Filthy Bike

[alex.j]

Hi,

This is my first post as I've not had my sv650 long. I bought a yellow curvy sv650s as my first bike and as a commuter to go up and down the a19 to work. I've ridden through the winter fairly successfully but have been unable to get my bike really clean. From the photos that I've seen on this website it looks like people dont even get their bikes wet or I just cant clean mine properly!

Also, how I seem to have the equivalent of rust on the front forks and was wondering what i can do about it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

You can expect a fair few posts from me in the future as I don't know a great deal about bikes and also don't know anyone who has one so I thought you kind souls would be able to help me out!

Thanks in advance,

Al

[admin]

See this , re the forks if your talking about a mk1 (curvy) Sv

http://www.sv650.org/sv_restorer.htm

John

[Peter Henry]

You may think I took the not wishing to get my bike wet a tadge too far? But hey ho here we are in sunny Spain! :lol: 8)

My advice instead of trying to bring the whole bike back to showroom look in one go,simply concentrate on one particular feature at a time. Then you will soon have her back to her gleaming glory. :wink:

[philipMac]

I think a lot of the lads here just clean their bike every week, sort of keeping the dirt level down in the first place. And, the weekly cleaning is in part an inspection of the bike, where you pick up any problems that are in the offing. (Like cracked rotors and the like :shock:)

A lot of the guys simpley spend a large amount of time on cleaning the bike... and I think this is the secret. (I suppose its like anything.. you get quicker the more you do it?) (And each week concentrate on an area or something... )

[alex.j]

See this , re the forks if your talking about a mk1 (curvy) Sv

http://www.sv650.org/sv_restorer.htm

John


Hi, thanks for this link. These are exactly the problems that I have on my bike!

Very much appreciated.

Al

[alex.j]

I think a lot of the lads here just clean their bike every week, sort of keeping the dirt level down in the first place. And, the weekly cleaning is in part an inspection of the bike, where you pick up any problems that are in the offing. (Like cracked rotors and the like :shock:)

A lot of the guys simpley spend a large amount of time on cleaning the bike... and I think this is the secret. (I suppose its like anything.. you get quicker the more you do it?) (And each week concentrate on an area or something... )

Yeah, it sounds like a good idea. I don't have a garage to keep it in at the minute and I dont have much space for cleaning products. I'm moving soon though so hopefully I'll be able to sort myself out!

Thanks

[Diveboy]

Hello mate. I'll have to keep an eye out for you. I live in Whitley and travel down the A19 to work. Look out for a Yellow SV650s (two yellow SV's in Whitley ohhh suits you)

As for keeping it clean its impossible just give it a rub down once a week and oil the chain. If you get any major problem give me a shout then we can both point at it and scratch our heads :lol:

[Banus]

Hi,
Good luck with your new bike.
I suppose you know you've sold your soul to a life in the garage now ?
I had a week in France at Le Mans last year. It rained nearly every day and we did 1300 miles in rain !
Took a full 8 hrs of toil and a lot of cups of tea went cold in the process - to get it back to its showroom condition - but at least I had one of those nice warm feelings at the end !

[rob13]

Keep a look out for me guys in the next couple of months as ill be travelling up the a19 on my sv to work in Sunderland.

[Diveboy]

Keep a look out for me guys in the next couple of months as ill be travelling up the a19 on my sv to work in Sunderland.

I leave the A19 next to the Nissan factory. How far up do you come?

[alex.j]

Hello mate. I'll have to keep an eye out for you. I live in Whitley and travel down the A19 to work. Look out for a Yellow SV650s (two yellow SV's in Whitley ohhh suits you)

As for keeping it clean its impossible just give it a rub down once a week and oil the chain. If you get any major problem give me a shout then we can both point at it and scratch our heads :lol:

heh, coincidence eh?

I travel from Whitley Bay to Doxford Park in Sunderland. I've not seen you yet but I'll keep my eyes open! I might have to take you up on the pointing and head scratching as I really haven't got a clue . . .

cheers,

Al

[Diveboy]

Yeah I'm doing daft hours at the moment normally leave about 6:30am and come back around 7pm.

I sometimes go to the doxford park turning as my parents live in Houghton

[alex.j]

Yeah I'm doing daft hours at the moment normally leave about 6:30am and come back around 7pm.

I sometimes go to the doxford park turning as my parents live in Houghton


I do all sorts of crazy hours as I do tech support at a call centre in Doxford Park.

[copper kettle]

T-Mobile???

[northwind]

I keep mine absolutely festering, but it's in good nick underneath. Just cleaning it's no use, because the second you go on the road again you get new filth on clean metal. That can be even worse than leaving it filthy (if it's an electrolytic effect, salt on ferrous metal, then old salt is less bad than new salt, for example)

So, I clean it, cover it thoroughly with ACF-50, which is an aviation corrosion inhibitor that you can buy by bottles or aerosols. Some bike shops sell it now, so do M&P, Polishing Shop, and it's often on Ebay. The aerosols are better than the bottles IMO, easier to use, more expensive though. Once you get a good coating of that, it doesn't much matter what lands on top of it.

Stainless bolts help too.

[PoRk ChOp]

This is my second winter on the SV now and it still looks great. Just make sure you give it a really good clean at least once a week.

I use Scottoiler FS365 spray on mine after every ride! Forks, radiator, oil cooler engine, everywhere gets covered in the stuff. By the end of the week the bike looks minging and all furred up, hose the majority of the crap off and then give it a good wash and bobs ya uncle.

Thats all you need to do for winter riding.

[alex.j]

T-Mobile???

yeah, that's the one

[alex.j]

This is my second winter on the SV now and it still looks great. Just make sure you give it a really good clean at least once a week.

I use Scottoiler FS365 spray on mine after every ride! Forks, radiator, oil cooler engine, everywhere gets covered in the stuff. By the end of the week the bike looks minging and all furred up, hose the majority of the crap off and then give it a good wash and bobs ya uncle.

Thats all you need to do for winter riding.

that's all very good but I don't get home till 10:45 some nights and have no energy. It's my own fault for working shifts i suppose!

[rob13]

i work in the City centre so i actually drive up Ryhope road, however i do venture up North when im trekking up Hexham way.

[mynameis]

ACF-50 is brilliant one good coating last for ages, it even works on any existing rust bits, and unlike the Scottoiler FS365 does n't get washed off.

[Diveboy]

Ruddy hell I think we should have a North East Sv forum (The Northern Massive). There are 5 of us at least. :lol: :lol:

[alex.j]

Diveboy, where do you get your bike serviced?

I've changed the oil and oil filter since I bought it but I think it needs a good service. It's a W reg but it's only just done 4k. I assume somewhere on westgate road would be best like Ken's perhaps?

cheers,

Al

[PoRk ChOp]

Diveboy, where do you get your bike serviced?

I've changed the oil and oil filter since I bought it but I think it needs a good service. It's a W reg but it's only just done 4k. I assume somewhere on westgate road would be best like Ken's perhaps?


I wouldnt take it to Ken's or M&S. If you HAVE to take it to a dealers to get it serviced then take it to North East Suzuki at Nevilles Cross in Durham. I know it's a little out of your way, but the mechanic is ace.

Ruddy hell I think we should have a North East Sv forum (The Northern Massive). There are 5 of us at least. Laughing Laughing

Should it not be the 'Geordie Massive' :wink:

[Cloggsy]

I wouldnt take it to M&S.

:shock: You're not wrong there... I wouldn't trust them to service my son's pushbike :roll: :evil:

[alex.j]

Diveboy, where do you get your bike serviced?

I've changed the oil and oil filter since I bought it but I think it needs a good service. It's a W reg but it's only just done 4k. I assume somewhere on westgate road would be best like Ken's perhaps?


I wouldnt take it to Ken's or M&S. If you HAVE to take it to a dealers to get it serviced then take it to North East Suzuki at Nevilles Cross in Durham. I know it's a little out of your way, but the mechanic is ace.

Ruddy hell I think we should have a North East Sv forum (The Northern Massive). There are 5 of us at least. Laughing Laughing

Should it not be the 'Geordie Massive' :wink:


I think the 4k service requires the carbs to be balanced so I'm going to have to take it somewhere as I haven't got a clue about that.

[PoRk ChOp]

I think the 4k service requires the carbs to be balanced so I'm going to have to take it somewhere as I haven't got a clue about that.

Give em a call and get a price 01913869212. I have nothing to do with them, just had really good service of them, and good service is hard to come by these days.

Or you could ring that place on the hill just up from M&S on the left hand side, he always seems busy, so he is either dirt cheap or really good.

[Diveboy]

Depends how long your going to keep it. I normally do all the servicing myself. I don't have a Carb balancing kit but they are not that expensive if you think you will be doing it for a few years might be worth it.

I might invest in one if I dont keep my K4 (long story)

If you dont fancy a travel then try Park Motorcycles in North Shiels (just down from MFI on the coast road). He did my MOT and service on my old honda seemed good enough.

[Diveboy]

Ruddy hell I think we should have a North East Sv forum (The Northern Massive). There are 5 of us at least. Laughing Laughing

Should it not be the 'Geordie Massive' :wink:

Ohhh you're opening a can of worms there mate. What if a Makem or a Smoggy wants in? :shock:

[PoRk ChOp]

Ohhh you're opening a can of worms there mate. What if a Makem or a Smoggy wants in? :shock:

They can **** off :wink:

[northwind]

How about sand dancers?

[Cloggsy]

Ohhh you're opening a can of worms there mate. What if a Makem or a Smoggy wants in? :shock:

They can p*ss off :wink:

:lol: :lol: :lol: Geordies Geordies Geordies

:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:

[PoRk ChOp]

How about sand dancers?

They can **** off too :wink:

[Diveboy]

How about sand dancers?

woolybacks or pityackers. All welcome apart from Chav's

Unless PoRk ChOp is head of recruitment then its only Him and Alan Shearer :lol: :lol:

[PoRk ChOp]

How about sand dancers?

woolybacks or pityackers. All welcome apart from Chav's

Unless PoRk ChOp is head of recruitment then its only Him and Alan Shearer :lol: :lol:

Wor Peter can be a member too

[alex.j]

Ohhh you're opening a can of worms there mate. What if a Makem or a Smoggy wants in? :shock:

They can p*ss off :wink:


lol, you'll get no disagreement from me!

[Diveboy]

OK then we'll call it the Matt, Alex and Paul forum :lol: :lol: :lol:

Long live Matt, Alex and Paul. Vive la GEORDIES!!!

Hail Ming! :roll: Go FLASH GO!!!!

OK back to bed for me the delusions of grandeur have started to manifest again

[alex.j]

I think the 4k service requires the carbs to be balanced so I'm going to have to take it somewhere as I haven't got a clue about that.

Give em a call and get a price 01913869212. I have nothing to do with them, just had really good service of them, and good service is hard to come by these days.

Or you could ring that place on the hill just up from M&S on the left hand side, he always seems busy, so he is either dirt cheap or really good.


I'm just trying to get some more info about north east suzuki before I give them a ring. I can't find anything on the web or on yell.co.uk, any ideas?

[PoRk ChOp]

I'm just trying to get some more info about north east suzuki before I give them a ring. I can't find anything on the web or on yell.co.uk, any ideas?

You can get the details via the suzuki.co.uk HTH

OK then we'll call it the Matt, Alex and Paul forum Laughing Laughing Laughing

Long live Matt, Alex and Paul. Vive la GEORDIES!!!

Hail Ming! Go FLASH GO!!!!

Easy tiger

:lol:

[alex.j]

I'm just trying to get some more info about north east suzuki before I give them a ring. I can't find anything on the web or on yell.co.uk, any ideas?

You can get the details via the suzuki.co.uk HTH


cheers

[alex.j]

I've given them a call and a service including balancing carbs, replacing the coolant and brake fluids is £60 (not including fluids or parts). I'm thinking that this is pretty cheap so I'll give em a go and let you know how I get on.

Thanks Pork Chop & Dive Boy!!

Al

[PoRk ChOp]

Thanks Pork Chop & Dive Boy!!

No problem mate, let me know how you get on.

Anyways we need to arrange a 'Geordie SV Ride Out'

[Diveboy]

Thanks Pork Chop & Dive Boy!!

Al

Always glad to help out.

Did someone say ride out? [-o<

[PoRk ChOp]

Did someone say ride out? [-o<

Sure did mate, I'm itchin to go out for a proper blast

[Ceri JC]

"A little bit often is better than a lot at once." That's my attitude to cleaning.

[jambo]

I am considering spending part of saturday or sunday re-discovering my bike's original colour scheme :oops:

[alex.j]

I think I'll take a week off work in a couple of months and give the restoration guide a go. I'll ask my father in law to help out, he fully restored a panther a few years ago.

[jambo]

I'll ask my father in law to help out, he fully restored a panther a few years ago.

Please tell me you mean the Tank.... :lol: 8)

[PoRk ChOp]

I'll ask my father in law to help out, he fully restored a panther a few years ago.

Please tell me you mean the Tank.... :lol: 8)

Tis true, it is the Tank variety. I have seen him driving round Whitley causing havoc and driving over all the boy racers.

[alex.j]

I'll ask my father in law to help out, he fully restored a panther a few years ago.

Please tell me you mean the Tank.... :lol: 8)

sadly not, although I believe it weighs roughly the same and was designed a little earlier . . . . .

[northwind]

I am considering spending part of saturday or sunday re-discovering my bike's original colour scheme :oops:

We be mining for paint!