tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19855260418121655962024-03-13T03:08:05.893-07:00Honda CB500VA former CB500 info siteUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-89283525739905244412010-10-11T14:50:00.000-07:002010-10-11T15:03:41.470-07:00The End!Finally got sick of the "off the road, fix it up, break it again" CB500. It's gone. I was nearly glad to see it go! But then again, after all the time, money and attention I gave it I'm still a little sad to see it go.<br /><br />Brought it down to <a href="http://www.mototechnic.ie/">MotoTechnic</a> run by some of the soundest lads around and had the fork seals done on it and an oil and filter change done while it was there. Took a tour of their workshop, drank copious amounts of coffee and had a look at some of the bikes they had for sale. After my fifth cup of coffee I was handed keys for a yellow VFR800 (the FI one, just pre-VTEC) and was told "put some juice in it and take it for a spin."<br /><br />Because I hadn't been on the CB much I decided I'd stay off the motorway and stick to riding it around in traffic. Man that V4 was smooth! It was well clean too. Standard can still on it but when the throttle was hammered there was a sweet sound out of it. Being followed for the first 10 minutes of my spin by a hearse wasn't the best of signs though! Ha ha!<br /><br />So anyway, I decided that it would be a decent bike to upgrade to from the CB. Upon my return I said I'd have a think about it, ring the insurance company to find out what the damage would be and talk to the credit union about a loan. I also wanted to get rid of the CB and my old (2007) DT on trade in. All done and dusted a few weeks later and I've now got a VFR in banana yellow! Wasn't too gone on the colour to begin with but it's kind of grown on me. That said, once I have the money I think I might get it resprayed.<br /><br />So that's it. The CB is gone. Such a great and easy bike to work on. I can't promise I won't buy another one again and do something special with it (cafe racer anyone?). I'll whack up the last of the pics at some point in the future but I'll have to make myself another blog for the VFR. First post will explain how to remove the saddle! Working without a Haynes on the VFR for the moment as I don't have the 40 odd quid for a new one from Halfords. Anyway, watch this space on that one!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-40700201352121980892010-04-12T14:58:00.000-07:002010-04-12T15:13:14.155-07:00Sigh...Why do I always end my posts with "Updates Soon"?<br /><br />The 7 inch headlight assembly I ordered arrived from eBay shortly after I posted last. I took it out of the box expecting something truly magnificent but was let down... The lovely chrome leadlight I had seen in the pictures and presumed was metal was made from chromed plastic. The only part of it which was metal was the rim.<br /><br />"Great," I thought. I could use the rim on the existing headlight bowl and I'd be back in business. Not so. The design wasn't the same. I probably should have guessed before I tried to make it fit.<br /><br />Anyway, I said enough is enough and went onto <a href="http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/" title="David Silver Spares">David Silver's website</a> and shelled out for a new headlight rim that I knew would definitely fit. It was delivered in about a week and I had to admire it for a few minutes before fitting it. (It actually makes the headlight bowl look a bit shabby to be honest!)<br /><br />Charged up the batter on Saturday two weeks ago and took the bike to the petrol station. Both tyres were pretty badly flat. The rear was about 4psi. Scary stuff!<br /><br />Gave the CB a bit of a wash and a thrash around by Raheny and the coast road last Saturday in order to make sure that the battery was ok and also that my left hand mirror bodge (more info on this at a later stage) would hold. The motivation for this was a run on Sunday down to Laragh and Glenmallure and boy was it totally worth it!<br /><br />The weather was absolutely amazing for it. Met up with a pile of GS riders a Ducati and a stunningly restored Norton 750 Commando and took some nice and not so nice roads through the Wicklow Mountains as far as Laragh for breakfast. Got a nice bit of a sunburn drinking coffee outdoors in Glenmallure to boot!<br /><br />I'm sad to say the CB isn't in the best condition though. Having it parked up for so long has taken its toll. The front forks felt a bit lumpy on the way home and when I stopped at the lights I realised why... Both seals had been spewing fork oil for the majority of the spin. Now I know the bike is well due a service but that just makes me feel bad!<br /><br />Some problems with point fixation and a general unease after being off the bike for so long has encouraged me to save for some lessons. Need to make a choice now. Do I keep the CB off the road and completely strip it down and restore it (and possibly modify it a little) or do I part it out?<br /><br />Decisions, decisions. I'll take some photos and do a complete breakdown of what I'd like to do in the coming weeks. Ideally if I can get a workshop set up where the shed is currently I'll take it off the road (and get the tax exemption form stamped by the Gardai!!) and tear it down and build it back up properly over a few months.<br /><br />Until next time, keep 'er in between the hedges.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-29608491249173858072010-01-28T04:19:00.000-08:002010-01-28T04:23:40.818-08:00On again / Off againSo about a month after getting the bike on the road I decided I'd take the headlight rim (which was rusted to bits!), remove all the chrome and respray it in gloss black.<br /><br />I managed to get it all cleaned up, sanded down and put filler on it. Then I sprayed 4 coats of primer onto it, wet sanding in between each coat. That was December.<br /><br />So the bike is sitting (battery probably well and truly dead) since then. Yesterday I decided just to go ahead and buy a new 7" headlamp. It was shipped today and will be fitted once it arrives.<br /><br />I've been procrastinating and having to use bloody public transport, all the time paying bike insurance. Smart idea? No not really...<br /><br />Updates soon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-76126513894313566682009-07-31T14:16:00.000-07:002009-07-31T14:27:52.577-07:00Back in business - nearly!I'm over the moon at the moment. Nearly back on the road! Brought the bike complete with rung engine mount (Sorry Tom!) down to <a href="http://tqsracing.com">TQSRacing</a> and tasked Tom with fitting the R&Gs. Given I had rung the mount and it was probably welded in there from the last 13 years the bike has been on the road it was a big ask. I have to say, Tom never fails to live up to the title of being a decent skin. Aright, enough of the brown nosing... but if you're on the Northside of Dublin and ya need a mechanic for anything from servicing to fault finding or whatever bikewise he's the man to go to!<br /><br />So got the bike back Wednesday the 22nd and after all the hours spent drilling the bolt out the total bill was very competitive! Even got the battery charged up before I collected it.<br /><br />Between one thing and another I didn't get a chance to start the bike since then and haven't taken her out for a proper spin yet. So tomorrow morning I'll be down to the motor factors to buy a charger. Then a good clean and a carb sync is in order.<br /><br />Still need to get down to the clutch to check the basket and replace the plates and springs with the heavy duty EBC ones I bought on ebay many moons ago. Then a service, new oil / oil filter and check the gap on the spark plugs at some point.<br /><br />Hopefully will be out for a spin on Sunday morning with a few of the lads. Think Peter has a new GS since the last time I saw him. Should be good fun! Will update (promise this time...) with pics and some more progress soon.<br /><br />Take 'er handyUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-82445897931533234672009-07-19T16:07:00.000-07:002009-07-19T16:20:19.857-07:00*Sigh*Ok, so I haven't updated the blog since February 27th. The bike has been off the road since January 27th... When I changed the Chain and Sprockets I brought the bike down to TQS Racing, got the fork seals and brake pads done and got the chain riveted properly (after the cheapo riveter breaking...).<br /><br />Rear pads didn't need replacing, front ones I replaced with HH sintered pads. Tom warned me that the front brakes felt a little lumpy but it could just be a case of running them in. On a quick test spin back from his workshop I felt they were lumpy and immediately got the idea of replacing the disc. Bought an EBC disc for the front and changed it over a weekend (must check my camera to see if I took photos, don't think I did though) and thanked myself for having bought an impact driver and a torque wrench in Halfords last year!<br /><br />Immediately when I took off the front disc and placed it on top of the new one it was apparent that the disc had warped. I hadn't noticed it with the old pads so I imagine that they had been worn in with the warp already present.<br /><br />I also purchased a set of R&G sliders (which on the CB replace the front engine mount) so I set to work trying to get the front engine mount out. Bad idea! Firstly, the nut on the engine mount looked like a sabre-tooth something or other had a go at it at some point in the past. What was a 16 nut was rung. I overcame this by using a 15 which I hammered onto the nut with a rubber mallet. Took about a half hour to get the blasted thing off. Then I proceed to break a socket wrench belonging to my old man (which I replaced with a Draper socket for him! Thanks for being understanding dad!) and I bent another cross wrench. Headed down to Halfords and bought myself a breaker bar to see if that would do the trick. No joy.<br /><br />In the process I managed to ring the bolt. So I left the bike sitting idle (I know, a sin, right?!) until I could afford to drop it round to Tom again. Dropped in the bike a week or two ago in order to give my stress levels a break and my wallet a bit of a workout.<br /><br />Still waiting on the bike back. Can't wait to get out for a spin... Devil's work is in idle hands though so I have been toying with the idea of converting my DT from dirtbike to SM (although how Super can a 125 SuperMoto be?)<br /><br />Will update soon with pictures of the work I've done (I know, promises promises) and plans for what I'm going to do to the bike. In the mean time I'm going to make the old disc into a clock which should be fun.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-13750077472110681092009-02-27T03:58:00.001-08:002009-02-27T04:04:15.692-08:00Small update...Got the chain and sprockets ordered, delivered and fitted there on valentines weekend. Stupid riveter I bought snapped though. Will post a full update and pics of what I got done (with the aul lad helping no less!) soon.<br /><br />Also got new fork seals, brake fluid and front brake pads sorted courtesy of Tom @ <a href="http://tqsracing.com/" alt="Irelands cheapest registered supplier and fitter for fi International restrictor kits">TQSracing</a> and he sorted out the riveting of the chain properly. Sound man, good prices too!<br /><br />Have ordered EBC clutch plates and springs and am going to sort a clutch basket also. <a href="http://www.cityspares.ie/">Cityspares</a> say they have one for 40 euro but I'll have to bring the one in from the bike for comparison. I reckon I'll sort this and do a service (Oil, Oil Filter and Air Filter) all at the same time.<br /><br />Keep watching for pics and more updates.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-61750140320366498702009-01-27T03:52:00.000-08:002009-01-27T03:59:11.764-08:00Sometimes there just aren't words...Minor disaster this morning. Chain snapped just down the road from home. I had heard a snap and lost power. Then I revved the engine I could hear a rattle. First I thought it was the clutch cable but clutch action seemed fine. So I pulled in. All sorts of things start going through your head in a situation like that. I even though, "f**k I hope it's not a piston or something!"<br /><br />Put the bike on it's stand and took a look. The chain was trailing behind the bike. Bike seems to be running fine but won't know if there's any serious damage until I get a look at it later on.<br /><br />Yanked the chain out from the front sprocket and had to walk the bike home. Was sweating buckets by the time I got back and got into work an hour and a half late.<br /><br />Will take a look later on to see what the story is with damage etc but at the very least I'll be replacing the chain. I'll possibly do the sprockets too while I'm at it.<br /><br />Bugger anyway...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-32962657634089441322009-01-26T14:44:00.001-08:002009-01-26T14:48:57.444-08:00Speedo cableOne of the days after work when the bike had been <a href="http://cb500v.blogspot.com/2008/12/thieving-littlethieves.html">tampered with</a> I noticed that the speedo was no longer working.<br /><br />As it says in the Haynes, always look for the simplest cause for the problem. So I required a new speedo cable. None of the shops I called into had the cable I was looking for but the place I bought my first bike said they could get the cable in the next week. That was in December.<br /><br />Until now I have been gauging my speed by looking at the rev counter and knowing what gear I'm in. For example, 4th gear @ 4,000rpm is about 60 km/h. Last week I bit the bullet and bought a new cable on ebay. It cost around 20 euro and was delivered this morning. Took 5 minutes to fit and now the speedo (not to mention the tripometer!) is working fine.<br /><br />I'll take come photographs and do up a post on how to change the speedo cable soon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-89772083735100156092009-01-25T15:39:00.000-08:002009-01-25T15:46:32.536-08:00Quick updateSo I haven't gotten the chance to do much with the bike in the last few weeks except for give it an occasional clean.<br /><br />The weather has been altogether cack the last few weeks too so my lovely CB is fast becoming my dirty winter hack!<br /><br />Have been ordering parts and have them all ready to go but just don't have the time and can't get the breaks to get them fitted. Currently in line are:<br /><ul><br /><li>New levers</li><br /><li>Clutch cable</li><br /><li>Brake pads - both front and rear</li><br /><li>an easy disconnect Fuel Coupling</li><br /><li>new coolant</li><br /></ul><br /><br />Going to have the brake pads done this week or else next week when I get paid. Would do these myself except on my daily driver I'd rather have something done professionally. Might replace the pads on the dt myself though (as soon as I get that project off the ground).<br /><br />Hopefully getting a workshop sorted in the coming months. Until next time...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-8892084442144855652009-01-16T04:28:00.000-08:002009-01-16T05:20:18.163-08:00GarageNight.tvJust came across this website: <a href="http://www.garagenight.tv/">http://www.garagenight.tv/</a>. Haven't had an opportunity to look at the videos yet but I like the idea.<br /><br />What I wouldn't give to have a workshop to do work on my bikes in... The carpark of an apartment block isn't the most ideal workplace! :-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-69606368928117090572008-12-09T11:15:00.000-08:002008-12-09T11:29:24.807-08:00Used Bike ChecklistJust found this when I was sorting out some mail... It's from the maintenance course I did last year (2007).<br /><br />Tyres:<br />- Thread depth (legal minimum of 1mm, in reality should be much more)<br />- Sidewall condition (check for cracks, rips, gouges or damage)<br /><br />Wheels:<br />- Check for loose spokes (if applicable), flat spots and trueness (with each wheel raised, spin them). For the front wheel put the bike on the centre stand and get another person to lean on the back and for the rear it should be enough to have the bike on the centre stand. If there is no centre stand you can balance the bike on the side stand carefully and carry this out.<br />- Check bearings (with the wheel raised look for side to side movement)<br /><br />Steering:<br />- Check headrace (with wheel raised pull back and forward on forks)<br />- Check control cables (check all for ease of movement and free play)<br />- Check fork seals (check for oil under and around seal covers)<br />- Check wheel alignment (run a chord or string from the front wheel to the rear)<br /><br />Electrical system:<br />- Check electric start (engine should turn over quickly and start instantly)<br />- General electrics (check all lights [indicators, main beam, dipped beam, high beam, brake light, number plate light], horn, kill switch, passing light (if present), oil pressure light, neutral light)<br />- Charging system (with high beams on allow to idle, lights should brighten when revved)<br /><br />Engine:<br />- Check engine oil level (oil should be filled to upper level)<br />- Check exhaust fumes (should be colourless if 4 stroke, slightly blue if a two stroke)<br />- Check engine noise (should be quiet with no chain or tapping like noises)<br /><br />Drive system:<br />- Chain/sprockets (check chain tension and slack. Pull chain at back off rear sprocket [you shouldn't be able to do this!], check condition of sprocket teeth)<br />- Drive shaft (check for excess movement in wheel and whine when driven)<br /><br />Brake systems:<br />- Hydraulic (check oil level, check pads for wear and check for oil leaks and freeness of wheel. there should be a slight brake drag.)<br />- Mechanical (check brake arm wear indicator, check brake cable for snapped strands and dragging)<br /><br />Clutch system:<br />- Hydraulic (check oil levels and leaks, check for clutch drag and slipping)<br />- Mechanical (check cable for snapped strands, clutch drag and slipping)<br /><br />Fuel system:<br />- Carbs/injectors (check for leaks and smell of fumes, start from cold with full choke, turn off choke and engine should idle)<br /><br />This is by no means a complete list in my opinion but if you're buying a bike and all of these look good then chances are the bike is ok.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-44626034406809754072008-12-09T10:07:00.000-08:002008-12-09T10:20:40.626-08:00Thieving little...thievesCame out of work on Friday to the bike. Took the locks off it and switched on the ignition. Noticed first that the bike wasn't in neutral and next that the killswitch was set to 'run' (I always switch it off). First thought was, some kid was sitting on the bike. Down the road a bit though I noticed that the rev counter was working but that the speedo cable was broken... *sigh*<br /><br />I'll have to get a new speedo cable for it and look into getting either an alarm or an immobiliser fitted too. Bah! Annoying!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-8714731286842217442008-11-17T09:17:00.000-08:002008-11-18T17:20:41.060-08:00Bar ends and indicatorsApologies for the lack of updates. Have been really busy in work. Haven't even had the chance to give the bike a clean or winter prep yet. Anyway, to fix up some of the damage done from when I dropped the bike I got Carbon bar ends and small oval indicators from Halfords. <br /><br />Two stumbling blocks arose when I got around to doing the repairs... The indicators were 23w (but still 12v) so I wasn't sure if they would work or not. They also had two wires (one black, one black with a white stripe) which didn't match the colours on the bike. In addition, the bar end on the left hand side was spinning but wouldn't come out. I <a href="http://www.biker.ie/forum/showthread.php?t=58101">posted to biker.ie</a> to get a bit of advice about the indicators and the lads put me on the right track.<br /><br />Honda's in general have:<br />- Green = Earth<br />- Orange = Live (LHS)<br />- Light Blue = Live (RHS)<br /><br />After talking to one of the lads in Northside Motorcycles I found out it didn't matter which wire went to which on the new ones, the indicator relay would take care of it. In the end I put the black/white wire into earth and the black wire into live on both sides.<br /><br />Replacing the indicators is easy enough but there are a few bolts which need to be undone. The headlight assembly needs to come off for the front indicators and the saddle, grab rail, rear bars (don't know the name for these, they're highlighted in the photo) and tail unit (seat cowl for ye yanks) will have to come off for the rear indicators to be done. Here are <a href="#">instructions on how to remove the tail unit</a> and also <a href="#">how to dismantle the headlight assembly</a> (both todo for the moment, sorry!)<br /><br />The bar ends annoyed me somewhat. The one on the right hand side screwed out straight away leaving the handlebar insert in place. Because the left hand one was bent though, it meant that not matter how much I screwed it counterclockwise (lefty loosey, righty tighty!!) the bar end wouldn't budge. Eventually I took a hacksaw to the bar end and it fell away with a satisfying *ping*.<br /><br />Bar end weights aid in the steering of the bike and vibration in the handlebars. I was worried that they might affect the handling of the bike but so far they don't seem to have changed the feel much and they look a lot better than the old ones. If you want to know the theory behind bar end weights, Manic Salamander has a <a href="http://www.manicsalamander.com/bar_end_faq.htm#bar9">Bar End FAQ</a>.<br /><br />The old bar ends: <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SSNkcXUXffI/AAAAAAAAADo/fWZHNTZSakk/s1600-h/original_bar_ends.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SSNkcXUXffI/AAAAAAAAADo/fWZHNTZSakk/s320/original_bar_ends.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270166427412168178" /></a><br /><br />The new ones: <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SSNktF0mtRI/AAAAAAAAADw/EZaf4jeP9I8/s1600-h/blogging_006_resize.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 257px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SSNktF0mtRI/AAAAAAAAADw/EZaf4jeP9I8/s320/blogging_006_resize.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270166714773320978" /></a><br />(Would ya look at the filth of that front caliper... must get that cleaned up and sort out some new brake pads!)<br /><br />The new indicators are a lot smaller than the old ones (which look like elephants ears when you compare them) but after a while I got used to the look of them and now I think they actually quite suit the bike. Here's a comparison pic for you... (excuse the rubbish lighting in the new pictures, it was twilight when I was taking them...I'll try to take some better pictures during the daytime soon).<br /><br />Front indicator comparison:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SSNnDcCxOTI/AAAAAAAAAD4/RKWBLXFxaeg/s1600-h/front_indicators_comp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SSNnDcCxOTI/AAAAAAAAAD4/RKWBLXFxaeg/s320/front_indicators_comp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270169297718688050" /></a><br /><br />Rear indicator comparison:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SSNon0pK5nI/AAAAAAAAAEA/5rhqgldk6HM/s1600-h/rear_indicators_comp.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SSNon0pK5nI/AAAAAAAAAEA/5rhqgldk6HM/s320/rear_indicators_comp.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270171022309123698" /></a><br /><br />Now I'm wondering do I keep the headlight the same or change it for twin "streetfighter" headlights? Ah, where will the spending end!! The other option there is either to get the current headlight rechromed or to have it media blasted and to paint/powdercoat it black...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-37151426274249613502008-10-25T06:05:00.000-07:002008-10-25T06:14:08.830-07:00To windshield or not to windshieldSo, while looking at repairing the indicators after I dropped the bike I had to remove the headlight. When I started loosening the bolts (12mm bolts, one each side) I noticed the windshield was coming loose. Afraid I had broken one of the fixings when I dropped the bike last Sunday I took hold of it from the top in order to keep undoing the headlight bolt and the entire windshield came off the bike in my hands.<br /><br />Only when I looked at it did I realise that it was that way by design and that I hadn't broken it <b>*phew*</b>! I've kept it off the bike for the moment. It certainly makes the CB look a lot meaner but the difference while riding is noticable. At speeds of 50/60 km/h (30/40 mph for you imperial nuts) there is a noticable pressure on my chest. Not like someone punching me but a consistent push from the wind all the same. Once I sort the indicators I'll probably put the windshield back on (after a good polish and clean up of course).<br /><br />Here are some pics for those interested:<br /><br /><i>Front:</i><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SQMZGFElyuI/AAAAAAAAADM/P-mXWI_zojU/s1600-h/ws_resize_001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SQMZGFElyuI/AAAAAAAAADM/P-mXWI_zojU/s320/ws_resize_001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261076381930212066" /></a><br /><br /><i>From the side:</i><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SQMZGY2NqWI/AAAAAAAAADU/-vVGtch5W8Q/s1600-h/ws_resize_002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SQMZGY2NqWI/AAAAAAAAADU/-vVGtch5W8Q/s320/ws_resize_002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261076387238619490" /></a><br /><br /><i>Detail of the fitting that slots onto the headlight bolt:</i><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SQMZG-dZbiI/AAAAAAAAADc/3eI1x3ahkIk/s1600-h/ws_fitting_detail_003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 274px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SQMZG-dZbiI/AAAAAAAAADc/3eI1x3ahkIk/s320/ws_fitting_detail_003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261076397335080482" /></a><br /><br />I'll throw up some pics comparing the bike with and without the windshield soon too.<br /><br /><i>Edited 25/10/08: Headlight bolts are 12mm not 14mm</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-11840827804426222062008-10-20T08:41:00.000-07:002008-10-25T05:52:41.138-07:00Dropped the bike yesterday...Bah, so embarrasing. Grabbed a handful of brake when I shouldn't have on gravel in a car park. Bike went from underneath me. Ended up dropping the Cibby. Smashed the front left indicator, bent the bar end and cracked the rear left indicator. Going to replace all of the indicators with ones I bought in Halfords and also replace the stock bar ends with carbon fibre ones.<br /><br />Will post some pictures of the damage and of the repairs also soon.<br /><br /><i>Update 25/10/08:</i> Pictures of the damage. Circled in green in the gimp (my first attempt so forgive the amateurish nature of the circles) and a close up of the engine casing damage.<br /><br />Damaged areas:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SQMWMtKtBeI/AAAAAAAAAC8/oAAqtUPItuU/s1600-h/full_image_marked.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SQMWMtKtBeI/AAAAAAAAAC8/oAAqtUPItuU/s320/full_image_marked.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261073197237601762" /></a><br /><br />The Engine casing (well, gear box casing really):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SQMWMkZrYZI/AAAAAAAAADE/QJhHCByEfVc/s1600-h/engine_casing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SQMWMkZrYZI/AAAAAAAAADE/QJhHCByEfVc/s320/engine_casing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261073194884489618" /></a><br /><br />There's also a slight dent in the front left hand side of the tank from where the handlebars must have hit (either that or a large rock) which I'll get taken out when I respray the bike.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-17197365724855474072008-09-12T10:54:00.000-07:002008-10-01T12:48:02.106-07:00Taxing TimesNormally in Ireland you can do your Motor Tax online. There are only a number of instances in which you can't. Otherwise you either have to go to the Motor Tax Office yourself, or send in a form (accompanied by your Registration Cert) by Post.<br /><br />One such instance is if the bike has been out of tax for more than three months. I knew that the person I bought the bike from hadn't taxed it so I rang the Tax Office to find out how long it was out of tax. November, 2006. That's right. Two years!<br /><br />Luckily, you are only liable for tax on a bike since the date you purchased it. Furthermore, if you can prove the bike was off the road (usually just a signature on a form from the Garda Siochana) you won't be liable until you've sent the form in. I decided to not bother with the form signing lark and sent the RF100 in with the Reg Cert.<br /><br />Tax for the year was €73, with a €14 penalty for late payment. Not bad all in all. I also bought a tax disc holder from Liam at <a href="http://www.lmemotorcycles.com/">LME Motorcycles</a> for 15 yoyos.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SOPSXRhWucI/AAAAAAAAACY/4qpbKOSBp-o/s1600-h/Blogging+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SOPSXRhWucI/AAAAAAAAACY/4qpbKOSBp-o/s320/Blogging+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252272887726258626" /></a><br /><br />Most tax disc holders work the same way. They've got allen key bolts with small number 4 nuts (that's what she said) at the rear. Undo the six allen bolts, put the disc underneath the rubber seal and redo the bolts. The holder and bolt detail are shown in the picture below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SOPT0qg24FI/AAAAAAAAACo/E3hyJvPUQ20/s1600-h/Blogging+003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SOPT0qg24FI/AAAAAAAAACo/E3hyJvPUQ20/s320/Blogging+003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252274492162891858" /></a><br /><br />Tax discs must be fitted to the left hand side of your bike in Ireland (so if you are stopped both the Garda can inspect the disc safely and not with his behind in traffic!) and also must not cover the registration number in any way. This was a famous trick of bikers over the years but recently has been clamped down on with hefty fines for doing so. So, to keep in line with these two regulations I decided to fit the tax disc holder to the chain gaurd just above the swingarm. It's nicely protected from being kicked/bumped off to easily and it's concealed from the eyes of passing thieves (well, the unobservant ones anyway).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SOPSi6zTFcI/AAAAAAAAACg/ZyHYaMYLFxQ/s1600-h/Blogging+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SOPSi6zTFcI/AAAAAAAAACg/ZyHYaMYLFxQ/s320/Blogging+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252273087785932226" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-2950778819383375442008-09-08T11:13:00.000-07:002008-09-08T15:20:09.155-07:00Some pics...So I'll give it to you straight. No arty angles or half naked birds on it or anything (well, not yet... heh heh)<br /><br />From the front:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SMWkYrkPMfI/AAAAAAAAAB0/bpRLZxpxYYQ/s1600-h/001_front.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SMWkYrkPMfI/AAAAAAAAAB0/bpRLZxpxYYQ/s320/001_front.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243778085061341682" /></a><br /><br />From the Right hand side:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SMWkfnz1v7I/AAAAAAAAAB8/9E1h0C_2xBY/s1600-h/002_right.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SMWkfnz1v7I/AAAAAAAAAB8/9E1h0C_2xBY/s320/002_right.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243778204312125362" /></a><br /><br />Left hand side:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SMWkvpPu0oI/AAAAAAAAACE/N9w_o9bZ82o/s1600-h/003_left.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SMWkvpPu0oI/AAAAAAAAACE/N9w_o9bZ82o/s320/003_left.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243778479575454338" /></a><br /><br />and from the rear (that's what she said):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SMWk2jlc_TI/AAAAAAAAACM/a5OV3R48Stk/s1600-h/004_rear.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rqOPHlQSOHc/SMWk2jlc_TI/AAAAAAAAACM/a5OV3R48Stk/s320/004_rear.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243778598315031858" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-91743211265070296522008-09-02T08:55:00.000-07:002008-09-16T17:52:54.522-07:00The First ServiceOne of the main reasons I bought an older bike was so I could fix it up myself. I had originally intended to buy a bike that totally wasn't running, ride my DT during the week and fix it up in my spare time but things change. I nearly completed (missed the last evening) the <a href="http://www.pobalscoilrosmini.ie/night.html">Motorcycle Maintenance course in Rosmini</a> run by Martin Cummins so I felt up to the challenge.<br /><br />So anyway, once I got the bike home had a good long look at it. Then I had a cup of tea and took another good long look at it. My mate Ted told me "You should get that bike serviced pronto lad" so I took his advice, picked up:<br /><ul><br /><li>2 new spark plugs - NGK CR8EH-9</li><br /><li>10w30 oil</li><br /><li>new oil filter</li><br /><li>new air filter</li><br /></ul><br /><br />The air and oil filter came from <a href="http://www.hiflofiltro.com/">Hi Flo Filtro</a> and the spark plugs are <a href="http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/">NGK's</a>.<br /><br />Also grabbed some rags (Tesco value dishcloths, they're savage for the cleaning) and a large bottle of white spirits. Headed down to Ted's gaff on a saturday and got to doing the service. We loosely followed the <a href="http://groups.msn.com/CB500CLUB/diyservicing.msnw">DIY servicing guide</a> from the CB500 owners club.<br /><br />To start off, we let the bike rest a little and had a cup of tea. Given the engine was still too warm to do the oil change straight away we started off by cleaning the bike. Took off the two small front fairings, the two side panels, the seat and undid the bolt for the petrol tank. Instead of trying to take the petrol tank off (there was still a fair amount of fuel in it) we just propped it up on a mallet. Since the engine was still cooling, ted went about cleaning the chain of all the accumulated gunk and grime. He soaked a dishcloth in white spirits and held it against the chain while I slowly turned the rear wheel. The amount of crap that came off the chain didn't bear thinking about!<br /><br />Spark plugs were first to come out. I'd say they hadn't been changed in a good while. No worrying discolouration on them but they were definitely due a change. In with the new ones and reconnected the HT leads. Cleaned the fairings and side panels with white spirits both sides and then wiped down with WD-40 on the outside. LM grease on the rubber "rivets" and cleaned up the bolts with WD before fitting the fairings and side panels back on. Replaced the first two bolts on the bike with hex head bolts for the side panels. The ones that were on it had definitely seen better days. They're the first of many I'll replace.<br /><br />Next up was replacing the air filter. Three 8mm bolts need to be removed and the air filter just slides out like a cassette. If the air filter gets stuck there's a cover on the other side which has 2 cross-head screws on it, remove that and you can push out the air filter. Now, changing the air filter leads me to believe it had been in there for quite some time on this bike because one of the bolts was spinning in the casing. <a href="http://groups.msn.com/CB500CLUB/workshoptech.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=49256&LastModified=4675679803082047339">Read here</a> for more information on that one. Anyway, couldn't get the last bolt out and didn't want to be grinding off a bolt right beside the petrol tank so I undid the other two bolts and spun the casing around the last one and replaced the filter.<br /><br />By this time the engine had cooled enough for the oil to be viscous but not burning hot. So I took out the oil filler cap / dipstick. Slowly undid the bolt on the bottom of the sump. Once it was loose enough to be able to undo it with my hand I put the wrench aside and with upward pressure took the bolt out. With the oil change you should put down plenty of newspaper and have a container large enough to hold 4 litres of oil. Then I let the oil drain from the bike. It'll take about 5 minutes to fully drain and there'll always be a few drips you don't expect. I took this time to give the sump nut a bit of a clean. Then, keeping the newspaper in place to prevent any sullying of the driveway I moved the oil container forward until it was underneath the oil filter.<br /><br />The oil filter unscrewed easily enough with an oil filter wrench. I used the type that looks a touch like a cross between a g-clamp and a jubilee clip. Let the oil come out of that, wrap it in newspaper and put it aside. (They can be used as <a href="http://www.likeastory.com/boards/cgi/noncgi/Forum8/HTML/000848.html">rifle silencers</a> if you want to reuse them!) Screwed the new one on hand-tight and I was nearly done. I torqued it slightly with the oil filter wrench also just to make sure it was on properly but according to the Haynes hand-tight is OK.<br /><br />Then filling the new oil was next. Remember that most bikes will have how many cc's of oil to put into the engine but they don't neccessarily include the amount that sits in the oil filter. That was a handy tip from Ted. I poured the oil in slowly and with the aid of a funnel a litre at a time for 3 litres. Then I put in the dipstick (without screwing it on) and checked the level. Started the bike for a brief couple of seconds (with the dipstick on!!) and poured about another 200ml of oil into the engine. Each time I poured a little more oil in I checked the level. When the oil was finally near enough to the max mark but not too close I screwed on the dipstick and started the bike for 30 seconds. Then one last check of the oil level.<br /><br />So that was it... Service nearly over. Made sure I had both the fairings on properly, the tank back on securely, the seat back on properly and that I didn't have any spare bolts lying around. Then a final check of all of the bolts I had loosened to make sure they were on tight.<br /><br />Finally, I put some chain lube on the chain (it was in serious need of it!) and tidied up the tools. Then after another cuppa spun home. Quite an enjoyable evening spent servicing the bike all in all and a decent start on spanner work on the bike.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-22605909697816818172008-08-26T03:08:00.000-07:002008-11-13T04:12:26.476-08:00To DoSo here's the To Do list for the bike at the moment. I'll add things to it and mark things off as done every once and a while (more like when I get around to it!), any suggestions as to upgrades or modifications are more than welcome, just post a comment below.<br /><br />(In no particular order!!)<br /><br /><strike>Oil change</strike> - <a href="http://cb500v.blogspot.com/2008/09/first-service.html">done</a><br /><strike>New oil filter</strike> - <a href="http://cb500v.blogspot.com/2008/09/first-service.html">done</a><br /><strike>New spark plugs (2)</strike> - <a href="http://cb500v.blogspot.com/2008/09/first-service.html">done</a><br /><strike>Clean off crud from chain and apply oil (ongoing)</strike> - <a href="http://cb500v.blogspot.com/2008/09/first-service.html">done</a><br /><strike>Replace air filter</strike> - <a href="http://cb500v.blogspot.com/2008/09/first-service.html">done</a><br /><strike>Clean up fairings and tank</strike> - <a href="http://cb500v.blogspot.com/2008/09/first-service.html">done</a><br /><strike>Replace rear view mirrors</strike> - <a href="http://cb500v.blogspot.com/#">done</a><br /><strike>Clean front wheel</strike> - <a href="http://cb500v.blogspot.com/#">done</a><br /><strike>Adjust gear selection lever</strike> - <a href="http://cb500v.blogspot.com/#">done</a><br /><strike>Tax Bike and Fit tax disc holder</strike> - <a href="http://cb500v.blogspot.com/2008/09/taxing-times.html">done</a><br />Clean rear wheel<br />Spray forward controls black<br />Spray footpeg metal<br />Replace footpegs<br /><strike>Refurbish bar end weights</strike> - <a href="#">done</a><br />Replace front brake and clutch levers (black)<br />Change brake line and clutch cable (with braided hoses)<br />Remove windshield (maybe in the summer)<br />Replace/refurbish chrome on headlamp<br />Change bulb on headlamp for xenon or similar<br />Change coolant<br />Replace jubilee clips on coolant hoses<br />Spray grabrail black<br />Remove exhaust and refurbish<br />Remove header pipes and refurbish (possibly wrap them?)<br />Clean rad cover<br />Clean radiator and restore paint on sides<br />Repair seat (torn at rear)<br />Install immobiliser<br />Add disc lock holder to rear footpeg<br />Adjust slack in chain<br />Clean up rear swingarm<br />Replace fork seals<br />Refurbish fork legs<br />Change brake pads (front and rear)<br />Clean brake calipers (front and rear)<br />Fix steering lock mechanism (locks to the right but not to the left)<br />Fix stiff choke<br />Repair either valve or slow puncture in front tyre (possibly replace both tyres for winter)<br />Refurbish handlebars<br />Add locking valve caps<br />Check valve clearances (and possibly replace shims)<br />Install quick release fuel coupler<br />New Fuel filter (this is inside the tank, could be tricky)<br />New HT leads<br /><strike>Replace indicators with more modern ones, not super small but potentially LED ones</strike> - <a href="#">done</a><br />Install LED "running lights" into new footpegs (diagram this idea)<br />Fuel gauge for clocks (no more relying on tripometer)<br />Sure may aswell have a clock too!<br />Change fork oil<br />Replace handlebar grips<br />Add a fenda-extenda (mudflap)<br />Possibly add a rear hugger<br />Respray all fairings black (and fill in Form R111 for motor tax purposes)<br />Get a genuine toolkit (or a genuine tool bag and quality tools to suit)<br />Replace all bolts with hex bolts (get a tub of bolts from horsepower.ie)<br />Replace engine bolts (careful with this, will need a bottle-jack)<br />New cap pivot (there's one missing)<br />Balance carbs<br />Change brake fluid<br /><br />Eventually I'll probably rejet the carbs, put on a carbon exhaust and throw in a K&N air filter too.<br /><br />Found this page great as a parts reference page <a href="http://www.cmsnl.com/search.php?model_id=1580">http://www.cmsnl.com/search.php?model_id=1580</a><br /><br />Possibly also replace the footpegs with <a href="http://www.allmoto.ie/products.php?sec=26&subsec=0&product_id=92">MX style ones</a><br /><br />I'll be adding things to this list over time too, so keep an eye out.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1985526041812165596.post-62373763834099063002008-08-25T09:20:00.000-07:002008-08-28T04:25:47.352-07:00IntroI bought my Honda CB500 on the last day of June 2008. It was first registered in Great Britain in 1997 and imported to Ireland sometime in 2001.<br /><br />It's in fairly tidy shape for it's age (11 years old, almost the same age as my nephew!) and I christened it by taking it from Galway back to Dublin on ~200km of a trip.<br /><br />I'll post up a few pics of it shortly.<br /><br />I'll be doing a <a href="http://cb500v.blogspot.com/2008/08/to-do.html">To Do list</a> for it also and will update my progress as I go along. Have the trusty Haynes which came with it at purchase (thanks TB!).<br /><br />With ~52,500km on the clock it's done a lot but with the engine rated for 300,000km it's got a whole lot more to do!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0