Bikes!

It’s all been a bit crazed with the motorbikes.

When the piston rings finally arrived they were the wrong size, so they’ve gone back. I’ve bought a bunch more kit to try to make myself self sufficient in motorbiking. Little of it has worked. I had the genius idea to buy 3 foot tyre levers and new tyres for the Harley and change them myself. I remember me and Keith Thackery changing the tyre by hand on my Sportster in the 80s. God knows how. Even with massive tyre levers I couldn’t break the tyre seal. I looked online and they said you need a tyre bead breaker. It’s just a flat plate dangling down off a long lever. The plate sits on the tyre near the rim, then you literally jump up and down on the lever until it breaks the tyre seal. Even after I’d done that I was still sweating, and it took me ages to get the tyre off. Obviously bending a three foot long lever over the wheel rim doesn’t do your wheel any good. The chrome on my wheels is shot so I wasn’t that bothered about scratching the rims this time. Then I tried to fit the new tyre, figuring I must have been struggling because it was a 20 year old tyre that had set into position. Nope. I couldn’t get the new tyre on. I give up. One good thing though, I found out where Bromley Tyres went when it closed, still in Warrington. I rang them up, yes they bought Bromley Tyres, but then they closed it. They don’t do motorbike tyres. *sigh* They said to try a place in Leigh. I rang and they do it! Huzzah! So that was a world of struggle for nothing. Thinking about it, I’ll struggle some more and get the front tyre off as well. I have new tyres and inner tubes, but the back wheel was all rusty inside. I’ve cleaned it all up with a wire brush and sandpaper. I don’t want them to fit new kit and the rust to puncture my inner tube.

Another fail was that short circuit on the VFR750. I gave up and rang a “mobile” bike mechanics. They said for that they’d need the bike in the garage. They said collection and fault finding would be £280. It was steep, but they were literally the only game in town. I couldn’t find any other sparkies who dealt with motorbikes. I checked the bank and they’d then stuck on VAT (I think) and taken £320, without asking me. I was already annoyed. They rang me after one working day and said they’d looked at the bike but were going to have to do a full day’s fault finding and that would be another £500. No. Just no on principle. £830 to find a short circuit. Possibly more if they casually added fees again. And any work they then needed to do. Just no. I was fuming. I rented a van and picked the bike up. I bought a book on motorbike electrics fault finding, which recommended a cheap tester. You’re supposed to plug it in, run a scanner over the wires and where the beeping stops, that’s your short. It didn’t work for me. I did some more testing. Found on circuit that was showing power or resistance or something when it shouldn’t have been. It was the circuit for the clocks. I have already changed the whole wiring harness and I refuse to believe two of them have the same fault so I ordered second hand clocks. Nope still shorting. I give up. Again. I’ve changed the exhaust back to standard, and I’m going to sell it as a project. If I sell the exhaust separately I should get most of my money back.

The good news is I got a very shiny, dirt cheap (£1,100) VFR750 from Brum!

It came with a full stainless exhaust system, but a ‘racing’ (stupid loud) endcan. And the tank had a dent in it. I got it home yesterday, changed the tank, air filter, and endcan and fitted the top box. Today I’ve changed the oil and filter and flushed the front brakes through. As far as I can tell it’s MOT ready and ship shape. Because I was working all week I couldn’t book it in for and MOT until next Monday.

I suppose, now I’ve got a working electrical system to compare it to, I could have another go at my other VFR, but to be honest I am sick of it and just want it gone. The only down sides with this new VFR are although the fairings, wheels and paint are all in much better nick, it has done twice as many miles as my other one, and it’s been SORN for 4 years, so I’ll have to see what niggles shake out. The mileage (63,000) is not an issue on VFRs, they run forever. It’s got braided front brake lines, a rebuilt rear shock and a Manx front shocks upgrade. All good stuff.

I’ve started on all the other Harley stuff. I’ve fitted a chain and sprocket set. I’ve de-rusted the wheels, ordered some new inner tubes and I’ve already got the new tyres. When the inner tubes arrive I’ll run it all to the bike shop and get them to fit them, then that’s the wheels done. I’ve aready done the fork seals and oil, I’ll check the level then that’s the front and back end done. I’ve got a set of indicators and front indicator relocate-er arms. I’ve loosely fitted one.

And I’ve got a head light to swap for that rusty old one. I don’t think there was anything mechanically wrong with it when I stripped it. The few metal shavings I found in the oil are standard in a Harley! I think it was just the ignition timing that was out. Apparently, the ignition unit is a known weakness, the heat and vibration fry them. I’ve got the aftermarket upgrade. I’ve already rebuilt the bottom end. As soon as I get my rings and such I’ll rebuild the top end, then I’m hoping it will run. I’ve got an aftermarket air filter to help it breathe better. Oh, and I need to secure the reg/rec as it’s dangling and sort the horn as it doesn’t work. But hopefully that is everything. It’s hard to think of it up and running, but when all of the tons of little jobs are done, if it’s running, it’s just a matter of an MOT and we are good to cruise into a Californian sunset. Or something. It better be awesome.

Right. Reading through what I’ve written I have a plan of attack. I’ll list the exhaust and clocks. Rebuild the VFR and list it. Get the new VFR MOT-ed, then I can concentrate solely on the Harley.

Plan.

Later,

Buck.