Happy new bike day.... WTF, what do you mean it's a Yamaha ???

[weeksy]

It's well known that leathers shrink as you get older.

One cure is less pies and beer.

They're brand new. Only worn once. I've not grown. When I bought them in shop they were fine, but on the bike I can't move freely enough. In a sitting on bike perspective they're ok, but I do like the baboon position and style of riding.


25-03-2016 Rockingham trackday photographs by Steve Weeks - Flickr2BBcode LITE

It's not a question of whether it's right or wrong, best or worst, but it's what I like and I can't do it in this suit

[weeksy]

But doesn't it all go out the same bank account?

No.

But that's irrelevant to the discussion. If I wanted the money she'd give me it, but that's not how we work. So let's move on from discussing stuff that's all a bit personal

[weeksy]

I've noticed on the last few days it's deffo the end of summer, even though it's dry, it's colder than it was, especially in the morning.

So the decision was taken to refit the heated grips. I prefer standard grips as they're both thinner and softer. But heated grips work.


2021-08-30_10-23-52 by Steve Weeks - Flickr2BBcode LITE

[Dodgy69]

I use heated grips all year round. Fingers work best when comfy. Not hot days though.

[Skub]

I use heated grips all year round. Fingers work best when comfy. Not hot days though.

Me too.

I do most of my riding in the early morning and there have been very few trips this year where I haven't used the heated grips at all.

Best feckin invention ever.

[Skub]

I've noticed on the last few days it's deffo the end of summer, even though it's dry, it's colder than it was, especially in the morning.

So the decision was taken to refit the heated grips. I prefer standard grips as they're both thinner and softer. But heated grips work.

Had you no bother getting the grips off?

I was thinking of changing bars at some stage,but didn't want to balls up the heated grips.

[weeksy]

I've noticed on the last few days it's deffo the end of summer, even though it's dry, it's colder than it was, especially in the morning.

So the decision was taken to refit the heated grips. I prefer standard grips as they're both thinner and softer. But heated grips work.

Had you no bother getting the grips off?

I was thinking of changing bars at some stage,but didn't want to balls up the heated grips.

I used grip glue which is basically a rubber glue like puncture glue so while it sticks it's not bonkers. Screwdriver down between, squirt of gt85 and wiggling and it's all good.

[mikeycee]

I've always used hairspray, I have a can of it in the garage that gets used exclusively for changing handlebar grips.

The best way I've found to get them off is like Weeksy says a screwdriver pushed down to create a gap, then a squirt of washing up liquid, then a squirt of water and wiggle. Then wash the bar off with water and dry it, cover with hairspray and slide the new grip on. The hairspray dries and sticks it on.

The good thing about using washing up liquid is it's easy to wash off, if you use an oil then it's harder to get off.

Same method as above for me, But I use alcohol based hand sanitiser at the moment - Works a treat.

[weeksy]

Out on the XSR900 this morning.... the rear tyre that was past it's best before going to Silverstone and Pembrey is now VERY VERY past it's best and horrible over the white lines etc... It doesn't massively bother me these days as i'm not pushing on hard... but it's certainly something i need to get swapped in the not too distant future. Happily i've got another brand new pair in the loft, however for the end of this year i may just swap the rear for a worn one i've got. Get the last few miles of this year done and then fit brand new stuff both ends for spring.

[weeksy]

Rear tyre is once again completely dead on the XSR900, the bike now has 3200 miles on it and i've killed 2 rears. This will be the first front swap, although i'm not sure it needs the front doing, i may as well as i've got a pair in the loft.

The S21s whilst being really nice, are really not filling me with inspiration on their lifespan lol. Admittedly they've done 2-3 trackdays each year but an average of 1600 miles out of a rear isn't exactly inspiring is it.

[Yorick]

Rear tyre is once again completely dead on the XSR900, the bike now has 3200 miles on it and i've killed 2 rears. This will be the first front swap, although i'm not sure it needs the front doing, i may as well as i've got a pair in the loft.

The S21s whilst being really nice, are really not filling me with inspiration on their lifespan lol. Admittedly they've done 2-3 trackdays each year but an average of 1600 miles out of a rear isn't exactly inspiring is it.

I've put 2,000 miles on a Dunlop Sportsmart TT and still got well over double that left.
Over half was silly speeds in Spain with the lads.

I can recommend these:)

[Tricky]

Rear tyre is once again completely dead on the XSR900, the bike now has 3200 miles on it and i've killed 2 rears. This will be the first front swap, although i'm not sure it needs the front doing, i may as well as i've got a pair in the loft.

The S21s whilst being really nice, are really not filling me with inspiration on their lifespan lol. Admittedly they've done 2-3 trackdays each year but an average of 1600 miles out of a rear isn't exactly inspiring is it.

I wonder whether you're a bit fussier than the rest of us in what constitutes dead, as although I only got1-1.5k out of the original S20 rear on my first MT10, I got 2 or 3 times that out of S21s on it and the SP that follwed it.
But at least yours has still got air in it- I went to go out on the 890 yesterday and rear was flat, bloody flint everywhere over here!




Bit of a shame as arguably it still has loads of life left in it- it's done just over 1k miles , which of course includes Pembrey - my (slight )dilemma is whether to trplce it with another Power cup, or stick a pair of S22s on it , which will be just as good a track tyre at my pace, and much more suitable as a road tyre, in case I do venture of to the Highlands or somewhere in the not too distant
I'll probably plug it for now while I decide

[weeksy]

Dunno mate, cameras don't really show profiles well I think but it certainly rides like crap at the moment with any road ridge really throwing the back end all over.

I think I'll do this set and potentially swap to something that wears a little better next time.

[weeksy]

Wheels out for new rubber on Tuesday

2021-09-19_06-27-34 by Steve Weeks - Flickr2BBcode LITE


2021-09-19_06-27-47 by Steve Weeks - Flickr2BBcode LITE


2021-09-19_06-28-03 by Steve Weeks - Flickr2BBcode LITE


2021-09-19_06-28-15 by Steve Weeks - Flickr2BBcode LITE

[Skub]

New tyres are bliss. If any manufacturer ever manages to keep that new feeling throughout the life of the tyre,I'd pay double the price.

[weeksy]

New rubber is on, bit not time to ride today.

[weeksy]

2021-09-22_09-42-00 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Took it out this morning and as you'd expect, it feels a shit tonne nicer now

Sadly though, the roads were chaos with school drops and there was a load of foggy/misty/yukkiness. So wasn't exactly the greatest ride out ever.

Heated grips were superb though

[weeksy]

Funny just how different the handling is with new rubber fitted, went roundabout surfing to get it all the way to the edge... RHS done but can't get the left over as there's no decent lefts about.

It tips in WAY faster on the front now though. The front i had one was the front that came on the bike, S20. I didn't swap the front when i swapped the previous rear. S21 is now on the front and the rear.

[weeksy]

Sadly, it's not moved since this one.... The only day the weather has played ball really was Sunday, but we were away racing MTBs so didn't get out. Then we had the fuel of despair situation so again it's not moved.

[Mr Moofo]

2021-09-22_09-42-00 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Took it out this morning and as you'd expect, it feels a shit tonne nicer now

Sadly though, the roads were chaos with school drops and there was a load of foggy/misty/yukkiness. So wasn't exactly the greatest ride out ever.

Heated grips were superb though

Did you get round to sorting the drive way?