The Bikeshite Thread

[scdan4]

That'll do pig 

[Aston Martin]

I'm off 9-22nd of Sept. So, I have booked my CBT on the 6th of October. 

 

Why? Because those two weeks off I'm doing nothing. If I do my CBT and bike test, then I'll buy something stupid during my break. So, if I do my CBT after my holiday, I don't have the time to get my full licence and I'm hoping the weather is miserable.

 

However.... I'm trying to delay the inevitable. Which is either a new Tricity... Or a used Burgerman 650.

 

I've also booked my best friend to do her CBT at the same time. I might be able to persuade her to go halfsies on a cb125f. It's £59 a month PCP.  

[shoddybanger]

Good luck with the test! A Burgman would be quite nice!

[shoddybanger]

I managed to sort out my VFR carbs. Woo! I finally have a fully functioning bike. And it goes so well!

The issue turned out to be the diaphragms. They weren't seated properly and so would not pull up the slides to let fuel through the main jets. So, I had to pull the assembly out once more, open the diaphragm covers and reseat them.

There was an excellent video on YouTube on how to set/test diaphragms properly, which helped immensely:

 

The trick was to push the diaphragm in and pull it against the seat slightly so that the edges expand. The problem is that the diaphragm wants to 'pop' out, letting the slide fall fully into the carb, so I chucked a plastic ruler down the throat of the carb (see below) to prevent the slide from going in and hence keeping the diaphragm edges expanded, and I was then able to place the cover on and screw it tight. I did this on all four carbs, as none of the diaphragms were seated properly. The diaphragms themselves were in very good shape still, so no issues there.

 

This wouldn't be AS, if there wasn't some bodging involved, so in the process of doing the carbs I noticed that the choke/enrichment arm was a bit slow to retract and/or wouldn't always retract fully, so I bodged on a wire that I can pull from one of the side fairing holes to make sure that the choke is fully retracted. I used black wire instead of yellow/green this time:

 

 

I used small bags to keep the screws and parts organized - they're now empty and the bike is finally ready to eat miles!

 

[Aston Martin]

I cannot persuade for a Tricity, said it's ugly. I want her to be safe, but she said no.

She's on board with a joint cb125f.

 

Having said that the Yamaha dealer didn't have one in last time, but they've just got this used one in. Gonna make her at least look at it.

[LostnotFound]

6 hours ago, Aston Martin said:

I cannot persuade for a Tricity, said it's ugly.

I don't think you'll find anyone arguing with her on that. Even it's mother is resigned to it never getting married and leaving home.

[Aston Martin]

18 hours ago, LostnotFound said:

I don't think you'll find anyone arguing with her on that. Even it's mother is resigned to it never getting married and leaving home.

I like it because it's weird.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Great run up over the Sperrins yesterday. Absolutely love the firestorm, it's so capable. Big smiles all day.

Only fly in the ointment was me dropping my helmet onto tarmac.....hard enough to crack it and bust the left visor hinge.....I managed to bodge the visor back on but it disappeared on the way home at (ahem) motorway speeds.....

Nice excuse for a new lid!!!

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[LostnotFound]

8 hours ago, They_all_do_that_sir said:

Great run up over the Sperrins yesterday. Absolutely love the firestorm, it's so capable. Big smiles all day.

Only fly in the ointment was me dropping my helmet onto tarmac.....hard enough to crack it and bust the left visor hinge.....I managed to bodge the visor back on but it disappeared on the way home at (ahem) motorway speeds.....

Nice excuse for a new lid!!!

At least there's no, 'it was only a couple of foot it'll probably be ok' dilemma.

Given you're now smashing around on a fast Honda I expect a photo of a Marquez rep on this thread soon.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

At least there's no, 'it was only a couple of foot it'll probably be ok' dilemma.
Given you're now smashing around on a fast Honda I expect a photo of a Marquez rep on this thread soon.

Ahh but Rossi raced Honda's in 2000 when mine was registered

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[hairnet]

due to issues this might be happening

 

[They_all_do_that_sir]

due to issues this might be happening
 

Very capable bikes

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[chaseracer]

? for bike

? for issues...

[shoddybanger]

10 minutes ago, hairnet said:

due to issues this might be happening

 

That's brilliant! I've been looking at this generation of Versys on/off for a few years already, but didn't want to spend quite as much as they command around here. If I hadn't chanced on the VFR, I'd probably still be looking.

Let us know how it goes man.

[hairnet]

50 minutes ago, They_all_do_that_sir said:

Very capable bikes

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40 minutes ago, shoddybanger said:

That's brilliant! I've been looking at this generation of Versys on/off for a few years already, but didn't want to spend quite as much as they command around here. If I hadn't chanced on the VFR, I'd probably still be looking.

Let us know how it goes man.

bought a very early 56 plate in 2009 and put 40k on it in two years

its still going and theyve only done another 13k

the only issues they have is the exhaust cos of where it is and stick coils

cos theyre in the head they split and cause misfires

cant find the pic of it in bits at the side of the N4 in ireland but it was on that trip

thats the long womans grave at omeath www.irishphotorally.ie

edit found it

[shoddybanger]

Yeah, it's either a versys or a KLE500 when I get bored with the tarmac.

[andy18s]

Well,didn't Suzuki have a cracking day at Silverstone!

Nice to see Marquez getting out-smarted,and Crutchlow managed to stay on the bike for the whole race!

[Aston Martin]

Aprilia Sr50's could be derestricted at the dealer, with a gameboy.

 

 

[martc]

14 minutes ago, Aston Martin said:

Aprilia Sr50's could be derestricted at the dealer, with a gameboy.

Hardly Dangerouses are up-dated using secret codes found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

[Aston Martin]

3 minutes ago, martc said:

Hardly Dangerouses are up-dated using secret codes found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Is this a GCHQ recruitment test?

[Jerzy Woking]

Out in the Balkans at the moment-fantastic weather, great places visited (and more to come) and, of course, brilliant roads too.

Quick blast along the runway at the abandoned (because of bombing in the 90's) airbase near Bihac. 

And the RC8 is admirable doing a bit of off roading too.

[shoddybanger]

15 hours ago, 83C said:

I did my DAS on a 650 Versys - lovely thing to ride. I was looking for one when I found the GS, but couldn’t find one that matched the GS for cost/mileage/age.

I did my test on a Kawi er650n around 2008. Seems like driving schools like the 650 Kawi platform.

The first gen versys' (versi?) sell for around 3500 eur here, and not very many for sale. Generally speaking, dual sport/adventure bikes generally seem to keep their value better than sport/touring bikes.

[shoddybanger]

14 minutes ago, Jerzy Woking said:

Out in the Balkans at the moment-fantastic weather, great places visited (and more to come) and, of course, brilliant roads too.

 

I'd love to do a trip like that some day. Have fun and hope the weather cooperates!

[Jerzy Woking]

RC8 defeated on this track-billiard table smooth newly laid tarmac for 8 miles, then it turned to deep shale. 

My 7th year riding to and in the Balkans, absolutely love it here.

[AdeMk1]

MOT pass this morning with no advisories! 677 miles since last MOT, must try harder!

[puddlethumper]

Some bikes from a local show that you guys might like.

[shoddybanger]

56 minutes ago, puddlethumper said:

Some bikes from a local show that you guys might like.

 

Excellent stuff!

[stereotype]

Do any verging on midget people (5ft with sub 2inches of thumb) recommend any mods or bikes themselves I might be able to get on with? Attempted taking my cbt today and no bikes were the right size, the smallest scooter they have still has the indicators about half an inch from where I need them to be to reach over and indicate to the left. Went on the road and had too many signalling errors due to not being able to flick it left to demonstrate that I can control a bike.

If anyone has any suggestions so that I can feel less defeated and like my body isn't everything wrong with me ever, that would be nice.

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[gtd2000]

Did the Steve Hislop memorial ride on Sunday. After 200 total miles my arse was in tatters!

 

[gtd2000]

1 hour ago, stereotype said:

Do any verging on midget people (5ft with sub 2inches of thumb) recommend any mods or bikes themselves I might be able to get on with? Attempted taking my cbt today and no bikes were the right size, the smallest scooter they have still has the indicators about half an inch from where I need them to be to reach over and indicate to the left. Went on the road and had too many signalling errors due to not being able to flick it left to demonstrate that I can control a bike.

If anyone has any suggestions so that I can feel less defeated and like my body isn't everything wrong with me ever, that would be nice.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
 

There was a rather small chap locally that used to run around on a Hongdu 125 (Honda CG125 clone). He was very small indeed, must have been very close to five feet tall.

Are you looking at scooters mainly or motorcycles?