Fazer Owners Club - Unofficial
General => General => Topic started by: adeejaysdelight on 07 August 2013, 12:02:36 am
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Hi Guys,
As some of you may know, I am going to the Nurburgring next month (I have posted it up here enough over the last 6 month, so you should know :lol ). Well I have never toured abroad on the bike before, and touring in the UK is usually under 1000 miles, so chain adjustment before I go and upon my return is fine. However, I expect to cover 2500 - 3000 miles in 10 days. I would expect no more then 500 of those to be on the motorway, and 120 of them going round a track. If I were at home I would adjust my chain about 4 times doing all that. I have a quality Renthal set up and I own the tools to do the job, but is it worth taking a big bar and wrench and 2 big sockets? Given how heavy and bulky they are, and the fact that they don't fit under the seat, is it acceptable to adjust BEFORE I go, and not again until I return home? How do you foccers deal with this when your away?
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Standard Yam toolkit can do this on the thous, would have thought you'd have similar on the 6? Ok, so you can't torque it, but you tighten it up as hard as you can go and it's not going anywhere. The toolkit has extension bar to give you the leverage you'll need to get it really tight. You might want to make sure you check that the wheel nut is not air-gunned on before you go - some places go way overboard with this.
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That's a good point Nick. I never use the original tool kit as I have a big chest full of quality stuff (not meaning that as a brag). I will have a look at it and see what is there. I'm sure your right though. The wheel nut is not a problem, I have had the rear wheel off a ton of times. In fact I took it off today and dropped it off at the shop to have a new hoop fitted :D . Is the standard kit going to chew up my nuts though :lol
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Not if you make sure it's good and square on the nut before you apply pressure. I currently don't have much in the way of tools, this is how I've always done it. Never used a torque wrench, never had one loosen off on me in my entire riding career.
A mate of mine once had a GPZ1100. First time he came to take the rear wheel off, it took both of us hanging off a 6 foot pole on the socket wrench to get that sucker off! :eek That's why I mentioned the point about air guns.
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Gees, that grease monkey sure fixed his wagon :'(
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Mine hasn't needed adjustment since in 3500 miles, only a clean / lube session. As long as it's OK before you go it should be fine when you get back (though my chain doesn't get the hard work of a track).
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I adjust my chain (usually) every 600-700 miles. I do like to work the machine as hard as I dare. Very rarely do I partake in easy riding, even when I set out with that intention :lol .
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When I rode to Germany a few weeks ago I did around a few thousand miles and I lubed the chain probably about 3 times, it didn't need any adjustment at all and still doesn't. Just clean it up really well before you go (use a proper chain cleaner) and lube it good and it should be fine
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Or just fit a scottoiler! That way you only have to adjust the chain when you change the tyre! ::)
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Surprised you get any sleep at night worrying about things like that :lol
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Might be an idea to try out the toolkit before you go. That way you'll know it works.
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Cheers fellas'. Deffo not going to fit a scotoiler, that's for sure. I had the Tutoro system and got rid of it. Not for me :rolleyes . I will check the standard kit, although I changed the adjustment nuts for better (non rusty) ones way back, so I will need to add 2x13mm spanners. As for cleaning it, that is done. I had the front sprocket cover off last week, scooping out all the gunk with the wife's toothbrush. Don't worry, I sprayed it with brake cleaner before I put it back :lol . I have the rear wheel off just now, so the chain, swing arm and rear suspension assembly are getting blasted with brake cleaner and GT85. It will be very clean, and then I will lube the chain with wax. I am just a bit fanatical about adjusting the chain, having my wheels aligned perfectly and tyre pressure. Not sure why
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When I rode to Germany a few weeks ago I did around a few thousand miles and I lubed the chain probably about 3 times, it didn't need any adjustment at all and still doesn't. Just clean it up really well before you go (use a proper chain cleaner) and lube it good and it should be fine
Pretty much the same here. I do 500 miles a week commuting (not hanging around) and just keep it lubed every 2 days. No adjustment needed in over 3,500 miles.
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I think I have OCD :'(
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Think you need a scottoiler vsystem! Leaps and bounds above most others. Keeps the chain clean, lubed and you'll barely ever need to adjust it - only remote issue is you can get a little bit of splatter on your rear wheel, but it comes off with a wet cloth!
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When I get a new rear tyre I set the chain up as per manual, I usually aim for near the full two inches of slack recommended for the Gen1 thou. And that's it till the tyre comes back off, though with the rate that I seem to pick up punctures sometimes it ain't long before they come back off (see the thou section).
I did manage to get the full life out of my last PR2, 6000 miles and no longer legal, checked the chain several times but never adjusted it.
Of course I've got a Scottoiler. And it's set to just drop a tiny bit of oil on the chain now and again - so not that much mess really.
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I've never had to adjust my chain, other than at tyre changes which was at around 3,700 miles, done over 5,000 on this tyre, I use spray chain wax every 500mls, when I wash it, or if it rains.
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Ok, Ok, I gave into the pressure. I just bought myself a brand new scottoiler v system :D . I had a look at the acumin electronic system, but I was not keen on the idea of being tied in to using their own pressurised canister of oil (which I can not find refills). Anyway, panic about adjusting the chain is over. I will set it before I go, and apparently never need to touch it again.
Cheers fellas
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You'll not regret it, its a no brainer for anyone to fit one!
It might need a tweek or two to get the flow exactly as you want it, but you tend to forget your chain after a while and you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.
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Good move. Just remember you just need to set the oiler so you get a wee bit of oil on the chain.
Also if you set it for too much, you'll get a big mess all over the back wheel and it can also end up on the edge of the tyre, and that might give you a wee surprise!
The other thing is make sure you ain't setting your chain up too tight. Lots of folks do just that, and it's a sure way to guarantee the chain will stretch.
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STOP STOP STOP STOP!!!!!!!!!!
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Cheers fellas'. Deffo not going to fit a scotoiler, that's for sure.
Not a single sensible reason not to - on a Fazer at least. One standard bottle is good for 2000 kilometers, you can bring a small top up bottle. No bother with chain - priceless.
As for chain adjustment, 2 points:
1) On a tour, you need to be able to take the wheels off - BOTH of them. In case of flats - not all the shops want to do it. At least in my country.
2) I put all the tools for these tasks unde the seat:
- tyre patching kit (the big one from Louis.de)
- 2 12mm wrenches for releasing locking bolts of the rear wheel to adjust the chain and lock them back
- Allen wrenches needed to remove tank, levers, etc (4, 5 and 6 mm, not 100% sure about the smallest one)
- 2 ratchet handles (old, cheap Russian ones, not too long) with 10, 12, 27 and perhaps few other sockets), as well as spark plugs socket, one small extension bar for the spark plug jobs
- 17 (oil bolt on mine) and 19 (or is it 21) mm wrench with O end, for removing wheels.
- small screwdriver
- zip ties
- spare spark plugs
- 1st aid kit - a small one - bleeding stopping bandages and alu-"blanket" for retaining body heat, along with a pair of rubber gloves.
- scottoiler container
I also carry some spare light bulbs, a quick tyre fix spray and a hi-vis vest... + a small teddy bear for luck - a superstitious thing. :rolleyes
All this fits UNDER the seat, so no luggage room "wasted".
It pacs very small and works. Just look at all the bolts on your bike and see what you need - pack small.
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Cheers fellas'. Deffo not going to fit a scotoiler, that's for sure.
Not a single sensible reason not to - on a Fazer at least. One standard bottle is good for 2000 kilometers, you can bring a small top up bottle. No bother with chain - priceless.
As for chain adjustment, 2 points:
1) On a tour, you need to be able to take the wheels off - BOTH of them. In case of flats - not all the shops want to do it. At least in my country.
2) I put all the tools for these tasks unde the seat:
- tyre patching kit (the big one from Louis.de)
- 2 12mm wrenches for releasing locking bolts of the rear wheel to adjust the chain and lock them back
- Allen wrenches needed to remove tank, levers, etc (4, 5 and 6 mm, not 100% sure about the smallest one)
- 2 ratchet handles (old, cheap Russian ones, not too long) with 10, 12, 27 and perhaps few other sockets), as well as spark plugs socket, one small extension bar for the spark plug jobs
- 17 (oil bolt on mine) and 19 (or is it 21) mm wrench with O end, for removing wheels.
- small screwdriver
- zip ties
- spare spark plugs
- 1st aid kit - a small one - bleeding stopping bandages and alu-"blanket" for retaining body heat, along with a pair of rubber gloves.
- scottoiler container
I also carry some spare light bulbs, a quick tyre fix spray and a hi-vis vest... + a small teddy bear for luck - a superstitious thing. :rolleyes
All this fits UNDER the seat, so no luggage room "wasted".
It pacs very small and works. Just look at all the bolts on your bike and see what you need - pack small.
Good tips. I also sellotape a Stanley knife blade under the seat and keep some gaffer tape too.
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Thanks for the tip/s. As I said before, I think I am OCD, so I have a comprehensive list of things I need already made up and checked off. In addition, I have already fully packed the bike up to ensure everything fits ok and there are no loose ends.
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And there are many more documents like this... :rolleyes
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Dont forget the spare credit card hidden under the seat incase you get fingered,,ummm :eek ,,, no , not fingered i mean robbed,lose your wallet.
And you definatley will not have to adjust your chain on a little trip like that, just keep it lubed.
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Actually you should stop worrying about your chain and watch this Fitness Babe WorkOuts: Six Pack Abs Workout (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvmyrsq3HNE#ws)
Much more fun :lol
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I bet she's rubbish at cooking ::)::)::)
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Why did she put her trousers on doing the ball work? Shame. Nice view up the gusset tho :lol
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Brings to mind an amusing bit in a book by the mountaineer, Joe Simpson. Speaking of attending a gym:
"There is a peculiar contradiction of signals in some of these establishments which I have never been able to resolve. On the one hand, everyone is there to train, to work up a sweat, tone those muscles and get fit; on the other hand, sometimes it seems more akin to a fashion parade than a no-pain no-gain routine. I know it's rude to stare. Naturally it's politically incorrect to display the slightest attraction for your fellow devotees of agony, but it is also well nigh impossible. If everyone wore baggy, loose fitting tops and tracksuit trousers, there wouldn't be much of a problem, but life isn't so easy. The trend of ladies gym wear makes it hard, so to speak. There seems to be an obsession with leotards, body suits, buttock-splitting Lycra thingies, swim suits worn over swim suits, countless variations of attire that leave absolutely nothing to the imagination.
From a practical point of view, I can't think of anything sweatier and more uncomfortable to wear during training sessions. Performing squats while wearing a cord-thin G-string that threatens to split your cheeks up level with your shoulders looks unspeakably painful. And if you are wearing, say, a black leotard, why then put a skin-tight swim suit on top of it with the legs cut so high that they seem to go up to your armpits? Or pull on what looks like a scarlet pair of bikini bottoms so lacking in material that they merely create a vivid red triangle which for the average man has the effect of a hypnotist swinging a fob-watch?
"Some of the leg machines found in gyms today place the athlete in the most undignified and vulnerable positions imaginable. To wear such luridly revealing clothes and then climb onto a machine that threatens to spread your legs so wide that you're in real danger of having your ankles meet behind your back seems to me absurdly illogical. The more so when some unfortunate male, already plagued by mirrors, happens to look up at the wrong moment and finds himself helplessly transfixed by an overtly sexual vision in red and black who glares back in ferocious condemnation of his lechery.
"I'm not sure it is lechery in fact. When the very style of clothing is screaming out 'look at this body', and the design makes the legs look twice their length, the buttocks split and lifted, the breasts outlined perfectly in fluorescent colour, what are you supposed to look at? Nine times out of ten, looking away simply brings another colour-isolated part of a woman's body squeezing and thrusting and spreading in front of you. Short of staring fixedly at the ground and finding the exercise machines by feel, it is impossible not to look.
"I was once accosted in the gym by an irate lady who angrily demanded to know what I was staring at. Since I was struggling to release myself at the time from an over-weighted pecs machine that was threatening to dislocate both my shoulders, I found it hard to gather my thoughts.
" 'You', I said bluntly. 'Your scantily dressed body that leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination, that keeps leaping into view wherever I go. What did you think I was staring at?'
"Well, that's what I would have liked to have said instead of spluttering a mortified apology, feeling my face blush with shame.
"It seems that the prim and proper message is that such garments are worn not to be sexy but because they make the wearer feel good. They simply display the wearer's confidence in herself. Well, that's as may be, but it strikes me they display a damn sight more than that, and to deny it is plain self-delusion. I'm not easily offended or prudish in any way, far from it, but I do resent being the victim of a dishonest conspiracy. If these clothes are the uniform of the post-feminist woman, as I've heard said, and are about women's empowerment and not men's desire, then I'm a wildebeest.
"To wear outrageously enticing apparel and at the same time profess the sensibilities of a sentimentalised Victorian spinster is shamelessly deceitful. Sure, I'm not allowed to touch. I know that. But faced with spread-eagled semi-nakedness, can't I just leer a little?"
From "Storms of Silence". (hope I don't get done for infringement of copyright, so I'll say here that Joe Simpson's works are well worth buying, highly recommended!
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Well said.(wrote) :o ,
mind you i have never been to the gym,,,a bit scared of getting some wood on!! :lol
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And, erm, sorry it's not quite on topic! But if said Lycra-clad visions would like to come and adjust my chain... :lol
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I do attend the gym, and I know what he means. The gym I'm at has the treadmills facing one another,with about a 10 foot gap with mats on the floor. I usually warm up with a 8-10k run. That equates to 35-45 minutes of looking at the back of your hands holding onto the grips. It is actually a relief if there is a spare machine facing another guy, or if a guy takes the machine facing you. You can see it in his face too. It like, yeah brother, I know. I mean I don't go to the gym [size=78%] with my James Bond speedos on, do I? No, I wear shorts and a t-shirt. I could gladly go to a family gathering dressed the same, and no one would think anything of it, which is more than I can say for "most" of the women at the gym. Although, sometimes it does spur you on to train a little harder. Especially when you have direct competition facing you trying to out run you...[/size]