The Bikeshite Thread

[Rustybullethole]

Arrived at my second home and tucked into breakfast number two. 

[Rustybullethole]

 

[Rustybullethole]

[Cavcraft]

Hey, @hairnet serious question: Was that you on the A55 this afternoon, heading east, probably around mid-day ish? Saw someone on a small/medium sized Honda that looked suspiciously.like you.

[hairnet]

nein

[mat_the_cat]

On 25/03/2025 at 08:22, Stinkwheel said:

it now has a chance of being properly looked after👍

 

You say that, but I confess we almost dropped it getting it out of the van

I'm enjoying just tinkering with it at leisure before the insurance starts in April, also a chance to 'get to know it' mechanically speaking. It feels like a long time since I've worked on a bike so have to get used to the scale of things!

Couple of minor fairing cracks, which I bonded first with super glue before backfilling with epoxy.

I used a bit of tape on the outside, so once cured it follows the contours reasonably well.

And once touched up, is absolutely fine given it's not going to be a pristine bike which I'd be afraid to use.

I have a bit of OCD regarding mismatched fasteners - I absolutely hate having to change tools to undo what should be identical fixings! A lot of the fairing screws had already been replaced, and more came with the bike so spent a little time continuing this (and a few quid with David Silver spares getting more!)

The standard fasteners I just replaced with stainless ones I already had, at least the low stressed ones.

Electric wise it's had an alarm and heated grips fitted but no longer present, so I've tidied up the loom and protected where needed.

Replaced the fuel filter whilst the panels were off.

Then fitted a waterproof USB port for charging...

...as well as an LED indicator for battery voltage.

(Yes the weather is being typically Welsh!) This is quite a neat thing, as with the engine off it will flash red, orange or green depending on battery voltage - so appearing like an alarm indicator. But when charging it will be a solid red, orange or green depending on alternator output, but changing to a green/red flash if the voltage goes too high.

Last job was to reseal the front rim, so it all looks good for making the most of this weather in the upcoming week

[93fxdl]

Since my daily decided to spit out its injectors, have had to use bike to get to work. 

Last Monday, took the kat to work

By the time i got home, it had decided it only wanted to run on 3 cylinders and i discovered that the headlight is rubbish. 

Now using my Rex to commute would have given the gpz some exercise but one of the plug threads decided to leave the chat, so that needs fixing

Ttfn Glenn 

[Snake Charmer]

On 29/03/2025 at 09:03, Rustybullethole said:

 

Oof! 🤩

[andy18s]

Well,after some shady government dealings over here in BG,it looks like I'll going to end up breaking the xt for parts..

For many years the Kat agency (DVLA) had a system in place where if you weren't using a vehicle for some time,you could put a temporary halt with it's insurance and vignette.Be it for a few months or longer like over winter ect.

Then as long as none of the owners details had changed you could simply restart the insurance,sort the MOT and a week or two later the vehicle would be "legal" to use again.

But it seems like 18/24 months ago the rules got quietly changed so the Kat has the power to fully de-register a vehicle..

So anyone who has been caught out by this has to fully register their vehicles which means a full import inspection,a full years insurance up front,new plates paid for and all the other hidden costs.

So it's going to cost more to get the Tenere legal to sell than any difference in the price to actually sell it for..

Arse,..

[Rustybullethole]

18 hours ago, mat_the_cat said:

You say that, but I confess we almost dropped it getting it out of the van

I'm enjoying just tinkering with it at leisure before the insurance starts in April, also a chance to 'get to know it' mechanically speaking. It feels like a long time since I've worked on a bike so have to get used to the scale of things!

Couple of minor fairing cracks, which I bonded first with super glue before backfilling with epoxy.

I used a bit of tape on the outside, so once cured it follows the contours reasonably well.

And once touched up, is absolutely fine given it's not going to be a pristine bike which I'd be afraid to use.

I have a bit of OCD regarding mismatched fasteners - I absolutely hate having to change tools to undo what should be identical fixings! A lot of the fairing screws had already been replaced, and more came with the bike so spent a little time continuing this (and a few quid with David Silver spares getting more!)

The standard fasteners I just replaced with stainless ones I already had, at least the low stressed ones.

Electric wise it's had an alarm and heated grips fitted but no longer present, so I've tidied up the loom and protected where needed.

Replaced the fuel filter whilst the panels were off.

Then fitted a waterproof USB port for charging...

...as well as an LED indicator for battery voltage.

(Yes the weather is being typically Welsh!) This is quite a neat thing, as with the engine off it will flash red, orange or green depending on battery voltage - so appearing like an alarm indicator. But when charging it will be a solid red, orange or green depending on alternator output, but changing to a green/red flash if the voltage goes too high.

Last job was to reseal the front rim, so it all looks good for making the most of this weather in the upcoming week

Found a good home that bike. If you'd like to borrow any of mine for a bit you're more than welcome. 

Long way back from the south Cotswolds today. Wiggled to Wantage then linked up some cracking green lanes to Streetly.

Mostly dry though found some water and deep mud. Bit further on from the pic below was a proper river crossing. Strange really as its been dry of late and this lane was far less moist when i rode it after wetter weather. 

This one turned into a lovely bit of single track. Then a restricted byway so did it twice. Joy.

Nice day for it. Chatted to a few walkers and a cyclist on the trails. Everyone was in a happy mood. 

Jumped on the M4 just passed Pangbourne to get some miles in. Motorway was busy so lane splitting the teslas and wank panzas was the order of the day then straight through town. Dodging trees, dodging traffic. It's all the good fun. 

[Rustybullethole]

8 hours ago, andy18s said:

Well,after some shady government dealings over here in BG,it looks like I'll going to end up breaking the xt for parts..

For many years the Kat agency (DVLA) had a system in place where if you weren't using a vehicle for some time,you could put a temporary halt with it's insurance and vignette.Be it for a few months or longer like over winter ect.

Then as long as none of the owners details had changed you could simply restart the insurance,sort the MOT and a week or two later the vehicle would be "legal" to use again.

But it seems like 18/24 months ago the rules got quietly changed so the Kat has the power to fully de-register a vehicle..

So anyone who has been caught out by this has to fully register their vehicles which means a full import inspection,a full years insurance up front,new plates paid for and all the other hidden costs.

So it's going to cost more to get the Tenere legal to sell than any difference in the price to actually sell it for..

Arse,..

Shite!

Got a load of pals with various xt's. Whats yours and where are you? 

[MT606]

that background looks familiar.......

loving the caravan shelter.....

[Stinkwheel]

10 hours ago, MT606 said:

that background looks familiar.......

loving the caravan shelter.....

 

It would, I've posted it up enough times (let alone any previous times it may have been seen here and other places for different reasons)

I also marvelled at the caravan shelter, i'm guessing it needs a little help being watertight?

[doug]

Been looking at MZs. Is this guys name real??

[andy18s]

13 hours ago, Rustybullethole said:

Shite!

Got a load of pals with various xt's. Whats yours and where are you? 

It's an 87-88 Xt600 Tenere 1vk, basically a Swiss market 1vj.

Currently sat in a barn in not so sunny Bulgaria..

[mat_the_cat]

15 hours ago, doug said:

Been looking at MZs. Is this guys name real??

My first bike was an MZ ETZ 125 Wilf Green special...so I have fond, and some not so fond memories of it.

Happy days today with my first proper ride in over 10 years  It's so natural to ride, I thought it might be daunting compared to a 50bhp R65 but although it's easy to go quick, it's also easy not to if you know what I mean? Brakes are a lot better than I expected given the reviews; fair enough I don't have a particularly high bar to compare them with but certainly no problems shrugging off speed. Absolutely the only problem was the temperature gauge which didn't seem to budge, although there's always a chance that I've disturbed the wiring for it in my tidying. It certainly seemed to be running at a reasonable temperature anyway, so will do a bit of measuring.

[mat_the_cat]

Just now, mat_the_cat said:

My first bike was an MZ ETZ 125 Wilf Green special...so I have fond, and some not so fond memories of it.

Happy days today with my first proper ride in over 10 years  It's so natural to ride, I thought it might be daunting compared to a 50bhp R65 but although it's easy to go quick, it's also easy not to if you know what I mean? Brakes are a lot better than I expected given the reviews; fair enough I don't have a particularly high bar to compare them with but certainly no problems shrugging off speed. Absolutely the only problem was the temperature gauge which didn't seem to budge, although there's always a chance that I've disturbed the wiring for it in my tidying. It certainly seemed to be running at a reasonable temperature anyway, so will do a bit of measuring.

[Stinkwheel]

9 hours ago, mat_the_cat said:

Glad you are enjoying it so far, It really does ride like a bike half its age and mileage

[Rustybullethole]

On 01/04/2025 at 09:19, andy18s said:

It's an 87-88 Xt600 Tenere 1vk, basically a Swiss market 1vj.

Currently sat in a barn in not so sunny Bulgaria..

Mate with am 88 has got shot now. Think they're all on 2000's models now. One has the older aircooled lump though most the later 660 water boilers. 

[Rustybullethole]

On 01/04/2025 at 07:28, Stinkwheel said:

It would, I've posted it up enough times (let alone any previous times it may have been seen here and other places for different reasons)

I also marvelled at the caravan shelter, i'm guessing it needs a little help being watertight?

Keeps the water out this one. Shelter is because it's nestled in the woods. Idea was to protect it from falling branches. 

[mat_the_cat]

12 hours ago, Stinkwheel said:

Glad you are enjoying it so far, It really does ride like a bike half its age and mileage

I'm absolutely loving it! Obviously helps to have decent weather, but still... I just don't remember it being quite this much fun

Part of the reason for thinking about a bike again is that me and a mate (the one you met) always used to go touring together, sometimes with his Dad too. He's been diagnosed with terminal cancer, so we're planning one last trip before it's too late. An embarassingly old photo of us below (I'm the one on the right)!

[5speedracer]

Tom Adamson's in Elgin for the TRK's first 600 mile service so obviously forgot to take any photos.Just an oil and filter change and plug into diagnostics to check for codes I'm told.

Hmmm, within 100 metres this bike feels different, more responsive and torquier lower in the rev range. I suspect a running-in restriction of some kind in the ECU?

Interestingly he had in one of the new Morbidelli T1002VX V-twin adventure bikes. Similar styling to the TRK but using a double cradle frame rather than the tube frame on mine. 89bhp and 89Nm so it should be an overtaking monster. Two versions from £8.5k on the road including aluminium panniers and topbox. It was in a line of bikes so couldn't get a seat or a feel for it's weight, beast of a looking engine though.

[Cavcraft]

Today was I think my longest ride ever, 118 miles. Went through Whitchurch, Shrewsbury, Minsterley, Marton and Chirbury to Montgomery, then Forden, Welshpool and back home down the A483/A5 via The Groves in Chester for a brew and a catch up with some scooter and bike friends.

It was colder than I thought, even with a thermal vest, a t-shirt, a hoodie and a coat. Stopped near Welshpool to put an extra hoodie on over my coat.

A beautiful day though, and the roads from Shrewsbury to Montgomery were made for biking.  I'm really impressed with the little BM, it handled brilliantly, has a great riding position and was just effortless to pilot, plus it's ace on fuel. Managed a few overtakes and although hitting a pot hole that would have exploded the Lambretta into a million pieces, it shrugged it off like it wasn't there.

I'll be doing this route again, it was a last minute 'see where I feel like' job that turned out to be a fantastic ride.

[Rustybullethole]

I need some specs. Read that as Bummer cycles. 

Looks a nice day for it today. 

[doug]

My first bike run this year as well.  No as warm as I thought! In the shade the temperature must have dropped 10 degrees. Picture taken when I stopped to thaw my hands out.

[UltraWomble]

So. 

One bike policy renews in a couple of weeks. Price £113 (FC) 

Looked at multibike policies because another bike incoming. 

Price for 2....

So

Looked at a dedicated second policy for new bike and.... £67 FC

What the actual fuck? 

Cheapest multibike was £440

[MT606]

first ride out yesterday since I pranged her in sept last year and rebuilt the front forks.... all seems fine, shame other road users want to not stay on their own side of the road......

[loserone]

Two bike crashes in Weardale today, plus one on Hartside.  

 

Not in the least bit surprised, I had to hit the gutter to avoid the head of some twat getting his knee down round a blind bend.  Later I was overtaken (with three more cars in front of me), as I started to slow in anticipation of the closed road due to the air ambulance attending one of the crashes.  Rider can't have been looking very far ahead in their planning.  Dawdling tourists are annoying but nothing like the Muppets who come out on the first sunny Sunday of the year.

 

I guess the temptation to overtake everything must be strong when half the vehicles on the road are sports bikes. I have absolutely zero inclination to fast bikes as a result.

[MT606]

ditto, where where the crashes in weardale, enroute to stanhope/alston? 

[hairnet]

not been out on a weekend near any tourist hotspots for at least 20 years for that reason

and im no fair weather biker