First official day of lockdown

We've actually been in lockdown at home since I collected Jennie at the airport on Monday but this is the first official day nationwide and boy, it's quiet!  So far, everything is working out really well, we're keeping a reasonable distance from each other, separate bathrooms and Jennie isn't allowed in the kitchen at present.  This means I'm doing all the cooking but on the positive side, it keeps her away from sharp knives if I get under her skin!  She's busy catching up with her passion of genealogy (family history) and I've been doing motorcycle maintenance with gardening and other domestic stuff yet to come.  We had hoped to take the boat out fishing but apparently, that will be frowned on despite the isolation that comes with fishing.  I'm a member of the Coastguard should I ever need their services, but received an email from them this morning.  Roughly translated, it said "Don't expect to be rescued for at least 4 weeks so don't go on the water".  It's a beautiful day too, flat water, warm and sunny - sigh......

View from our front deck today

Once our immediate 14 day quarantine is up, we are allowed to go for a walk, keeping the regulatory 2 metres from others and visit essential services such as supermarkets, pharmacies and so on.  No need for that at present.  As it happens, new brake pads for the KTM arrived yesterday so today was always going to be earmarked for fitting them.

EBC HH pads - serious stopping power

I love EBC HH pads.  I fitted them to my Blackbird, Street Triple and GSX-S1000.  Far superior to the OEM pads on all those bikes in terms of stopping power.  They're not snatchy and they're kind to disc rotors - what's not to like and why aren't pads this good fitted as standard?  I found a UK supplier on eBay advertising a full front and rear set for GBP84 (NZ$172) including delivery.  A sight cheaper than NZ so it was a no-brainer.

This is where my ABBA  bike stand comes in really handy as both wheels can be lifted off the deck at the same time by using the attachments.

Both wheels off the deck

Getting both wheels off the deck is particularly handy because as well as swapping the pads, it allows me to easily de-glaze the disc rotors to maximise stopping power and bedding-in.

Essentials - pads, brake cleaner, wet and dry paper

First job was to remove the old front pads which were in "as new" condition.  As opposed to some other bikes I've owned, access to the KTM pads is a piece of cake.  Pop off a circlip  at the end of each pin, unscrew and withdraw the 2 pins and spring strip - the pads just lift out.

Removing the tensioning spring and old pads - piece of cake

Next job was to break the glaze on both faces of each rotor.  Sanding block, 400 wet and dry paper used wet.  About 5 minutes per face.

Wet de-glazing with a sanding block and 400 wet and dry paper

Glaze removed, disc thoroughly washed, calipers cleaned with brake cleaner

New pads inserted followed by tensioner, pins and circlips

A quick pump of the brake lever to reposition the pistons and job done.  The rear single caliper and disc was done in the same manner.  Only a single pin so really quick.  Next job is to go out and bed the pads in with a series of high speed, elevated temperature stops.  When that happens is in the lap of the gods at present.  Nothing else needs doing to the bike so tomorrow is a whole new day!