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Oil change time

Posted by geoff the bonnie User icon on June 25, 2026, 9:33 pm

More preparation for July rides with some Mobil 1 full synthetic racing oil. I bought a lot of this oil at half price during a store clear out and used most of it on the new bikes but being a 15 W 50, it is suitable for the old bikes and much easier starting and tickover right away as it is not thick like 20/50 mineral.
Sunday i need to buy a Harley mirror as the one on the bike has cracked so moves in the wind. Plastic shattered after about 15 years. There will be some at the local car boot sale on Sunday as there are always some good motorcycle bits there.
Last week there were some ultra lightweight bicycle dynamos made of alloy. Back in the 60s, these were very expensive and had a lot less drag than the British Lucas type. Just wondering wether i should buy and sell again. Maybe the modern bike rider only uses LED now though

Re: Oil change time

Posted by Greeves Rider User icon on June 25, 2026, 9:48 pm, in reply to "Oil change time"

geoff. Dont think many people use dynamos these days on bikes, all LED which stay on when bike is stationary. Also modern bike tyres are not made for dynamos and dont have the serated drive band moulded into tyre walls.

Re: Oil change time

Posted by geoff the bonnie User icon on June 25, 2026, 10:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Oil change time"

I was thinking they may not be used now. On my bikes i used in the 1960s, i had dynamos as batteries just cost too much for my paper round each day. I found the alloy lightweight Lucifer dynamos were very light pressure on the sidewalls of the Dunlop racing tyres i had.
Miller chrome ones would slow progress they were so heavy in use.
Those days were a lot less traffic when the lights went out at junctions. I often lifted the rear wheel and gave it a spin if a car was coming up behind.
My electric bike lights run from the 36v battery pack so a great advance

Dynamos

Posted by Greeves Rider User icon on June 26, 2026, 12:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Oil change time"

The tyre driven dynamo gave way to the hub dyno which did not cause as much drag. I am surprised that with modern electronics & production methods they are not fitted as standard on all bikes. I do believe that some bikes are still fitted with hub dynos which charge a small battery which allows the lights to stay on when stationary.

Re: Dynamos

Posted by the old one User icon on June 26, 2026, 12:51 pm, in reply to "Dynamos"

I actua;;y useed a tyre type on my 55 bantam , it was wired to a spare sidelight bulb at front and a little light at back , far more use than what mr lucas offered

Re: Dynamos

Posted by geoff the bonnie User icon on June 26, 2026, 10:22 pm, in reply to "Dynamos"

Yes, the hub system was actually an alternator putting out ac and a rectifier added to enable it to charge DC batteries.
ABO on here used to use a bicycle dynamo connected to a blade to charge a battery for shed lighting. Not done that yet but i do use solar to charge 12 volt batteries for my garage outside lighting and some internal lighting if you open the door.

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