The Bikeshite Thread

[Jerzy Woking]

Managed to find a complete Ventura rack and fittings for my KTM RC8 which is just four pieces and took me 10 minutes to fit - no cutting of panels required and I can remove the whole lot in 5 minutes.

 

Brilliant system, first came across one in New Zealand in 1995 fitted on my hired VX800, The RC8 is the first bike I have owned where I've needed one - especially as I'll now be able to ride the RC8 to Slovakia (via a bit of Austria and Northern Italy), as carrying luggage otherwise would be a right pain due to the design of the rear end of the bike.

[Guest Hooli]

Those are the ones that carry a rucksack over the pillion seat aren't they? they look damn good kit.

[Jerzy Woking]

They are indeed. Didn't take my phone into the garage, but will get a photo. So easy to fit (although the cross piece I managed to fit the wrong way round because I had no fitting instructions). Offers the choice of swapping between a grab rail, small traditional rack, or a "roll bar" over which a ruck sack can be fitted. Better still, a normal rucksack can be adapted to fit if I can't find a Ventura on cheap.

 

its not exactly pretty but undo 4 torx bolts and the side rails and rack attachment are off.

[John F]

Look forward to seeing a piccy of that...

[drum]

The clutch on my project GS650 is seized. By looking through the oil filler hole I can see the pressure plate moving when the clutch lever is operated. The friction plates have glued themselves together over the 28 years since it last was on the road.

 

Is there a lazy way of freeing them without stripping the clutch out? Like spraying wd40 through the oil filler opening on to them and trying to bump them loose? The carbs are still off so I can't use the engine to help me.

 

I expect the answer will be to pull it apart but thought I'd ask anyway.

[xtriple]

Depends how stuck they are. You could try pulling the clutch lever in and kicking it over... a lot! To be honest, it's not hard to strip a bikes clutch but you'll probably need a new gasket. If it is really stuck, I'd try laying the bike over on the clutch side to get loads of oil on/in/between the plates and then try kicking her over. Of course, if you wait until the engine runs or even turns over on the starter thn it would make your life easier.

 

So, lay the bike on the right, for a few hours, take the plugs out, push front wheel against wall or other imovable object, put it in gear and kick or press starter. It 'should' unstick pretty easily.

[DodgeRover]

Or it could be an absolute swine. They are so easy to strip you may as well...

[xtriple]

Or it could be an absolute swine. They are so easy to strip you may as well...

Just if it's our usual budget type repair, then the gasket will be ore than the bike cost! 

[yellowperil]

Depends how stuck they are. You could try pulling the clutch lever in and kicking it over... a lot! To be honest, it's not hard to strip a bikes clutch but you'll probably need a new gasket. If it is really stuck, I'd try laying the bike over on the clutch side to get loads of oil on/in/between the plates and then try kicking her over. Of course, if you wait until the engine runs or even turns over on the starter thn it would make your life easier.

 

So, lay the bike on the right, for a few hours, take the plugs out, push front wheel against wall or other imovable object, put it in gear and kick or press starter. It 'should' unstick pretty easily.

I did this with my XJ650 when I bought it, it NAD been sitting in a shed for years.

I used the front wheel against a wall method, it worked perfectly and used it for years after with no problems.

It did make quite a lot of noise when it freed off though.

[John F]

It's dead easy to strip the clutch on a GS650 though, and personally I'd want to have a look at its condition if I was rebuilding the bike after 28 years off the road...

[drum]

I will. I had the cover loosened and thought I was going to tear the gasket, saw the pressure plate was moving ok, so stopped myself thinking there might be an easier way.

 

The clutch is stiffer than it should be though so a strip and clean up won't go amiss.

[DodgeRover]

One of my trials bikes is a real bugger for the clutch sticking it usually takes 10 minutes riding round the garden with the lever held in in 3rd gear dabbing the back brake and twitching the throttle to free it. Not so much of a drama as the earlier rotax engined SWMs never really cleared when less than hot anyway so I've had plenty of practise

[twosmoke300]

ATF is good for clutches in two strokes

[DodgeRover]

Yep used by all the works riders of stuff like Bultaco and Fantic back in the day.

Makes some clouds of smoke though when sucked through marginal main bearing oil seals.

There was a reason not to use it in the rotax engines but I can't remember why, I think I went with only fitting 4 clutch springs and putoline or silkolene synthetic light gear oil

[DodgeRover]

I seem to have stumbled upon the local dumping area for bikes first I spotted a heavily stripped Honda MT5 sorry no photo of this one.

Then deeper in the woods this DT125R which looking at the rear disc was virtually new when it was dumped - looks to have been stripped in situ after dumping, the frame didn't appear to have been flat spotted so the frame number might still be readable with lots of scraping - judging by the corrosion I'm guessing it's been there 20+ years

 

 

On the way back was this scooter, looks to have been burned but no idea if it was just dumped first, remains of the vin plate were visible on this if anybody is trying to find it for an insurance settlement

 

 

Then as we were heading out is an electric scooter, again part burned

 

 

I wonder how many teenaged dreams were ruined when some light fingered sod decided to steal them.

[strangeangel]

The only good bike thief is a dead bike thief.

 

Mention of the MT5 reminded me of this classic bit of advertising... "Buy this moped and score with chicks! No really, you will. Honest."

 

[UltraWomble]

Talking of which there has been something in the news recently about a group of bike thieves nicking bikes then posting on Instagran and asking for a ransom for the return or the bike will be torched - then videos of the bike being torched.

 

One was a nice vintage Trumpet.

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/police-yet-make-any-arrests-1214456

[DodgeRover]

I would have thought a certain patch wearing club would have a chapter in the area who could deal with the matter in a final solution type of manner as obviously the police aren't able to do anything, maybe a video being posted of the culprits being doused in petrol then offered a fag would have an impact on bike theft in the area?

 

Edit given that there are names and faces all over Facebook the police are probably protecting them!

[John F]

given that there are names and faces all over Facebook the police are probably protecting them!

 

^ How fucked up is this?

 

Get the cunts torched. Or gelded.

[strangeangel]

I would have thought a certain patch wearing club would have a chapter in the area who could deal with the matter in a final solution type of manner as obviously the police aren't able to do anything, maybe a video being posted of the culprits being doused in petrol then offered a fag would have an impact on bike theft in the area?

 

 

Patch clubs will only be interested if you steal their bikes. But, yeah

 

 

is a nice thought.

 

Nicking bikes, demanding ransoms and burning people's bikes on camera = worthless scum whose yooman ryghts should be revoked. And yet plod don't seem able to even nick these oxygen thieves; the situation in London appears equally desperate.

 

FWIW I'm with James May when it comes to bike thieves.

[drum]

Those pricks that go about trying to rob bikes in broad daylight and sometimes when the owner is sitting on it deserve a good hiding at least.

 

GS650GT news: Today I stripped the clutch, cleaned the plates, lubed the cable reassembled and now have a working clutch. Back brake cylinder was unseized and brake fluid changed. I need to strip the caliper though as it's a bit sticky. The screws for the front brake reservoir lid are fubared. The front brakes work but the fluid must be 30 years old. I might try and drill the heads off the screws and save having to buy a new reservoir.

 

Just waiting on parts to arrive for the carb now.

 

 

Gratuitous clutch and scenery shot..

[xtriple]

Small, sharp chisel on those screws will get them turning in moments. Needs to be small and you need to be accurate!

[drum]

Small, sharp chisel on those screws will get them turning in moments. Needs to be small and you need to be accurate!

I'll have a go!

[warren t claim]

The only good bike thief is a dead bike thief.

 

Mention of the MT5 reminded me of this classic bit of advertising... "Buy this moped and score with chicks! No really, you will. Honest."

 

If you derestricted an MB5 is was pretty quick for a 50.

[DodgeRover]

If you derestricted an MB5 is was pretty quick for a 50.

What did you do to them, my friends one was deadly slow. The only cure was fitting a H100 engine....I though the MT/ MB was built for low power and not restricted?

[Jerzy Woking]

Look forward to seeing a piccy of that...

Finally managed to take some photos (even with a raging earache!).

 

Front mount is to the top pillion footest mount:

 

 

The cross mount bolts underneath the rear subframe to the number plate hanger, and the front to rear rail bolts to this:

 

 

Then the rear rack (not very pretty) slots into the two side pieces;

 

 

Or a grabrail:

 

 

Need to buy the big LOOP that the rucksack fits over.

 

But this is what it looks like stood back a bit;

 

Remove four torx screws an it's off with just the cross member attached. Can now remove it in two minutes. Not pretty but it means I can ride it to Slovakia with more that just a toothbrush and a change of boxers

[gtd2000]

Patch clubs will only be interested if you steal their bikes. But, yeah

 

 

is a nice thought.

 

Nicking bikes, demanding ransoms and burning people's bikes on camera = worthless scum whose yooman ryghts should be revoked. And yet plod don't seem able to even nick these oxygen thieves; the situation in London appears equally desperate.

 

FWIW I'm with James May when it comes to bike thieves.

Many moons ago, the local patch club knicked a "friend of a friend's" motorcycle to use in one of their choppers.

 

The story goes that the "friend of a friend" went down to the local patch club house early one morning with a baseball bat, knocked the FCUK out of the the bikers and the house and retrieved the what was left of the stolen motorcycle....

 

He didn't have any trouble with stolen motorcycles after that delivered lesson

[drum]

Any ideas where I can get these carb parts cheaper? 14 euros for postage is the stinger.

[DodgeRover]

Have you tried ordering from Fowlers mcs? Otherwise if it's Mikuni parts Allens Performance in Nottingham

 

Edit just checked 4.94 inc and in stock but the other is 18 something and back order only

[Jazoli]

Try Crooks Suzuki, top lads in there and they don't take the piss with postage.