Is motorcycling allowed?

[sawystertrance]

Geez Ben that's terrible. Condolences but as others have said at least you're OK and it could have been worse. Maybe too soon but can you take at least something positive out of this and consider it now as a project build from scratch? 

[mazambaan]

21 hours ago, BenReaper said:

Not sure, will check with the insurance company. The assessor was already here and it looks like they are out to coveronly the bear minimum they have to.

I think it's time to get a insurance broker instead of dealing directly with these companies. 

Really a bummer; that is sad and a warning to all of us. I have had a few little fires (lesson to keep extinguisher handy) and a mate burnt out my bike once (he replaced it though - good man). Horrible though.

[Hairy]

30 minutes ago, mazambaan said:

Really a bummer; that is sad and a warning to all of us. I have had a few little fires (lesson to keep extinguisher handy) and a mate burnt out my bike once (he replaced it though - good man). Horrible though.

How did you and he manage this?

 

[Hairy]

A few years back I saw this suave looking BMW GS rider pull at the petrol station in on the cleanest bike straight off the showroom floor.

Given that this was the time in my life where I looked intently at every bike I could, planning what I would one day buy. I noticed that as he was filling up the tank, the petrol was just pouring out the bottom of the bike. He did not notice as he was too busy on his phone.

Gave a "shout out" as to what was happening and then he was about to start the bike....gave a louder shout out to him to push the bloody thing away from the pumps.

The petrol station was on the N1, which meant that the engine would/should have been hot too .... anything could have happened very quickly and gotten very nasty.

I would have been pissed if that was my brand new bike!

[Spokey]

On 3/18/2022 at 6:46 PM, BenReaper said:

On the subject of letting go, my SRAD was supposed to go on the 4th. The money was in my pocket and the buyer was about to head off when I noticed some white smoke coming from the exhaust.

Parked the bike, gave him his money back and gave him a lift home with the car.

Was advised to sort out the small stuff before looking at stuff like piston & rings, so removed and had the carbs cleaned. Took the feul pump out the tank and realized it was extremely rusty inside and the feul pump was worse for wear, fortunatelyI have a whole second spares bike so took alook at the other tank and feul pump and they were in much better condition. New oil and oil filter aswell.

Upon reassembling everything I realized that I'd previously mixed up two breather pipes that were connected between the motor, carbs and airbox and that was probably the cause for the white oil smoke as I know my motor is supposed to be mint.

Started the bike up on Saturday 12th with the buyer present and had it Idle till warm enough to ride. First the buyer went for a ride and returned saying the bike ran like a dream now, I took it out next and bike pulled like a rocket again with the clean carbs, but as I neared my house started stuttering again.

We checked and saw that one cylinder was cooler than the others so took out the spark plug and saw that it was fowled. The buyers said he'd get 4 new plugs at Autozone on Sunday morning after his round of golf and he'll come to collect the bike.

Come Sunday morning I notice some petrol undreneath the bike and realized that the carbs were getting stuck and flooding the piston chamber. Swung the motor and petrol came squirting out the sparkplug hole. On second swing of the starter realized some of the other piston chambers were also flooded so took out all the plugs to swing the motor and get rid of the petrol inside. Once again petrol squinting out everywhere. 

And then the sh@t hit the fan in one of the worst ways motorcycling imaginable. And my heart was broken.

Jeepers Man, glad you are okay, what a frightening experience. Note to self to check my fire extinguisher when home……..and perhaps add a few more in my bike garage…..plus a fire blanket. 
I am always nervous with fuel smells and spills. I have installed one of those turbine roof extractor fans to try and help in the garage. 
I would like a push button operated Halon system!

[BenReaper]

8 hours ago, sawystertrance said:

Geez Ben that's terrible. Condolences but as others have said at least you're OK and it could have been worse. Maybe too soon but can you take at least something positive out of this and consider it now as a project build from scratch? 

It was a bit of a project to get it to where it was. Had already made peace with having to sell it to fund some other important things that are happening soon.

The buyer was going to collect on the day of the incident. After some renegotiation he still took the bike as is as a project for himself. 

When the time and finances allow it again I'll get something again. 

[BenReaper]

6 hours ago, mazambaan said:

Really a bummer; that is sad and a warning to all of us. I have had a few little fires (lesson to keep extinguisher handy) and a mate burnt out my bike once (he replaced it though - good man). Horrible though.

Yeah that's something I learnt the hard way now, will be outfitting the house with fire extinguishers pretty soon.

[BenReaper]

1 hour ago, Spokey said:

Jeepers Man, glad you are okay, what a frightening experience. Note to self to check my fire extinguisher when home……..and perhaps add a few more in my bike garage…..plus a fire blanket. 
I am always nervous with fuel smells and spills. I have installed one of those turbine roof extractor fans to try and help in the garage. 
I would like a push button operated Halon system!

Thanks. Fortunately this wasn't an enclosed space and I could move stuff out of harms way quickly enough. 

Like you mentioned with a collection like yours I'd take extra safety precautions.  

[Hairy]

this could be interesting...just loos that hideous silencer 
 

 

[Patchelicious]

On 3/18/2022 at 2:46 PM, BenReaper said:

On the subject of letting go, my SRAD was supposed to go on the 4th. The money was in my pocket and the buyer was about to head off when I noticed some white smoke coming from the exhaust.

Parked the bike, gave him his money back and gave him a lift home with the car.

Was advised to sort out the small stuff before looking at stuff like piston & rings, so removed and had the carbs cleaned. Took the feul pump out the tank and realized it was extremely rusty inside and the feul pump was worse for wear, fortunatelyI have a whole second spares bike so took alook at the other tank and feul pump and they were in much better condition. New oil and oil filter aswell.

Upon reassembling everything I realized that I'd previously mixed up two breather pipes that were connected between the motor, carbs and airbox and that was probably the cause for the white oil smoke as I know my motor is supposed to be mint.

Started the bike up on Saturday 12th with the buyer present and had it Idle till warm enough to ride. First the buyer went for a ride and returned saying the bike ran like a dream now, I took it out next and bike pulled like a rocket again with the clean carbs, but as I neared my house started stuttering again.

We checked and saw that one cylinder was cooler than the others so took out the spark plug and saw that it was fowled. The buyers said he'd get 4 new plugs at Autozone on Sunday morning after his round of golf and he'll come to collect the bike.

Come Sunday morning I notice some petrol undreneath the bike and realized that the carbs were getting stuck and flooding the piston chamber. Swung the motor and petrol came squirting out the sparkplug hole. On second swing of the starter realized some of the other piston chambers were also flooded so took out all the plugs to swing the motor and get rid of the petrol inside. Once again petrol squinting out everywhere. 

And then the sh@t hit the fan in one of the worst ways motorcycling imaginable. And my heart was broken.

Ben “Colin Edwards” Reaper! 

[Hairy]

Snapped a quick pic on the way back from dropping my eldest off at school .......... the urge to just keep riding was strong!

Edit: Sissy bar + bungie cord = awesome tool to strap a helmet and motorbike jacket to.

Edited March 22, 2022 by Hairy

[Hairy]

I like the vintage marketing splurb

[Thug]

@BenReaper Sorry to see your bike go up in flames, thankfully no one was injured and the damage was limited to the bike.

 

As I've been training for the Freedom Circuit, I haven't had much opportunity to ride the Thruxton over the weekends but I had every intention of taking it our for a ride yesterday. Until I woke up with overcast conditions threatening rain. I suppose now the first proper opportunity will now be in May.

[Hairy]

I know what I am going to do already, but just running it past here.

The HD has a satin alum trim on the right hand side and a chrome trim (Just below the seat) on the left hand side compliments of the previous owner who did stupid things.

I have already taped it up with black tape to get a feel for it, and it somehow highlights the engine and pipes more, but I am going to spray these trims black. Use rustoleum rattle can satin black on 2 x domes pendants over my dining room table and managed to get those out without any blemishes and to a really good finish ..... so intend doing the same to the HD and to any black bolts that have blemishes on their heads.

CURRENT


AFER (Crude photoshop)

[RoddieJ]

2 hours ago, Hairy said:

I know what I am going to do already, but just running it past here.

The HD has a satin alum trim on the right hand side and a chrome trim (Just below the seat) on the left hand side compliments of the previous owner who did stupid things.

I have already taped it up with black tape to get a feel for it, and it somehow highlights the engine and pipes more, but I am going to spray these trims black. Use rustoleum rattle can satin black on 2 x domes pendants over my dining room table and managed to get those out without any blemishes and to a really good finish ..... so intend doing the same to the HD and to any black bolts that have blemishes on their heads.

CURRENT


AFER (Crude photoshop)

It took me a while, but I like the blacked battery cover 👌🏽

[patches]

On 3/22/2022 at 6:47 AM, Hairy said:

this could be interesting...just loos that hideous silencer 
 

 

Looks like Honda has been copying someone's homework...

Husky seems to do a little better on the silencer though, haha