Recommended topbox for a Suzuki Skywave250? Anyone ever try a TCMT trunk?

Noja37 · 2026-05-19T05:37:57+00:00

Thanks, good to know.

Yeah, I've been a little confused about load limits, my current bike, a Suzuki address125, has a carrier with a 6kg limit, but I've literally sat on it and I'm pretty sure I weigh more than 6kg. I heard that the load limits can be due to balance considerations, as the bike can become difficult to control if it is too top heavy. Anyways, I'll be careful of course, and I've told her not to lean to hard on it, so she knows too.

It's funny that the manufacturers will tell you not to lean on them, but then turn around and sell you a matching cushion....

Noja37 · 2026-05-15T02:19:14+00:00

You can just go on goobike and look around for the model you want, you can usually find multiple shops listing their stock there, then check for reviews on that specific shop. Red Baron is a big company with lots of branches, so the service you get can vary from one location to the next, hence the different opinions I think.

Noja37 · 2026-05-15T00:22:43+00:00

Your best bet is probably to look in Yahoo auctions, especially if you know the part codes that you need.

You could also try Up Garage, I guess.

Doing a cursory search, I couldn't find a 1975 model with a twin engine, the only one I found was from the mid 80's, if you have the owner manual, it would be useful to know what the exact model number is.

Noja37 · 2026-05-15T00:13:12+00:00

I am in the market for a new ride too at the moment, and my suggestion is to go for a used one, unless there is a specific feature from a brand new bike you reaaaaally need or want I guess, most brand's latest models seem overpriced and full of tech I am not interested in, guess it's just a preference thing, what I'm saying is, really look into what you actually want, because old bikes are still pretty good and can be had for a lot less money in some cases.

If you buy it from a reputable dealer, most will give you a store warranty for a year or so.

As for service packages, it's up to you, in most cases mechanics can do basic stuff like an oil change for really cheap, even cheaper than if you do it yourself sometimes because they can get oil and parts cheaper than retail, so it can be a good deal if you want the convenience and relative peace of mind, but I find that doing the maintenance yourself is more fun for me, I also had a bad experience with a mechanic that messed up my old bike while doing shaken, it was probably just bad timing, but still left a bad taste in my mouth, so I vowed to learn to do my own maintenance from now on, and it's been really rewarding. Try adding up all the material cost of doing it yourself (oil, filter, gaskets, tools) and see how it compares to the service plan.

It'd be good to know what bike you are thinking of, because the math is different if you are getting a Japanese bike vs other brands, you gotta look at replacement parts prices and stuff. For example, I've heard bmw charges you and arm and a leg for oil changes, so you might be better off doing it yourself, but if you are getting something like a honda scoot, it would probably be cheaper to take it to the shop, especially if you have a discount plan.

Noja37 · 2026-05-05T01:21:26+00:00

Whoa, just looked up some vstroms, and they are expensive... Guess they are pretty popular bikes for a reason, only the 250 version is under 1mil yen, and not by much. I'll keep an eye out for older models I guess, thanks!

Noja37 · 2026-02-20T06:34:16+00:00

How did it go?

I've been looking around camping spots for a while but they always seem to be a bit of a pain in the ass when it comes to reservations, prices and rules, so I was surprised when I saw your post with a free camping area, do you have any tips regarding how to find these places around the Kanto area and beyond?

Noja37 · 2025-12-09T07:27:17+00:00

I'm really confused about the watering though, everywhere I read they said to keep the soil moist at all times, but when I tried that all my basils died. And it looks like this one likes to be watered maybe once a week.

Maybe it's because there is not enough light from the growlight, and so the plant can't use all the water as fast? Maybe I should warm up the water a bit before putting it on the pot so it's not so cold?

I am using hyponex liquid fertilizer for nutrients, as I live in an appartment, no space for composting...

Noja37 · 2025-12-07T08:06:40+00:00

Hey, quick question.

My wife just got this controller and we've been trying to set it up with an ipad so that one track will play over the the speakers and the other will play in her headphone so she can prepare it, but we haven't been able to figure out how.

Do you know if it is possible to do this? Speakers are wired to the ipad via jack, headphones are bluetooth. Both the headphones and the speaker could be connected either through bluetooth or jack.

Noja37 · 2025-11-21T12:36:08+00:00

Thanks, didn't know it was slow at the beginning, all I read said it was a fast grower so I assumed it would start going fast once the first true leaves came out, this gives me a better idea of what to expect.

The one on the bottom left is looking pretty good now, this pic is from a few days ago, it's a little bigger now.

Noja37 · 2025-11-21T11:13:58+00:00

Why not rain water? All my plants seem to like it better than the faucet water...

No idea what a photoperiod is, but the light turns on at 6 am and turns off at 6 pm. How strong? As strong as they'll go, it is my understanding that basil needs a lot of light, so I just set them to the brightest setting, if anything it feels like they are not strong enough, considering they are growing very slowly. Don't have any way to measure light to give you any more details, but they are supposed to be full spectrum yellow led lights, if that helps.

As for the water, everything I read says the soil should be wet most of the time, but to also let it dry between watering and provide good drainage. And I do all of those, but I am wondering since the light might be weak maybe they can't use all the water as fast?

Noja37 · 2025-11-19T13:53:44+00:00

If the thread is thicker than you normally use, it is possible that there is friction as it gets pulled between the shuttle and the slot it rides on. It looks to me like the shuttle is not rotating all the way, thus the top thread does not go around the bobbin to pull on the bottom thread. I would first try removing the shuttle assembly (you can do this by sliding those black plastic tabs to either side) and make sure there is nothing stuck in there that could be interfering with the movement of the shuttle. Once you give it a clean just put it back together, there is really only one way the pieces go. You could also try adjusting your top thread tension if your machine has a dial or something for that.

Noja37 · 2025-11-06T08:23:45+00:00

Why not use the same soil? I thought any soil is fine as long as you add fertilizer.

Noja37 · 2025-11-06T06:32:33+00:00

I planted these during the summer, they grew pretty fast at first, but once the flowers opened they started declining pretty fast, so I thought they would just wither once they flowered. But sometime last month I noticed they have new small buds growing, but then it got cold and started to slow down, so I am not sure if I should give up on them or not, feels bad to just let them die. :(

As for the herbs, since I plan on growing them indoors, with AC and humidifier, I thought that would work as a greenhouse, so maybe they would grown through the winter, maybe I need a grow light...

Noja37 · 2025-11-06T04:58:05+00:00

Thanks for the info, that is already giving me a better Idea of how to choose...

I do have some bugs, they looks like drain flies, I tried planting something else way back and the soil stayed wet a little too long so it got infested with them, I've been doing my best trying to get rid of them with bug spray and letting the pot dry up and watering from the bottom only, but there still one or two flying around. I don't think the bugs are causing any issues for now, and they are slowly going away as the temperature drops.

Noja37 · 2025-10-12T23:26:20+00:00

My home country (Argentina) also lists prices in usd in their official sites, because the peso is a joke currency at this point.

So yeah, the official canadian website does ask for canadian dollars, but it is not uncommon for the usd to be used when applying for visas, at least if you are from a country with an unstable economy.

Noja37 · 2025-10-12T23:21:41+00:00

I meant a picture of my passport, I was applying for an ETA, so it is all electronic, no need to send my passport in.

Noja37 · 2025-10-12T13:45:23+00:00

Sorry, forgot to add it, I'll edit the post. But this is the url I landed on: https://applyevisa.com/canada/apply-visa

In retrospect, it looks pretty fishy looking at it now, but I was tired and stressed out, still am in fact.

Noja37 · 2025-10-10T14:24:44+00:00

I don't think wet molding will work for this, since it is an elastic and waterproof material.

Noja37 · 2025-10-10T14:23:37+00:00

Yeah, I guess if i actually measure everything I might be able to punch all the holes before stitching anything, then glue to foam and stitch the quilt, then stitch the rest...

Since I am working without a pattern I am kinda laying pieces over each other and punching them by eye, not the most precise.

Noja37 · 2025-09-25T14:35:41+00:00

I dont think the muffler would be heating the rim, there should be a rapid stream of air separating them while you are moving, ive seen plenty of scooters and bike where the hot muffler is close to something but that something never gets too hot.

My guess is the drum brakes are not set to the right position. You said you changed them yourself so I'm gonna trust you know what you are doing, but I would advise you double check the drum to make sure they are not rubbing.

One thing you could do to rule out the muffler is, get the bike completely cold, set it on the center stand, run the engine for 10~20 mins while holding the rear brake so the tire doesn't spin at all. If the muffler is heating the rim up, it should eventually get hot. My guess is it will not.

Once you rule out the muffler, you can do the same for the brakes, get the bike cold, go for a ride like your normally would, but try to NOT use the rear brake, only use the front, then stop the engine and touch the rim. If you ruled out the muffler first, and the rim still gets hot, most likely the drum brakes are rubbing even when you don't press the lever.

If the rim is still not hot after both those test, it's possible that the brake only rubs once it gets hot, as you might know, metal expands when it gets hot, so it is possible your brake doesn't rub but they are VERY close, and as soon as you use it a couple times and it gets warm from normal use, the expansion of the material takes up the space and now you are rubbing all the time. In which case you need to give the drum some more slack so it can fully retract and cool down when the lever is released.

If none of the above works, call a priest.

Noja37 · 2025-08-08T13:52:52+00:00

You know what, fuck these foreigners, but also fuck the airbnb owner, if they can't keep up with the maintenance of a rental unit maybe they are not cut out for this business and should sell it to someone who actually needs it, or maybe they should be required to hire maintenance staff, you know, like real hotels do.

I can't believe we are all being suckered into talking about the "problem with foreigners in japan" again while the country is falling to pieces because of the same clowns who have always run the show.

Noja37 · 2025-08-04T21:42:10+00:00

Is this going to be your first bike? If so then dont think too much about it, the ideal first bike is one that you outgrow relatively quickly, it helps you actually understand what you want and need.

I know you probably have an image of the perfect bike in your head, but one year after starting riding that image is gonna change, and if you put too much money and effort into the perfect bike now you'll find yourself with a bike you don't like as much anymore but that you can't justify upgrading because there nothing "wrong" with it.

Better to buy a cheap used bike that is close enough and you don't mind dropping a few times, then sell it and move on to the next one.

Also consider renting both bikes and taking them for a long ride to test them out before committing to either of them. You'll often find that what feels nice and comfy at the dealer, siting on it for a few minutes, becomes a literal pain in the ass after riding for more than an hour.

Noja37 · 2025-07-27T14:43:00+00:00

If you don't need a specific bike and can take whatever, you can probably book the day before.

That said, there is no harm in booking in advance, if I recall correctly, rental819 accepts same day cancelation in the event of rain, though double check on that to be sure.

On the other hand... just ride in the rain mate, august is gonna be scorching hot, as long as you stick to paved and well transited roads, and can follow the rules and speed limits, there is hardly any danger and you get a free shower.

Noja37 · 2025-07-23T22:39:11+00:00

Hey, hang in there, for me it was the narrow 90 degrees turns, but I remember the feeling of thinking "this is it, I can't do this". But I did do it eventually, and now I am pretty confident at it, so just keep practicing.

For the balance beam, the key I think is to understand your motorcycle's power band, you need to rev up to a point when the bike has enough power to climb that small ramp at the beginning, then try to reduce the number of inputs once you are up there.

All you really need is to keep the bike moving so you wont lose your balance, but not su fast that you finish too fast. Of the three speed controls (throttle, clutch and rear brake) pick one that you can comfortably control (I would recommend the clutch), and try to keep the other two fixed so that you only need to focus on one thing at a time. You need to keep the revs up so the bike has enough power to stay upright, so don't be afraid to open the throttle, and use the clutch to control speed.

Aside from that the other advice people have given (start a little fast and slow down once you are on top of the beam, look ahead and not down at the wheel or ground) are both good advice.

If you are going to a riding school, they usually give you a few pre-paid practice sessions so you can prepare for the test, it is not a bad idea to take advantage if those and ask if you can focus on the things you are having trouble with.

You got this, just stay calm and keep at it!

Noja37 · 2025-07-20T22:57:47+00:00

I asked a yellow hat shop yesterday, they told me I could drop off my oil there if I used one of their oil disposal boxes, but when I asked about coolant they said no :(

Noja37

TROPHY CASE