Mofo's 690 Duke

[Supermofo]

Nice 104 mile ride to the cafe in Stradishall for a coffee this morning. Nice speedblock XSR900 had pretty cool side covers on it and a black widow system. Downpipes looked fine on it but hard to know how long it'd been on there. His mate was on a v4 tuono, god they look sexy

[Supermofo]

Had a free Sunday morning so ran up to the tea room at Heybridge for a bacon and sausage sarnie and a coffee. Wasn't much water about in the estuary

20200906_092321 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr

Anyway was a nice run up there, the council have freshly tarmaced most of the unclassified roads on the way too but looks like they just dumped it over the broken uneven portholed mess underneath so it was a somewhat bumpy ride!

Was a bit chilly too before 8am so layered up knowing I could dump stuff in the top box if it warmed up which was good and also tried the heated grips for the first time and on the medium setting they were nice and toasty Cheers Mr Weeksy

11500 miles now so not far off the valve check. Be weather dependent whether that happens this year or next. But stuck the money aside. Still loving the little Duke so although I've been considering next bikes I'm more than happy with this one for now.

[Supermofo]

Result. I have a fair amount of holiday to use up and turns out my Brother is off next Wed, so looks like we are off on a ride out to Southwold for chips Should be a decent 3.5 hour twisty ride from here and I should get a go on his new to him Z750. I loved mine, but his is the fared model so be interesting to see how they compare...if I can remember that far back. Just gotta hope the forecast is as good as it looks now.

[Supermofo]

Wasn't happy with the position of the Tutoro so I went to move it to the bottom run of the chain by the front sprocket but realised I had enough tube to reach the rear sprocket as recommended. Thought before I cut the tube down I'll try this first. It does mean cable ties on the swingarm which I wanted to avoid but at this point I just want it to work so will trial this. Don't think the cable ties are that bad. We'll see. Got a 200 odd mile ride tomorrow to Southwold to see if this is better. Previously I was getting oil splash on the engine case and drips from the sprocket cover so was either having to set the oiler to so little it wasn't lubing much or over lubing.

Fingers crossed this'll sort it

20200911_190001 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr

[mikeycee]

Looks like the ideal place for that to go. I was taught and would always be inclined myself to put the lube onto the inside run of the chain and let centrifugal force to its thing pushing the oil through the links etc.

Saw a review on the Tutoro recently on Youtube and was thinking about getting one for the XR - Think I will definitely do so now seeing this - Looks like a really good piece of kit.

[Supermofo]

Wednesday had the day off and we went up to Southwold via the twisty route. Met up in Buntingford at 10 and the sat nav took us roughly Newport, Steeple Bumpstead, Clare, Long Melford, Lavenham, Stowmarket, Saxtead, Halesworth, Southwold. Weather when we left was glorious, but got progressively cloudy as we got closer to the coast before it showered on us. Not a lot but enough to need waterproofs. The only pic someone took was at the wee/waterproof stop and he didn't let me know so I'm putting my lid on Not very posed! Or scenic, sorry

IMG-20200916-WA0003 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr

It was dry by the time we hit the pier so scampy and chips with an IPA was in order. Spent a while chatting rubbish before heading home. Was surprised how busy Southwold was on a Wednesday in September, furloughed people maybe?

Brothers mate was going on to Norfolk so said goodbye to them and Bro and I decided to use the least twisty setting for home to save a little time. Other than 6 miles of A12 this was glorious. The A1120 to Stowmarket was cracking, before picking up the Bs to Clare and back home.

Between Stowmarket and Steeple Bumpstead we swapped bikes. First time on a Z750 since I wrote mine off in 07 (well someone did it for me). Mine was the nudie version but very similar. First thoughts were how heavy it was and how high the pegs were, but the tank allows you to take some of the weight off. I was amazed at how good it felt for a 15 year old bike. It wasn't long ago since I rode Weeksy's XSR and whilst it was incrementally better it wasn't chalk and cheese better. The Z is really tractable in the midrange with a decent top end. The suspension wasn't as bouncy as my old one either. Good buy Bro

Stopped at Jamie Olivers dads pub in Clavering where we stuck out among the people dressed up for dinner. Quick pint and a conflab before home. About 220 miles. I'm definitely not bike fit, had cramp in my left thigh from the gear changes, but not too many aches.

Just pulled out the bike to take a look, its gonna need a good wash. Them gravelly back lanes were minging in the rain, in hindsight we should have used the least twisty setting on the way up. Still a dirty bike is a sign its been used. So that's the weekends job.

20200918_111148 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr

20200918_111316 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr

[Supermofo]

Couldn't help myself. Intended on just spraying it with W5 and hosing it off for now till proper winter clean, but it just wasn't clean and I couldn't leave it. So it's now back to spangly

[weeksy]

Couldn't help myself. Intended on just spraying it with W5 and hosing it off for now till proper winter clean, but it just wasn't clean and I couldn't leave it. So it's now back to spangly

Prove it?

Inside of swingarm?
Under bottom yoke?
Cat removed?
Top of lower shock linkage?
Back of engine between shock?

[Supermofo]

Prove it?

Inside of swingarm?
Under bottom yoke?
Cat removed?
Top of lower shock linkage?
Back of engine between shock?

Steady on chief!! I'm not that weird

It's clean enough for me. No close ups as having a beer now. I'd never take the wheel out for a clean or cat, although the cat/engine are done at service time. Bottom yoke, shock linkages and all the swingarm you can reach with the wheel in which is most of it, including underneath done as was back of engine. Even did the underside of the top box plate which is a bastid. Spent a good 2 odd hours on it.

Might Mr Sheene it tomorrow. But that'll guarantee it rains next time I use it, which was why I was gonna leave it till winter. But it'll get another wash then anyway as didn't do under the rad guard. Not making that mistake again and leaving that

20200918_181351 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr

[Supermofo]

Its dry and mild with only the odd damp patch on the road so managed to grab an hour or so on the Dook. Decided I'd had enough so retired to my country pad to see out the covid winter

20201023_153734 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr

[Deadpool2]

Very clean. Love a good topbox on a bike!

[Taipan]

Love Audley End House. Oh yeah,nice Duke too!

[Supermofo]

Love Audley End House. Oh yeah,nice Duke too!

Pop over for tea and crumpets my good man

[Dodgy69]

Do you have a window cleaner.

[Supermofo]

Do you have a window cleaner.

Several hand picked in non winter friendly uniforms, like something out of Benny Hill. Come over for tea too and a game of billiards followed by an 8 course dinner and whisky in the drawing room

You can park your bike in the entrance hall and I'll have Jeeves give it a wash

[Supermofo]

Well that's a wrap for the year. Washed the bike yesterday and will give the chain a going over today with GT85 when it's completely dry then it's under the cover in the garage till spring time. Didn't make the same mistake as last year and leave the rad guard on for the final wash so hopefully I won't have a carpet growing on the rad come March.

Not been a bad year considering how it started, highlight was the Southwold trip, but been some really good rides including the trip to weeksy's and random mornings out. Only managed 2k miles which is 1k less than the last couple of years but didn't start riding till June was it? And also I've not done any commuting. The final ride of the year I really enjoyed myself and the bike. I still love the little Duke, it's so fun and nimble and most of all feels mine. It'll be 5 years old come Feb.

I have started looking for possible next bikes but without knowing what's happening with the Mrs job I doubt that'll happen next year and actually I'm quite happy about that which say's a lot about the Duke. Obviously I'll never say never, but another year with the Duke is something I'll look forward too.

Plans for next year? Def some more trips away Covid allowing. Back Southwold way, back to Yeovil to visit my Aunt and Uncle and a trip down to the Minehead coast if possible. If I can it would make sense to tie the last 2 together if I can string 4-5 days away.

The bike is due a valve check at 12k miles and I'm at 11,900 so that'll be booked early spring. I might have to take it in the shitty weather if I'm to beat the big spring rush and not end up too much over mileage. I'll get them to check the rocker arms at the same time.

Possible next bikes? Hmmmmm. That's a list at the moment. 790, 1090, Street Triple, GSXS 750, Z900, XSR/Tracer 900 and I'm sure there's some others.

[Supermofo]

Sorted the annual hassle of insurance. Knew it was due so did a confused check Bennetts, current insurer was 95 quid.

Renewal arrives £138 please. Do another confused check and all the prices have gone up a touch, C.Nash £98, Bennetts £102. Phone Bennetts they say best they can do is £114. Can't be arsed to move as I'll have to re-declare all the mods etc and also noticed excess is £100 more on Confused so pay up, but not a bad price.

Must admit I'm really, really missing riding now. Please be a decent/salt free day soon!

[Supermofo]

So seems like most Herts, Essex riders I took the Duke out today. Reconnected the battery and it fired up pretty much straight away. Quick check of the fluids and tyre pressures and then had an enjoyable ride. Due to road closures ended up being out longer than intended but didn't even feel rusty. Might have ended up doing 80 miles!

Roads were a bit dirty but don't think there was any salt about as its rained on and off all week. Due to a few fields draining onto the road we ended up with some shit up the back of the bike but might leave it for now in case I can get out again in the short term. Felt amazing to be back on the bike. Just me and the bike on my own. It's been great being home with the kids but get no time to myself and its definitely needed.

Motorbikes rock.

[mangocrazy]

Looking forward to getting out on my Duke as soon as I've finished buggering about with the forks (see elsewhere). I'm getting really short-tempered and I'm sure it's cos I'm missing my biking 'fix'. Your bike looks in excellent shape for having 12k under its wheels. I bit the bullet on mine and went for the de-cat and it wasn't as loud as I'd feared. A bit more 'braap', but certaily not offensive. And no cat makes oil changing so much more pleasant.

[Supermofo]

Cheers, having owned it since new I've tried to keep it nice whilst remembering it's for riding. I still really love it even though I'm considering changing. In an ideal world I'd keep it forever but can't justify 2 bikes

I've toyed with the decat but doubt I will now. I can imagine it's a lot easier at oil change time. I removed the cat last time. Did your fueling suffer for the decat?