Mechanical Nightmares!

[Süsser Tod]

Well, yesterday there was nothing to report, she behaved nicely all day.

As far as coolant goes...

She even drank a bit of coolant from the overflow bottle, and didn't spew out any, so I gave her more! But that wasn't all of it.

I had noticed that the handling was a bit odd, like if she wanted to go in a straight line all the time. I can't really describe it, it was just odd, she would sometimes fight me a bit when trying to start a turn and sometimes she would fight a bit when trying to straighten her out. Weird, just weird. I'm pushing the tires, the rear is almost bald in the middle and the front one is about to get to the TWIs, I haven't replaced the rear as I can't get my hands on a new Michelin Sirac, so both will be replaced at the same time. As I know the rear tire is shot, I thought the handling woes were related to the tires, but the last few days it had got really bad, so bad that I was thinking of already installing the Conti Trail Attacks... But, yesterday on my way home, I felt something weird on the handlebar, I was pushing it to the left, and it first refused to move, but it moved and felt as if it had got stuck with something, but it wasn't stuck...

It really made no sense. I had made sure the handlebar moved freely, the steering head bearings are fine and tight, forks are not twisted, and I couldn't figure out a pattern, sometimes the bike handled fine, sometimes it didn't, but no regular situation where it didn't.

When I got home I started checking around the steering head, and something caught my eye...

The clutch switch wires were getting caught in between the steering lock and a tab in the steering head. Yes, the handlebar was getting stuck, that's why it handled so poorly. All because I added a set of 25mm handlebar risers that pulled the wires a bit, just enough for that particular one to get caught in there.

[Süsser Tod]

Meh, still handles awfully...

I now have to find a place to get the front wheel trued, I've tried and failed miserably, and then I will install the new tires. No more riding the XT for a while.

[Builtgypsy]

What's coming out of the stable now?

[Süsser Tod]

I guess the SV1KS will take over the commuter duties...

The XJR1300 is really unhappy commuting, that big lump does create and accumulate a lot of heat and I'm always worried about the engine seizing or something like that. Well, the engine seizing or some part of my body getting burnt, my knees are really close to the cylinder head and with so much heat it gets to the point of being painful. It's a wonderful bike to ride at a mild pace or even relaxed, but she sucks big time in the city.

The CBR (any of the "common" sportbikes) is a thief magnet, IMHO, commuting on it is just asking for trouble.