The Bikeshite Thread

[Sham]

2 hours ago, Stinkwheel said:

Nice day for it, 100 miles this morning on some of the lovely roads round here

The bargain basement SV has turned out to be a pretty damn good purchase, which is nice 

My 2023 SV also clocked up over 100 miles today, glorious sunshine and lighter gear for the first time this year.

Lovely jubbly.

Pic isn't from today, because there was just too much riding to do.

 

[Barry Cade]

I was out for a bit  with a mate, been fettling his T509 Speed Triple for the last week.. brakes all refurbished, fork rebuild, horrible wiring issues sorted, EML dealt with, throttle bodies refurbished and remapped. Even put new bulbs in the clocks.. Did about 120 miles and it was freezing! 

My 1050 continues to be excellent. Longest I've ever had a bike!

[Matty]

3 hours ago, MrGTI6 said:

Just got back home after a spontaneous 80-mile ride and decided to follow it up with an equally spontaneous BBQ. 

Hoping for many more days like this in 2025!

I'm not a well known mardy arse but still, days like these (tm Matt Monroe) perfection 👌 

[scdan4]

Screen on the goldwing is knackered. Heavily scratched, a bit opaque and old sticker marks/residue. It's not like a normal bike screen that you look over, you look through it a lot more like a car screen, and this one is bad to the point of dangerous 

although it photographs well. Low light, wet or sunny conditions all make it distractingly bad enough that it needs sorting. A new one is £100, no bother really.

But wait...

What if I polished it up using wet n dry in a headlight restoration type way? Might work. .. 🤔 and there's nothing to lose so might as well give it a go.

Wet n dry out and soaked in the slightly soapy water. Start on one edge to make sure it works well before doing the whole thing. Feeling confident because the selection pack has given 2000, 2500, 3000, 5000 and 7000 grade papers. Surely that's going to polish it up proper good and clear?

🤣 Nope. Safe to say that has not improved it at all.

Dickhead. 🤣😂

New one on the way. 😄

[Fat_Pirate]

Went along to the Royal Enfield day at Sammy Miller's museum yesterday.  Loads of shiny bikes (apart from my 'Ceptor, I've been flat-out on house renovation so haven't washed it since last season), there were even some people under 50 years of age (not many, mind).

[hairnet]

17 hours ago, scdan4 said:

 

🤣 Nope. Safe to say that has not improved it at all.

Dickhead. 🤣😂

New one on the way. 😄

had this on mine - only bit of the bike not cleaned as i look over not thru it - even if ya clean it it stays like that

[hairnet]

1 hour ago, Fat_Pirate said:

, there were even some people under 500 years of age (not many, mind).

 

 

 

[hairnet]

was two smoke there

@Cavcraft will have been at the first meet

 

[andyberg]

Day off so I thought I had better enjoy the sun. Trip down to Cheddar, through the Mendips and a stop for a snack. It’s like being a teenager again🤣 sounds and smells from this bike that I used to hear/ see everyday. 

[Cavcraft]

Sixty eight and a half wonderful miles today, to a former scrap yard now nature reserve. Anyone's who ever visited it will very likely know where the place was, just from this bridge...

This was the main entrance, an office was here and some sheds/workshops further back to the right, iirc...

It was absolutely HUGE, it went right past the tress in the background and more besides. They cleared the place out when it shut a few years ago, but there's still the odd bit there and no doubt sill some buried.

Being the former tyre fitter and sad bastard that I am, I instantly recognised the Metro metric wheel and tyre and the Michelin XZX

There was a tree root growing through that beauty ring

I shamelessly liberated that mud flap (think of the environment!)...

Any ideas on the tail gate? It was another victim of a tree root (and half a wall) so I couldn't really get it much further out...

Bit of 0898 RED HOT BRIDGE ACTION XXXX

 

Went past a garage that's for sale on the A49 heading out of Whitchurch (mentioned on AS somewhere recently) so stopped for a photo

A very grand morning out. Even managed to overtake a few lorries and whatnot on the A41, and because I didn't have to be home desperately  quickly, I came back a different way from going and took some radnom narrow lanes here and there.

If a bit of a day out, some exercise, fresh air and random car part spotting (very random as most of it will be buried by now) tickles your fancy, maybe we could have a shiter's meeting there one day. It's not a million miles from the Raven/Midway truck stop or the town of Ellesmere, where in the latter case you can pay £275 for a cup of semi-warm tea, feed some ducks and possibly see Owen Patterson (again), call him a badger culling twat (again) but this time push him into the mere.

[scdan4]

Took the commute scoot the long way home from work to get fuel. 120 miles done on 4.3 litres. 😁 

Commute is much nicer in the warm sun so hopefully it will hang around a bit. 

 

[UltraWomble]

Using it for work at the minute 

Planning an oil change this weekend 

[Hawkeyethenoo]

1972 CB500K Update. New and improved exhaust end can and link pipe. Reused exhaust stay clamp as it is pretty sturdy and does the job fine. Airbox should arrive today so should be able to test-run later and check for leaks.

 

[Hawkeyethenoo]

Running with the help of TopDon booster pack. I think I preferred it noisy!  collector clamp needs tweaking. New old stock left and right points have arrived. Made in Japan, ken! 

[hairnet]

On 27/04/2025 at 16:43, Barry Cade said:

 

 

never liked the rear on these although always wanted an earlier one but clip on always meant no

same reason i dont like the current 660

[myglaren]

 

[Stinkwheel]

Another nice day for it, my mate on his FJ1200 came for a bimble about, I really would recommend motorcycles to anyone and everyone 

 

[andyberg]

17 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

 I really would recommend motorcycles to anyone and everyone 

 

This is a given. On a good day not much can beat riding a bike. 

[UltraWomble]

3 hours ago, myglaren said:

 

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/cyclist-injury-lime-bike-shoreditch-tfl-london-bus-b1225450.html#:~:text=A Lime bike rider who,since being posted on Wednesday.

Quote

It appeared the front wheel of the rental e-bike hit a piece of metal panelling protruding from the side of the bus – causing the rider to go over the handlebars at speed, with the heavy bike landing on top of her as she lay on the road.

Complete pro bicyclist bollocks London Standard.

Before:

After

[Bmwdumptruck]

4 hours ago, myglaren said:

 

Bus drivers fault, shouldn’t have stopped in the cyclists way.  He’ll lose his job and probably serve 6 months for nearly killing her. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🙄

[bangernomics]

So Portugal has decided that road going motocycles/tricycles/ quads no longer need annual inspection (MOT). Seems to be move to get more persons on small two wheelers for environmental reasons.



https://www.olx.pt/carros-motos-e-barcos/motociclos-scooters/?page=3&search[order]=filter_float_price%3Aasc

Just as France brings them in. Bizarre

[catsinthewelder]

Sounds like potentially epic collection threads on the Spanish equivalent of here.

[Hawkeyethenoo]

Generic petcock sprung a leak seemed to be at the bowl, added O ring and rebuilt, no longer leaks but only providing fuel on reserve. New one on order is 20mm x 1.5mm thread. With the quieter exhaust I can hear the engine. Downpipes seemed to be rattling a little, gently tightened studs a wee bit. Away to fit new points; watching a couple of timing lights on eBay ending tonight. 👀

[Hawkeyethenoo]

New points fitted gap set and immediately improved starting & running. Starts first kick! £25 well spent.👍

 

 

[robt100]

One for those of you with multiple carb setups...

Mrs Robt100 purchased the ZX6r that was on here a week or so ago, and has been trying to get it running. First job, take out all the old fuel, take off the carbs and clean the jets. Put them back on, and it'd start and rev, but the revs would hang on the way down. So, carbs out again, a secondary clean (incase any crap from the pipes had been pushed through with the new fuel) and also the needle jet side of things cleaned up (which were quite varnished), new pilot screws set to factory settings, and floats adjusted to what I think its the correct spec (no high point on the float to measure to, so gone for the centre). Ran much better and seems to be improving with every start, but....

It now starts fine with a little choke, but as it warms up it seems to get a little smoky out the exhaust. Revs up and drops back fine without hanging, but will randomly decide to raise to 3k rpm and sit there for 5-30 seconds then drop again. Will also drop right away with a blip of the throttle. Also looks like it may have had fluids topped up whilst on the side stand, as when stood upright the coolant was low and the oil is overfilled a little. Going to drain a bit of the oil to see if that stops the smoking (incase its just being vented through the crankcase breather), but unsure as to what might be doing the random rev. Old pilot screws were at all kinds of settings, should be 2 & 3/4 turns, had anything from 2 to 4 and a bit across the 4 carbs! Wondering if maybe they aren't balanced and one is running away with itself dragging the others to 3k before they take charge again?
At one point it definitely seemed like 1 of the 4 'puffs' per rotation out of the exhaust was stronger than the rest. Sadly I dont have anything like a colourtune or balancing dooberry (or the funds left for buying one) to check that way. So thought id see if the Autoshite hive mind had an idea? Mrs robt100 is very keen to go on a drive, but is concerned at driving something unpredictable like that with little experience. New genuine replacement pilot jets are on order, as one seemed to never become 100% clear, the hole in the end never seemed to go fully 'round' even after 2hrs in carb cleaner, multiple compressed air sprays, and a good heat up with a lighter to melt any remaining varnish, so that may also be the issue. Any tips or physical help welcome!

[hairnet]

must go back

[Cavcraft]

112 miles today. Was going to go to Shrewsbury, down the A49 past Church Stretton and then turn right before Ludlow, then through Knighton and Crossgates before dropping down through Dolfor, into Newtown and home. Not the sunniest or warmest day though, so went past Oswestry, right at Llynclys crossroads and eventually onto Lake Vyrnwy.  Cup of tea and home bought picnic at the cafe, then a slow but amazing route to Bala, through roads that could be in the Highlands. Luckily (narrow, steep and single track) there wasn't much coming the other way.

Had wanted to go to Lake Vyrnwy for years and years, but never made it there. It was well worth the wait though, proper nice place and the roads are made for bikes.

Ali Express wanker radiator guard, headlight grille and bigger screen. The screen extender and some handguards turned into disaster, so sent them back.

[Hawkeyethenoo]

New/old signal lights housing added with authentic wood trim. Didn't come with bulb holders, but think I can fix that with the right size of LEDs...   Old housing still attached the now so I can keep track of the wiring, we have working indicators and main beam lamp and that's about enough for anyone right? 

 

[Barry Cade]

19 hours ago, robt100 said:

One for those of you with multiple carb setups...

Mrs Robt100 purchased the ZX6r that was on here a week or so ago, and has been trying to get it running. First job, take out all the old fuel, take off the carbs and clean the jets. Put them back on, and it'd start and rev, but the revs would hang on the way down. So, carbs out again, a secondary clean (incase any crap from the pipes had been pushed through with the new fuel) and also the needle jet side of things cleaned up (which were quite varnished), new pilot screws set to factory settings, and floats adjusted to what I think its the correct spec (no high point on the float to measure to, so gone for the centre). Ran much better and seems to be improving with every start, but....

It now starts fine with a little choke, but as it warms up it seems to get a little smoky out the exhaust. Revs up and drops back fine without hanging, but will randomly decide to raise to 3k rpm and sit there for 5-30 seconds then drop again. Will also drop right away with a blip of the throttle. Also looks like it may have had fluids topped up whilst on the side stand, as when stood upright the coolant was low and the oil is overfilled a little. Going to drain a bit of the oil to see if that stops the smoking (incase its just being vented through the crankcase breather), but unsure as to what might be doing the random rev. Old pilot screws were at all kinds of settings, should be 2 & 3/4 turns, had anything from 2 to 4 and a bit across the 4 carbs! Wondering if maybe they aren't balanced and one is running away with itself dragging the others to 3k before they take charge again?
At one point it definitely seemed like 1 of the 4 'puffs' per rotation out of the exhaust was stronger than the rest. Sadly I dont have anything like a colourtune or balancing dooberry (or the funds left for buying one) to check that way. So thought id see if the Autoshite hive mind had an idea? Mrs robt100 is very keen to go on a drive, but is concerned at driving something unpredictable like that with little experience. New genuine replacement pilot jets are on order, as one seemed to never become 100% clear, the hole in the end never seemed to go fully 'round' even after 2hrs in carb cleaner, multiple compressed air sprays, and a good heat up with a lighter to melt any remaining varnish, so that may also be the issue. Any tips or physical help welcome!

@RobTAny ripped diaphragms? Check them carefully as these can cause the issues you're having. Also on Kwaks, the middle carbs can be jetted slightly differently to the outers..

[robt100]

3 hours ago, Barry Cade said:

@RobTAny ripped diaphragms? Check them carefully as these can cause the issues you're having. Also on Kwaks, the middle carbs can be jetted slightly differently to the outers..

Had a good look and the diaphragms seem ok, there is a couple of lighter marks (looks like maybe a bit of dust/grit has rubbed against it at some point) but all intact as far as can be seen. Also checked the boots the carbs sit in on the engine inlet and they all seem fine. Jets in the a1p version are the same on innners and outers, and have been checked they are correct. I mean, its a lot better than when it started and wouldnt even rev, and the 2nd time where the revs would hang after a rev. But the diaphragm thing is something I did wonder about given how far it revs up, though at that point its probably still running (just about) on the pilot jets?
Only other thing I can think of, is one of the pilot screws was a long way out vs the rest, I wonder if that carb is out of sync and trying to run a lot higher rpm than the others?