The Bikeshite Thread

[DeanH]

Ran really nice from cold today.

But FTP'd at exactly the same spot as yesterday.

Thought I was in for a long push but 5 minutes of tapping the carb and wiggling wires got it going again.

Ran fine after that.

[Stinkwheel]

41 minutes ago, DeanH said:

Ran really nice from cold today.

But FTP'd at exactly the same spot as yesterday.

Thought I was in for a long push but 5 minutes of tapping the carb and wiggling wires got it going again.

Ran fine after that.

Interesting that it did it in the same place, makes me thing a couple of things,

a) Is your float height low and a blast along a good straight stretch is emptying your float bowl before the gravity flow from fuel tap can fill it up again ? (or a combination of slightly blocked filter at tap in tank and low float height etc leading to same problem)

b) Is this the first time youve ridden it when its this hot outside? If so coil could be overheating possibly, seen that a couple of times on single cylinder bikes.

 

[Dave_Q]

On 15/06/2025 at 09:08, Dave_Q said:

I managed to sell my Vespa so am on the lookout for the next heap.

What I really want is what the cool kids had when I was at school which is Gilera Runner, Aprilia SR, or an Italjet Dragster.

Just posting in case anyone has some prime 90s/00s italo-ped shite stashed, not too fussed if 50 or 125.

Further to this I reckon I've got my heart set on a Dragster but I'm not finding much at the moment that isn't a mint/modded 125 for £££. 

Did find this though, should I buy or should I buy?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/10018539134931690/

On 16/06/2025 at 20:58, hairnet said:

🤣

gorilla on a bicycle

Me, earlier

[Stinkwheel]

Probably best to buy it, that way an decent priced runner/dragster is bound to turn up shortly afterwards 😁

[DeanH]

25 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

Interesting that it did it in the same place, makes me thing a couple of things,

a) Is your float height low and a blast along a good straight stretch is emptying your float bowl before the gravity flow from fuel tap can fill it up again ? (or a combination of slightly blocked filter at tap in tank and low float height etc leading to same problem)

b) Is this the first time youve ridden it when its this hot outside? If so coil could be overheating possibly, seen that a couple of times on single cylinder bikes.

 

The float height could definitely be wrong. Fuel was previously overflowing out of the centre tube on the carb so I bent it back a bit to stop that.

I don't think the filter is blocked, I can see it from the filling spout and it's clean as a whistle.

Yes it's the first summer I've had it so B is a possibility.

 

Today it cut out totally rather than yesterday's hiccup. Really I need to go for another ride with some tools so I can check for spark when it dies.

[hairnet]

30 minutes ago, Dave_Q said:

 

 

 

no.

[DeanH]

Success. 

The old rear tyre was a 3.00 rather than the recommended 3.50, looks much better for being the right size.

[Stinkwheel]

26 minutes ago, DeanH said:

Success. 

The old rear tyre was a 3.00 rather than the recommended 3.50, looks much better for being the right size.

The right size tyres for a bike are essential, anything over or under sized can really change how it feels on the road.

 

Also, I'm sharing with you a link to a new front brake lever in a rather pushy way, as the one on the bike cannot be easy to get a full 4 finger pull on with its banana shape and with a drum that small, you really need to be able to grab it with all you got sometimes  

https://ebay.us/m/O0USdH

[DeanH]

29 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

The right size tyres for a bike are essential, anything over or under sized can really change how it feels on the road.

 

Also, I'm sharing with you a link to a new front brake lever in a rather pushy way, as the one on the bike cannot be easy to get a full 4 finger pull on with its banana shape and with a drum that small, you really need to be able to grab it with all you got sometimes  

https://ebay.us/m/O0USdH

The brakes on this are surprisingly keen. But thank you.

[scdan4]

On 19/06/2025 at 13:08, DeanH said:

Ran really nice from cold today.

But FTP'd at exactly the same spot as yesterday.

Thought I was in for a long push but 5 minutes of tapping the carb and wiggling wires got it going again.

Ran fine after that.

Is the fuel cap/tank breather clear?

[Bren]

Some new gloves

And a new cover

[Cavcraft]

On 19/06/2025 at 14:11, Dave_Q said:

Further to this I reckon I've got my heart set on a Dragster but I'm not finding much at the moment that isn't a mint/modded 125 for £££. 

Did find this though, should I buy or should I buy?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/10018539134931690/

Me, earlier

Looks like it's too much hassle for the money, IMHO. I'd be willing to bet you'd find a running one for the same money, or very little more.

[Dave_Q]

53 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

Looks like it's too much hassle for the money, IMHO. I'd be willing to bet you'd find a running one for the same money, or very little more.

If I get a 50 I'd want to do a 70 kit on it anyway so I'm not too bothered that he says it's not running right.

It is still available but I can't get down to collect it any time soon so might just bide my time and hope a dragster turns up nearer.

[DeanH]

5 hours ago, scdan4 said:

Is the fuel cap/tank breather clear?

I did think that this could be the issue. The original tank has a big hole in it so I'm running a generator fuel tank on the rear rack. As far as I know there isn't a breather, I could drill a small hole through the cap.

[Fat_Pirate]

Although I'm normally a ATGATT nazi, I've been going out around dusk the past few evenings with just a t-shirt under a flimsy mesh jacket - and it's been lovely!  Still wearing proper boots/gloves/bikey jeans so not total squid-mode, but it's been fantastic and occasionally I've almost been a little bit cold, which is a nice change.  Beats staying in the house watching endless Henry Cole repeats, and moaning about the weather, which I'd be doing otherwise.

[Iamgroot]

Had a fuel leak issue when getting back on the bike at a "biker cafe" today. 

Stripped the bike down using the old Yamaha tool kit under the seat ( tank, seat, side panels on floor), got the carbs off, fixed the dodgy float valve, got it back together, fired it up, no leaks, great stuff! Time to keep riding. 

Not a single person even acknowledged what was going on or offered anything in the way of help (thankfully didn't need any) oh how the bike scene has changed.

[Stinkwheel]

2 minutes ago, Iamgroot said:

Had a fuel leak issue when getting back on the bike at a "biker cafe" today. 

Stripped the bike down using the old Yamaha tool kit under the seat ( tank, seat, side panels on floor), got the carbs off, fixed the dodgy float valve, got it back together, fired it up, no leaks, great stuff! Time to keep riding. 

Not a single person even acknowledged what was going on or offered anything in the way of help (thankfully didn't need any) oh how the bike scene has changed.

Bikers are not what they were. Time was, if it was 2 wheels other riders would stop and help, all of them that passed by would stop and help, nowadays, a lot of riders aren’t motorcyclists, they don’t care and they don’t know how to help. Sad really. 

[Cavcraft]

Today' sit rep:

FS1E replica: Didn't start-carb leaking

FS1: Did start, then flooded and wouldn't run again.

Masses Davidson: Private plate applied, did start and had a run out on it.

 

This also didn't start..

 

[MT606]

Needed to get out on the bike this w/e after repairing wheel/replacing bearings, that n the little lady/OC kitchen/wife was busy so went down to 'The Devils porridge' museum near gretna, weather was fine till I'd finished looking around it but got decidedly scottish whilst RTB......

[andy18s]

Father in law is selling one of his bikes.

1955 Norton Dominator 88

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Au4gESjFb/

 

[Iamgroot]

On 21/06/2025 at 23:02, Stinkwheel said:

Bikers are not what they were. Time was, if it was 2 wheels other riders would stop and help, all of them that passed by would stop and help, nowadays, a lot of riders aren’t motorcyclists, they don’t care and they don’t know how to help. Sad really. 

I think you have summed it up quite well there sadly! 

I on the other hand even stop to make sure parked up bikers are ok while I'm driving round with work.

[hairnet]

scooter cannonball

this year oregon coast to island off texas at mex border

many splat many mechanicals sadly fatality

youtubers saying fuck it it getting too competitive

oddly chap that is doing it and doing well - they got to sante fe and 3 days 

turned round and headed home to california

was thinking maybe but now

no

 

[Dave_Q]

Stuck an AliExpress car play screen on the NC.

Works well and only £30.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EG8j7ue

[tom13]

What super rough but reliable track bike do I want? £1000 to spend. Not bothered about it been crazy fast. Would be happy on a 400 for example. Let me know if anyone has anything. 

[hairnet]

48 minutes ago, Dave_Q said:

 

 

didnt know you needed one of them for reporting to the 5-0 station

[Fat_Pirate]

53 minutes ago, tom13 said:

What super rough but reliable track bike do I want? £1000 to spend. Not bothered about it been crazy fast. Would be happy on a 400 for example. Let me know if anyone has anything. 

SV650 always seems to punch well above it's weight on the trackdays I've been to.

[tom13]

13 minutes ago, Fat_Pirate said:

SV650 always seems to punch well above it's weight on the trackdays I've been to.

Yeah my mate races one of those as well and has said they are good. He has said Steel frame CBR600, FZR or SV.

[Stinkwheel]

4 minutes ago, tom13 said:

Yeah my mate races one of those as well and has said they are good. He has said Steel frame CBR600, FZR or SV.

SV will be cheapest option for those 3 now, FZR's and CBR's are now old enough to be lumped into 'collectable' 'classic' 'appreciating' etc now

Have to say I got myself a cheap but well looked after mk1 SV a few months back and it would kill it on a track, light, slim and powerful enough

[straightSix]

2 hours ago, tom13 said:

What super rough but reliable track bike do I want? £1000 to spend. Not bothered about it been crazy fast. Would be happy on a 400 for example. Let me know if anyone has anything. 

Want that CB500 back? 😂

[Rustybullethole]

On 20/06/2025 at 15:08, DeanH said:

Success. 

The old rear tyre was a 3.00 rather than the recommended 3.50, looks much better for being the right size.

Really like the look of this and so handy with the racks. 

Did you get the running issue sorted?

I had similar fun with my melody. Run and them stop. Took a while to diagnose as had spark and by the time id get the bowl off fuel too. Turned out to be the filter slowing the delivery to the point it would run dry when given full beans. An issue exaggerated by the fact its a 50 so full beans everywhere.