Photo Diary of a 10 Year Old

It dawned on me that this year, my little SV is 10 years old. Ive had her since new and done alsorts - track days, touring, commutes to work, Sunday bimbles... the lot. Shes hardly ever put a foot wrong and considering shes not garaged or in a shed, she scrubs up not too shabby.

The bike is going to have a busy year this year and to help celebrate its 10th birthday, I thought Id keep a running photo diary of what we've both been up to. Sad I know, but I take enough photos and spend enough time at the computer to do it, so why not! The first posts are going to be what have already happened this year, just while I get up to date with the pics.

So, this was what greeted me when I pulled the cover off her in February:



I'll get some more pics up shortly with a few more close ups.

Straight away after a walk around the bike, I spot plenty that needs fixing and sorting.

Ten year old rubber hose on the rear brake. Surely that needs changing now.


Rusty banjos on the odd front hoses. These were given to me years back though, so cant complain.


Exhaust damage from a coming together at Oulton Park in 2011.



That shock REALLY has to go!


The worst consequence of living outdoors


Underseat infills needs replacing but Im fairly sure the battery does too first. I'll come to that later.


Best be sensible and get these checked


Hardly serious, but pretty annoying


And on top of that lot, I have new bits to fit and she needs a bloody good clean! I best get to work then eh?
* Gets on the phone to the boys at www.bandcperformancetyres.co.uk *

[DarrenSV650S]

kudos on the tyre bobbling. Engine case does that no matter where it lives

[Redmist]

Good thread idea, and the bike looks great, I'm here to recommend sheds!
I got one last year an 8 by 6 for about £300, it was an ex demo from garden centre, I can get both the SV and CBR in it.
Also I can have the SV on both front and rear stands and still shut the door as I found out this weekend.

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

kudos on the tyre bobbling. Engine case does that no matter where it lives

Cheers. That was the product of the last track day. That engine casing really lets the bike down. The other little niggles are all easy sorted but that case is a pig.

Originally Posted by Redmist

Good thread idea, and the bike looks great, I'm here to recommend sheds!
I got one last year an 8 by 6 for about £300, it was an ex demo from garden centre, I can get both the SV and CBR in it.
Also I can have the SV on both front and rear stands and still shut the door as I found out this weekend.

I would love a shed or a garage, but where I live, I have no garden or space to put one up. The Mrs has an weird shaped back yard too and if we put a shed up, it would block half of it off. We're hoping to move sooner rather than later so a garage is a definite must for the new place.

So, with a couple of days booked off work and the boys at www.bandcperformancetyres.co.uk kindly letting me use their ramp, tools and expertise, I thought I better fire the bike up and make sure it can actually get there. Turned the key, hit the button and..... nothing! Flat as a pancake. All those cold winter nights must have taken their toll on an ageing battery. I tried charging it up overnight but although it said it was OK, when I refitted it, all I got was a fast repeating clicking sound. Time to get a new battery.


Out with the old battery




I got one of these ordered....




... then got it fitted




Shes alive - ALIVE!!




Now with everything running nicely, I put everything back together ready to get to the garage, including those missing underseat infill panels I mentioned before.




Next stop - B & C Performance Tyres!!

[Teejayexc]

Originally Posted by Redmist

Good thread idea, and the bike looks great......

agreed, but ffs change the thread title

Originally Posted by Teejayexc

agreed, but ffs change the thread title

Diary of my 10 Year Old Ride??

[DarrenSV650S]

10 year old Japanese ride

Funny thread names not withstanding, we crack on....

So, last day of Feb 2013 and 1st March 2013 takes us to B & C Performance Tyres. They let me use their workshop while I carried out a bit of work. Bear in mind that I am a mechanial numpty. Apes have more spanner control than I do, so this was a big undertaking for me. I had lots of help from Barney and Lee at the shop but did 95% of the work myself. Quite proud of that actually. Anyway, heres how we got on.


On the ramp and ready to start




Decided to start at the back end as thats where most of the work planned was to be carried out. Fairings off and back wheel out...




... and this is what we see. Not ideal!




Removed the shock and a bit of a clean up later








I bought a ZZR1400 shock and then took it to Kais Suspension for a service. The original shock is well, rubbish and only built for 8 stone midgets. Im "slightly bigger" than that, so needed something firmer. This fit the bill nicely.






Everything going well so far and Im feeling full of confidence at my new found socket set skills. Then I find this...



... it looked like the joint on the pipe had corroded and was spraying a very fine mist of oil all over the place. Glad I found that before I was hurtling round the track. Better get that seen to sooner rather than later. I'll come back to that in a bit.

Anyway, with the rear end pretty much done, its time to start at the front.