Fitted a new chain and sprocket kit to the Kawasaki workhorse today,.. Original set has done 20k miles now, no complaints with it, for a standard OEM fit chain it’s done well, an EK chain, but I suspected that the front sprocket would be getting a bit worn by now, so off it comes.. When I finally got the front sprocket nut undone that is ..Jeez, I’ve had tight nuts before ( if you’ll pardon the expression ) but this was just in a different league, took two of us, a lot of heat, and a 2ft breaker bar to get it moving,..wtf are Kawasaki using for Loctite these days ? Plain sailing once the nut was loose, this is what 20k of mileage wear on the front sprocket looks like Almost done, have to say I’m not overly keen on the wonky eccentric chain adjusters on the Ninja I really rate these RK chains mind, I fitted a “Blackscale ZW ring” one onto the Ducati a while ago and it’s been great, far better than the last two DID ones that was on it before, they both developed tight spots at about 10k miles and were shelling “O” rings out like peas. This RX ring one is about £60 cheaper than the Blackscale chain, but it’s plenty good enough for the workhorse. This is what I rate about them,…the ring designs, both the ZW and this RW are really chunky cross sections that don’t break easily and have lots of areas that trap the grease I don’t however rate this bloody thing … laser alignment tool,…just never works when I want to use it ! If it’s worked about 3 times since I got it, it’ll be lucky …have ordered some new batteries for it and if they don’t get it working it’s going in the bin , bloody waste of money and it wasn’t cheap, grrrrr !! Now just need some decent weekend weather for a nice long ride somewhere
Same for me with the chain alignment tool, it’s garbage. Mines somewhere in my garage but I don’t care to look for it.
Paid for the new one. About to wash the Pikes Peak after yesterday's outing. Riding through a flood wasn't on my agenda, so I may be a little while.
Fitted a couple of bits to tidy it up. Carbon Fibre matching wind deflectors. Pillion pegs delete. Tailtidy.
Packed the bikes up after 5 days at Almería. Weather has been like a Croft day sun, rain, hail, and a a hurricane. Buddy likes it so much here he will wait until his lung inflates again before coming back....
Found my 916 NLP5 battery to have discharged over its winter hibernation & the Noco charger couldn’t “see it” to start lithium mode charging. A quick skeg of Noco support & found there’s a force mode to awaken dead batteries inc lithiums which is basically hold charge select button for over 5 seconds until all charge mode lights are on and use same button to select correct charge mode. It goes into an all safety off mode with the charge lights cycling for 5 mins after which it reverts back to normal. Fingers crossed it brings it back to life, also trying the same technique on a dead motobatt to see it will come back from the dead.
Finally got the ST paperwork sorted and confirmed it's booked in for its import ITV ( MOT equivalent ) to get it off French plates and on to Spanish ones. Sadly they are much bigger than the French ones but once it's done I can at least get it back on carbon cans again
Popped into the garage this afternoon to do a bit of fettling just before the hail started. Couldn't hear myself think for half an hour! Bloody weather....
Just got back from the pub and decided it was a good time to spray the small bracket I made today for a kill-switch on the Triumph. Kitchen now reeks of rattle-can 'emissions'... This is one good thing about being single!
