BIKE SERVICE – GETTING READY TO TOUR

Booked the bike in for a thorough service at the Honda dealer in Fethiye today, the oil change was not necessary but I thought it best to do it before the tour begins, one less thing to think about.

We left our new multicoloured apartment at the crack of dawn, well 09.30 feels like the crack of dawn when your retired.

A very quiet 30 mile run to Fethiye, there was very little traffic on the roads, it seems nobody wakes up this early on the Mediterranean coast.

Two floors of lovely shiney bikes, the service area is around the back and under the building.

My poor Innocent baby waiting to be manhandled.

A team of three soon had her stripped down to gain access to the oily parts, the Bible (Haynes Manual) Psalm 21 says ”thou shalt change the 4 spark plugs now and  verily check the 6 valves for clearences”.

The valve clearances were spot on and needed no adjusting, the new plugs were gaped properly before going in, I think the timing was checked, I’m not sure because two motorcycle cops came in to the garage on a Police  Honda Varadero, so we were chatting and looking at each others bikes,  one of the police officers spoke English, he produced his mobile phone and showed me pics of his own bike, a 2006 red Transalp, which I think I have seen around.

The Africa Twin and Transalp dwarf  most bikes on the road but when they rolled the Varadero next to my Transalp I could see how large the Varadero was, it made my Transalp look like a scooter. The Honda Varadero  is 1000 cc and weighs around 240 Kg churning out  85 HP, almost as heavy as the two BMW  GS’s, I was about to take a photo when they received a radio call and had to leave immediately, next time !!

The coolant was also changed before the bike was nailed back together, the great thing I noticed was the good workmanship, every bolt and screw was oiled before going back in place and everything was tightened up ”equal and opposite” I told the mechanic about the up coming big trip and asked him to cast his eye over everything and adjust where necessary.

While the old girl was naked I took the opportunity to clean and polish parts I normally can’t get too, I don’t know why I do it, it’s obviously some deep character defect 🙂

My bill for all this work and time came to about 40 Pounds (50 USD) After I settled up the Manager wished me well with my trip and gave me key rings and a tool set, it was really great to see mechanics that cared about their work and did things properly.

The bike felt and sounded very different on the way back home, I seem to have more Horse Power and the exhaust note has changed, it’s a much deeper rumble now….I don’t know why it’s deeper, but I like it!!

We stopped at our usual place for a ciggie then continued on home, the bike really pulls in top gear now, it’s like a new bike.

I was thinking that I might buy a late 80’s classic Transalp to restore as a project when I return from my travels, now I have found a good mechanic  at Honda Fethiye, I feel more confident about buying an old bike, or maybe a Varadero !

~ by travelswithmymotorbike on April 14, 2009.