The Bikeshite Thread

[Barry Cade]

On 24/11/2025 at 23:08, Bmwdumptruck said:

An S is still on my wish list.  Bought a 1200 Bandit earlier this year for summer fun, really enjoyed it, but I am thinking of selling it next spring to find something different.  One of these could be an option, but I fancy something Guzzi  or Aprilia as I’ve never had anything Italian yet.  And Triumphs have yet to appear in my history so maybe a SpeedTriple. 

A Tiger 1050 is my main bike. I keep thinking to change but I just can't. It's awesome! Mate has a Speed Triple. He's had that over 15 years. 

I keep having impure thoughts about a Mandello. Never had a Guzzi either, but the want is real.

[93fxdl]

On 24/11/2025 at 18:21, Barry Cade said:

I'm on the hunt for the next one.. still trying to find an early ZZR1100...

 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3723442137791230/

This is up near me, also I have a couple of zzr1100 projects looking for a home

Bought to use as engine donors but picked up a couple of engines so up for grabs

All just south of Glasgow 

Ttfn glenn 

 

 

 

 

 

[Barry Cade]

1 hour ago, 93fxdl said:

 

Thanks! But that's a "d" model. I'm after an early 1990 "c" model. There are a few differences.

[93fxdl]

5 hours ago, Barry Cade said:

Thanks! But that's a "d" model. I'm after an early 1990 "c" model. There are a few differences.

What are they I have two , the only thing I noticed different was air holes in fairing to feed the airbox, my black one has one hole and the green one has two, I think 

Have them tucked away in storage at the moment, tell me what to look for and I will try and get some pictures for you

Ttfn glenn 

[Barry Cade]

49 minutes ago, 93fxdl said:

What are they I have two , the only thing I noticed different was air holes in fairing to feed the airbox, my black one has one hole and the green one has two, I think 

Have them tucked away in storage at the moment, tell me what to look for and I will try and get some pictures for you

Ttfn glenn 

90-93 is early, 93 on is late. Early ones had no fuel gauge, usually 2 tone paint, except black and 1 air intake under headlight.. frame on later ones is visible under the seat.

Early- my old one..

Later:

 

[UltraWomble]

Small wonder dads first wife fucked off if this was his wedding wheels...

[Somerset Suffolk]

My 71 Bonneville yesterday at Bere cider company Somerset Levels 

[Somerset Suffolk]

Other stuff at Bere 

[Hawkeyethenoo]

Poor man's CT125. Coming Soon. 

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/2025/december/ajs-imber-125/

[Cavcraft]

On 01/12/2025 at 18:05, Somerset Suffolk said:

My 71 Bonneville yesterday at Bere cider company Somerset Levels 

That's bloody beautiful.

[Cavcraft]

After the Lambretta wouldn't start on Sunday, and neither did the OR50, I thought I'd better have a look at them. Whizzed the carb off the Suzuki (going for a good bath) and having already taken the panels off the Li, I sprayed some accelerant into the air box, but it didn't make any odds. 

Not sure I've ever properly cleaned it in over 6 years of owning it, and it must have only had 4 or less washes full stop in that time. Obvs. it was minging under the panels especially, and the inside of them were quite heavily coated in Mr Shell's finest 2T.  A bit of degreasing and some jet washing and now it looks like a marginally cleaner shade of shite. 

You'd think introducing water (especially high pressure water) to  an  elderly Italian high performance* machine would be a stupid idea,  but bizarrely enough I tried to start it again shortly afterwards and it fired up . Coughed/spluttered/backfired but eventually settled down and ran as well as it can. Really will have to get round to some new leggies/rear boards/rubbers etc etc etc at some point, then strip it down proper and have it painted up. Trouble is I like it looking shit, 99% of others are nigh on immaculate and mine gets abused.

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

On 19/12/2025 at 20:48, Hawkeyethenoo said:

Poor man's CT125. Coming Soon. 

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/2025/december/ajs-imber-125/

I saw this online.

£2500 0tr possibly.

Could this be the thing that breaks.my retired from bikes situation.

Always wanted a honda ct 125 but way too expensive for fun.

Anyone any experience of these new ajs's build quality and reliability ?

 

[UltraWomble]

24 minutes ago, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

I saw this online.

£2500 0tr possibly.

Could this be the thing that breaks.my retired from bikes situation.

Always wanted a honda ct 125 but way too expensive for fun.

Anyone any experience of these new ajs's build quality and reliability ?

 

For £100 more you can have a faster and better designed off road bike that weighs not a lot more

Limber = Mass in running order: 115kg & 6kw

Hero Pulse 200 = 140kg & 14kw  -  made in Thailand.

Obvs, if its what you fancy its cheaper than a newer Honda cub, though for the price there are a lot of custom chicken chasers out there with Lifan or similar 125 engines that may be more robust if abused.

[93fxdl]

http://www.jialingmotorcycle.com/product_cpzx/cpzx_88759

Import from China with a badge added

Some Chinese bikes struggle with build quality and the finish not holding up too well, but others seem to stand up well

My personal concern would be dealer support and parts supply

Ttfn glenn 

[93fxdl]

3 hours ago, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

I saw this online.

£2500 0tr possibly.

Could this be the thing that breaks.my retired from bikes situation.

Always wanted a honda ct 125 but way too expensive for fun.

Anyone any experience of these new ajs's build quality and reliability ?

 

Deep dive on the same bike with a different badge 

Ttfn glenn 

[Somerset Suffolk]

On 24/12/2025 at 15:13, Cavcraft said:

That's bloody beautiful.

Thanks @Cavcraft  took a bit of a gamble and imported it from the US 2018  -great bikes 🙂even with the high seat height and drum brakes ....

[castros_bro]

Got the HMW Supersport out checking its 70ish  year old bits, like cables, still work ok n clean out carb for a new year potter.

 

[hairnet]

On 24/12/2025 at 15:30, Cavcraft said:

 

[Cavcraft]

How nice is this?

Triumph Bonneville T140D Special 1979 | eBay UK

It's got the gear lever and the brakes the proper* way round, too.

[Bmwdumptruck]

44 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

How nice is this?

Triumph Bonneville T140D Special 1979 | eBay UK

It's got the gear lever and the brakes the proper* way round, too.

I remember looking at these when they were new in Coburn and Hughes in Luton and thinking how old fashioned they were compared to the Hondas and Yamahas next to them in the showroom.  

[Somerset Suffolk]

21 hours ago, Cavcraft said:

How nice is this?

Triumph Bonneville T140D Special 1979 | eBay UK

It's got the gear lever and the brakes the proper* way round, too.

brake lever on the right ??? how confusing !! 🤣

[Stinkwheel]

Do any of you Bikeshite guys happen to know what this might have been originally for? 
Brembo split caliper 100mm Yamaha R/H fitment.

 

it’s fitted to my TZR250, but google says Brembo never made anything in 100mm axial fitment (plenty of radial 100mm brembo’s about) 

Help if you know please before I get annoyed with it and just fit a blue spot 

[Barry Cade]

 

6 hours ago, Stinkwheel said:

Do any of you Bikeshite guys happen to know what this might have been originally for? 
Brembo split caliper 100mm Yamaha R/H fitment.

 

it’s fitted to my TZR250, but google says Brembo never made anything in 100mm axial fitment (plenty of radial 100mm brembo’s about) 

Help if you know please before I get annoyed with it and just fit a blue 

@Stinkwheel Bmw f800s?

[hairnet]

szr660

[Rustybullethole]

Am guessing xtz660 could be the same? 

[Psycho Charlie Knobcheese]

16 minutes ago, hairnet said:

szr660

This I reckon. They were also fitted to the TZR125R Belgarda which shared a lot of chassis parts with the SZR660

[Psycho Charlie Knobcheese]

[Bmwdumptruck]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187876261893?_skw=brembo+front+brake+caliper&itmmeta=01KDKHXDTS4S0VA4PWPJQ1SM8R&hash=item2bbe4c4005%3Ag%3ABfQAAeSwnXtpTCju&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAABAFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cQo3zdJhPHSw6eR24n%2FjWFaLt8vLpdQtVKuBgBWJ007aUY2HRtqzIp9LiInMsNqX7uK0o8IjckEw%2FGI4jUXF39h2IAiE%2BS1ooJnC0lpgaJnHiejj56QQuy%2BjrmbERRf8OEOcSzoeYmu3cfwdSL99uaCnf%2BRIRazVusieV0qz6VYEK0BBI7eXD0P3DALXSMtilM384LDGbJ59WxE1Hs6syVKaM1FONfJBagf7VC7plGI4Ad8EbeEYNCBsEjvc%2F9cJs6q1Ym%2FULRqhDLny0Aic8U52WLbj4tcYpSc7Jc3t0KRZsRtuYcGMg7c0zK%2BInz7Wo%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9jd9fHsZg&LH_ItemCondition=3000
These look close….

Bolt holes on all the 660s look too close together or are floating calipers.

[Stinkwheel]

Thanks everyone, more googling and farting out info shows, yes,  they are a weird ‘factory Yamaha brembo fitments or aftermarket upgrades. Info out there is pretty thin on the ground.
They were available on Japanese market TRX850, SZR660, YZF750, FZR1000 etc etc 

Even found that there are Yamaha part numbers still available for seals etc and pads readily available in various compounds from Brembo, so now all sorted.  
Now to wait for the new  parts to arrive

[Stinkwheel]

11 hours ago, Bmwdumptruck said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187876261893?_skw=brembo+front+brake+caliper&itmmeta=01KDKHXDTS4S0VA4PWPJQ1SM8R&hash=item2bbe4c4005%3Ag%3ABfQAAeSwnXtpTCju&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAABAFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cQo3zdJhPHSw6eR24n%2FjWFaLt8vLpdQtVKuBgBWJ007aUY2HRtqzIp9LiInMsNqX7uK0o8IjckEw%2FGI4jUXF39h2IAiE%2BS1ooJnC0lpgaJnHiejj56QQuy%2BjrmbERRf8OEOcSzoeYmu3cfwdSL99uaCnf%2BRIRazVusieV0qz6VYEK0BBI7eXD0P3DALXSMtilM384LDGbJ59WxE1Hs6syVKaM1FONfJBagf7VC7plGI4Ad8EbeEYNCBsEjvc%2F9cJs6q1Ym%2FULRqhDLny0Aic8U52WLbj4tcYpSc7Jc3t0KRZsRtuYcGMg7c0zK%2BInz7Wo%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9jd9fHsZg&LH_ItemCondition=3000
These look close….

Bolt holes on all the 660s look too close together or are floating calipers.

Those are exactly what I have here, I also now know they are described as Brembo 6800 series P3 calipers. Still rare as hell in 100mm mounting flavour. They still sell the upgrade kits but no longer with 100 mm spacing, just using brackets to suit with a 65mm spaced caliper.

Considering how rare they now seem to be that XJR1300 set seem like a bargain but I’d only need one so would be a waste for me to get