A few (needed) things done for Britta....

[SCJJR65]

That's the logic for my plan to get a Moto Guzzi Breva 750!  

Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!  (evil laugh sound)  

[SCJJR65]

Woo-Hoo!!!  My stuff from Moto-Bins arrived!!!!   (Actually, the shipment arrived yesterday, but I wasn't here to sign for the shipment, so I picked it up this morning at the post office.)  The stuff got here MUCH quicker than I thought it would, too.  Moto-Bins used their "premium" service, which apparently included Express Mail Delivery.

I got my rotor, Ferodo "Platinum Series" brake pads, and the new seat cover.  A buddy of  mine is going to help me install the rotor and pads tomorrow, and I'm going to see a local upholsterer about putting the seat cover on.

A question for those more experienced than I:  Is there anything special I need to do regarding the rotor, like scuff the rotor up a bit with sand paper?  Anything with the pads other than get the old ones out and fit the new ones in their place?  I've got a copy of the BMW shop manual, but thought I'd ask anyway, since sometimes there are helpful tips by actual owners that the shop manual didn't include.  I want this rotor and pads to work as well as they possibly can!

[Bob_Roller]

I don't think that any special preparation is needed, maybe wipe the rotor with alcohol, or something similiar to remove any oil that may have gotten on it. Just take it easy on the brakes for a hundred miles or so until everything gets 'seated' . Good time to bleed the brakes, if you havn't done it yet this year.

[Justin B.]

The rotor should be properly machined so nothing else is required.  Some prep is usually required on resurfaced rotors but not on new ones.  I am kind of partial to lacquer thinner for cleaning rotors, flywheels, pressure plates, etc.  Alcohol should work but be careful of "rubbing alcohols" that may contain some oils, etc.  Acetone, Berryman's B-12, brake parts cleaner, etc.  would probably be good as well, you just need a fast evaporating solvent that doesn't leave any residue.

How much did the shipping come out to?  I hope your seat cover lasts longer than the one I put on.  I don't think the Brits understand just what hot TX sun can do to upholstery...  

[NC Steve]

Good luck with your new parts, John, and have fun, but don't forget to go wring out that F800ST sometime this week while you're on Spring Break.
We're expecting a full report, OK??

[suecanada]

One little thing I've read...put some anti-seize on the BACK of the brake pads and I guess lightly on the pins and clippy springy thingy...just a little so no contaminating the brake pad surface itself. Makes things easier to remove later and cuts down on brake squeal or something.

[SCJJR65]

Justin,

It looks like the S&H came to 37 pounds.  My whole bill on the credit card came to just over $294 including the S&H.  Considering I placed the order on Saturday and it arrived yesterday, I'm pretty pleased.  Could I have gotten everything cheaper?  Maybe, but it would have required a while lot more looking around than I was prepared to do.  With any luck, I won't have to sink any more dough like this into Britta again for a long time!

(Now, if I can just get my speedo back and working properly, I'll be good to go!)  

[Justin B.]

Usually if I order something from MotoBins on a weekend I have it the following Thursday..   I have only once had to wait longer than this and I've probably put in 15-20 orders to them.  Their service is second to none, I just wish UK postage wasn't so high!    On the other hand, Chicago BMW just keeps getting slower and slower...  

[NC Steve]

Not only has Chicago gotten slower & slower, but on my last 2 purchases, at least, they've also added $4-5 to the total bill, with no explanation. I'm not sure that's even legal considering I've used a credit card & have a printed online receipt. [smiley=deal2.gif]  [smiley=furious3.gif]

I'm switching to Hammersley BMW in VA from now on for any web purchases, http://www.webparts.com/cycles/ficheframeset.cfm?tablename=R65_1 .

Haven't tried them yet but their prices are below retail ( Max's, A&S, Bob's) & they can't possibly be any slower that Chicago...

[Ed Miller]

I sure love having a local BMW dealer.  They don't stock that many of my parts, but can get them in the next week.  They give me 10% off just because I asked them too.  That includes helmets, luggage, and stuff like that.  Even tires I think, tho they still don't match MAW on that score.  But then they mount and balance them for only 10 bucks more.  And the parts guys are fun to talk to.

[SCJJR65]

Well, folks, just thought I'd let you know that I got the rotor and pads replaced on Britta without "too" much trouble.  It took longer than I thought it would, but considering neither my friend Chris or I had put in new pads or swapped out a rotor on my bike before, we did OK.  (Chris had done this before on his Trophy 1200 by following his Haynes shop manual closely.)

I'm taking it easy on the front brake while the pads seat themselves, but I can already tell the bike has a LOT more stopping power!  It will sure feel better know that Britta's brakes are much improved.

Tuesday, I'll drop my seat and cover off at an upholsterer before he closes at 6:00pm, and he said he would start work on it first thing Wednesday morning, and I could pick up the seat by noon.  He's only charging me $25 for putting on the new cover, too, so that's a decent price.

Now, I'm just waiting on my speedo to be fixed by Palo Alto Speedometer!  Boy will it be sweet to know how many miles I've gone since my last fill up!  

[Bob_Roller]

John, did you put an OEM rotor and pads  on your bike , or are they aftermarket ?

[SCJJR65]

Bob,

I believe the rotor is a Grimeca brand, and the pads are by Ferodo (Italian, I think).  I'm guessing that these are aftermarket brands, rather than OEM.

[SCJJR65]

Well, I picked up my recovered seat from the upholsterer this morning!  Ya-Hoo!!    One day service, dropped it off yesterday before they closed at 6:00pm, and picked it up at 11:30 this morning!

No more riding on black duct tape strips!!!    I can park Britta out in front at the BMW dealer with all the other "pretty bikes", instead of in back so no one will have to look at the duct-taped seat!  

The cover from Moto-Bins looks great, too!  I'm gonna try my dead-level best to keep Britta covered up when I'm not riding it, so the seat won't get exposed to the rain and sun so much.  (Geez, I can't wait until we buy our house with a real garage!)

Now, if only those deadbeats at Palo Alto Speedometer would get off their collective hinnys and get my speedo fixed!!

[NC Steve]

Yeah, as the owner of a semi-functioning speedo myself, I'm real interested to see how the whole Palo Alto experience turns out, so please keep us posted, okay?