Cobwebs Update

Further to my earlier post, the new battery for the big Aprilia arrived yesterday, a sealed one from the Motobatt range offering increased output to aid starting. I have used these in the past on other bikes and have never encountered any problems with them.

Replacing the old battery should be a ten-minute job but, as is the way of things, took significantly longer, due to the narrowness of the area in which you have to work and all the other cables and wires which get in the way.

Eventually it was done. Seat back on and a quick run through of the dashboard settings, the clock and the trip meter(s), and making sure that all of the various electrical add-ons worked etc.

Although it says that it comes changed and ready to go, I stuck it on the charger overnight to be on the safe side.

This morning after sorting out the necessary insurance I set off to see about putting it through a MOT (annual inspection). 

Half an hour later it had passed, with one advisory – the numberplate bulb had blown and needed replaced. The bloke at the testing station trusted me to go away and sort this myself, which is more accommodating than some of the folk I’ve had dealings with over the years.

I now actually have two roadworthy bikes for the first time in who knows how many years.

Now all I need to do is sort out some place(s) to go on them.

Blowing Off The Cobwebs

After a winter of inactivity, I decided that I wanted both of my big bikes on the road this year.

 

First up was the Triumph Speedmaster. This was simplicity itself. Gave it a bit of a once over, blew up the tyres, freed of the brakes which were binding a bit, and toddled off to see about an MOT (annual inspection ticket).

Passed with no problem, much to my relief.

The Aprilia Caponord needed a bit more than that as it hasn’t been on the road for a few years now. Intermittent problems with the hydraulic clutch saw it overlooked in favour of the Triumph.

Time to sort that out.

Same as the Triumph, blew up the tyres, and freed of the brakes. However, this one needed a full service before it can be used, and I needed to address the niggling problem with the clutch. 

Easiest option was just to fit completely new clutch plates and some heavy-duty springs, which I’m hoping should stop the hassles I was having. This was relatively straightforward and required an oil and filter change as well. 

A bit annoyed that the brake and clutch fluid didn't arrive when it was supposed to, so doing that is on hold right now. Although, as they seem to be working well enough, I may actually leave off doing that for a bit.

I have had to order up a new battery as the present one isn't holding a charge. On checking the paperwork, it was fitted in 2016 and has spent the last two years on a trickle-charger, so I guess I can't complain.

So, one down, one still to go.

Shiny Balls

The things you do when you’re bored and can’t go anywhere.

This afternoon I got around to replacing the plastic choke knob on the Triumph with one I’d recently bought in stainless. There was nothing actually wrong with the old one, but I must admit the new one looks nice on there.

Unfortunately, it’s so shiny that its highlighted just how shabby that part of the bike is and it looks like I’ll have to get the carb off to polish it up a bit as well as changing some of the nuts & bolts down there too.

I fear that this may not be the end of the matter...

Street Twin

I put my Triumph into the shop recently for its first major service and they kindly loaned me another bike for the duration, an almost brand-new Triumph Bonneville Street Twin 900, one of Triumph's ever-popular parallel twins.

I must say that it was quite a bit different to what I've been riding lately. 

First reaction is that it's a small bike. Unfaired, no luggage, very light and with its short wheel-base relatively easy to move around, at least compared to some of the lumps I've had over the last couple of years. 

Sitting on it, the pegs are set well back, so you lean forward onto your wrists like a race bike and while the riding position felt a bit cramped at first I soon got used to it. 

The gearbox produced a very Triumph-like 'clunk' into first and away we went. Acceleration, brakes, handling, all excellent, and the slightly non-standard pipes give a lovely burble as you trundle along.

As with most naked bikes it would benefit from some sort of screen at higher speeds, and you'd need to fork out for some sort of luggage were you to plan going anywhere on it, but that's not really what this bike is all about. 

It's a shame that it rained most of the time that I had it as I didn’t really get a chance to put it through its paces, riding it with my sensible hat on to avoid any unpleasantness on an unfamiliar machine and greasy road surfaces.

The only downside worth mentioning was that I found the switchgear a bit fiddly and difficult to use with gloves on. Using the indicators was a bit hit or miss as the buttons were quite small. You would maybe get used to it on longer acquaintance. 

Could I be persuaded to trade it for my current ride? Probably not, which is no slight on the bike itself. It's an excellent piece of kit, but just not the sort of machine I'm looking for at the moment. 

I took the Street Twin back and picked up my own bike after a service which cost a little under what I paid for my first three bikes combined! Nonetheless, everything feels just a little better, a little sharper than before, so I guess that it was money well spent.