She said yes... ;-> (NT700VA)

Hound said:
Green with envy at Martin's useful bike lift...
Click to expand...
Spent my `90ies riding days working on the ground (even the crash rebuild and frame swap on my '92 ST1100), hated it...
Proper tools make all so much easier and fun...

But: it seems we've to relocate shop again...
Owner/lessor is starting to act up, like every other week a new flimsy "complaint"...
Dunno, we're clean, not loud, no parties, pay on time...
Likely someone else has an eye on the object...
 
ST1100Y said:
Spent my `90ies riding days working on the ground (even the crash rebuild and frame swap on my '92 ST1100), hated it...
Proper tools make all so much easier and fun...

But: it seems we've to relocate shop again...
Owner/lessor is starting to act up, like every other week a new flimsy "complaint"...
Dunno, we're clean, not loud, no parties, pay on time...
Likely someone else has an eye on the object...
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear about you having to relocate your shop. Hope you find the right place with a good landlord.
 
Time flies... GF already put 82,000km/51Kmiles on that thing... :cool:
Hangar time...
Engine oil & filter replaced, new brake pads, brake fluid replaced, fork oil replaced, f/drive oil replaced, swapped tires...
Tomorrow we'll dive in for checking valves, t/chain spanners, new valve cover gaskets, new spark plugs, air-filter, replacing coolant...

Drive splines & hub dampers look fine, so do the OEM wheel bearings...
 
Welcome... to big service! :cool:

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rear jug gives easy access, forward one is a nightmare... adjusting the outlet valves requires removal of radiator... :rolleyes:
Fortunately all were within specs...
Ditto on t/chains, gliders and spanners...
The NT is generally not really that service friendly... a bit of an origami...
Guess I'm spoiled by decades on the ST1100... ;)

Replacing the coolant required to mutilate the air guide... not in the mood to remove the bloody upper fairing for such a simple job...

New valve cover gaskets & grommets (+ the mandatory dab of RTV on the strategic places ;) )
BTW is this the only thing I see some improvement done: those gaskets holding really strong in the grooves and won't fall off the cover...
On the 1100 I always have to tack them on with a thin layer of glue...

As synthetic 10W30 isn't really common here (plenty of dyno and blends around), I'd ordered a can of MOTUL online...
Same brand permanent coolant, BelRay super DOT 4, BelRay hypoid gear oil... the usual...

GF claims the engine is more silent again... :shrug1:
Brake pads will need a few miles to settle and bite properly again...

Anyway, she's ready for the MOT next week, will roll in again for a new set of tires prior the Scotland run late summer...
 
Pacific coast is an option for a easy & lighter bike that will run day long and ask at the end of the day that’s it, I had one before my st’s ,as I get up there in age there’s a good possibility one could be in my future. I still miss that trunk , did a lot of grocery shopping with that old girl.
 
Apparently no one picked up on it, likely more a question for the technically knowing... ;)

Do gliders & tensioners of the t/chain on the forward cylinder wear faster??

They're auto-tensioners and the metal wedge protruding is the wear indicator...

Rear is flush with the casing:

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the forward one however peeking out 3mm...

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No need to worry, wear max are 6mm and I'll replace them long before that (in about 10 years or so... ;) )

Still astounded about the different wear rate though...
 
Well, ze GF rotated it to over 95,000km/59,000miles...

So some hangar time for the NT...

Did replace the head bearings today, and installed a new front fender while at it.
Started to install her some heated grips, found out the NT features a proprietary design...
like a throttle tube with an additional ridge preventing installation of "regular" grips...
Used another heated-handles kit that comes with a throttle tube pre-installed...
Will break out the lathe and simply modify some old ST1100 end weights...

Also gonna replace the taillight with the clear, post '08 design and fix a crack on the LHS inner pannier...

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Sadlsor said:
I'm thinking you like working on the NT as much as on your own.
In all likelihood I would too, if my wife would ride... but we knew this going in, so no blame here.
I'm glad she rides.
I'm glad you look after her.
Click to expand...
Things have to be done for keeping them bike safe, reliable and on the road...
Besides is it a creative, productive balance to the dull daily desk jokey routine...
 
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And there seems no end to it...

reckon the crack on the inboard pannier I posted a pic off above?
Well, took it off today and found... havoc...
The PO loved to soak the locking rails in there with some spray oil...
Not only was all crusted and seized, the mineral oil content made all the plastic brittle, the 4 mounting posts on each side crumbled apart...
No wonder the lids were such a challenge to close, astonished that they locked/unlocked at all...
Treated the rails in the parts washer, cinematic moves really easy and smooth again, same with the cables... all that this will see from now on is silicone oil and tiny dabs of silicone grease...

While having the front fairings off (for installing the supply for the grip heaters and the "latte launcher" dual tone snail type horns...), I discovered a coolant seepage in the valley between the cylinders...
The O-rings of the water jacket connection pipe seem to have given in... that's going to be a true game of patience in there...

Found new inboard pannier halfes for € 364,- each... intend to reinforce those mounting points significantly with epoxy...

to be continued...

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Sadlsor said:
Martin once again demonstrates his resourcefulness and problem solving skills.
Click to expand...
As said, time will tell...
Those inboard pannier half's (81220MEWD40, body assy R & 81320MEWD40, body assy L) leave quite a dent in the budget...
OTOH is there no use in trying to fix those crumbling old ones... such only gives grief and headache...
Those lids have to work, flawless, I want that off my mind... the GF is all over the city with that NT, office, running errands... don't want to receive a text or call she being stranded somewhere...
Nor do I want any anger during a vacation/ride with that...
 
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