What did you do to your SW today.

First topic message reminder :

I went for a nice ride. 120 miles or so. Despite the weather forecast it was nice.

Try to keep this post active and it will be interesting for all.

3 weeks ago. Hit by SUV. Broke 2 ribs, right leg. Walking on walker at home. On the mend, will continue to ride. 88 years old.

Salute sir, BTDT RIDE ON.

Keep on truckin'!

Installed some new front brake pads and flushed fluid front and rear. Pads were low at 30K 2MM thickness. Front tire soon just trying to wear it out already have a new one in stock old one might make the rest of season?

New front disc and pads installed along with a nice new front tyre.

Mech 1 twa wrote:

Installed some new front brake pads and flushed fluid front and rear.  Pads were low at 30K 2MM thickness. Front tire soon just trying to wear it out already have a new one in stock old one might make the rest of season?  

Mottza wrote:

New front disc and pads installed along with a nice new front tyre.

They really do enjoy their front tires!
It's the only bike I've ever owned that's usually needs front and rear at the same time.

Well, this isn't so much about what I 'did' to my SW today, it's more about what I'm going to 'have to' do.

My rear tyre has gone already. I swear I changed it only last week!

I made a point of being very kind to it when it was new to try to extend its' life. I have a repaired spare in the garage which is much fresher so, I'm going put that on until I've saved up enough Green Shield Stamps to get a new one.

Got my Dr. Pulley (28 gram) sliders installed. Right about 5500 at 65 Mph. I have a new belt coming, lots of residue was in the housing.

My leg is screwed, but hopefully get coolant changed, and LEDs sorted. Also have a K&N air filter to install.

There was a very poor paint touch - up on the leading edge of the front fender when I bought my Swing a couple of months ago. I bought paint and clear from Scratches Happen. Sanded it smooth, paint and clear, compound, wax. Matches perfectly! Then I rode to Home Depot for a router bit I needed (35 mi one way). Good day

Mounted and balanced a new front tire. Metzler Road Tec install soon.[url=https://servimg.com/view/20334583/59][img]https://i.servimg.com/u/f51/20/33/45 Not sure what happened to photos something change with hosting images?

Take 2

Well... not today but yesterday... went over to Wally World (about two blocks away) and bought a Battery Tender Junior (as recommended by many on this site, thank you) and installed it immediately... the battery had been pretty balky about starting after being stuck away for awhile... anyway, checked it today, started right up without any problems and all is right with the world again...

Patched a hole in the gas tank today. Then immediately found another. Ugh. Thats the danger of buying a 16 year old bike stored indoors but oceanside and unused the last five years.

Finally went about fixing the spring latch of my Swing's left compartment. Took a bit of elbow grease to get it in place, and fingers hurt a little from prying the spring back into place, but all done now!

Also, bought a 12V charger for the power outlet. My Swing's getting a little more homelier now haha.

What I've been doing to my loved SiWi?
All preparations for my first ever big Holiday adventure from the Netherlands to Italy with my FJS 400 have been completed and she is now in top condition.

She got a new set of tires [Michelin City Grip 2] and the front fork has been upgraded with Hyperpros, this has been done by my dealer because I don't know how and I trust my dealer.
This past weekend I mounted Dr Pulley sliders [24 grams] and a new v-belt [Mitsuboshi].
Replace the oil and oil filter.
Changed the final drive oil, checked and cleaned clutch, checked coolant, cleaned air filter and immediately put in a few new spark plugs.
Now I'm going to take a look at my ride and see where I'm going .
Then next week Friday I will experience something unique with my first trip.
I have to be with my daughter on June 6th, at Lake Garda in Italy, so 4 days and 1360 km ahead of me.
I will stay there for a few days and then I will drive back to the Netherlands, no idea in how many days.
I wish everyone a very happy but above all safe Holiday.
Greetings from the Netherlands.

Enjoy the trip mate.
With 24gm sliders don't be surprised if the V lights comes on, it's absolutely nothing to worry about, it's just the revs being higher than the ECU expects.

Today, I completely screwed up my head bearings

Loosemarbles wrote:

Today, I completely screwed up my head bearings

Was it them, or you? 

If it was you, what did you do wrong? Or what steps should someone else do to avoid a similar crisis?

"The voices in my head made me do it your Honour"!
As for advice; take some deep breaths, count to a hundred, consider your position in the universe and listen to Mr Honda

I did 70 miles today like i do most week days on my daily commute, I hate commuting but on the swing its actually good therapy for me !!!

How are you going to fit that couch on the scoot?

steve_h80 wrote:

Enjoy the trip mate.
With 24gm sliders don't be surprised if the V lights comes on, it's absolutely nothing to worry about,  it's just the revs being higher than the ECU expects.

Thnx for the tip about the V-light. The sliders are oké for now and I've been riding with the sliders for 1 week now without any problems. But thnx again for the tip.

I made two unauthorized modifications to increase my average fuel mileage from 45.5 to 51.6 mpg true. My engine rpm is now 5400 at 70 mph true using original rollers.

The bike is no longer a fireball................but neither am I. I ride mostly with groups in the flat lands of Florida and the bike is still plenty spunky for that. I will have to give up challenging Corvettes. Not much lost there since I could never beat one anyway.

Road it 280 miles had to scuff that new front tire. A good day no issues and it ran great rolled 31K and runs like new yet. Back roads mostly 9:30 Am till 4:15 with a stop for lunch. Weather was perfect low 60's in morning about 80's when I parked it.

1Wingman1 wrote:

I made two unauthorized modifications to increase my average fuel mileage from 45.5 to 51.6 mpg true.  My engine rpm is now 5400 at 70 mph true using original rollers.

Hello 1Wingman1, what was the modification you're telling about?

Dutch SilverWing wrote:

1Wingman1 wrote:

I made two unauthorized modifications to increase my average fuel mileage from 45.5 to 51.6 mpg true.  My engine rpm is now 5400 at 70 mph true using original rollers.

Hello 1Wingman1, what was the modification you're telling about?

+1 for this question as my Swing is less economical than my car at the moment

Yesterday I swung (pun intended) by my local second-hand bike parts store and managed to pick up a lovely condition Honda top box and mounting rack with frame for £80. The frame is off of a different Honda but I'm guessing I can unmount the back plate and bolt it directly through the tupperware (much like the pic of the Swing at the top of the screen as I type this). I'll then list the frame on ebay as "Unknown Honda top box frame" and maybe recoup some pennies.

Sorry, I haven't signed in for a while. I didn't know how much effect each change had so I removed one and saw no reduction in fuel mileage. That change was the addition of a resistor in parallel with the IAT sensor. It must affect the fuel system only during warm-up.

The 2nd change involves a metal lathe and some experience with one. I removed 2.5 MM of metal from the stationary sheave of drive pulley where it contacts the spacer. That effectively increased the O.D. of the drive pulley and results in lower RPM per MPH. That does pull the drive belt out of alignment slightly and could cause increased belt wear so I would not recommend that anyone emulate my move until I have more experience with the results. I had an old sheave and an old belt on hand so it was no cost to me. Time will tell.

1Wingman1 wrote:

(Snip)  I removed 2.5 MM of metal from the stationary sheave of drive pulley where it contacts the spacer.  That effectively increased the O.D. of the drive pulley and results in lower RPM per MPH.  That does pull the drive belt out of alignment slightly and could cause increased belt wear so I would not recommend that anyone emulate my move until I have more experience with the results.  I had an old sheave and an old belt on hand so it was no cost to me.  Time will tell.

If I understand correctly, you shaved down the “thick” portion of the fixed variator sheave —i.e. the flat face. That would allow the variator assembly to close tighter at higher RPMs. And, because the variator faces now sit further apart at initial start, that would also allow the belt to sit lower in the variator —i.e. start in a lower gear?

What caused you to decide on that 2.5mm? How do you feel about the performance? Did it rob any top speed?

The one caution I see in having the variator close tighter at high RPMs is, that with the belt then riding higher in the variator, it (the belt) would raise above the variator and overheat (because the variator faces weren’t there to act as a heat sink) and risk disintegration.

Yes, I shaved the thick portion with flat face. It allows the sheaves to be closer together at all rpms. Since I was playing I just cut enough to make a difference and then I measured to see what I had. The belt still does not rise up out of the pulley but it rises flush with the O.D.. That might be because the driven pulley is maxxed. I didn't check that.

I looked at the belt today and it seems normal after about 2k miles.

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

1Wingman1 wrote:

(Snip)  I removed 2.5 MM of metal from the stationary sheave of drive pulley where it contacts the spacer.  That effectively increased the O.D. of the drive pulley and results in lower RPM per MPH.  That does pull the drive belt out of alignment slightly and could cause increased belt wear so I would not recommend that anyone emulate my move until I have more experience with the results.  I had an old sheave and an old belt on hand so it was no cost to me.  Time will tell.

If I understand correctly, you shaved down the “thick” portion of the fixed variator sheave —i.e. the flat face. That would allow the variator assembly to close tighter at higher RPMs. And, because the variator faces now sit further apart at initial start, that would also allow the belt to sit lower in the variator —i.e. start in a lower gear?

What caused you to decide on that 2.5mm? How do you feel about the performance? Did it rob any top speed?

The one caution I see in having the variator close tighter at high RPMs is, that with the belt then riding higher in the variator, it (the belt) would raise above the variator and overheat (because the variator faces weren’t there to act as a heat sink) and risk disintegration.

See previous post also:

I haven't run the bike over 80 mph. To do the trimming the sheave has to be mounted gently by 4 fan blades after filing small notches to provide flat spots. The number of blades is correct for a 4 jaw chuck. Alignment in the chuck is critical in only one direction to prevent wobbling of the sheave when installed.

" Yes, I shaved the thick portion with flat face. It allows the sheaves to be closer together at all rpms."

Great idea to save fuel nowdays, the SW has plenty of torque to handle the taller gearing, yes is slower accelerating, but clutch should engage at lower rpms also, helps drive at slow speeds. You can make shim or find a suitable washer, same thickness as cut from fixed sheave and install on crankshaft 1st, then mount variator, etc. Bring everything in alignment. BTW the sharpie line trick on pulley face, best way to determine belt travel.

Found a used Kappa K46 46 liter top case with universal mounting monolock plate on Facebook Marketplace for $30!

Brought it home today and got it mounted. I’m surprised and pleased with how solid and sturdy the universal mount turned out.

Hello All,

So thanks to a lot of info gleaned from this forum, especially JeffR's pictorial and my manual, I finally got the gumption to do the belt job today. That was despite the rain that started when I set to work, necessitating my rapid deployment of the family's canopy in the drive.

So, it seemed I was the first to look inside since 2011, but went pretty smoothly. I am just wondering what you guys/gals think, as in how bad was this...?

Looks like you got to it in good time. It's not nice having all that gunk flying in around there although it's amazing how much punishment these belts can take before they fail.

You certainly shouldn't be able to squeeze the belt together like that when its all setup properly.

Loosemarbles wrote:

Looks like you got to it in good time. It's not nice having all that gunk flying in around there although it's amazing how much punishment these belts can take before they fail.

You certainly shouldn't be able to squeeze the belt together like that when its all setup properly.

I agree! I was shocked to see that much play but it did have a vibration between 20-30mph that just didn't feel right and occasionally when accelerating I heard what sounded like slapping. The aluminum case was being polished by the belt in-between the pulleys!

I had to test drive it last night since I got called into work and it rode very smoothly and at 65mph was resting at 5000rpm. I did notice it wants to GO more at low speed, requiring more finesse than before, not sure if that is the new belt or the new 26g sliders.

I replaced my Forza belt a couple of weeks ago at 16K...it was supposed to be changed at 15K. It was extremely clean inside like yours, not much belt dust and no sign that belt had been slapping the aluminum. The belt did not look that bad either. Since the Forza had 14K on it when I purchased it, my question is did the PO change or have someone change the belt? Even the belt filter was not very dirty. Who knows but I am (like you) good for quite a while on it!!!

SWingSteve that belt was toast so much play and starting to chunk bits. You will like 26G sliders it will run great now. Some belt case rubbing is normal even with a newer belt but is has to much better now. That belt had to be slipping.

Didn’t do anything to the Swing today. Too damn hot.

Went for a two hour ride this afternoon instead. First 2/3 of the ride I was practicing my usual atgatt, with Dragging jeans, ballistic armored coat, modular helmet, leather gloves. I nearly passed out from dehydration and heat. I definitely wasn’t drinking enough.

The last third of the ride, all lazy back country roads, I took off my motorcycle jacket and left the modular helmet open. First time in my life I rode without a bike jacket or full face helmet (since I was a kid riding Honda trail bikes - all we had back then were open face helmets and mom wouldn’t let us ride without one). Oh well, at least I got home without heat stroke.

This was the maiden ride for our new “Catholic” biker gang, the “Sons of Orthodoxy.” (Tongue in cheek ;-) My friends are on a Kawasaki Vulcan 650 and an older Ninja 500.

(I’m first and foremost a member of one of the rival Catholic biker gangs, the Sons of Angioplasty.)

^^ Funny, you look like you have the full dresser of the bunch

For hot weather riding, I agree a jacket may be too hot- I use an armored shirt:

https://www.bohnarmor.com/product-category/armored-motorcycle-riding-shirts/

Yes it's stinkin hot up here in PA. Mid 90's last three days too much for me. Can't even go up north in big woods still too hot. It's July normal weather around here.

Erdoc48 wrote:

^^ Funny, you look like you have the full dresser of the bunch

For hot weather riding, I agree a jacket may be too hot- I use an armored shirt:

https://www.bohnarmor.com/product-category/armored-motorcycle-riding-shirts/

Thanks. I do have the link saved for these and hope to get one of them some day when money isn’t so tight.

In the meantime I found a Milwaukee Leather brand Armored Long Sleeve flannel shirt with Kevlar lined shoulders and elbows. I think it’s a little cooler than my yellow ballistic jacket but I just got it last week and haven’t had a chance to try it out in hot weather yet. I should have tried it today instead of the one I did. It was a “Retail Returned Item” so a vendor on eBay had them for half off.

Spent a couple hours on Sunday to install a crossbar and new rear view mirrors for my Swing. Certainly not easy to remove seized up screws and ensuring the crossbar was installed straight, but darn satisfying to get it all up!

dovahkiin wrote:

Spent a couple hours on Sunday to install a crossbar and new rear view mirrors… (Snip)

Please tell us more about the crossbar. And there appears to be three switches mounted on the left master cylinder. One on the top and a pair on a mount plate below. What’s going on there?



Oh yeah, and what about the handgrips too?

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

dovahkiin wrote:

Spent a couple hours on Sunday to install a crossbar and new rear view mirrors… (Snip)

Please tell us more about the crossbar. And there appears to be three switches mounted on the left master cylinder. One on the top and a pair on a mount plate below. What’s going on there?



Oh yeah, and what about the handgrips too?

Yeah so the reason for installing a crossbar was because I wanted more area for me to install things like a new phone mount or to just hang stuff. You can never have too much space on a Swing!

And yeah about the three switches: The one on the top is the T-Mode switch; I mentioned in a couple posts around the forum a while back. Gives the Swing more power, though I use it sparingly because it burns petrol so fast!

As for the other two red switches, it was actually a couple of rear fender lights that flashed red and blue. Kind of like how a traffic police motorcycle would.

Figured that it'd be illegal if I had that during my motorcycle inspection, so I had a mechanic remove the lights for me. Unfortunately, he didn't remove the switches so I'm stuck with that.

And finally, the handgrips. The previous rubber grips that came with the Swing were old, caked in dirt (probably from all the previous owners' perspiration) between its crevices and there were some compatibility issues with the bar-end balancers. Figured I'd replace it with these rubber/metal handgrips that I bought for cheap online.

I've looked at similar crossbars on the Taiwan Big Scooter Shop website when I had a Silver Wing. At the time I was using a centrally mounted Dennis B sat nav mount for my Garmin set up.

I might have found a crossbar useful if I needed to fit more stuff, but apart from sat nav I don't like the distraction of mobile/cell phones, and on this side of the Atlantic cup/beverage holders belong in cars.

Nice set up though.

Meldrew wrote:

I've looked at similar crossbars on the Taiwan Big Scooter Shop website when I had a Silver Wing. At the time I was using a centrally mounted Dennis B sat nav mount for my Garmin set up.

I might have found a crossbar useful if I needed to fit more stuff, but apart from sat nav I don't like the distraction of mobile/cell phones, and on this side of the Atlantic cup/beverage holders belong in cars.

Nice set up though.

Do have to agree with that the mobile phones are a little distracting. For me, it's useful because I use Google Maps A LOT. Especially since I am planning to do rides up north to Malaysia, Thailand etc from Singapore, having a crossbar would really help out a lot!

I have a question about your Garmin nav set-up though: How was it like mounting a GPS nav onto your Swing? I'd imagine that the nav screen would block the speedometer etc. Do you have any photos of that set-up that you don't mind sharing?

Hi all, thanks for great forum and helpful advice.
took plunge and now proud owner of 2010 SilverWing in black, 9k miles in immaculate condition.

Inspected the belt and noted a little belt slap on upper casing and a bit of rubber dust but nothing to concern over.

Took all your advices and ordered OEM belt yesterday and to my surprise it arrive today and following your instructions had it cleaned out and new belt fitted in an hour or so.

The old belt I could squeeze together a little, the new one definately not!

On a ride out it was silky smooth and quiet and I felt it seemed a little lower geared with 4k engine at just over 30mph, but then it crept up to around 45mph still at 4k so I think its just settling.

Ive had the bike long enough now to note it doesn't seem to like rounderbouts, you have to always brake before and drive around and not let it freewheel. Its a bit strange the drive disconnecting at below 15mph but you all report that so I'm not worried.

Overall, I love it and looking forward to having lots of time together on it. It was a bit disconcerting collecting it as I had not ridden a bike for 35 years and the first ride was 75miles after collecting it and coming home, but in no time I felt at home, like my old bike, a 1978 Honda Gl1000K2 Goldwing, but a lot lighter!!

Pleased you're pleased!
I guess every bike has individual characteristics - my Forza is subtly different from the Silverwing and I have taken a little while to get used to it.
I know when I went up from 250 X9 to 500 X9 I had to 'drive' it round bends rather than sit back as I did with the 250 which took itself round.
I'm sure you'll be fine in due course.

dovahkiin wrote:

I have a question about your Garmin nav set-up though: How was it like mounting a GPS nav onto your Swing? I'd imagine that the nav screen would block the speedometer etc. Do you have any photos of that set-up that you don't mind sharing?

Hello mate, I'm sorry to say there's no photos on either my iPhone or iPad. I have a habit of periodically deleting photos on both devices. I'm almost certain I posted a couple of pics on here of my sat nav set up, but I can't find either my post or the topic it's part of.

The set up I used a Garmin Zūmo 550 LM in a locking Touratech sat nav holder, centrally mounted on a Dennis B sat nav mount with RAM ball.

The RAM ball allowed me to clamp  the Small 2 inch, Medium 4 inch, or Large 6 inch RAM arms and move the sat nav up and down so the instrument display wasn't blocked. I could also angle the sat nav screen up and down to cut down on reflected glare on the display.