First ride!

rpatton · May 4, 2012

B+Bogus said:
Swoosh,
Stay with it ;o)
I'm building a Proddy Racer because my MkII is a real pain in the a*** at motorway speeds, and the bike is more than happy to lug along at 80+
My Ducati (same position as the PR) is the most comfortable bike I've had for long distances by far - there's just enough draught comes over the bubble to keep the arms light (as already reported), and with the weight being spread out it's easy to move around if I'm feeling sporty. I generally do by the time I've noticed it sounds best above 5k :mrgreen:

+1
Dave, I think the solution is obvious. You need to build another Norton. A Street Fighter Commando for around town. Think of the build thread!

swooshdave · May 4, 2012

rpatton said:
B+Bogus said:

Swoosh,
Stay with it ;o)
I'm building a Proddy Racer because my MkII is a real pain in the a*** at motorway speeds, and the bike is more than happy to lug along at 80+
My Ducati (same position as the PR) is the most comfortable bike I've had for long distances by far - there's just enough draught comes over the bubble to keep the arms light (as already reported), and with the weight being spread out it's easy to move around if I'm feeling sporty. I generally do by the time I've noticed it sounds best above 5k :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

+1
Dave, I think the solution is obvious. You need to build another Norton. A Street Fighter Commando for around town. Think of the build thread!

Heh, I suspect there may be another Norton in the garage before the end of the summer. :wink:

debby · May 4, 2012

swooshdave said:
Heh, I suspect there may be another Norton in the garage before the end of the summer. :wink:

Hard to stop with just one. :wink:

Just back from a ride on my 850. Perfect riding weather today, sunny and low 80s. NOT my first ride for the year!

xbacksideslider · May 4, 2012

Last Sunday was my first outing of the year - SoCal BSA OC at Hansen Dam. Got some pics that I need to download and post up.

Anyway, after kicking her through four or five strokes, she fired right up. At the end of the season, I too idle the float bowls dry; I try to remember to close the tap a block from home, and then I syphon the tank.

Had fun at lunch, said to the Triumph riders I was sitting with "Now, it's true, isn't it, that as between the Triumphs and BSAs back in the day, every one knew that the BSAs were better?" You'd think that I'd peed in the punch bowl . . . .

AussieCombat · May 4, 2012

Did you wake up a bit grumpy Peter ?
I think that's the nicest photo I've seen of your bike Dave.

OK, serious question..
Is it OK to spray WD 40 or C.R.C. or similar into the Barrels.?
What exactly is it made of.?
Aren't they best used as penetrating oils and water repellants.?
Just asking.
If ever I need to lube hard to get at engine parts, I make up a "squirty bottle" of petrol/oil mix.
Not sure about your petrol.
Our winters aren't as bad as some of you guys, we can still get a ride in occasionally.
Or just start her/him up, click into gear, and listen to that lovely sound while pumping a bit of oil
around and running some fuel through.
AC.

swooshdave · May 4, 2012

AussieCombat said:
Or just start her/him up, click into gear, and listen to that lovely sound while pumping a bit of oil
around and running some fuel through.
AC.

It recommended not to just start the bike up unless you can get it up to full operating temperature.

worntorn · May 4, 2012

No science here, just my opinion, I wouldnt spray WD 40 down the bores of an engine that was running last year. There will still be a nice film of oil on the bores and the WD 40 will only help to wash it away. It might also put a bit of crud on your plugs once you fire up.
Ive been told that WD 40 is a fish oil product. Sure doesn't smell like fish oil!

Glen

swooshdave · May 5, 2012

worntorn said:
No science here, just my opinion, I wouldnt spray WD 40 down the bores of an engine that was running last year. There will still be a nice film of oil on the bores and the WD 40 will only help to wash it away. It might also put a bit of crud on your plugs once you fire up.
Ive been told that WD 40 is a fish oil product. Sure doesn't smell like fish oil!

Glen

What a Fish story!
Myth: WD-40 contains fish oil.
Fact:
Consumers have told us over the years that they have caught some of the biggest fish ever after protecting their fish hooks and lures with WD-40. We believe this legend came from folks assuming that the product must contain fish oil since it appears to attract fish. Sorry Charlie®, it just ain’t so.

WD-40 Company has taken steps to respect and conserve the environment, and encourages its users to do the same. While WD-40 can be used to help protect fishing equipment from rust and corrosion, WD-40 Company does not recommend using WD-40 to attract fish.

http://www.wd40.com/about-us/myths-legends-fun-facts/

worntorn · May 5, 2012

Can we believe them when they won't tell us what's in it?

Glen

gtsun · May 5, 2012

Ya I have always thought of WD40 more of as a solvent then as a lube but it's good for some temporary lubricating. Do you guys think it's nessasary to squirt a little oil in the rocker covers & or push some through a removerd hear oil line if the bikes been sitting for say 6-8 months? Or just start it & get back to ridding?

tpeever · May 5, 2012

I used to think that it was necessary to squirt oil into the cylinders of a bike stored 6 months but now I am not so sure. Seems like modern oil might maintain a film that long. Any oil experts out there with an opinion?

rpatton · May 5, 2012

worntorn said:
Can we believe them when they won't tell us what's in it?
Glen

There was an article in one of the bike mag's that had some Q&A with a rep from one of the chain manufactures. It was about the maintenance of o-ring chains. The rep said WD40 was fine for cleaning and keeping rust at bay. He said it's mainly kerosene with some trace amounts of an undisclosed oil.

Cowboy Don · May 6, 2012

Skyguyz said:
Looks real nice!

Jealous here. Mine is still a few bits away from done. Say, your primary cover could use some of this treatment. (Use OEM inspection covers.)

I know you are looking for an elegant solution. Looks stock, but vents well. Just another idea for ya!

Hey Skyguys,

What are you using to fix the mesh in place?

swooshdave · May 6, 2012

Cowboy Don said:
Skyguyz said:

Looks real nice!

Jealous here. Mine is still a few bits away from done. Say, your primary cover could use some of this treatment. (Use OEM inspection covers.)

I know you are looking for an elegant solution. Looks stock, but vents well. Just another idea for ya!

Click to expand...

Hey Skyguys,

What are you using to fix the mesh in place?

Looks like JB Weld.

worntorn · May 6, 2012

I can feel your pain with the riding position. I was forced to admit to myself today that the riding position on the Glenli is not working. Riding around with squashed testicles really gets to you after awhile. Apex 4 " riser bars are ordered and the rear sets may come off again to become "mid " sets.
I thought the back or wrists would be the problem, never even gave the boys below a moments thought during the build process.

Glen

B+Bogus · May 7, 2012

Well,

I can report that 2 days and 500 miles on the Ducati with the Proddy Racer position has left me with nothing to report other than a slightly sore right wrist (draw your own conclusions...) - actually from a previous accident, and a lasting memory of how much fun I had going to watch the Classic racing at Cadwell even if 6 hours on the motorway at a steady 80 might not be considered 'entertainment' - I got to see Holmeslice out on the Minnovation Seeley 750 and need to get the video uploaded.

As for squashed nuts - nope, but this is 'sort of' relevant (no it wasn't me) ...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000KKNQBK

gtsun · May 7, 2012

I'm with you B+Bogus. My 850 has rearsets/clippons & it's the only way I can ride due to two spinal injuries. I once did over 2,000 miles in 5 days all on two lane twisty mountain roads and was fine. I road about 200 miles of mountain roads/ freeway yesterday for the first time in months & I was a little sore but for me If I ride often enough to keep in shape I'm fine.

worntorn · May 7, 2012

I could take this thread downhill very quickly, in fact some might say it's already there.

You fellows may be doing ok with your cramped riding position but I have to deal with the reality of my room requiring "gifts"

I think the bike will look ok with the Apex risers on there, though for looks alone I prefer the straight clip ons.

rpatton · May 7, 2012

gtsun said:
I'm with you B+Bogus. My 850 has rearsets/clippons & it's the only way I can ride due to two spinal injuries. I once did over 2,000 miles in 5 days all on two lane twisty mountain roads and was fine. I road about 200 miles of mountain roads/ freeway yesterday for the first time in months & I was a little sore but for me If I ride often enough to keep in shape I'm fine.

A big +1. I've had 8 level fusions and put in tens of thousands of happy miles with rearsets and euro bars. I think the most important thing to take into account is that the bars-seat-pegs setup has to be taken as a complete package. The stock pegs with low bars is excruciating. Rearsets with the USA bars is awful too. My Commando's ergo's are very close to my VFR. I prefer it for a number of reasons ( :wink: ), mainly because the lack of a fairing takes the weight off the arms at speed and there's no buffeting.

worntorn · May 7, 2012

I take it the euro bars are flat bars? The Standard Vincent uses flat bars and is a very comfy bike, even two up.
Clip ons, even when raised up to the fork crown, are just that little bit lower than flat bars and that seems to be the problem for me.
Glen

First ride!

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