Category Archives: Running Repairs

In (Someone Else’s) Workshop

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The V85 has been a revelation. At last an adventure motorcycle that gets attention for its blend of classic styling, modern technology, and versatility. The V85TT features a retro-inspired design that pays homage to Moto Guzzi’s heritage while incorporating contemporary elements including classic styling and build quality. The power output at around 80 horsepower and 80 Nm of torque delivers balanced performance suitable for both on-road and off-road use with the Guzzi unique transverse V-twin layout providing a distinct sound and feel and a maintenance-free shaft drive, which is a boon for me and moving forth chain drive on the XT660Z.

The V85 has long-travel suspension (170mm front and rear) and in my experience can handle rough terrain while providing a comfortable ride on tarmac and its spoked wheels (19-inch front and 17-inch rear) are fitted with tubeless Dunlop Trailmax Meridian dual-purpose tires, making my V85TT capable of tackling both tarmac and light dirt trails. The bike has all the expected technology, riding modes, traction control and switchable ABS, TFT display full LED lighting, self cancelling indicators, cruse control, heated grips and Brembo breaks. The tank is 23 litres and in reality that’s 250 miles of high speed riding or almost 350 at a more gentle sedate “bimbling” pace.

Its not a common bike in the UK or northern Europe and I often get asked what’s it like… its about as analogue as you can get in a modern E5 bike, with loads of character and is the smaller Italian twin to its German big brother and sub £10K new its a bargain. If you have not ridden one go for a test ride… you won’t regret it.

Skyteam – Afternoon Delight

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They do say classic design never fades and that copying is the highest form of flattery in which case the 1980’s original Japanese bike designers must have got something right. Meandering around one of the Heptanese islands I have been struck by the number of copycat small monkey bikes and narrow engineered enduros – all are perfectly designed for the islands and rough gravel and pitted roads. This well used and sun bleached Skyteam ST200 model was born in 2007 and with 17HP is faster than much of the local taxi and tourist traffic. The ST200 looks like a slimmer love child created by blending a 1991 Honda XR250 and a 1993 Suzuki DR350 – nice to know that classic design lives on care of the Jiangsu Sacin Motorcycle Company based in Nanjing. But one question remains – now that Honda have announced the release of a new 125cc classic monkey bike following on from the success of the Grom, maybe design is going full circle with Honda recreating the Skyteam copy of a Suzuki copy of a Yamaha copy of a Honda original – I can see patent lawyers rubbing their hands together from here…Skyteam ST200

So what is in my Africa Twin toolkit?

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I have had lots of requests to make up toolkits for riders and my advice is almost always the same, you only need to worry and carry the tools you both know how to use and will fix the bits on your bike you know how to fix… That said, as promised, apart from spare tubes here is what I carry in my CRF1000L toolkit…

  • 8mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm and a 15mm open end and ratchet spanner (all these will do the chain adjusters, and all the remaining odd nuts and bolts on the CRF).
  • Three MotionPro tyre levers (08-0284 12-13mm), (08-0288 27mm), (08-0286 22mm).
  • Two MotionPro Rim Shield II plastic covers.
  • 27mm and 22mm socket and drive (you will not break the rear axle torque with the MotionPro levers so either under torque your axle or carry these).
  • 8mm, 10mm and 12mm long reach socket and small driver.
  • HW5 Hex.
  • 17mm Axle key.
  • Flat and cross head screwdriver.
  • Tube patches, glue and rubber gloves.
  • Cable ties.
  • Spare brake lever (53170-MEJ-016) – the only thing that has stopped me dead on the CRF is a broken front brake lever.
  • All in a Kriega tool roll and wrapped in a Karrimore waterproof kit bag.

Africa Twin Toolkit

Preplanned service is always best…

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First bit of preplanned roadside maintenance required on the Honda in the form of replacement rear pads – after about 11,500km on the DCT and a lot of mountain and track work the rear pads are looking decidedly worn with less than 1mm left of the 8mm original – I have to say the bike is very balanced, but dragging the rear brake and using the DCT G mode is the best way I have found to maintain effective low speed control on the loose stuff. The job is best done early in the comfort of my present location, with a small swimming pool handy and in the shade rather than later in the next week or so by the side of the road in +33 degree temperatures. I am sticking to conventional organic fibre pads (EBCFA174) and the job is simple, a couple of torx and a slider pin to move followed by maybe a cold beer…  These will see me out for the rest of this trip and beyond… and before anyone comments, apart from tubes and my puncture kit and tools these were the only parts I carried with me as I could foresee this happening looking at the existing wear rate, but they were not worn enough to change pre trip. One questions remains… why is it EBC fibre pads smell so badly of fish?

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