Cold

Winter is kicking in.......big time.

Now - for the European, Canadian and North American readers I might sound a little soft........but bugger me - it was bloody cold this morning! Australian's don't like it cold........

Just as I was heading out the door ........outside it was the coldest temperature recorded for the day....2.4C - that's about 36F.....


Not only was this the coldest temperature for the day.....it's currently the coldest recorded temperature for Melbourne this year.....


Great......



I hadn't got far down the road until I realised that the "fog" on my ugly-fish riding glasses was not fog......it was ice.....bah! I took the first side street....took them off and stuffed them in my pocket.......hitched my neck-sock over my mouth and nose like a balaclava......keep going...

Then my hands started to freeze......literally. My fingers were like dead, white, blocks of wood - no feeling - minimal use for clutch and front brake.........bugger.

Over the years of winter riding and commuting you learn little tricks to keep your hands warm, mobile and tactile......

Of course you could always just pony
up the dough and get heated hand grips......but for the majority of the Australian winter they are really not NEEDED.....they are NICE....but not essential.

My little "keep warm trick" is to stuff my hands under the seat - into the gap above the trellis-frame......onto a nice, warm, rear cylinder head.......

ahhhhhh - that's better!

The only downside? I do get some strange looks from Cagers when I'm stopped at a set of traffic lights, slumped forward over the tank......giving the Ape a hug.......

But hell..........who cares what Cagers think......for that matter.....I'm not sure Cagers do think.....

\BitSar
--hugging his Ape

Sequence shot

A little while ago I got a new mobile phone.........these days phones are so much more than a communication device - in fact......making phone calls is somewhat of a secondary function.

So anyway - there is a feature on the phone camera to take a small burst photo and stitch a sequence shot together based on selected frames......I had to give it a go.

This is not the best example.....but you get the idea.

\BitSar

Details, details, details

A lot of people think I'm crazy, as a daily commuter rider, why keep my bike so clean?
Why bother with weekly to fortnightly washes and detailing - it's madness!

Once I explain the why most people understand, then they want to know HOW! How do I keep her showroom shiny?

The Why?

1. I find it cathartic/relaxing - but mostly I just enjoy spending time tinkering and pampering my Ape.
2. It forces me to run my hand over every surface of the machine, performing a visual inspection as I go for any problems.
3. I will notice issues more readily - if last week I cleaned that oily smear and this week it is back then it's time to investigate.
4. Detailing stands as a reminder to check tyre pressure, chain tension and chain lubrication
5. I am one OCD, anal retentive sonofabitch about keeping it clean!

Soooooo........once the why is out of the way and people begin to understand things, they want to know how.

The How?

1. Don't wash her hot! If you must ride to a car-wash, as I do, take the shortest path, early in the morning when it's cool. Don't let her get too hot - if she is - let her cool before washing.
2. Give her a good wash. Get all of the base grime off. I use a pressure spray. **IMPORTANT** From a distance! With no direct high-pressure water hitting the bike, especially around the instrument cluster, headlight surround, wiring loom or connectors. 
3. Then detailing begins. I use Plexus - a plastic polish (silicone based) which serves two primary functions.
1. It impregnates the plastics which conditions them, helping them to remain supple and less prone to cracking and the effects of heat.
2. It leaves a silicone barrier on all surfaces, both plastics and metals, which helps to keep the bike cleaner for longer by inhibiting things from sticking!

A quick tyre check, chain inspection and lube if necessary and the job's done. Usually all complete by ~8:30 on a Saturday morning - leaving plenty of time to get out and ride.

Before - the poor thing.......dirty Ape

The detailing....Yellow rag for engine parts and dirty stuff, Blue rag for plastics and body work, Pink rag for final buffing and polishing.........(I told you I was OCD)

The results.......a showroom shiny Ape

\BitSar --keeping it clean

Reunion

This Saturday was the 10th Anniversary of the launch of NetRider........an Australian based motorcycling community site with members from all over the World.

So!.........it was decided to use the Saturday morning practice session as a get together......a Reunion of Misfits......

This is only one such event which was held over the weekend......many other States held their own Reunions on the same day to mark the occasion.......there sure are a lot of NetRiders out there.

We couldn't forget to run the practice course.........for some reason it ended up happening like this......

It was a great day out, a great excuse to catch up with mates and to reconnect with many NetRiders I haven't seen for a while......

Thanks guys......Motorcyclists really are the best kind of people.

\BitSar

Barracuda Blinkers

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.

I finally got around to installing my Barraccud "Silur" LED blinkers

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.

\BitSar

Chocolate Run

Every year a bunch of riders get together to head out into the hills in search of chocolate!

Some years it is a fund raiser for a community member....some years it's just a good excuse for a ride.....

So....today was the annual Chocolate Run.

What a great run........approximately 60 riders covering 300-400 kms of Victorian countryside.....

I tell you what though - bloody farking cold! Max temperature on the dash was 10C.....this coupled with ample throttle definitely takes the heat out of the bones......

The Ape still made it - no problem....

Thanks for the ride everyone......see you next time.

\Bitsar - now defrosted. 

Setup: Solo Suspension

It's no secret that dialing in your suspension affects a bike's road manners.....hell - this variable is possibly the most important when it comes to bike/rider feel and compliance....

When I first got the Shiver I touched nothing for a week or so - let the suspension loosen up a bit......let things "bed down"

Then - I began the systematic approach of getting the rear end dialed in.....unfortunately the stock Shiver front end is not adjustable...............bummer.

As I was on my own I couldn't apply the usual technique of slack measurement, then static sag, then rider weight.....then account for 10mm of travel (taking into account rebound).....etc.........etc...you know how it goes....

SO! How does one, without help take measurements.....in an attempt.....to dial in their suspension?

Step 1 - Measure
I took measurements of the stock setup before touching a thing.

My shorthand is:
T  = Thread shown above locking ring for preload - measured in mm
C = Clicks open from fully closed on rebound

For any other Shiver owners out there......the stock setting - at least in my case - is as follows

Stock
T - 10mm
C - 9

Step 2 - Ride

Having changed nothing at all I set out to a well known ~12km stretch which has some twisties, sweepers and undulations......I did two runs on stock setting.....

Then I adjusted, measured and recorded.

T - 12.5 mm

C - 10

At this stage I wasn't sure what I wanted so I added preload and rebound to make the back end more "nervous"..........at the end of the day, twitchy is fast.......if you can handle it......

This was not my setting.....

After 2 more runs both stock and adjusted settings were too stiff for my weight.....I backed off preload and rebound.......on the bike again for two more passes......

T - 2.5 mm
C - 6

THAT was more like it! Much more compliant rear end.......

\Bitsar