With a combined usage of weekly commutes, 80 km+ Sunday rides, the bond with the machine just grows stronger and stronger.
BHPian R15M_Rider recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
12,500 km – Piling On the miles, Rear Number-Plate Lost (Again) & a Leak in Front Right Fork
Hot Day, sultry weather, downpours, dusty & broken roads, invisible bumps etc whatever Chennai had to offer, almost every single day, this machine has more or less never remained idle. One of the perks of this was hardly using WFH which I guess will please my superiors in some ways . With a combined usage of weekly commutes, 80 km+ Sunday rides, the bond with the machine just grows stronger and stronger. Almost makes you vulnerable in the sense, you care about it deeply, like it has a beating heart. Not explainable in words. On the flip side, a couple of issues come into the picture, reminding me to take few things easy with precautions. Before that, some photographs from “urban “adventures so far:
Always a vibe to ride in wet conditions
Time for a wash
Family Maintenace
Always a pleasure to admire a squeaky clean tank
Ride to Pondy and back, developing endurance for longer trips in future
Typical Yamaha Sharp and Sleek Design
Number Plate Loss (Second Time):
On one of the ‘n’ number of breakfast rides, I somehow managed to lose the number plate bracket. Yes, not just the plate, the entire number plate bracket. Probably the jerks caused by certain “invisible” bumps on the East Coast Road, which is undergoing a makeover to an NH.
Gone!
Thankfully, I had a temporary, non-HSRP number plate, but it could not be riveted on because the holes on the plate do not match the points. Last time bracket was still there, so I just needed to place it inside it. Being a Sunday, there were hardly any FNGs who had provision to drill holes for riveting it. This only meant one thing, time for some good old jugaad. Nothing a few ribbons, and zip ties can’t fix .
Don’t worry, I have only edited the pic to hide the number
Coming to HSRP, I have ordered a set (only available as a set), from the dealer from where I have taken delivery, hope to receive it this week. There is a website to order the plates directly without the dealer.
But due to some reason Tamil Nadu isn’t in that list. Maybe because HSRP is not yet mandatory/strictly enforced here ?
Fork Oil Leak
Last week (3rd July 25), I happened to notice some wetness in the right front fork. I initially thought it might be grease and mud from riding in the rain, two days back, but upon close inspection it was indeed oil which has slightly leaked from the fork as it moves.
Yikes! Not good
Saturday (5th July 25), I took it to an ASC, who felt the dust seal was the issue. There were two options,
1. To get it via service center, which they said took take 10-15 days
2. Get the OEM part through an independent official OEM dealer (Yamaha Point in Royapettah, in my case) and get it fixed at the ASC.
2nd option was much quicker as I have ordered both the fork seal and dust seal for being on safer side, estimate is around 2 days, so I should get it by Thursday (10th July 25) hopefully.
Interestingly, as per ASC, this cannot come under warranty though the bike is still less than a year old (8 months), since this damage could’ve occurred only if I hit a pothole/road imperfections at high speed which frankly I couldn’t deny having done thanks to our wonderful roads. I believe dust/dirt can also cause seal ruptures which again due to metro rail construction work in my office commute route also is a factor. Still, got a quote of 800/- (including dust seal + labour), not the worst thing in the world by any stretch. Might end up a little extra as I will ask them to change the fork seal as well, but I value my time and would like to get the bike back to perfect shape as soon as possible. USD forks as many have said can be a pain to maintain in our Indian conditions and I will also be getting fork seal protectors once this is done.
Now, in the meantime till Thursday, one more jugaad comes into the picture to avoid the leak accumulating around my brake calipers which I heard could have an effect on braking. Wrapped some paper napkins at the end of the fork with zip ties to make it hopefully absorb/restrict some of the oil and prevent accumulation. Apart from that, riding at a slower pace on local commuting today to reduce fork travel, and upon checking the condition, I am pretty satisfied that there is no oil seepage into the brakes and this seems to have done the trick somewhat. At least for low speed extra-cautious local commutes till Thursday, this should suffice. As I said, if there is a reasonable option for my R3 to run, I will always take it, Frankenstein jugaad approach or not.
First Aid Before Surgery
If you guys have any suggestions for fork seal protectors, please do feel to share. Would really appreciate it. Thanks.
Until next time,
Ride Safe.
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