Oh, FFS.

Thought that the TL's fresh paint would be hardened enough by now to
withstand the odd fly splat, so I decided to take it to work.

Unfortunately, it wouldn't start, and the dash displayed the 'CHEC'
that it displays when the immobilizer is active. I tried arming &
disarming, and it was beeping, but no startee. Arse.

So I ran indoors, swapped the keys for the Tuono's, and trundled to
work.

At work, while mulling ove the fact that only the other day I'd been
thinking how reliable it was and how that must have tempted fate, I
suddenly recalled that bikes have this thing called a kill switch.

So when I (eventually) got home, I checked...

 

Don't feel too bad, a few days ago I got the 'CHEC' display and panicked
(kill switch OK) - got Swim to help me push the bike up the (violently
steep, it seemed) ramp into the garage. Got that done and *then* Swim
said 'Is it something to do with the security?'....

Wot? Like dobbing the magnet thingy on it before trying to start
it....??

Why didn't the stupid sod suggest that *before* we shoved it into the
garage??

*Some people*!! (Thick as mince....)

 

Heh. Boy did I feel it when I got home!

 

You have trouble getting into neutral too?

I am told that adjusting the clutch cable can cure this.

 

No more, or less, than anything else around here. But in common with
many of my posts contains a certain element of self denigration so yes.

As it is you I'll try.

The gearbox on my Bloo GS is a trifle single minded. In that, having
selected a gear it is not very happy about selecting another without
slightly more than gentle persuasion. To the point that it is almost
impossible to get it into neutral if I bring it to a stop still in gear.
This is said to be commonly caused by a slightly draggy clutch. The
solution for which is to:-

a) Adjust the clutch cable so that it fully disengages or, if that
doesn't work and it doesn't...

b) Turn the motor off before playing footsie with the gear lever. A
solution which is best achieved by operating the kill switch.



Happy now? Can I stop being sensible and go back to being silly again?

 

I disconnected the one on the Guzzi.

 

To be honest it disconnected itself. The connector box wasn't latching
properly and was causing an intermittent fault which set me against it.

It finally went when I replaced the switch gear for a much later type and
it had a different kill switch set up and would have been a really pain
to sort out.

I never used them even on my Jap bikes and MZs don't have them anyway.
It's not something I miss.

 

It can also catch you out when you rarely use the killswitch but
someone at Clackett Lane services uses it for you.

And *especially* when your previous bike still has working warning
lights with the killswitch off, but your new one doesn't, and so looks
a bit "dead".

I was double-checking all weekend.

 

i do, if the engine temperature is less than about 75 degrees.

what about if you have a hydraulic clutch? any suggestions?

 

Clicking it into neutral before coming to a stop always worked for me. I
can't recall it being particularly better or worse than any other bike
I've had.

<mode="nostalgic">
I liked that bike...
</mode>

 

what have you got now then?

 

i think you're right, but the oil is as specified (15W50)

i'm not (currently) in france

as has been mentioned a few times now

 

thanks for the tip. it would certainly be a lot easier to get hold of than
the 15W50.

 

As others have said, look to your oil and if you can notice a difference
after a routine change then any faults are likely to include something
worn in the gearbox.

 

After the Falco was put beyond use[0], there was a brief flirtation with
a Bandit12, before trading it in against a ZX-9R.

It's nice enough, but it lacks a certain something that the Aprilia had.

Want to make me an offer for a pair of stock cans, or a pillion seat
cover?


[0] I think the pictures might still be on the Interweb... yes, they
are:
http://homepages.gotadsl.co.uk/~deguello/aprilia/crash/index.html

 

um, it's not a twin?

nope, got both, sorry.

 

Bit of compound should get that out.

 

In simple terms, that probably sums it up.

Dang. I suppose I should get around to sticking them on eBay.

 

"No wonder he didn't see me if the headlight was down there"

Pfaf!

http://www.pre.org/junk/oops2.jpg

 

Pah. AndrewR's looked worse than that after his trackday spill. One
aftermarket top-fairing and an assortment of cable ties later, and you'd
never notice the difference.