The Bikeshite Thread

[doug]

Not so good news with the BMW I bought with the clutch problem. Got the replacement push rod today and its about 2" longer. Looked a bit closer at the old one and it looks like it might be snapped  in half with a bit  still stuck the clutch. Ho hum.

20190626_122703[1]

[Jerzy Woking]

So finally got around to test riding the RE Continental GT650 today.

The one I rode has 1800 miles on it, so nicely run in, and like my Himalayan, very, very smooth engine. Very little mirror vibration at all, which I now see as essential. Riding position in between that of my Guzzi and my RC8, so that's good, as I can do 800 mile days on those )not at the same time).

Suspension wi need adjusting for me, as a little bit soft which made it a bit wallowy on the back lanes which I rode with enthusiasm. Engine gives a nice blend of torque and power

 Bit wheezy up by the red line as it runs out of puff, but really no need to rev it so hard, so tye needle won't see the red line again.  

Overall, impressed, and again, as I was with the with the Himalayan, with the price too. The three year warranty is welcome, but from what I read and hear, few problems have occurred with them, just a few niggles.

Once I get the Ducati 900SS up and running (few piddly jobs to do on it) it will be sold and another RE will take a space in my garage.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

The wife's CBR125 had an absolutely rotten downpipe, apparently they all do that.

So I went looking for a new exhaust, with the brief from the Mrs being nothing too loud and looks wise she likes the standard Honda end can.

Black Widow exhausts do a stainless exhaust with an adapter to mate with the standard can, so one of those was ordered yesterday for £74, free delivery too. And amazingly it arrived here in Belfast today.

The finish is perfect, and it fits like a glove. I'm really impressed with the quality of the pipe especially for the money. It was really well packaged, and inside the box were a couple of stickers, a lanyard and fairly decent instructions.

You can see the difference in bore:


Old pipe really was buggered:


On the bike




Yes the swinging arm needs painted.......

The Honda end can was a different story, it was in good condition other than the three bolts to mate with the link pipe which all sheared.....and I couldn't get the remains out either

So I filed them flat, used the black widow flange as a template and drilled new mounting holes, and used some threaded bar and lock nuts to bodge it all together

And on the bike



The removable flange is a really neat idea, because with it off you can fit an aftermarket slip-on silencer instead.....

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[strangeangel]

 

Autoshite - always on the money!

[Aston Martin]

I didn't discover they existed until this year. 11 years late... The Autoshite way.

[martc]

17 hours ago, Jerzy Woking said:

So finally got around to test riding the RE Continental GT650 today....

What was the detailling like? I mentioned a few pages ago that I was looking at one at the NEC Bike Show and some of the finishing was disappointing - eg the indicator lens didn't line up with the plastic chrome body. Someone I know suggested that these were pre-production models and certain rough edges would be ironed out before sale to the public.

[shoddybanger]

I managed to score myself some 90's bikeshite yesterday - a 1992 Honda VFR that's in surprisingly good nick. Best part of course is the V4 engine, because it means that I essentially have a two-wheeled Saab 96 now!

It does have a bit of a part-throttle sputter, so I guess I need to take the carbs apart. It hasn't seen much of the road in the past ten years, as the date stamp is 09 on the front tyre and 07 for the rear tyre. Idles very nicely and happily pulls all the way up to the redline, though.

[twosmoke300]

Lovely . If its rides / runs something like it id be inclined to put some good quality fuel system cleaner in the tank and run it a bit to see if it gets better . I would imagine carb removal on that , like all engine jobs on them, is a proper prick of a job.

[Jerzy Woking]

3 hours ago, martc said:

What was the detailling like? I mentioned a few pages ago that I was looking at one at the NEC Bike Show and some of the finishing was disappointing - eg the indicator lens didn't line up with the plastic chrome body. Someone I know suggested that these were pre-production models and certain rough edges would be ironed out before sale to the public.

It was fine-certainly better than some of the CCM's I have seen. However, I think it all depends on the dealer's approach to completing the PDI.

Some dealers seem to slap them together whereas others take their time and sort things out like panel alignment before releasing to the new owner. 

[Aston Martin]

Stop buying motorbicycles

Or maybe I need to stop visiting the thread.

[shoddybanger]

6 hours ago, twosmoke300 said:

Lovely . If its rides / runs something like it id be inclined to put some good quality fuel system cleaner in the tank and run it a bit to see if it gets better . I would imagine carb removal on that , like all engine jobs on them, is a proper prick of a job.

Thanks for the compliment - and for the suggestion. I hadn't even thought about trying a cleaner first. Indeed, I think I'm just going to throw on a new fuel filter and buy a bottle of fuel system cleaner to see if that helps any.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Out for a wee run yesterday evening, the weather was stunning. Even managed a wee crossing on the Strangford ferry, which takes all of ten minutes

 

Not my video, but here is the ferry. Proper Autoshite!

 

 

 

 

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[UltraWomble]

If like mine, your bike is a bit shit, you might be in needs of something like this:

The phone app I was using, has its uses, but frankly is a bit pap. It keeps flipping to adverts, so you need to de glove to press the screen to get rid of the adverts. Also the display isn't great to read in sunshine. So this arrived yesterday - £14 off eBay.

The Chinglish instructions were simple enough to understand and sort out the settings.You can have it set up as MPH or KMH and when you stop the display flips to miles travelled then total time travelled in mins.

Its got a little stand that sticks to wherever with a 3M adhesive pad. Its getting a lot of vibration where it is currently so may not stay there forever.

[hairnet]

Commuting helmet died

Shiny helmet yes?

 

I R STRING FELLOW HAWKE

[pilninggas]

49 minutes ago, UltraWomble said:

If like mine, your bike is a bit shit, you might be in needs of something like this:

The phone app I was using, has its uses, but frankly is a bit pap. It keeps flipping to adverts, so you need to de glove to press the screen to get rid of the adverts. Also the display isn't great to read in sunshine. So this arrived yesterday - £14 off eBay.

The Chinglish instructions were simple enough to understand and sort out the settings.You can have it set up as MPH or KMH and when you stop the display flips to miles travelled then total time travelled in mins.

Its got a little stand that sticks to wherever with a 3M adhesive pad. Its getting a lot of vibration where it is currently so may not stay there forever.

i ordered one of those this morning, as the speedo on my ZX10R is very optimistic. nice to know it works.

[UltraWomble]

The Speedo on Hagar doesnt work at all - the trip counter does, but the total counter and dial never have ( and its speedo number  in the bikes life)

Originally I was using a mobile phone, but it was just crap and hard to see - this actually works quite well and had it going yesterday in the Picasso and was pretty accurate ( or at least as accurate as the Picasso speedo is)

One thing I will say is it is NOT battery powered  - the inaccurately labelled "charging port" is actually its power port, no power, no workie. You can run it from a power bank, or install a USB socket like wot I did last week

 

[OhhEnnEmm]

Finally at that time of year in the UK where I get to see everyone else's motorbikes!

Though the instant weather change has got my carb all confused ?

[strangeangel]

23 hours ago, UltraWomble said:

The Speedo on Hagar doesnt work at all - the trip counter does, but the total counter and dial never have ( and its speedo number  in the bikes life)

Originally I was using a mobile phone, but it was just crap and hard to see - this actually works quite well and had it going yesterday in the Picasso and was pretty accurate ( or at least as accurate as the Picasso speedo is)

One thing I will say is it is NOT battery powered  - the inaccurately labelled "charging port" is actually its power port, no power, no workie. You can run it from a power bank, or install a USB socket like wot I did last week

 

 

That's a handy-looking gizmo Marty, I can think of a use for one of those. Where d'you get it?

 

EDIT: Scratch that - just read the post above!

[5speedracer]

Commuting helmet died
Shiny helmet yes?
 
I R STRING FELLOW HAWKE

Tried one of these before I bought a Grex. Seemed VFM but far too tight on the cheeks for me even at £90.

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[5speedracer]

What was the detailling like? I mentioned a few pages ago that I was looking at one at the NEC Bike Show and some of the finishing was disappointing - eg the indicator lens didn't line up with the plastic chrome body. Someone I know suggested that these were pre-production models and certain rough edges would be ironed out before sale to the public.

On mine I'd say pretty good. OK the indicators are plastic chrome and the headlight shell is unlikely to make it to vintage but overall good.
Brakes are Bybre (Indian Brembo) and come with braided lines. Rims are Excel, stainless spokes and Indian made hubs. Paint is excellent as is the frame welding, no snot.
For me the only dodgy detail is the L/H footrest hanger. Looks like they forgot about it until the week before launch and got a first year apprentice to cast something to fit. "Doesn't matter what it looks like".

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[Bfg]

Question on Tyres

Dunlop K82 is said to be a universal front or rear tyre < here >  but I more often see it being advertised as a rear tyre.  I need a front tyre 4.60x16" for my Sunbeam.  Anyone know where I might find out if it is suitable for use on the front ?  or are there universal variants as well and rear only tyres. ?   

Thanks

 

Just searched and found the Dunlop website  which says :

F/R	SIZE	DESCRIPTION	L/S	TT/TL	CODE PRODUCT
Front/Rear	18	2.75-18 42S  TT K82	42S	TT	651016
Front/Rear	18	3.00-18 47S  TT K82	47S	TT	651018
Front/Rear	18	3.25-18 52S TT K82	52S	TT	651023
Front/Rear	18	3.50-18 56S TT K82	56S	TT	651027
Rear	16	4.60-16 59S TT K82	59S	TT	651038

[pilninggas]

3 hours ago, Bfg said:

Question on Tyres

Dunlop K82 is said to be a universal front or rear tyre < here >  but I more often see it being advertised as a rear tyre.  I need a front tyre 4.60x16" for my Sunbeam.  Anyone know where I might find out if it is suitable for use on the front ?  or are there universal variants as well and rear only tyres. ?   

Thanks

 

Just searched and found the Dunlop website  which says :

F/R	SIZE	DESCRIPTION	L/S	TT/TL	CODE PRODUCT
Front/Rear	18	2.75-18 42S  TT K82	42S	TT	651016
Front/Rear	18	3.00-18 47S  TT K82	47S	TT	651018
Front/Rear	18	3.25-18 52S TT K82	52S	TT	651023
Front/Rear	18	3.50-18 56S TT K82	56S	TT	651027
Rear	16	4.60-16 59S TT K82	59S	TT	651038

can you not email dunlop uk and see what they say?

 

[New POD]

If it's the right size? Surely it is good to go. 

[Aston Martin]

I saw a woman riding a 999 today, my erection still hasn't vanished.

[warch]

I'm going bike shopping soon, as my existing moto has reached such an impressive level of shyte that replacement tyres, chain, sprockets, clutch and fork seals are required, there's a nasty oil leak somewhere behind the engine, the fairing is held together with tape, it has a cracked screen and speedometer, flaking wheels and semi operative brakes. Basically I've pretty well got my money's worth out of it. 

I have a nominal budget of up to 2 and a half grand but no doubt my ancestral Scotsman will rise from my subconscious and I'll end up spending about half that. Or spend a hundred quid or so rectifying enough faults on the Honda to get another years ticket like I've done for the past five years.

[hairnet]

get all sorts of nice shite for that from sporty to practical to scooter

biketrader <2500 and pick a style

[stereotype]

Also some alright on el Gumtree, especially in that budget. I'm looking for a 125 for a couple hundred quid so I can learn and do test on so my fixing of my mum's 86 Rebel isn't just for the internet and I actually get use out of it, excited for some bike collection thread action

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[Bfg]

2 hours ago, pilninggas said:

can you not email dunlop uk and see what they say?

 

Have done, but am awaiting their reply so in the meantime wondered if y'all had direct experience of why a tyre is designated rear.   I suspect., because of that designation, any Dunlop engineer, whatever he might actually think, will have to support that ..for fear getting their corporate arse kicked in the event of accident, etc.   

.

[hairnet]

38 minutes ago, warch said:

 

I have a nominal budget of up to 2 and a half grand 

13 plate cb500f will be for sale in september 54k had fork seals and a service last month for mot.

needs front tyre (done this week as will be going scotland and ireland on it in july) rear tyre fitted in november last year and done about 4k on it (pirelli)

plastics scruffy but have a set of tank panels and side panels new OEM honda to go with it - as reported in here it fell over on a stena boat and broke the peg and bent the handlebars - replaced with OEM from honda once i got the money

itll also get a new shock and rear brake pedal (bent from stamping on it) and bar ends as the bar end disappeared when i arrived at six cyls a few weeks ago

wouldnt be anywhere near 2  and half grand

 

 

[Bfg]

17 hours ago, Bfg said:

Have done, but am awaiting their reply so in the meantime wondered if y'all had direct experience of why a tyre is designated rear.   I suspect., because of that designation, any Dunlop engineer, whatever he might actually think, will have to support that ..for fear getting their corporate arse kicked in the event of accident, etc.   

Exactly as anticipated ..

"Thank you for your e-mail.

You are correct we do make some K82 tyres which are universal which are approved for both front and rear.

There are occasions however within our vintage range that tyres after design and testing should only be fitted to a specific position. In the case of the 4.60-16 59S TT K82 - this tyre  is advised as rear only.  Sadly we would not be able to approve a product for use outside its tested design specification.

Peter Wayte
Senior Advisor

Technical Customer Support & Service
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd " 

Interestingly Avon tyres on their website say that although they do not recommend fitting their tyres on the other wheel (front to back, or back to front) if you do so - then reverse their direction of rotation.