JohnR6
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Posts posted by JohnR6
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Hello,
After my bike's 600 mile service, the clock is nearly reading 1500 miles. I think it's time to clean and lube my chain but I've never done it before, can someone post some tips on how to do this?
I'm thinking of using a can of WD-40 with a rag to clean the chain and then spray some Wurth Dry Lube on it which I've bought the other day. Also, I don't have a stand for my bike so what's the best way in doing this on my own?
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Just wondering what you guys wear whilst riding in the Hot Weather?
I wear jeans, boots, gloves, helmet and a textile jacket to commute to work and it's bloody hot man!! I see some riders wearing only shorts and t-shirt....is that you?
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Good morning guys,
It was the first time I had luggage on the back of my bike yesterday, I strapped a Holdall bag to the back seat as I was going to football after work. When I was getting off the bike, I nearly dropped my baby as my leg got caught when getting off. The bike was banked over like over 50 degrees and I thought it was gunna drop! Proper caked myself but luckily, I managed to hold it up!
It's amazing how much grip (Even in the wet as it was raining) the tires have when banked over that much at stand still! I guess I should have put the stand down before getting off, but the DAS course which I was only on about 3-4 weeks ago teach you to always get off the bike then put the stand down. Anyway, is there any technique in getting on and off the bike when having luggage at the back?
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You gotta be careful with T Cut, it could strip it. Try polishing with a bit of WD40, but make sure you dry it off. Then try Turtle Wax.
I'll try that, thanks for the advice mate.
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Why do it? It's not doing your bike any good. The clutch is there for a reason.
As you said "Why do it? It's not doing your bike any good. The clutch is there for a reason." That's what I thought at first but clutchless upshifts are so smooth and you don't get that "lurching" movement when doing it. And when you're accelerating hard, it gives you more time to concentrate on accelerating and moving forward, rather than spending a second or two pulling the clutch in, changing gear and then letting the clutch out again. That's what I was told my a Police rider last week so I gave it a go. But clutchless "Downshifts" are definitely a NO NO.
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I've come on here to confess a terrible sin that I am about to commit. I accept that I will be ostracised for this and also that I deserve it.
I will shortly be parting company with my R6 and replacing it with a 2006 Kawasaki ZX6R.
On the plus side my mate's bought my R6 so at least I know it's going to a good home.
The 2006 Kawasaki ZX-6R are nice man!
I nearly bought one before I got my lovely brand new 05' R6 but I just knew I wouldn't feel right riding anything but a Yamaha. Just remember though, if you're gunna be getting a Kawasaki, I hope it's gunna be 'GREEN'!
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Been doing them since last Friday going home from work and it's really smooth!
I only do them when accelerating hard though, as I tried to do them while going at normal speed and the gears just doesn't want to go in. So if I'm not accelerating hard doing town riding and stuff, then I use the clutch to shift.
Also, I've been blipping the throttle when shifting down too, works really well especially when it's wet as it stops your back end from fish tailing when their's too much touque in a lower gear shifting down.
Do you guys do this? And is Clutchless upshifts OK for my bike, it seems a lot smoother than shifting up using the clutch.......so I guess it's good right?
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.....the Heel plates are scratched already!
I think it's from all the dirt sticking to the inside of my boots while riding in the wet and then it get's scrubbed and scratched onto the heel plates while changing gear and applying the rear brake!
Is their any way in getting the scatches out? Bit of T-Cut polish, will that do? I know I can't wrap my bike in cotton wool but you have to try!
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I guess if you keep your fron't wheel on the ground all the time, then Tankslappers shouldn't really happen.....unless you hit a bump or a pot hole coming out a corner or something right?
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I haven't experience one of these, touch wood that I won't and I really don't want one!
I've been reading about them and I was wondering if any of you guys have experienced one and how did you deal with it?
Here's a good read about them from joe250.com:
What is a tankslapper? It is an unwanted oscillation of the forks. You'll know you are experiencing one when the handlebars go back and forth uncontrollably, sometimes ripping themselves out of your hands. It is not pleasant. The name comes from the fact that tankslappers on certain bikes will actually smash the handlebars right into the sides of the fuel tank, denting them. The good news about tankslappers is that we have some ways to deal with them.First, let's look at what causes them. When we turn a motorcycle, we are putting a fair amount of force into the tire laterally. This force is counteracted by the ground. We push the tire towards the ground and the ground pushes back.
What happens when the ground is no longer there? We have a lot of energy stored up in the front end, so if the ground no longer pushes back, that energy is suddenly released. You've been trying to rotate the bars and now with nothing pushing back, you can. The front end turns beyond your current direction of travel and when the front end comes back in contact with the road, the front wheel is not aligned with the bike's current direction of travel.
If the tire isn't perfectly aligned with your current direction of travel, the caster built into the front end's geometry will try and cause it to line up. Usually though, it will go too far in correcting things. Your handlebars will go to the right, then to the left, and so on. Eventually, the oscillation will die out on its own, unless we interfere.
Ok, but why would the ground not be there? Picture yourself exiting a turn on a powerful motorcycle like an R1. As you near the end of the turn, you are starting to stand the bike up and you are rolling on the throttle progressively harder. If you are accelerating hard enough, the front end will pick up and wheelie. If the bike was not perfectly upright, then you still would have had some turning input in the bars. Now with the front end off the ground, the ground can no longer push back. The bars are now turned further inward just as you pull in the clutch to perform an upshift. The front end sets back down on the road, immediately forcing the front tire to try and line back up with your actual direction of travel. A tankslapper ensues.
When tankslappers happen, it is hard not to interfere. The bars in our hands are going where we haven't pushed them. We naturally react by pushing and pulling the bars. However, we cannot react fast enough. The frequency of the oscillations is too high, so all we end up doing is adding energy into the mix, prolonging and even worsening the tankslapper. The best thing to do is not interfere. The tankslapper will work itself out if we let it. Relax your arms and accelerate. Relaxing will keep you from adding energy into the oscillation. Accelerating will take weight off the front end, letting the tankslapper die out quicker.
If you want tankslappers to die out even faster, install a steering damper. A steering damper works by making the front end more difficult to turn quickly. Tankslapper oscillations are at a relatively high frequency, so the damper eats up a lot of the energy. The speed at which you can turn your bike is low enough that the damper won't come into play.
On less powerful bikes, tankslappers are still possible. My RS250 won't wheelie out of turns, but I have experienced a tankslapper at Sears Point. Mine occurred while exiting a turn at the top of a hill. I was beginning to stand the bike up, was rolling on the throttle and crested the hill at the same time. The bars started shaking in my hands. Because I was now headed downhill towards the next sharp turn, I needed to slow down and quickly. I relaxed my grip on the bars and the oscillation died down. I was then able to brake hard for the turn and continue on my way.
The only other tankslapper I've experienced was also on the RS250, but this time on Mine's Road. I was headed South from Livermore and had just started the initial climb. Just a few turns into the ride, there is a medium-speed right-hander with a large hump in the center of the right lane. I had the bike cranked over in the turn, was accelerating hard uphill and I ran straight over the center of the bump, lifting the front end off the ground momentarily. This sent the bike into the most violent tankslapper I ever want to experience. The whole bike started to wobble. Again, I relaxed my arms and after a few anxious moments, the oscillation died out. I pulled over to clear my mind before continuing.
One other note. I have not experienced it, but I have heard from a number of people that violent tankslappers will actually force the front brake pads and brake pistons away from the rotors. When the tankslapper is done, the rider reaches for the front brake and finds out he has none. So if you ever experience a tankslapper, the first thing you should do after regaining control is to check your front brakes. If they feel soft, pump the lever repeatedly until pressure returns.
So to summarize:
Turning + Accelerating + Front end lifted & set back down = Tankslapper
Prevent tankslappers. Don't accelerate too hard with the bike leaned over if you are cresting a hill or there is a bump or object in the road (center reflector, etc.) in your path. This scenario has all the elements needed for a tankslapper, so watch for them and act accordingly.
Allow tankslapper oscillations to die out naturally by relaxing your arms. Trying to muscle the bike will increase the oscillations till you crash.
Negate tankslappers by accelerating. Lightening the front end or even wheelying will take pressure off the front end and allow the oscillations to die out.
Check your front brakes after a tankslapper. Pump them up again if necessary.
Invest in a steering damper, especially if your type of bike is more prone to tankslappers than other bikes (aggressive frame geometry, powerful engine, etc.).
I was just wondering, wouldn't applying the back brake help during a tankslap?
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Man, it was pi55ing it down this morning in Manchester (like always), I was riding into work in my R6 like I have been for the last week. Anyway, I gave myself plenty of room and not following the car in front too close, when suddenly the car infront did an emergency stop as some idiot decided to run across the road! I had to do an "In the wet" emergency stop too.......bloody sh!t myself!! I think I slightly locked my back wheel and I skidded out and fish tailed like a ba5tard until it eventually stopped! During that moment, everything seemed really slow but all I can think about was "Oh Sh!t, the back end is all over the place" and the more you sh!t yourself the more brake you want to apply and by the time I realised that I should ease off the brakes, I had already stopped which was a good job!!!
I was only going 30mph too!Now I know why my instructor told me to not use the back brake so much in the wet as it locks your back wheel and you end up doing what I just did 30 minutes ago! What a moment it was for me, and it's taught me not to load the back too much now when it's wet!
After that little moment for me, everytime I approached a traffic light, I just came off the trottle early and applied the brakes (front and a little a t the back) and released the brakes and then re-applied it again, abit like an ABS system. That way felt alot better when stopping and not as harsh.
Motorbikes are great though, you experience something new everyday and you're constantly learning all the time. Let hope we all learn things the easier way like I just have and not the hard way. Ride Safe.
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Funnily enough, I'm looking for a new set at the moment. Love the styling of the Arlen Ness gear and might go for their kit.
But, from reviews in magazines (and a commendation from a mate of mine) I think you could do a lot worse than the Teknik (sp?) Chicane suit - amazing value.
Yeah, I've heard that the Teknik stuff are good too but I'm either going with Alpinestars or Arlen Ness. I guess you are paying a fair bit of money for them so best is to get what you like the look of, but protection wise, they're all pretty good TBH especially if you're paying £400+ for a set.
Check these Arlen Ness out, look pretty good and a fair price for what they are:
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I need to get some leathers soon, I'm just wearing textile pants and jacket at the moment, they are good, do the job and keeps me dry when I'm cummuting to work everyday on my 05 R6.
Anyway, I was wondering what leathers do you guys wear?
I had my sight set on some Alpinestars 1pz but then I saw some Arlen Ness ones which where cheaper and looks more protective (and also I love that dragon logo on them!).
I'm also not too sure whether to get a 1pz suit or 2pz? 1pz is probably more protective but 2pz is more practical and I would use them for work too. If I got 1pz, I wouldn't feel right going to work with them and idiots on the road will always try and race you haven seen you with your full racing kit on!?!
anyway, what do you guys wear for riding?
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I've got the stickers off now. After hours of peeling the stickers left some residue so I used some WD-40 to loosen it up and it worked a bit but still left a thin layer of glue on there. I then whipped out some T-Cut and polised the glue out. My tank is all clean now!!
I was looking at my bike before and notice this little tiny tiny dint on thr front, can't really see it but I can!!
Must have been from whne I was blasting down the motorway or something! Oh well, these things happen. -
Best way is to use a Hair Dryer on the stickers, and they come off easily enough. Bit late now though!!
Hi Mate,
I've just managed to take off the stickers, been sratching it off for the last hour!! Now, there's only the residue left on it......I think some WD-40 will do the trick. I tried some alcohol solvent and it started coming off but dried up very quickly, so the residue is still there. I think WD-40 works best really. Anyway, gunna go to the motor shop to get some now.
Tell you guys what happens soon.
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Hi John, try the JML magic sponge, which you can get from woolies, it gets sticky lables of most things. Just use lots of water to avoid any chance of marking the tank.
Paul
Hi mate,
It's been raining outside and my bike is soaked so I just nipped out to see if the sticker is coming off easier and it is, I just have to keep working at it with my finger nail!! It'll eventually come off, bit of rain water, elbow grease and WD-40 should do the trick.
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Hi Guys,
Having just picked up my new 05 R6 last Thursday, I was just wondering what sort of maintenance checks I should be doing and how often should I do them? Please can anyone give me like a to-do-list so I can get into a routine of doing it.
Also, I'm trying to take off those annoying stickers on my tank, been slowly scratching it out every now and then and it's still stuck on like a b&5tard. I heard the hair dryer works like treat but me living in on 5th floor in a block of flat at the mement, I can't get a long enough extension to to bring the dryer outside. I also heard some warm water with some baby shampoo works too, but have to scrub at it for a bit. Any tips on getting those stickers off?
My yoke is scratch too from my lock keys, so I've taken them off now and just put some sticker on the yoke, might get a carbon fibre yoke protector. Is your yoke scratched to f**k aswell?
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YOur fist day sounds kindof like mine. Scared as shit for the 1st 30 seconds, got into 2nd, got better, got better. got cocky, and while i was pulling in to get gas. I wailed on her with her waxy wheels with 2 km on them. nearly lost her in the middle of an intersection.
Havent spilt her out yet. hope not to would be very pricey to get her fixed.\
and Ya the turning radius on our yamaha speed demons isnt the greatest, but i do enjoy the lean. and at the flick of my wrist in 6th gear i fly by anything i command.
You been able to get your r6 on 1 wheel yet??
The more miles i put on the bike, the easier she gets on one wheel for me. but usually not until the 8000 rpm zone does she lift off
Hi Mate,
I've done about 150+ miles since I picked my bike up on Thursday, I've been keeping it under 7-8K rpm to run in the engine and taking it easy with new tyres and all. I haven't had it on one wheel yet and I think I won't be attempting it.....I'll probably Sh!t myself so it's not really worth dirtying my undies for it, and definitely not worth dropping my baby for it too. Personally, I'm not really into pulling wheelies and doing endos and stuff, I just want to learn how to ride the bike good and being able to control it in all situations whether I'm going at high or low speeds.
Once the engine has run in and I've done my first service, I'm going to do the Advanced. It's pretty good, teaches you to ride defensive and attacking at the right time and how to give yourself an escape route in all situations and keeping that clear area around you.
I've been doing alot of counter steering, it felt funny at first but then you realise that it's the best way to go round bends with and it becomes natural after a while. If quite amazing how alot people don't realise that they are doing it when they lean over. When approaching corners or bends, I just push the left or right bar (Depending on what direction bend your going into) a bit and it just turns easily and if you need to turn more, then I just lean over and it takes it round nice and smoothly. It's all good learning for me.
I've been riding in the rain too as I'm using my bike for commuting and stuff. You got to just take it extra easy, ride it more smoothly and and slow down a bit earlier and not to do any harsh breaking as you can easily fish tail the back wheel! As my instructor said, if you can ride in rain, you can ride in anything......not too sure if I'll ride in snow though!??
Anyway, gunna be doing more miles this week and it raining all this week in Manchester aswell, I'll just take it easy but it's hard when some idiot in a car is expecting you to always ride fast in a bike and wants to race you or something! I usually just accelerate off, if it's clear infront and they tend to back off after a while having realised that they can't keep up on 4 wheels if I wanted to really burn him off........idiots! The Girl Racers in done up hatch backs are the worst, they don't seen to know how fast bikes are and always trying to do some idiotic thing!
Gunna go out with some bike veterans on Sunday (meant to be Sunny on that day), and I hope they can teach me a thing or two.
John.
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All I got to say is that the machine is awesome!! I just love riding it!
At first, I didn't know what to expect and I had to get use to the riding position and the controls, but after about 5 minutes of riding, I started to relax and totoally enjoying my bike. I'm still smiling from riding the beast to work!
One thing I've also noticed is that the turning angle of my R6 is piss poor compared to the 500cc bikes I was riding during my DAS. I tried to do a U-turn in a tightish road......f**k me, I nearly dropped the thing! I was also turning into this tight angled road at low speed and my fist was bloody touching the tank! Anyway, I'm sure I'll get use to it after a few more miles.At the moment, I'm just taking it easy and enjoying the ride.....I love it!
I've still got to wear in the tired, so I can't lean too much and can't take the bike over 7K rpm until I've done the first service at 600miles.....oh well, another 500+ miles to sit back, take it easy and enjoy the ride in the glorious sunshine!
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What's the Law on Dark Visors? I'm thinking of getting one as Summer is here and the Sun is blasting down but will I get pulled over by the Police?
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Do you look the drivers in the eye when they are at a junction just to make sure that they've seen you?
The scary thing is that sometimes, people look in your direction and they don't even see you......I had that done to me during my DAS lesson but I knew the driver was gunna pull out so I managed to stop in time!
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Cheers guys.
I'm gunna collect my bike tomorrow afternoon and I just can't wait.
The weather is looking good and it's just perfect. The first thing I'm gunna do is put a few stickers on just to customise my bike and then take a ride around before going home. I'm not gunna be stupid on my bike, I'm gunna treating it like a lady and I'm just gunna enjoy the ride every time I go on it and keep everything as legal as possible.
I'm gunna be doing my Advance too, just to get more knowledge and be more safer. I'll be riding with a little moto of mine, "Ride it smooth and ride it safe". The only thing I'm a bit scared of is "Tankslappers", I really hope I won't experience one. If I ride the bike as smooth as possible, no harsh braking or accelarating, I think I should be OK.So do any of you guys have any tips for a new bike rookie like me?
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Cheers guys!
Guess where I'm off to this morning.......Yamaha dealer!!! I just can't resist. I called them up yesterday about the 2005 R6 and they have only one left in Blue, which is what I want. So I'm going down there to check it out. Me and the Mrs went through my budget last night, and all is well but it's just having to leave it in the car park over night. I don't think it'll be a problem really, cos this other guy leave his 2002 R6 in the car park and this woman chains her scooter to the bike shed. I think if I get an Alarm/Immobiliser, Datatag, Chain and Cover. It should be OK. Lets face it, if some b&stard wants to nick it, even if it was garaged, it'll still be nick.
I'm only at the flat for anothe 2-3 months so I think it's worth it!
Hehehe......Anyway, I will update you later on how I get on at Yamaha.
Guess what........I just bought an 2005 R6 from the Yamaha dealer! I'm so happy and excited man. Gunna pick it up on Thursday, just been on the phone to Bennetts and sorted the insurance out. It's all good.
The guy at Yamaha threw in a Sold Secure Chain with the deal and he's gunna fit some Datatags on the bike for me. The Bike already comes with the Yamaha YISS CAT2 Immobiliser so that's OK, but I might just go to a bike shop and see about fitting an alarm just for piece of mind.
I'm all ready to go now, just waiting for Thursday to come round now.
It's amazing how much grip (Even in the wet as it was raining) the tires have when banked over that much at stand still! 
I guess I should have put the stand down before getting off, but the DAS course which I was only on about 3-4 weeks ago teach you to always get off the bike then put the stand down. 
One thing I've also noticed is that the turning angle of my R6 is piss poor compared to the 500cc bikes I was riding during my DAS. I tried to do a U-turn in a tightish road......f**k me, I nearly dropped the thing! I was also turning into this tight angled road at low speed and my fist was bloody touching the tank! Anyway, I'm sure I'll get use to it after a few more miles.
Chain Cleaning and Lubing?
in The Bar
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Thanks for the advise.
Yeah, I was looking at some rear stands too for my bike, seen them for £35 which is still OK price but where did you see them for £15? That's a bargain!
I went to Halfords last night and bought a load of cleaning produces for my bike aswell. Got myself some de-greaser to clean the chain, some metal polish to clean all the crap stuck on my end can and some Castrol bike polish!
Gunna try and clean my bike tonight and do the chain. When lubing the chain, I think I might just have to do the old push your bike down the drive a little bit at a time to cover the whole chain or get the missus to hold the bike while it's pivoting on the stand and front wheel.