Re: Any thing but linked brakes (you asked for it)

[Steve Makohin <wateredg@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 2/19/04 4:02 PM, McRuss wtrrtw@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

>What kind of oil are you using?  Tires?  Anybody tired of brakes, want to 
>discuss surging?  What happened to the FJR bashing?  :-)
> 
>On a happier note, would someone explain the thinking behind running a TFi 
>in open loop when that enriches the mixture, same thing the TFi does?  
>Seems that disconnecting the cat sensor causes the engine to run rich 
>(limp home?)  Then dialing in some green adds yet more fuel.
>
>oilheads-digest <owner-oilheads-digest@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>Linked brakes, over and over and over, punctuated by Sherman tanks vs 
>Tigers. 

Shermans and Tiger and brakes! Oh my!
Shermans and Tiger and brakes! Oh my!


Speaking of which, I was at a buddy's place who rides a new-to-him 
mono-plug BMW oilhead. He just moved up from air Airhead, which he says 
is the only *real* BMW, and did so only reluctantly. The Airhead was his 
first bike, so you can understand why it was his favorite bike of all 
time, too. He's now down on BMW because his new bike surges. I told him 
to get a Fuel Nanny, or to pull out the CCP, but he'd rather complain 
about how it would reduced the gas mileage, which would give him an even 
shorter riding range because of the too-small gas tank. At least the 
tires are good on this used (new to him) bike, a new set of Michelin 
Streets, but he says they're crap (his previous Dunlops were the best 
under all conditions -- so good that they were balanced correctly, right 
from the factory, and did not require manual balancing after installation 
on the bike). The new bike is running synthetic oil and it's hardly even 
broken in. My pal is bitching about the vibrations, but I told him the 
bike will smooth out nicely over the next 20,000 km, or so, not to worry 
about it, and that he should switch to dino in the mean time to let all 
the parts get thoroughly run in. For cryin' out loud, the thing is still 
burning a quart of oil every 600 miles. I know BMW calls that "within 
spec", but it's likely due to not being broken in yet. After the bike is 
broken in and is vibrating less, my buddy will be able to take off the 
handle bar weight and that gummy stuff he put on to stop the mirrors from 
vibrating.

This pal of mine is a real tinkerer. He bought after-market pipes and a 
K&N air filter because the guy who original owned the bike already had 
these parts available for a song: they had very little use on them, and 
they add about 10% more horsepower, so my buddy bought those too, extra. 
The catalytic converter and charcoal canister were removed by the 
previous owner to save weight. Evidently, he didn't care about saving the 
planet he was riding on.

As a winter project, my friend is installing an intercom system with a 
radar detector, GPS, MP3 player (iPod), CD player, FRS radio, CB radio, 
HAM radio, and a cell phone. Sure, he needed a mixer for all this stuff, 
and wiring it was a bitch, but he figures he'll never miss a call, or get 
nailed by a Leo (man, has this guy had a few run-ins with Leos. They sure 
have attitude, eh?). I'm glad he took my advice and got an Autocom 
intercom. They're the best, even though they cost an arm and a leg. And 
the new ones have an attenuator that lets you hear them when you're 
riding with ear plugs. It kills me that this guy is so concerned about 
protecting his hearing when he doesn't even use a full-face helmet. His 
idea of riding gear is wearing a denim jacked. He should be wearing 
leather (even the synthetic stuff does not provide the protection of 
leather, and synthetics are not natural, either). I told him that one 
day, he's going to drop his bike while doing a one-leg-on-seat wheelie, 
and get some ugly road rash, but that doesn't seem to phase him. You can 
tell he's not a real rider: His cage cranks up more miles than his bike 
does. He should have got a Harley rather than a BMW. He'd *really* be 
"cool" then, right along with the rest of those posers instead of trying 
to impress people with those stupid squid tricks. He's be in good company 
with the Harley folks, because he sure won't win any mileage contest, 
that's for sure. It's no wonder he doesn't go to any BMW rallies where 
all us friendly, *real* riders meet. You can tell *riding* means a lot 
more to us than it does to them. And to think he claims to be an MSF 
instructor! I'll bet he doesn't even know what counter-steering is.

So back to his winter project! He's doing the intercom and other stuff, 
as well as replacing all the brake lines with braided ones. He hates that 
spongy feel that's inherent with BMW's brakes, especially the ABS ones. 
While he was replacing the OEM battery, which only lasted a bit under two 
years, with a gel battery, he took out the ABS brain and plumbing to 
shave off some weight. He's a really good rider, so it's just a waste of 
weight and a loss of brake modulation control to have ABS, if you're 
already great at braking. By the way, you'd think that BMW thought you'd 
never have to service the battery with how inaccessible they make it! My 
buddy already has the Ohlins on order to replace the horrid OEM shocks (I 
wouldn't touch anything less than Ohlins; they're worth the few extra 
bucks you pay for the best), and the new Oilhead is resting peacefully 
beside a Battery Tender, the special gel version, thanks to my advice.

It's a sad sight to see the bike stored for the winter. I told him it's 
warm enough to ride: 26'F, and the roads are clear of snow. It's like he 
has never heard of heated vests, socks, or BMW's standard heated grips. 
He never thought of that. Add a taller windshield, BMW's big old system 
cases, and you're ready to ride anywhere (assuming you put some good 
lights on for night riding). Put on the right clothing, and add a 
one-piece rain suit to cut the wind entirely, and you're set for the 
coldest of weather. It's a shame Corbin doesn't make heated seats, but 
you can understand why they don't when you consider BMW's small market 
share. My buddy wouldn't hear of winter riding. He said his arthritis 
bothers his throttle hand in cold or damp weather. I told him to get a 
Throttlemeister, or to build his own cruise control, but he's not 
interested. So the bike just sits there. He'll have a hell of a time in 
the spring when his does his spring tune-up. I can just imagine him, 
Hayes in lap, gapping his plugs, setting the valves, balancing the 
throttle bodies, and then being seriously ticked because he decided he 
didn't need fuel stabilizer before storing the bike. Knowing him, he'll 
probably have mouse problems because he didn't even tape up the exhaust. 
He should just get a good mechanic and have the work done right rather 
than doing this stuff himself. Especially when it comes to bleeding the 
brakes.

What do you think?

- -Steve

 Oakville, Ontario, Canada
 2000 R1100S/ABS, Mandarin


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The story above is communicated strictly for entertainment purposes. The 
characters and the scenario are both fictional. Sentiments expressed do 
not reflect those of the author.

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