That storm at the end was awesome, the countryside is looking great. Can't wait to get back now. Thanks

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

It was mad... so glad I stayed up to watch it once I'd heard it was on the way in :-)

Both our 8 year old bikes are permanently plugged into Optimates when they are in the garage. Both still on original batteries. Love watching a good thunder storm (unless I'm out on the bike.)

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

Oh wow, that is a good advert for having one. Your bikes have looked after you both well 🙂👍

I wish I could find your enthusiasm for biking Pete. You truly do love it. I thought Oxford Heated Grips had battery protection built in too and I can't see a parking light killing a battery that quickly. God's be damned! I love lightening soooooo much! Not so much thunder though.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

I went through a patch back in 2013-2014 where I had no real joy riding, it was after an amazing trip around Europe and a trackday on my V7 when it was stock still. Europe was so lovely and I had so much fun on the trackday, UK roads seemed dull and mundane... but I kicked myself in the bum and customised the V7 which brought back a lot of love to me for bikes and biking, I fell back in love with it, and then when I started trail riding in 2018 that just reaffirmed my love of it. You do have to stop doing the same stuff all the time though, find a way to get new joy from it all.

@dynamotightstar3472

Ай бұрын

@@HippoDrones damn man, that's like a rocky story! I gonna go run around the block and wake the neighbours. 😃 I'm the kinda person that falls into things. I'm rarely able to look at nothing and create something. Asides from lunacy in my brain that is. Maybe I'll take a walk round the park at the weekend and watch what people are taking enjoyment from.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

@@dynamotightstar3472 😀 We are creatures of habit... we have to learn to break that habit... I'm terrible for doing the same rides all the time on my usual spins... Go to a bike rally, or off motocamping and trail riding in a totally different location etc...

@dynamotightstar3472

Ай бұрын

@@HippoDrones I did Taffy Dakar last year but there was just too much footage and with all the stress of the camping and the event I didn't post anything in the end. I might try a road bike vlog for a change.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

@@dynamotightstar3472 remember to ride for the ride, not for the camera... bikes first, cameras second.

Happens to us all, I'd venture it was the grips too, nearly did it on the CBF back then. Remembered about 3 hours after I never OCD checked it. Battery was thankfully grand! Multiple bikes is great most of the time :) Oh cool, we get crazy lightning here at times! I've honestly never not liked my HJCs, I'm coming due for another daily helmet soon, I'd love to try a Shoei but they're soooooo expensive. Not a rubbish video ya silly goose! It's not my birthday but I'll take it. I've done many stupid things with my bikes as you know :D Oh that's some good lightning. Very cool!! I'll see do I still have videos of a big one here and send you a clip :)

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

Aye... I'm honestly not sure, but when I plugged it into the Optimate, the grips did power on by themselves, so quite possibly the culprit, although I could have just as easily turned the key too far when locking the steering and inadvertently switched on the parking lights, but I do find the grips turn themselves on when riding quite a lot too, so I think I will pull their fuse, or disconnect them through the summer at least. Yeah... multiple bikes are... until you need to insure them and/or service them etc 😀 I'm hugely impressed with the HJC V10 in the dry, less so in proper downpours as even with a PinLock fitted, it seems to still steam up when water gets in, and you can't just open the visor a crack to boost the airflow. I'll just wear my old helmet if going out intentionally in the rain though... It might be less of an issue if I hadn't slapped on a camera on the front as it does reduce airflow to the vents and I have also blocked a couple of them too to help reduce wind noise to the microphone. Ahh thanks mate, but I see what content others make, and it is far more entertaining to watch than my stuff. The storm was mega, especially the thunder, at one point it was almost constant rumbling, you can see why early humans thought it was the gods fighting etc! 😀

Nice storm footage!

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

Cheers Mark 🙂

I'm a bit surprised Pete, that the heated grips aren't reliant on the ignition being on - seems it would make sense! As you probably saw on the forum, yes I dropped all these little bitty pieces of a Ram mirror type mount into my engine bay and none came out the bottom of the bike. This was over a week ago, have only managed to retrieve 7 of the 8 bits... Mind you it's been pissing down rain and I've been very busy, so haven't had much time to sort it. Think I'll be taking off all the panels next. Nice capture on the thunderstorm mate!

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

I may have just turned the ignition key too far applying the steering lock, turning on the parking lights, so I don't want to blame the grips, although when I plugged in the optimiser the heated grips came on by themselves. Thankfully the battery is fine now. Aye mate, I read that... I don't think a bike is truly your own until there is a lost nut or washer wedged in a place that you can't retrieve it from! 😀

@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger

Ай бұрын

@@HippoDrones Good to know the battery is all good now mate. Yes, I'm tempted to replace the nut (not the one that hold on to the bars...) and leave the errant one in there forever 🤣

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

@@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger It is super frustrating losing stuff when trying to fit new things. Hahahaha... yeah, don't replace that nut... we like him! 😀

I like that the Oxfords switch off automatically. I've had a flat battery before on the Z when I didn't use it over winter or put it on a battery tender. Just bumped it of the car and went for ride 🙂

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

Yeah, am not sure what I did to flatten the battery, but the optimiser sorted it thankfully 🙂👍 I don't actually think I currently own any jump leads, I should get some and stow them in my van.

That lightning was on crack 🍻 I don't think I've ever had a flat battery in one of bikes, prolly a good thing cause I don't have a lithium charger 😯

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

It was well worth staying up till 3am to watch it 🙂👍 Lithium batteries are not good to totally flatten, most have some kind of built in protection I think to stop them going totally flat. I keep thinking about getting a booster box for emergencies, but tbh, have only had a dead battery a couple of times thanks to having an optimiser.

Yeah that thunder storm kept me awake as well it was intense

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

It was preoperative awesome, I sat outside in it for a bit before the rain caught up

Well, there was that time I reinstalled the front sprocket cover incorrectly and mangled the side stand switch wire and couldn't put the bike in first gear without the ignition switching off 🤦 I had to re-splice the wire. I remember that storm. Constant thunder 😲

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

The thunder was maga, it just kept grumbling almost solid. Haha... that sounds like something I'd manage to do too! 😁

Always good to get out on the bike (good to have a spare..lol) that thunderstorm was cool/

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

Absobloominlutely mate... keeps me slightly sane! 😁

Hi Pete, oh, that's a shame but at least, as you say, you had another bike to take out and get your cheapies on. I hope that something really was left on and that this doesn't turn out to be a mysterious power drain, they can be a right sod to diagnose 🤞 Hoping to find time to ride tomorrow, feeling very stressed at the moment and desperately need to get out and away from it all. I probably won't even film the ride, I need this one for some me time unfortunately ! Then again, knowing me I will end up filming it and then stressing about getting the video made 😂 Own worst enemy Pete, own worst enemy. Take care buddy and I really hope that the 8S's battery survived the ordeal 👍🏻 Loves from Spain, Garry & Ruby ❤🐕

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

Thanks mate, bike has been absolutely fine since, so am guessing operator error and I turned something on inadvertently. Mate, leave the cameras at home for a bit, especially if you are stressed and stressing about wind in the vids... it is a hobby and far less important than the hobby of being a biker first. Go out, get some 2 wheel therapy and stuff making videos for a couple of rides.

@economicalrides

Ай бұрын

@@HippoDrones Glad to hear it Pete 👍 Yeah, I might manage to go for a ride tomorrow or I might decide to stay in and just get absolutely hammered. It’s a tough call 😂 Take care mate and continue enjoying those bikes 👍 Garry

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

@@economicalrides Hahaha.... that is one of the reasons I never really ride in the evenings much... beer needs loving too! 😀

@economicalrides

Ай бұрын

@@HippoDrones 😂😂😂 I have the same problem in the summer. In the summer I SHOULD be riding in the long evenings because it is so much cooler and more pleasant. The trouble is, by 5pm I’ve probably drunk wine or beer or both, which makes it a no no 😇🤗 So I end up riding in 40+ degrees at 2pm instead. What an absolute muppet I am but yes, alcohol is a hobby too ! 🤪

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

@@economicalrides I try to keep off the booze till 7pm, but I really enjoyed a bike night I went to with Phil480 the other day, going to another one on Wednesday eve too, so the beer will have to wait! 😀

Having more than one bike has definitely saved my backside more than a few times, flat/dead batteries, punctures, mechanical failures, and even the dreaded kill switch (and failing to notice!). Yes, multiple bikes is always good.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

Haha... that fatal fault of failing to spot the kill switch! 🤣

@slorida

Ай бұрын

@@HippoDrones It is the most soul destroying discovery after having changed bikes to go for the ride and spending all that time wondering what is wrong. 🤣🤣

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

@@slorida I bet 🤣

I had a dead battery and the belts showing on the Dyna. Luckily the Sporty is sitting right there while I was waiting for the tire to get in.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

It makes life so much easier at times like those! 🙂

Yeah, it sure sucks when your bike has a dead battery. Depending how old the battery is, a recharge will work but it has diminished the lifespan of the battery. Our thunderstorms are usually accompanied by pea size to golf ball size hail 😢.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

Def don't want to get caught out in one of them on the bike LOL 🤣 Thankfully the battery recovered and is fine now 👌

If you don't mind I want to make a short follow up about the subject of being revelant to younger riders once you get over 60, based off your comment that got me thinking.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

Go for it mate, I'd be interested to watch that.

I haven’t done anything recently and that’s credited to my mess up a few years ago when I broke a slider bolt off in the motor mount of my ZH2🤦‍♂️. That said I have been in the same boat with a dead battery. I like having a battery tender but i need another one so i can keep both bikes in check. Otherwise i just put it on the one I plan on riding.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

Yeah, I alternate the bikes for use so hopefully the ones being ridden get used enough to normally not need plugging in... unless I do stupid things LOL 😀 Ouch, I bet you were kicking yourself after that one Dave!

Sorry to hear that you had a bit of an issue with my name sake, I have a bit of experience with that! lol

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

Hahaha, thanks 😀 I hope you are feeling all charged up after watching the vid? 😀

Been there myself. The tracker on my bike killed the battery from new inside 2 weeks. i now have a new battery and it's hooked up to a battery tender and haven't had a problem since. Only any good if you have power in the garage, though!

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

Yup, I'd probably look at sorting a solar option if I didn't have power

I parked my vfr facing the wrong way in my parking space and didn't have the strength to manually pull it out, I live on a slight hill. I had to wait for my neighbour to move her car so I could swing it around. At least I had the himalayan to use. In the early days, I accidentally pressed my kill switch & thought the battery was dead.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

It is something I learned quite quickly is to try and reverse in to parking spaces on the bike... having short legs makes moving them about quite difficult, at least while sitting on them... even worse when it is loaded up with luggage! 😀 Haha... yeah the stress of thinking your bike has broken down and getting someone to come check it out for you, only for them to flip the switch and it start straight up! 😀They are some good ones Adam! 😀

I have a couple of Optimates and similar type units I bought from Aldi (!) to keep the fleet in a state of readiness

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

With multiple bikes it is a necessity I think as it is often hard to find time to get out on them all regularly. Any news on your potential new mystery bike?

@anthonydonnelly8419

Ай бұрын

@@HippoDrones 3pm

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

@@anthonydonnelly8419 Ooo 😁

Mistake of having a new kitchen has meant it's all been piled up in the garage blocking access to both bikes😢 grom hooked up to optimate, toerag on a noco charger as the optimate won't do lithium.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

I really need to do some work on the house too, am putting it off as I know it'll be a mess and will stop me playing bikes for a wedge of time 😀 The Optimate 2 does lithium if ever you need to replace the noco, but the good thing about the lithium batteries is they don't discharge over time as fast as gel/lead acid 🙂

Does it have accessories power output? Maybe add a relay to that, which would cut off the power to grips, when ignition is off? The mentioned battery booster is a good solution though, I carry one on my trips. It's one of them battery bank type of things, so it can also help if I drain all my camera batteries. But to be honest, the suspicion remains that the thunderstorm just stole the electricity from you, for that extra bling in its strobes. Can't recall ever seeing a lighting so frequent myself.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

It has a USB port. One of the reasons I went for this brand of grip was due to them supposedly having battery protection. I expect I inadvertently turned the key too far when locking the steering and turned on the sidelights by accident.... although the storm could have been the thief 😁 The lightning was pretty intense as it rolled in

I've got a parasitic drain on the 250, if I don't leave it on a battery conditioner (CTEK for the win) it's flat in a few days. The lighting just needed a horror movie soundtrack to go with it.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

Ahh that is a pain, has it always had that? I tend to only plug my Beta into an Optimate once every couple of months as the lithium battery doesn't really drain much over time thankfully

@LordBilious

Ай бұрын

@@HippoDrones yeah it has always had it. I've got the CTEK on a timer so it only runs a few hours a day.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

@@LordBilious nice.

I have a 300cc Yamaha scooter that is always in reserve if my bike is disabled for some reason. I do all the "junk" miles on the scooter, shopping, errands, etc and save the fun rides for my "real" bike which is currently a Suzuki gsx8s. I'm currently looking for an adventure bike and I've whittled the candidates down to the Suzuki 800de, Honda 750 transalp , Yamaha Tenere 700 ( think I've ruled it out) , and finally the Tuareg 660. Can I ask, do you find the Tuareg softer and more comfortable than the 8s on the highway and pavement? Particularly if you are riding for many hours?

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

That sounds ideal with the scooter 🙂 The 800DE is an awesome motorcycle and super comfy, looks great too. Regarding my Tuareg, it is my go to distance bike, mainly due to it being the easiest to fit luggage to, but it also has cruise control which is a gadget I'll not go without on a distance bike. I've ridden some long days on it, up to Yorkshire from down south etc and it is generally more comfortable than my 8S although I prefer the narrower bars on the 8S, but that is due to a shoulder injury, and that injury is also why I'll not buy a distance bike without cruise control. The seat is very comfy on shorter trips, but you sink into it and then it gets less comfy, but it has room to move back a bit to adjust how you are sitting which reduces the comfort stops a little. There are comfort seats available for it though, which may help too

@tonyjourneyman1944

Ай бұрын

@@HippoDrones Thanks for the info, do you find the suspension soaks up the bumps in the situation where your teeth might be rattling on the 8s?

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

@@tonyjourneyman1944 oh absolutely, but at a price... the Tuareg is a long travel suspension bike with a large front wheel, so it is great at soaking up bumps, but is not as sharp handling as a full on road bike like the 8S. If I was never gonna ride trails on my Tuareg, I'd probably have gotten the Suzuki V-Strom 800RE (if it had cruise control) and I'd have also not gotten the 8S.

@tonyjourneyman1944

Ай бұрын

@@HippoDronesNothing for nothing as they say. Scooter is the most useful thing I've ever bought, with the top box and under seat I can carry a lot of stuff. 2 helmets fit easily, I live right in the city and have owned it for about a year. Can't recommend it enough. It's my first scooter and I've always had a motorbike since I was 12.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

@@tonyjourneyman1944 I had a go on a 300cc Vespa a while back it was cool. I quite like the idea of a superscooter, but no room

I need a spare bike lol.

@HippoDrones

Ай бұрын

You do LOL 😆