Mean Streets
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
New Brake Pads
I put new front brake pads on my SV650 today, here is a quick rundown on how to do it.
First thing you will need to do is clean the cover of the master cylinder, then unscrew it and take it off with the rubber diaphram underneath it. Now you will need to siphon out the fluid inside. After the fluid is out, take a rag and clean any debris left in the bottom.
Now unbolt the caliper, it doesn't matter which side you do first. Once the caliper is off this is what it will look like.
The pads are usually held in by pins. On the SV, its one pin held in by a clip. So just take the clip off and slide the pin out and the pads will come off.
Its a good idea to take some fine grit sandpaper and lightly sand the rotors to remove any of the old pad material baked on by the old pads.
Now clean the caliper and the pistons with brake cleaner. Once they are clean you will need to push the pistons back into the bores of the caliper. This can be done by hand or with a c-clamp and a small block of wood. Here is the caliper with the pistons pushed in.
Next install the new pads, put the pin back in and secure it with the clip. It all goes back in easily, just the way the old ones came out.
Now bolt the caliper back on and repeat the same thing on the other side.
To finish the job, fill the master cylinder back up with new fluid and pump the lever several times until it gets firm. This is the most important step because it will take several lever pumps to get the brakes working again. Check the master cylinder level again, and you are done. ¶ 8:52 PM 3 comments
First thing you will need to do is clean the cover of the master cylinder, then unscrew it and take it off with the rubber diaphram underneath it. Now you will need to siphon out the fluid inside. After the fluid is out, take a rag and clean any debris left in the bottom.
Now unbolt the caliper, it doesn't matter which side you do first. Once the caliper is off this is what it will look like.
The pads are usually held in by pins. On the SV, its one pin held in by a clip. So just take the clip off and slide the pin out and the pads will come off.
Its a good idea to take some fine grit sandpaper and lightly sand the rotors to remove any of the old pad material baked on by the old pads.
Now clean the caliper and the pistons with brake cleaner. Once they are clean you will need to push the pistons back into the bores of the caliper. This can be done by hand or with a c-clamp and a small block of wood. Here is the caliper with the pistons pushed in.
Next install the new pads, put the pin back in and secure it with the clip. It all goes back in easily, just the way the old ones came out.
Now bolt the caliper back on and repeat the same thing on the other side.
To finish the job, fill the master cylinder back up with new fluid and pump the lever several times until it gets firm. This is the most important step because it will take several lever pumps to get the brakes working again. Check the master cylinder level again, and you are done. ¶ 8:52 PM 3 comments
Friday, May 19, 2006
Commuting
I am a motorcycle commuter. There aren't that many of us. I say this because on my 17 mile ride to and from work, I see countless cars, but maybe 1 or 2 bikes.
Let me tell you how this all came about. In December 2002, I got a job working at LAX. All of the employees have to park off site, and pay $15 or $30 a month, unless you are in upper management. So after working there a few weeks, someone told me that if you ride a motorcycle you could park in the parking structure for free. I found it hard to believe, because those lots cost $30 a day. Then I started working with someone who actually rode, and they confirmed it. All you have to do is drive around the gate on the way in and on the way out. No one says anything to you. Meanwhile, I was parking off site, paying $30 a month for it and riding a bus that was pure hell. The bus back to the lot was always completely packed, standing room only. I was envious of the guys with bikes.
My wife had been talking a about getting a motorcycle for a long time. She actually did a lot of research, and found a Kawasaki EX500(Ninja) that we could learn on and afford. I was thinking at the time, boy I don't know about riding in this city(L.A.). It seems so crazy, so much traffic, stupid accidents all the time. But she was really into it, so we bought the bike.
I started riding it around, I knew how to operate it from my time on my friends bikes back in the late 80s. So with more practice on the quiet roads, I got braver and ventured into L.A traffic. Wow, I thought, this isn't so bad. I can out accelerate everything. The traffic wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be. So once I was confident enough, I thought I have to try taking it to work. I already knew the parking benefits. Let me tell you, it changed my life. I was spending an hour less on my commute, no more taking the hell bus. I got my motorcycle endorsement, and started taking it every day. 6 months later I sold my car. I didn't make sense to me to pay for a car I wasn't using.
The thing I don't understand is why I see so few bikes out there commuting. There are so many benefits. Now with gas prices the way they are, it makes even more sense. So all you people with motorcycles, ride to work at least once in a while. I'm not saying you need to go hardcore like me and sell your car. Riding to work can change your boring commute into a fun ride. ¶ 8:07 PM 0 comments
Let me tell you how this all came about. In December 2002, I got a job working at LAX. All of the employees have to park off site, and pay $15 or $30 a month, unless you are in upper management. So after working there a few weeks, someone told me that if you ride a motorcycle you could park in the parking structure for free. I found it hard to believe, because those lots cost $30 a day. Then I started working with someone who actually rode, and they confirmed it. All you have to do is drive around the gate on the way in and on the way out. No one says anything to you. Meanwhile, I was parking off site, paying $30 a month for it and riding a bus that was pure hell. The bus back to the lot was always completely packed, standing room only. I was envious of the guys with bikes.
My wife had been talking a about getting a motorcycle for a long time. She actually did a lot of research, and found a Kawasaki EX500(Ninja) that we could learn on and afford. I was thinking at the time, boy I don't know about riding in this city(L.A.). It seems so crazy, so much traffic, stupid accidents all the time. But she was really into it, so we bought the bike.
I started riding it around, I knew how to operate it from my time on my friends bikes back in the late 80s. So with more practice on the quiet roads, I got braver and ventured into L.A traffic. Wow, I thought, this isn't so bad. I can out accelerate everything. The traffic wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be. So once I was confident enough, I thought I have to try taking it to work. I already knew the parking benefits. Let me tell you, it changed my life. I was spending an hour less on my commute, no more taking the hell bus. I got my motorcycle endorsement, and started taking it every day. 6 months later I sold my car. I didn't make sense to me to pay for a car I wasn't using.
The thing I don't understand is why I see so few bikes out there commuting. There are so many benefits. Now with gas prices the way they are, it makes even more sense. So all you people with motorcycles, ride to work at least once in a while. I'm not saying you need to go hardcore like me and sell your car. Riding to work can change your boring commute into a fun ride. ¶ 8:07 PM 0 comments
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Why Mean Streets?
Well, I guess for my first blog I should explain why I am calling it Mean Streets. The answer is simple, they are! Every time I take my motorcycle out of the garage its a challenge. I not only have to worry about myself, I have to worry about everything else. Who is going to try to kill me today? Is it the SUV that just turned left in front of me? Is it the Camaro that changed lanes without looking or seeing me? Is it the cab driver who for some reason wants to race me? There are so many examples, these are just a few of them. Then there are the roads themselves. SoCal has a reputation in the rest of the country for having smooth roads, let me tell you its not true. Then I have to worry about what debris might be on the road. My favorite is the couch that was in the HOV lane on the 105 Freeway.
Despite all of this, I still love my motorcycle. I drive it almost everyday of the week. It is in my opinion, the only way to get around in L.A. Then there are those times when the weather is so beautiful, I can't even imagine being cooped up in a car. Just to be able to take the bike out, with no place to go, and enjoy the ride. ¶ 6:17 PM 1 comments
Despite all of this, I still love my motorcycle. I drive it almost everyday of the week. It is in my opinion, the only way to get around in L.A. Then there are those times when the weather is so beautiful, I can't even imagine being cooped up in a car. Just to be able to take the bike out, with no place to go, and enjoy the ride. ¶ 6:17 PM 1 comments
Thursday, May 11, 2006
