The Bikeshite Thread

November 9, 2017

VFR heavy? yeah right! my 14 is roughly 260kg wet. They might be a bit heavy for the brakes on track, but I doubt it's an issue on the road. The biggest difference with worn lines & new ones is lever feel, spongy lines feel spongy at the lever.

My lines are original from 2001 & 113k later still feel fine, so I doubt they wear out as much as people claim.

1,153 · November 9, 2017

Well that's one less bit of tat to buy then! I've just had a dig around having swapped the bikes over and the lines look in reasonable enough shape, I'll see what difference new pads make first.

21,157 · November 9, 2017

unsellable TDR

Nnnnnnrgh - still tempted.

11,557 · November 9, 2017

Have you ever stripped and cleaned the calipers including taking out the pistons? It is/ was a service schedule item but a lot of people shops included can't be arsed.

8,910 · November 9, 2017

My lines are original from 2001 & 113k later still feel fine, so I doubt they wear out as much as people claim.

Earlier this year, one of my original (from 1999) lines on the front of my BMW went pop. Rather than give BMW a load of money for another shit one, I went to Goodridge instead, because HEL wanted line lengths (because too many variation - this is bollocks, the only reason for "too many" variations is folk fannying around with the things and ordering the wrong sets)

Braided are fine and may be better for braking depending on how shagged/bulgy the original lines get for braking. Just don't get luminous pink ones and you'll be fine.

Ken Barlow colours (Vintage Matte Black with black stainless fittings):

DSCF8860 by E Honda, on Flickr

November 9, 2017

Have you ever stripped and cleaned the calipers including taking out the pistons? It is/ was a service schedule item but a lot of people shops included can't be arsed.

Good point, I have to do that once a year as my callipers are shite.

1,153 · November 9, 2017

Have you ever stripped and cleaned the calipers including taking out the pistons? It is/ was a service schedule item but a lot of people shops included can't be arsed.

That's my plan, the bike has only done 4,000 miles in the past 7 years so I imagine it hasn't had anything done to it at all recently. Given the brake fluid needs changing and therefore bleeding taking the calipers indoors to while away a fun afternoon removing gunk seems as good as any plan I have for a winters afternoon.

15,545 · November 9, 2017

Live collection.... They gave me the v5.. without sending anything off, so still 1 former keeper... And this sweet keychain.

7,411 · November 9, 2017

15,545 · November 9, 2017

Bare with me...

The delivery guy rang this morning and said “do the storage place know it’s a bike? They can be twats”

I was heading that way, so I popped in. “The massive exempt sign that says ‘no tyres or flammable etc. Am I allowed a knackered motorbike?”

“Yes, no petrol in the tank and disconnect engine”

Cool beans, I went to pay for the bike and wait for the delivery guy. The bike is fucking enormous and the guy said “it needs 3 guys to push” me and the delivery guy struggle getting it on his van. As I’m following him to the storage place I think. Fuck me, it’s not in neutral as it’s at the bottom on this.

We arrive and the delivery guy is still adamant it isn’t an auto. Lol

I knock it into neutral and it pushes easier. He says “look, the clutch handle is fucked” I tell him that’s the handbrake... not sure he believes me.

Anyway, I get the bike indoors and it’s my first proper view.

I think it’s an American import as it has a MPH speedo, the frame says it’s a 1978 model and the vin number confirms this. However it has the later black wheels.

I’ve spoken to Honda bikes on Twitter, they gave me an email to send the vin to for origin verification.

The handbrake button is missing, the gearbox knocks into both gears.
The bike is electrics are obviously dead and I can’t attempt to even start it.

The ignition wires aren’t bound... but don’t appear to have been raped.

So, the previous owner died and I have no idea what if anything is wrong with it.

I know nothing about bikes. (Can you tell) but I sat on the seat and it feels comfy as hell... and I liked sitting on it like a moron making brum-brum noises.

I’ve attached pics, is there anything catastrophicly wrong or missing?

11,557 · November 9, 2017

The fork legs look rather pitted, seat bases have a habit of turning to rust and are pretty much unobtainium.

Check the condition if the tank before putting much fuel in it.

Does it have a sticker on the frame stating the year? If so it's definitely come in from the States.

10,796 · November 9, 2017

It looks OK tbh.

Difficult to judge the condition of the rust on the forks from the pics, but if they're badly pitted you'll have to get them re-chromed (or replace them). Otherwise it'll munch fork seals.

EDIT: Haha, same comment

8,077 · November 9, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUZOzT4F0DI

That’s brilliant. How do they breath underwater? Do they have a snorkel air intake or something?

7,411 · November 9, 2017

There's an air intake in the sidecar and a flexi tube to the carbs. Here the flexi tube has become dislodged, probabily it was disconnected when water got in, and resited on the handlebars

11,557 · November 9, 2017

Going to look at an Aprilia Climber trials bike tomorrow because it's a different year to the one I already have.

A 280cc 2 stroke would be an ideal* first bike for the kids, or I could just track down the unobtainium bits for the Mecatecno I bought for them last year.

November 9, 2017

I have a seriously unhealthy amount of want for a 2wd Ural as a WBOD.

11,557 · November 9, 2017

For the lower capacity chicken chaser fans here there is a note in this months VMCC magazine saying they are becoming aware of increasing numbers of machines being brought in from overseas then sold with the new owner being told not to worry about registration as the VMCC can sort it out for you.

The note goes in to say that as many of these machines never came to the UK when they were new they do not have marque experts for a lot of these manufacturers nor do they hold any dating information so will be unable to provide proof of age.

18,965 · November 9, 2017

Bare with me...

The delivery guy rang this morning and said “do the storage place know it’s a bike? They can be twats”

I was heading that way, so I popped in. “The massive exempt sign that says ‘no tyres or flammable etc. Am I allowed a knackered motorbike?”

“Yes, no petrol in the tank and disconnect engine”

Cool beans, I went to pay for the bike and wait for the delivery guy. The bike is fucking enormous and the guy said “it needs 3 guys to push” me and the delivery guy struggle getting it on his van. As I’m following him to the storage place I think. Fuck me, it’s not in neutral as it’s at the bottom on this.

We arrive and the delivery guy is still adamant it isn’t an auto. Lol

I knock it into neutral and it pushes easier. He says “look, the clutch handle is fucked” I tell him that’s the handbrake... not sure he believes me.

Anyway, I get the bike indoors and it’s my first proper view.

I think it’s an American import as it has a MPH speedo, the frame says it’s a 1978 model and the vin number confirms this. However it has the later black wheels.

I’ve spoken to Honda bikes on Twitter, they gave me an email to send the vin to for origin verification.

The handbrake button is missing, the gearbox knocks into both gears.
The bike is electrics are obviously dead and I can’t attempt to even start it.

The ignition wires aren’t bound... but don’t appear to have been raped.

So, the previous owner died and I have no idea what if anything is wrong with it.

I know nothing about bikes. (Can you tell) but I sat on the seat and it feels comfy as hell... and I liked sitting on it like a moron making brum-brum noises.

I’ve attached pics, is there anything catastrophicly wrong or missing?

omg its missing a gearbox

hondamatic

2,123 · November 9, 2017

Automatic motorcycling for lazy bikers

Here's my Automatic clocks from my US spec 1983 GS450GA Suzukimatic

15,545 · November 10, 2017

Does it have a sticker on the frame stating the year? If so it's definitely come in from the States.

On the opposite side of the Vin number, there’s one of these stickers, but saying 1978.

The bike has an electric and a kick start, but I’ve noticed the kick start lever is missing. I’m curious why it has the wrong wheels, plus I haven’t seen any with this style of tank or in this colour.

There’s a guy in Darlington with a couple of these bikes, so I’ve fired him a message.

Anyway, here’s an immaculate ebay one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CB400A-HAWK-HONDAMATIC-1978-USA/282515611380?hash=item41c73e1ef4:g:uEQAAOSwrfVZOWYt

November 10, 2017

Bare with me...

The delivery guy rang this morning and said “do the storage place know it’s a bike? They can be twats”

I was heading that way, so I popped in. “The massive exempt sign that says ‘no tyres or flammable etc. Am I allowed a knackered motorbike?”

“Yes, no petrol in the tank and disconnect engine”

Cool beans, I went to pay for the bike and wait for the delivery guy. The bike is fucking enormous and the guy said “it needs 3 guys to push” me and the delivery guy struggle getting it on his van. As I’m following him to the storage place I think. Fuck me, it’s not in neutral as it’s at the bottom on this.

We arrive and the delivery guy is still adamant it isn’t an auto. Lol

I knock it into neutral and it pushes easier. He says “look, the clutch handle is fucked” I tell him that’s the handbrake... not sure he believes me.

Anyway, I get the bike indoors and it’s my first proper view.

I think it’s an American import as it has a MPH speedo, the frame says it’s a 1978 model and the vin number confirms this. However it has the later black wheels.

I’ve spoken to Honda bikes on Twitter, they gave me an email to send the vin to for origin verification.

The handbrake button is missing, the gearbox knocks into both gears.
The bike is electrics are obviously dead and I can’t attempt to even start it.

The ignition wires aren’t bound... but don’t appear to have been raped.

So, the previous owner died and I have no idea what if anything is wrong with it.

I know nothing about bikes. (Can you tell) but I sat on the seat and it feels comfy as hell... and I liked sitting on it like a moron making brum-brum noises.

I’ve attached pics, is there anything catastrophicly wrong or missing?

Its a Honda-matic. Epically slow so which is great for turning round quickly to pick up crusty bits that fell off.

If you are not mechanically or electrically minded, Honda's of this period can be a money pit....

Put it on ebay with 'Barn Find' in your title and triple your money.....

15,545 · November 10, 2017

Its a Honda-matic. Epically slow.

Slow off the line, about 20mph sapped from the top speed and dreadful MPG. It’s an autoshite classic.

The Hondamagic has a different top end or bottom end (I forget which) meaning parts are fun to get...

The guy that died also had a 2008 Harley, the v5 for the Magic is in a woman’s name. Maybe this was her bike, then when he died, she just got rid of them both I don’t know.

It is a girls bike, but it’s also stupid, which is why I think I’m onboard.

2,123 · November 10, 2017

I thought the MPG on my GS450 Suzukimatic was pretty decent at roughly 60mpg.

I wouldn't describe it as slow - perhaps the Hondamatic was different?

Honda's from this era tended to have very dubious top ends but there appears to be enough of them still kicking around.

15,545 · November 10, 2017

Road test at the time, quarter mile for the manual was just under 14.9 the auto was 17.59.

Another review.

“The 250N setup is used, because the bike delivers 250cc performance, the quarter mile and top speed are on par with current 250cc bikes”

...

Another

“The Auto's engine differs in tune from the manual and has 30 bhp at 8000 rpm compared to 43 bhp at 5000 rpm. Torque is down just a little to 20.25 lb ft at 6000, which is 2000 rpm lower down the rev range than its sister bike and much more useful for its semi-automatic gearbox which has just two gears. The modifications are by way of smaller carburetors, smaller ports and milder camshaft. The three-valves per-cylinder (two inlet, one exhaust) twin with chain-driven contra-rotating balance shafts in the Auto's gives a very smooth and well-mannered machine indeed.”

2,123 · November 10, 2017

The Suzuki review was quite complimentary I'd say:

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_gs450a%2081.htm

11,557 · November 10, 2017

Aprilia Climber purchased, another one to add to the rebuild queue, it's the only bike I've actually not wanted to start when I kicked it over, I'm hoping it's collapsed main bearings anything else that's causing it to be making that much noise and feeling that rough when I kick it over will render it a breaker.

8,910 · November 10, 2017

On the way home from work this morning:

18,965 · November 10, 2017

nice beemer m9

12,820 · November 11, 2017

This fine Saturday morning heralds another double collection mission... well, it's a 'sort of' double collection, because one of the machines in question is already mine & has just been at a mate's place having some work done.

Off to chuck some sofa cushions and straps in the CJ and I'll be off. More later!

12,820 · November 11, 2017

But before I set out, I'll just leave this here...

The Bikeshite Thread

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