Is someone tampering with my bike?!

[Bike_Nutter]

Since I've owned my K3 naked:

- I have had the bolts that hold the round single head light come loose and fall out (after I had taken it apart to fix a crack in the black casing) so it could have been me not securing them correctly afterwards.

- I have had the large bolt that holds on the radiator, fall off. The radiator bolt I put down to bad luck, and that I hadn't gone over the bike and checked everything was tight. (I have owned it as my first BIG bike since January 2014)

- This morning I noticed one of the bolts that holds on my GIVI rank missing, which was secured with the factory VIN-LOCK 6mm allen bolt supplied with the kit. Me and a mate fitted the GIVI rack, universal plate and GIVI box 2-3 weeks ago. We are both reasonably handy with tools and perform most of the maintenance on my bike ourselves, so I would consider us competent at fitting a simple rack etc... EDIT: I DID GO TO BRIGHTON LAST WEEKEND WITH A MODERATE LOAD IN THE TOP BOX, I DIDN'T SPARE THE HORSES EITHER, SO THAT COULD HAVE WORKED THE BOLT LOOSE, POSSIBLY?

I owned a 125 Varadero previously, which my friend and I also did 90% of the servicing on, and never had a bolt come loose in all that time, including touring, rideouts, commuting, putting super heavy loads in the top box and any other uses I could put the bike to.

So what is it with the SV? It can't be the bike, as the GIVI isn't SV (sorry for pointing out the obvious there)

This is ALSO on top of getting to work Friday just gone, then about to leave for home and getting 100 yards up the road, bike feels all over the place, stop to check and see I have a flat, a piece of metal file in the back tyre....£145 for a new Pilot 3 later....and a boring weekend with no money...

....I'm starting to feel paranoid! :reaper:

Is this normal or should I be calling the cops?

Nutter.

[jambo]

I don't suppose the metal in the tyre was one of your missing bolts? At least then you wouldn't need a replacement bolt too?

Bolts work loose, the SV isn't especially known for this, but most of these bolts seem to be ones recently fitted or disturbed in some way. I wouldn't be suspecting foul play just yet.

It's possible the bolts are either being fitted a little on the loose side if you're worried about them shearing off, or bolts that might benefit from thread lock are not receiving it.

Spend an afternoon going over the bike and checking that bolts are tight, and you're happy that they are all present, it'll give you piece of mind that all is well.

James

[Bike_Nutter]

I don't suppose the metal in the tyre was one of your missing bolts? At least then you wouldn't need a replacement bolt too?

Bolts work loose, the SV isn't especially known for this, but most of these bolts seem to be ones recently fitted or disturbed in some way. I wouldn't be suspecting foul play just yet.

It's possible the bolts are either being fitted a little on the loose side if you're worried about them shearing off, or bolts that might benefit from thread lock are not receiving it.

Spend an afternoon going over the bike and checking that bolts are tight, and you're happy that they are all present, it'll give you piece of mind that all is well.

James

Thanks for your reply James.

No, the metal in the tyre was a piece of a workshop file. Where I was working that day, the bike was parked in a rather dirty, messy factory car park with lots of debry strewn about. It's highly conceivable that I picked it up there. Needless to say ill be choosing my parking space more carefully when there is the future.

Agreed, the bolts that have fell off have all been fitted/disturbed recently, I hadn't tied that fact in, must brush up on my Sherlock course hehe.

I shall be giving the bike a good going over with allen keys, spanners and thread lock asap. I'll also be parking my bike in a little more conspicuous place, rather than being a good neighbour and tucking it out of the way where it can be tampered with easily.

Nutter / Simon.

[Red Herring]

S

....I'm starting to feel paranoid! :reaper:

Is this normal or should I be calling the cops?

Nutter.

Personally I think a psychiatrist would be better qualified for help you but you could try the police if you're really desperate......:cool:

[Littlepeahead]

Hmm, do you also think the Malaysian aeroplane had been taken away by the aliens?

[DJ123]

Twin pot engines create a lot of vibrations & cause bolts to work loose. Once a week or so I used to check my SV as certain bolts used to work loose (loctite cured this).

[Nutsinatin]

Anyone had worse luck when they bought an SV? Second owner on a 2009 model with full suzuki service history (had 7000 miles when I bought it), I've done 3000 miles and so far have burnt out the ignition circuit with water in the connector block, then a rear wheel puncture with 400 miles on a new tyre, then burnt out headlight circuit due to water in the connector block and today I holed the radiator when a stone went through it. I live in the middle of nowhere (hour walk to the train station - no other public transport) so I'm now stuck with a two hour commute to Reading when a return train ticket costs the same as half my weekly fuel bill whilst I try to repair the bike (good luck getting a rad, gotta get one posted as I can't pick one up!) and as I just started a new job Monday I won't get paid now until the end of August. Someone cheer me up please!



Yeah, I know how you feel, that's what happened when I got my SV, it's just bad luck, thread lock is your friend though! In the last 15,000 miles all I've lost is one fairing bolt, been perfectly well behaved since!

[Bike_Nutter]

Twin pot engines create a lot of vibrations & cause bolts to work loose. Once a week or so I used to check my SV as certain bolts used to work loose (loctite cured this).

I've double bolted / lock nutted a couple of things where possible and will continue to do so. Loctite (other brands are available) will be on the card asap.

Thanks for your reply.

[Bike_Nutter]

Yeah, I know how you feel, that's what happened when I got my SV, it's just bad luck, thread lock is your friend though! In the last 15,000 miles all I've lost is one fairing bolt, been perfectly well behaved since!

Hey Nuts, not a distant relative are you?! ;)

Wow, as in life, someone always comes along and makes your own problems pale into insignificance. You had it a lot worse than me.

I've put it down to bad luck. I got concerned as my old Vara was so reliable...

....you never forget your first bike, especially a gorgeous 125 like that.

Nutter :)

[Nutsinatin]

Yeah I had a CBF 125, seems the little Hondas are pretty bullet proof, survived one off from me and five from it's new owner. I still get to ride it occasionally and I'm tempted to buy it back when they sell it in a year or two as a spare/snow bike. Do love my SV though, still haven't figured out how to ride them both at the same time yet...