An Odd Bike, Fun at a Roundabout, Crazy Tunnel Noises

So I've been on holiday for a wee bit (I'm on holiday now, actually), so I've rustled up some old footage and put it forward for my eager subscribers.  Honestly, I am grateful to them.  Both of them.

A few technical notes about the video, first.  In the past, I've been using YouTube's own video editing software to build my videos.  It was only after reading some of the how-to's that I discovered that my annotations are not visible on tablet or mobile versions of the video.  I've use the annotations a lot because I'm not one to talk much, and I'm not a vlogger - I'm sure no one wants to hear me rattle on about stuff.  There are plenty of other bikers out there to fill that need.
So, I took the leap and started to learn some of Adobe's Creative Cloud software.  I began with Premiere Pro, which is a video editing tool.  It allows me to add titles and annotations that should be visible across all platforms.  It is pretty powerful - I've only scratched the surface, but I'm quite pleased with what it can do.  What it can do in educated hands is surely better than what I can produce, but hey-ho.  I learn as I go.

I produced this video with the intention of having a 1080p resolution - they look the best.  I've been using a (relatively) cheap helmet cam, purchased from eBay, which does 1080 but looks terrible - so I have always recorded in 720p, with a frame rate of 60fps.  The result is a video thats passable, but not amazing.  Now when I assembled this video, I had set the preset to 1080p resolution, and when I imported the 720p videos, the result is video that does not fill the frame.  Ugh.
Please forgive me - I am still learning how to use the software!

Keen viewers (of which there are not many) may also notice I've made a logo!  Thought it would be a good way for me to learn some other software.  I created most of it in Photoshop, and then added some animation effects using After Effects - both Adobe apps.  Again, I had no experience with AE, and about an hour's worth of PS experience, so the result is pretty naff, but its an early attempt!  I will try and update it a bit too, when I have some decent footage of the bike to use.

I have now purchased a groovy Drift Ghost HD camera, which will be attached to my helmet for all future rides.  The cheap camera I was using before I thought might be useful as a rear facing camera, so I've mounted it on the back of the bike.  I'll have to see how that looks.
There are many reviews about the Ghost HD camera, giving specs etc, so I won't go into that; however I may do a small test video and write a post about my experiences with it after a few weeks of real-life usage.

Okay, so onto the video - arguably one of my worst efforts, having dredged the bottom of the barrel for usable clips.  One of the clips is from September, when I had been riding for only about a month!

So a bit about of what you see.  First off is an odd bicycle I saw someone riding near Battersea Park.  It's like a cross trainer or something.  Looked odd, anyway, so I thought I'd put it out there.
Next up is a roundabout near Crystal Palace.  I don't often go this way, and the timing was such that I was behind a van, and we both had the right-of-way.  A car was waiting to go, and was intent on slipping in behind the van - only to find a small motorbike in her way.  Her evil plans for traffic domination in tatters, she backed off and conceded my right of way.
I put this here because I often am stymied by people at roundabouts - either they don't see me, or they think I'm going too slow for their Need For Speed, so they cut me up.  It's all about road presence!
This is followed by a short clip of a driver stopping for no obvious reason, after having just turned.  Being a cocky know-it-all motorcyclist, as soon as I saw the green light, I entered the junction.  A bit of a no-no, particularly when there are still vehicles in the junction, and other cars may still try and run the red light!
After completing his turn (and the driver behind had as well), the driver of the black VW just....stops.
I think, maybe, he wanted to have a chat with the driver in the blue Astra, heading the other way.  So, he just stops.  And I nearly drive into the back of the car behind him.
The lessons here are important:

• Don't enter a junction just because the light is green - there may be other traffic not paying attention.
• Don't assume that every other road user has the same intent as you - e.g. accelerating.
• Keep your distance.  I was far too close, and the end result was I nearly crashed, and did end up putting myself at risk.

Next up, I accelerate away from a red light, only to discover my bike suddenly sounds awesome!  Of course, its a fast bike behind me - for a second there, I thought I was going to get run over.  Before I had a chance to react and get out of his way, he was past me anyway.  

On pretty much the same stretch of road, a few days earlier, I happened to meet a friend as he rode in.  He rides a really nice Kawasaki Ninja 250, which he claims is so fast, he often gets to work before he even leaves his house.  If you look carefully as he beats me off the line, there is a subtle blue-shift - just like the stars accelerating in space travelling at the speed of light.

Finally, I was riding near Park Lane, when I saw a tunnel.  Having watched many videos of awesome YouTubers like Royal Jordanian make some awesome noises in tunnels, I thought I'd give it a try.

Needless to say, keeping to the 30mph speed limit combined with a factory exhaust on a tiny 125cc bike, the results are....disappointing.  You can almost - almost - hear my engine wind up as I give it full throttle.  I even open my visor to try and hear it myself as I ride - nope, still sounds like something manufactured by Singer.

Anyway, its all fun, and I hope you can excuse the lameness of this video - it was a trial, to learn about video editing, and an excuse to post the last of my low-quality video footage.  From now on, I hope its only high quality video for you!*

*(Technically high quality, I give no warranty as the quality of the content.)

A Cold Ride, A Poorly Driven Porsche, and some Bad Parking

I realise I have put up a number of videos on my YouTube channel, and haven't even mentioned them here.  I'll try and do that more often, starting now.
Also, I feel I must apologies for the audio on my videos - they are horrendous!  I've been using a (relatively) cheap camera from eBay to do my recordings, and the microphone seems particularly sensitive to the wind.  The video quality is also rather shocking.  To this end, I have now purchased a Drift Ghost, which is a proper camera with actual 1080p resolution.  Early tests show the video quality to be much better, and the sound is so much more clear - you can actually listen as each of the 11 horsepower gets wrestled out of the mighty 125cc engine!
So, keep your eyes (and ears) peeled - better videos are afoot.  I hope.
Anyway, here is this weeks exciting video:

So it was a really cold morning; there was proper frost everywhere.  The roads themselves weren't slippery, but I was very, very thankful for my heated grips, that's for sure.  As I was riding, I saw a chap on his bicycle wheeling his arms around to stay warm - I thought it was funny, anyway.  If you don't, well screw you.
On the Latchmere Road in Battersea, they are currently doing some watermain works, so traffic has been particularly horrific.  On this frosty morning, I rode over some steel manhole covers, and immediately the bike started skidding in eleven different directions at once.  It was a very disquieting thing - there is a reason they instruct you to avoid these during your Compulsory Bike Training.  I tried to put my feet down immediately, but before they even touched the floor, the bike was righting itself, and carried on its merry way.  It took a minute or so for my grip on the handlebars to loosen.
A few mornings later, when I arrived at my favourite parking bay, I found that half of it was occupied by a Fiat 500.  It was perfectly parked within the lines, so kudos for that - the only problem was the lines clearly state 'SOLO M/Cs ONLY'.  Unless the driver fancies himself as the rapper Solo MC, I doubt this was appropriate parking.  I am not sure how long they were parked there for, or what the vehicle's fate was, but in my imagination, a big lorry came and picked it up and deposited it in an impound yard!
The very next day, I approached the same parking bay to discover a Land Rover in the same spot.  Shocking.  Luckily, the driver was in the car at the time, so after motioning to her that I wanted to park my bike, she kindly relocated.  I'm grateful she did, but at the same time, shouldn't one know better?
The other bit of footage was a scary one for me.  It seems it happens to me a fair bit - I'm not sure if I am to blame, or if its a combination of minimal road presence with my tiny bike, my road positioning, and the exquisitely slow acceleration of my poor little bike, force to propel my admittedly bulky frame around town and up hills.  Either way, I would think that if I were driving a car, and I saw a wee motorcycle with 'L' plates, I would give them plenty of room, and stay well back.  Anyway, the driver of this 944 decided that it would be better if he passed me on my left, on a stretch of road that had only one lane for travel in my direction.  I had to do a double take, as he surprised me with his actions.  When he saw that his manoeuvre was doomed to fail (and risky at best), he backed off, and I waved at him to let him know I needed more space.  I then moved my bike more towards the middle of the lane to assert my position.  This wasn't a dick move, this was just to give me the confidence that I wasn't about to be passed illegally and dangerously.
Anyway, enough ranting.  I will retroactively add some more posts giving more descriptions about my YouTube videos.  I will also post a review of my new camera, to let you know how i find it works for me.
Thanks for looking!

Taking the Next Step

My evening commute begins at 6:30pm, which at this time of year is full dark.  My morning commute begins about 7:00am, which is still dark, but I do get to watch the world get brighter as I make my way in.  This makes me happy; the traffic gets thicker, the air gets warmer, and the bike gets happier.  I am very much looking forward to summer, when my day is all sunshine.  We've had a bit of rain, but all in all, its been a great winter so far for riding.  I've only missed one day of riding - I looked out the window and saw frost everywhere.  I'm not experienced enough to risk freezing temperatures.
As I am still on my 'L' plates, I have some restrictions in place - I am not allowed on motorways, and I'm not allowed pillion passengers.  I'm also limited to a 125cc bike.  The worst restriction for me is the pillion part - I love riding, and I wish I could share the experience with my wife.  She really wants to go out as well, but it won't happen until I pass my test.  Here in the UK, its a two-part test, a theory test and a practical test.  I'm not too concerned about the practical; I think I'm okay if not terribly confident, but the theory part makes me nervous.  I grew up in Canada, so the road signs are a bit foreign to me - I mean I get the gist of what they're saying, but I haven't got them memorised or anything.  I have been revising on the practice app on my phone - I hope it all sticks.
To supplement my skills, I am hoping to participate in a day out with the BikeSafe program.  For not a lot of money, I get a one-on-one critique on my riding skills, with the aim to give me more confidence.  I will certainly be reporting on that.
I am looking forward to the day I get a bigger bike and I can take the missus out for some fun leisurely rides.  It will be nice to have the extra power to get out of sticky situations as well.  I have a colleague who rides a 250, and says that's all one really needs to get around London.  It is a rare occasion when I'm able to surpass 40mph; so top speed isn't a concern for me.  However acceleration is.  My bike is very, very slow, especially when compared to other bikes.
I am not sure if I will upgrade past a 250; I have to wait some time after getting my license before being allowed to legally ride anything larger.  I can see the appeal of a bigger displacement; my bike is pretty rough and unsettled, with one cylinder thumping away.  The exhaust is quiet - almost to the point where I get worried people won't be able to hear me.  And Hank doesn't have much road presence.  I am often undertaken and overtaken by cars, and they cut very close.  I don't want to intimidate, but its difficult to defend my road position with such a small displacement bike.  There is a safety element in play here for sure.

So I dream of the day when I pluck up the courage, and call the testing office, and reserve a spot.  The next step is beckoning me.....

Changing the Chain on a Honda CG125

I know, this is out of chronological order, but I had this saved as a draft and forgot about it.
Anyway, here you go.

So I've decided to change the chain on my motorcycle.  I had changed the cush bearings, and I was going to change the chain at the same time, but I discovered the existing chain requires a special tool to remove - one I didn't have.
I had purchased a chain and sprocket kit for the bike; it claimed to be the OEM for the CG 125, but I later had my suspicions.  I purchased the kit not knowing the first thing about motorcycle chains, other than the fact that they need maintenance and changing.  After installation, I did a bit of research on the chains and discovered that the bike comes from the factory with a 14 tooth front sprocket and a 44 tooth rear sprocket.  The kit I purchased contained a 15 tooth front sprocket, so this has the (negligible) effect of a higher top speed, and fewer revs at any given speed, ie if the bike was turning 4000rpm at 30mph, it was now turning at 3725rpm.  Not a big deal, but the end effect is I change gears later, and I haven't got as much power on tap at 30mph as I used to.  It's a tiny effect, but on a wee bike like mine, every little bit helps.
I was changing the chain on my bike for two reasons - one, as I said, it is a regular maintenance item, and I have no idea how long the chain had been installed; and second, there were some links that were siezed and were not giving me the smoothest of rides.
The process is fairly straightforward - you expose the chain, remove the tension, break one of the rivets, grease the new chain, clip it in place, and then adjust the tension.
To do the job, I used the following tools:

• an 8mm, 10mm, and 17mm socket with the appropriate ratchet (for removing the various chain covers)
• a few ratchet wrenches, 8mm and 10mm (also for removing the various chain covers)
• a 1/2 torque wrench (for tightening the axle bolt)
• an adjustable wrench for the axle nut (its I think 24mm, and I didn't have a wrench for it)
• a chain rivet breaking tool (about a tenner off ebay - worth the money for sure)

So here are the steps.
First I removed the chain guard covering the top of the chain.  One nut, one bolt, very easy to do.  I then took the front sprocket cover off - two bolts for this one.  Again, very easy to do.
I then loosened the axle bolt and nut, and pushed the wheel towards the motor - this removed the tension from the chain, making it hang low.  I did not adjust the alignment nuts on either side; with the tension off, they could move freely off of their seat on the swing arm.
I had a look at the chain, and found a link with some rivets that looked different from the others, and figured this was a good place to break the chain.
The chain breaking tool is fairly straightforward to use - basically its a bolt with a threaded bolt inside it - the outer bolt holds the chain in place, and the smaller bolt inside is screwed down to push the rivet out of the link.  Its easy to do; the most careful you need to be when removing a rivet is getting the alignment correct.  The tool helps make it easy.  Here you can see how the rivet breaker is in place.  I have a breaker bar on the smaller threaded bolt inside to help push the rivet out.

 It doesn't take a great deal of force, but you do have to push a bit.

Once the rivet is broken, the chain pretty much falls away.  Mine was a bit stiff so I had to wrestle it off a bit (woof woof).

Here are the sprockets, all chain-less.

 (Note how wonky the gear shift lever is - this is the result of it being bent back into place with a hammer after my first fall.)  The new sprocket is in place; this was done when I changed the cush bearings.

(And yes, I have removed the pillion passenger's foot pegs - they kept falling down out of the storage position.)  This image also shows the original rear sprocket.  I couldn't change it because the pins that sit in the cush bearings wouldn't come out.  I have to buy new pins for the new rear sprocket.

I then got the new chain out, and grease it up with the can of chain lube that came with the chain kit, it was a white lube which helped make it easy to see if I had missed any spots.

 

There is a separate link in the kit, which is attached with a small clip.  Pretty important, this piece.  I gave it a good soak in the white chain lube as well.

Next I pushed the wheel as far forward as I could, and tightened the axle nut to hold it in place.  This made the two sprockets sit as close together as possible, to help get the chain on.  

So I draped the chain in place on the rear sprocket, and pulled it to the front sprocket.  This is where I ran in to some difficulty - it wouldn't reach.  

It was off by only a tiny bit, so with a bit of coaxing and pulling and pushing, I got the link to push into place.  Taking careful note of the instructions, I slid the pin in place - its like a cotter pin, but flat and holds the link together.  

At this stage, I wasn't sure if I needed to mushroom the rivet.  I thought I had read in the instructions that I had to, but damned if I could find them.  I figured better safe than sorry, so I decided to mushroom them.

I added the pressing bit into the chain breaker.  It had a small ball bearing - like sphere of steel in it, which, when pressed into the face of the rivet, would squish the metal, flattening it.  (Hard to describe, but it basically makes the force of screwing the bolt tight compress the rivet, flattening it.)  I attached the tool very carefully - I remember reading that its imperative to get it lined up correctly or it will crush the pin in the wrong spot.  Satisfied it was square, I screwed the bit against the rivet.

In the below image, you can see at the bottom of it is the factory-flattened rivet.  At the top is an uncompressed rivet with the clip in place.  The tool is attached to the middle rivet, and is about to flatten, or mushroom it.

I then checked the tension on the chain, and found it to be quite loose on the sprockets.  I don't know how that worked, considering it was in the same place a minute ago and it was too tight to get together....

Anyway, I adjusted the tension the standard way - 2.5cm of play in the middle of the chain, tighten the axle nuts and make sure the wheel is aligned - easy to do on these bike with the marks on the swing arm to help you line up.

With that done, I started the bike and put it in gear, carefully watching the chain and the sprockets - keeping my fingers away.  All seemed to be going the right way, nothing was loose, and there appeared to be no binding in any of the links.  so, I took the bike out for a spin and again, the character of the bike had changed from an unpredictable bucking bronco to a smooth, easy to ride, forgiving little pony.  Definitely worth the effort.

After my short test drive, I lubed the chain up again (I imagine some of it was flung off when I was riding), and parked it, letting the lube soak in over night.

Job done.

~~~~~

As I mentioned, I wrote this a while ago.  I can now update the fact that the bike is now running very well - the combination of new cush bearings and a new chain has made the drivetrain feel much for solid an predictable - the transfer of power is as smooth as my clutch will allow, and old Hank seems much happier for it.

The Thrills and the Spills of Motorcycling in London

So after having completed the cush bearing replacement, ole Hank has been running well and everyone seems happy.  I am finding the ride to and from work is quickly regaining its previous position of being the highlight of my day.  After my first spill, I was nervous and it showed - my riding was not smooth at all.  With some adjustments to the bike, and with more miles under my helmet, I am getting better and better - and faster.  Not that I'm fast, by any stretch!  Here's a short video of how fast I ride post-spill:

It had rained, and there was a real chill in the air.  It was about 5 degrees Celsius, so I was worried about frost.  Plus, this particular corner is almost a complete 360, and its a steep hill down - this is in Crystal Palace.  Keen observers will note that the Mini passes me, and then get stuck behind a queue of other cars.  His pass gained him absolutely nothing.  He did get to swear at me, though, so that's a win for him.  I guess.
The thing is, I was doing the speed limit when he passed me.  Sure, I took the corner slow, but you would think that if you saw a guy on a motorbike going slowly around a corner, he might be trying to be careful and not take risks - therefore maybe keep well back?  And maybe he also realises now that passing like this does nothing for him except make him more upset.
I have had this a few times, where I will obey the speed limit (or maybe go 5mph over), and I will be overtaken - sometimes undertaken! - by someone, and within sixty seconds, I sail right past them as they get stuck behind someone else in a car.  What's the motivation for this?  Why do cagers behave like this?
Well, as an ex-cager (and still a part-time cager), I think I can understand it.  If you're driving a car, and there is a bike in front of you that is making you nervous (driving erratically, weaving all over, going way under the speed limit), I get that you want to have the bike behind you rather than having the option of him going under you.  Fair enough!
What if the bike is going the speed limit, or only just a little bit over?  Is it worth getting past them?  Maybe, if they are clearly not in full, confident control of their bike.
So sure, there are situations where it is safest to pass the motorbike.  I get that.  If you do decide, in your car, that you want to be in front of a bike, can I humbly ask that you refrain from using your horn, or revving the engine so hard it sounds like its going to jump its motor mounts?  And maybe refrain from swearing and getting angry?

A few days ago, I had a similar experience to the one above.  I was making a right turn onto a road where the speed limit changes right away to 40mph.  I negotiate the corner successfully, and I start to gather speed, when a lad in a VW Polo decides he's annoyed with me.  Horn blasting, engine revving, he passes me at 50-60mph.  And he was bloody close when he pulled back in.  Sure enough, less than 400 metres along, he is stopped at a red light....
I knocked on his window, and he rolled it down.  I asked him why he had to pass me like that, and his claim was that because I was on L plates, I have no right to be in the middle of the road, I should stay next to the kerb!  I was a bit taken aback by this, and told him that I am a fellow road user, and I have every right to use the whole lane, and please don't use the horn like that as all it serves is to frighten me and increases my chance of nervously losing control of my bike.  When I lose control on a bike, the repercussions are a bit more painful than when a VW Polo goes into a skid!  He rolled his window up, still swearing at me, and took off - through the red light, no less.  I think he was feeling a bit sheepish and stupid.  At least I hope he was.  Maybe the next day he went and complained to his mates about how I was using the road, and his mates told him he was wrong and stupid.
Dare to dream, I guess.

Anyway, a spill story for you.
Last friday night I met a friend at South Bank, had a lovely time.  I left the area at about 10:30pm, heading home on my bike.  I approached the roundabout that is Charlie Chaplin Walk - the BFI iMax cinema.  I gained the first position at the roundabout, and waited for traffic to allow me a join when I feel a push and a jerk and my bike is falling out from underneath me!
I turn around, and sure enough, one of those Prius Uber taxis is there - he just rear-ended my on my bike.  I pick up my bike and drag it to the side of the road to check for damage.  The taxi driver looks stunned and shocked - he kept saying 'Are you okay?  I didn't see you!  I thought you went through!'
I was fuming - I was not happy.  I look at the bike, and it would appear the only damage was the L plate was broken on the back, and the right footpeg was bent up a bit due to hitting the floor.
I think I was intimidating him by not saying anything to him whilst I checked out my bike.  He was getting more and more agitated, running around me, saying 'its all my fault! I'm sorry!'
I finally look at him and say 'you scared the shit out of me!'  He apologises and apologises, until he says that we can settle this like gentlemen and he will give me £100 for the trouble.
The bike isn't hurt.  I'm not hurt.  I'm just a bit shaken.
I took the £100.

I guess the point is, things like this happen all the time.  It was a minor prang, nobody got their fists out, and we shook hands at the end of it.  Sometimes shit happens and we can be grateful we walk away with all our facilities.  I mean, what if he hit me harder, and he pushed me into traffic and I got run over or worse the bike gets run over?
I'm just glad I get to ride - a few minor inconveniences and some rude or dangerous drivers make it less fun, but at least I still get to ride.

Changing the Cush Bearings on a Honda CG 125

Okay, I know its an obvious title, but I'm hoping that it may help someone who is doing a search one day.  There is very little out there with regards to showing how to change cush bearings on a CG 125 considering how popular and common these bikes are.  So, I will try to explain how they work and why they are there, and how to replace them.
First off, to explain what the cush bearings are, and what they do.
My bike had this thing where if I touched the throttle, even a little bit, the bike would jerk forward underneath me.  Also, if I was pottering down the road at a constant speed, the bike would feel like it was stumbling along - almost like it was misfiring.  After doing a bit of research, I discovered the things called cush bearings might be the culprit.
Basically, they are rubber bushings that sit in the hub of the drive wheel, acting as a shock absorber for the transition of power from the rear sprocket to the wheel.  On a push bike, there is no absorption; the power is directly transferred from the sprocket to the wheel hub.  Motorcycles have the bushings to help make power delivery smooth, reducing stress on the drivetrain, whilst allowing power to transfer to the wheel.
On the Honda, there are four bushings pressed into the rear wheel hub, and the sprocket has four pins that sit in the bushings.  The sprocket is not attached or bolted down in place, it is held only by the chain and the cush bearings.
To access the bearings, you have to remove the rear wheel.  To do this, I first put the bike up on a paddock stand.  Which caused my first problem....  The exhaust pipe prevents access to the swingarm, where the paddock stand lifts the bike!  It sits lower than the swingarm, and is about 15mm away from it, so I had to remove the exhaust to get it up in the air.  A bit of a pain, but seeing as it's one bolt at the back and two capped nuts at the engine, it's pretty easy to do.  (Plus it gave me a chance to examine the pipe, and clean it up - discovered a small hole in the bottom and some rust underneath.)
With the bike up in the air, I then removed the chain guard, and disconnected the left shock absorber.  I then detached the rear brakes, and the brake bar - this is the metal bar connected to the brake assembly hub and the swingarm - it basically keeps the brakes from spinning along with the rest of the hub.  I pulled out the axle, which is held on by a simple nut - there is a spacer on the exhaust side of the wheel, which will fall out and roll under your workbench if you're not careful.

I pushed the wheel as far forward as I could (towards the engine).  This gave enough slack on the chain for me to pull the chain off the rear sprocket.  I also pulled the front sprocket cover off; this is just a plastic cover held on with two bolts, sitting next to the crankcase.  When it comes off, there is also a chain stay that comes with it - this is a crescent shaped piece of metal that keeps the chain close to the front sprocket.  Here is a photo of the front sprocket, with the chain stay highlighted with an arrow.  Note the copious amount of chain grease that's been flung off the chain.

It may be worth noting at this point, that if you need to change the chain, this is a good time to do it.  I had a new chain, ready to go on, however after looking at the instructions, I discovered I would need a chain rivet breaking tool to get the old one off.  I decided at this stage I would just put the old chain back on and change it when I had the correct tools (post to follow....).
So I struggled for a while to get the rear wheel out from underneath the tail of the bike; it was a real tight fit.  I ended up having to grab the tail of the bike and lift it off the paddock stand with one arm and pull the wheel out with the other.  I'll tell you now, if you pull the wheel out on the exhaust side, it will come out easily - I learned this later when putting the wheel back on.
I then put the rear wheel on the bench and removed the sprocket, exposing the worn cush bearings.

They weren't as bad as I thought they might be, but still pretty far gone.  I discovered they were pressed in, and tried removing the rubber from one of them, to see if I could pry it out.  I spent ages chipping away at the rubber - it didn't come out easily, and the end result was that I was no further ahead.  Deciding to spend some time thinking about a way out of this, I gave the hub a bit of a clean; it was heavy with old grease, and it came out pretty nice.
I arrived at the conclusion that I would have to spin it out by force.  I soaked the bearing in WD-40, then took a large pry bar, and hammered it into the bushing.  I was then able to spin the whole bearing, and it slowly came out.  Success!

So, I decided I would make a video of the process.  I hammered the bar in, and spun out the bearing.  I then noticed that I managed to crack the casing of the hub.  Shit.

I was able to gently tap it back into place (more or less), and it seems to be okay - the bike doesn't seem all that bothered.
Here's the damage...

This shows where the prybar dented the inner lip the bushing sits in.

Here is the outside of the housing.
The lesson here is that if doing this with a pry bar and hammering it in, make sure the points of the pry bar and up against the thicker parts of the hub, not the weaker outside edge.

I then removed the other bearings, and slid the new ones in.  They needed gentle tapping to get them flush; I placed a small piece of wood on top of the bearing and hammered the wood.  This prevented me from damaging the new bearing.

I also wanted to replace the front and rear sprockets, however I could not get the cush bearing pins out of the old sprocket.  I didn't want to damage them, so I thought I'd leave them in and reinstall the old rear sprocket. I could investigate the purchase on new rear pins later.
I did replace the front sprocket, though.  This was easy - with the chain pulled off, it was two bolts holding a retainer in place, and off came the sprocket.  I did notice there was a lot of play in the sprocket on the shaft.  I wasn't sure if a new sprocket would make a difference or not.
Also, the kit I got provided a 15-tooth front sprocket instead of the original 14-tooth.  This would in theory give me a higher top speed, but would take away some acceleration as the bike would have to work harder to get the revs up.  We shall see what the end results of that are.
Installation is reverse or removal, as they say.  After putting it all back together, it was a matter of aligning the rear wheel (easy to do with the marks on the swingarm).  A quick test drive, and I noticed a difference right away - accelerating away from a stop was smoother, and steady speeds were better - not perfect though, but that's because of the old chain - it needed replacing as well.
Overall, it wasn't a terrible job - if I hadn't wasted so much time trying to figure out how to get the old bearings out, I think the job could be done in just a few hours or less.  Plus it really showed me the inner workings of the bike; there is nothing wrong with getting your hands dirty and learning how your bike works.  It gave me a chance to also check for other signs of wear and anything else that might be dangerous or might need attention soon.
I will follow up with the chain replacement process, and a report on how the sprocket change has affected drivability.

My First Spill (and the results)

It wasn't raining when I left home, but it was grey and threatening.  I had been riding for about three months, and was starting to feel confident.  I knew there are stages to confidence levels in new riders, and I was ever so worried about the inevitable knock it would take.  It was just a matter of when.
Well, it was the first of October.  I was riding along, doing my thing, when I approached a T junction.  I indicated, applied the brake, geared down and before I knew it I was on the floor.
I captured it on video - here for your viewing pleasure.

When I watch it carefully, all seems fine - I'm not going ridiculously fast for the conditions.  I was doing maybe 10mph when I spilled.  I wasn't asking the bike to do any physics-defying manoeuvres, I was just slowing down for a stop/turn.
I went down, landing largely on my hands.  The bike pinned my left leg, twisting it slightly.  It wasn't bad, there were no broken bones, and virtually no scratches.  On me, anyway.
The bike's gear selector was bent, and the left footpeg was bent at a rakish angle - a close examination showed the metal had cracked on impact, and the peg looked ready to break off.  There was a scratch on the 'CG' sticker on the side panel.  The bike was still running, until I put it upright and the wheel touched the floor and it stalled.
I pushed the bike off the road, and sat down in a slump.  That was my first spill.
I of course called my missus and let her know - she was obviously upset, but she quickly realised that there was no real harm done to me, and my bike - which she plans on inheriting - was pretty much okay.
I had to take public transport to work - in full gear, with hands and knees throbbing, it was not the most fun.  The worst was just leaving the bike behind....

On the weekend, I went to collect it, bringing along some tools to see if I could straighten it up enough to ride.  The first thing I did was fire it up - he started right away!  What a champ!
I then removed the gear selector, and hammered it until it pointed more or less in the correct direction.  The footpeg was a bit more delicate - I was worried I would snap it off, but after some gentle persuasion, it too, soon enough was close enough.  I gave it a quick test ride, and it seemed happy.
So off I go, riding again after a few days of train hell.  It was awesome!

Before I got back on the bike, I knew I would have to buy a new helmet.  It's expensive, but I knew I would prefer to keep my head in the same shape its in now if i could help it, and thankfully my wife agreed with me.  We went to Helmet City, and I picked out a bright yellow HJC helmet, which was a bit more expensive than my previous Box helmet, however proved to be worth the difference - much lighter, better ventilation, better field of vision, better Pinlock, and much more comfortable overall.

Also on my no-bike hiatus, I was worried I would have to deal with the possible fear of not being able to ride.  I had only been riding for a few months but I was already addicted.  I loved riding, and I didn't want to lose the experience to some silly fear.  I had a bicycle crash a few years ago, where I was hit by a car.  It was almost a decade before I got the nerve up again to ride a push bike.  I didn't want that to happen again.  So, I got on, and rode away.

However, after a week or so, I began to notice there was something missing.  I was riding with my heart in my mouth.  When it was time to put my gear on at the end of the day, my stomach would turn, and my palms grew sweaty (like Eminem before a rap battle!).  When I was riding, I was ever so nervous around corners - it always felt like the bike was about to tip over again.  Going over the slightest bit of road paint made me nervous as it seemed the bike was threatening to slide out from underneath me.  Riding had become a chore, and worse than that, it was frightening.

I spoke with a colleague, a seasoned rider.  He was sympathetic, and offered a few suggestions.
One, he said the bike was probably out of alignment.  Indeed, if I was riding at 20-30mph in a straight line and relaxed the grip on my handlebars, the bike wanted to drop left very alarmingly.  I realised I was spending a lot of energy keeping the bike upright.
I also mentioned about how it felt like I was riding on ice when on the road paint.  He claimed that was normal - to a point - but if it was really bad, I should look at the condition of my front tyre.

That evening, I stood in front of the bike, and braced the front wheel between my knees whilst gripping the handlebars.  I twisted and pulled in an effort to get the wheels in line.  As the bike was pulling left, I pushed the left handle (the one with the clutch) away from me, and pulled the throttle side close.  I had no idea if I had any effect until I started to ride.  At the first opportunity, I got up to a steady speed and relaxed my grip - the bike was no longer so determined to lie down!
I replaced the foot peg bar altogether a few days later, which broke off during removal - glad that didn't happen going down the road.

So, with a steadier bike, I made my way home, feeling better; however the list of things I was worried about was growing:
- I was worried about riding over painted lines - every time I did, I tensed up, waiting for the bike to slide out from underneath me.
- I was worried about turning corners - the bike was still skittish going round bends.  I couldn't navigate them unless it was at walking speeds.
- I was worried about cracks in the pavement - if they ran parallel to me, I would worry I would get stuck in a groove and fall over.
- I was worried about patches in the pavement - any irregularity was an open chasm waiting to throw me.
- I was riding in the rain a fair bit, and there seemed to be a huge amount of oil on the roads - rainbows everywhere.  I was nervous to stop in the '2' position at a junction, and nervous around corners, and nervous on straights.

In short, I was still nervous.

This went on for about a week.  My wife happened to be walking past me as I biked past a corner, and she noticed that I looked nervous going round a junction - not smooth or steady in any way.
Then, a realisation hit me - I knew why I was so nervous.
It was when I was describing to my wife, as we were driving in our car, all the perils I was nervous about. 'There's a bump there, and some oil there, and a crack in the road there, and a gentle corner here..' it was a non-stop barrage of perils being thrown at me.  What was I doing differently, compared to what I was doing before I spilled?
I was focusing on the road.  My head was down, scanning the pavement 5 to 10 meters in front of me.  When I was going round a corner, I was looking at what I was about to run over, not at where I wanted to go.
The next time I rode, I forced myself to keep my head up.  I talked to myself - 'look up!', 'look around the corner, where you want to end up!'  This made a world of difference.  I wasn't nearly as nervous as before!  Corners were not a problem.  Cracks in the pavement disappeared - I wasn't looking for them, so they weren't there.  Suddenly the joy of riding came back to me.  I could feel my confidence come back.

It isn't back to full strength.  I still get a bit nervous around rainbow colour puddles, but its much, much better now.  I am not as confident as before, but I'm not sure its because of me - I think it might be because of the bike.  So, there is a weekend of work ahead of me, trying to sort it out.

I will try and do more updates; I haven't really been feeling the full positive experience of riding the last month or so, removing any motivation to write about it.  In the works are a few posts I would like to make, and hopefully they will be coming soon.  Topics will include:

- Removing a rounded-off aluminium oil drain plug on a Honda CG 125
- Repairing indicator wiring so the right turn signal works consistently (I will let you guess why I need to do this)
- Replacing a side stand (well, the spring at least)
- How to align the wheels on a motorbike
And a real big one:
- How to remove and replace worn cush bearings!
This one is going to be a pain, I can tell.  Riding at any speed, with a steady throttle, results in a bucking bronco of a ride.  Pulling away smoothly from any junction or corner is nearly impossible - the bike wants to just jerk ahead.  The rear sprocket is physically loose on the back wheel, which is making the chain wobble and stressing it out - its stretching constantly.  So if things go right, the job will include instructions on how to replace the sprockets and chain as well!
Gosh I have a great deal to do....