What have you done for your T7 today?

[DT675]

This winter I put on the Puig Touring windscreen I picked up from a member here.   With that I gained A LOT of buffeting.   I now knew what members on here were complaining about when they said "buffeting"!  It wanted to rattle my eyeballs out of their sockets! Like following a semi for miles on end.  The OEM I had no buffeting but I got sick of the wind blast on 300 mile days.  So I then picked up a set of the adjustable windscreen brackets and kept inching up the Puig screen until the buffeting went away.  Turns out I only had to raise it about .75" and it's gone!  Clean air and no wind blast on my helmet! 

 

Next I spent some time saving up in the piggy bank and got the Ktech fork cartridges and Ktech shock rebuild kit.  Oh man what a difference so far that made on this bike! I'd show pictures but all you would see is some very expensive stickers!

[Tenerider]

Not for just the T7, but I completed my workshop trolley which a good friend gave to me as a gift:

 

 

 

 

 

It's a used off-label "Hazet Assistent", famous model (in fact a successor of world's first workshop trolley) - superb quality, completely serviceable. This one has gone though heavy use and abuse for years, my friend had it on his service truck for fork lifters. These things cost around 750 € new (without tools)!

[random1781]

3 hours ago, Tenerider said:

Not for just the T7, but I completed my workshop trolley which a good friend gave to me as a gift:

 

 

 

 

 

It's a used off-label "Hazet Assistent", famous model (in fact a successor of world's first workshop trolley) - superb quality, completely serviceable. This one has gone though heavy use and abuse for years, my friend had it on his service truck for fork lifters. These things cost around 750 € new (without tools)!

I see some Wera tools in the cart!

[Tenerider]

1 minute ago, random1781 said:

I see some Wera tools in the cart!

Yes, I'm a bit of a hand tool freak. Wera screwdrivers, bits and allen wrenches are really good. For pliers I'm a Knipex fan, I'm not rich enough for Hazet ratchets and sockets, but there's a Gedore torque wrench in the bottom section.  All these companies originate from the three cities of Wuppertal, Solingen and Remscheid close to my home, an area famous for all kinds of metal tools and knives. I'm a tool patriot I guess, but my Mitutoyo calipers are unrivalled (got them for 10 bucks, best bargain I've ever made), and PB Swiss tools are also a joy to use.

 

My father always buys cheap tools, and I learned to hate cheap tools this way. Buy cheap, buy twice is a popular saying over here!

[Ede-DE]

In the States I got in contact with Snap On. You should have a closer look. I love their work benches and the polished finish of their hand tools. Easy to keep clean.

And btw I buy the best tools I can get my hands on. It saves a lot of money and nerves. Is that a typical mechanic's behavior?

[random1781]

Just now, Tenerider said:

Yes, I'm a bit of a hand tool freak. Wera screwdrivers, bits and allen wrenches are really good. For pliers I'm a Knipex fan, I'm not rich enough for Hazet ratchets and sockets, but there's a Gedore torque wrench in the bottom section.  All these companies originate from the three cities of Wuppertal, Solingen and Remscheid close to my home, an area famous for all kinds of metal tools and knives. I'm a tool patriot I guess, but my Mitutoyo calipers are unrivalled (got them for 10 bucks, best bargain I've ever made), and PB Swiss tools are also a joy to use.

 

My father always buys cheap tools, and I learned to hate cheap tools this way. Buy cheap, buy twice is a popular saying over here!

Ha, same for me. We have a chain of stores called Harbor Freight that sells the cheapest tools you can possibly imagine, which is also where my father exclusively shopped. After visiting a friend who had Wera tools, I've been slowly replacing my old tools with German-made ones.

 

Just now, Ede-DE said:

In the States I got in contact with Snap On. You should have a closer look. I love their work benches and the polished finish of their hand tools. Easy to keep clean.

And btw I buy the best tools I can get my hands on. It saves a lot of money and nerves. Is that a typical mechanic's behavior?

I don't think anyone would argue Snap On's quality, but they are extremely expensive. I appreciate quality tools also, but $144 on Amazon for a 3/8" ratchet is too much for me. It seems like their market is mostly companies or professionals who want a whole tool box.

 

I think that these other companies have more innovative tools or sets while still being high quality. With this Knipex and this Wera set, I can undo the majority of fasteners on the Tenere, and together they're about as much as that ratchet! Plus I can fit those in my pocket.

[Hibobb]

@Tenerider, what do you Germans have for JIS screwdrivers? Finding those was a life changing moment for me!!

[DT675]

7 hours ago, Tenerider said:

Not for just the T7, but I completed my workshop trolley which a good friend gave to me as a gift:

 

 

 

 

 

It's a used off-label "Hazet Assistent", famous model (in fact a successor of world's first workshop trolley) - superb quality, completely serviceable. This one has gone though heavy use and abuse for years, my friend had it on his service truck for fork lifters. These things cost around 750 € new (without tools)!

I like that!  No tools piling up in the larger bottom bin.

[DT675]

36 minutes ago, random1781 said:

Ha, same for me. We have a chain of stores called Harbor Freight that sells the cheapest tools you can possibly imagine, which is also where my father exclusively shopped. After visiting a friend who had Wera tools, I've been slowly replacing my old tools with German-made ones.

 

I don't think anyone would argue Snap On's quality, but they are extremely expensive. I appreciate quality tools also, but $144 on Amazon for a 3/8" ratchet is too much for me. It seems like their market is mostly companies or professionals who want a whole tool box.

 

I think that these other companies have more innovative tools or sets while still being high quality. With this Knipex and this Wera set, I can undo the majority of fasteners on the Tenere, and together they're about as much as that ratchet! Plus I can fit those in my pocket.

I have a nice set of Snap-on tools purchased from college.   They are excellent tools!  However, as an adult i've never purchased another since. $$$

[Hibobb]

43 minutes ago, random1781 said:

With this Knipex and this Wera set, I can undo the majority of fasteners on the Tenere

You Rat! You posted a link to that Wera set and I was like a moth to a flame.... Due to arrive next week!

[Rider 101]

random1781,  what do you think of the Knipex?

I have considered a 150mm for the bumbag

Edited March 17 by Rider 101

[Hollybrook]

The Knipex pliers wrenches are excellent, as are just about all of their pliers. 

 

Harbor Freight has added quality lines of tools at corresponding prices.  Like usual, you typically get what you pay for.   That said, I got many years of heavy use from a $5 Harbor Freight angle grinder, while a $100 Hilti model broke the first time I used it. 

[random1781]

3 hours ago, Hibobb said:

You Rat! You posted a link to that Wera set and I was like a moth to a flame.... Due to arrive next week!

Ha! I looked at it on Amazon and it was around $90 I think, which is crazy because I got it last year for $65. But I use this set of tools more than anything else now, so we'll worth it IMO.

 

2 hours ago, Rider 101 said:

random1781,  what do you think of the Knipex?

I have considered a 150mm for the bumbag

Yeah they're excellent, like @Hollybrook said. I think I have the 180mm one and it seems to be the right balance of compactness and leverage. Amazon says I got the 180, but I'll double check tomorrow. And he's also right about Harbor Freight, I actually snagged a heat gun from the for the one time use of remolding my acerbis tank.

[random1781]

It finally happened at 49834 km....

 

 

Fortunately I made it 50 km or so and found a universal cable for $1.50.

[rosok]

First ride of 2024.  New graphics and tires just mounted today (graphics patiently over the past couple weeks).

Feels like summer on Vancouver Island....18degC

[Tenerider]

7 hours ago, Hibobb said:

@Tenerider, what do you Germans have for JIS screwdrivers? Finding those was a life changing moment for me!!

Nothing of which I know, sadly - I've ridden somewhere here that basically JIS doesn't exist any more, but I guess everyone who has ruined a front brake reservoir screw will disagree.

I think Wera still make some JIS standard screwdrivers, but only in PH00 sizes or so (for electronics use).

[Tenerider]

6 hours ago, Rider 101 said:

random1781,  what do you think of the Knipex?

I have considered a 150mm for the bumbag

They are a joy to play with, really - I've added one to my tool roll. But actually I've not used it yet. If one has a fitting socket or ring wrench, this should be used imho.

[Tenerider]

3 hours ago, random1781 said:

It finally happened at 49834 km....

 

 

Fortunately I made it 50 km or so and found a universal cable for $1.50.

Clutch I assume, not throttle?

[BikeBrother]

16 hours ago, Tenerider said:

Not for just the T7, but I completed my workshop trolley which a good friend gave to me as a gift:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I know where to go for my next service...

[Tenerider]

30 minutes ago, BikeBrother said:

Now I know where to go for my next service...

Always welcome!

[Hollybrook]

VESSEL makes very nice JIS screwdrivers and bits.

[mesto102]

On 3/11/2024 at 7:49 AM, Lewie said:

Rear rack ‘mod’ - bought a top box rack and modded it a bit

came without bolts and spacers but managed to get some made

trimmed off the arms and sprayed and bunged the holes 

Very cool. I ordered something like this awhile back.

[random1781]

21 hours ago, Tenerider said:

Clutch I assume, not throttle?

Yep, clutch. I had a feeling something was going wrong because the pull was pretty hard, but it's amazing how you grow accustomed to changes over time. Fortunately we had ordered a couple Yamaha cables, so now we have spares.

 

@Rider 101yes my Knipex is 180mm. Fits well with the rest of my tools on the bike.

[random1781]

Fork guards were reaching their end of life...

 

 

[jdub53]

Installed a new rear brake disc and my second set of new rear pads. The OEM disc was worn to 4.3mm at just under 18k miles and would be rejected at the bike's upcoming annual state safety inspection because min thickness is 4.5mm. At last year's inspection it was right at 4.5mm, so it passed then.

 

While doing research for a disc that should last longer than the OEM Brembo item,  based upon positive reviews from others on this forum I decided to give this disc a try. Although not advertised for T7 fitment, as others had found it fits the T7 perfectly and I wonder if the vendor just never got around to updating their ad. While I'm normally not inclined to use less expensive Chinese items in critical applications, all of the positive feedback swayed me to try this.  

 

245mm Rear Brake Disc Rotor for Yamaha MT07 / ABS 14-21 MT-09 XSR 700 ABS XSR900

---

For YAMAHA 900cc XSR900 Abarth ABS 2018-and up. For YAMAHA 900cc XSR900 ABS (MTM850A) 2016-2017. For YAMAHA 900cc XSR900 ABS (MTM850A) 2018-and up. For YAMAHA 700cc MT-07 non-ABS (MT07)...

 

Because they made such a difference when switching from the disappointing OEM Brembo rear pads at 8k miles, I installed another set of the Galfer semi-metallic FD165 pads recommended by Camel ADV.

 

Well worn OEM disc, with very noticeable wear visible around the outer edges on both sides:

 

 

New disc overlaid on old:

 

 

Installed and ready to go: