The mot was out on the Paul Smart, infact since last year. A lovely gentle ride to Finns with a positive outcome, i spoke with Phil who owns this wonderful machine and has many more stashed away in a secret location.......bastard!
Had a random ride with the intention of having lunch at the roman Fort at Hardknott. Stuck the Tuono in race mode in everything and it went up the passes like a mountain goat. Think every GS ever built were around the Lakes today.
Firstly the spring looks like this: Then the brake padal now looks like this: You can see the spring in the light rectangle in the second picture. Originally the spring hooks over the bracket that holds the pedal, and the end of the spring presses on the brake lever resting in the fork attached to the brake cylinder pushrod. It does not have enough leverage to work. Before modification the pivot pin that connects the pedal to the pushrod was just long enough to go through the fork and had a built in clip that then springs on to hold it in place. I had to make a longer pivot pin. I did this using an exhaust stud that i had. It was M8 one end and M6 the other and has a blank M6 shaft between the two about 10 to 15mm long. I cut the M8 short and cut a slot in the end so I could use a screwdriver to tighten it. This then passes through the pivot point. (You could use a bolt with an unthreaded part to the shaft). I held it in place with an M6 nyloc nut (not too tight) and put another nyloc nut on the end leaving a space between the nuts! The spring was then amended by heating it to straighten out the bend that does the pushing and, further unwinding enough of the spring so that it can be used to push on the pivot pin extension between the nuts. You can see the end of the spring poking up in the photos. This is apparently very similar to the modification that Ducati later introduced. In order to keep things neat and not have the spring rubbing on the threaded bolt I put a small collar on the M6 end between the nuts. By the by, I had a problem with the brake binding and overheating but the lack of spring was not causing this but it helps. The angle of the brake lever is adjusted by the screw under the brake pedal. This also operates the brake light. BUT, and its a big but, you have to compensate by adjusting the brake pushrod length. This should then have at least 2mm free play at the brake pedal. Sorry it's been such a long winded answer and I hope it's clear.
Cycled up that a few times, possibly the toughest climb I’ve ever attempted makes Wrynose Pass after it a breeze.
I'm not sure what's cheap in your book,? but perhaps 10 odd years ago that was the time to buy these lovely machines, the mileage was ridiculously low. I'd ask what would be his ultimate motorcycle, he reply was a Desmosedici RR.
Weighed myself for the first time after two MASSIVE blow out weekends today. Same as 2 weeks ago. I’ve been caning the exercise though, it’s bloody hard work.
Bought a new helmet, went to Tesco for some provisions as I’ve got friends coming to visit tomorrow, cut the grass and now getting ready for a night out in Leeds
Another fresh mot today that i forgot about, it needs two new tyres plus something else which has been ordered online already.
Got some miles in on the 899 then fixed a fuel connector issue I had on the boat. New connector from Honda £65, managed to get it apart and change a buggered 0 ring for a cost of about 10p. Good as new now.
I seem to recall them being sensible money about 5-6 years ago, what has made them so much more desirable now is a mystery to me.
Stay indoors all the OAP’s and if you’ve a Doggy please don’t take it on the pooh walk in the full heat of day.
I just realised i'm an OAP - wish I could stay indoors tomorrow but have another errand. will take lots of water.
Be early before the full heat of day bud and hydrate lots but not too much as being an OAP your bladder may not be able to hold it in.
We have to put suncream on our whippets ears when it’s properly sunny. She lies there baking her brain for hours!
