Topic: First bike, first long trip, looking for advice and tips from the experienced

[markreimer]

moving back on topic...

Picked up some new bars today - replacing the stock bars with a slightly lower style, maybe 2" rise. I'll put them on tomorrow. Also found an experienced mechanic in town who is going to help me set the timing and valve clearances before I leave. And best of all, have started looking into meeting up with the SOHC relay riders. Actually, best of all would be taking the bike out for a 50 mile ride today. Riding always beats talking about riding.

[FlyingTiger]

I'm new to the forum. However, I have some advise to give you about packing a tool bag. General  tool such as a
_ multi screw driver and bit set
_spark plug socket 
 _sand paper
_lighter
_electrical tape
_Mechanics wire
_tiny mag light_
_few metric combo wrenches
_pliers
_razor blade
_$20 in cash. ATM machines are not always available. Plus if you loose your wallet out will have some spare loot in you tool bag
_a few spare parts points, condensers,brake light,jumperwire
_pack phone numbers on paper.in case your phone is dead
_a Ziploc baggie to keep #$%* dry
_a few pieces of common hardware
_wire
_wire connectors
_patch kit
_instead of a pump or co2 cartdridge you can easily make a hose to "take" air from any vehicle tire.  Just get a 1 foot length of air hose. Connect  two air chucks one on each end. In essence you now have a "siphon "for air to fill you tire.
_A piece of fuel hose serves a few different purposes. Such as a siphon and spare fuel line.
This can all fit in a leather tool pouch that attaches to your bike. Maybe a few photo copies of how to set your points. Or any other common roadside fix that you're not familiar with. I hope this prepares you to make any roadside fix. ___Josh
_

[markreimer]

Fantastic, thanks! I ordered spare fuses and tubes yesterday. Can someone explain what role the condensor plays? I've seen a few people recommend bringing along a spare one. What happens when your condensor fails? How is it diagnosed?

[zabzob]

I was planning a long trip like this a while back. Didn't work out, got hit by a car and had my bike totaled... but that's another story.

One thing I came across while researching for that trip is a back support/kidney belt. Apparently it can make long distance riding much more comfortable. Can anybody else weigh in on this?

[Nortstudio]

Fantastic, thanks! I ordered spare fuses and tubes yesterday. Can someone explain what role the condensor plays? I've seen a few people recommend bringing along a spare one. What happens when your condensor fails? How is it diagnosed?

The condensers are on the points plate if you don't have electronic ignition. You definitely want rose to be working . Make sure you do some research on finding good points (if you haven't already). Hondaman just schooled me on this stuff - and the last thing you need is to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with points that won't adjust correctly.

Looking forward to hearing about your successful trip!

[andy750]

If one condenser fails you can still make it home...albeit at a reduced speed. Worked for me when I had to ride 500 miles home with a dodgy condenser. Of course these days I just use a Dyna S ignition and dont have to worry about points anymore. Never had the dyna s fail yet in 10 yrs of operation...of course if it does then I am screwed but thats another story

Andy

[Nortstudio]

I just ordered the Hondaman ignition pack. Great price, and he was super helpful. Still have to get the points right first, before you install it, but at this point I've done it enough to feel confident in that.

If you have the scratch, eliminating points issues with a Dyna (or whichever electronic ign) or Hondaman before a long trip seems worth the investment. If you look at the bikes/mileage in Andy's signature, you'll see he is probably the type of roadside mechanic will can HOPE to be in 20 years!

[Syscrush]

If you have the scratch, eliminating points issues with a Dyna (or whichever electronic ign) or Hondaman before a long trip seems worth the investment. If you look at the bikes/mileage in Andy's signature, you'll see he is probably the type of roadside mechanic will can HOPE to be in 20 years!

I am all for electronic ignitions, but I would definitely advise against making a change that significant to a bike with a week and a half left to go before the trip.  That's not enough time to properly shake it down, find & fix mistakes.

[Nortstudio]

agreed.  sorry, I lost track of when you were leaving.  Making any major change very close to departure time would be nerve wracking at best.

[andy750]

I agree with you Syscrush but havent always followed your sage advice although doubtless I should have!

The night before leaving for a European tour (England to Europe on  the `74 CB750) I was in the garage till 2am trying to fit a second hand aftermarket 4-4 exhaust. The exhaust was flawed and was never going to fit properly on one side at the back and so I ended up using a spacer to make it fit. Worked well like that for a couple of thousand miles. Not the best way to do it but last minute changes are not always bad.

Andy

[donny]

more reading than possible about long distance M/C :


http://www.advrider.com/forums/

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/

[donny]

oh...and be very well lighted....You don't want to be runover because of a dim tail light,  etc,
or broke down along the road completly in the dark.

[Syscrush]

I agree with you Syscrush but havent always followed your sage advice although doubtless I should have!

The night before leaving for a European tour (England to Europe on  the `74 CB750) I was in the garage till 2am trying to fit a second hand aftermarket 4-4 exhaust. The exhaust was flawed and was never going to fit properly on one side at the back and so I ended up using a spacer to make it fit. Worked well like that for a couple of thousand miles. Not the best way to do it but last minute changes are not always bad.

It's true, you can get away with it.  Just better to not tempt fate, especially with something like the charging system.

[jneuf]

moving back on topic...

Picked up some new bars today - replacing the stock bars with a slightly lower style, maybe 2" rise. I'll put them on tomorrow. Also found an experienced mechanic in town who is going to help me set the timing and valve clearances before I leave. And best of all, have started looking into meeting up with the SOHC relay riders. Actually, best of all would be taking the bike out for a 50 mile ride today. Riding always beats talking about riding.

Did you get the bars put on? I'd be curious to see them...I'm wanting to order a new set of bars for my 750 as well.

You also might have to share the name of the mechanic you found!

[markreimer]

I did get 'em on. Sadly I seem to have killed my starter button in the process. It's kick-only till I figure it out. Thankfully it usually starts first kick.

I should paraphrase mechanic - he's actually an electrician and a friend of my girlfriend, but he's built many many bikes before in the past - honda's, triumph, ducati - lots of experience. Also races on the track up in Gimli. He's helping me with the final touches to the bike.

Here's a look at the new bars:

[jneuf]

Bars look awesome.

Also, kick starting your bike is way more hip than using the starter button! 

[Syscrush]

Also, kick starting your bike is way more hip than using the starter button! 

True, but I'd be worried that it could be symptomatic of a bigger problem like an open or short somewhere in the system that might affect something else.

[markreimer]

Have been riding the bike for about a week with no starter button, nothing larger has happened yet but I'm going to dig into the electronics tomorrow and find the source of the dead switch.

[jneuf]

If you want a switch to try out prior to your trip, I might have spare right hand controls kicking around somewhere...at least I THINK I do....

[Bankerdanny]

moving back on topic...

Picked up some new bars today - replacing the stock bars with a slightly lower style, maybe 2" rise. I'll put them on tomorrow. Also found an experienced mechanic in town who is going to help me set the timing and valve clearances before I leave. And best of all, have started looking into meeting up with the SOHC relay riders. Actually, best of all would be taking the bike out for a 50 mile ride today. Riding always beats talking about riding.

I did the same thing right before my 1400 mile round trip around Lake Michigan last week. I use a windscreen, but even so I did like them better than the tall bars.

[davesee]

i just got home from a similar distance trip (halifax to ottawa), and it was my first big trip. here are things that worked for me...

if you're doing all your own work, then you know what tools in your kit you'll need. i rolled the ones i use all the time into a tool roll and brought 'em. duct tape wire fuses, brake arm, throttle cable and jb weld were in there, too.

get CAA. no matter what happens with tires, breakdowns, outta gas whatever, you know you will be safe and covered. it's way easier to be working on a problem while broken down on the side of the road when you know that help is a phone call way, than it is to be doing it all dry mouth panic it's almost dark heart racing what's the problem?

the water and the sunblock are important, which i didn't realize.

i debated about the windshield, too. if you're going to ride the main highways, it might be a good idea. if you want to take the secondary roads and you don't have to do 1000km's a day, then you'll probably be alright (if you have a full face helmet).

enjoy!!!

[markreimer]

Got into the wiring and located the problem with the dead starter switch. I've got it working perfectly now! Went for a nice hard ride around the city after adjusting the fuel/air mixture screws due to some minor backfiring while decelerating and the bike rode much better.

However, I noticed two things when I got back. The first, after riding for about an hour or more at highway speeds, I opened up the oil tank and a small amount of steam/smoke came out. Is this normal? It wasn't lots, but there was some white vapour that came out. The bike doesn't seem to be overheating at all. The oil only has maybe 200km on it. I was planning on changing it around 1000km into the trip.

The second thing is there seems to be a very small drag on the front brake. I dont' notice it while riding, but when the bike is on the centre stand and I tip it back, the front wheel doesn't spin completely freely. I recently installed lower bars and therefor the brake line has a tighter curve in it. Could this result in a gentle pressure being applied to the brake? The PO told me he had rebuild the brake with a stainless piston and I don't recall having this issue before. Thoughts?

[Aladinsane07]

Good to hear about the starter. What was the cure?

[Syscrush]

However, I noticed two things when I got back. The first, after riding for about an hour or more at highway speeds, I opened up the oil tank and a small amount of steam/smoke came out. Is this normal?

It is for just about any air-cooled bike.

The oil only has maybe 200km on it. I was planning on changing it around 1000km into the trip.

Don't bother.

The second thing is there seems to be a very small drag on the front brake. I dont' notice it while riding, but when the bike is on the centre stand and I tip it back, the front wheel doesn't spin completely freely.

A bit of drag is natural.  This isn't like a bicycle brake where there's a spring retracting the pads away from the rotor.  If you can spin the front wheel by hand then it should be OK.

I recently installed lower bars and therefor the brake line has a tighter curve in it. Could this result in a gentle pressure being applied to the brake?

Nope.

Thoughts?

Relax and enjoy your trip!!!

[markreimer]

Thanks Syscrush!

So even though I've been advised against it, I installed a Dyna-S electronic ignition this morning. I took my bike over to a friends place who's been fixing up bikes for years, and is a retired electrician. He was going to help me set the timing on the points system. Just ended up that we tried the Dyna-S since it is so simple to install and I have to say, there was a noticeable increase in performance. The engine runs smoother at lower RPMs and had more pull on the highway too. I guess my timing must have been out before. I'm very happy with it now and feel confident the system won't fail.

As for the front wheel drag, yes I can spin the wheel by hand pretty easily. It's not 100% free, wasn't sure if there was a typical amount of drag or not. Glad to hear its not that uncommon.

Almost time to leave for the trip, only two more days to prepare! The same guy I just mentioned is also helping me check the valve clearances on Monday evening and I'm picking up a nice used stock seat to replace the brutal DIY seat my bike came with. Only thing left to do is set the cam chain tension, check the primary chain tension, and strap my gear onto the back. Can't wait!


Aladinsane07 - Turns out that the PO had switched a wire colour inside the harness. When I disconnected everything to pull the wires out of the old bars, I didn't label the wires because they are all colour-coded. Should have been simple to re-connect everything. But I didn't notice that there was one black wire coming out of the bars that was connected to a green stripped wire inside the headlight assembly. When I went to re-connect everything, I had no way of knowing the wire colours were off. The wiring diagram called for a green wire to engage the solenoid, but on my particular bike it needed to be a black wire. Took a lot of head scratching to discover they had been switched.



Also, anyone know where you can buy replacement hoses that connect the oil tank to the engine? I have a small oil drip coming from one of them. Nothing to be concerned about, but they should be replaced sometime soon. I tried my local Honda dealer, they told me they were discontinued...