Just cleaned my Bobbins...

[STcharlie]

...getting the bike ready for a long trip, 10-12 days, down crooked roads (CT to Indy for MotoGP to VA & back to CT). Based on a number of positive posts here, I decided to clean the brake Bobbins (that's what everyone else calls 'em...I just call em "those round things that hold the rotors on"). Usually when my brakes get "thumpy" it's time to clean the stuck piston in the calipers, but I could never say the brakes were super smooth. They do stop well though! After cleaning up the Bobbins, and also the Calipers, the brakes are smoother than I ever remember them being. Hopefully they stay that way for the whole trip! I used Brake Cleaner and lots of rags...and that seems to have worked well.
If anyone at Indy sees me hanging near my red '01 w CT plates, yell "Hey Charlie"...if it's me I'll yell "Hey" back!

STCharlie...

[ricster]

Hey Charlie,

I hope you have a great trip. You have to let us know when we are back...there are a bunch of guys that want to ride with you...as I remember last month we met in the center of Litchfield.

[DaveM]

Have a great trip Charlie.

I use Motul Brake cleaner on mine.

DaveM

[steventhechef]

Works for me too!! Motul or BelRay are both good IMO

[STcharlie]

Thaks for all the well-wishers who replied and PM'd me before I headed out! As you requested, here's my quicky trip report...

Day 1 CT to just north of Pittsburgh 503 miles Rt 84 to PA to 209 to 80 for about 2 hours, then all county back roads to our stop. Somewhere around 52 MPG...great weather...bike ran really nice.

Day 2 Left PA and ran through Southern Ohio...I never knew that OH had such great roads...hours of twisties and hills until just after the famous JimBo's (Let me know if you heard of that one!). Indiana was miles of just flat stuff...and then the rain started. Another 500 mile day, but good to have a cold one at the hotel. Sore wrists but lots of smiles!

MotoGP...y'all probably read elsewhere about the rain, Ike, and the shortened Sunday schedule, but the track itself is very cool and I'll be back in the future...except next year as the race is on Labor Day weekend...too many idiots will be on all those roads. I saw only 3 other ST's and one nice orange RS....where were all the rest of you guys? Your bikes must be very shiny... Met a gang of Brits at a bar (no shock there) and once they saw my Triumph they invited me to the Isle of Mann...hmmmm

Day 6-8 Started w mostly back roads from Indy to VA....Rt 52 along the river sucked...but it looked great on the map! Started North on Tuesday from South VA on 219...another gem! Last day mixed back roads w Interstate...home by late afternoon.

About 2300 miles over the 5 really full "riding" days. The only hitch was one tank of bad gas caused some trepidation for a few hours as she ran really crappy, but luckily a full tank of Shell 93 made everything better again. As usual, some boot and peg scraping occured, but the bike held the corners nicely...the Azaros are pretty shot now so I'll be looking for new doughnuts.

Now it's time clean all that crud off and get her ready for some cool weather fall riding in the Northeast.

Cheers!
Charlie...