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My first bike, winter fix up thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter donimo
  • Start date Start date
Hey, forgot I made this thread haaa.

I have a new OEM air filter, glad it was only $15 as it is just a peice of foam, ha.

I have a tope end gasket set coming, will do the valves then.

Got a whole NOS fuel level sensor off ebay, I am confident I coulda fixed the old one, but the whole assembly including a new gasket and everything for $25 shipped? fine by me.

Need to get a new battery, the one in there looks original. :eek:

go for my MSF course in 2 weeks :D
 
Last edited:
spyug said:
Congrats on the new ride. A little off topic but you have a new family and you need to be a responsible dad so I wanted to suggest a few things:
  1. Don't be tempted to ride the bike until you know it is mechanically fit. You're getting new tires, make sure the brakes are in good shape too. If the bike has sat for any length of time you will need to do a fluid flush and change at a minimum and may need to change pads as well. You could have corrsion in the calipers and master cylinders so rebuilds might be in order too. Not hard and lots of info available.
  2. Riding a GS is not like riding a moped so you need to take some instruction. The MSF type courses are likely shutting down soon but get signed up for next year. Check your local community colleges. In the meanwhile, over the winter pick up the Proficient Motorcycle series (2 books) David L Hough available from good books stores. I read mine cover to cover every winter.
  3. Invest in good gear and wear it all the time. At a minimum, a full face helmet, leather gloves, leather or textile jacket, jeans and over ankle boots.
Not to harp but your family is going to need you around, so look at the big picture. M'c riding is dangerous. Lots of guys get out of it when the family arrives. I'm not saying that just do all you can do to be around for them.

Enjoy the new ride.
Stay safe.

cheers,
Spyug
Click to expand...

very, VERY good advice!!!

Congrats on your bike, have fun and be safe, treat all cars like the enemy..................
 
Installed MAC 2-1 system. Not sure if it was meant for the early model 450E's or something, but it took some finagling to get it on there, mostly brake pedal stuff...

was a pain to get the sound right too, muffler is not meant to be packed but sounds like ass if you dont. I used Stainless pot scrubbers and pipe insulation, seems ok now.
 
Installed some brake pads off fleabay, Ferodo Platinum's?

Old pads had tons of pad left, but were really scratchy sounding and didnt stop well, for $14 for the ferodo's Ill just swap em...

stops much better, cleaned the brakes a bit and put new fluid in.
 
Installed some Emgo (?) mirrors from jc whitney, cant see squat out any mirrors I have tried out (nice parts guy at local bike shop) so if I cant see I want the smallest ones you got, ha ha. I am 6'5" so all I see is my elbows...
 
How did you go finding your size 15 boots after all that?

Reason I ask is a guy at work was wearing jeans, jacket, gloves, helmut, and sneakers when he came off at low speed leaving work.

He left later than normal, so colder road surface, colder rear tyre, and possibly also hit a white line and the back wheel spun up and spat him off.

His only injury could have been avoided as he got a minor fracture of his ankle bone. If he was wearing his motorcycle boots instead of his sneakers, that may not have happened.

Just food for thought anyway.

It sounds like the problem you have with size 15 boots is the same my wife has finding clothes small enough to fit!
 
I just got some columbia hiking boots, padded pretty thick over the ankle, hopefully it's enough, I got them before I ever rode, I got all the gear first, before I even had the bike. :D
 
Rode it about 20km up the freeway just to see what that was like, never gone over 75km/hr before. I thought since the bike has been running good since I figured out the exhaust stuff why not?

It was a blast, bike has no problem hummin along in 6th at 4000rpm doing 100km/hr. I know its prolly gutless compared to a 1150 on the highway, but it isnt any worse than the escort I used to drive...

I think I have the mechanical side done enough to start working on the cosmetic a bit, JC whitney screwed up my order and sent me some dudes camo ATV bags instead of the bars and grips I ordered, I have to pay to send the wrong stuff back or they will charge me for it, nice...
 
That's excellent customer service... not!

Good to hear it's running well.

I always found my 450 had enough grunt for what I wanted.
 
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