The Bikeshite Thread

[mat_the_cat]

On 07/04/2025 at 10:41, Stinkwheel said:

Does anyone ever sit on e-bay of say, a sunday evening and think, that looks cheap for what it is and fairly useable. I'll stick a silly bid on and see how it ends in an hour or so, well looks like I have to go and fetch this at the weekend

 

WCPGW with buying sight unseen trade In's off e-bay? 🤣🫤

My mate's had his for nearly 20 years now (a bit like Trigger's broom...about to fit its 3rd engine at 80k miles) so he certainly rates them! Photo from the Dragon Rally in 2010ish.

[Rustybullethole]

stopped to eat my sausage sandwich before it goes cold. once more heading west. 

Edited April 12 by Rustybullethole

[Sham]

8 hours ago, mat_the_cat said:

My mate's had his for nearly 20 years now (a bit like Trigger's broom...about to fit its 3rd engine at 80k miles) so he certainly rates them! Photo from the Dragon Rally in 2010ish.

Gotta love an SV.  I think they might just be the greatest general purpose bike ever made (for western countries roads, that is) and are generally immensely reliable. Enough power, great handling and decent comfort at a very affordable price. I'm a little surprised that at 80k, it has needed a new engine at all, never mind 2 of them.

Mines 2 years old and is on 16k, and I'm going to just continue to pile the miles on.

[Hawkeyethenoo]

Strong smell of fuel present around the bike. Slight fuel leak detected.

[DeanH]

24 minutes ago, Hawkeyethenoo said:

Strong smell of fuel present around the bike. Slight fuel leak detected.

Know the feeling. My float bowl screw vibrated itself off the bike earlier this week!

[Hawkeyethenoo]

Now in dry dock, sans clothing, couple of wing nuts holding the seat to the frame, zero tools required. New length of petrol pipe going to the petcock found and fitted. Battery on Optimate and taking a charge nicely. AGM battery too which is winning. Wiring is not too bad for a built not bought thing from the Seventies! Wiring diagram notes are always handy, cheers dude. Front brake light switch connection needs fettling on the connection front, but everything else seems to work as intended. Front brake works well enough, is missing a bolt at the front of the caliper.

I think it should be this one - https://www.honda-classics.co.uk/shop/Front-Brake-Caliper-Adjuster-Screw-Spring-&-Lock-Nut-KIT087-p360432949

I have a workshop manual now so can check that before ordering anything else! Have NGK plugs N earl filters in stock ready for round to its.

[Stinkwheel]

10 minutes ago, Hawkeyethenoo said:

Now in dry dock, sans clothing, couple of wing nuts holding the seat to the frame, zero tools required. New length of petrol pipe going to the petcock found and fitted. Battery on Optimate and taking a charge nicely. AGM battery too which is winning. Wiring is not too bad for a built not bought thing from the Seventies! Wiring diagram notes are always handy, cheers dude. Front brake light switch connection needs fettling on the connection front, but everything else seems to work as intended. Front brake works well enough, is missing a bolt at the front of the caliper.

I think it should be this one - https://www.honda-classics.co.uk/shop/Front-Brake-Caliper-Adjuster-Screw-Spring-&-Lock-Nut-KIT087-p360432949

I have a workshop manual now so can check that before ordering anything else! Have NGK plugs N earl filters in stock ready for round to its.

Great stuff, but get that Avon SM (Suicide Mileage) tyre off it and fit something that isn’t square or made bakealite. 
Can you tell I don’t like those tyres? 

[Cavcraft]

Quick blast to the river on the FS1. Was about to shoot off when an AP50 and a GP125 turned up, would have been rude not to talk to the owners...

 

@Iamgroot Some number plate porn on the GP for you

[Snake Charmer]

20 hours ago, Rustybullethole said:

More pics please.

This was sitting in a closed down dealership in Cirencester.

Clean as a whistle. 

Always liked the RS, never ridden one despite building a couple from the crate and doing a PDI. FT500 engine........

1 hour ago, Stinkwheel said:

Great stuff, but get that Avon SM (Suicide Mileage) tyre off it and fit something that isn’t square or made bakealite. 
Can you tell I don’t like those tyres? 

First thing I saw, the Slip Master!

53 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

Quick blast to the river on the FS1. Was about to shoot off when an AP50 and a GP125 turned up, would have been rude not to talk to the owners...

 

@Iamgroot Some number plate porn on the GP for you

"Rude not to talk to the owners", in period that should be "Race the owners"! 😄

[Hawkeyethenoo]

1 hour ago, Stinkwheel said:

Great stuff, but get that Avon SM (Suicide Mileage) tyre off it and fit something that isn’t square or made bakealite. 
Can you tell I don’t like those tyres? 

Can get a pair of these in the correct 3.25 19 front and 4.00 18 rear with new continental tubes for £230.  Think of the transformation that would achieve. If it runs alright, it could happen... No-one ever got fired for buying Michelins.

 

[Iamgroot]

4 hours ago, Cavcraft said:

 

 

@Iamgroot Some number plate porn on the GP for you

Thank you! And I'm saving it, might try and get repro ones made up from the picture

[MrGTI6]

Decided to dig the Sprint ST 955i out of hibernation last month, so dropped it off for an MOT to see how much it would need to pass. It failed on the rear suspension (no surprise as it was an advisory last year).

Sorted last weekend and then back in for a re-test earlier today. Now with 12 months' ticket! There's an advisory for the silencer being loose but I'm not majorly concerned about that. It's been like it since I bought it and it's not going to fall off any time soon!

I only covered approximately 250 miles since the last MOT 17 months ago, but managed to add over 100 miles this afternoon.

Happy to report that - useless fuel gauge side - it's running like a dream. Spent most of the time just pottering and admiring the scenery, but for a 26-year-old bike it can still get a shift on when required.

Didn't occur to me to take any photos of it today, so here's my most recent one of it from last year!

Decided that I need to make a point of using it more often. So set myself a very achievable target of at least 1000 miles before the next MOT. 

[Cavcraft]

2 hours ago, Iamgroot said:

Thank you! And I'm saving it, might try and get repro ones made up from the picture

That would be great if you can.

[andyberg]

42 minutes ago, MrGTI6 said:

Decided to dig the Sprint ST 955i out of hibernation last month, so dropped it off for an MOT to see how much it would need to pass. It failed on the rear suspension (no surprise as it was an advisory last year).

Sorted last weekend and then back in for a re-test earlier today. Now with 12 months' ticket! There's an advisory for the silencer being loose but I'm not majorly concerned about that. It's been like it since I bought it and it's not going to fall off any time soon!

I only covered approximately 250 miles since the last MOT 17 months ago, but managed to add over 100 miles this afternoon.

Happy to report that - useless fuel gauge side - it's running like a dream. Spent most of the time just pottering and admiring the scenery, but for a 26-year-old bike it can still get a shift on when required.

Didn't occur to me to take any photos of it today, so here's my most recent one of it from last year!

Decided that I need to make a point of using it more often. So set myself a very achievable target of at least 1000 miles before the next MOT. 

Glad the bike is still serving you well. Yes the fuel gauge is pathetic!

I miss it a bit, especially when you wind the throttle open and it lifts up its skirt and the airbox howls. But honestly I had lost my confidence with it after I couldn’t hold it up and it properly hurt my ankle. I get joy now from my little GT185 which weighs less than a feather in comparison. 

[Hawkeyethenoo]

CB500K1 UPDATE!

Okay so battery fully recharged and fresh fuel added we went for a start and it started, but was only running on cylinders 1 and 4, 2 and 3 no spark. Swapped over the wiring between coils and it's the same, so removed the upside down points cover and right away can see that the points for 2 and 3 are loose, finger tight. Will need to set the static timing for those and try again. 

Both coil packs look new, HT leads the same and it's now got a full set of fresh plugs. Let's hope it will be running on all four soon enough, gov.

[Hawkeyethenoo]

Points back plate is bent and needs straightening out, back plate wasn't located right and tightened bending it, there's been a rush to finish this bike. Points and condensers both look new, static timing of 1 & 2 are tested bob on.  Should be an easy fix - hope so!

[Cavcraft]

Fizzy working fine yesterday, but late on thought it felt like the clutch wasn't biting properly. Went out on it today (for the scooter club Easter egg run) and the bastarding clutch packed up. Coaxed it back, swapped it with the Lambretta and used that instead. 

[Hawkeyethenoo]

That made a difference. Running on all four now. IT'S QUITE NOISY! 🤣

That end can's not much use to man nor beast...

 

[tom13]

On 08/04/2025 at 15:17, andyberg said:

Today is a good day. Got the GT185 running spot on, needed a new condenser, so took it for a shakedown run. Ignore my wife’s Panda behind, I went to her tea room for a coffee😁

Now to spend my next days off cleaning and polishing ready for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride in May. 

Did this have a blue tank before?

Did it also have a set of Allspeeds or something on it?

[tom13]

Successful and unsuccessful weekend for me.

Got my DF200 (DR200) MOT'd and back on the road on Friday. Couldn't get a replacement exhaust so they had to repair the one I had. Fixed a couple of minor leaks in it on the join with the manifold.

Took it out yesterday on a few green lanes to test. Running well on the road but took ages to give it any revs and take the choke off from cold. Then started spluttering on the green lanes and kept dying. Can't remember what size pilot I have in there so it has to come back off.

Bonus is it has to be ready to do Lands End Trial on Friday. Yay.

[Stinkwheel]

Update on the cheap trade in purchase SV650. Collected it Saturday, was no hassle at all and the place was a main Honda/Triumph dealers who were very friendly considering i was buying what must have been the cheapest bike theyve probably ever sold.

Extra shite content, i went in the Mk1 Peugeot Sevel Nord van, it did everything a van needs to do despite its 215k miles and the aircon is still ice cold.

The Suzuki, well it ran, but the battery was flat, so i had to use a jump pack to fire it up (mainly so I could power it slowly up the ramp into the van and not just push it and get a hernia)

Not only did it run, it had little or no Cam-chain/guide noise that these are apparently famous for having.

Tyres, check nearly new front Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier. Rear was a nearly new Bridgestone BT57. Both older tyres but not stupidly old dates, so they can stay.

Did it charge, no, it did not. So swapped in a universal regulator/rectifier i had lying about and it now does.

Had a cheap nasty and crap non UK legal amazon special headlight, so i swapped out a spare RD125LC unit i had (both 7.5" width luckily) which means we have sidelights, dip and mean beam.

Adjusted the chain, looks reasonably new, as do the sprockets.

Oil in it was clean so just needed topped up with some Motul 10w40 I had handy

Faffed about with the L/H switchgear to get the horn button working, seems to now with a firm press.

Stripped down one of the LED indicators fitted and re-wired it to get that working.

Clutch cable had about 3 strands left and was creaking when pulled, so grabbed a universal bowden cable inner and re-soldered the nipples (oo-err!! Yes, I'm that childish still, I blame growing up reading Performance Bikes Mag) to get a working clutch without the snapped cable fear.

I had clocked it had no pillion footrest or hangers, thats an MOT fail if the tester is being strict, so I'd already purchased a cheap/tatty set on e-bay, so just bolted them on.

It really only had the usual number of old used bike bodges, so I'm more than happy for the money paid. Remains to be seen if i can live with the aftermarket rearset pegs and flat bars streetfighter riding position.

In for an MOT on wednesday. Fingers crossed and all that.

[doug]

These any good to you? Think they are off a Suzuki but might be earlier than yours though. PM me an address if you want them.

[Stinkwheel]

14 minutes ago, doug said:

These any good to you? Think they are off a Suzuki but might be earlier than yours though. PM me an address if you want them.

I found some that did the job already, but appreciate the offer thanks.

[mat_the_cat]

What's your warranty claims procedure @Stinkwheel?

I noticed that the temperature gauge barely moved from the cold position, although the engine seemed to be getting up to temperature, plus the fan kicked in after a while stationary. So all pointed towards the sender IMO, which is located in the middle of the V. I removed the fairing, substituted a couple of appropriate resistor values, and the gauge read normally.

Quite pleased/surprised that a new OEM sender was available next day for £15, so popped that on (slightly fiddly without losing too much coolant). Certainly running it up to temperature whilst stationary it all seemed to work as it should.

The other little repair I've done is the LH switchgear was rotating around the bar - turned out there should be a little plastic peg to engage with a hole on the bars to stop this. I'm buggered if I'm going to buy a new one, so melted an M3 stud into the plastic for a free, quick and arguably improved solution.

[Cavcraft]

5 hours ago, Stinkwheel said:

Update on the cheap trade in purchase SV650. Collected it Saturday, was no hassle at all and the place was a main Honda/Triumph dealers who were very friendly considering i was buying what must have been the cheapest bike theyve probably ever sold.

Extra shite content, i went in the Mk1 Peugeot Sevel Nord van, it did everything a van needs to do despite its 215k miles and the aircon is still ice cold.

The Suzuki, well it ran, but the battery was flat, so i had to use a jump pack to fire it up (mainly so I could power it slowly up the ramp into the van and not just push it and get a hernia)

Not only did it run, it had little or no Cam-chain/guide noise that these are apparently famous for having.

Tyres, check nearly new front Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier. Rear was a nearly new Bridgestone BT57. Both older tyres but not stupidly old dates, so they can stay.

Did it charge, no, it did not. So swapped in a universal regulator/rectifier i had lying about and it now does.

Had a cheap nasty and crap non UK legal amazon special headlight, so i swapped out a spare RD125LC unit i had (both 7.5" width luckily) which means we have sidelights, dip and mean beam.

Adjusted the chain, looks reasonably new, as do the sprockets.

Oil in it was clean so just needed topped up with some Motul 10w40 I had handy

Faffed about with the L/H switchgear to get the horn button working, seems to now with a firm press.

Stripped down one of the LED indicators fitted and re-wired it to get that working.

Clutch cable had about 3 strands left and was creaking when pulled, so grabbed a universal bowden cable inner and re-soldered the nipples (oo-err!! Yes, I'm that childish still, I blame growing up reading Performance Bikes Mag) to get a working clutch without the snapped cable fear.

I had clocked it had no pillion footrest or hangers, thats an MOT fail if the tester is being strict, so I'd already purchased a cheap/tatty set on e-bay, so just bolted them on.

It really only had the usual number of old used bike bodges, so I'm more than happy for the money paid. Remains to be seen if i can live with the aftermarket rearset pegs and flat bars streetfighter riding position.

In for an MOT on wednesday. Fingers crossed and all that.

Good luck for the test!

[Stinkwheel]

43 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

Good luck for the test!

Two chances, it either passes or fails (and I have more stuff to fix 🤣)

[Stinkwheel]

52 minutes ago, mat_the_cat said:

What's your warranty claims procedure @Stinkwheel?

I noticed that the temperature gauge barely moved from the cold position, although the engine seemed to be getting up to temperature, plus the fan kicked in after a while stationary. So all pointed towards the sender IMO, which is located in the middle of the V. I removed the fairing, substituted a couple of appropriate resistor values, and the gauge read normally.

Quite pleased/surprised that a new OEM sender was available next day for £15, so popped that on (slightly fiddly without losing too much coolant). Certainly running it up to temperature whilst stationary it all seemed to work as it should.

The other little repair I've done is the LH switchgear was rotating around the bar - turned out there should be a little plastic peg to engage with a hole on the bars to stop this. I'm buggered if I'm going to buy a new one, so melted an M3 stud into the plastic for a free, quick and arguably improved solution.

End of the driveway warranty has expired sir, but you could purchase this silver cover warranty for a small amount extra  🤪

But seriously,  you are doing all the niggly jobs I didn’t care about 🤫, good work, the bike thanks you I’m sure 👍

[scdan4]

For forks sake

[Barry Cade]

On 13/04/2025 at 16:38, Hawkeyethenoo said:

Points back plate is bent and needs straightening out, back plate wasn't located right and tightened bending it, there's been a rush to finish this bike. Points and condensers both look new, static timing of 1 & 2 are tested bob on.  Should be an easy fix - hope so!

I miss the old days..  checking throttle balance and TPS

[Snake Charmer]

6 minutes ago, Barry Cade said:

I miss the old days..  checking throttle balance and TPS

Davida vac gauges. 😊