The Bikeshite Thread

[Cavcraft]

Watched a horrific video clip yesterday of some absolute tosspot doing over a ton on some windy road in the UK somewhere. He eventually eased off as he overtook a couple of cars and got behind some slow bikers. His mate came thundering through between him and the furthest car and ploughed straight into the back of one of the slow riders.

These dickheads should be banned for years and be made to stay on nothing bigger than a 125 afterwards.

 

Luckily yesterday I encountered very few Power Rangers, in fact I think any I saw were going the other way on the bypass. 

[Stinkwheel]

9 hours ago, loserone said:

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.

It is a bit dumb. Back in time 25 years we used to see it all the time 'All the gear, no idea and very little self preservation and worse little thought for others caught up in their antics.

Now I'm not moaning about biker or riders going quickly, I am definitely moaning about the 'first warm day switch brain off' riders.

And as for aiming for the big tourist hotspots to ride like fools, thats just dumb.

There wasnt an answer for it 25 years ago, i doubt there is one now.

[loserone]

9 hours ago, MT606 said:

crashes in weardale

The double curve just west of Stanhope after the farm on the left, and the mad mile by the quarry.

[New POD]

9 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

It is a bit dumb. Back in time 25 years we used to see it all the time 'All the gear, no idea and very little self preservation and worse little thought for others caught up in their antics.

Now I'm not moaning about biker or riders going quickly, I am definitely moaning about the 'first warm day switch brain off' riders.

And as for aiming for the big tourist hotspots to ride like fools, thats just dumb.

There wasnt an answer for it 25 years ago, i doubt there is one now.

I used to live in a village on the A65 near Settle.  What I can confirm is that there are some nutters out of the asylum.  

Mind you I could take some of the bends faster in my 1.4AXD because local knowledge. Occassionally you'd come around a corner to see a biker rubbing his arse and trying to push his bike out of a ditch.  

[Stinkwheel]

3 minutes ago, New POD said:

I used to live in a village on the A65 near Settle.  What I can confirm is that there are some nutters out of the asylum.  

Mind you I could take some of the bends faster in my 1.4AXD because local knowledge. Occassionally you'd come around a corner to see a biker rubbing his arse and trying to push his bike out of a ditch.  

Not sure if to react with laugh or sad, I think its OK to laugh at these idiots, sad that everyone else has to get caught up in the bufoonery.

We all make mistakes, we are human, hopefully feeling bad about these mistakes and aiming not to repeat them would be a good start.

[New POD]

37 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

Not sure if to react with laugh or sad, I think its OK to laugh at these idiots, sad that everyone else has to get caught up in the bufoonery.

We all make mistakes, we are human, hopefully feeling bad about these mistakes and aiming not to repeat them would be a good start.

The issue is that for every few that end up having a trip in an ambulance, there's another one who doesn't make it.  And if you think about it, what's the difference between rubbing your arse (which is funny) and dying (which obviously isn't) 

Usually a tree or another road vehicle. 

Pure luck. 

[Stinkwheel]

Does anyone ever sit on e-bay of say, a sunday evening and think, that looks cheap for what it is and fairly useable. I'll stick a silly bid on and see how it ends in an hour or so, well looks like I have to go and fetch this at the weekend

 

WCPGW with buying sight unseen trade In's off e-bay? 🤣🫤

[UltraWomble]

1 minute ago, Stinkwheel said:

 

WCPGW with buying sight unseen trade In's off e-bay? 🤣🫤

Ive done that - in fairness its not a bad little bike what I picked up

[Stinkwheel]

1 hour ago, UltraWomble said:

Ive done that - in fairness its not a bad little bike what I picked up

Glad it worked out. I'm keeping fingers firmly crossed, obviously there will be updates as and when i go get it

[hairnet]

5 hours ago, Stinkwheel said:

Does anyone ever sit on e-bay of say, a sunday evening and think, that looks cheap for what it is and fairly useable. I'll stick a silly bid on and see how it ends in an hour or so, well looks like I have to go and fetch this at the weekend

 

 

WCPGW with buying sight unseen trade In's off e-bay? 🤣🫤

crazy melon farmer

 

[hairnet]

man shitty are at home 12.30 sat

man flu are not at home on the sunday

[Stinkwheel]

3 minutes ago, hairnet said:

man shitty are at home 12.30 sat

man flu are not at home on the sunday

I'm hoping to be collected and gone by 11 sat. Two chances

[andyberg]

Today is a good day. Got the GT185 running spot on, needed a new condenser, so took it for a shakedown run. Ignore my wife’s Panda behind, I went to her tea room for a coffee😁

Now to spend my next days off cleaning and polishing ready for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride in May. 

[Hawkeyethenoo]

Right boy. I want one hundred lines in your best handwriting by the morning - I MUST STOP BUYING MOTORCYCLES !

New one collected the day. 1972 CB500 FOUR K1 'cafe racer' thing! as yet unregistered with doovla having been imported with the correct paperwork present and vehicle dating certificate from the hallowed Honda Club UK chaps and chapettes.  Fingers crossed it'll be MOT and road tax exempt, which is fine. Something to tinker with and ride on any given Sunday! x2 ear plugs required with that straight pipe exhaust me thinks! My wife likes it and boy can she ride! You betcha! 🥰

I'm a bike-a-holic, sorry not sorry. 👍

[Rustybullethole]

28 minutes ago, Hawkeyethenoo said:

Right boy. I want one hundred lines in your best handwriting by the morning - I MUST STOP BUYING MOTORCYCLES !

New one collected the day. 1972 CB500 FOUR K1 'cafe racer' thing! as yet unregistered with doovla having been imported with the correct paperwork present and vehicle dating certificate from the hallowed Honda Club UK chaps and chapettes.  Fingers crossed it'll be MOT and road tax exempt, which is fine. Something to tinker with and ride on any given Sunday! x2 ear plugs required with that straight pipe exhaust me thinks! My wife likes it and boy can she ride! You betcha! 🥰

I'm a bike-a-holic, sorry not sorry. 👍

More pics please.

This was sitting in a closed down dealership in Cirencester.

Clean as a whistle. 

Edited April 11, 2025 by Rustybullethole

[Sham]

The correct number of motorcycles to own is the number of motorcycles you currently own, plus one.

[Hawkeyethenoo]

33 minutes ago, Rustybullethole said:

More pics please.

This was sitting in a closed down dealership in Cirencester.

Clean as a whistle. 

Will do. I had a 1980 CB250RS about ten years ago. Great wee bike, loaned it to a pal thereafter and he rode the wheels off it, only stopped riding it when second gear started acting up on it jumping out of gear, sadly. Too many 2nd gear wheelies back in the day! 🤣

Just went out and thumbed the starter, it sprang into life and really really wanted to start - just add petrol cause, HONDA! lol

Edit: and because it's Built not Bought, fnar, the next time I turn the key nothing could well happen and probably might! 

[mat_the_cat]

On 07/04/2025 at 10:41, Stinkwheel said:

Does anyone ever sit on e-bay of say, a sunday evening and think, that looks cheap for what it is and fairly useable. I'll stick a silly bid on and see how it ends in an hour or so, well looks like I have to go and fetch this at the weekend

 

WCPGW with buying sight unseen trade In's off e-bay? 🤣🫤

My mate's had his for nearly 20 years now (a bit like Trigger's broom...about to fit its 3rd engine at 80k miles) so he certainly rates them! Photo from the Dragon Rally in 2010ish.

[Rustybullethole]

stopped to eat my sausage sandwich before it goes cold. once more heading west. 

Edited April 12, 2025 by Rustybullethole

[Sham]

8 hours ago, mat_the_cat said:

My mate's had his for nearly 20 years now (a bit like Trigger's broom...about to fit its 3rd engine at 80k miles) so he certainly rates them! Photo from the Dragon Rally in 2010ish.

Gotta love an SV.  I think they might just be the greatest general purpose bike ever made (for western countries roads, that is) and are generally immensely reliable. Enough power, great handling and decent comfort at a very affordable price. I'm a little surprised that at 80k, it has needed a new engine at all, never mind 2 of them.

Mines 2 years old and is on 16k, and I'm going to just continue to pile the miles on.

[Hawkeyethenoo]

Strong smell of fuel present around the bike. Slight fuel leak detected.

[DeanH]

24 minutes ago, Hawkeyethenoo said:

Strong smell of fuel present around the bike. Slight fuel leak detected.

Know the feeling. My float bowl screw vibrated itself off the bike earlier this week!

[Hawkeyethenoo]

Now in dry dock, sans clothing, couple of wing nuts holding the seat to the frame, zero tools required. New length of petrol pipe going to the petcock found and fitted. Battery on Optimate and taking a charge nicely. AGM battery too which is winning. Wiring is not too bad for a built not bought thing from the Seventies! Wiring diagram notes are always handy, cheers dude. Front brake light switch connection needs fettling on the connection front, but everything else seems to work as intended. Front brake works well enough, is missing a bolt at the front of the caliper.

I think it should be this one - https://www.honda-classics.co.uk/shop/Front-Brake-Caliper-Adjuster-Screw-Spring-&-Lock-Nut-KIT087-p360432949

I have a workshop manual now so can check that before ordering anything else! Have NGK plugs N earl filters in stock ready for round to its.

[Stinkwheel]

10 minutes ago, Hawkeyethenoo said:

Now in dry dock, sans clothing, couple of wing nuts holding the seat to the frame, zero tools required. New length of petrol pipe going to the petcock found and fitted. Battery on Optimate and taking a charge nicely. AGM battery too which is winning. Wiring is not too bad for a built not bought thing from the Seventies! Wiring diagram notes are always handy, cheers dude. Front brake light switch connection needs fettling on the connection front, but everything else seems to work as intended. Front brake works well enough, is missing a bolt at the front of the caliper.

I think it should be this one - https://www.honda-classics.co.uk/shop/Front-Brake-Caliper-Adjuster-Screw-Spring-&-Lock-Nut-KIT087-p360432949

I have a workshop manual now so can check that before ordering anything else! Have NGK plugs N earl filters in stock ready for round to its.

Great stuff, but get that Avon SM (Suicide Mileage) tyre off it and fit something that isn’t square or made bakealite. 
Can you tell I don’t like those tyres? 

[Cavcraft]

Quick blast to the river on the FS1. Was about to shoot off when an AP50 and a GP125 turned up, would have been rude not to talk to the owners...

 

@Iamgroot Some number plate porn on the GP for you

[Snake Charmer]

20 hours ago, Rustybullethole said:

More pics please.

This was sitting in a closed down dealership in Cirencester.

Clean as a whistle. 

Always liked the RS, never ridden one despite building a couple from the crate and doing a PDI. FT500 engine........

1 hour ago, Stinkwheel said:

Great stuff, but get that Avon SM (Suicide Mileage) tyre off it and fit something that isn’t square or made bakealite. 
Can you tell I don’t like those tyres? 

First thing I saw, the Slip Master!

53 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

Quick blast to the river on the FS1. Was about to shoot off when an AP50 and a GP125 turned up, would have been rude not to talk to the owners...

 

@Iamgroot Some number plate porn on the GP for you

"Rude not to talk to the owners", in period that should be "Race the owners"! 😄

[Hawkeyethenoo]

1 hour ago, Stinkwheel said:

Great stuff, but get that Avon SM (Suicide Mileage) tyre off it and fit something that isn’t square or made bakealite. 
Can you tell I don’t like those tyres? 

Can get a pair of these in the correct 3.25 19 front and 4.00 18 rear with new continental tubes for £230.  Think of the transformation that would achieve. If it runs alright, it could happen... No-one ever got fired for buying Michelins.

 

[Iamgroot]

4 hours ago, Cavcraft said:

 

 

@Iamgroot Some number plate porn on the GP for you

Thank you! And I'm saving it, might try and get repro ones made up from the picture

[MrGTI6]

Decided to dig the Sprint ST 955i out of hibernation last month, so dropped it off for an MOT to see how much it would need to pass. It failed on the rear suspension (no surprise as it was an advisory last year).

Sorted last weekend and then back in for a re-test earlier today. Now with 12 months' ticket! There's an advisory for the silencer being loose but I'm not majorly concerned about that. It's been like it since I bought it and it's not going to fall off any time soon!

I only covered approximately 250 miles since the last MOT 17 months ago, but managed to add over 100 miles this afternoon.

Happy to report that - useless fuel gauge side - it's running like a dream. Spent most of the time just pottering and admiring the scenery, but for a 26-year-old bike it can still get a shift on when required.

Didn't occur to me to take any photos of it today, so here's my most recent one of it from last year!

Decided that I need to make a point of using it more often. So set myself a very achievable target of at least 1000 miles before the next MOT. 

[Cavcraft]

2 hours ago, Iamgroot said:

Thank you! And I'm saving it, might try and get repro ones made up from the picture

That would be great if you can.