New Bits for the Honda

It's late January so I've flashed-the-plastic and started accumulating new bits for the bike.

FRONT TYRE: My front tyre needs replacing as the blocks have nearly gone. I did think about fitting a set of Heidenau's or MOTOZ GPS, but my rear tyre only has about 2k miles on it, so to match the rear tyre I've got another Dunlop Trailmax Raid.

D.I.D. CHAIN. With 19k miles on the clock (not bad for a 10 month old bike) there's still some life in the original chain, but I'm a bit paranoid about chains as I've had two break on me in three years. It was a chain break that killed my V-Strom, so I'm wary...  Yeah, yeah, yeah - buy a GS I can hear someone at the back shout. Sorry, I don't want a BMW as I cant afford Klim textiles...

CHAIN BREAKER. The chain on the Honda is 126 links, but you can only buy 124 or 130 links - so I've bought a 130 and I'll chop a few links off. The last chain breaker I bought was from Machine Mart, but it wasn't very good so I've bought a really good one. It's a DID Style Motorcycle Heavy Duty Chain Breaker, Splitter and Riveting Tool. I bought it off Ebay for £15.95.

SWING ARM CHAIN PROTECTOR. The one on the Honda is worn through - 19k miles - so I bought a new one. £54.... The chain was rubbing on the swing arm near the crankcase, which was getting really annoying at low speeds so its something that's got to be changed, if only for my own sanity. I just hope the four retaining screws are not rusted and will come out easy.

TYRE PRESSURE SENSORS. Last year I was given a Carplay system to try - which had tyre pressure sensors. I wasn't impressed with the Carplay but I was impressed with the tyre pressure sensors - so I've bought myself a bluetooth tyre pressure sensor kit off Ali Express. £16. I didn't want the type with a visible display as it would mean having to find somewhere on the handlebars to mount it, so I bought a system with the two sensors plus an app to install on my Samsung navigation tablet. Why sensors...? Well, it just means that while I'm going along I can keep an eye on my TP's. When I was in Turkey I caught a slow puncture on the front and didn't realise because the Dunlop has a stiff side-wall, so having this will mean I can keep an eye on things as I'm riding along.

USB SOCKETS: When I fitted the USB socket onto the dashboard of the Transalp, I fitted it to the lower section of the dash on the left hand side. What I didn't realise is that when it rains the water collects here so the sockets get wet - especially if I've left the water cover open... I've bought another USB socket module (Ebay £8) and I'm going to fit it on the upper part - on the right hand side - so its closer to my Samsung Action Tab. I did fit a long USB cable from the battery area, running along the frame and up to the dashboard for the Nav Tab, but the wire has perished and its not passing a current. I don't want to have to run another cable every year so I'm going to power the Nav Tab straight from the USB socket.

ROADIE TANK BAG. My old tank bag expired when I was in Poland last year. The zip broke, so had to get another one. I bought the smallest one they had in the shop but it was still too big for my liking, so I've bought another one off Ebay for £19. Hopefully it will fit on my Acerbis tank snugly, and not slip off like the other one. In the past I've always used my tank bag to carry all my 'nick-nacks' but this year I only want to use my tank bag to hold my digital camera, spare gloves and some snacks. I was thinking of buying the Mosko Gnome tank bag, as it has a water bladder, but its expansive and I'm not sure it would be a good fit on my tank. We'll see how I get on with this bag...