appreciate you.