The channel's intended audience is very select. Poppy, Max and Leo. As an older Dad I am very aware that my time with the kids is limited. I hope that the memories shared here will make them think fondly of me and inspire other dads.
I know nothing about motorcycle maintenance but you can follow along with me as I try to keep my VFR1200F, CMX1100 Rebel and X-ADV 750 in a safe state. When you see me make a mistake please leave a comment.
When you can't get out on the bike because you have child minding duties, what better way to spend the time than working on the bike with the kids in tow.
Bike maintenance following the advice of those youtube gurus Lemmy, Spurge, Ari, Rod Rides and Wrenches, Graham VFR , Bret and NC750 Stuff.
Hi Brian you may have already thought of this but I use a metal turntable for my tracer 9, so ride in my garage turn it on the turntable and come out forward. Two point's you need a centre stand and be able to lift the front wheel by pushing down on the back of the bike so you can rotate it, easy on my tracer but not so easy on my 1050 vstrom.
I own a BMW K1200GT, I believe even a bit heavier. Moving it backwards out of the shed I always do it sitting on the bike. You do not feel the weight so much and you are actually in total a bit narrower as you are not standing next to the bike. Moving it forward is easy, after all it has an engine... And, as I never use water to clean my bikes (as water equals rust), I do all my cleaning inside the shed.
My compliments for how you managed the situation!I owned exactly the same model, year, colour, with similar equipment. And i also work with over 10 of these models on a regular basis. Be asured you're in good company: Not a single one of those machines has not been dropped, at least ones. First thing i mounted on mine, was an effictive crash pad. Tryed it out myself and it saved me a lot of money....
My comment is very much after horse has bolted. Whenever I use a side stand, before doing so, I engage 1st gear, clutch out roll forward to take up slack in the chain or shaft drive. Once the bike will not move further forward, then use the side stand. It won’t fall off the stand. If you leave it parked that way, if another motorcycle behind is being taken off the main stand and hits your rear wheel, your bike will remain on the stand as there is no slack for it to be pushed forwards. I hope this makes sense, well done picking it up though! 😊
I'ts always a shock when a bike over balances, it's proper panic stations, it's natural to try & save it, but ideally get out the way, avoid injury ... Bit silly having a kid around during the lift, if you'd failed to get it back upright, the kid could easily have been badly hurt ...
Stuff happens when you are busy. If only the mat had been bigger to cushion the left pod. I'm looking to find a nice 2012+ VFR dct.Thanks for the vija.😊
Good job! One question: why did you not put it on the center stand? Much safer when you have to loosen the wheel nuts. An impact driver is not a bad idea either. I have a baby VFR (750F) and an 1150GS, using the impact driver to undo the wheel nuts is a piece of cake. I have an electric one with a cord and they are fairly inexpensive.
Last few days with it. ~£2K valve check service is due. Dodged that and traded my X-ADV and VFR in for a BMW R1250R (242kg). Once I tried the BMW it made it clear how far technology has come since the VFR was launched. How poor the VFR suspension is in comparison to the BMW. Owning the VFR has made me a be a much better and more confident rider. Fantastic bike.
Hope you have more luck with the BMW than my friend did. He bought a 2017 RS from BMW dealer. ....had to call out BMW rescue several times....just kept stopping and not starting. Believe a common fault.
Lovely bike....I have it's adventure-styled brother, the vfr1200x. One tip I can pass on is never put a bike away wet.....water in all those nooks and crannies that a drying cloth won't reach...it's just asking for corrosion to set in...ask me how I know! I invested in one of those hot air pet / bike dryers....about £60 on Amazon. They work extremely well at removing all traces of water from a bike.
These things happen, no damage is a fantastic result. Time from some crash bungs, they are pretty easy to fit, I've also got Trex engine protectors on my DCT, they are the only company I've found that do them
You should be careful watering it, it might grow and get heavier ;) You've got a unicorn with the 45l top box, nice - much better than the smaller one. I find it easier to hold both bars when pushing it off the centre stand.
Honestly mate - THAT'S FINE ... few months ago I dropped my Viffer 2006, while I was dismateling it after a long journey ( I just can't tell you how I was feeling at that point - I worked hard to buy it) ... These are heavy bikes, it happens ! The most import is that you are safe and alright ! Mine, dragged me down and nearly fell over me but I had full gear and the bike had good protectors.
Well done! I dropped my 2010, 2 days after I bought it for my 65th bday. No way in hell I could pick it up, but one of my friend’s boyfriend, didn’t have any problem picking it up. Glad o had the help! Ride safe…
Yes very bad luck indeed and we've all done it,however imagine that you could only lift it halfway and let it go again, and that little child was under it. Doesn't bear thinking about does it,,, very lucky this time and thoughtless at the same time
I’m seventy years old myself. I have a Kawasaki ZZR 1200 it is a pain getting it out from the garage I sit on it and let it roll down . Getting it in is easy just drive it in to garage.
Been there many times and hat's off to you for managing to get it up, doubt I could. I'm not as confident as you wheeling bikes around, I tend to mount them (Fnaar Fnaar!!!) and paddle, well past the point of bothering about pride. Not a criticism but why didn't you try to loosen the nuts and/or remove the wheel with the bike on the centre stand? I only use the sidestand when I've have no other option. I've had bikes topple when they dug in, had a fallen rider's bike skid into mine and topple it and had them snap on me. I just don't have much faith in them. Well done and good to see minimal damage done: from another ancient Scot, who's probably too old and should know better
Nice one Mate. As you say, don't rush into trying to pick it up. I ride a BMW R1250RS which, weighs about 240kg and have purposely laid it down in my garage, just to see if i can get it back up, no problem at all 👍. By the way I'm about 11.5 stone and 70 years old 🏍😃.
Many thanks, that is very encouraging, I hope BMW put their new automatic clutch on the R or RS. That would be great to try as I am a huge fan of honda's DCT.
I’ve dropped several of my bikes over the last 45 years, which wasn’t too big a problem when I was younger and bikes were lighter. I’m 63 now and a few weeks ago my R1200RT went over in a Starbucks car park. My initial reaction was ‘get it back up before people see you dropped it’ but then I thought, ‘what the hell, it happens, give it some thought’. Fortunately the driveway to my garage is flat so I don’t have manoeuvring issues but I’ve seen other people running the engine and slipping the clutch to move bikes around, either walking next to the bike or astride it. Have you tried that tactic?
They are 45L - five years later still have them and love them. I especially like the top loading which makes them so easy to use. Perhaps I'll do a follow-up.
Thanks for replying 👍 Would you be able to post pictures with them loaded onto the bike? I’m stuck on whether to order the 37L or 45L or maybe different sizes on each side 🤷♂️
It's much better with the borla s-type Cat-back on it. It isn't too loud, but it also gives you enough sound to know where to shift. And it makes the experience 10x more enjoyable than it already is.
I agree with that. My bike has the Helibars fitted which are hight and wider. That gives a little more leverage. I do find the bike well balanced at slow speeds.
The bike came with a comfort seat with lots of padding. I now have the Honda low seat option which I bought on an auction site. It is a choice of comfort or practicality when. I go out for a ride.
Nice one Brian, something I hope I never have to do. I had a puncture last month and driving it onto the pick up truck with a flat rear was scary enough 😕
First and only time I dropped my ST1300 was trying to get it on the table. Don't wear slippers for this job...by the way I'm 69 and live alone so it was all up to me...great thing....fear.
Turns out a year later it is not tooooo heavy. I can move it around. It does not feel heavy on the road it is well balanced. Now I know I can pick it up when dropped ( well for the moment anyway ).
Many thanks. I mainly take the videos to watch myself to make sure I have done the job correctly. In this case I wanted to share that it is not a disaster to drop a very heavy bike.
A situation we all dread, when manoeuvring our bike in the garage and yes, the outbursts were entirely understandable. I winced when I seen it passing the point of no return! Glad you got it sorted, with both you and the bike unscathed. Having owned a VFR1200F, it is certainly a heavy beast to move about. I fitted a centre stand, which I purchased from Fowlers for about £80.00, which proved invaluable for maintenance tasks. By the way, the advice you got from that wee man of yours was absolutely priceless! Take care.
