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Well, yeah my bike get a lot of (ab) use. I ride every day and the roads are not cleaned every day so cant believe the muck and gunk that gets to the linkage.
It started squeaking and was not feeling exactly supple over the NYC skyline so time to tear into it.
None of the bearings were seized or even that awful but they were needing attention.
Cleaned and dried them & packed them with synthetic grease.
Going to have my Penske shock rebuilt while I am doing all this improvement. Haven't riden it with the shock supplied by capt chaos.(much thanks)
Didn't remember what a major job this was. Plus it was pouring rain and I had to do it in my driveway under a canopy so that added to the hilarity.
Last edited by E.Marquez; Apr 21, 2019 at 04:22 AM.
But the Bret Cave has HVAC, carpeting, lighting requiring sunglasses, carpeting, 22 feet of bench, compressed air for tools and the Handylift, a fridge, wifi, etc...
Hehe yeah its not artwork but it allows givis tight enuff to the bike to lanesplit my way out of NYC.
I think the 2x6 subframe stands are slightly more cutting edge in my invention list.
I use a Shad SH46 top case, a smaller top case, an expanding tail bag and small side cases (about the same overall width as your Givis); all very wind and fender cheating... Plus the NZ Ventura 51 & 31 litre bag-to-back rack bags
My subframe stand is a bit more cutting edge than yours...
Last edited by skokievtr; Apr 27, 2019 at 03:24 PM.
Naw if you are against stock tail section you are quite a bit wider than me tail wise. Plus in NYC I need locking stuff. But rarely use the sides which are 21 liters each, the top case is 52 liters.
Funily I have a tail bag I use too at times but rarely. Then a giant tank bag I can actually lay on when do trips.
But the Bret Cave has HVAC, carpeting, lighting requiring sunglasses, carpeting, 22 feet of bench, compressed air for tools and the Handylift, a fridge, wifi, etc...
How I do shocks and swing arms...
I've worked on my bikes in conditions like Joe, graduated to an area like the Bret Cave...but now I use VISA. I applaud Joe!
While still in my late teens I once got pneumonia working at night on an engine in the cold and rain on a hilltop in San Francisco. Until my last place in San Diego, I never had a garage (albeit it had no power) but at least the weather was better. Once I moved to Chicago, a garage was a must given I had several bikes that I always seemed to be fixing or moding, and by the early 80s I was significantly older and time was and has been since at a premium with a business, wife (whom amazingly is still with me) and 3 kids (all professionals and out of the ranch). When we finally bought a house in the burbs it had no garage; so I built one, myself. I originally designed and subsequently built it to encompass the Bret Cave, which is separated from the 2-spot Cage compartment, and has the "man door" and a 5-foot pocket door adjacent the overhead door. It has it's own electric service panel, water, gas, etc.. There are two sheds for dry storage and lawn equipment (which I no longer do myself) so that they are not compromising garage /shop space. I felt after all those hard years I deserved the Bret Cave. Unfortunately, Visa, Master Card and Amex limitations do not yet allow me to have others work on my machines. Regardless, I don't trust those in my area to mod or maintain my 2-wheeled conveyances to my standards. When I must for a warranty problem or recall, invariably they screwed something up and have to redo it.
I feel for Joe having to work outside but anyway he's crazy anyway for riding like he does in NYC. I no longer ride inside the Chicago city limits unless I absolutely have to, or very infrequently for special occasions. I did commute into the Loop for almost 25 years on my 81 GPz550D1 and later, my NT650. But that was before cell phones...
Last edited by skokievtr; Apr 28, 2019 at 04:12 PM.
My '89 Alp has 140,000 miles on it, and it's the best...the most ridden bike I own!
I do a lot of my own maintenance, and some of my buddy's too...Swingarm stuff...I'm too old for. Are you a ChiVinMoto member by any chance?
I can't remember did the 89 transalp have a punched out version of the 52 degree 3 valve twin used in the Revere and nt650 Hawk GT?
I was a member of Chi Vin Moto many years ago we used to meet at a bar on Irving Park in Chicago usually if I recall correctly for there specialty of meatloaf
I didn't find most of the members very friendly but maybe it was because I was significantly older than all of them and I think a lot of them rode old bikes because they couldn't afford newer ones :-)
I can't remember did the 89 transalp have a punched out version of the 52 degree 3 valve twin used in the Revere and nt650 Hawk GT?
I was a member of Chi Vin Moto many years ago we used to meet at a bar on Irving Park in Chicago usually if I recall correctly for there specialty of meatloaf
I didn't find most of the members very friendly but maybe it was because I was significantly older than all of them and I think a lot of them rode old bikes because they couldn't afford newer ones :-)
Whatever are you from Chicago
Nope, thank dog, I'm from Champaign, I'm an honorary member of ChiVinMoto. I raced AHRMA for years, was the racing school for them. When I left AHRMA CVM asked me if I would provide instruction, and licensing for their organization. As Bob Burns, "Big Bob", the CVM leader and I had become track friends I agreed. I conducted a school at Blackhawk Farms Raceway for CVM for many years, over 100 grads to AHRMA racing. FWIW 13 May I'm going to take the Superhawk to BHF's and play with CVM on their track day.
I think that the bar you refer to is the Broken Spoke.
Members are <ahem> eclectic, one owns former Gov. Blago's home, several have collections of vintage bikes that make me swoon. Other's love the rat-bike look and life.
So the result of this clean and lube on the swingarm is a WAY smoother ride (even with the temp stock shock).
Anyone who didn't just do this service should do it. I had a Penske double clicker shock and a terrible rear ride due to the state of the bearings in the linkages and swingarm. (and a sacked Penske that is being rebuilt now).
