Newbie Introduction from Perth's North

[Kevan]

 
Just thought I'd drop a line and Hi to everyone.
Names Kevan from Wanneroo in Perth. Candy Apple 2000 model.
Currently riding a 1100 Pan Euro with 81,000 on the clock. Bought it from the original owner 6 years ago with 35,000 showing. Used to be a fine weather rider, but this last year I've ridden it every day to / from work.
Before the ST, I had a GL1000 GoldWing and started the WestCoast Chapter of the GWRRA. Loved the balance of the old hori 4 cylinder and the way I could just throw it around. Tried the same thing when I test rode the ST and nearly put myself in a ditch (slight over-steer).

Originally from England and my first bike was BSA Starfire 250 in full racing trim. Mum nearly died when she saw it. That was 1971. Nearly died myself a couple of times since then lol..    Upgraded to a T120 Bonni which saw me plant myself into the rear seat of a car when I T-boned it at 110kph. Rebuilt the Bonnie to new but kept a few scars of my own..
Sold the bonnie and for some strange reason bought an old Francis Barnet.. Hmm, kept it for about a month then bought a brand new Yamaha RD400. Far to light and twitchy for my liking. Got rid of that and bought a Harley 250 Trail bike. Like all Harleys, bits kept falling off !! Poor gearbox kept stripping teeth.  Got ride of that and - Bought a car....
Didn't ride a bike again for about 20 years till I came to Oz, had a mid-life crisis, and bought the GL..
That's about it really. Used to love pulling the motors down for any old excuse, but now I just can't be bothered, but I need to pull the top of the ST as its got a bit of front right tinkle. Probably a worn valve shim. Any ideas?
While where there - why does the gear change get clunky when she's warm ??
 
Good to be here, hope to talk more and get involved

Cya - Kevan

[Sabie]

Hey, welcome Kevan. Enjoy the site, look around. Lots of info and friendly people.

[gaz]

hello 

[ST2UP]

Howdy Kevan.....

[Wild Rose]

A big Hi Kevan from Sunny Queensland
Enjoy the site

Leo
 

[Streak]

Hello Kevan, and welcome!

[West Aussie Glen]

Welcome Kevan, another West Aussie, good stuff.

[tj189]

Welcome to the forum Kevan, enjoy your time on here 

[Mitch]

 Hi Kevan and a Warm Welcome to the forum. 
                 

[Kevan]

Many thanks for your welcome notes. 
I'll probably spend many hours purusing the pages of this site, thank heavens I have an understanding wife..

[WendyL]

Welcome Kevan, you'll have a ball on here, especially if you like to get into a bit of stirring 

[Poppy Dave]

Welcome to the zoo Kev.

Catch up soon

Dave                                                                 

[StinkyPete]

Hi Kevan and welcome to the forum.

[Shiney]

Welcome Kevan

[rjstorrie]

Welcome Kevan,

from the other side of Oz.   

Rob.

[Gavo]

Hi Kevan

Clunky gearbox ?

i found a couple of close oil changes with a good oil and it quieten down

I do mine about every eight thou and filter

See you out there

[saaz]

Howdy Kevan. Gear change from 1 to 2 should really be the only clunk, but the STs have solid gearboxes built to last so are never super smooth.  A few oil changes with proper oil should help.

As for the tinkle, the ST valve clearances usually/always tighten up over time, so it should not be a loose valve.  There can be some noise from around the front where the timing belt drives the cams - on mine there is a slight looseness of the cog where it fits on the cam but this is not unusual.  Checking the valves is always a good idea.  Have you read this http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=3080.0 for a possible fix?  And Turtle just happens to be a local.

[Kevan]

All good and very sound advise. Most appreciated.
I was running on Semi-Synthetic which (according to all the sales guff) shouldn't loose viscosity, but I recon it does. So I've put a quality 15-50 into it and she seems a lot happier. Top end tinckle (valve noise) has gone, and there is less rattle at low revs when torqued. Made up my mind to do a change every 10,000. (now has 81,500 on the clock).

As an aside. I order a new set of front / rear brake pads (6 in all) from MetalGear in Qld, ordered correctly from their "select a nike"  ie 2000 ST1100 Pan-European ABS / TC and the wrong ones came through. I sent them back with a scanned image of the old pads, and the right ones have come now. There service was realy good, and the prices are excellent as they manufacture the stuff themselves, but its worth checking sizing etc before final shipment.

[saaz]

I change mine at 10,000kms usually, unless I have a bigger trip coming up and change early, or leave it until after a trip.  The 10W-xx oils I have tried seems to give clunkier gear changes earlier than 15W-xx oils, unless the 10W-xx oil is full synthetic.  Every oil test I have read on the ST11 shows that even if the oil might feel not as good towards the end, oil testing shows it is still within required parameters for protection.

Changing the oil is cheaper than getting it tested!  Mine has done 180,000kms and under the valve covers is as clean as a whistle.  It is amazing what routine maintenance will do without necessarily using the most expensive oil.

[Diesel]

Hi Kevan - thanks for a great intro to yourself. Hope you're still enjoying the ride.

By now, you may have seen that a lot of us use turbo diesel oil and ryco filters - just in case the advertising ain't correct and we actually DON'T have to spend $130 for oil and filters!              


Anyways - thanks for joining, and hope to see you round some day.


Cheers, Diesel