The Bikeshite Thread

[sofarsogood]

Thanks guys. I love the look the but I am a bit clueless as to what is what. A couple of my mates are badgering me to do my test. I probably will but I am really not into sports bikes or moderns. Something like the Tiger or BSA that I can plod about on and maybe take across the odd  field/green lane would be right up my street.

[sofarsogood]

In order to add something to this thread here is a picture of my Grandad riding into Berlin in 1945. Bonus settee in the background (DFS)

 

Any idea what bike this is?

[plasticvandan]

Im going to say BSA M20,my dad has the larger 600cc M21

[DodgeRover]

Trials Tiger Cub, in the video above, pre65 allegedly although almost certainly with 99% modern engineering and materials to remain competitive.

An early 70s twinshock trials bike would be a better thig for what you suggest using it for and a damn sight cheaper.

The closest thing to the Tiger Cub would be a Honda TL125. Make sure it's got the original engine/ gear ratios - otherwise to make 1st and 2nd useable in a trials section you will be flat out in 5th at 30mph the original gearbox has a big jump between 3rd and 4th, 5th to give a reasonable road speed

[gtd2000]

For an old school scrambler bike you could easily start off with something along the lines of a cheap Chinese single and just cut it down and add mudguards that you like the look of?

 

Sinnis Retrostar 250cc example here:

 

[gtd2000]

Some further inspiration:

 

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-views/features/bikes/10-new-Scramblers-not-Ducatis

 

Don't take it on board that all Chinese bikes are simply shit that will dissolve after a few short years. Most of the third world are pottering around on them in places that don't even have roads.

 

My two Chinese tiddlers have been totally reliable, so far, but you'll still hear people say "don't touch a Chinese bike"

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

Well I blame whoever bought the Aprilia RS250 a few pages back........ it started me off again on my RS125 want. Sods law an early (2000 - full power) one turned up around the corner* and I wandered over. It's mint - only 5500kms since new and is lovely. Couldn't hand over the folding (deposit) fast enough!

I forgot to take pictures of the thing I was so excited...... rear seat(tiny cushion thing) is odd colour due to a key damaging the original - but other than that it's fantastic.

One of these:

 

 

Pick it up next weekend...... expect picture of me in a ditch or gravel trap sometime soon. Luckily, not many sheep around these parts!

[PiperCub]

Trials Bantams are quite popular. Maybe an Enfield scrambler? they still sell them from India so you get more choice and they come in 350 & 500cc versions where as Bantams topout at 175cc (185cc with a Suzuki piston). Plus Bantams are two smokes so you need to carry oil etc.

 

Anything pre-65 will attract 'Pre-65 competition' tax. Anything 1965 or newer will generally be a fair bit cheaper.

[strangeangel]

Don't take it on board that all Chinese bikes are simply shit that will dissolve after a few short years. Most of the third world are pottering around on them in places that don't even have roads.

 

My two Chinese tiddlers have been totally reliable, so far, but you'll still hear people say "don't touch a Chinese bike"

 

Usually with good reason. I'm genuinely pleased (albeit surprised) that your two work, but my experience of Chinese machinery has been pretty much the opposite, which is why I tell people to leave them alone. This advice is particularly aimed at those who don't know one end of a spanner from another, because many shops simply refuse to work on them.

 

Here's a selection of the wretched piles of crap I've been exposed to one way or another over the last few years:

• Baotian BT-49 (neighbour's son) - Bought in a crate off eBay for £425 brand new. Big end failure at 1000 miles. Seller not interested. Scrapped.
• Jialing JL-250 (mine) -  Belt snapped and destroyed rear clutch assy. Had previously had the output shaft bearing replaced at 2500km! Scrapped for its bodywork.
• Jonway YY250 (mine) - HGF at 8000km. Took head off to replace it and discovered camshaft FUBAR. Fitted a Honda one with 50000 miles on it that looked better. Ran for a few weeks until the engine started cutting out for unspecfied reasons. Sold it to a bloke in Liverpool for spears, the next time I saw it, it was on eBay in a scrappers.
• Lifan 110cc engine fitted to my old Honda C50. This actually worked! Ran for 10000 miles before being sold as a going concern.
• Jialing JL-250 (mate's) - stator failed. So did two of the three replacements... reg/rec failed and then HGF, all within 1000 miles. Currently at the back of my mate's garage, where it's been for five years.
• Jianshe 125 (CG copy bought by a mate for commuting) - stuck in gear because cheese metal selector fork bent. New part arrived, also made out of cheese... fitted and, surprise surprise, failed again a few months later. He bought a car.
• Shineray 50cc crosser-type thing (mate's lad) - he had this from new: the exhaust rusted through in less than 12 months, it pissed out oil of every orifice and the kickstart shaft snapped. Running fault caused by split inlet rubber, later there was a mahoosive fuel leak due to a perished line. He bump started it for about 6 months after the electric start died, then we put in a no-brand 2nd hand 110 motor which ran for a few months until lack of compression made it impossible to start. Scrapped on his 17th birthday when his old man bought him a 2nd hand YBR125.

 

Guess what? Most of the third world are pottering around on them because they don't have any choice. 

[Fabergé Greggs]

How the hell am I going to do my full bike licence without paying for it?

 

Lessons are so pricey. Should I buy a 600, insure it as a learner, practice in a car park and then push it to the test centre? Surely that’s the Autoshite way..

 

I did my A1 test in a similar manner, only without the pushing bit.

[Guest Hooli]

Probably worth paying for an hour with an instructor on a DAS bike. They'll tell you what you need to pass, at least you'll know what to practice then.

Plus insurance or not, you can ONLY ride a bike that size on L-plates with an instructor so you'd be illegal in that car park.

[CreepingJesus]

Do Sidewinders still count? Are there any left out there? That's a perfectly legitimate* way to get around those pesky license requirements.

 

Re Chinese stuff: I'd concur with Strangeangel. Even in my limited experience of other people who've spent their money on them, they're not worth the bother. The one that springs straight to mind was a 125cc Honda Shadow clone, bought from a dealer in Kirkcaldy, that grenaded its engine after about 5000 miles. The 'replacement' engine turned out to be a piss poor recon, and never ran right. Constant electrical problems, bits falling off, shit chrome etc.

Meanwhile, his girlfriend's mate was running about on a scruffy second hand genuine Shadow that worked just fine. Lesson learned...

[gtd2000]

Usually with good reason. I'm genuinely pleased (albeit surprised) that your two work, but my experience of Chinese machinery has been pretty much the opposite, which is why I tell people to leave them alone. This advice is particularly aimed at those who don't know one end of a spanner from another, because many shops simply refuse to work on them.

 

Here's a selection of the wretched piles of crap I've been exposed to one way or another over the last few years:

• Baotian BT-49 (neighbour's son) - Bought in a crate off eBay for £425 brand new. Big end failure at 1000 miles. Seller not interested. Scrapped.
• Jialing JL-250 (mine) -  Belt snapped and destroyed rear clutch assy. Had previously had the output shaft bearing replaced at 2500km! Scrapped for its bodywork.
• Jonway YY250 (mine) - HGF at 8000km. Took head off to replace it and discovered camshaft FUBAR. Fitted a Honda one with 50000 miles on it that looked better. Ran for a few weeks until the engine started cutting out for unspecfied reasons. Sold it to a bloke in Liverpool for spears, the next time I saw it, it was on eBay in a scrappers.
• Lifan 110cc engine fitted to my old Honda C50. This actually worked! Ran for 10000 miles before being sold as a going concern.
• Jialing JL-250 (mate's) - stator failed. So did two of the three replacements... reg/rec failed and then HGF, all within 1000 miles. Currently at the back of my mate's garage, where it's been for five years.
• Jianshe 125 (CG copy bought by a mate for commuting) - stuck in gear because cheese metal selector fork bent. New part arrived, also made out of cheese... fitted and, surprise surprise, failed again a few months later. He bought a car.
• Shineray 50cc crosser-type thing (mate's lad) - he had this from new: the exhaust rusted through in less than 12 months, it pissed out oil of every orifice and the kickstart shaft snapped. Running fault caused by split inlet rubber, later there was a mahoosive fuel leak due to a perished line. He bump started it for about 6 months after the electric start died, then we put in a no-brand 2nd hand 110 motor which ran for a few months until lack of compression made it impossible to start. Scrapped on his 17th birthday when his old man bought him a 2nd hand YBR125.

 

Guess what? Most of the third world are pottering around on them because they don't have any choice. 

 

 

That's quite a selection of disasters right there!

 

I guess I'm coming from a position of considering that the Japanese made the most reliable bikes (and likely still do) but a good number of them didn't last very long at all back in the day.

 

All of my learner Japanese bikes in the 1980's had engine failures, cranks, pistons etc.

 

One of my mates had a brand new Kawasaki KH125 that didn't manage 12 months before it was shagged. He wasn't a fast rider but it was buggered and never saw the road again under his ownership. The same went for his CB50J.

 

My first bike was a Yamaha FS1E - shattered the piston and after a rebuild never ran right thereafter (wouldn't do more than 40), rust levels were very high. Suzuki GP100 - blew a hole in the piston, engine mounts broke multiple times, rusted everywhere. Suzuki X7 crank failed...probably because I always wanted to see 100 out of it but could never better 95!

 

I note you mention the Lifan 110 engine, a good number of Cub riders now use Chinese engines in their bikes and most think they are a very good replacement engine, some even think they are better than the old Honda units.

 

I can only go by the experiences that I (or my friends had) with smaller capacity Japanese bikes and compared them to my current Chinese machines. So far, I'd say that my Lexmoto ZSB is a far superior build quality than the GP100. It's not nearly as fast as it's a very low state of tune 4T 125cc. The Rider's Super Cub is a cheaply made machine but so far it serves the purpose intended very well.

 

I'd still opt for a Japanese product over a Chinese one most days of the week of course.

[Dave_Q]

It's a 650cc required now for DAS.

 

I would book for an hour or 2 tuition with a DAS instructor, and if they reckon you're OK they should let you book a test and hire their bike. Probably still £1-200 though.

 

 

On the Chinese bikes, I think it's just a total lottery as to whether you get a lemon or not. They're not trying to build something shit, but what they are doing is churning out old designs they don't really understand on shit old machinery.

 

Occasionally the stars may align and you get a set of parts that work perfectly, most of the time you will get bits that Honda etc would put in the bin.

 

Check out this disclaimer off a site selling brand new pitbikes:

 

A mechanically able person will be required to carry out the assembly and maintenance of this product. You should be prepared to maintain and fit parts to this product when required. DO NOT purchase this product unless you are able to maintain it.

To me, that translates as "bike is shit and will need near constant fettling"

[Psycho Charlie Knobcheese]

 

sofarsogood-

 

I might have this up for sale in the spring

[Guest Hooli]

IMG-0490.JPG@sofarsogood

 

I might have this up for sale in the spring

 

I like that, one of the Indian ones I presume?

[Guest]

Agreed, every (older) Chinese 2 wheeler I've had anything to do with has needed a full rebuild before it was a year old. Lad at the garage bought one, and every day there was something- broken bolts, fairing vibrating loose, snapped mirrors, snapped chains, chain adjusters breaking, you name it. I convinced him to get a wee Peugeot scooter and he put 6000 miles on it in 8 months without an issue.  Some of the new stuff though, they're getting closer..

[Dave_Q]

They will get there.

 

They can do quality control, but you just don't get it in a £400 crated moped.

 

People still buy the 4-500 new stuff and act surprised when it's less reliable than something that is 1200 and already had all the margin squeezed out of it.

[plasticvandan]

Thanks for the reply. I had a feeling the price might be prohibitive. Any suggestions for something similar that non oligarchs can afford? BSA Bantam?

Get yourself a CZ for £300 and make your own,will be far tougher than any Bantam,just as fun and no scene tax

[Psycho Charlie Knobcheese]

I like that, one of the Indian ones I presume?

 

 

Cheers Hooli, indeed it is. Last of the cast iron models with a right foot change. Got some nice bits on it- Ally mudguards, sump protector, Boyer, open pipe etc.

It's quite an event riding the thing!

[twosmoke300]

Good bike day today for me . Bought a 2010 versys 650 for £150 ! Blown engine tho so if anyone knows of one or an er6 motor / smashed bike .

Got my ke 175 fired up after its motor rebuild . Wouldn’t start yesterday and kicking back at me . A previously repairs flywheel was the problem . The magnets fall off and the one I had kicking around I repaired about 15 years ago had the magnets out of phase . Original flywheel with the loose magnet job welded on and it’s was away first kick

[plasticvandan]

I might* have another MZ 250 project on its way,could make a perfect green lane bike

[strangeangel]

I note you mention the Lifan 110 engine, a good number of Cub riders now use Chinese engines in their bikes and most think they are a very good replacement engine, some even think they are better than the old Honda units.

 

 

Even those are not a guarantee of success. I used to ride with a big group of C90 enthusiasts, and for every Lifan that worked brilliantly there was another that had shat 3rd gear almost immediately. The general consensus was if the motor got a couple of thousand miles under its belt without gearbox failure occurring, then it would probably be alright.

 

But, yeah, when working you're absolutely right - it is better than the 85cc Honda motor; no faster in reality, but with a little more torque and that all-important extra gear for dealing with the hills we have round here. If they could eliminate the Russian roulette factor (and they could at the expense of cheapness - Lifan used cast rather than machined dogs in the gearbox) that engine would be a little gem. Mine did 10000 miles of hard commuting - some city riding, and some flat-out throttle-on-the stop A road stuff - over three years, hauling my 15st ass along at 50mph while returning almost 100mpg. If only they all worked like that...

[strangeangel]

They will get there.

 

They are there, it's just as you say, though - if you want a moped in a box for 400 pund they will make you one. Of course it'll be shit, but that's all you paid for.

 

China Ltd. makes plenty of stuff under licence for Western manufacturers that's built to a much higher standard that the aforementioned, but you have to pay accordingly.

[Guest Hooli]

Cheers Hooli, indeed it is. Last of the cast iron models with a right foot change. Got some nice bits on it- Ally mudguards, sump protector, Boyer, open pipe etc.

It's quite an event riding the thing!

 

Apart from the Boyer that sounds great. I've had too many bad experiences with them to trust the buggers. Any ideas on what price you're thinking of? oh & is it a 350 or 500?

[Psycho Charlie Knobcheese]

Apart from the Boyer that sounds great. I've had too many bad experiences with them to trust the buggers. Any ideas on what price you're thinking of? oh & is it a 350 or 500?

It's a Boyer powerbox Hooli- it's still running points.

 

Its a 500

 

I'd be looking for about 1800 quid.

[Fat_Pirate]

IMG-0490.JPG

 

sofarsogood-

 

I might have this up for sale in the spring

 

I may well be interested in acquiring that...

[sofarsogood]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I am up for the idea of modifying something newer to get the style I like the look of. Some great suggestions above, I need to some more research.

[Psycho Charlie Knobcheese]

I may well be interested in acquiring that...

It's a nice bike. Been sensibly modified (longer koni shocks) as well as some other bits and pieces like a rep lucas tail light. It really looks the part

 

I bought it as a present to myself for my 40th last year but I'm just not using it enough. Life seems to keep getting in the way!

 

My circumstances will be changing in the coming months and when I do come to sell, It will be on here as a first point of call for obvious reasons!

 

Edit: can email photos for any interested parties

[Psycho Charlie Knobcheese]

Stickers on side panels not my doing- was just after I picked it up