Member Contributer Skids Posted January 26 Member Contributer Posted January 26 I FINALLY got around to starting to service my CT today. You know how life gets in the way, well this last year has been really busy but now that I am retired, I have the time to spare without it impinging on other important things so I started work on her today. A 2020 1200X, she had <900 genuine miles when I bought her a year ago and had been serviced annually by the dealer she was purchased from, but they were only Annual Services so I am having to complete all the time-based services. That includes replacing the engine oil & oil filter, air filter, bleeding the brakes, changing the final drive oil and coolant. As the tank was raised for the air filter I took the opportunity to run a USB port from the Healtech Thunderbox under the seat to the headstock to power the netbook I'll be using for sat nav. Then I'll be able to start fitting the rest of the farkles before she's ready for full use - crash bars, oil cooler guard, aux lights, louder horn, brackets for the larger panniers (OEM ones will be up for sale once I've decided that I prefer the larger ones). The seat has already gone to Top Sellerie in France for an upgrade. At some point she'll go in to my local suspension guru, Darren, at MCT Susupension near Stowmarket for an upgrade too. He worked on my 1200F and it transformed the bike so this is money well spent IMO. 2 Quote
Member Contributer Dutchy Posted January 27 Member Contributer Posted January 27 23 hours ago, Skids said: Does the NHS enforce compulsory tests on pensioners now? 2 Quote
Member Contributer Skids Posted January 27 Author Member Contributer Posted January 27 2 hours ago, Dutchy said: Does the NHS enforce compulsory tests on pensioners now? Oi! Yes, free of charge too! (actually, no) 1 Quote
Member Contributer Marsman99 Posted January 29 Member Contributer Posted January 29 Customizing...fun phase of owning a bike. 😊 I see your tank propped up. Mind if ask what “tool” you’re using in the photo? I’m always looking for a better way to do this. Everything I’ve used to date has been sketchy. BTW, congrats on the retirement Skids. Did so myself last year. Oddly enough, been busier now than when working…just a a slower pace. 1 Quote
Member Contributer Skids Posted January 29 Author Member Contributer Posted January 29 1 hour ago, Marsman99 said: Customizing...fun phase of owning a bike. 😊 I see your tank propped up. Mind if ask what “tool” you’re using in the photo? I’m always looking for a better way to do this. Everything I’ve used to date has been sketchy. BTW, congrats on the retirement Skids. Did so myself last year. Oddly enough, been busier now than when working…just a a slower pace. Hi m8 and thanks. I used an extension bar for one of my socket sets with a 17mm socket on the end. Worked well. This bike is much easier to work on than the 1200F, though I dont fancy removing the swing arm to access the secondary coolant tank Quote
Member Contributer FromMaine Posted January 29 Member Contributer Posted January 29 23 hours ago, Marsman99 said: . BTW, congrats on the retirement Skids. Did so myself last year. Oddly enough, been busier now than when working…just a a slower pace. I feel the same. I retired 4 years ago, and I look at my calendar now and wonder how I ever held a job working overseas for 6-8 months a year and got anything done at home. I have no job now and some days feel overwhelmed with what I have to do.😀 The good news is that my bikes see more of me now....... 3 Quote
Member Contributer Skids Posted January 30 Author Member Contributer Posted January 30 11 hours ago, FromMaine said: I feel the same. I retired 4 years ago, and I look at my calendar now and wonder how I ever held a job working overseas for 6-8 months a year and got anything done at home. L have no job now and some days feel overwhelmed with what I have to do.😀 The good news is that my bikes see more of me now....... Whilst im hoping for a better balance between tasks and free time, your last sentence is what im waiting for better weather for. Quote
Member Contributer FromMaine Posted January 30 Member Contributer Posted January 30 Yeah. The weather.............😬 2 1 Quote
Member Contributer bmart Posted January 30 Member Contributer Posted January 30 I left New England in 2004 and never looked back. Haven't even been back up there in many years...but 2026 could be the ticket once the snow melts and you guys have the one great week...in June. 🙂 Chin up. Build an army of snow people. Quote
Member Contributer FromMaine Posted January 30 Member Contributer Posted January 30 20 minutes ago, bmart said: I left New England in 2004 and never looked back. Haven't even been back up there in many years...but 2026 could be the ticket once the snow melts and you guys have the one great week...in June. 🙂 Chin up. Build an army of snow people. Old Maine joke. Someone from away: Boy is it really cold and so much snow up here in the winter! Mainer: Yup. Someone from away: So, what do you all do in the summer? Mainer: Well, if it falls on a weekend, we have a BBQ. 😁 Give me a bell if you are anywhere near NE this summer. 1 5 Quote
Member Contributer Marsman99 Posted January 30 Member Contributer Posted January 30 Ok, I’ll exercise some restraint and not show any pictures of the brutal winter we’re having here. I don’t think it got any warmer than 85F (29C) today. 😎 3 Quote
Member Contributer bmart Posted January 31 Member Contributer Posted January 31 Charlotte, NC forecast updated to 8.3" of frackin' snow...after last weekend with all ice. This isn't why I moved south. lol Quote
vfrgiving Posted January 31 Posted January 31 winter storm Fern was decent for snow totals, and I've seen much bigger storms (1996 says hi). what I can't ever recall happening is this persistent cold days on end not getting out of the 20s. There's been no real melting a week later. I'll be pulling batteries from bikes this weekend for charger duty. I can't recall doing that before, but the way things are looking I won't be commuting on two wheels for some time. Quote
Member Contributer Skids Posted March 3 Author Member Contributer Posted March 3 The weather in Blighty has improved significantly and as it was 15 deg C / 59 deg F today with blue skies I was able to make significant progress on 2 bikes. Firstly the VFR800X Crossrunner. She will be up for sale soon as I no longer need my commuter so she's had a service but after I finished washing her I noticed a fork seal leaking so I've replaced both seals - first time servicing forks! Alongside that I'm putting finishing touches to the VFR1200X Crosstourer. New seat from Top Sellerie, fitted fender extender but had to take front wheel out to remove fender so I could attach it properly and I've fitted the Givi pannier rack. No filtering/lane splitting with these bad boys on! Top box is from my 1200F as it's bigger than the OEM CT box. 1 Quote
Member Contributer FromMaine Posted March 3 Member Contributer Posted March 3 The way I see it, you can in fact still filter/ lane split. You are just going to be in the market for new hard bags. A lot. 🙂 Nice work, I hope the new owner appreciates your diligence in making the bike right. Fork seals are one of those things that get ignored when a bike is being sold because of cost for a shop to do it or the inconvenience of taking the front end apart. PersonallyI don't mind doing mine, gives me a chance to check other things out "while I'm in there". When I was working on sail boats, I was the one who ended up repairing/ servicing all our hydraulics, back stay rams, vangs, outhaul cylinders, etc. The pressures were far greater on the boats, but the basics were similar. 2 Quote
Member Contributer Skids Posted March 4 Author Member Contributer Posted March 4 I've never had the confidence to attempt the forks but now I know how easy it is I'll definitely have a go again. 1 Quote
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