Just about to wash the D12 after the trip to NW200 and back. So if noisy black D12 & '06 955i Daytonas came past you somewhere between Coventry and Coleraine then sorry! Incidentally as a mate threw his 955 Tiger down the road near Dumfries I can say that Triumph crash bungs do work!
Started taking bits off. Got as far as trying to dismantle my front calipers, then got puzzled. The joining bolts are allen heads, but they're too small for a 7mm key and a 6mm is really loose in them and feel slike it will just round them off if you try undo them. Workshop manual doesn't say anything odd about them, it just says loosen the joining bolts. Strange.
Captain StripleR: Started taking bits off. Got as far as trying to dismantle my front calipers, then got puzzled. The joining bolts are allen heads, but they're too small for a 7mm key and a 6mm is really loose in them and feel slike it will just round them off if you try undo them. Workshop manual doesn't say anything odd about them, it just says loosen the joining bolts. Strange.
6.5 mm - or Imperial (not unknown)? Size chosen deliberately to obstruct inept fingers? (Just to be clear - not you!)
I've never come across a 6.5mm allen key. 1/4" would be between 6 and 7, but there's no way a Japanese brake manufacturer would use imperial. It did cross my mind that they might be liek that deliberately to deter dismantling, but there's no mention of it or any special tool in the workshop manual, and I knowother people have had them apart (my friend's fella stripped hers during winter to powdercoat them).
Moved it to get the rice rocket out - called in to the Wellesbourne Airfield cafe - it was full of tired looking reps with laptops, flying types with the obligatory wrap-round shades talking flying talk, and pensioners tucking into cod & chips!
Captain StripleR: Took my calipers off, separated the front ones. Caught my speed triple just in time as it decided to fall over.
So what was the answer to the ill-fitting allen bolts?
I just tok them out carefully with the 6mm allen bit. No dramas, they came out easily, but there was quite a bit of movement of the bit in thebolt heads - after taking each one out I had to give it a god waggle to free the bit that had rotated and stuck in. I wouldn't want to try remove them on a caliper that had seen winter. Will be replacing with decent stainless fasteners.
replaced the allen head bolts on my hand controls casue everything else was stainless except for those ones makes me feel better that they match the rest now
Captain StripleR: Took my calipers off, separated the front ones. Caught my speed triple just in time as it decided to fall over.
So what was the answer to the ill-fitting allen bolts?
I just tok them out carefully with the 6mm allen bit. No dramas, they came out easily, but there was quite a bit of movement of the bit in thebolt heads - after taking each one out I had to give it a god waggle to free the bit that had rotated and stuck in. I wouldn't want to try remove them on a caliper that had seen winter. Will be replacing with decent stainless fasteners.
the smaller allen sizes can be a bit iffy. Some allen keys are rubbish as well - I keep mine 'dressed-up' on the wheel. I also use torx wherever possible - pin torx if they're on an expensive bit!
Got my knee down this morning a few times and the footpeg lowering plates didnt cause any issues. a bit less cramped too not that thats a big deal on the S3.
Captain StripleR: Took my calipers off, separated the front ones. Caught my speed triple just in time as it decided to fall over.
So what was the answer to the ill-fitting allen bolts?
I just tok them out carefully with the 6mm allen bit. No dramas, they came out easily, but there was quite a bit of movement of the bit in thebolt heads - after taking each one out I had to give it a god waggle to free the bit that had rotated and stuck in. I wouldn't want to try remove them on a caliper that had seen winter. Will be replacing with decent stainless fasteners.
the smaller allen sizes can be a bit iffy. Some allen keys are rubbish as well - I keep mine 'dressed-up' on the wheel. I also use torx wherever possible - pin torx if they're on an expensive bit!
It's teh bolt heads, not teh allen bit, that was a brand new decent quality one. Ordered the stainless replacements today, polished machined taper head allens, with some matching yoke pinch bolts and some rather nice stainless replacements for teh ugly OE rear caliper mounting slide bolts.
Captain StripleR: Took my calipers off, separated the front ones. Caught my speed triple just in time as it decided to fall over.
So what was the answer to the ill-fitting allen bolts?
I just tok them out carefully with the 6mm allen bit. No dramas, they came out easily, but there was quite a bit of movement of the bit in thebolt heads - after taking each one out I had to give it a god waggle to free the bit that had rotated and stuck in. I wouldn't want to try remove them on a caliper that had seen winter. Will be replacing with decent stainless fasteners.
the smaller allen sizes can be a bit iffy. Some allen keys are rubbish as well - I keep mine 'dressed-up' on the wheel. I also use torx wherever possible - pin torx if they're on an expensive bit!
I've got a decent set of 1/2" drive allen keys and a T-handle set and find that one or the other fits better on different bolts so they are not all made equal.
Captain StripleR: Took my calipers off, separated the front ones. Caught my speed triple just in time as it decided to fall over.
So what was the answer to the ill-fitting allen bolts?
I just tok them out carefully with the 6mm allen bit. No dramas, they came out easily, but there was quite a bit of movement of the bit in thebolt heads - after taking each one out I had to give it a god waggle to free the bit that had rotated and stuck in. I wouldn't want to try remove them on a caliper that had seen winter. Will be replacing with decent stainless fasteners.
the smaller allen sizes can be a bit iffy. Some allen keys are rubbish as well - I keep mine 'dressed-up' on the wheel. I also use torx wherever possible - pin torx if they're on an expensive bit!
I've got a decent set of 1/2" drive allen keys and a T-handle set and find that one or the other fits better on different bolts so they are not all made equal.
There's nothing wrong with the allen bit i was using. Tried various different ones in the bolts a nd they were all as slack as an old whore's fanny, just s!$% fasteners - they're going in the bin where they belong.
Jeeez! I didn't for one minute imagine there would be - I was just making the point that some of the smaller sizes (2.5mm, 3.0mm etc) can be a bit approximate in terms of both the bolthead and the key!!
andreas: Jeeez! I didn't for one minute imagine there would be - I was just making the point that some of the smaller sizes (2.5mm, 3.0mm etc) can be a bit approximate in terms of both the bolthead and the key!!
andreas: Jeeez! I didn't for one minute imagine there would be - I was just making the point that some of the smaller sizes (2.5mm, 3.0mm etc) can be a bit approximate in terms of both the bolthead and the key!!
Wasn't being stroppy, just saying the problem was with the s!$%ty bolts, not the tools.
Today I removed my forks (tip if you're doing yours - wrap tape round the section between the yokes - the black anodising marks very easliy ), bars and risers. The philips screws in the throttle housing were twats, bloody tight, and it took me ages to wriggle the left grip off the bars, lol. Also got my Bandit MOTd and taxed.
andreas: Jeeez! I didn't for one minute imagine there would be - I was just making the point that some of the smaller sizes (2.5mm, 3.0mm etc) can be a bit approximate in terms of both the bolthead and the key!!
Wasn't being stroppy, just saying the problem was with the s!$%ty bolts, not the tools.
Today I removed my forks (tip if you're doing yours - wrap tape round the section between the yokes - the black anodising marks very easliy ), bars and risers. The philips screws in the throttle housing were twats, bloody tight, and it took me ages to wriggle the left grip off the bars, lol. Also got my Bandit MOTd and taxed.
I routinely replace all philips heads - hydraulic reservoirs, for example, with SS allen's.
andreas: Jeeez! I didn't for one minute imagine there would be - I was just making the point that some of the smaller sizes (2.5mm, 3.0mm etc) can be a bit approximate in terms of both the bolthead and the key!!
Wasn't being stroppy, just saying the problem was with the s!$%ty bolts, not the tools.
Today I removed my forks (tip if you're doing yours - wrap tape round the section between the yokes - the black anodising marks very easliy ), bars and risers. The philips screws in the throttle housing were twats, bloody tight, and it took me ages to wriggle the left grip off the bars, lol. Also got my Bandit MOTd and taxed.
I routinely replace all philips heads - hydraulic reservoirs, for example, with SS allen's.
Captain StripleR: I have a Speed Triple too, it decided it wanted to say hello to the Bandit, so it decided to try get closer.
Didn't know that.
Blizzard: All I will say is that I've never had a bike in the same colour as the previous one
Mmmm, as you've got something sporty (albeit old stylie ) in the Speed Triple, maybe you're going for something like a Tiger 800?
Was going to get the CCM out to start it but as I had to get the Tiger out first decided to give it a wash, although not that dirty, in readiness for the MOT and put the new tax disc on.
Checked the oil level and had a panic when the oil didn't even register on the dip-stick. Put a little in and it was above the max! I wish the Tiger wouldn't do this to me! Checking the oil level on Tiger 1050s has always been a hit and miss affair. So much easier on the TBS and Mk. 1 Speed Triple.
But I really love the Tiger 1050 and really can't see me changing it for anything else anytime soon.
At last......... Finally wheeled my Daytona out into the sunshine after it`s seven month hibernation Media File
It`s had an oil and filter change, airfilter cleaned and oiled, coolant flush and change and one or two other odds and sods. Put the plastic back on today. It was really hot today and I was drinking cold beer while I was tinkering. By the time I was finished I was too pissed to take it for a shake down ride
and thoroughly enjoyed it
makes me feel better that they match the rest now 
Checking the oil level on Tiger 1050s has always been a hit and miss affair. So much easier on the TBS and Mk. 1 Speed Triple. 
