The Bikeshite Thread

[tom13]

2 minutes ago, martc said:

Grom chat - have you thought about a Benelli TnT 125? From the same mould, but cheaper by £1500, and less likely to attract scrotes (?).

https://www.benelli.co.uk/new-bikes/bike/2020-benelli-tnt-125cc-571

Yeah I had looked at those. There is a dodgy looking one on marketplace at the moment for like £900. There is also a Mint condition green one on there as well. I really like the green. They are just a bit too close to the Grom price wise on the used market. The Grom has more aftermarket support and spares as well which was swaying me. Don't get me wrong. If a bargain TNT came up I would get one. 

[UltraWomble]

2 minutes ago, tom13 said:

Was 65 on a flat or down hill. That's quite some pace really. I was thinking I would see 55 max on the flat. I had seen people get a bit more with a gearing adjustment.

What did you think of build quality?

65 was on the flat - but took a bit of a run up - drops speed with a fat knakeroon like me on it when you get to hills.

Build quality was OK - I ACF-50'd the hell out of the frame - the zorst was made of modern black painted cheesium so I lobbed a Black Widow on it - the only thing that failed was the voltage regulator.

Interestingly the guy who bought it took it home in a BMW estate.

[tom13]

16 minutes ago, martc said:

Grom chat - have you thought about a Benelli TnT 125? From the same mould, but cheaper by £1500, and less likely to attract scrotes (?).

https://www.benelli.co.uk/new-bikes/bike/2020-benelli-tnt-125cc-571

Didnt realise these were around 2g new. I thought they were closer to 3. That's not a bad buy for a new bike. 

[tom13]

9 minutes ago, UltraWomble said:

65 was on the flat - but took a bit of a run up - drops speed with a fat knakeroon like me on it when you get to hills.

Build quality was OK - I ACF-50'd the hell out of the frame - the zorst was made of modern black painted cheesium so I lobbed a Black Widow on it - the only thing that failed was the voltage regulator.

Interestingly the guy who bought it took it home in a BMW estate.

Quality. So easy to Nick then.

Exhaust seems to be the first mod people do on them. 

[UltraWomble]

3 minutes ago, tom13 said:

Quality. So easy to Nick then.

Exhaust seems to be the first mod people do on them. 

I changed the gear linkage to a rose jointed one ( which cut down on the false neutrals) changed the running light / indicators to switch back white / amber rather than full amber/ winking amber and fitted crash bungs and binned off the cheese zorst, and swapped the Vee tyres to Michelin City Grips aside from that I kept it standard, even the rear plate holder.

Ive looked at the TNT's for a bit of gentle green lane and something I would probably care less about than the Grom, but even then think Id end up being bothered about it being nicked. I just dont have that fear with the 15 year old 100cc Lead.

[UltraWomble]

Some photys...

When I took it off roading...

Rose joint gear linkage ( look at teh f**ing rust on the Zorst and it was only a couple of months old) 

White running lights that turned to blinking amber lights rather than full time amber / blinking amber

[tom13]

26 minutes ago, UltraWomble said:

Some photys...

When I took it off roading...

Rose joint gear linkage ( look at teh f**ing rust on the Zorst and it was only a couple of months old) 

White running lights that turned to blinking amber lights rather than full time amber / blinking amber

Looks great mate.

[UltraWomble]

13 minutes ago, tom13 said:

Looks great mate.

It was (and to be fair the missus still is).
I regret selling it because prices have risen for early bikes and the chances of buying one in such good order is pretty low now, not without spending a fortune. That said I have to keep reminding myself why I sold it in the first place and that I'd end up with it tucked away in the shed chained up and not being used again. And life is too short to be living like that. And at least I can say "I had one of them and it was a blast".

If I come up with 6 numbers on the lottery, then I'll buy one again ( and a shit load more bikes) but till then Im trying to be content with what I have for what I need it for. Covid changed my work commuting needs so the bike gets used very infrequently these days.

[hairnet]

http://www.irishphotorally.ie

@Faker buy a 50 sos @They_all_do_that_sir can keep up

started last weekend runs out in november

can do nowt till march 5 at the mo and instant quarantine isnt helping (they changed the rules after 6 months ya cant do a squeaky from the north now)

soon as they open accom then peeowww

 

[twosmoke300]

Just booked a track day for the end of April . Fully expect it to be cancelled but dates fill up so fast now . Had some credit from cancelled ones at the end of last season .

Better dust off the old Thundercat and maybe finally fit the braided hoses I’ve had for over a year . Poor old bike getting abused when it should be retired .

[Jazoli]

2 hours ago, twosmoke300 said:

Just booked a track day for the end of April . Fully expect it to be cancelled but dates fill up so fast now . Had some credit from cancelled ones at the end of last season .

Better dust off the old Thundercat and maybe finally fit the braided hoses I’ve had for over a year . Poor old bike getting abused when it should be retired .

Its crazy at the minute trying to get a day as so many people have credits from last year and people are gagging to get out on track, its going to be a complete crash fest this year and I'm not booking any general days, its like a badge of honour for some to fall off, on my last TD at Anglesey there was at least one red flag in every single one of my sessions, I managed a whole 12 uninterrupted laps all day, not good value for the £500 it cost me for the weekend, I may book a road bike only day later in the year as they get a much more sensible type of clientele who do care about killing their road bike.

[twosmoke300]

The last one I did at Donny was a red flag fest . It was the day before a race meet and even my wobbly knobbers novice group was full of racers getting practice in . 
 

[hairnet]

On 2/9/2021 at 1:07 PM, UltraWomble said:

Some photys...

 

'this is how you do a burnout womble - go back in the house and make tea'

[Barry Cade]

This will throw the cat amongst the pigeons..

I've just picked up a pair of tyres for the Vstrom. Metzeler Tourances, which I've used for years and like em.  They have never been on the road, having been taken off a new bike in..... 2007. Been kept in a warm garage in the dark.

Would you?

[tobyd]

I would not.

[red5]

I'm afraid iIwouldnt old chap.

Well, not afraid. Unless I was on those.

What sizes are they?

[blackboilersuit]

If the blocks have the pliable feel of a new tyre and look ok then I'd have no problem using them. Any time I've had grip issues with old tyres on bikes or cars It's been obvious from the look/feel of them. Tread blocks as hard as a coffin nail and/or a shiny glazed surface. I'd give them a very thorough check and would want to bed them in carefully on a warm dry day. I'd also be be prepared to swap them out for new ones if they didn't feel right. 

[martc]

41 minutes ago, Barry Cade said:

Would you?

No. You only have a few square inches of contact area, don't trust this to 14 year old tyres.

[Barry Cade]

11 minutes ago, red5 said:

I'm afraid iIwouldnt old chap.

Well, not afraid. Unless I was on those.

What sizes are they?

150/70 17

110/80/19.

Look and feel like they were made yesterday.  And they're German made. Metzlers

I will use them. Will compare and report back from the Chinese 2019 Tourances I have on now.

[red5]

Have a good look on the insides before fitting.

I've got a newer virtually unused set for the MTS - not sure they're same sizes though. 150 miles odd iirc

[Jazoli]

1 hour ago, Barry Cade said:

This will throw the cat amongst the pigeons..

I've just picked up a pair of tyres for the Vstrom. Metzeler Tourances, which I've used for years and like em.  They have never been on the road, having been taken off a new bike in..... 2007. Been kept in a warm garage in the dark.

Would you?

Nope, you can get Avon 3d storm XM for 150 a pair, or Michelin Pilot 2ct's why take the chance on 14 year old tyres when the small contact patch is the only thing keeping you out of a hedge.

[DodgyBastard]

I took my bike out in the snow during the week, made it out for 5 miles without falling off.

I got stuck behind someone going very slowly in front of me on a big hill so was engine braking behind them and it cut out.

I thought I might be low on petrol so pushed it a couple of miles mostly downhill thankfully to the nearest petrol station, filled the tank and tried to get it going again.

Around what felt like 100 kicks later it started back up and was quite smoky to begin with, I set off again and it died the same way as before so abandoned it in a supermarket carpark and went away for 40 minutes to get a suitable vehicle to take it home.

When I returned to the bike it started up fine and when I got it back to the yard it drove around fine without issue.

A couple of people have suggested carb icing, a fouled plug,flooded engine, snow in the carb vent tubes etc.

It was fun and a little bit scary when I was out on it, I did get some shaky go pro footage but the quality isn't great and it's not all that exciting.

I did get a lot of bemused looks and some thumbs up from the general public...

[New POD]

Mate of mine used to get carb icing at anything below about -2 on his GPZ400

 

[groovylee]

On 2/9/2021 at 12:20 PM, martc said:

Grom chat - have you thought about a Benelli TnT 125? From the same mould, but cheaper by £1500, and less likely to attract scrotes (?).

https://www.benelli.co.uk/new-bikes/bike/2020-benelli-tnt-125cc-571

I have one of these. picked it up at about 6 months old for £1500.

pros - cheaper than a grom, approx 90+mpg (im 100kg and managed that real world), tyres are cheap (ditch the stadard tyres, theyre deadly in the wet), great fun, easy to ride.

cons - upgrade parts availability is not as good as the Grom, but still ok if you can wait. stock gearing is not great for the heavier rider, but an £8 front sprocket change will see you topping out every gear with ease, and still hitting approx 65 in top.

i love it as a quick, fun alternative to the Mille it shares a driveway with. it's not as fast as a cbr125, but makes me smile every time i ride it.  it WILL make your arse tingle after 30+mins of riding lol

[tom13]

7 hours ago, groovylee said:

I have one of these. picked it up at about 6 months old for £1500.

pros - cheaper than a grom, approx 90+mpg (im 100kg and managed that real world), tyres are cheap (ditch the stadard tyres, theyre deadly in the wet), great fun, easy to ride.

cons - upgrade parts availability is not as good as the Grom, but still ok if you can wait. stock gearing is not great for the heavier rider, but an £8 front sprocket change will see you topping out every gear with ease, and still hitting approx 65 in top.

i love it as a quick, fun alternative to the Mille it shares a driveway with. it's not as fast as a cbr125, but makes me smile every time i ride it.  it WILL make your arse tingle after 30+mins of riding lol

65 isn't bad going. How heavy are you?

[groovylee]

14 hours ago, tom13 said:

65 isn't bad going. How heavy are you?

about 95-100kg (15 stone ish?)

[tom13]

3 hours ago, groovylee said:

about 95-100kg (15 stone ish?)

That's a decent speed. Was that achievable on a flat. I am pretty much the same weight as well. 

[sloth]

bike memories.

rode a cub 50 to school and back fromage 15. i was a bit if a wrong un. 

fitted knobblys and de plasticked it, and added a high rise zorst. swapped it age 17 for a shagged 76 dt250 in bits. 

built it and painted it fluro orange. sold to a mate age 18 after getting my first car. 

i owned a zxr750, 93 model for all of 4 weeks till muthasloth saw it and preceeded to belt me with a spatula till i promosed to sell it. i was 20....

unclesloth rode a zzr1100 then a thundercat v twin. 

t'other unclesloth had a 1958 triumph t110. loved that bike. was just perfect. 

 

[UltraWomble]

Im bidding on this Froggy registered maxi scoot - no paperwork ( so might be nicked) assuming its legit - how much of an arse ache is it likely to be to get onto UK plates?

[LightBulbFun]

37 minutes ago, UltraWomble said:

Im bidding on this Froggy registered maxi scoot - no paperwork ( so might be nicked) assuming its legit - how much of an arse ache is it likely to be to get onto UK plates?

not sure about how you go sorting the lack of a NOVA, (but im sure theres ways of doing so, I know it has been done in the past!)

but on the actual registration side, if you dont have the french equivalent of its V5, then its just simply a case of proving its age to the DVLA, either via a Dating letter from an approved club or directly from the manufacturer

then its just a case of filling out a V55/5 paying all the fees and bobs your uncle (being a modern thing you might need to put it through an MOT tho)

 

but as you say the lack of paper work is a bit concerning do check its not stolen!

(not sure how the french registration system works, but I wonder if you can call up and check, since it still has a reg plate at least)