So - as many of you know - my rear indicators failed.......both of them......at different times, but in the same way.
It turns out that there is a manufacturing flaw and the rubber used for the expansion joint is too brittle.
After having one replaced under warranty.......and waiting ages for the part to arrive......only to have the other indicator fail.....I decided some after market blinkers would be best.
The indicators came with the required resistors which are used inline to keep the flash rate consistent and to ensure the dash error for blown bulbs doesn't perpetually occur.
I'm pretty happy with the results......nice and clean - nice and compact.......very bright!
Excuse the filthy bike......bloody Melbourne weather.......bah!
I may even order another set and replace the front end blinkers too for consistency.
Both literally and figuratively........................
Why literally?
Because now the left-hand rear indicator has cracked along the rubber joint.......in exactly the same way the (now replaced) right-hand indicator had failed.
Why figuratively?
Because I've cracked it with the OEM Aprilia indicators, the time it took me to get one delivered under warranty and the obvious flaw in the design.....
Instead - I think I'm going to go for a set of these:
Whatch this space for another indicator install post..........
After waiting ~6 weeks for the warranty claim to go through and for the part to arrive - finally - the postman brings me this!
An Aprilia OEM right-hand rear indicator.........can't see how this can be so much trouble to claim, order and post......but hell - it's here now.....time to install
I do a quick disassemble on the kitchen table to inspect how it all goes together - pretty simple.....there is no loom on the indicator itself - rather just two clips on the bottom of the lamp surround:
Get rid of the screw
Take the lamp housing and reflector apart - no problem
Now - onto the bike side.......as the wiring loom is on this end I had to disconnect the wiring at the clips while still on the bike......again, no problem - just a bit fiddly....
Then just unbolt the indicator housing and it's free!
Clip the new one into the wires, remount the reflector in the housing......replace lens and the screw......bolt back on and the blinkers are back
I got out for a good ride with some friends on Saturday..........great day out - covered just over 250kms...nothing too big..
We met at my place around 9am and hit the coastal road towards the Mornington Peninsula......stopping in Mornington for caffeine, regroup and to meet with another mate and his brand new Husqvarna Nuda 900R.....
We had a group of 6, on 5 bikes - one pillion on the GSXR1000, the Nuda, the Duc, my Ape and a Kwaka =D.................game on!
From Mornington we took off down the esplanade road which tacks along the cliff-side, over Mt Martha and into Safety Beach.
From here we hit Arthur's seat for a couple of runs up and down......myself and the Nuda riding off the front, having a play and really using that low down torque to drive out of the corners........nice indeed.
The day continued down to Shoreham and Flinders, over Red Hill, then into Cape Shank and back out to Balnarring - the Nuda pilot......who lives in this area......found us some very nice twisty roads to play on - albeit with a few potholes......still fun and fast.....
At Balnarring we decided to call it a day and start our way back to Melbourne CBD........the Kwaka rider takes the lead back to the Freeway.....before heading off the nominal question is asked..."Fuel?".............nah! She'll be right......we all decline the offer......
RESERVE!
By the time we hit the Freeway my low fuel indicator blinks on.....no problem.......it comes on very early, it's not until the ODO starts the count up of kilometres travelled on reserve until you get worried........oh shit.....I look down......3.5kms counting up.....great!
Riding past the leader I point to my tank and give him one of these to signify I am running low on fuel.....
Reserve count now at ~25kms......I'm getting the yips.....
I have heard that Shivers have about 50kms on reserve.....but I don't want to find out the hard way.....especially not on the Monash Freeway inbound....
By the Toorak Rd off ramp I am sweating bullets.....I chicken out and take the exit......I know there is a BP about 2kms from this exit which has sweet, sweet fuel...........35kms on reserve....and counting
Looking at my fuel readings I am not expecting to be near empty:
Total distance travelled = 252.0kms
Average fuel consumption over distance ~ 5.0L/100kms
(just under, 4.9)
Now - the Shiv has a 15L tank, so if I am using ~5L per 100kms and have clocked up ~250kms I should have about 2.5L to spare......so why on reserve so early!?
The fuel amount at the bowser tells a different story.......I squeeze in 12.98L with tank topped off.....to be honest....probably slightly overfilled......at least the fuel readings are somewhat accurate!
The moral of the story?
Never say no to a fuel-up offer........AND the reserve reading on the Shiver is like an over-anxious back seat driver.......a nuisance which breaks your concentration but is hard to ignore......
\BitSar
EDIT.................
Vision of the hill climb from the Kwaka.............the Gixxer is in front of the camera.....then the Ape + Nuda....the rest is history :D --> This guy can handle that little Ninjette eh! Gold!
A couple of weeks ago I headed down to the old stomping ground and a bit of practice.......
I love these guys and gals........the best people.......
As it happens I got talking to a good friend about bikes, as you do, and for some reason we go onto indicators.........
He rides a lovely black on black 2012 Triumph Street Triple R......a magnificent looking thing......turns out (pun intended) that the indicators are identical to those on the Ape....and the Ducs.....and the Ape APRC RSV's....etc...etc.....
They have been known to fail on the expansion section between the mount and the indicator housing.......
On the day myself and my mate were discussing the "known issue" - my reply......."Nah mate....no problem with mine.......thanks for the heads up though"
JINXED
Got off the bike the following Monday at work and realised I had a broken indicator stalk...........indicator itself still works......
All under warranty and the dealer is being very good about it so no love lost.......
And hey.........mate (you know who you are)......I've got a spare globe now!
