Ramscheid – German Hospitality

Many danke schoen to  Werner’s parents, Mr & Mrs Steffen’s for their wonderful hospitality.  We were spoilt with various rolls & fresh breads for breakfast and for lunch we had apple pancakes, hmmm very nice & tasty.  We have had a fairly industrious day today.  Werner & Steve were up & gone by 09:30, we dropped off Claudia’s bike for new sprockets & chain.  Then going on to get the XRV’s seat sculptured.  Nicholas the upholsterer spent about 6 hours trimming, gluing & reforming the seat.  Once the seat was ready, they picked up the bike & returned home for lunch.  The bike we picked up was Claudia’s 600XT. 

Steve here now (Deb’s off to bed)…

Once back at Werner’s Dad and Mum’s place Werner and I got stuck into adding the parts to the bike I had bought. Down to the cellar to get the 43L fuel tanks and the center stand. We got the original fuel tank off easily. But fitting the centre stand was going to be a more ‘interesting’ task. I had already scoped out this task months ago back in Alice, but what the SW-Motec part install PDF document did not show what was needed to completely remove the exhaust system in order to get access to the RHS lower frame mounting point for the centre stand.

Stephen woth a grim that says "Der Seat is Goodt"

After a few skinned knuckles and the few choice words (both German and English, from both Werner and I). We got the exhaust system off, and mounted the centre stand and got the bike standing up (like all bikes should!!) So we could then tackle the next tasks.

Centre stand fitted, Steve with internal lubrication for the task ...

Next was the new Pivotal Foot pegs, which were not too bad, but I’m never going to the pull the LHS foot peg off, as the pin was bent with the factory foot pegs. The re-fitting required a few hammer strikes to seat the pin!!

Next I started to run the power relay that will power all the accessories for the bike, heated grips, power to the RHS pannier for the accessory power socket and power for the GPS mounting. I started to sort out running these cables and removing most of the previous owner's accessory wiring. Also started to fit the new heated grips. Whilst doing this we found that the throttle grip plastic cable pull had some wear that would require replacement very soon. So we aborted that and will buy a new one in the morning.

Drilling holes for the hand guard extensions.

We then moved on to fitting the new Olins rear shock. Which went ok, just a small fiddle to get the old one out and the new one in.

In the morning I have a few ‘errands’ that Werner will run while I get into the rest of the tasks.  Olins pre-load adjuster mounting and sort out Scott Oiler mounting,  reservoir and priming it.
Werner's mate Peter, also has an XRV & has been helping with setting up the bike.  We did a bit of exchanging of parts.  Peter had a spare Arrow's muffler & we gave him our factory 22 L petrol tank.

Where the Hell did that nut go... Oh there he is praying ...

I think I should get all these jobs done by tomorrow night (Wednesday 24^th).

Cheers,

Stephen and Debbie.