Tyre life is always an important factor in running costs, especially given the costs of modern rubber.
I can say for certain that I'm getting just over 12,000 miles out of a front tyre using the standard BT020. This means that I replace them every third service as I'm not fastidious enough to make sure I replace the tyre when it hits the end of its useful life.
Unfortunately, I have no idea how many miles I should be able to get from a rear as I've had four (Yes, four!) punctures. The longest running rear tyre was at 8000 miles when it got a hole in it and, to be honest, it was looking rather worn by then so I'd guess that about 9000 would be about the lot.
May 05, 2004
February 16, 2004
Anyone For Seconds?
A couple of weeks ago I had the misfortune to get a puncture in my rear tyre. This turned out to be a good thing.
As the tyre was only going down slowly I managed to get to the bike shop. Saving me the agro of getting the bike collected. Though I'd had a look I couldn't see what had caused it. When the mechanic studied the tyre he found a splinter of aluminium. I work in an aluminium foundry, I wasn't a happy bunny, but, that's another story. It was clear that the tyre needed replacing after only 1800 miles! So while the tyre was changed I had a coffee and looked round the showroom.
Standing all red, shiney and new was an '04 Pan. After some discussion about money I decided that a change would be a good thing. My bike hadn't done anything wrong it was just quite high mileage, (for a bike) something that effects it's resale value. Apparently people consider 11000 miles to be too much for a year old bike and 25000 would definitely be too much when it got to two years old. Odd really, if you found a year old car with only 11k you'd think it a bargain. Touring bikes are for just that touring and by it's nature touring puts miles on a bike.
Since the price of Pan II was right it was only the colour that needed checking. Though it's my bike Katrine has to like it too. So the following day we both went to check the colour.
Red was acceptable, we took delivery of Pan II last Saturday.
Apart from the colour there are a couple of immediate differences it has an electric screen and hazard lights. As do all '04 Pans. Mr Honda does listen, or is it that they've lots of standard Pans left over after all the ABS/Electric Screen ones got sold. Probably the latter is closer the mark.
The electric screen is amazing. I knew it would be fun to play with but neither of us were ready for the effect it has. Winding the screen up at motorway speeds is like closing a window in a car. All the wind noise vanishes as if you'd slowed down by at least 20 mph. We had read reports that a high screen increases the buffeting on the pillion passenger, Katrine says there's nothing of the sort. A definite improvement for our journeys to France.
The hazard lights, hmm, not sure of the benefits of them since they only work with the key in the ignition. At least with hazard lights on I can park any where I like, go the wrong way up one way streets and generally ignore the rules of the road, provided all the indicators are flashing together ;-)
Having established the obvious differences there are some subtle differences too. The new bike is the same but different if that makes sense. I'd been lead to believe that the 'Hondaisation fairy dust' that's added as the bikes leave the factory makes all Hondas the same. This isn't so. Pan II has a lighter clutch, stiffer suspension, better operating locks on the panniers and unfortunately slippery tyres.
The clutch and suspension are a slight improvement on Pan I, and the locks on the panniers can now be operated with one hand. On Pan I the latches had to be pushed down against a spring to lock them making locking a two handed job.
The new tyres :-( They are the same Bridgestones but, there's far too much slime on them. I know that new tyres need to be treated with a bit of care but these are stupid. The greasy coating slimes your fingers when you touch them. I've tried washing it off with a strong fairy liquid solution but there's still loads of the stuff.
Has anyone got a suggestion to get the slimy stuff off?
Once the 'tyre slime' issue is resolved I know I'll be happier with Pan II and someone else will be happy with Pan I. The electric screen is a definite improvement and as for the clutch difference that may just be the 'newness' but they've definitely improved the pannier locks.
We went for a short spin yesterday after fitting the intercom etc. After a while I was surprised to look down and see a red tank. Maybe the 'Hondaisation fairy dust' takes a while to take effect!
As the tyre was only going down slowly I managed to get to the bike shop. Saving me the agro of getting the bike collected. Though I'd had a look I couldn't see what had caused it. When the mechanic studied the tyre he found a splinter of aluminium. I work in an aluminium foundry, I wasn't a happy bunny, but, that's another story. It was clear that the tyre needed replacing after only 1800 miles! So while the tyre was changed I had a coffee and looked round the showroom.
Standing all red, shiney and new was an '04 Pan. After some discussion about money I decided that a change would be a good thing. My bike hadn't done anything wrong it was just quite high mileage, (for a bike) something that effects it's resale value. Apparently people consider 11000 miles to be too much for a year old bike and 25000 would definitely be too much when it got to two years old. Odd really, if you found a year old car with only 11k you'd think it a bargain. Touring bikes are for just that touring and by it's nature touring puts miles on a bike.
Since the price of Pan II was right it was only the colour that needed checking. Though it's my bike Katrine has to like it too. So the following day we both went to check the colour.
Red was acceptable, we took delivery of Pan II last Saturday.
Apart from the colour there are a couple of immediate differences it has an electric screen and hazard lights. As do all '04 Pans. Mr Honda does listen, or is it that they've lots of standard Pans left over after all the ABS/Electric Screen ones got sold. Probably the latter is closer the mark.
The electric screen is amazing. I knew it would be fun to play with but neither of us were ready for the effect it has. Winding the screen up at motorway speeds is like closing a window in a car. All the wind noise vanishes as if you'd slowed down by at least 20 mph. We had read reports that a high screen increases the buffeting on the pillion passenger, Katrine says there's nothing of the sort. A definite improvement for our journeys to France.
The hazard lights, hmm, not sure of the benefits of them since they only work with the key in the ignition. At least with hazard lights on I can park any where I like, go the wrong way up one way streets and generally ignore the rules of the road, provided all the indicators are flashing together ;-)
Having established the obvious differences there are some subtle differences too. The new bike is the same but different if that makes sense. I'd been lead to believe that the 'Hondaisation fairy dust' that's added as the bikes leave the factory makes all Hondas the same. This isn't so. Pan II has a lighter clutch, stiffer suspension, better operating locks on the panniers and unfortunately slippery tyres.
The clutch and suspension are a slight improvement on Pan I, and the locks on the panniers can now be operated with one hand. On Pan I the latches had to be pushed down against a spring to lock them making locking a two handed job.
The new tyres :-( They are the same Bridgestones but, there's far too much slime on them. I know that new tyres need to be treated with a bit of care but these are stupid. The greasy coating slimes your fingers when you touch them. I've tried washing it off with a strong fairy liquid solution but there's still loads of the stuff.
Has anyone got a suggestion to get the slimy stuff off?
Once the 'tyre slime' issue is resolved I know I'll be happier with Pan II and someone else will be happy with Pan I. The electric screen is a definite improvement and as for the clutch difference that may just be the 'newness' but they've definitely improved the pannier locks.
We went for a short spin yesterday after fitting the intercom etc. After a while I was surprised to look down and see a red tank. Maybe the 'Hondaisation fairy dust' takes a while to take effect!
January 07, 2004
Speed Camera - Warning
On our Christmas trip to our house in Brittany I saw a French police car with a speed camera sticking out of it's window!
Fortunately I was in the car :-) Next time I may not be so lucky.
This is the first speed camera I've ever seen in France. But, they are on the increase. I read an article in a French magazine that said the French police were to purchase a thousand static cameras over the next two years. 'Oh no' I thought, 'the disease is spreading across the channel'. Fingers crossed that my translation was wrong.
If it is true my only hope is that since France is a big country, if they start around Paris, hopefully they won't have any left to put up in Brittany ;-)
Fortunately I was in the car :-) Next time I may not be so lucky.
This is the first speed camera I've ever seen in France. But, they are on the increase. I read an article in a French magazine that said the French police were to purchase a thousand static cameras over the next two years. 'Oh no' I thought, 'the disease is spreading across the channel'. Fingers crossed that my translation was wrong.
If it is true my only hope is that since France is a big country, if they start around Paris, hopefully they won't have any left to put up in Brittany ;-)
Santa's Been
If anyone out there is stuck for something to spend their Christmas money on, may I suggest Heated Hand Grips? I got a pair of Oxford Hot Hands (free with my Christmas present subscription to Bike Magazine). I fitted them yesterday, not having a garage I had to wait until it warmed up a bit and stopped raining so I could 'play outside'. They were easy to fit. Just connect the positive wire to the auxiliary fuse and the negative to a bit of frame. As the Pan's tank tips up easily running the wiring to the handle bars was simple. In all the whole job took about half an hour. The journey to work convinced me I should have got some years ago. They wrap around the bike's grips so they feel a bit odd initially as the hand grips are much fatter. On a sports bike where you have to support yourself with your hands this may be a problem, but on a 'sensible' bike like the Pan it only takes a couple of minutes to get used to. The heat rapidly penetrated my cloves making my hands all toasty and warm. (Too warm on the way to work as it wasn't really that cold, so I turned them off!)
January 05, 2004
Finally!
Back on the road and only slightly sore of foot! After a break of almost 8 weeks, I finally managed to get back on the road today! Had to recharge the battery again, though, as the drain from the Datatool alarm limits battery life to three weeks or so.
Predictably, the bike fired up within seconds after lying idle and, pausing only to check oil and air, we were off! Ah, the joys of motoring round Kent on a dry winter day. Went for a quick spin and then off on a quick 20 mile jaunt to a friends house for dinner and then a great night-time blast round dark, twisty country roads on the way home.
It isn't until I got back in the saddle that I realised how much I had missed it. Here's hoping that normality has been restored...
Predictably, the bike fired up within seconds after lying idle and, pausing only to check oil and air, we were off! Ah, the joys of motoring round Kent on a dry winter day. Went for a quick spin and then off on a quick 20 mile jaunt to a friends house for dinner and then a great night-time blast round dark, twisty country roads on the way home.
It isn't until I got back in the saddle that I realised how much I had missed it. Here's hoping that normality has been restored...
January 02, 2004
Tomorrow could be the big day.
Finally, I should be able to get back on the bike this weekend! Here's hoping...
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