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On putting new pads in my brakes part of the process requires removal of the circlip and pins to get the pads out.
A very fiddly process. The circlip is very small and has a tendency to want to fly.
However I noticed very worryingly the steel pins had corroded. And when the corrosion was removed with brake cleaner and a nylon tooth brush the grove in the pin was too large to hold the circlip!!
As you can see on the left hand pin above(the used pin) it has an enlarged slot for the circlip. It is so large the circlip just falls off and you therefore need to use a new pin.
However my concern is around the fact that this probably means the circlip was only held in place by corrosion. This doesn't seem a very good design idea nor a very safe construction. BMW have no interest in this problem.
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I have had a new M Endurance Chain fitted to my S1000RR.
Some explanation
Pros
- No need to carry additional chain lubrication on trips. Always a pain and with very limited luggage space not easy to accommodate.
- Chain lifetime should be increase
- Chain does not stretch and so will always be perfectly tensioned.
Cons
No idea on life expectations of chain or sprockets - somewhat the purpose of the exercise.
Issue Log
In order to monitor the progress of the chain I will keep a log here.
| Date | Issue | Mileage | Comment |
| 14/1/21 | Fitted | 9800 | |
| 24/2/21 | First check |
10000 |
Clear rusting appearing around the pins as per photo. Plan to add a monthly maintenance task of wiping chain with an oily rag. |
| Oct 21 | Maintenance check |
160000 |
Inspection shows the chain is performing well and showing no sign of wear or stretch. I am cleaning it with an oily rag about once a week with just a wipe over. BMW are now recommending the chain is lubricated at every annual service. |
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Recently purchased a pair of these gloves to stop painful cold in fingers on winters days. Will keep this page updated as I gain experience. I will be using the gloves with the Keis J501 Jacket and plugging the gloves into the jacket. Everything will be powered off the bike.
See the article "Keis J501 Heated Jacket and G601 Gloves" for a quick evaluation of the effectiveness of this combination.
Pros
- Integrated with jacket
- Effective and 3 power settings extends range of effectiveness
- Safety features like scapoid sliders very comforting.
- Finger wiper for cleaning screen good.
- Well respected manufacturer
Cons
- No evaluation yet of the waterproofness
- Not built by experienced glove makers as the inner seams are not flat.
- Mixed materials, not 100% leather.
- Not clear on actual build materials.
See this article for detailed discussion on jacket and gloves.
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I have used a Keis J501 heated jacket for a year now and find it the best way to keep warm. It is a revelations and allows long journeys in very cold weather and to still be able to retain a degree of concentration - very important. In normal use I rarely have the jacket above the minimum setting - this is enough to give a good background heat without feeling like you will boil. In very cold weather I use the medium setting. Personally I never use the maximum setting as I find it too hot.
https://keisapparel.com/products/heated-jacket-premium-j501
Below we can see some evaluation of the effectiveness of the jacket and gloves.
Wind Chill Factors
The table below lets us estimate wind chill based on hour ambient temperature and our speed.
So if our ambient was 0C and our speed was 70mph, then the equivalent temperature taking wind chill into effect would be -11C. That is effectively the temperature our heated clothing is trying to save us from experiencing.
Here is a short article on how to calculate wind chill on a motorcycle.
Experiment
This is a completely non-scientific experiment to gain a feeling of how good the heating effect of the J501 jacket and G601 gloves are.
Ambient temperature 5C.
Average speed 70mph.
Very little external wind.
Gloves and jacket at mid setting - both were able to continue to heat the hand and core, but only just as the overall wind chill was sufficient to bring down the temperature.
Gloves and jacket at max temperature - both hands and core were very warm and little evidence of significant drop in temperature due to wind chill.
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TCX Infinity Evo GoreTex Boots
Overall Impressions
- Sturdily built
- Nice detailed features
- Metal boot links
- Michelin rubber sole
- GoreTex lining for trustworthy waterproofing
