The Bikeshite Thread

[Barry Cade]

22 minutes ago, Snake Charmer said:

Davida vac gauges. 😊 

I always made my own  from fish tank tubing and ATF!

[Snake Charmer]

9 hours ago, Barry Cade said:

I always made my own  from fish tank tubing and ATF!

A while back l found the elaborate 4-1 brass tube contraption my father made with a single gauge and tube clamps. It did work but was a faff to use. 

[Rustybullethole]

Just popping down the shop.....

As far as i can make out this byway should be open. Further on the gate is locked with cows behind it, same from the other side. The detour takes me past this little pad where i bought some eggs as the group we have in have been getting through all our chickens are laying.

Stopped at White Horse Hill to take in the view.

Aldi is 6 miles away. x 10 the long way. Lovely. 

[Cavcraft]

There's a couple of short but decent restricted byways round here that are almost begging to be tried on a motorbike. One someone* has tried with success, the other s probably a bit more of a risk of being caught. There's another absolute belter about 5 miles away, too, and I reckon it could be ridden safely and be ok on a technicality due to the position of the signage. Also, the farmer whose land it goes through (it's a lane dividing his fields, nowhere near livestock) is a proper fucking knobhead, so it makes it even more tempting 

[loserone]

Round here I keep reporting the folk who deliberately block the footpaths to the council.  Presumably you can do the same with byways?

[New POD]

Just now, loserone said:

Round here I keep reporting the folk who deliberately block the footpaths to the council.  Presumably you can do the same with byways?

Rights of way officer at the council. 

Photo, and what3word location. 

[5speedracer]

After a recommendation I bought the larger Benelli screen for the TRK702. Duly fitted and out for a test run, fek me, above 60 it was as though I'd a vibrator taped to my helmet (bike helmet!). Noisy, blurred vision the lot. Bugger! Guy that recommended it was probably 3" or so shorter than me and that's made all the difference.

Quick trip to Amazon and for £8.88 a fix was found, it's not pretty but does the job. A larger screen will probably be purchased at a later date but this provided proof of concept for less investment. 

Esso station in Ellon is the location. First 1k miles up now as well.

[Cavcraft]

Was that screen extender easy to fit? Put a bigger 'window' on the GS which has helped, but it needs another couple of inches.

[UltraWomble]

9 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

 it needs another couple of inches.

Dont we all?

[Jazoli]

11 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

Was that screen extender easy to fit? Put a bigger 'window' on the GS which has helped, but it needs another couple of inches.

They are really easy, just a couple of allen screws which clamp the mount to the existing screen, I've had a few of these and they work really well.

[5speedracer]

1 hour ago, Jazoli said:

They are really easy, just a couple of allen screws which clamp the mount to the existing screen, I've had a few of these and they work really well.

Basically WHS. 2 x allen screws visor to bracket, 2 x fold over rubber inserts from the bracket to the screen. Held in place with 4 x small grub screws and shouldn't mark the screen. Height adjustable over 40mm or so.

No link but search Amazon for M/C windscreen extension, it was eligible for a discount 👍

[hairnet]

6 hours ago, Rustybullethole said:

Just popping down the shop.....

As far as i can make out this byway should be open. Further on the gate is locked with cows behind it, same from the other side. The detour takes me past this little pad where i bought some eggs as the group we have in have been getting through all our chickens are laying.

Stopped at White Horse Hill to take in the view.

Aldi is 6 miles away. x 10 the long way. Lovely. 

@Jerzy Woking can ya do that on the 450

[Hawkeyethenoo]

MORE CB500.

Applying to DVLA to register the vehicle as an imported historic vehicle pre-1980. From what I can fathom, I just need to provide the registration fee of £55 on application, not the road tax fee of £87 for 12 months as it will be road tax fee exempt. I think I have that right. Hope so.

As for the bike itself. I noticed that the main stand when stowed makes contact with the drive chain sadly. But I fixed that and then fitted a lovely chrome mirror while I was there. Lovely.

 

[Hawkeyethenoo]

You'll also note from the above photo, no kill switch, none, on the replacement switch gear. Would need killing at the ignition switch, N/S below tank next to red hot header. I think I'd just jump off and hope for the best in that event.

Why does that matter? Well, safety and also all 1970's Honda's positive wiring runs through the kill switch, but not this one. It has one fuse - it was a 25amp yin but we blew that fecking about with the points somehow and it's been replaced with a 15amp as all that was available and safety third!

[Stinkwheel]

SV650 was in for MOT this morning, I had failed to notice that it had no rear reflector due to aftermarket tail tidy thing that’s fitted. So fail then pass when MOT man kindly stuck a tiny one on the number plate and didn’t even charge me for it. 
So now,

 

Happy with that. 
Having never ridden an SV before, I took the long way home. Brilliant bike,  like it a lot,  enough go and grunt but not ridiculous and so light and easy to flick about in turns, change line mid bend etc. 

A very pleased me after a blind e-bay purchase, it could have been very much worse. 
 

[Jerzy Woking]

I really liked my SV, bought from a mate in the trade. It was filthy but cleaned up really well. Took it from 53,000 to 73,000 in two years before problems hit. Electrical gremlins, new reg/rec, then had to run a seperate earth wire, then had the stator rewound, but it still wasn't right, so sold it on here.

My mates wife had one that also had electrical issues that could not be traced, just replaced stuff and that never got any better.

@Hawkeyethenoo I had a CB500 cafe racer back in 1980 or so. It had been fitted with an Alpha 4-1 exhaust, different, shorter rear shocks, a Dunstall top race fairing (which wobbled like a jelly) and ridiculously rear set, rear sets. Was a treat thrashing it along the lanes where we lived then, and noisy enough that my Missus could put the kettle on when she heard it.

@Cavcraft For you BMW  find one of those air blades that has a fitting on both sides, not just a centre mount. Much studier and a better range of adjustment.

@hairnet No idea about bridal ways here. When out on the 452 I just see a track and, if I have time ride it. It will either take me to someones house, or into a village somewhere...Not sure that there will be no mud is a blessing or not. 

 

 

 

[mat_the_cat]

On 14/04/2025 at 18:52, Stinkwheel said:

 🤪But seriously,  you are doing all the niggly jobs I didn’t care about 🤫👍

I'm actually enjoying this kind of tinkering stuff, little wins without major time with the bike in bits. Stuff I don't *have* to do is always much more appealing than repairs which needs to be done! Congrats on the SV pass also.

I have a dilemma...I really don't like black wheels on cars or bikes, so am thinking of a colour change. Plus they could do with a refresh anyway; I've touched them up for now but they're showing the miles more than the rest of the bike.

However I am not always the best judge of taste apparently. I reckon gold with purple would look ace, but I may be very wrong! Thoughts?

[Stinkwheel]

32 minutes ago, mat_the_cat said:

I'm actually enjoying this kind of tinkering stuff, little wins without major time with the bike in bits. Stuff I don't *have* to do is always much more appealing than repairs which needs to be done! Congrats on the SV pass also.

I have a dilemma...I really don't like black wheels on cars or bikes, so am thinking of a colour change. Plus they could do with a refresh anyway; I've touched them up for now but they're showing the miles more than the rest of the bike.

However I am not always the best judge of taste apparently. I reckon gold with purple would look ace, but I may be very wrong! Thoughts?

The earlier RC36/1 model did come with very tasteful gold wheels, finding them at a decent price will be hard though,  very sought after for putt in on the RC36/2. Having said that, gold paint is cheap 👍

Having to get used to the SV, it’s not slow by any means but the sheer grunt of the VFR750 when you wind it on some is hard to beat. 
I must adjust my riding for more corner speed I think.  
Having said that neither hold a candle to modern bikes, but I do prefer older bikes without all the anti wheelie, linked brakes etc etc for feel & satisfaction when you get a bend or series of bends, or sometimes a whole journey just right. 
 

[Barry Cade]

32 minutes ago, mat_the_cat said:

I'm actually enjoying this kind of tinkering stuff, little wins without major time with the bike in bits. Stuff I don't *have* to do is always much more appealing than repairs which needs to be done! Congrats on the SV pass also.

I have a dilemma...I really don't like black wheels on cars or bikes, so am thinking of a colour change. Plus they could do with a refresh anyway; I've touched them up for now but they're showing the miles more than the rest of the bike.

However I am not always the best judge of taste apparently. I reckon gold with purple would look ace, but I may be very wrong! Thoughts?

Hmm. I'd say a dark bronze would suit better, gold would clash..

 

Yours is identical to my old one. I hated that bike.. 😆

 

[Stinkwheel]

13 minutes ago, Barry Cade said:

Hmm. I'd say a dark bronze would suit better, gold would clash..

 

Yours is identical to my old one. I hated that bike.. 😆

 

Why did you hate it,  out of interest? 
 

I’ve had 2 of the FV last model now, the red one I loved, the thing was perfect and I was happy riding it slow, fast or Banzai! 
The blue one (now @mat_the_cat’s)  I liked,  but never In the same way as the red one. Not sure why. 

[Barry Cade]

51 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

Why did you hate it,  out of interest? 
 

I’ve had 2 of the FV last model now, the red one I loved, the thing was perfect and I was happy riding it slow, fast or Banzai! 
The blue one (now @mat_the_cat’s)  I liked,  but never In the same way as the red one. Not sure why. 

I've owned quite a few Hondas, and never liked any of them. The VFR Ft wasn't particularly good at anything, complex and difficult to work on for no benefit, didn't handle that well, and never made me want to go for a ride, clean it or look back at it. Every other  bike I've owned had something that made me like it.

[Stinkwheel]

7 minutes ago, Barry Cade said:

I've owned quite a few Hondas, and never liked any of them. The VFR Ft wasn't particularly good at anything, complex and difficult to work on for no benefit, didn't handle that well, and never made me want to go for a ride, clean it or look back at it. Every other  bike I've owned had something that made me like it.

Fair enough, some bikes just don’t grab you like others. I’ve owned/ridden a lot of bikes from the 93-2005 ish era as I was in the trade att that time. Ones I particularly disliked were the Yamaha Diversion and the Ducati ST2 & 4 

[Barry Cade]

37 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

Fair enough, some bikes just don’t grab you like others. I’ve owned/ridden a lot of bikes from the 93-2005 ish era as I was in the trade att that time. Ones I particularly disliked were the Yamaha Diversion and the Ducati ST2 & 4 

Always fancied an st4 too! The bike that surprised me most, and I grew to love was a proper snotter of a pre divvy XJ600. Bought it for something to do, refreshed it and got it running, and it was far more than the sum of its parts.  The Div was a dog. My brother had a 900 and it was just shit.

My Tiger 1050 I have now just fits me. Tour, scratch, bimble.. plenty power when needed but torquey and smooth. I was looking to replace it but can't find anything that ticks so many boxes.. anything else coming in will be as well as, instead of replace.

[mat_the_cat]

5 hours ago, Barry Cade said:

Hmm. I'd say a dark bronze would suit better, gold would clash..

I think you're right, something a bit darker and more subtle. It's probably (or at least should be!) a way down the priority list, as I have *critical stuff to sort out first. Such as the fact there is a slight 'bleed' on the LCD clock. I managed to find a set of clocks for a reasonable price, advertised as fully working! So I bought them, only to find the closck is worse than mine.

(*I know it's not critical, just that the way my brain is wired, something so immediately visibly 'wrong', really grates on  me. I'm sure it's not typical, although it wouldn't surprise me if members on here understand where I'm coming from).

[Stinkwheel]

10 hours ago, mat_the_cat said:

I think you're right, something a bit darker and more subtle. It's probably (or at least should be!) a way down the priority list, as I have *critical stuff to sort out first. Such as the fact there is a slight 'bleed' on the LCD clock. I managed to find a set of clocks for a reasonable price, advertised as fully working! So I bought them, only to find the closck is worse than mine.

(*I know it's not critical, just that the way my brain is wired, something so immediately visibly 'wrong', really grates on  me. I'm sure it's not typical, although it wouldn't surprise me if members on here understand where I'm coming from).

The annoying thing about the LCD bleed is that it was fine until one day I parked up in the direct sun in a warm day,  when I came back the LCD had done that. It wound me up a lot every time I looked at it after that 

[Jerzy Woking]

16 hours ago, Stinkwheel said:

 Having said that neither hold a candle to modern bikes, but I do prefer older bikes without all the anti wheelie, linked brakes etc etc for feel & satisfaction when you get a bend or series of bends, or sometimes a whole journey just right. 
 

It's the reason I loved my KTM RC8's, no rider aids at all. No ABS, no traction control, just lots of power and torque. A mate described them as "two wheeled TVR's".

I got to ride lots of new, modern bikes for work, but none really compared to the KTM's for joy of riding.

[mat_the_cat]

39 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

The annoying thing about the LCD bleed is that it was fine until one day I parked up in the direct sun in a warm day,  when I came back the LCD had done that. It wound me up a lot every time I looked at it after that 

(Weirdly it looks better on camera than in real life - the last digit is actually completely unreadable).

Judging from the number for sale with the same problem it seems fairly common at this age. Good to know what finished it off; I will try and avoid too much direct sunlight (shouldn't be too hard around here!)

It will get sorted one way or another - the original clock is a bit more integrated with the dashboard than I expected, with remote adjustment buttons. Which makes it a little more tricky to drop in a different clock module. But perhaps a radio-synchronised clock module would work well. Watch this space!

[UltraWomble]

Fitted top box (holds my lid better than the under seat space) 

Just done chippy tea run

[UltraWomble]

Chemist run & little bit of shopping. 

It's so much nicer getting this out than the car and as it's not chained up to buggery like the royal alloy scooter so its much easier too. 

[straightSix]

I'm enjoying the VFR content! Here's mine. Currently off the road while I replace the leaking oil cooler hoses. Then it'll get a service and I'm planning on adding commuting to the insurance so hopefully it'll see some use this summer