ok folks just thought I would add a bit of a postscript to the actual ride to and from phillip island....after nearly 2500km's through conditions that ranged from hot and dry, wild and windy, cold and wet, and not to forget a bit of "off-road" riding through sand and mud in the Grampians....my pride and joy was looking very dirty, a bit scratched from the luggage rack, and most definitely innerd of an oil change, a clean, lube, and slight tightening of the chain...and finally a replacement of a couple of bolts in my TB's...I hate those stupid, soft, anodized bolts that hold the magnesium end caps on...they burr very easily...and on this trip, one of them decided that it would not come out no matter what I tried! Ended up drilling the sucker out!
So today, gazza(Z1000 riding, all round mr bike fixit guru) got down to the business of cleaning, servicing, fixing, detailing, and "de-touring" my bike!
First up was removal of my luggage rack, wind deflectors, and fly-screen...pretty simple stuff, except when I removed the luggage rack, the bloody thing had scratched my rear grab rails to buggery, despite preventitive taping...so it was off with the grab rails, for a quick run back and re-paint...4 hours later, and gazza had it sorted! Nice!
While we had this off, I decided to remove my extremely dirty exhaust for a polish, and while I was at it, I replaced said stupid anodized bolts, and replaced them with some decent stainless bolts! Nice! It took about an hour of hard scrubbing...and a trip to the auto shop for new bolts!
Then it was oil change time...dumped the motul 7100 20w/50, and replaced with motul 5100 10w/50, and did oil filter while I was there! Nice!
Had to take bellypan off to do this...so that got a decent clean and polish whilst off the bike! Nice!
Then it was time to clean and polish my polished rims which after the ride looked very average...an hour later, and lots of elbow grease, skin knuckles from cleaning in and around wave rotors...and they are looking much better...still need a little work, but much better! Nice!
Then it was out with the high pressure washer, some truck wash, and some degreaser, to clean the bike of all the road grime, grease, and mud! After 2 washes with degreaser, and 4 washes with truck wash, most of the bike was looking like it should! Nice!
Then once all this was done, we adjusted the chain, and gave her a lube job! Nice!
Then it was back on with the exhaust, cleaned fender eliminator,and rear hugger. Nice!
Then it was a quick check, adjust, and bleed of clutch and brake levers! Nice!
Could not put rear grab handles back on, as they are still drying, so for now, bike is still off the road till tomorrow! Oh well!
After 6.5 hours, bike is poling much better, and in tip top trim again! Nice!
Can't wait to get out on her again, especially as I am yet to ride her with my "new" Corbin seat, which I recently bought off Mr Hellgate...nice!
All up, a hard days work, which netted a great result!....you guessed it....nice!
:rockon: