#ztechnik

It’s been a while since my last post.  Summer has come and gone, and we are well into Fall.  It’s been just over 6-months since I purchased my F800GT, and I’ve just passed the 10,000 Km mark on it.  Lots of great rides along the way.  You would think, however, that I would be finished with “Loser” stories … lessons learned … life experiences … but I haven’t.  It’s a bit of a long story though, so if you have patience, read on. If you don’t, it might be a little while until my next blog post with some busy winter months ahead.

So, … Here we go…

Thinking back to the Spring of this year, one of the first things I noticed about the F800GT when I test drove it was the amount of wind I was taking in my face over 100kms per hour. I knew I was going to have to deal with it, and would be one of the first modifications I make to the bike.

After buying the bike, we took a ride up island to visit some family.  When we got back home, I had noticeable discomfort in my shoulders and neck.  The same issues that had hampered me from going to the Grand Canyon a few years ago were back.  Before I treated my aches and pains with massage therapy sessions, I had to replace the windscreen, and soon.

So I started researching new windscreens … there were only a few options for items that would fit my style of motorbike, and the one I decided on was the ZTechnik VStream model.  It looked pretty slick, maintaining the sportiness of the bikes looks.

(Above: ZTeknik VStream Windscreen I installed on my F800GT.)

It offered an attractive option of some grooves in the windscreen that would divert the wind over my head (and hopefully my wife’s too), and around my shoulders as well.    I decided on the clear version so that the windscreen wasn’t as noticeable with the shading, and would offer the most protection being taller that the other shaded options.

So I put in the order Action Motorcycle on Esquimalt Road, and in late May my order arrived.  It seemed simple enough that I could install myself.  Of course it came with instructions that were reminiscent of my childhood days of getting a new Lego set … they provide just a few diagrams … before, during and after … maybe 7 illustrations that are supposed to be self explanatory to get the installation done.  After an hour, and with the help of a retired engineer (my dad), we got it installed.   I tucked away the stock windscreen in the box of my new one, as I won’t need that one until I sell the bike one day.

About 2-weeks after I got the windscreen installed, and taking on a few short test runs, I went for a trip with my friend Dave (See blog entry entitled “The Ride”).  During this ride, I noticed a few small notches in my dashboard tachometer casing. I thought maybe they were there on purpose … to show optimal RPM output or something (hey, I’m a numbers guy, not a mechanic).  By the end of the trip, the notches became holes, and got bigger and bigger.  I was initially thinking “Oh no, I’ve got an electrical issue and it’s melting my dashboard!” (again, I’m not a mechanic) … so when I got back home, my family was concerned (I guess I should have been more concerned about having potential electrical issues).

I ran down to my motorbike dealer, Island BMW, as soon as I could when I got back home in case there was a warranty instance.  They said it wasn’t an electrical issue, but suggested that the sun was being focused shining through the windscreen, and perhaps I should get some film put on it to resolve future melting, and maybe just put some silicon filler in the hole. A replacement plastic dashboard was going to cost me $300 for the part alone … but they would give me a discount to be able to get it at wholesale price.  In the meantime, I started covering with a reflective cover that was part of an old tank bag that I gave to a friend.

(Above: Silver cover used to keep sun from melting dashboard, and keep rain water from damaging it)

The next weekend I really started checking around on how I can resolve.  I went to Industrial Plastics … maybe I could fill the hole … but they informed me that due to the content of oils in the plastic makeup, any silicon filler would not adhere and would fall out with the vibrations of the motorbike.  I knew I needed to get filled as soon as possible, as it’s bound to rain eventually (it was an exceptionally dry summer so far), and I didn’t want to get moisture in the electronic meters.  We were hitting the road for the Thompson / Okanagan region soon, so the weather can change very quickly along the route.

It didn’t take me long before I surrendered to the realization that I was going to need to buy the replacement dashboard piece, since it didn’t look like it could be filled.

At the same time I wanted to see who could do a film for the windscreen to block the sunlight.  I didn’t think that I could do the film myself. I would make a mess of it.  Other riders suggested a spray on film, but I would make a mess of that application too.

At the recommendation of a friend, I checked out SHC who do custom wraps and film as well as a bunch of other customization services for cars.  Talking to a few people in there, we decided on a pattern that would cover the grooves (that divert the wind around me).  

So within a few weeks, I got the new dashboard piece installed, and the new film on the windscreen. I thought it looked great. Hopefully it worked the way it was supposed to.  Here it is in the following picture.  It’s a bit hard to see in the photo, but the lower portion of the windscreen has the new film applied.

(Top: View from front of bike.  Bottom: View from behind windscreen.)

The next weekend, my wife and I headed on our Thompson / Okanagan journey.  I was thankful I got the repairs done, as the weather took a turn for the worse, and dumped, … I mean really, really poured with rain between Hope and Merritt, BC.  My dash instruments stayed nice and dry with the holes now repaired.  I was still in the habit though of covering it with the waterproof tank bag cover every time I got off the bike … maybe out of habit, or maybe out of paranoia that it might happen again.    

[Side note: This is where I left off this blog entry back in July when I thought my ordeal was over.   It wasn’t … or as the saying goes “But wait! There’s more!” ]

My issue was fixed, right? Wrong.  After getting back from vacation in the Okanagan, it was still very hot.  After riding to work one day, I forgot to cover the dash instruments with tank bag cover. At the end of my work day, I went out to my bike.  Crap! It happened again … my dashboard odometer casing melted.  Sigh.  

How could this have happened?  I had the film on the windscreen.  I pointed the bike away from the sun.  What did I do wrong?!?  

One night, after an evening of playing cards, my friend, JJ, who is an astrophysicist, took a look at my problem.  I explained the scenario and the remedy I took to get the issue fixed.   It took him about 2 seconds before he asked for my cellphone so he could use the flashlight.  He shone the light on the windscreen from behind the bike, and wouldn’t you know it, a perfect cross-hairs from the reflection intersected right over the odometer where it had melted.  

After my friends left, I went and re-read the instructions that came with the windscreen (see illustration below).   Take a look at the last sentence … “Park your motorcycle facing the sun…”

What a maroon!! … I wasn’t supposed to point the bike AWAY from the sun; I was supposed to point it FACING the sun!!  Sigh (again).

Okay, what are my options? Put the original stock windscreen on and suffer more neck issues?  Order a new windscreen and be set back another bunch of money?  Try to fill it, despite being told the caulking wouldn’t be effective?  

I decided on the caulking option, along with being extra diligent about putting the tank bag cover over the odometer, and park my bike facing the sun as much as possible.  It’s been 3-months of this routine, and the caulking seems to be holding out.  It doesn’t look nice, but seems effective.  

(Above: The picture somewhat shows the caulking above the odometer (bottom left circle dial.)

Maybe one day I’ll get the odometer casing replaced, but for now I think I’ll make do with it … as long as it doesn’t show any signs of water or condensation getting into the indicators.  I guess if it does, it will be too late as the damage will be done to the instruments. We’ll see if it makes it thru the winter.  

So other than the windscreen issue, the new motorbike’s been great!  I love the handling and all the features.  One time the tire pressure in the front tire was a bit low and the warnings on the dash monitor came on to inform me.  It is reassuring knowing there’s so many safety checks happening on various aspects of my bike.  

Let’s hope I can make it through the next 6-months or 10,000 Kms without melting any other parts of the motorbike.   I am hoping to be able to share more travel stories and less of these lessons learned.  J

Moral of story?  Read instructions closer … every word.