The Bikeshite Thread

[straightSix]

Been offered a 2009 Kawasaki KLX250. Anyone know what these are like? Tempted to get into a bit of green laning

[Stinkwheel]

  On 16/12/2024 at 13:39, straightSix said:

Been offered a 2009 Kawasaki KLX250. Anyone know what these are like? Tempted to get into a bit of green laning

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Good Bikes, I used to have a 91 XR250R honda and my mates 96 KLX250 was its better in everyway. 

You could do a lot worse a place than a KLX to start green laning 

[Stinkwheel]

Anyone got any F650 Experience off road?

Im talking early F650 'funduro' model.

I rode a lot of these between 94 and 01 when i was in a BMW dealers but exclusively on the road

Im thinking about one again now to turn into a dual purpose machine similar to @Rustybullethole enfield.

I know its too heavy, i know the 19" front wheel is too small etc but id still be interested to hear from anyone thats off road'ed one

[UltraWomble]

  On 16/12/2024 at 14:07, Stinkwheel said:

Anyone got any F650 Experience off road?

 

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I took the Aprillia version I had for a while off road, very capable and not too heavy.
Make sure you have knobly tyres though.

I did intend to do the Gatescarth pass on it but never got that far, I did do some local green lanes and fields and it was brilliant on them.

[Stinkwheel]

  On 16/12/2024 at 14:22, UltraWomble said:

I took the Aprillia version I had for a while off road, very capable and not too heavy.
Make sure you have knobly tyres though.

I did intend to do the Gatescarth pass on it but never got that far, I did do some local green lanes and fields and it was brilliant on them.

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Thanks for that info, its good to know im not totally barking up the wrong tree with this idea

[UltraWomble]

  On 16/12/2024 at 14:24, Stinkwheel said:

Thanks for that info, its good to know im not totally barking up the wrong tree with this idea

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Good god no - there was a facebook page for them some years ago and plenty of people posting photos of them off road and mud plugging. Surprisingly capable in the soft stuff and for a 650 not as heavy as you might think - that shocked me when I took delivery of the Tiger - I thought it would be similar to the Pegasso - and its a metric fuckton heavier to move about.

[Stinkwheel]

  On 16/12/2024 at 14:27, UltraWomble said:

Good god no - there was a facebook page for them some years ago and plenty of people posting photos of them off road and mud plugging. Surprisingly capable in the soft stuff and for a 650 not as heavy as you might think - that shocked me when I took delivery of the Tiger - I thought it would be similar to the Pegasso - and its a metric fuckton heavier to move about.

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Totally agree, I remember the F650 as being pretty light weight for what it was, especially compared to a Triumph Tiger, a mate of mine has had about 3 different models and they;ve all been heavier than ideal for something with offroad ideas

[Jerzy Woking]

Took the NC750 on a trip around Andalucia last wwek for a couple of days.

Rode the motorway north of the Sierra Nevada because there have been heavy snowfalls there. Then dropped down to Ronda. I rode through the town, which was jam packed, so didn't bother to stop, as was looking forward to riding the road down to Marbella, which I was told was "awesome". It wasn't. Too many cars going slowly and being badly driven, mostly I would suspect because they were looking at the views.

Rode on the coastal road (mostly motorway) from Marbella to Motril. The Costa Del Sol is very built up, and with so many ugly buildings everywhere.

Nice hotel in Motril though, and day two set off  cross country eastwards. Fantastic road (A348) from there to Tabernas, twisty and quite deserted apart from a few lorries.

Then up to the Alto de Velefique, nicknamed "The Spanish Stelvio". Ridden it a few times now, but first time so late in the year. Bloody freezing riding up, and minus 2°c, with thick frost, at the summit (1820 metres).

Rode on northwards to Tijola, and this road (A3120) truely is worthy of its nickname. In over 50kms, I counted four cars coming the other way. The views are stunning  and plenty of places to stop and take them in.

I then rode east from Tijola, planning to dropped south and head for Turre. There are so many roads on this side, but I chose to go via Tahal this time as not done it before. Superb roads and views.

I'll mention now that the whole 1,300 kms trip was on fantastically surfaced roads, and can't remember a single pothole until I got to the start of the 8km track to my house.

 

I'll not bother with Ronda again, I'd rather spend all my time in this part of Andalucis, basically north of Almeria.

[Rustybullethole]

  On 16/12/2024 at 14:07, Stinkwheel said:

Anyone got any F650 Experience off road?

Im talking early F650 'funduro' model.

I rode a lot of these between 94 and 01 when i was in a BMW dealers but exclusively on the road

Im thinking about one again now to turn into a dual purpose machine similar to @Rustybullethole enfield.

I know its too heavy, i know the 19" front wheel is too small etc but id still be interested to hear from anyone thats off road'ed one

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Had a mates 650 on loan for a bit will see if i can find a pic. 

Was the Dakar off road spec one with a 21 on the front. Bloody good bike I thought with more grunt than my old dominators. 

After time spent on the gs1100 in the dirt Im of the thought that a 21 is a must. 
That said I had plenty of fun laning my melody on 10 inch wheels.

 

[Rustybullethole]

Here you go. Not in the dirt though just as good at fighting the traffic in the East end.

Was a tiered example with a poggo rear shock, leaky forks seals and scrappy as fuck bodywork but the engine was a peach. He's only recently sold it. Id recommend one. Just not that one, unless it comes up cheap. 

[castros_bro]

  On 16/12/2024 at 14:07, Stinkwheel said:

Anyone got any F650 Experience off road?

Im talking early F650 'funduro' model.

I rode a lot of these between 94 and 01 when i was in a BMW dealers but exclusively on the road

Im thinking about one again now to turn into a dual purpose machine similar to @Rustybullethole enfield.

I know its too heavy, i know the 19" front wheel is too small etc but id still be interested to hear from anyone thats off road'ed one

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I've used the similar  Apriia Pegaso  (and XT600s, BSA B40s, TRW250, Bultaco Sherpa, BMW R60/5,  Honda C90 etc)  and almost any bike of that type is capable and good fun off road but you obviously need to pick suitable tracks for your bike/skills. I think it's more starting with a bike and seeing if it suits or can be made to suit what you want to do. I'm presently liking Chinese Honda cloned CG125s for basics, cheapness and lightweight and aiming for TET Portugal next year  https://transeurotrail.org/portugal/#2.65/46.74/-1.05  my last off road Portugal was fine partly as there was no mud.

 

[Rustybullethole]

Had to motor back to London and back today for a pre op appointment.

After hour and half in top on the throttle stop I went to cog down to start filtering as the m4 becomes two lanes.

No you don't son.

Bolt had vibed its way out. Last hit the lever some hour or so before so no idea how long it had been hanging. Hanging upside down with the bolt still in place.  Amazing.

Would of been wanging an allen key or something in there had it been lost. I'll find a longer bolt and add a locking device for that. 

Tools out nip up and ride on. 

[hairnet]

  On 16/12/2024 at 17:24, Jerzy Woking said:

 

 

 

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fecker

[Cavcraft]

  On 16/12/2024 at 17:24, Jerzy Woking said:

Took the NC750 on a trip around Andalucia last wwek for a couple of days.

Rode the motorway north of the Sierra Nevada because there have been heavy snowfalls there. Then dropped down to Ronda. I rode through the town, which was jam packed, so didn't bother to stop, as was looking forward to riding the road down to Marbella, which I was told was "awesome". It wasn't. Too many cars going slowly and being badly driven, mostly I would suspect because they were looking at the views.

Rode on the coastal road (mostly motorway) from Marbella to Motril. The Costa Del Sol is very built up, and with so many ugly buildings everywhere.

Nice hotel in Motril though, and day two set off  cross country eastwards. Fantastic road (A348) from there to Tabernas, twisty and quite deserted apart from a few lorries.

Then up to the Alto de Velefique, nicknamed "The Spanish Stelvio". Ridden it a few times now, but first time so late in the year. Bloody freezing riding up, and minus 2°c, with thick frost, at the summit (1820 metres).

Rode on northwards to Tijola, and this road (A3120) truely is worthy of its nickname. In over 50kms, I counted four cars coming the other way. The views are stunning  and plenty of places to stop and take them in.

I then rode east from Tijola, planning to dropped south and head for Turre. There are so many roads on this side, but I chose to go via Tahal this time as not done it before. Superb roads and views.

I'll mention now that the whole 1,300 kms trip was on fantastically surfaced roads, and can't remember a single pothole until I got to the start of the 8km track to my house.

 

I'll not bother with Ronda again, I'd rather spend all my time in this part of Andalucis, basically north of Almeria.

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Those roads look absolutely ace,  I'd love to whizz down there on the FS1E just revving the bollocks off it and scraping round the turns.

Still haven't fixed the Scomadi (replacement ignition, two man job) or tried hard enough to find a set of UK spec pegs for the RD.  The 2nd (and standard) FS1 is hopefully going for a replacement autolube pump soon, if it doesn't work it'll reluctantly be converted to pre-mix. The SS carb needs to come off again (sticking and pissing out fuel),  the little Excelsior is hopefully going in for repair (doesn't spark) early in the new year and I REALLY need to get the Derbi actually working properly and on the road.

[Rustybullethole]

  On 16/12/2024 at 17:24, Jerzy Woking said:

Took the NC750 on a trip around Andalucia last wwek for a couple of days.

Rode the motorway north of the Sierra Nevada because there have been heavy snowfalls there. Then dropped down to Ronda. I rode through the town, which was jam packed, so didn't bother to stop, as was looking forward to riding the road down to Marbella, which I was told was "awesome". It wasn't. Too many cars going slowly and being badly driven, mostly I would suspect because they were looking at the views.

Rode on the coastal road (mostly motorway) from Marbella to Motril. The Costa Del Sol is very built up, and with so many ugly buildings everywhere.

Nice hotel in Motril though, and day two set off  cross country eastwards. Fantastic road (A348) from there to Tabernas, twisty and quite deserted apart from a few lorries.

Then up to the Alto de Velefique, nicknamed "The Spanish Stelvio". Ridden it a few times now, but first time so late in the year. Bloody freezing riding up, and minus 2°c, with thick frost, at the summit (1820 metres).

Rode on northwards to Tijola, and this road (A3120) truely is worthy of its nickname. In over 50kms, I counted four cars coming the other way. The views are stunning  and plenty of places to stop and take them in.

I then rode east from Tijola, planning to dropped south and head for Turre. There are so many roads on this side, but I chose to go via Tahal this time as not done it before. Superb roads and views.

I'll mention now that the whole 1,300 kms trip was on fantastically surfaced roads, and can't remember a single pothole until I got to the start of the 8km track to my house.

 

I'll not bother with Ronda again, I'd rather spend all my time in this part of Andalucis, basically north of Almeria.

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Happy days. Spains a cracking place for a road bike. Off roads great too. 

[hairnet]

 

fek im old - i remember that - think i might have the mag somewhere

[Stinkwheel]

  On 17/12/2024 at 23:45, hairnet said:

 

fek im old - i remember that - think i might have the mag somewhere

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I do have the mag. And i am also old.

I had an  RD125LC at the time (some things never change) and anyone that read PB at that time is definitely my kind of person.

*EDIT* I've come over all nostalgic. And I wonder if youths these days will ever feel the same rush as we did when hitting the powerband on something you've tuned/ported yourself and by god you arent closing that throttle until its wound all the way round and running out of puff for pulling top gear. 

30 years is a long time, but my ears and hairs on the back of the neck still prick up when i hear a real 2 Stroke coming onto the pipe( especially if its me riding it), I hope they always do. 

[Rustybullethole]

Stuck at work and really wishing was out on the road with my mates.

Happy days.

[Cavcraft]

The Tiger and the  XL Val-de Ri Val-de Ra Vanorama 125 have gone to a pasture new. 

[hairnet]

  On 16/12/2024 at 17:44, Rustybullethole said:

Here you go. Not in the dirt though just as good at fighting the traffic in the East end.

 

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thats not @Dyslexic Viking 

[myglaren]

 

[Fabergé Greggs]

  On 16/12/2024 at 14:07, Stinkwheel said:

Anyone got any F650 Experience off road?

Im talking early F650 'funduro' model.

I rode a lot of these between 94 and 01 when i was in a BMW dealers but exclusively on the road

Im thinking about one again now to turn into a dual purpose machine similar to @Rustybullethole enfield.

I know its too heavy, i know the 19" front wheel is too small etc but id still be interested to hear from anyone thats off road'ed one

Expand  

Yeah I did some greenlaning on mine and loved it. I haven’t had loads of bikes to compare them to but there’s deffo something special about them- a nice thump of grunt from the single, really chuckable handling and a general old school Beemer charm 

[hairnet]

i had one of them

fifteen fucking years!!!!!!!!!

[Stinkwheel]

Well I've bought one, bit of a project, e-bay special, been off the road since 2012, WCPGW

[Stinkwheel]

  On 18/12/2024 at 21:41, Fabergé Greggs said:

Yeah I did some greenlaning on mine and loved it. I haven’t had loads of bikes to compare them to but there’s deffo something special about them- a nice thump of grunt from the single, really chuckable handling and a general old school Beemer charm 

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What tyres did your one have on it there? Look decently knobbly but not lethal on the road like some

[Rustybullethole]

@StinkwheelAm guessing they are kenda big blocks. Bloody good on all sorts apart from deep mud though no do it all tyre does. 

[Stinkwheel]

  On 19/12/2024 at 08:07, Rustybullethole said:

@StinkwheelAm guessing they are kenda big blocks. Bloody good on all sorts apart from deep mud though no do it all tyre does. 

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Thanks. I'm guessing it will want tyres as its been sat in someones garage since 2012 😁

[Fabergé Greggs]

  On 19/12/2024 at 07:42, Stinkwheel said:

Well I've bought one, bit of a project, e-bay special, been off the road since 2012, WCPGW

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Looks ace! Tires on mine were TKC80 iirc. 

[Rustybullethole]

  On 19/12/2024 at 08:13, Stinkwheel said:

Thanks. I'm guessing it will want tyres as its been sat in someones garage since 2012 😁

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Aye possibly yes. If you can graft a set of bigger foot pegs on I always find that makes a massive difference in the dirt too. 

[Cavcraft]

The new (year old) bike arrived today. It also went straight back again, as it won't tick-over

More on that when it comes back again, hopefully fully cured.