The Bikeshite Thread

[Arthur Foxhake]

You bastard.

I really want another mad Italian 2 stroke 125.

I miss my Cagiva Mito more than any car or bike I've ever owned, they just dont pop up in decent condition very often anymore.

I had the money for one last year and came over all sensible and didn't do it in the end and have spent the money on other shit and regretted it ever since.

[andy18s]

Be the talk of the town with a loverly Gilera....

[Jerzy Woking]

No need to be softly softly with it, except for the first few miles to get it up to temperature, then ride it like you stole it! My Mito gets better and better with each ride now it's fully run in and everything has bedded in nicely (it had a full, ground up rebuild 700 miles ago).

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

I was warned of a 3minute warm up before I hit it hard in any way shape or form by the previous owner...... who was limping badly from the 4th knee repair operation!

 

That Gilera is a work of pure art! hhhnnggggggggggggg!

[LostnotFound]

Well I got one set of pads out of the first set of calipers, the pistons on which had little inclination to move in either direction and looked as below, they aren't in bad condition but 20 years and being sat for a long time I'm sure hasn't helped them. I'm confident sorting them will resolve the average braking performance I've had.

 

 

After accepting that they'd need more than a bit of brake cleaner, the second one refused to release the pads as the bloody grubscrew / dust cover thing it seized like a bastard. After snapping the head of a screwdriver and weighing up prices of the rebuild kit anyway, I sent an email to Powerhouse oooop norf who said they'd be able to sort the grub screw as well as rebuild the brakes.

 

I promised myself that not trying to run two bikes I'd spend money where the VFR needed it. Presuming this goes well keeping on top of freshly sorted calipers should mean they'll not need a lot of work for a few years hopefully.

 

I was worried about making sure they made their way home, so I though I better package them in a way they can be identified as belonging to a softy southerner.

 

 

[Dave_Q]

Those flipping pad pin cover things are absolute arse, I have a less than 50% record for getting them out first time with the remainder having to have a deeper slot dremelled in them.

 

Pretty sure a rubber bung would have done the job without seizing in place and turning a 10 min job into 2-3x that.

[strangeangel]

I spent an enjoyable day off work today putting the NRG back together now that the exhaust studs are sorted:

 

 

Today's bonus was the year's first run out for the DN, going to get the aforementioned studs. I wondered if I might get buyers' remorse with that one, given that it's far and away the most money I have ever spent on any single bike, but no. It's great. I'm even thinking of splashing out on some luggage for it, as I can feel some trips coming on over the coming year. In fact, so busy was I enjoying the ride that I didn't think to buy any new nuts... so I just used what was lying around. The little dome nuts are just there to stop the ends of the studs rusting to shit.

 

Tell you what, after all the Vespa GT200/300s I've seen that were so rotten they were about ready to snap in half at 10 years old, I'm amazed that this Piaggio product is as impressively unrusty as it is! The usual wire brush assault, followed by a dousing in spray wax will keep it happy for the next few years.

 

 

The light went a bit then, but at close of play it was mostly back together (and running) save for the headset, which will need bodgery to compensate for the lack of fixing lugs. That, and the bastard headlight that has stopped working for some reason. Oh well, no footy on Saturday so I will have at it again then. Pics too, cos it actually looks quite nice now!

[Guest]

Been battling with this Bandit trying to get it to run right. Carbs were fooked, and the wrong type anyway- they were Mikuni's instead of Kehins. Got a used set of Kehins that were shit, so rebuilt them. Then the throttle cables didn't fit, got a pair of those. Then found no4 cyl wasn't doing anything, so got a set of plugs for a Bandit. 16mm socket wouldn't fit,so had to get a thin wall 18mm. Then the Bandit plugs didn't fit, they just dropped straight into the hole. After a bit of head scratching and cross refrencing, it turns out it has a GSX600F lump in it. DOH. Everything WAS right, just for a different bike.

[gtd2000]

Well I fitted my new GPz550 Motad system to my ZR550. Goes on with no trouble at all, you just need the ZR550 hanger. Just waiting for my pal to bring the original system back (not sure if it's been welded yet or not) and then see how well I can refurbish it.

[PiperCub]

I miss road bikes but just don’t have the time for them any more . Also so many idiots on the road esp in summer here in Cornwall.

Dirt bikes and little bikes are the way forward for me .

Having said that I have just bought a Versys but it was so cheap I had to have it .

 

Know what you mean, I'm similar. My LC only gets ridden a handful of times a year recently, I keep it almost more out of sentimental reasons and the fact it only costs overall about £200 a year to run, plus this year marks 26 years of ownership which means I've had it exactly half of my life. 

 

I considered getting another recently - a Serow (225cc trailie) but didn't in the end as thought it probably wouldn't get the use and I've a feeling this year may be one where I don't get the time available for such things due to family reasons I think are going to land on my plate (same reason the planned new 'project' car/bike is being put off too). 

[twosmoke300]

Would anyoneon here fancy doing the Elephant Rally next Feb ? I’ve promised myself I’d do it before I’m 40 and time is running out ! Brother will be on his cb750 and I’ll prob be on a versys or my pegaso.

[doug]

Sort of making progress with the SR500...

 

The engine cleaned up great.

 

[LostnotFound]

Been battling with this Bandit trying to get it to run right. Carbs were fooked, and the wrong type anyway- they were Mikuni's instead of Kehins. Got a used set of Kehins that were shit, so rebuilt them. Then the throttle cables didn't fit, got a pair of those. Then found no4 cyl wasn't doing anything, so got a set of plugs for a Bandit. 16mm socket wouldn't fit,so had to get a thin wall 18mm. Then the Bandit plugs didn't fit, they just dropped straight into the hole. After a bit of head scratching and cross refrencing, it turns out it has a GSX600F lump in it. DOH. Everything WAS right, just for a different bike.

This did make me smile.

 

Where abouts are you on the, fucks sake wasted time and money vs at least I wasn't going mad scale with it?

[strangeangel]

Apropos of absolutely nothing whatsoever, here's a picture of my old Lifan-engined C50ZZ that's just turned up:

 

 

A quality machine

[DodgeRover]

Just thought I would offer this on here first before braving elsewhere.

Child's Suzuki LT50 quad, good tyres, ready to go, original owners manual somewhere £450?

Has got the throttle restrictor and lanyard kill but not the front weight. Still has the auto lube system fitted and working.

 

Only really been used a few weeks a year while we've had it.

Collect nr Gatwick or I could deliver locally

Also got 2 mini moto pit bikes up and running looking for £80 and £100

 

I would do a deal with any of this for a kids trials bike or a sidecar trials outfit.

[gtd2000]

Apropos of absolutely nothing whatsoever, here's a picture of my old Lifan-engined C50ZZ that's just turned up:

 

c110zz.jpg

 

A quality machine

What became of the C50?

[hairnet]

Well I got one set of pads out of the first set of calipers, the pistons on which had little inclination to move in either dire

 

 

 

Those flipping pad pin cover things are absolute arse, I have a less than 50% record for getting them out first time with the remainder having to have a deeper slot dremelled in them.

 

Pretty sure a rubber bung would have done the job without seizing in place and turning a 10 min job into 2-3x that.

for twenty + years hondas have had those

 

bought cb500 and the pin now has a head you can socket onto - had to have the grub doodah  drilled in the past and i keep on top of brakes and it still did it

 

i reckon youd be able to fit them to other hondas or bikes with nissin brakes - bet they been the same length and thread size for donkeys

[Guest]

This did make me smile.

 

Where abouts are you on the, fucks sake wasted time and money vs at least I wasn't going mad scale with it?

Bike fettling is quality time, tunes on the radio and plenty of tea. If it were a car however....

 

Been here before with a certain BMW R80/ Another shiter on here had thrown lots of money towards people to fix it and got to the end of his tether, Got it up here in bits and turns out it had a used R65 pot, -very worn barrel with the piston slapping around like a  (enter own description here)... That took a bit of figuring out what was going on.

 

Turned out nice, after a LOT of work, then I found I really didn't like riding it. Has an R1100RS before and loved it, but very different.

 

 

 

 

 

[strangeangel]

What became of the C50?

 

I sold it a couple or three years ago, as a going concern. In some ways I wish I hadn't, because it was the ultimate urban commuting weapon, but if you don't sell the odd one then the garage starts to overflow, doesn't it?

[Guest Hooli]

Would anyoneon here fancy doing the Elephant Rally next Feb ? I’ve promised myself I’d do it before I’m 40 and time is running out ! Brother will be on his cb750 and I’ll prob be on a versys or my pegaso.

I love the cold, but even I'm thinking that's a daft idea.

[gtd2000]

I sold it a couple or three years ago, as a going concern. In some ways I wish I hadn't, because it was the ultimate urban commuting weapon, but if you don't sell the odd one then the garage starts to overflow, doesn't it?

I'm pretty much at saturation point right now with four.

[twosmoke300]

I love the cold, but even I'm thinking that's a daft idea.

Cmon - be a laugh

[Guest Hooli]

Cmon - be a laugh

 

I've known people do it, but I suspect my 14 is a bit big n heavy for snow (I know how easily it falls over on the stuff). Slightly tempted though, but many other plans & lack of cash...

[strangeangel]

Hopefully my last day's labours on the NRG... it's funny how all the lights worked when I took it apart, but on reassembly they mysteriously didn't. It must have been the disturbing of the green stuff on the contacts that caused it. Lots of emery paper and contact cleaner was deployed in getting the indicators back into business:

 

 

And then the manky twin headlight. A couple of the contacts simply fell off when I touched them... where's the crimping tool?

 

 

Not a problem as such, but just look at this quality* accessory - wank even by Oxford's low standards. And, no, it doesn't work.

 

 

Finally all the electricals were looking shipshape again (I also chucked in a new plug cap as the one on it was loose and wobbly), but the ungrateful little sod wouldn't run properly when I fired it up. It would rev freely on the stand, but with my considerable bulk on board it simply bogged down. I had the carb off, but it was as clean as a whistle. While in there however, I noticed that the inlet manifold was slathered in black silicone. I took that and the reed valve thing off and cleaned them of the foul black shit...

 

 

then used a razor to get rid of the remaining residue before re-assembling with a good smear of Blue Hylomar. It pulled like a train!

 

It's not looking too bad now, definitely ready to face the man from the ministry next weekend. Here's hoping it serves its new owner well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twosmoke300]

I've known people do it, but I suspect my 14 is a bit big n heavy for snow (I know how easily it falls over on the stuff). Slightly tempted though, but many other plans & lack of cash...

Just buy my prillia pegaso - sorted

[Guest Hooli]

In an incredibly not AS style of answer - No I won't buy something I have no real use for.

[Guest]

Yay, the Bandit is starting and running quite well. After getting the right plugs for the wrong engine and the wrong plugs for the right engine,then the recommended plugs for the engine fitted in the bike, a good carb clean, bench balance, pilots set to what I think they should be and an hour wrestling with cold,hard carb and airbox rubbers, it now starts easily, revs crisply and idles nicely. I'm stinking of fuel and my thumbs bleeding. Happy days

[Jerzy Woking]

I own a number of bikes, ten of which are insured, but on four seperate policies. Decided that it maybe better to get them all on one policy. Spent an hour on the phone with my main insurer, putting all 10 bikes on one policy, thinking it would save money and be easier for me to administer.

 

IS it bollocks. Will cost me nearly DOUBLE what I am paying now on four seperate policies (two of which will only have one years NCB at renewal). Girl on the telephone seemed amazed that I didn't take the policy she offerred. I'll stick with seperate policies.

[DodgeRover]

I own a number of bikes, ten of which are insured, but on four seperate policies. Decided that it maybe better to get them all on one policy. Spent an hour on the phone with my main insurer, putting all 10 bikes on one policy, thinking it would save money and be easier for me to administer.

 

IS it bollocks. Will cost me nearly DOUBLE what I am paying now on four seperate policies (two of which will only have one years NCB at renewal). Girl on the telephone seemed amazed that I didn't take the policy she offerred. I'll stick with seperate policies.

Who's that with? I've been with Footman James for 20 years but decided not to renew this year as I couldn't justify the expense when I've not been on the road for a few years on a bike - I did have about 20 bikes on cover so it was too much of a ball ache ringing round.

[Jerzy Woking]

It was with Carol Nash. My other policies are with Bennetts and MCE (who were very cheap for my RC8 and with no NCB.

 

I'll try FJ. I don't take pillion and most don't do many miles as I have two I alternate for my commute and one is used for my European jaunts. The others just ridden on sunny days on local roads.