Glad to hear you're ok Gypsy! Love the fact that you didn't let a little crash ruin an otherwise great ride.
I hope you recover quickly. That hematoma may take some time to go away. I once had one on my hip after a spill on my bicycle. I made the mistake of continuing my ride for another 30-40 miles which only caused the hematoma to grow. By the end of the day, I had one as big as my fist, hanging from my hip. I was training for triathlons at the time so when I tried to run the next day, the hematoma full of blood just bounced up and down...not a pleasant feeling in the least. I begged my doctor to lance it but he wouldn't due to risk of infection. Anyway, I just had to wear baggy pants for two weeks until the thing went away. Since that spill, I've learned to treat any similar bruise with ice right away. That prevents the hematoma from forming. Anyway, enough medical advice from Dr. Taosports just glad you're ok Gypsy. Sometimes I wish the body was as quick and easy to repair as our bikes are.
My rear turn signal was mended with some kind of plastic glue by the previous owner, and after reading what GypsyRR went through to repair hers, it will stay that way until it falls off!
Nice Job GypsyRR...and great documentation. You have my admiration!
pardon the bit OT, but can anyone answer my question about torque wrench usage?
Finally, re: using the torque wrench...
do you stop the very first time it clicks? or 2nd, 3rd?
It would seem that the first click might represent the setting, say, 8nM; but, if you ratchet back and tighten again the screw will turn a little more before the click occurs. So, are you at 8nM when it first clicks or with subsequent turning ( to the point where your sphincters become tighter then the bolt)?
tia
John
'09 SchwarzeBlanche DuBois Well, don't do that-Hippocrates
An outstanding effort, Gypsy! Overcoming your anxieties and just deciding to do it is half the job, right there. It's a satisfying feeling, isn't it, successfully fixing your bike?
Gypsy - sorry to hear of your spill! Glad you weren't badly hurt and your attitude about riding is still good.
Looks like a fair number of us have experienced a laydown in the past year, including me
Great job on the repair work. Hope the remnants of your injuries disappear soon. My pinkie from my December crash still bothers me when I play a Chopin Etude on the piano.
Member #93, June 2002
'14 BMW R1200RT "Wethead"
'77 BMW R100/7 "Airhead"
As most say, it's important to keep a good relationship with the internals of your bike. I tend to pay people to do the work for me but sometimes don't have the spare funds to pay someone so I try to do things myself. Last night, I stripped my '03 down to the battery level (removing the tank) and was planning on getting a new battery. I took it to a battery store today and the gentleman checked it on a meter and said - I wouldn't replace it - it's still a good battery - he topped off the acid and sent me on my way (free of charge and refusing to take any money). When I got home from work today, I commenced to putting all the bits back in the right places - funny thing is when I put it all back together, it seems to run just a little bet nicer than it did before. Maybe it felt like I had been neglecting it and since we spent some quality time together - it decided to change its attitude.
chibbert wrote:.............. I tend to pay people to do the work for me but sometimes don't have the spare funds to pay someone so I try to do things myself. ,......................... When I got home from work today, I commenced to putting all the bits back in the right places - funny thing is when I put it all back together, it seems to run just a little bet nicer than it did before.
Chris
I thought I was imagining it, but it did seem the bike ran better after I worked on it this past Friday. But I didn't do anything that would have made a difference in how it runs, so maybe it is just imagination.
I'm trying to learn how to do most of the work myself now, but after I learn everything I need to know (and can remember it) then I might pay to have someone do it for me just to save time. But, since I don't know anything about engines, I am 'learning by doing.' It will become more and more safe for me on my rides if I know what to do if I have engine trouble and can get the bike going again as quickly as possible. Plus, maybe by then I won't be afraid to tackle a long solo ride to a Bash, knowing I could take care of myself AND my bike if I broke down along the road somewhere. It sure would be easier if a BASH was closer than 1309 miles away
Gypsy,
just a suggestion, if you ever want to try a different look for the bike, you may want to consider getting front and rear seats in black. I see them for sale here and on ebay from time to time.
I think the tan looks great, but again if you ever want to try riding with a different look, take a look at some black seats.
gel9001 wrote:Gypsy,
just a suggestion, if you ever want to try a different look for the bike, you may want to consider getting front and rear seats in black. I see them for sale here and on ebay from time to time.
I think the tan looks great, but again if you ever want to try riding with a different look, take a look at some black seats.
Gene
One step ahead of you, Gene (maybe two). Actually, I would NOT put a black seat on my bike since I live in the same zip code as Hell. It gets very hot here. However, I do have a spare seat and some marine grade vinyl in another color, so I will be re-covering the spare seat soon - but not in black. I'm keeping it a secret until I see how it looks. But I am NOT recovering because I don't like the tan. I love the way my bike looks.
I like the tan seat on my bike and I think it makes the bike uniquely mine. I haven't seen another bike like mine. Perhaps, because no one else likes it, but still - it's uniquely mine. The spare seat I am recovering will satisfy the demands of the female gene I have which cries out for options and choices for various occasions. It's the same gene that causes us to have so many different purses and shoes.
O.K. Gypsy, I think that if you put a PINK seat on that bike you're going to mobilize the internationl membership of this board to go down to Texas and take it off :-) lol
I love the tan, I know it came as an option on the 2005 bike that you own and it makes a great contrast with the gray. I have a 2004 silver bike with black seat, I would buy a tan one, but I don't think there is enough contrast between the two colors to set it off just right, hence I'll stay with the black, however, with the Gray it looks Dynomite.
Again, I hope pink isn't the color you're considering... don't do it Gypsy... don't anger the Roadster gods.....
The tan seat looks great - especially with a black Roadster. But the silver Roadster is my next favorite color for the R1150R.
You're turning into a wrench, Gypsy. Notice I said "wrench," not the alternative word spelled similarly. Anyhoo, good job again on repairing your own bike. I could have repaired my Harley myself last winter, but insurance made it a lot easier for the dealer to take care of it so I took that option. Because I didn't get a ticket, my insurance hardly went up.
Member #93, June 2002
'14 BMW R1200RT "Wethead"
'77 BMW R100/7 "Airhead"
If you're choosing a new leather color, I vote for light gray. It would compliment the silver, not contrast it, like the tan seat does now. It'll also still be cool baking in the Texas Sun.
White, tan, or any of the light colors, have a nasty habit of showing the blue or black dye from your new jeans if you get caught in the rain.
I also think Pink would anger the Roadster Gods, the Fashion Police (?Pink+Silver?) and get you too much attention from the riff-raff . . . . as if your riding a real motorcycle in full leathers isn't getting enough of that now!
Glad you weren't too hurt physically in your dirty low-side. Sad you won't be attending the Beakster Bash this weekend. Maybe next year it'll be further West and South?
I've barely touched mine (replaced battery was my "big" effort) but plan on getting into it more now that Mr. Warranty has expired. It does give a sense of satisfaction to handle some of this yourself. My "mechanic" days were way back when it was DIY or walk, on cars. So if anyone needs the valves adjusted on their 1961 Chevy straight-six.....
Continued thanks to the board members with the pictorial (and descriptive) posts. It sure makes it less stressful to jump into the wrenching game.
- Bill #438, Lifetime
If I'm going to grow up, I'd better hurry.....oh well.
I was training for triathlons at the time so when I tried to run the next day, the hematoma full of blood just bounced up and down...not a pleasant feeling in the least. I begged my doctor to lance it but he wouldn't due to risk of infection. Anyway, I just had to wear baggy pants for two weeks until the thing went away. Since that spill, I've learned to treat any similar bruise with ice right away. That prevents the hematoma from forming. Anyway, enough medical advice from Dr. Taosports 
just glad you're ok Gypsy. Sometimes I wish the body was as quick and easy to repair as our bikes are.
It's a satisfying feeling, isn't it, successfully fixing your bike? 
It takes some guts to to that.
