The dirty thread

[Jayneflakes]

I washed my bike gear today.

It is all Textile so is fairly easy. :smt003

I had curry stains on the jacket sleeve from last summer and the trousers were a little err... fragrant. :fish:

So being a brave girl I took out the armour and filled the bath with warm water and Nickwax simple soap. Having dumped it all in and stamped on it for a bit to kill off the Armpit trolls that appear to have been using the lining for breeding and eating crisps, I let it sit for a while,hoping the curry stains will fade.

Now I have a pile of armour on the bed and I use the loosest description of it. It looks like the sort of stuff that Laser Quest used to give you so you looked like a pillock in the dark. However, does this stuff really work and is it worth putting it back in the jacket and trousers? It is made by a company called Knox and seems to be made out of plastic and foam rubber.

Anyway, back to the fausty kit, leaving the water several shades darker than when it went in, lifting the kit out was like heaving sacks of rubble because the water proof fabric turned into bags, full of water. I rinsed it all out, again in warm water and drained it off before hanging it in the garden to drip dry. I have thought about reproofing the outer fabric, but it still seems to be beading ok, so did not bother.

Any other tips for things I should do while my kit sits unused over winter, until I can afford to start bike training again?

As for the bike, the alarm killed the battery, so that was brought in and charged up again and the alarm switched to Winter mode. Lots of people I talk to seem to think I was a fool for having an alarm fitted. I get comments like "An alarm wont stop your bike being stolen, they just wrap it in a blanket and load it into a van!" All very discouraging. :toss:

So winter rituals, what should I really be doing (and don't say riding my bike because I am on the push bike trying to loose weught and be super fit for next year to take my DAS again)?

[Dangerous Dave]

However, does this stuff really work and is it worth putting it back in the jacket and trousers? It is made by a company called Knox and seems to be made out of plastic and foam rubber.
It is better than nothing, and Knox is a very reputable name.

[dizzyblonde]

http://media.rei.com/media/433881.jpg

when you've got the textiles dry, you need this stuff. It'll seal the fabric so it beads for definate. YC used the techwash and his jacket wasn't the same after, but I use this and mine is fine, I sprayed his with this once, and it did the job.

Its not until you get out on the road and it slashes it down, you notice if the techwash alone worked,,I'd far rather be dry first time ;-)

[neillfergie]

lets be honest, its going to smart a bit sliding down the road on your ass so any piece of plastic between you and it is going to help a bit? plus i think they are designed to cushion the initial fall from bike to ground (about 4ft whether moving or not) the rest is largely down to luck?http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0dgN5Wp8nM91R/610x.jpg

[dizzyblonde]

yup, put it all back in. After sliding down the road, I can definately say the foamy armour stuff in my Halvarssons kit did its job

[shonadoll]

http://media.rei.com/media/433881.jpg

when you've got the textiles dry, you need this stuff. It'll seal the fabric so it beads for definate. YC used the techwash and his jacket wasn't the same after, but I use this and mine is fine, I sprayed his with this once, and it did the job.

Its not until you get out on the road and it slashes it down, you notice if the techwash alone worked,,I'd far rather be dry first time ;-)

Dizzy, I bought this and it said to spray on the fabric while damp- or did you use it dry?

[madness]

Dizzy, I bought this and it said to spray on the fabric while damp- or did you use it dry?

Follow the instructions on the bottle

[missyburd]

It is better than nothing, and Knox is a very reputable name.

+1. I believe YC has a Knox back protector which has done its job very well so far. He's also got a Knox backpack whihc doesn't seem to have given any problems yet either, had 'em a fair bit now.

As far as I'm concerned, any extra layer that stays between your skin and the surface you're landing on is good news, whether that be Kevlar, foam or plastic. Even if it doesn't look/feel much, if it saves you the odd fracture or skin damage then its well worth it in my opinion.

YC explained to me - the other day when we were shopping in Lidl :lol: - the difference between foam and hard plastic in back protectors (and therefore I will assume armour in general) and how it makes every difference spending that little bit more to get something which will do the job properly, but then that goes without saying!

[yorkie_chris]

My back protector is not knox, it's a CE approved one sold by halvarssons.

Knox back protectors and armor have a very good reputation and seem to do well in all the tests.

The elbow pads are meant to stop you shattering bones as you hit the deck, in my last little spot of tarmac surfing I instictively tried to break-fall. My elbow hit the deck pretty hard soon after my head and back, my elbow hurt a bit, I'm fairly convinced that if not for the armor, something would have snapped or shattered.

Leave the armor in, if you want some better alternatives then lozzos knowledge on this is excellent.



Winter storage of motysickle:
charge the battery once a month.
Change the oil, fresh oil does not have all the acidic crap in it that used stuff does.
DO NOT start the bike up and rev it thinking it's helping, it only fills the oil with acidic blowby and condensate.
Give it a coat of FS365 or ACF50
Move the tyres around to stop them developing flat spots.

[missyburd]

My back protector is not knox, it's a CE approved one sold by halvarssons.


Ooopsie I swear you said it was, Knox was definitely mentioned....shows how much I was listening.:oops:

[Lou M]

if anyone has crusty leathers that need cleaning, I can recommend Morrisons! Took mine there, £30 later I was convinced they'd given me new trousers! Back in shape, colour back, shiney, looked lovely!!

[missyburd]

if anyone has crusty leathers that need cleaning, I can recommend Morrisons! Took mine there, £30 later I was convinced they'd given me new trousers! Back in shape, colour back, shiney, looked lovely!!

you sure they didn't bodge yours up and spend the £30 shopping around on ebay for an exact same pair? :p

[Lou M]

you sure they didn't bodge yours up and spend the £30 shopping around on ebay for an exact same pair? :p


Love it!!:cool:

[Jayneflakes]

Thanks folks, once again you have come to my aid to stop me looking like a complete tit.

As for Nikwax, I use lots of their products being a climber and having a lot of Gore Tex, I have a bottle of TX from doing my mountain jacket last winter (then sticking it in the wardrobe and not touching for several months... typical!)

Once the kit is dry I will stick the armour back in then. The Back protector is a big stiff foam rubber covered board that slides into the jacket, so I will pop that back in too. I think I got the curry stains out though...

As for running the bike, I did not know about corrosive substances in the oil, so thank you for that. I was assured by a spcialist that having only done 1000 miles since its last major service, none of the fluids or filters needed changing, however none of this information was mentioned.

Is it worth changing filters too or just the oil, she is going to be sat for a few months? The battery is out at the moment on charge because it was too flat to turn the engine over, but the alarm was a nightmare. It persisted in going off even with no battery connected. Should have read the instructions a little more carefully.

[yorkie_chris]

The alarm will be a nightmare.

What I would do is leave the filter alone, put some fresh cheap oil in, crank it 4 or 5 times with coils and fuel pump disconnected to circulate it (10seconds at a time, 5 minutes in between), then leave it. I'd also splat a teaspoonful or so down each spark plug hole and wind it over.

Of course this all depends on where it's being kept, and it's almost certain to be fine with the 1000 mile old oil left in it anyway, the above is simply a good way to ensure it's getting best protection in worst case scenario (outside)

Specialist? Who?
All fine after 1k ... but that's assuming you're running it about, getting it properly warmed up. That is best thing for a motor... stood with old oil is bad ... especially if the oil has been used for shaort journeys.

[Jayneflakes]

Of course this all depends on where it's being kept, and it's almost certain to be fine with the 1000 mile old oil left in it anyway, the above is simply a good way to ensure it's getting best protection in worst case scenario (outside)

stood with old oil is bad ... especially if the oil has been used for shaort journeys.


Hi Yorkie Chris,

thanks for your words. The bike is stored in a dry garage with a ground anchor firmly concreted in. No worries about theft, just worries about spiders! Sadly no electricity supply, so no battery support down there.

As for running the engine, we managed a thousand miles in very few rides, clocking up the miles. Weston to London and back one weekend and then to Birmingham and back on another. Several day rides around Mendip and a few over to Bristol for climbing trips. It is amazing how the miles clock up.

I have never owned a bike of this quality before and so can be a little paranoid about how it is stored etc, I have questioned friends and bike shops. Did not have a great experience with the shop I bought her, so am always slightly cautious now. :smt003

Thanks again folks and to YC for great advice. :flower:

[yorkie_chris]

I'd say it'll probably be alright. Battery support? So take battery out and charge it once a month ... otherwise you will be buying a new one in spring