Nuts and Bolts

[gspd]

Surface protectants (tried them all) are constantly evolving so I don't religiously stick to a particular brand.

GSPD, so........... how do you keep it so clean!

I can't let you on to all my tricks all at once, but OK, here's another time saver and eye candy booster.
Again, this is a non-concours mod that nobody really notices but keeps my bike looking 'new'.

Exhaust ceramic chrome coating https://www.koolcoatceramiccoatings.com ... tings.html eliminates and prevents corrosion, and practically eliminates cleaning and maintenance. Dirt and mud just don't stick to it now. And it doesn't turn blue. Even after a tough day of 'mudding' just a quick wipe to dust it off and it looks like new again. Cost me about $300 to coat my complete exhaust. This coating holds the heat in (which is apparently a good thing) so I didn't coat the header nuts, I just filed off all the rough casting lines and polished them up.

Note: An area that is always hard to access and clean is around and behind the front exhaust crossover. As you have all observed, that's where all the crap thrown off the front tire accumulates and cooks on and it's a PITA to access and clean. I eliminated my crossover pipe decades ago. Those crossovers do very little (or nothing at all?) performance wise on a 2 into 1 system (see HPN) and their "overall performance benefit" can be somewhat debatable (but not here, not now) even on some 2 into 2 systems. The bike sounds way better (to my ears) without it anyway. The bottom pic is after about 80,000 km.

[gspd]

Thought I'd share another GSPD personal 'make cleaning easier' tip....
This is just another one of my personal 'mods' that adds a hint of "SUBLIMINAL BLING" to my bike.
Nobody ever actually CONSCIOUSLY notices it.

If you're oblivious or indifferent to typically dull flasher lenses with bug guts and dirt and wax crusted in around the raised emblem and letters, move along, nothing to see here. However, if you've ever cleaned your flashers lenses with a toothbrush, read on.

Disclaimer:
This one's not for the concours d'analgance crowd and could even possibly be frowned upon by your local Barney Fife wannabee.
End of disclaimer.

(drumroll please)
I removed all the raised letters and emblems from my plastic flasher and tail light lenses and polished them smooth.
Takes about ten minutes each, with a sharp X-acto, some 2000 grit and a bit of compound.
Makes the lenses really sparkle (and way easier to keep that way).
Nobody will notice. sigh. Just another brick in the wall.

[melville]

I'd started that with Ernst on my bling-a-thon ten years ago but never quite finished (I had spare lenses). If they turn up in my next shop re-org I'll pick that up.

[gspd]

I'd started that with Ernst on my bling-a-thon ten years ago but never quite finished (I had spare lenses). If they turn up in my next shop re-org I'll pick that up.

Go for it, Mel!
For those who understand no explanation is necessary.
for those who don't understand, no explanation is possible.

2 new words: (remember you heard them here first)
SUBLINGINAL = subliminal bling.
HOBBSESSION = obsession with a hobby

Over the past three decades, this bike, which I purchased new in the crate in 1990, has somehow had pretty well every one of its parts modified, polished, massaged, clear-coated, powder-coated, painted or improved in one way or another. In most circles it still mostly comes across as 'new' and 'correct'. It doesn't scream 'custom' or 'modified' at all. Over the years its unique versatility led it from being 'one of my many bikes' to being 'my one and only bike". It now has over 530,000km, which is no big deal for an airhead. The fact that it looks AND runs way better than when it was brand new is a big deal, to me anyway.

[melville]

Hobbsession!!!!!

[MikeL46]

That bike is so clean that it is hard to notice the covers on the nuts/bolts. In fact you would get comments whether or not you covered those fasteners.
Mike

[spo123]

gspd......Your motorcycle has ALWAYS been a lesson in detailed cleanliness! Way back BEFORE you disappeared for those "missing years".
THANK YOU for your posts all along the way....

[gspd]

Thanks SPO -
I spend a lot of time keeping my bike like new.
Over this winter, I’ve done a lot of “maintenance".
I also blew a G-note again this year. (sigh!)
Really looking forward to a great next summer!

Things I did:
1) I noticed a slight sweat starting on the left side pushrod seals so I re-sealed the top end(s).
Everything was brand new in 2015, only 6 years and 95,000km have elapsed.
Most 'airheads' would have left it alone for another few years.
I took the time to give the valves a quick clean and lap while it was apart.
I also replaced the 1 large and 2 small base o-rings and both head gaskets.
Should stay nice and clean for a long while now.
PIC BELOW of a 6 year old 95k PR seal beside a brand new one.
Notice the ridges are flat on the old ones.
Size difference is due to camera angle.
The old ones feel like hard plastic, the new ones feel like yummy soft rubber.
I’ll sleep better now.
$80 for parts.

pr seals.jpeg (132.42 KiB) Viewed 941 times

2) My rear fender had a few stone chips so I repainted it again for the umpteenth time in 30 years.
Toyota white is a perfect match.
Rattle can job, wet sanded and buffed to a mirror shine. Looks better than the ‘industrial’ paint job that came on GS’s from the factory.
Also up graded the LED lighting a bit.
$50 for paint and supplies.

fender.jpeg (88.41 KiB) Viewed 941 times

3) Rebuilt the carbs; This time I just replaced the float bowl gaskets and all the o-rings.
I totally rebuilt my carbs in 2011, 10 years and 135,000km have elapsed.
I have new floats, needle valves and diaphragms in stock but the 10 year old ones still work perfectly and look new so I didn’t replace them this time. I’ve never had a ‘on the road’ carb failure but I always carry spare float, needle valve and diaphragm in my emergency kit just in case.
$40 parts.

carb.jpeg (80.44 KiB) Viewed 941 times

4) I had my rear Ohlins shock rebuilt.
It had no leaks and was working perfectly.
5 years, 80,000km from new.
Farmed this one out to my Ducati guru who insisted maintenance was away overdue. Maybe it was according to Ducati standards, but WTF, can’t hurt.
He changed the fluid and all internal seals.
Peace of mind - priceless.
$300 parts and labour.


5) Installed 2 new Metzeler Tourance tires.
$400.
See “Tires-Availability that is” thread.

6) Spark plugs, all new fluids, oil and filter, etc.
$100 approx.

And the beat goes on....

[Rob Frankham]

Excuse my ignorance (and the thread degradation) but what is the derivation of the term 'G-note'. I see from the internet that it is an informal reference to a $1,000 USD note . I would have expected 'K' as the accepted initial for a thousand (Kilo as in Kilometer, Kilogramme etc. etc.) but the only similar reference I can think of for 'G' would be 1,000,000,000 (Giga as in Gigabyte etc.)... I don't think even you could spend that much on an airhead ...

A serious question... just interested in the way language develops.

Rob

[Kurt in S.A.]

Since a 100-dollar bill is called a C-note, as in the Roman numeral for 100, I would have thought that the 1000-dollar amount might have been called an M-note! As I understand, or read it, the $1000 bill doesn't exist anymore.

Kurt in S.A.