The Bikeshite Thread

[Eddie Honda]

14 hours ago, Bfg said:

....fitting their tyres on the other wheel (front to back, or back to front) if you do so - then reverse their direction of rotation.

^^^^ Plenty of sidecarists know this.

I've had Dunlop K82s on MZs and they were obviously a lot skinnier. 2.75 x 18 front and 3.50 x 16 rear. They had two arrows in opposite directions - one for front front and one for rear. IIRC they weren't next to each other but on different sides, so you had to be awake whilst fitting them! So I don't see what is so magical about the 4.60 x 16 rear that makes it irreversible and only recommended for rear use. If was set on getting Dunlops, I'd just do that.

Is there any reason not to go for a Avon SAFETY MILEAGE C MKII in 5.00 x 16 (rear and reverse fit on front)? (£95)

Or Continental K112 universal? (£76)

Or Shinko 270 Super Classics (also universal)? 

Or fit some tube tyre variants of 130/90--B16s?

[Bfg]

Thanks EH,  that was useful.

Shame I didn't see your post yesterday as I would probably have sought the Conti K112  or a Shinko.   I've given up on Avon since I had two in succession split on me, aside from which the safety-mileage mkii are very heavy.

As it was I had to make a decision and just get on with it,  to get this bike on the road,  so I can do some running-in miles and advertise the bike.   I went for this used Dura Blvd. (below) with 5.5mm tread left and dated 2414, for £30 inc postage.  This front tyre will not look so good on a 1948 Sunbeam but at least it ought to be safe.   I'll don't plan to do more than a hundred gentle-riding miles on the bike before I sell it ..together with its original wheels and museum-piece tyres  ..which are too old to even have date stamps on them.  Thereafter the new owner can chose whatever he likes.   For the back wheel,  I already have a barely used Avon SM MkII which I'll use, together with new Michelin inner tubes (front & rear).  

The second set of wheels with those tyres will be fitted to Katie next week.  Seen above with the petrol tank off Nudge as I've been repainting the tank

^ presently hardening in the summer heat for a few days before I lightly rub it down, compound and polish.  ..my garage notebook  < here >

For the 1953 S7-deluxe Coronation bike that I'm restoring for myself ; the existing tyres are also Avon SM's MkII but dated 1993,  so I'll keep your suggestions on file and buy new tyres for her when close to completion.  But as, at the present rate of things, that may not be for another year or two I'd prefer to wait ..to get as new tyres as practical.  Of course if I can find tyres of the right size  ;  4.50-16 front , 4.75-16 rear then I'll try for those ..if they are not too modern looking.

Thanks again EH.

Bfg.

[Aston Martin]

I have seen maybe 15 BMW GSseseses today. Some in packs, some solo. Some going northbound on the m74, some going south.

[twosmoke300]

Ahh the long way round ( to the espresso bar ) crew

[doug]

Spent the last week fixing the clutch on the R1100GS "bargain". Replaced the clutch,push rod ( it was snapped in 2), and clutch thrust bearing. Started it up today and the noise is still there. Must be the gearbox that's fucked. Start stripping it down again tomorrow. Fun fun fun.

Sent from my SM-J330FN using Tapatalk

[twosmoke300]

Just let the Navara support crew fix it for you ???

[Jerzy Woking]

7 hours ago, Nyphur said:

This time last year you couldn't have done a thing to stop me going out and razzing about on my bike. I was going to say "come rain, wind, or shine", but last summer was pretty much just shine.
This year... I couldn't care less about going out on the same bike. I've been for the odd pootle about down my favourite road, and been noticeably quicker (so I'm making progress at least in my riding ability), but I've pretty much 0% enthusiasm. Not sure where my mojo has gone, or how to get it back, but at the moment my bike is pretty much a £3k ornament. 

Pretty much the same here. Unless i have somewhere specific to go to on a bike, then my bikes get used less and less. Yet when I am out.on the bike, like yesterday, I do enjoy it. I don't know, but maybe commuting 20,000 miles a year for the last 20 years takes the edge off of "popping out on the bike for a couple of hours".

Still looking forward to my ride out to Croatia, followed by another ride to Portugal, so I do have my touring mojo still.

[doug]

Found a replacment gearbox for the POS BMW......its in Leeds.......oh well off to Leeds tomorrow to pick it up.

[hairnet]

hairy avon fitted to front of bike

rear pads to fit when it stop trying to drizzle

watch motogp qual 

take old helmets to tip tomorrow

buy cake

cash in winning lotto ticket

[New POD]

1 minute ago, 83C said:

I'm looking for a cheap bike to use as a commuter machine later in the year. I spot a rough but ok GSX600F local to me on eBay at bargainous money. Overkill really for what I want (a 250 maxi scoot would be perfect) but the price is very right. 3 messages over a few days asking the seller if I can come and view - all ignored despite the advert saying 'any questions, please ask'. Someone has now bid on it but only the one bid. I just want to go round there and give it the quick once over before committing - as its so close it'd be daft not to. 

Do people not want to talk to potential buyers?

Bid on it.  Win. Go look. Decline to buy as not described. 

 

[loserone]

No harm in offering less if it's not as described.

 

Motor vehicle auctions are not a contract on eBay.

[hairnet]

hairy avon fitted 

new brakes on back (fuck you caliper bolt hding behind the zorst)

looked at fronts and theyre ok so cleaned caliper

wagons roll week on weds for busy two weeks

still not cleaned fingerprints off tank panels when it got plugs and a service the other week

[pilninggas]

mot passed earlier -- NC700.

Fixed the ongoing water leak on my FZR1000 too.

[doug]

No video footage of me single handed get this one piece frame,engine,gearbox and final drive out the back of the Polo estate sadly.

20190706_143448[1]

[RayMK]

Today, taking advantage of a glimmer of enthusiasm to do something, I took a closer look at what may be required to get my Peugeot moped running after its 25+ years sleep.  I knew the engine had compression because I had turned it by hand about once per year.  I wanted to check the ignition/magneto but could not find my two legged puller or the special extractor to remove the flywheel.  Oh well.  Let's remove the plug and see if it has a spark.  Much to my surprise, it had a fairly healthy looking spark.  I had nothing to lose by putting a bit of 2stroke mix in the tank and getting my son to whirl the pedals.  Nothing.  Not even a cough.  Investigating the fuel system (gravity fed from the tank via a shut-off valve), no fuel was getting to the carb.  Indeed, no fuel was passing through the valve or even coming out of the tank outlet with the fuel pipe removed.  A cycle tyre pump eventually managed to blow bubbles in the tank, though actual flow from the tank was still limited to an occasional drip.  More blowing and tank agitation fractionally improved matters.  With fuel reconnected, a number of attempts were made to see if the engine would cough or start.  Neither occurred.  My son declared himself exhausted from the exertion (he had just cycled 20 miles back from work) and we thus called it a day.  I will dismantle and clean the fuel system before trying again, son permitting.  Age and decrepitude have rendered me incapable of starting a 50cc moped.  Life....muttering....etc. ?.  

[LostnotFound]

On 7/5/2019 at 2:04 AM, Nyphur said:

This time last year you couldn't have done a thing to stop me going out and razzing about on my bike. I was going to say "come rain, wind, or shine", but last summer was pretty much just shine.
This year... I couldn't care less about going out on the same bike. I've been for the odd pootle about down my favourite road, and been noticeably quicker (so I'm making progress at least in my riding ability), but I've pretty much 0% enthusiasm. Not sure where my mojo has gone, or how to get it back, but at the moment my bike is pretty much a £3k ornament. 

I blame you having a competent working bike. If it was knackered all you'd do is get pangs on jealousy every time you saw anyone else making the most of the summer.

I managed to get out on the VFR earlier which behaved itself for once. It some ways it was a real mistake, had a cracking time and it reminded my how much I enjoy riding it so really don't want to scrap it just as I'm lazy. Fuck knows how I'll get it through an MOT let alone work out a plan to smuggle it into Denmark. I wonder if Danish ebay has vin plates for sale....

As a brain fart has anyone tried any of these sort of things? It would appear more tempting than trying to find a non fucked model specific dash.

 

https://www.digital-speedos.co.uk/gauges-c4/motorcycle-gauges-c27/multifunction-gauges-c29/koso-db-01rn-multifunction-gauge-best-seller-compact-design-complete-with-speed-sensor-p5

 

[twosmoke300]

Look at this tit . Finally got leathers that fit ! Just gotta break em in now .

Track day here I come ! Whoop whoop 

Put ebc pads In the cat today , what a difference to the kyoto junk in their before . Had a fiddle with the suspension because the new pads showed up a lot of brake dive . Turns out it had been set up super soft up front and stiff out back . All balanced up now and much nicer . 

So happy with this cheap old bike , got the bug again .

[doug]

Got the replacement gearbox fitted to the POS BMW and took it for a test run. The gearbox is fine but the bike runs like shite. I found one of the throttle stop screws missing. No problem I can pinch one off the spares I bought yesterday. Googled how to set it and all sorts of warnings not to touch these screws as they are factory set. This bike is fighting me all the way. Luckily I dont give up easily. To be continued....

[hairnet]

LOL

thats understated

ps skinny barstard

i bought mine - wore them for two trackdays havent worn them since

no idea if i fit in them now as it was 4-years ago

 

[Fat_Pirate]

ATGATT!

Me on my first bike, back in 2011.  I made sure to say goodbye to everybody (including the dog), before venturing out on the Yamaha of nearly a dozen horsepowers.  Did not die, but the kit saved my bacon when I crashed at a track day a few years later (not on the Yam, of course  ).

[Aston Martin]

I just bought this, dunno why.

 

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/24l-slipstream-water-resistant-mc-backpack-black-899-delivered-at-xlmoto-3258942

[doug]

Got the POS BMW fixed. After sorting the clutch only to find the gearbox was fucked and sorting that only to  find it ran like shit. Traced it to a fucked injector. Runs good now.☺️

[strangeangel]

On 7/5/2019 at 2:04 AM, Nyphur said:

This time last year you couldn't have done a thing to stop me going out and razzing about on my bike. I was going to say "come rain, wind, or shine", but last summer was pretty much just shine.
This year... I couldn't care less about going out on the same bike. I've been for the odd pootle about down my favourite road, and been noticeably quicker (so I'm making progress at least in my riding ability), but I've pretty much 0% enthusiasm. Not sure where my mojo has gone, or how to get it back, but at the moment my bike is pretty much a £3k ornament. 

 

There's no easy answer to that one... I don't suppose it helps that we're into July and it's still mostly pissing down. I suspect this kind of boredom is what convinces some riders to keep buying progressively larger, more powerful machines, thinking that more speed will bring back the magic.

 

Sorry I can't offer any practical suggestions - whenever this sort of thing strikes me I end up selling whatever I'm currently riding and going back to the Helix.

 

 

 

[Jerzy Woking]

12 hours ago, Aston Martin said:

I just bought this, dunno why.

 

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/24l-slipstream-water-resistant-mc-backpack-black-899-delivered-at-xlmoto-3258942

I bought one when they were £20 each. Had it about a year now and it's still intact and water resistant (rather than waterproof).

Has lasted longer than the £70 Knox I had, that was no better than a £5 rucksack from the market.

[Aston Martin]

On 7/8/2019 at 10:36 PM, Jerzy Woking said:

I bought one when they were £20 each. Had it about a year now and it's still intact and water resistant (rather than waterproof).

Has lasted longer than the £70 Knox I had, that was no better than a £5 rucksack from the market.

It arrived, it's massive. 

 

Anyway, CBT no.

Licence no

Theory test on Saturday, but 9am.

[Aston Martin]

I did not practice, because I couldn't be bothered.

 

Hazard Perception is impossible to fail imo.

Theory questions, I estimated 4 questions wrong.

 

A pass is a pass....

[hairnet]

insurance renewal came through

this year it was 192 inc ££ for paying on the drip (conventient)

renewal 288 - hahahahaha fuuuuuuck off

mileage still lots but 3 points have expired and the value of the bike has come down

first 3 quotes - 106 109 110

bought the 106 one but protected no claims (its been 18 years )

118 - rang bennetts and told them 'oh lets see if i can reduce it'

no insurer ever has ever been able to beat someone elses quote

they got 246 - which was politely declined

madness - and it happens every year

[strangeangel]

1 minute ago, hairnet said:

it happens every year

 

Yep, loyalty is for mugs. I've even 'switched' to the same company before now, when they've sent me an outlandish renewal and I've subsequently got a better price for the same policy from a comparison website.

 

[hairnet]

the old git said that and i have done that previous - just go on as new customer and then beat them over the head with it

its all made up numbers - theyre all cnuts

[hairnet]

jerzy is very old bet he doesnt have this problem