My 10cts

[Petrus]

and now for something completely different - Monty Python

I think I have solved my question about why the bike has caught me out twice now, toppling over at slow/no speed. I find it disconcerting, unsettling as it is somehow different from over half a century of experiences. It is different from a heavy bike simply gradually getting ´heavier´ as it is leaning over. I needed to put my finger on it; just hád to figure it out.
It occurs with the steering turned and the bike leaning inwards. Imo it is the weight of the cilinder heads increasingly upsetting the balance. The inside one moving further away from the tire patch axis, the outside one towards it and there you go.
The cilinder weights change from balancing each other out to an increasing overturning moment. I think this unexpected addítional weight transfer is the crux.

 

[Noelpolar]

Fwiw.... I tend to tight turn my R18 like this:

My thoughts were that the long wheel base requires me to lower (push down) the bike more to get a tighter turning radius.... off course dragging some rear brake etc.

 

[Petrus]

Fwiw.... I tend to tight turn my R18 like this:

It is not thát problem I tried solve.
Both was with no option to move forward.
It was the éxtra weight increase, the more than just the cog leaning over which sparked my interest.
I know a bike gets ´heavier´ the further it leans over. The R18 though gets éxtra heavy when leaning into the inside. I did not expect thát.
Just explained/demonstrated it to a very patient charming. She got it when she saw the cilinders move left/right with turning the bars. Yes the principle is the same as with any bike but the balancing/not balancing cilinders adds to it. Yes it is still the same basics of the cog moving over the contaxt axis just that the cilinders add to it shifting móre, exagerating it.

 

[Petrus]

On the lighter side of things, received a phone call from a unknown caller. Usually ignore those but this one was from ´Málaga´ which had tried call twice past week so took the call.
It was BMW Málaga. As I wrote earlier I chased the double technical warning on the gvt traffic site. They had my enquiry referred and contacted me to inform me that in the BMW database my bike is registered as modified.
I had already been told by the seller and did not realise that BMW still had the enquiry open. I expressed my thanks for the confirmation and the follow up. Very indeed.

 

[Petrus]

And as expected the Chinese pedal was early....
A doddle to fit. Stuck a piece of stiffish rubber between the axle and gearbox casing to push the pedals on easier. Not 10 minutes in all.
Even if not a functional improvement because of only shoesize 41 EU, it does add another classic touch:

 

[Petrus]

Took the photo upon request by a friend but it is ´worth´ sharing here me thinks, seeing BMW mentions their exploits at the IoM TT with such GREAT emphasis as their greatest motorsports feat to date.

 

[Petrus]

Added the passenger hand strap. A legal requirement over here, like footrests, if you have 2 up seats.
Not sure about the look. Thought it would be off but it looks more classic really.




The Sprint filter is in and looks véry well made. The ´felt´ looks smooth, the weave tight. Real pleased it needs no liquid impregnation.
When you have the fliter in hands it is diminuitive. The air passage is 150 cm2 only. A mundane runabout car with 1800 cc engine has 3, 4 times that!! And thát has four 450cc gulps nicle distributed over two crank revolution, not two 900 cc closer together. Small wonder the engine responded strongly to Roland Sands´ mods.
Thus decided to not put the filter cover on; it needs gulp all the air it cán.

 

[Petrus]

and back.
Twisties, twisties and more twisties, just about all single track. Used to be dirt track camino and was tarmaced over. Thoroughly enjoyed it even though it is more suited to my Vespa Primavera
Had to fill up with E95 (91 in US) like last time. Runs ok on it ofcourse, just picks up nicer from low revs two up through the mountains.

Photos of breakfast in bar a small village on route. One half pan tostado first drizzled with olive oil, then freshly rasped tomato. Second half cut in four for the four homemade spreads. Came with slices of ham and chorizo. Of course we had olives to go with it. Even the coffee was perfect. Less than 10€ for two.



On route we dropped by at a classic vehicle meeting, saying hello to friends and fellow club members.
Over here it is very much not the usual as in UK or US. The motorbikes are mostly small capacity two strokes, dominantly Spanish manufacture.
Cars are mainly Italian and French, either OEM or license built in Spain. Héavy presence of Seat 600s. An endearingly high % of the cars has family heritage; once bought new by granddad.

 

[Petrus]

Now some ´social´observations about yesterday´s ride.

At the classic meet, several stopped to look at the bike. One gentleman was tótally smitten, áwed. He simply could not on and his wife had to physically drga him off to register his car. Later, when I walked over the terrain he clampled on to me again like something that properly clamps on and again his wife put him straight. He was so enthused she was embaressed

Last part of the ride we parked while having a drink with tapas, helmets locked on the rear. Next to ours two GS bikes. One more all, the other more on road oriented.
When we got back at the bike, the GSs were gone and mine was in reverse gear

 

[Petrus]

Ordered the knee wubbahs for the tank.
Once costly Wünderlich for Germany, now El Cheapo 18€ free shipping from China.

 

[Petrus]

Feedback on the heel-toe gear change.
Needed no time to get accustomed and I mostly use it for the lower three gears.

As observed I have only size 41Euro shoes and I can imagine that for larger boots it gets in the way.

Bottm line is that functionally it does not add a lot tbh. but it ít extra cool; both the look and the heel shifting.

 

[Petrus]

went out for a mountain spin:



now back at the appartment. Charming is changing in nice weather mc gear for a two up less mountainous trip.

 

[Petrus]

Very enjoyable ride that was. Simply ideal weather.
Both in not-biker gear: Charming had donned her bright yellow leather jacket over a see through top. Me a khaki canvass jacket, yellow ´gardening´gloves, cotton chinos and low Vans.
We went for haute cuisine lunch at a most unexpected place: The cantina of a camping run by a real chef. No helmet locks needed; just hang em on the mirrors.

Anyway, the ride: All seconday roads into the flattish part of the Andalucian interior here, north of the southern climate divide.
Underway past the flamingo reserve at Fuente de Piedra. The dried up salty laguna shining bright white under the sun.

Did not know the exact roads but do know the region so that was not adventurous in the least. The risk element though.... Not totally unexpected as when you swing your leg over the the saddle you knów that the tinned road users are a potentially life threatening hazard.
Navigating the narrow village streets to get at the camping, a modern lardy car front appeared from a side street. Narrow-main´street, even narrowere side street so anticipating the inevitable I stopped and .... yes the driver advanced accross the path I would have taken. He then, upon seeing us, braked and stopped blocking it all, eliminating all escape routes.
I saw it coming so no harm done.
Keeping distance follwed him to the exit road out of the village. T-junction with a slight incline. He indicated and turned left, we right. He stopped and having kept distance could go around ... and he rolled backwards. BEEJEEZUS!!! The safe distance saved us by some 30 cms. as no way I could swerve or what.
Two times by the same car within 500 metres!

Back at the home village I saw a cyclist. I saw him see an old bloke in a 4x4 coming off the steep drive of a local restaurant. Obviously he anticipated the bloke not seeing him so slowed down and swerved a bit to the middle of the road. The car coming up behínd him, typical of a tinned human, was not so observant of potential hazards and was taken by surprise by the cyclists move. Went completely to the left, baraking and sounding the claxon in annoyance. Stopped, blocking all.
Anticipating that like a good experienced motorcycle user I had slowed down in advance and already stopped. The tinned driver behind us had again typically anticipated nothing and nearly collected us. Me having stopped well to the right saved us. The front bumper came to a stop at the hight of my left foot.
A key aspect was illustrated by us being able to friendly communicate with the cyclist as we all moved on. The tinned people containers continued their isolated journey.
The ´adventure´ bit marketing does not highlight

 

[Petrus]

still works a treat

 

[Petrus]

Ordered 4l. Motul, OEM oil filter, filter thingamy tool, rear brake pads. Sports air filter was already in.

Actually looking forward to adjusting the valves.
Not so much to removing the valve covers and the spark plugs.

Very satisfying that buying even the best oil and OEM parts it still stays very affordable. In my case it is the Sprint sports filter that adds up the cost. If I would have gone OEM for that too, it would have been 160€ incl. the rear brake pads.

Have not decided on a Kern-Stabi support yet. Probabbly will go for one as it is just about a must for when I need to take a wheel out.

p.s. have decided; ordered the rear stand.

 

[Petrus]

major @@#|@! moment

The sticky stuff did not stick.
Yes, wiped the pads and tank with alcohol.
Put a smear of superglue around the edge and it is better but still messy.
I think it a combination of lowish temperature and having put it too far to the rear. Further forward the tank side is flatter.
Ah well, win some, loose some. Still a pisser.
Matches the homage seat well though.

 

[Petrus]

Looking réally classic, retro now.
From factory it already is a stunning homage bike and the valanced front mudguard, OEM rubber seat, extended reverse shifter, heel/toe pedal, vintage bronze rondels and now the knee rubbers are period style cherries on that vintage cake.

 

[Noelpolar]

major @@#|@! moment

The sticky stuff did not stick.
Yes, wiped the pads and tank with alcohol.
Put a smear of superglue around the edge and it is better but still messy.
I think it a combination of lowish temperature and having put it too far to the rear. Further forward the tank side is flatter.
Ah well, win some, loose some. Still a pisser.
Matches the homage seat well though.

View attachment 19460

are these the cheap china ones? My expensive ones stuck well and have behaved for 2 years so far.

When visiting China many many years ago, and in a market buying shoes and jeans for my wife back home, I realised how I needed to be a professional clothes and shoe QA inspector with vast experience to even entertain the idea that I'd get it right and not have some aspect of the products "quality" slip past me.

 

[Petrus]

are these the cheap china ones? My expensive ones stuck well and have behaved for 2 years so far.

When visiting China many many years ago, and in a market buying shoes and jeans for my wife back home, I realised how I needed to be a professional clothes and shoe QA inspector with vast experience to even entertain the idea that I'd get it right and not have some aspect of the products "quality" slip past me.

The problem with ´China´ is that top tier manufacturars move production over there thus making to ALL extends and purposes the SAME product over there. Another aspect is that China has more genius students than p.e. the UK has students in total, leading to top notch employees.
Cheap Chinese by no definition of quality persé bad product.
I wager that Wünderlich had the tank rubbers produced in China just like the Swiss watch industry has more produced in China than in Switzerland.

 

[Noelpolar]

The problem with ´China´ is that top tier manufacturars move production over there thus making to ALL extends and purposes the SAME product over there. Another aspect is that China has more genius students than p.e. the UK has students in total, leading to top notch employees.
Cheap Chinese by no definition of quality persé bad product.
I wager that Wünderlich had the tank rubbers produced in China just like the Swiss watch industry has more produced in China than in Switzerland.

The only way a top tier manfufacture (or any tier) get high quality goods with certainty from China is via significant "investment" in ensuring that happens. It is not a given by a long shot. Normally they would have there own staff on site and involved all the way etc. Anyway, I think we must agree to disagree. Good luck!