YamYam’s Top 10 Posts Ever.
So whilst I await the melting of the Fife Ice Caps, I shall collate some data…Geek Style.
I am always amazed at how sparse reviews are for products, or how biased a lot of reviews seem to be. Motostrano Blog said it excellently:
“I rarely read product reviews these days. They are all advertisements and we know it- pure fantasy. On the other hand, there’s the ‘discussion forums’ where you can read countless essays written by lonely males holed up in their mancaves about the products they’ve purchased, sharing with others the ins and outs of why the product they invested in is so great. Of course it’s great, you bought it and you’re actually wasting life hours writing about it. We beat our chests about the little gizmos and gadgets we’ve been able to scrounge up on our hunting and gathering missions out in the shopping wilderness. Heading back to camp with our gear speared on a stick- which is really a lonely little desk away from the kids or wife – we review the goods, inspect it, try it on, pose in action shots in front of the mirror, perhaps in our underwear, perhaps dressed up in our leathers in the garage. Then, as if to map out a terrain that no other fellow savage has explored, we set up to transpose our inner most thoughts on digital paper about whatever it is we just bought, signaling to other tribe members where to go and what to see along the adventure.”
So it’s with great satisfaction and indeed pride, that I have been complimented on my reviewing technique and detail. This is probably why (and you will see soon enough) my reviews are the most popular out of my posts. Naebody cares about me seeing a plane almost hitting the Forth Road Bridge. They want to know why I think the Puma Desmo’s were the best boot ever made.
Anyway, lets move along. I give you the top 10 favourite posts on YamYam ever (in descending order):
#10: Review: Respro “Foggy” Anti-fog Mask
#9: Review: Puma Brutale Gore-Tex Boots
#8: Update: AGV GP-Tech Helmet
#6: Review: Shark RSI “Eden” Helmet
#5: Yamaha MT-03
#4: Review: Puma Desmo 800 Boots
#3: Tutorial #1: How to change grips and handlebars
#2: Kawasaki ER6n
The most popular post on YamYam ever is, surprise surprise:
#1: Review: AGV GP-Tech Helmet
So there you have it. I think the reason is I got the GP-Tech really early, as in first batch. This allowed me to get a head-start and offer the viewing public a chance to see what this new helmet was like before going out to purchase it themselves.
It’s a good indication of what people are after when looking around the interweb for motorcycle type stuff.
I hope you enjoyed reading the top 10 posts, but also have a wee look around the archives at the non-review stuff. You might be pleasantly surprised…or endlessly bored.
All the best
Gordon
Review: Bridgestone BT021 – Sports Touring Tyre
I have run BT014′s and BT016′s on my GSR since new. Up until recently I was just replacing them every time they either got bald or I was guilted in to it by my lass. Anyway, whilst in Jacksons the other month there, Stuart said “why have you got these on?” and I said “cause that’s what I was given.”
After yet another dumbfounded look, Stuart then said that what I need was the Bt021′s because for the riding I do, the 14′s and 16′s are totally wrong. He puts 14′s on his trackday bike. Anyway, I got a 21 on the rear first and last weekend I got a 21 on the front, after my 2nd ever front tyre was totally done (a BT014).
Well I have to say, the BT021′s last I would guestimate around 3-4 times longer than the BT016′s. The rear, although starting to square, has been on since the beginning of 2009 and is still going strong. The front is 6 days old, but I have to say the wet weather grip is good and it seems like having matching front and back makes leaning easier. The deep tread on the BT021′s will shift a lot of water away from the suface and give you a longer tyre life.
The BT021′s aren’t any dearer than the 16′s so I have to wonder why my garage didn’t suggest these to me earlier considering that they knew how many miles I do and also the fact that I was in there every other month for problems…they had ample time to mention that there was a more suitable tyre for my riding.
ANYWAY
If you do a lot of miles but still want a really good grippy leany tyre, then look no further than the BT021. I love Bridgestones, and after having Pirellis, Dunlops and Michelins, I know how essential it is to find a tyre that you are comfortable riding with. I am just glad I suit the Bridgestones.
Go buy some.
Cheers
Gordon
Suzuki GSR600 – Well Well…
My GSR and I have a chequered past. Our relationship started out so well and quickly turned in to a nasty affair.
I have to date done 22,800.5 miles on my GSR, that’s since January 26th 2008. 19 months of GSR experience has left a sour taste in my mouth and I am done. Last week for the 3rd time my throttle began sticking. In an attempt to see if it was just a fleeting hiccup in time, I gave it a few days. By the 4th day the throttle was so awful that I would twist it and it would just stick open, a definite annoyance especially at traffic lights, when I would sit stationary, idling at 8,000rpm. Thank goodness I don’t have after-markets, or it would be atrocious. For now however, I’ll stick to ridiculous.
I took it to the garage this morning after speaking to them yesterday. I got in to the garage around 9:15am and handed the bike over. I knew it would be something to do with the throttle linkage or shaft, as that was the problem before. I got my £6 a day SV650 and off I went, fully prepared to ride back only hours later when they had fixed the issue. Sure enough, 12pm came and I got the call.
Upon arrival my bike was sitting outside the garage waiting. I headed inside and spoke to the bloke there, who spent a few moments muttering to himself and staring at the computer. “He’s going to charge me for this” I thought, and when he started speaking I actually thought he was.
In a nutshell he basically said that Suzuki are getting a lot firmer with regards to warranty jobs and my problem here, the throttle linkage being totally corroded, would start to become un-warranty-able… He said that it’s a “maintenance” thing and I need to look after my bike. I said that I wash it every 1-2 weeks, but then mentioned that it sat outside every night as I don’t have a garage. Would that contribute to this corrosion?
“Oh aye” he said, going on to mention that the condensation from both the rain and the hot engine will sit on the throttle assembly and turn to rust. This will then start corroding away. I told him I spoke to the warranty boy there and he mentioned it was a sealed unit. He agreed but then said that the moisture can get up through the bottom of the engine and basically that I need to clean my bike even more regularly including taking the tank off and cleaning the throttle assembly.
I got charged £6 for the SV, even though I had only had it for 3 hours.
We had a chat outside when he was checking the loan bike over and he openly admitted that Suzuki has made their life a lot tougher about the warranty jobs. They now have to submit pictures of the problem, Suzuki then decide aye or no to a warranty issue. He also mentioned that he thinks the reason why is because down south somewhere a garage was claiming warranty jobs, fixing the broken parts on the bike and keeping the new parts from Suzuki, then selling them thus doubling his money.
Fair enough. But.
If Suzuki are going to start saying no to issues like seized throttle bodies, then what the f*ck is the point in having a warranty? I have therfore come up with the following conclusion:
Suzuki manufacture motorcycles that are sold in the UK. These motorcycles are perfect for anyone and everyone wanting to get on 2 wheels at respectable prices. However, if you do want to buy a Suzuki, you must never ride it, and more than that, you need a warm dry garage to keep it in at all times. You must also clean it after every ride, regardless of if it’s wet or dry and forget right this second riding it in winter. PFFF
Also, where in the manual does it mention cleaning the throttle linkage below the airbox?
The side of my bike looks like a mess, but that dark splatter and massive patch on the casing is actually oil. It seems either that I now have another leaking engine part or the garage today went a bit overkill with the lube for the throttle bodies, because it’s everywhere. I’ll have to double check this as I only just noticed it after being out at the bike to take photos.
Well about 10 minutes ago I got a call on my mobile. It showed “Private Number” which usually is my Mum, because her phone is a dork. Anyway, I answered “HEeeeeeeelllooooooooooo?” and an Englishman replied, “……hi.”
Oops.
It was a guy from Suzuki GB, giving me a courtesy call about my email I had sent on Thursday. In this email, done entirely though the Suzuki website, I had written down every single problem I had with my GSR since buying it new, and just hung it out there for Suzuki to either respond to it, or forget about it. I was really expecting the 2nd one, but much to my flabbergastery, the bloke from Suzuki GB called me to say that he had received the email, had gotten in touch with my garage and had started the path to making me happy. He said that the amount of issues I have had was a bit strange and he was going to try and set it straight. Then he said cheerio.
Amazing. A quick phone call just to say hello and yes, we are going to do something. I am really delighted about this effort to let me know my issues are being listened to, but I am a bit apprehensive as to what will actually happen. I will obviously keep you in the loop.
Anyway,
Update on the bike over, next: The Bridgestone BT021 Sports Touring rubber, good? Hell yeah.
G
2009-06-22 – Thoughts
My mood is pretty low at the minute. Maybe substitute mood for morale.
It seems to be getting windier every day and although today was the first dry commute this week, it was still not very pleasant.
The bike is still playing up, cutting out, indicators flashing fast or not working at all. The Bridgestones (BT021) are working a treat though, Stuart was right; I wasn’t on the right tyre for my needs. The rear still has similar grip levels but are not wearing half as much as my old 16′s. I’ve had them for over 2 months now and there is no apparent squaring.
Riding through Tillicoultry the other day I saw a boy on the back of a bike wearing a t-shirt. I instantly wanted to slap the helmet off his head…would’ve been easy as it probably wasn’t fastened. Why bother?
On Sunday for the first time in A G E S me and Em went out on the bike and I cruised. No red liners or the need to go fast. I bumbled along and I felt really relaxed, allowing time to take in what was whizzing past instead of looking for the next point to ATTACK!
We headed over to Stirling via Crook of Devon, Alloa etc and it was great having no agenda, we were just out for a Sunday totter. There was a load of bikers out, all shapes and sizes, sportsbikes, harleys, tourers, trailies.
Em got a new dark visor for her Shark RSi Eden helmet and it looks smart as feck. I’ll post up a picture later.
Saw a Kawasaki 800 Drifter at the weekend and couldn’t help but imagine myself cruising about on one. Sounded beefy and looked like a lazy boy. I don’t know if I’m starting to gravitate towards a more relaxed bike, MT-01 perhaps…can you call the MT-01 relaxed in any shape or form? Maybe not.
I’m going to Tenerrife in November. This may seem like no big deal, but the whole scenario takes on a different meaning when you realise how quickly I burn. I won’t even be off the plane and I’ll be in need of some medical attention. It looks not to hot though in Nov which is a good thing. The place we are going looks fantastic and behind it sits an active volcano, something which I will be heading up. This holiday can’t come soon enough.
British Superbikes come to Knockhill in a week or so, really looking forward to that. Hopefully the weather will remain somewhat dry and we can get some good racing. Last year was quite wet which spoiled a lot of it, but I’ll not forget the demonstration by the rescue helicopter right above us. Amazing.
Anyway,
Thanks to all that have left comments and check out my various links to Flickr and whatnot.
Gordon
p.s. check out the new sticker for my helmet:
Suzuki GSR600 – The List
Complete list of work done to my GSR from start to finish.
MILEAGE 0
Purchased Bike – 26-01-2008:
- Pre Delivery Inspection
- Fitted R&G Crash Mushrooms
First Service – 09-02-2008:
- Oil Change
Problem No.1 – 24-04-2008
- Bike not starting, electrics all power up but no starter motor or turnover
- Tried fitting parts from the demonstrator GSR with no success
- Ordered a complete wiring loom from Suzuki Warranty
- Replaced wiring loom, started first time.
- Stator, Signal Generator – Warranty
- Starter Clutch Cover x2 – Warranty
- Starter Idle Gear Cap Gasket x2 – Warranty
Rear Tyre Fitted – 30-04-2008
- Bridgestone BT-014
4k Service – 17-05-2008
- Headlight bolt sheared, replaced with non-standard bolt
- Oil changed
- 4k checks
Problem No.2 – 08-07-2008
- Same problem as No.1 – bike not starting
- Cleaned pickup and rotor, fixed – Warranty
7k Service & Problem No.3 – 24-07-2008
- Knocking in 6th gear
- Indicators broke – flashing too fast. Not fixed
- Run out of time to do complete service – air filter not fitted
- No vibrations or knocking found from tester
- Rear tyre fitted – Bridgestone BT-014
Problem No.3 continued – 23-08-2008
- Knocking even louder and more obvious now
- Indicators flashing too fast.
- Bulb replaced for indicator problem
- Advised front sprocket wear may be knocking issue.
11k service & Front Tyre – 04-10-2008
- 11k oil change and service
- New front tyre – Bridgestone BT-014
- Rod for holding tank up not returned to bike
Rear Tyre Fitted -10-10-2008
- Told Bridgestone BT-014 have been superceded by the BT-016
- Bridgestone BT-016 fitted, £30 more expensive
New chain and sprocket fitted – 15-12-2008
- New Renthal front and rear sprockets replaced
- New Tsubaki chain fitted
- Old rear sprocket missing 4-6 teeth
- Old chain totally feckered
- Front sprocket in perfect condition
Throttle Jamming – 10-01-2009
- Throttle sticks open when introduced, rev’s like mad
- Brake switch on front brake lever broke, replaced – Warranty
- Throttle body linkage seized making throttle stick open
- Fixed under Warranty
16k Service 15-02-2009
- Small 5mph spill in office car park.
- Rear brake peg broke, RHS Engine cover scuffed. Initially thought was just cosmetic.
- Turns out the RHS cover was corroded beyond reasonable operation. Bolt wouldn’t have failed had it not been corroded.
- Brake pads replaced
- Bill for repair £550, not Warranty.
Corroded engine covers – 16-03-2009
- Right hand cover replaced by me
- Left hand cover showing corrosion at the seal between engine and casing
- Magneto cover & gasket replaced under warranty
Throttle Jamming – 16-03-2009
- Throttle sticking again
- Mirror finish flaking off
- Oil leaking from engine on to my right boot
- LHS pillion peg cast cracked – not a warranty issue, replaced my dollar £160
- Throttle shaft lubricated
- Cam chain tensioner bolt tightened
New mirrors fitted – 04-04-2009
- New mirrors (K8) replaced under Warranty
- LHS footrest cast fitted
Rear Tyre Fitted – 18-05-2009
- Advised by independant garage BT-014 hasn’t been superceded, but doesn’t matter anyway because the BT-016 is the wrong tyre for me
- BT-021 Sports Touring tyre fitted
- Mileage for tyre should increase
- Independant Mechanic noticed that the engine is corroded now, will only get worse. Go to Suzuki garage.
Engine corrosion – 18-05-2009
- Check for the corrosion of the engine block
- Photos sent to Suzuki for Warranty check – Sunday
- Suzuki approve – Monday
- Bike booked for 21-05-09
Engine Case Replacement & Kill Switch Fault – 21-05-2009
- Kill switch, even in on position, engages at random during ride
- Bike handed in for complete engine case replacement under Warranty
- Indicators flashing fast- replaced under Warranty
- Parts for this job: Crankcase Set, O-Ring x 5, Engine Oil Plug Washer, Oil Seal, Gasket Set, Bolt(?), Clamp Muffler Connect, Bolt (8×35)x2, Screw x2, Plug, Ring set Piston, Pin, Bearing, Roller Bearing, Bolt, Bearing Crankshaft x 3, Connector Muffler x2, Filter Assembly Engine Oil, Exhaust Pipe Gasket, Exhaust Clamp Stainless, Oil, Coolant.
- Kill switch checked, cleaned.
Engine overheating – 02-06-2009
- Engine overheating – Normal Temp 80°C, Temp now 121°C. Radiator Fan doesn’t seem to be coming on.
- Indicators flashing Fast, Cleaned checked and working ok
- Fan re-connected as mechanics found it difficult to establish a clean connection the first time. Working fine with diagnostics programme and when brought up to temp in the courtyard.
Indicators Broke, Bike Cutting Out – 16-06-2009
- Not resolved as of yet.
MILEAGE 20257
Road Rage and Dirty Rears…
Evening all.
I have passed the 2k mark with little notice. This bike is effortlessly easy to ride, although not really, because if it was effortless, I wouldn’t be knackered after riding…so perhaps just easy then…
I have had a few moments of driver idiocy this week. I will start with the first incident, which didn’t actually involve me, but I made a concious effort to get involved. Basically there was a BMW GS something going along the motorway and there was a BMW car behind him. Now the bike was going faster than the BMW car, but the BMW driver was being a mong. So the bike pulled over to the left hand lane and the BMW driver kept at the same speed as the biker until…there was a car going slower than the biker. But instead of letting the biker out, the BMW car driver sped up. Then the biker pulled out, whilst indicating, but the car driver still kept accellerating. Then he started weaving all over the place as if the biker had came out of no-where! It was astounding. But even then it wasn’t over because the biker then pulled in again and the BMW driver went along side the biker and started gesturing to him.
So I took it upon myself to let the car driver know he was being an ass, so went passed him and the other biker and started pointing to my head and shaking my hand in a “bad boy” fashion….it felt good.
Then yesterday, and this is the one that had me laughing, was even more ridiculous. I was going along at 30mph in Edinburgh and some idiot in a Vauxhall Astra was getting closer and closer to me. So I slowed down a tad to see if he would back off…nope. He was so close I thought he was going to rear-end me. So I showed some brake light and still nothing. So I gave a good hand of brake and the guy went bananas. I am not joking! He started weaving all over the place trying to get past me so I shot off and he went along side me at a queue and when I turned round he had his hand in the middle of his face, middle finger hoisted, but actually touching his face. I pointed at him, then gave him the thumbs up. I have never seen a shade of red like this. I could practically see the steam dripping from his ears. And then to make matters worse, I shot off between the cars leaving him in the rather long queue. Ahhhhhhh the benefits of being on two wheels.
But don’t let my jokey point and thumbs up fool you…I was ready to get off and punch this guys head in, I just wanted to make him burst, which he did.
Totally ridiculous and very dangerous driving by the mongo car driver.
ANYWAY!
Apart from that it’s been all good, my tyres are starting to square off, but I have managed to get quite far over. I fancy some leather trousers so I can finally get my knee down, there are some great bends just down from my house where it is dead quiet and smooth surface. I think I could have already had my knee down, but I was scared to incase my textiles caught and ripped my leg off…dramatic yes I know..
Anyway, I am still loving the GSR and am amazed at the unrelenting power even at higher speeds. It just pulls and pulls and pulls….
Here’s a picture of my rear. I fancy some Avon Storms, but am not sure about it yet. They have had a great write up @ Street Scene so I might just bite the bullet when I have worn my rear to the bone.
(By the way, I washed my bike to an “eat your dinner off it” state on Sunday…and now look at it.)
Thanks for stopping by as always folks, I really appreciate it!
Gordon
New bike blues, loosing the front and the missing sticker…
Well it’s gone.
My brother said it perfectly;
“Most people, when they pass their test, they get a banger. Then they get a better banger. Then they get used, then new, then dream bike…You’ve went, test, new bike, dream bike. Of course you’ve got to come down.”
As I handed over the keys to my Buell I didn’t feel anything. No sadness, no regret. I was moving on. But then upon returning home from the garage, I hit rock bottom. The ER6 is a great bike. It’s fast enough, nice riding position and good handling. But it just sucked that I had a bike that wasn’t as nice as the Buell.
Not only that, but on the way home a few irritating things appeared. The mirror has a really loud vibrating noise at any RPM. The front tyre is crap in the wet (See further down) and the bars are hopeless. But I knew all these things when I made my decision, and all of them can be overcome with some thought and money.
As seen below, I have ordered some drag bars. These should come pretty soon, if not today and I’ll post some pics tonight. The mirrors will be sorted too.
The front tyre though, is a big problem. I arrived at Em’s house and picked her up. I was on my way down in the emotions department and just wanted to get home to sulk. So off we went and Em kept saying how great the pillion seat was. I headed up the hill beside the graveyard only for the front to go light and I lost both traction in the front and the rear. It was pretty scary, but controllable. Em was like “What was that?!” and I replied, “oh nothing, just the bike losing all grip on the road…”
We then got on the motorway and headed up 15miles to our turn off of the motorway. As I headed around the slip road we hit a shiny bit of road and again, the front lost grip. Very very unsettling and not good for either of our hearts. Arriving home I had a look at the tyres and found, to my amazement, that the rear was a Bridgestone and the front was a Dunlop…Now some may disagree here, but I have always been told, never ever mix and match tyres, especially not different brands. And here I had a BT020 rear and a D202 (I can’t remember the make so I made that up…) No wonder it felt weird.
So I added the anger to my downer and started picking holes in it.
Then we had to head off and get Blair’s new bike. His brand spanking, really smart GSR600 in red. Off we went and I was extra careful due to the tyre situation and the wet leaves on the road.
Eventually we got to Cupar Motos and headed inside. Blair had talked about some Alpinestars Gore-tex gloves on sale for £59.99. I told him to shut up. Gore-tex is dear. But there they were. I think they were called Jet Roads…but I tried them on and really nice fit. Comfy, warm and snug, and most importantly, Gore-tex lining. I have Alpinestars Gore-tex boots and not once have they leaked or let me down. So I shall be picking some of those up on Saturday.
We had to hang about for a while because the guy was talking to a couple who had just bought a GSXR-1000 race replica bike…he’s going to die then….
Eventually we got seen and B did all the paper work etc. In the meantime I looked around the showroom and saw the GSR600 demonstrator that had been offered to me at £300 plus the Buell. I was thinking “why didn’t I just buy it?”
We headed outside and the guy brought Blairs bike round from the back. It looked amazing! The red was so nice in the sunlight and it was pristine condition. I left Blair with the guy talking about how to start it and sat on the ER6. It’s not that bad I thought.
It started to pour down and Blair was on brand spanking new tyres, on a brand spanking bike, on a brand spanking Licence….not good. I made sure to say take it easy and he did. We got home and everyone came out and had a look at the two bikes…
Come Saturday night I had started to emerge from my depression and started thinking about what mods I could do to my bike…
Sunday was a recovery from the Saturday night, our housewarming party a year on since first moving in! It was a great night and a good time to think about something other than the day’s events. I got up early (9ish) and started work on my bike. I wanted it looking brand new.
2 and a half hours later it was cleaned. It was really mucky, so much for it being cleaned for me picking it up, but it looked brand spanking! I was really chuffed. I also rotated the gear selector round a bit so I wasn’t trying to touch my shin with my toes and it works perfectly now.
29th October 2007
So today I headed in to work on my new bike. It was remarkably easy. The gear shifter mod was great. Flicking through the slick box was no problem and holding a steady 70-90mph was no problem. But I needed to get the front tyre issue resolved, and my insurance as I was still only covered for the Buell.
When I got to work I called up the insurance folk and I am now covered for the Kwak and they are refunding me £344!! I don’t want to think about how much the Buell actually was to insure, but my policy runs out in January 2008…so with 3 months remaining, I am covered for the new bike but have nearly 350squids refunded…hmmm
So that was good. Then I emailed C&J Wilson, the place I got my bike from and told them about the tyre issue, and also that I had noticed that only 1 side of the bike had decals on it, the other side was plain…was this because it was dropped!? Who knows…
They emailed me back saying the tyre will be replaced free of charge and a new decal has been ordered! Result!! Not only will I have matching tyres and matching sides to the bike, but I’ll have £344 to spend on getting stuff for the ER6!!! Ahhh.
Ill post up a mods list in the next post and once I get home I’ll put up some of the pics of my new bike!!
Sorry for the extremely long post!
Thanks for reading folks, and keep checking back! I am now 9th when you do a google.com search for YamYam!!! OOO
Gordon
