The Bikeshite Thread

[Hawkeyethenoo]

You'll also note from the above photo, no kill switch, none, on the replacement switch gear. Would need killing at the ignition switch, N/S below tank next to red hot header. I think I'd just jump off and hope for the best in that event.

Why does that matter? Well, safety and also all 1970's Honda's positive wiring runs through the kill switch, but not this one. It has one fuse - it was a 25amp yin but we blew that fecking about with the points somehow and it's been replaced with a 15amp as all that was available and safety third!

[Stinkwheel]

SV650 was in for MOT this morning, I had failed to notice that it had no rear reflector due to aftermarket tail tidy thing that’s fitted. So fail then pass when MOT man kindly stuck a tiny one on the number plate and didn’t even charge me for it. 
So now,

 

Happy with that. 
Having never ridden an SV before, I took the long way home. Brilliant bike,  like it a lot,  enough go and grunt but not ridiculous and so light and easy to flick about in turns, change line mid bend etc. 

A very pleased me after a blind e-bay purchase, it could have been very much worse. 
 

[Jerzy Woking]

I really liked my SV, bought from a mate in the trade. It was filthy but cleaned up really well. Took it from 53,000 to 73,000 in two years before problems hit. Electrical gremlins, new reg/rec, then had to run a seperate earth wire, then had the stator rewound, but it still wasn't right, so sold it on here.

My mates wife had one that also had electrical issues that could not be traced, just replaced stuff and that never got any better.

@Hawkeyethenoo I had a CB500 cafe racer back in 1980 or so. It had been fitted with an Alpha 4-1 exhaust, different, shorter rear shocks, a Dunstall top race fairing (which wobbled like a jelly) and ridiculously rear set, rear sets. Was a treat thrashing it along the lanes where we lived then, and noisy enough that my Missus could put the kettle on when she heard it.

@Cavcraft For you BMW  find one of those air blades that has a fitting on both sides, not just a centre mount. Much studier and a better range of adjustment.

@hairnet No idea about bridal ways here. When out on the 452 I just see a track and, if I have time ride it. It will either take me to someones house, or into a village somewhere...Not sure that there will be no mud is a blessing or not. 

 

 

 

[mat_the_cat]

On 14/04/2025 at 18:52, Stinkwheel said:

 🤪But seriously,  you are doing all the niggly jobs I didn’t care about 🤫👍

I'm actually enjoying this kind of tinkering stuff, little wins without major time with the bike in bits. Stuff I don't *have* to do is always much more appealing than repairs which needs to be done! Congrats on the SV pass also.

I have a dilemma...I really don't like black wheels on cars or bikes, so am thinking of a colour change. Plus they could do with a refresh anyway; I've touched them up for now but they're showing the miles more than the rest of the bike.

However I am not always the best judge of taste apparently. I reckon gold with purple would look ace, but I may be very wrong! Thoughts?

[Stinkwheel]

32 minutes ago, mat_the_cat said:

I'm actually enjoying this kind of tinkering stuff, little wins without major time with the bike in bits. Stuff I don't *have* to do is always much more appealing than repairs which needs to be done! Congrats on the SV pass also.

I have a dilemma...I really don't like black wheels on cars or bikes, so am thinking of a colour change. Plus they could do with a refresh anyway; I've touched them up for now but they're showing the miles more than the rest of the bike.

However I am not always the best judge of taste apparently. I reckon gold with purple would look ace, but I may be very wrong! Thoughts?

The earlier RC36/1 model did come with very tasteful gold wheels, finding them at a decent price will be hard though,  very sought after for putt in on the RC36/2. Having said that, gold paint is cheap 👍

Having to get used to the SV, it’s not slow by any means but the sheer grunt of the VFR750 when you wind it on some is hard to beat. 
I must adjust my riding for more corner speed I think.  
Having said that neither hold a candle to modern bikes, but I do prefer older bikes without all the anti wheelie, linked brakes etc etc for feel & satisfaction when you get a bend or series of bends, or sometimes a whole journey just right. 
 

[Barry Cade]

32 minutes ago, mat_the_cat said:

I'm actually enjoying this kind of tinkering stuff, little wins without major time with the bike in bits. Stuff I don't *have* to do is always much more appealing than repairs which needs to be done! Congrats on the SV pass also.

I have a dilemma...I really don't like black wheels on cars or bikes, so am thinking of a colour change. Plus they could do with a refresh anyway; I've touched them up for now but they're showing the miles more than the rest of the bike.

However I am not always the best judge of taste apparently. I reckon gold with purple would look ace, but I may be very wrong! Thoughts?

Hmm. I'd say a dark bronze would suit better, gold would clash..

 

Yours is identical to my old one. I hated that bike.. 😆

 

[Stinkwheel]

13 minutes ago, Barry Cade said:

Hmm. I'd say a dark bronze would suit better, gold would clash..

 

Yours is identical to my old one. I hated that bike.. 😆

 

Why did you hate it,  out of interest? 
 

I’ve had 2 of the FV last model now, the red one I loved, the thing was perfect and I was happy riding it slow, fast or Banzai! 
The blue one (now @mat_the_cat’s)  I liked,  but never In the same way as the red one. Not sure why. 

[Barry Cade]

51 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

Why did you hate it,  out of interest? 
 

I’ve had 2 of the FV last model now, the red one I loved, the thing was perfect and I was happy riding it slow, fast or Banzai! 
The blue one (now @mat_the_cat’s)  I liked,  but never In the same way as the red one. Not sure why. 

I've owned quite a few Hondas, and never liked any of them. The VFR Ft wasn't particularly good at anything, complex and difficult to work on for no benefit, didn't handle that well, and never made me want to go for a ride, clean it or look back at it. Every other  bike I've owned had something that made me like it.

[Stinkwheel]

7 minutes ago, Barry Cade said:

I've owned quite a few Hondas, and never liked any of them. The VFR Ft wasn't particularly good at anything, complex and difficult to work on for no benefit, didn't handle that well, and never made me want to go for a ride, clean it or look back at it. Every other  bike I've owned had something that made me like it.

Fair enough, some bikes just don’t grab you like others. I’ve owned/ridden a lot of bikes from the 93-2005 ish era as I was in the trade att that time. Ones I particularly disliked were the Yamaha Diversion and the Ducati ST2 & 4 

[Barry Cade]

37 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

Fair enough, some bikes just don’t grab you like others. I’ve owned/ridden a lot of bikes from the 93-2005 ish era as I was in the trade att that time. Ones I particularly disliked were the Yamaha Diversion and the Ducati ST2 & 4 

Always fancied an st4 too! The bike that surprised me most, and I grew to love was a proper snotter of a pre divvy XJ600. Bought it for something to do, refreshed it and got it running, and it was far more than the sum of its parts.  The Div was a dog. My brother had a 900 and it was just shit.

My Tiger 1050 I have now just fits me. Tour, scratch, bimble.. plenty power when needed but torquey and smooth. I was looking to replace it but can't find anything that ticks so many boxes.. anything else coming in will be as well as, instead of replace.

[mat_the_cat]

5 hours ago, Barry Cade said:

Hmm. I'd say a dark bronze would suit better, gold would clash..

I think you're right, something a bit darker and more subtle. It's probably (or at least should be!) a way down the priority list, as I have *critical stuff to sort out first. Such as the fact there is a slight 'bleed' on the LCD clock. I managed to find a set of clocks for a reasonable price, advertised as fully working! So I bought them, only to find the closck is worse than mine.

(*I know it's not critical, just that the way my brain is wired, something so immediately visibly 'wrong', really grates on  me. I'm sure it's not typical, although it wouldn't surprise me if members on here understand where I'm coming from).

[Stinkwheel]

10 hours ago, mat_the_cat said:

I think you're right, something a bit darker and more subtle. It's probably (or at least should be!) a way down the priority list, as I have *critical stuff to sort out first. Such as the fact there is a slight 'bleed' on the LCD clock. I managed to find a set of clocks for a reasonable price, advertised as fully working! So I bought them, only to find the closck is worse than mine.

(*I know it's not critical, just that the way my brain is wired, something so immediately visibly 'wrong', really grates on  me. I'm sure it's not typical, although it wouldn't surprise me if members on here understand where I'm coming from).

The annoying thing about the LCD bleed is that it was fine until one day I parked up in the direct sun in a warm day,  when I came back the LCD had done that. It wound me up a lot every time I looked at it after that 

[Jerzy Woking]

16 hours ago, Stinkwheel said:

 Having said that neither hold a candle to modern bikes, but I do prefer older bikes without all the anti wheelie, linked brakes etc etc for feel & satisfaction when you get a bend or series of bends, or sometimes a whole journey just right. 
 

It's the reason I loved my KTM RC8's, no rider aids at all. No ABS, no traction control, just lots of power and torque. A mate described them as "two wheeled TVR's".

I got to ride lots of new, modern bikes for work, but none really compared to the KTM's for joy of riding.

[mat_the_cat]

39 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

The annoying thing about the LCD bleed is that it was fine until one day I parked up in the direct sun in a warm day,  when I came back the LCD had done that. It wound me up a lot every time I looked at it after that 

(Weirdly it looks better on camera than in real life - the last digit is actually completely unreadable).

Judging from the number for sale with the same problem it seems fairly common at this age. Good to know what finished it off; I will try and avoid too much direct sunlight (shouldn't be too hard around here!)

It will get sorted one way or another - the original clock is a bit more integrated with the dashboard than I expected, with remote adjustment buttons. Which makes it a little more tricky to drop in a different clock module. But perhaps a radio-synchronised clock module would work well. Watch this space!

[UltraWomble]

Fitted top box (holds my lid better than the under seat space) 

Just done chippy tea run

[UltraWomble]

Chemist run & little bit of shopping. 

It's so much nicer getting this out than the car and as it's not chained up to buggery like the royal alloy scooter so its much easier too. 

[straightSix]

I'm enjoying the VFR content! Here's mine. Currently off the road while I replace the leaking oil cooler hoses. Then it'll get a service and I'm planning on adding commuting to the insurance so hopefully it'll see some use this summer 

[Stinkwheel]

Just now, straightSix said:

I'm enjoying the VFR content! Here's mine. Currently off the road while I replace the leaking oil cooler hoses. Then it'll get a service and I'm planning on adding commuting to the insurance so hopefully it'll see some use this summer 

Do you know about Mike on the VFR Facebook page who quite often had reproduction pipes made?

I opted for the cheaper version of buying blackbird braided flexible hoses on eBay for half the price but have the right end fittings 

[straightSix]

1 hour ago, Stinkwheel said:

Do you know about Mike on the VFR Facebook page who quite often had reproduction pipes made?

I opted for the cheaper version of buying blackbird braided flexible hoses on eBay for half the price but have the right end fittings 

Didn't realise either of those were options 🙈 I ended up pulling the trigger on some second hand ones off eBay instead...

[Rustybullethole]

Bit more time on the lanes. Linked up a good bit more on my route home from work through Oxfordshire and Berkshire. All pretty easy going as very dry of late though some slightly technical bits mainly involving deep ruts. Be interesting in the wet especially the chalky sections.

Up and out by 7 this morning and not long home. Did a load of the Kent byways before they got busy with dog walkers and the like. 

Stopped to chat to some lovely horse riding ladies, waved at some joggers and had a chin wag with three other bikers including a lad on a T7 World Raid doing the southern tet loop camping along the way. 

Stopped also to pick some wild garlic thinking it would ingratiate me with the mrs. 

Mrs liked the flowers and seemed to enjoy calling me a twat when she reminded me its the leaves that are more useful.

Better do it again before the season is through. 

[mat_the_cat]

On 19/04/2025 at 12:56, Stinkwheel said:

I opted for the cheaper version of buying blackbird braided flexible hoses on eBay for half the price but have the right end fittings 

I did notice these had been done recently 👍

What's the difference between these and the originals? They look perfectly suitable to me.

[Cavcraft]

Sort of inadvertently pipped my previous best miles in a day today. Inadvertently because I hadn't checked the distance before leaving, and when I got to Bala, I think it was sub 50 miles, so didn't expect to do more than 110 or so...

...stopped by the lake for a quick gypsy's, didn't get a drink as was hoping to find somewhere at my destination...

 

There was a tidy CX500 here...

 very pleasant owner so had a brief chat. Then this Vespa rocked up so had a quick natter with the owner. I asked him how far he'd been, expecting him to say 15 miles or something...

Turned out to be a little* more than that: he'd come from Plymouth via his friends in Aberysywth and Devils Bridge with a stop over, then a night in Llandudno, then Bala and another stop on the way home before going back tomorrow. Absolute legend, 5 miles on a scooter sometimes feels like a round the world epic.

Anyhow, the plan had been to go past Bala to Llanuwchllyn (?) and then to Lake Vyrnwy which was the destination. I'd seen the photos Barratt uploaded on his vintage car run and found the hill/mountain roads he took so wanted to go through there to the lake. A few miles up this pass, it branched left to where I wanted to go, but it said 'roads closed, residents only'. I thought sod it, if I can't get through on a bike it's no harm to come back again. Got a mile or two down there and a cyclist said even he couldn't pass, so I turned round and went back to the junction...

...and ended up taking a very long windy road (as above) to Dinas Mawddwy. From there it was on to the way to Welshpool, then a cafe stop, Llangadfan I think the village was...

Just after this I missed the turn off for Lake Vyrnwy, so sacked it off and came via Meifod...

...where there possibly one of the most Autoshite houses possible...

...then home via The Groves in town for the usual catch up with the scooter and bike lads. 

End tally was...

 Very, very happy with that, and will be doing that route again without a shadow of doubt. 

Everytime I ride this bike I find I love it more. It's brilliant on twisties and straights and just great to ride. Not being all that experienced or fond of going too quick, I have to say the average 50mph zones and sections of 40 limits helped, as it'd be very easy to run out of talent on some of those roads.

Edit: MPG worked out at 85.75 which I'm very happy with.

[Cavcraft]

It wasn't all plain sailing. My sat nav survived 60-65mph on the A55 then sadly a short while later jumped ship somewhere

[Rustybullethole]

Looks a cracking day out that 👍🏽

[hairnet]

what a flange

rusty teach him off road will ya

 

[Asimo]

Spent a long time in a Hereford traffic jam today, next to a Honda 350 four;  L suffix, so 1972 ish. 

Did that model come to the UK?  I remember the 500 four, and the later 400, but a 350 is new to me.

It was in perfect used condition, not obviously restored but worn and stained in all of the right places.

Rider got bored eventually and did a U-turn across the centre strip.

[Iamgroot]

On 20/04/2025 at 18:13, Cavcraft said:

There was a tidy CX500 here...

 very pleasant owner so had a brief chat.

Was his name Kev by any chance?

On 20/04/2025 at 18:13, Cavcraft said:

Know that house well, I always slow down going past

[Cavcraft]

39 minutes ago, Iamgroot said:

Was his name Kev by any chance?

Know that house well, I always slow down going past

Not sure to be honest, he said lived in Mold if that helps?

One day (ship coming in moment) I'd love to buy that little petrol station in Meifod.

[Jerzy Woking]

Riding around Andalucia again for the last couple of days.

The more I explore it, the more brilliant roads I find. The Alto de Velefique is still stunning, despite this being my 5th visit here since December.

[Iamgroot]

1 hour ago, Cavcraft said:

Not sure to be honest, he said lived in Mold if that helps?

One day (ship coming in moment) I'd love to buy that little petrol station in Meifod.

Ah, not my mate Kev that's a serial CX licker then.

There was the arse end of a rotten bike visible in the yard of that old petrol station, I pulled over one day to go and ask and it was gone, probably a close shave!