 Back in the saddle again.
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 514 Likes: 2
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 514 Likes: 2 |
Finally got back on the bike yesterday, it's been 22 months since my accident and i got the bikes insured and did about a 10 mile round trip. Went into town and filled her up with fresh fuel and came home again. Went out today and did a 30 mile jaunt just to look where the wildfires burnt. About 13 miles from home i slowed down for a traffic light and stopped, as i slowed down a grinding noise came from the front brakes. Bikes got 17,000 miles and even though i had replaced the rear pads at 12,000 i would have thought the fronts would have lasted longer. I went round the corner where my accident was and i made it through this time safely. Anyway i decided to stop 3/4 of a mile from home and take a quick look at the front brakes. I'd noticed the right brake line shaking around and the left was ok. What i found almost made me feint, The bike was repaired at a Triumph dealer and when i got it home the headstock bearings were loose so i reset them, that was about 18 months ago.
What i found was the lower bolt missing that holds the right caliper to the fork leg. The noise was the caliper rubbing on the O.D. of the rotor. The top bolt was loose and so was the clamp to secure the brake line just above it. I looked at the left side caliper and its bolts were loose too. Talk about going weak at the knees. When i saw the right brake line vibrating I decided to stop before i got home. Just in case anything came loose and got into the wheel.
I do almost all my own work and have never left anything to chance when it comes to safety. I don't know whether to call the dealers or not seeing as its been almost two years. I'm not going out on it till i've checked every nut and bolt.
My confidence is low at the moment and at the beginning of the ride i came to a light to stop and my left riding boot got wedged under the gearshift lever and i couldn't get my foot out. The bike started to fall over and i just managed to get my foot on the floor and save it. Talk about $h!T happening in 3's i wonder what's next, Des.
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Re: Back in the saddle again.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,225 Likes: 62
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,225 Likes: 62 |
Good to see you are back on your ride. I would say something to the dealer no matter how long it has been since you hadn't been on it until today and that kind of mistake can end badly.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Back in the saddle again.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10 |
Well you've had your three so hopefully everything will be good to go from now. All the best! 
Dinosaur.
"Oh Man I only ride 'em.I don't know what makes 'em work". Donald "Oddball" Sutherland
"Don't let the bastards get you down". Kris Kristofferson
"I am only paranoid because everyone is against me". Larry [Frank Burns] Linville
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Re: Back in the saddle again.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,225 Likes: 62
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,225 Likes: 62 |
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Back in the saddle again.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,202 Likes: 11
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,202 Likes: 11 |
Glad to see you are riding!
Take your time, go slowly to get your bearings back and ride safe.
Finally, don't forget to smile when you are on the bike! Unless it's bug season of course!
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Re: Back in the saddle again.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
Back In The Saddle
Friggin' Headbangers! 
And here I THOUGHT I was gonna see AND hear Gene Autry!!! 
And Desmond, welcome back on two wheels. Yep, it's gonna take a little while to get back to riding with confidence again.
(...and yeah, checking all your bolts on your bike IS a good idea, but unfortunately because as you said the dealer hasn't touched your bike in two years, they WILL have a ready-made excuse for their shoddy work)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Back in the saddle again.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
Quote:
Quote:
Friggin' Headbangers!
And here I THOUGHT I was gonna see AND hear Gene Autry!!!
It's sad that so many on here WILL get the Gene Autry reference!  Glad to see you're back to riding. When I smacked my FIRST deer, years ago, it took quite a while to enjoy riding again. Give it time. And I disagree with Ian about telling the dealership. It's been too long. Even if they looked up the records of which mechanic did it, it's not a teachable moment after two years. But I hope it's RARE!
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Back in the saddle again.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8
New Tires
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New Tires
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8 |
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Re: Back in the saddle again.
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 514 Likes: 2
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 514 Likes: 2 |
I had some other issues with it when i picked it up and trailered it home.
The six bolts holding the rear fender were loose.
Headstock bearings were 1-1/2 turns loose and the right foot peg assy. i made to move it closer was missing. I adjusted the headstock bearings myself and tightened the fender bolts and seeing as i re-aligned the front forks when adjusting the bearings i know those bolts are tight.
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Re: Back in the saddle again.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,225 Likes: 62
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,225 Likes: 62 |
I am familiar with Gene Autry but would rather Aerosmith.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Back in the saddle again.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,212
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,212 |
good to see yu back up Desmond. A little time and some well chosen riding ara's for the first wee bit and you will be back at er like nothing happened and unfortunaltely (given the circumstances ) a better rider
2007 Speedmaster and miss it!
2013 T-Bird Storm and Luvin it!
Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at 70 mph can double your vocabulary
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