[Discussion] General Queries From Newbies

[pureice68]

I was asking earlier about jacks for the Phantom (since a main stand is not possible).

 

Have you guys ever seen this product? Looks pretty neat

 

Tommy Jack

 

Wonder if it would fit on a Phantom. If it does, it's pretty small and rather easy to use (and not outrageously expensive).

 

Ofcos this is good if you have a garage which you can easily store it! Most of us are staying in 'pigeon holes' which is not so convenient to transport it around, and therefore I think a car jack is most user friendly! It's compact and can fit into even a small side box together with other tools. Cheers!

[VidaK]

spark plugs last for so long?? i change it every 5k!

 

doesn't hurt to change it every now and then

 

Aiyah ... I meant air filter lar... How do i know when to change?

 

Also, i got a bit of black oil leaking from my gearbox. Need to worry?

 

you might change the air filter every few oil change...

 

hmmm... monitor your oil level more regularly... if the oil level drops quickly then you might have to take some serious action... not matter what, don't let the oil level get below the minimum level...

 

VidaK, thanks very much for your answers, most helpful. You certainly carry a lot! I hope you happen to be nearby if I ever break down!

Since I don't have side boxes I certainly wouldn't carry as much, but very good info all the same.

 

Care to tell us more about your diy jack? (pic maybe?) Also, do you jack the bike up at exhaust mount? Obviously very useful as it enables you to lube / clean your chain quickly and do your own EO changes, among others.

 

hey dun thank me... it is only good to share information with the rest of the riders passed down from senior riders...

 

yes I do carry lots of bike stuff around... (so do ben... )

 

the so-called diy jack uses the similar concept to the tommy jack... but even simpler and cheaper... it is just a piece of wood, cut to a length that allow me to jack the bike up at the end of the right side of the swingarm. I just tilt the bike to the left by pushing the pillion backrest (please know the limit...), prop up the swingarm and... there the rear wheel is in the air!

 

as for changing eo... a jack is not necessary... and try not to diy that as it should be properly disposed of at bike shops...

 

When should i replace my front folk oil?

 

Ah chong told me that if it is not leaking then dont need to change.

 

I feel that it is a bit soft though..

 

my bike just turn 3 years old and i dont think it has been changed as i only took over from my uncle nearly 1 year ago..

 

and

 

when i pushing my bike backwards. some screeching sound came out from the front brake.. when going forward there is not sound.. sound like the brake pad rubbing against the brake disc.. brake dust?

 

is it normal?

 

I find that i need to press my front brake harder than usual.. is it because of the brake fluid or is it the brake pump?

 

any inputs?

 

too bad we can't adjust our front forks...

 

like uncle koh mentioned... unless the fork seal is broken, we shouldn't bother about the forks...

 

if any brake is making some screeching sound, it is possible that the brake pad is worn out... check for that first...

[weian]

yea, im currently changing every 2 times i go for an oil change. talking about that, time for an oil change.

 

p.s. 1 more post to a century post! =x

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Sengkang power!

[aguillon]

the so-called diy jack uses the similar concept to the tommy jack... but even simpler and cheaper... it is just a piece of wood, cut to a length that allow me to jack the bike up at the end of the right side of the swingarm. I just tilt the bike to the left by pushing the pillion backrest (please know the limit...), prop up the swingarm and... there the rear wheel is in the air!

 

I definitely need to get a demo from you one of these days - I like your low cost approach

 

 

as for changing eo... a jack is not necessary... and try not to diy that as it should be properly disposed of at bike shops...

 

Yes understood, thanks - must be environmentally friendly. I was planning to collect it into an empty oil bottle and get it disposed of by the workshop.

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

I definitely need to get a demo from you one of these days - I like your low cost approach

 

Record on handphone cam and post on youtube for the rest of us

[bibinjoseph]

hi guys...

 

recently become a member of phantom club....

 

like to check with u..how much air u pump in for front n rear wheels....seems my air is lesser in the rear...

 

pls help...

[jtzx]

hi guys...

 

recently become a member of phantom club....

 

like to check with u..how much air u pump in for front n rear wheels....seems my air is lesser in the rear...

 

pls help...

 

230 for rear

 

 

and 220 for front.

[VidaK]

I definitely need to get a demo from you one of these days - I like your low cost approach

 

 

 

 

Yes understood, thanks - must be environmentally friendly. I was planning to collect it into an empty oil bottle and get it disposed of by the workshop.

 

that method is possible... but still it cannot catch all the eo!

 

Record on handphone cam and post on youtube for the rest of us

 

the rest of the pk knows that I am camera shy... what more video...

 

hi guys...

 

recently become a member of phantom club....

 

like to check with u..how much air u pump in for front n rear wheels....seems my air is lesser in the rear...

 

pls help...

 

the manual says 200 front, 220 rear.

 

but then... its personal preference... I pump 220 front, 260 rear... I like the feeling that my tyres might explode anytime...

[aguillon]

that method is possible... but still it cannot catch all the eo!

 

Ayah of course it includes using a funnel too

[VidaK]

Ayah of course it includes using a funnel too

 

it is good that you understand the proper methods

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

but then... its personal preference... I pump 220 front, 260 rear... I like the feeling that my tyres might explode anytime...

 

For stock tyres (or same tyre type as original tyres on new bike) consult manual... but other brand/model of tyres may have different max pressure so the tyre sidewall may be your best resource.

 

Something like max pressure - 10% should be good...

 

Would not recommend overinflation as it may cause reduced lifespan of tyre (more heat generated at high speeds) plus rock-hard ride. Contrary to what mototiams do, "rock hard" tyres are NOT optimal.

 

Also i'm not sure if it's applicable to bikes but... can you vary tyre pressure to affect vehicle handling on a motorcycle? Rear higher pressure than front = tendency to oversteer, etc.

[VidaK]

For stock tyres (or same tyre type as original tyres on new bike) consult manual... but other brand/model of tyres may have different max pressure so the tyre sidewall may be your best resource.

 

Something like max pressure - 10% should be good...

 

Would not recommend overinflation as it may cause reduced lifespan of tyre (more heat generated at high speeds) plus rock-hard ride. Contrary to what mototiams do, "rock hard" tyres are NOT optimal.

 

Also i'm not sure if it's applicable to bikes but... can you vary tyre pressure to affect vehicle handling on a motorcycle? Rear higher pressure than front = tendency to oversteer, etc.

 

over-inflation would decrease the heat generated by the tyre at all speeds, since the contact patch is smaller. and with a smaller contact patch, it is possible that the tyre can last longer although the tyre bead would be stressed (when I have run 25000km on my previous pair of metzeler lasertec, there are still plenty of thread left... but for my safety, tyres must go when it hit the 25000km mark...)

 

tyres of the same size but of different brands usually have the same max air pressure rating...

 

phantom's suspension is considered soft... it would not be quite possible to feel the tyres while riding...

 

front and rear air pressures are independent! the rear tyre is much bigger than the front... if the rear tyre pressure is lower than the front, it might be that the rear tyre pressure is so low that the tyre wall might collapse...

 

[bibinjoseph]

thnks guys...

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

over-inflation would decrease the heat generated by the tyre at all speeds

 

A fair observation!

 

I've ridden on massively overinflated and underinflated tyres so here's a draft attempt to iron out the pros and cons once and for all. Comments appreciated:

 

Overinflation:

 

Pros:

 

Reduced rolling resistance due to reduced tyre flexing (definitely better FC than underinflating as you can see from discussions like these).

Faster maneuvering response for the same reason

 

Cons

 

At high speeds, road friction causes air to heat up in tyres. This will increase the tyre pressure further. Significant overinflation is thus a safety risk.

Tyre may also be damaged when hitting bumps and/or obstacles at high speed due to inability to flex.

Overinflation also causes the centre thread to wear prematurely as the contact patch is restricted.

Reduced contact patch

Suspension may be worn out faster as tyre cannot flex to absorb bumps

[pureice68]

over-inflation would decrease the heat generated by the tyre at all speeds, since the contact patch is smaller. and with a smaller contact patch, it is possible that the tyre can last longer although the tyre bead would be stressed (when I have run 25000km on my previous pair of metzeler lasertec, there are still plenty of thread left... but for my safety, tyres must go when it hit the 25000km mark...)

 

tyres of the same size but of different brands usually have the same max air pressure rating...

 

phantom's suspension is considered soft... it would not be quite possible to feel the tyres while riding...

 

front and rear air pressures are independent! the rear tyre is much bigger than the front... if the rear tyre pressure is lower than the front, it might be that the rear tyre pressure is so low that the tyre wall might collapse...

 

 

Is it common if tyres wears off before the 25000km? Or under wad condition can the tyre wears off prematurely?

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Tyre wear depends on tyre compound as well. Soft compounds although faster wearing, can provide better traction.

 

As for wear vs tyre pressure - overinflated tyres usually wear out the centre first.

[VidaK]

Is it common if tyres wears off before the 25000km? Or under wad condition can the tyre wears off prematurely?

 

Tyre wear depends on tyre compound as well. Soft compounds although faster wearing, can provide better traction.

 

As for wear vs tyre pressure - overinflated tyres usually wear out the centre first.

 

the tyre's durability depends on its compound hardness indeed... however, all the available rear tyres for phantoms are using hard compunds... so it would not be easy to wear it off prematurely...

 

however if the tyre is of a soft compound, like the one on my track bike, it can wear off very very quickly... I have to change my tyres when they did only 6000km... no where near the durability of hard compound tyres can achieve...

 

by the way... it would be unlikely to increase the air pressure inside the phantom's tyres by simply riding, as the phantom doesn't have the torque and power to stress its tyres...

[pureice68]

the tyre's durability depends on its compound hardness indeed... however, all the available rear tyres for phantoms are using hard compunds... so it would not be easy to wear it off prematurely...

 

however if the tyre is of a soft compound, like the one on my track bike, it can wear off very very quickly... I have to change my tyres when they did only 6000km... no where near the durability of hard compound tyres can achieve...

 

by the way... it would be unlikely to increase the air pressure inside the phantom's tyres by simply riding, as the phantom doesn't have the torque and power to stress its tyres...

 

The reason I've asked is because I'm heavily overweight and I pillion daily. I always have this fear that the tyres will give way on us one of these days!

[VidaK]

The reason I've asked is because I'm heavily overweight and I pillion daily. I always have this fear that the tyres will give way on us one of these days!

 

I see... but you won't need to worry... once you think that the center thread is getting shallow, you can measure its depth... if it is about 1.6mm or less then it would be good to replace the tyre...

[pureice68]

I see... but you won't need to worry... once you think that the center thread is getting shallow, you can measure its depth... if it is about 1.6mm or less then it would be good to replace the tyre...

 

Okie, thanks! Will keep that in mind, cheers!

[jtzx]

For stock tyres (or same tyre type as original tyres on new bike) consult manual... but other brand/model of tyres may have different max pressure so the tyre sidewall may be your best resource.

 

Something like max pressure - 10% should be good...

 

Would not recommend overinflation as it may cause reduced lifespan of tyre (more heat generated at high speeds) plus rock-hard ride. Contrary to what mototiams do, "rock hard" tyres are NOT optimal.

 

Also i'm not sure if it's applicable to bikes but... can you vary tyre pressure to affect vehicle handling on a motorcycle? Rear higher pressure than front = tendency to oversteer, etc.

 

Okie, thanks! Will keep that in mind, cheers!

 

personally, i pump neither too hard nor too soft..

 

i felt that over pressure= risk my safety

 

under pressure = increase FC

 

so best to keep it balance =D

[hamsterwhale]

juz to break some myths or to sort out some truths....Metz on phantom can clock easily 35k Km before needing a change, air pressure on a tyre is from my POV is individual's preference, front was running 32 PSI, rear 39 PSI, i & pillion + top box is around 160Kg, and 80% of the time im riding alone when working, after office hours is with pillion, so that was my ideal air pressure, handling wise its much more responsive due to low friction coefficient, and during wet weather i ride as per dry weather, only thing is i go slow when i make any turns or corners, other than that its business as usual for me...

 

anyway experiment with the air pressure, but juz don't go below the amount stated in the manual, and not more than what the tire is capable of...

 

Cheers!

[lycan]

anyway..

 

the number u set on the air pump at the station is not what u get.

 

e.g. u set 230 and you pump. you might be getting 220 instead.

 

if you wanna be sure its 230. pump once till it beeps. then pump again while reading the numbers when it changes.

 

I normally set 240 and pump and double check again to ensure that i get 230 instead of 220.

 

i think the reason for this is due to the part when you remove the air pump from your tire valve, it will "leak" some amount of air..

 

 

and when you reach the petrol station, dont immediately pump your tires as the air inside have expanded due to the heat generated from the trip.

 

i always wait for around 2-3min before i pump..

 

:/

[derosis]

hi, anyone have any idea that how to increase top speed for phantom? or bore engine? for ta200.changing smaller sprocket? any idea where?

 

wondering how to increase top speed for ta200.