The Bikeshite Thread

[Iamgroot]

Cheers mate, I'll have to check out that breakers in St Martins.

Yeah I've got a GPS Speedo but it's a bit big and I'd rather have a mechanical one, did consider the bicycle one at one point, but I didn't like the idea.

My mate @Deadhorse came over today and I had a rip on his KLE, which is a nicer version of his old one which I picked up for him, I thoroughly enjoyed it, which has made me more convinced I'd like something like that for a bit of light green Laning, so either the Z750 or the FJ are in the firing line at the minute. 

Think there's enough of us to setup a "motorcycle swap shop" thread? 😂

[Rustybullethole]

[Cavcraft]

Couldn't make my mind up today: was thinking of heading to Rhayder, but it seemed too far as needed to be home reasonably handy today.

In the end a last minute decision saw me heading towards Corwern, then on the A470(?) through Betws-y-Coed and Llanwrst and into Llandudno. Didn't actually go into Betws in the end, the road sort of bypassed it and I couldn't be arsed, so stopped in Llanwrst instead. Another of the places I used to call at in a previous job, probably been too busy driving flat out to appreciate the town. Sad to see one of the garages now seems closed. Anyway, had 15 minutes there and walked along the river bed a short while, will go there again for a day out with the fam one day.

Belting roads pretty much all the way, perfect for biking even if you're not a knee down/balls out rider. I stopped at the railway crossing further down where we met the breeder of BARBARA_LEE_CARTLAND the wonder dog, the day we bought him.

123 miles in total, put my big boy pants on and came home  via the A55, averaged probably about 60mph and at overtaking speeds it was fine. Probably better on a bigger engined or twin/four pot bike if doing lots of motorway/fast by-pass work, but it wasn't a problem.

[mat_the_cat]

It's the middle of a drought in Wales, and unseasonably warm. So I've been fitting heated grips! I suffer a bit from Reynard's, and a couple of times have been riding back at night and got caught with cold hands. They've certainly got more integrated since the last set I fitted!

(No matter which way I orientate it, it displays upside down!)

Went out today to Porthmadog, and returned to the bike to discover a friend next to it!

[Rustybullethole]

More new to me byways on the way to work. This one south of Aylesbury is one of the nicest i've ridden.

[scdan4]

Beached whale  

Still loving the wing. It's definitely been the weather for a new bike. With the lack of rain it's being used for everything 🙂

[hairnet]

On 11/05/2025 at 18:22, Cavcraft said:

 

how did ya get to tenerife so quick

[tom13]

6 minutes ago, hairnet said:

how did ya get to tenerife so quick

Where is this pic from?

[hairnet]

9 minutes ago, tom13 said:

Where is this pic from?

photoshop

 

[robt100]

Well, after buying the ZX6r from @CGSB earlier in the year. It may have taken 3 goes at cleaning/rebuilding the carbs, but its now running properly!! The mrs went out on her first run today and is very happy.
Got a feeling the oil level before wasn't helping things, stamp on the side of the engine says fill rates are:
4L from dry
3.6L with oil filter
3.2L without filter change.

How much did we drain out???


5.2 Litres!! Would explain why it was so smoky at the start🤣🙈 Reckon it may have been topped up whilst on the stand at some point. Anyway, all good now and one happy wife (which is always a bonus). Only problem now is we are going away for the weekend and she keeps saying she wants to come home and go for a ride 😅

[hairnet]

bring bike obvs

 

[robt100]

38 minutes ago, CGSB said:

I paid (handsomely) for that bike to be serviced and didn't touch it afterwards. Goes to show how much bloody use my local "experts" are then doesn't it!

Glad you got it sorted relatively easily and mrs robt100 is happy with it, its a really nice bike.

Yeah, i think some stuff may have been from sitting, but other bits were either done "wrong" (i mean, this is the first time Ive touched a bike to work on so I can't talk really!), or half done. Carbs hadnt been opened for a while as far as we could tell, and mixture screws were all over the shop. Took a few attempts (and three figures) to get it all sorted but all good now..so far.

 

and of course, the usual "pics or it didnt happen"...

 

 

[Hawkeyethenoo]

1972 CB500K update. New parts in, pattern handle bars replacing the ace bars, now fitted and so much betterer. DVLA have replied and returned my historic vehicle application, sadly. They are looking for the original import document. Fair enough, if I had that I would have supplied it. They have asked that if I don't have it, that I supply a letter stating why I don't have and can't provide it, which of course I will provide and re-submit.

Bloody petcock has stopped play, leaking again! Have now bought a decent quality replacement via MadMopeds on eBay - £30 - which I'll fit tomorrow and update with photies. 

Standard airbox is now fitted, the bike was running like crap afterwards which was frustrating. But have since drained all the carbs as they were off again as refitting, think maybe one of the floats was stuck, it was much improved after that; the airbox is a really tight fit. But is now on there all air tight. Onwards and upwards. More on this story tomorrow. No-one said it would be easy! 

[hairnet]

bar end for honda

40 quid from flowlers parts 4 quid post - have to do that cos dealer is 40 miles away

from usa - put part no into ebay and lots of used ones come up one pair at 18 quid but it looked like evil kneivel had been there first - gen honda from a dealer across a bit from @PhilA

19.99 usd

20.and cents to ship

thats 30 quid

and you dont get bummed by customs/brexit

unless i find one in the garage.............

[Rustybullethole]

Pitched up near Llandovery for a weekends riding with mates. Cracking ride up and lovely evening.

[Barry Cade]

Genuine barn find! 

[DeanH]

Can anyone explain tyre sizes to me like I'm stupid?

I need a 3.50x18 and a 3.00x19 but they seem hard to come by in the same model of tyre?

Or would I have more success if I converted the imperial sizes to modern fangled metric?

Looking for a mixed road and off road tyre if anyone has recommendations?

[Barry Cade]

43 minutes ago, DeanH said:

Can anyone explain tyre sizes to me like I'm stupid?

I need a 3.50x18 and a 3.00x19 but they seem hard to come by in the same model of tyre?

Or would I have more success if I converted the imperial sizes to modern fangled metric?

Looking for a mixed road and off road tyre if anyone has recommendations?

3.50 is just the width in inches, convert this to metric.. so it would be 100/90/18. 

I always got on well with Metzeler Tourances.

[DeanH]

20 minutes ago, Barry Cade said:

3.50 is just the width in inches, convert this to metric.. so it would be 100/90/18. 

I always got on well with Metzeler Tourances.

The 100/90 aspect is what's confused me. 100 is 4 inch?

[UltraWomble]

Boll9cks

It's sprung a leak

[Barry Cade]

22 hours ago, DeanH said:

The 100/90 aspect is what's confused me. 100 is 4 inch?

100mm.. 

100/90/18 is

100mm wide, profile is 90% of width and diameter is 18 inch. Mad I know, but that's the way tyres are measured.

[DeanH]

8 minutes ago, Barry Cade said:

100mm.. 

100/90/18 is

100mm wide, profile is 90% of width and diameter is 18 inch. Mad I know, but that's the way tyres are measured.

Ah ok, so like car tyres. Makes sense.

[Aston Martin]

[Rustybullethole]

[Cavcraft]

FS1 clutch fixed, the actuation thing had packed up, so a new clutch mechanism kit saved the day. It actually has some feel now, so hopefully it'll be OK

Still some of the others need fixing, a great big handful of CBA means I've ignored doing anything. Plus, batting round on the BM is more fun than swearing at broken Hondas.

[Dave_Q]

Considering getting a flight to Cornwall tomorrow to buy this, talk me in/out of it please.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fwke4LUNQ/

[Cavcraft]

1 hour ago, Dave_Q said:

Considering getting a flight to Cornwall tomorrow to buy this, talk me in/out of it please.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fwke4LUNQ/

If (when) you bought it, you could have a day or two riding out with @twosmoke300 and then take it home. 

[Dave_Q]

1 minute ago, Cavcraft said:

If (when) you bought it, you could have a day or two riding out with @twosmoke300 and then take it home. 

Would love to but I'd have to be back the same day.

[bangernomics]

Buy it. If you don’t…

[Fabergé Greggs]

3 hours ago, Dave_Q said:

Considering getting a flight to Cornwall tomorrow to buy this, talk me in/out of it please.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fwke4LUNQ/

Yeah that needs bought for sure!