Losh's latest, 955 Triumph Sprint ST

[figjam]

I think you may, or not, get used to 'expensive' bits.
Mate who had the Sprint was forced into the gravel by an oncoming car taking too much of the road, and dropped it.
All covered by insurance, but the wait for fairings and handlebar stuff was long and the repair cost ........ "Wow."
The, after being rear ended by a 'blind' car driver, and put into a ditch, he decided that was enough. Fixed it and sold it.
Stay well and safe.

 

[losh1971]

Been chasing an issue with what seems to be a lot of travel in the rear brake lever before the rear brake really engages. PO reckon it needed bleeding but he was unable to do it on his own. I had the wife help and didn't really see any air come out. I'm hedging my bets on it needing new rear pads.
The manual says the pad thickness has no bearing on the levers travel. But looking at the they are due, or close to being due to needing replacement. I'll price them up on Monday hopefully, and see how quicky they can get some in, Monday or Tuesday would be ideal. I'll try and swap them out Tuesday night if I can get them by then. If that doesn't work I will have to book it in and see if the longish travel is normal.

 

[losh1971]

Been riding the Sprint to work this week. Today was the first relatively cold morning I have ridden in. I really need a longer jacket, the top half of my race leathers is not quite cutting it, on my lower back. Tomorrow I plan to wear the wet weather coveralls just to stop some draft on my back, especially since the ride will be close to two hours each way tomorrow along the Frankford Highway which is a cold dark place now. Been looking at heated gloves but not sure what the eBay ones are like?

Bought brake pads yesterday and was going to fit them myself or on my day off, but decided to book it in. I'm not happy with the travel on the rear lever as it needs a lot before they really start working. It doesn't seem right to me, and doubtful pads will fix the issue. While rear brake doesn't get pressed hard it's quite necessary on a road bike if you're pulling up behind cars, or coming to a intersection. I have no idea what the issue could be so it will be a job for an expert, even though it will cost me $120 an hour to fit the pads and diagnose the issue. Just hoping he can sort it out in an hour or so. I was going to fit the pads and see how it goes, but seems pointless as it won't save me any money if he has to pull the caliper off regardless. So bike goes in Tuesday for it's rear brakes to be sorted or at least diagnosed.

On another note, I have ordered three new helmets. Two have arrived. One was way to small so the step daughter will buy that one off me as it fits her. The large one fits me, it's fairly tight but it will loosen up, and fit nice. The medium one is yet to arrive but I reckon it will fit the wife, albeit a bit tight for a few months until it loosens up.

 

[losh1971]

So making some progress on my Sprint. Today I was able to find touch-up British Racing Green online for $55. That will sort my paint chips. I have asked for a price on getting the two lower fairing panels painted and should hear back next week. I was having a lot of problems identifying the paint code as my paint supplier was unable to find paint code based on info I supplied from what I found online.

Info online was somewhat incorrect regardless, which added to my confusion. According to the Triumph site British Racing Green was not an option in my year, which had me wondering if it was called something else in the list they had on the site. Emailed Triumph is Launceston and they confirmed colour but would not provide codes so I could get some mixed up at Spectrum Car Paints, apparently Triumph policy not to provide such info.

So some small wins now. Person at Fastlane Motorcycles has been great and very patient and helpful with my borage of questions. I have sent her photos of what I want painted to get an idea on what I will be up for.

Also may have figured out the issue with rear brake. It would seem it's a common issue with this bike to have poor rear brakes. It would seem that the issue is air in the system. However, to remove all the air is very difficult if you don't know how to get it all out or have the gear to do it. It seems that to actually bleed it properly the caliper needs to come off it's mounts and be bled off the bike, but with the hose attached obviously. I could have a go myself, but since the bike shop has been so helpful I have booked it in.

Also got a price on minor and major service. Thinking when funds allow I will book it in for a minor service, bar oil and filter and that should get me an idea on anything that needs to be sorted fairly soon. Then I will probably look at a few bookings over time to get it up to scratch. I might also be able to do a few things myself to save some coin but I will see how I go.

 

[losh1971]

Just got the quote back to paint my two lower fairing panels, $300 a side. It was kinda what I was expecting but about twice of what I was hoping for. This job will go on the back burner unless, I can get the scratched panel done for $300.

 

[losh1971]

I've given it some more thought about this scratched panel and I reckon I will buy 250mls of 2k solid and just paint the underside of the scratched panel. It won't match real well but from underneath with shadowing I reckon it will look ok. $35-$40 for the paint. I might even hit the whole panel with a coat of clear to help the painted edge blend.

Kinda wishing I didn't spend the $55 on the touch-up kit now. I reckon the 2k solid would have worked ok on the chips. I can send it back for a refund, so depending on how many more days it takes to arrive I may. It's already been three days and it still hasn't shipped and it will take around two weeks to arrive once it's sent.

On another note, the bike shop has ordered my new rear indicators and they have come in apparently. I did ask them to hold off as I don't know how much it will cost to fit the new pads and fix the extremely poor rear brake. The girl did indicate they should have me sorted in around an hour, but that could go up if it takes longer, plus I need probably $30 for a taxi from the bike shop to work. I should be able to pick up the indicators in a fortnight, that's the plan anyway. But I also need to pay for a cooling system flush on the wife's car so that will likely cost me at least $150, providing he doesn't find any problems..

So as for paint, I might have to put it off a few weeks. I may anyway, and do it when the weather turns too cold to get out on the bike.

 

[chrisp]

Did I read somewhere that you thought it was a pearl paint? I don’t know much about painting, but I do recall panel beater/painter once told me that pearl was very difficult to match (I think he might have said ‘impossible’?) and that they had to paint the entire side of a car (rather than just one panel) as the pearl effect would often be different and the difference becomes apparent in different light conditions.

It might be a case of choosing between just doing a touch-up or doing the lot?

 

[hademall]

it's fairly tight but it will loosen up,

Nothing worse than a tight helmet.

 

[losh1971]

Nothing worse than a tight helmet.

Better tight than loose.

 

[losh1971]

Did I read somewhere that you thought it was a pearl paint? I don’t know much about painting, but I do recall panel beater/painter once told me that pearl was very difficult to match (I think he might have said ‘impossible’?) and that they had to paint the entire side of a car (rather than just one panel) as the pearl effect would often be different and the difference becomes apparent in different light conditions.

It might be a case of choosing between just doing a touch-up or doing the lot?

The painter who quoted it is confident of getting it to match, he specialises in bike painting.. But $600 is a fair outlay when you have to crouch right down to actually see the scratch. I'd probably rather save $550 odd, and spend that on having the mech change, fluids and adjust the valves and check the chains. Even the tyres, while they have heaps of tread could be quite old and I don't love old tyres on bikes. I normally replace them after three-four years regardless of the wear.

I'm leaning towards using some 2k solid and just painting the underside and then a single wet coat over the whole panel after I rub the tape line smooth.