The Bikeshite Thread

[Snake Charmer]

On 09/08/2025 at 18:13, Rustybullethole said:

Superdooper wet dream. Not sure in the bikini fairing though am liking the rest.

 

Fairing is very Z1R or any of the aftermarket GRP copies prior to the GPz.

[Jazoli]

Would anyone like a pair of BSB weekend tickets for Cadwell Park BSB meeting, August Bank Holiday?

I can’t make it now unfortunately, have grandstand seats for the Mountain too, don’t want anything for them but a charity donation would be nice 👌 

[DodgeRover]

On 09/08/2025 at 18:15, Rustybullethole said:

Mates XR he's slowly sorting out. Wish he'd hurry up am dying for a go. 

I had an XL600LMF supposedly with an XR big bore kit, cam and arrow exhaust, it made me ride like a hooligan in town, was a right laugh, it definitely had much more omph than my stock standard XL600R.

A friend's trick used to be kick starting his XR600 with his hand when people complained they were hard to start.

[Iamgroot]

6 hours ago, DodgeRover said:

I had an XL600LMF supposedly with an XR big bore kit, cam and arrow exhaust, it made me ride like a hooligan in town, was a right laugh, it definitely had much more omph than my stock standard XL600R.

A friend's trick used to be kick starting his XR600 with his hand when people complained they were hard to start.

My dad had an XL600LMF, went all over Europe with it, I'd love one now, but they are silly money when they very rarely pop up for sale.

[DodgeRover]

51 minutes ago, Iamgroot said:

My dad had an XL600LMF, went all over Europe with it, I'd love one now, but they are silly money when they very rarely pop up for sale.

I gave £300 for the one I had (via yahoo auctions so you can tell how long ago it was), they were always unloved compared to the normal 600. Are there none left in Italy - they used to come over by the furniture van full...

[Stinkwheel]

Having been enjoying the bargain SV650 so far this year, but I decided it was time I get my finger out and get the MOT done on the F650, passed with no advisories or minors or whatever they are called now, which is nice. First MOT on the thing for 13 years as it came from an estate sale. (I had done quite a bit of work though, so it should have flippin’ passed)  Pictures just because.

 

[Cavcraft]

7 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

Having been enjoying the bargain SV650 so far this year, but I decided it was time I get my finger out and get the MOT done on the F650, passed with no advisories or minors or whatever they are called now, which is nice. First MOT on the thing for 13 years as it came from an estate sale. (I had done quite a bit of work though, so it should have flippin’ passed)  Pictures just because.

 

Bloody hell, that looks great.

[Stinkwheel]

10 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

Bloody hell, that looks great.

Thanks mate, appreciate that. It’s been a bit of a labour of love. Fond memories of these from new, at my old work we were selling these new and we had four ‘service loan bikes. They were great, we. Staff got to use them when not out in loan. We all did a lot of hard riding on those things, I also couldn’t believe that as a newly test passed 17 year old, they let me out on brand new motorcycles (I mean anything we had in stock used or demo was fair game to take home if no one higher up the pecking order wanted it at that time. So a lot of nostalgia in BMW’s especially of this era.
It’s a bit of a ten footer, and I mean that in a good way, it looks pretty darn presentable but it’s nothing like mint. I’m happy with that as it’s for riding not showing. Will probably be for sale when I find I can’t ride as well in my late 40’s as I could when in my late teens/early 20’s. 

And it’s true what they say motorcycles are therapy, working on them/restoring them and riding them. 

[Iamgroot]

2 hours ago, DodgeRover said:

I gave £300 for the one I had (via yahoo auctions so you can tell how long ago it was), they were always unloved compared to the normal 600. Are there none left in Italy - they used to come over by the furniture van full...

Yeah, they are well pricey now mate.

The only one I could find for sale in the UK ...

https://www.carandclassic.com/list/501/xl600lmf/

Last one I saw on eBay was a project and went for over £4k

So I don't think I'll be getting one, he also had a worthless MZ TS250/1 as his other long term bike I remember, even they are pricey now.

[DodgeRover]

18 minutes ago, Iamgroot said:

Yeah, they are well pricey now mate.

The only one I could find for sale in the UK ...

https://www.carandclassic.com/list/501/xl600lmf/

Last one I saw on eBay was a project and went for over £4k

So I don't think I'll be getting one, he also had a worthless MZ TS250/1 as his other long term bike I remember, even they are pricey now.

Yet another one I shouldn't have sold! I'll ask the Italian guy I know if there are many left, he was saying most had been replaced by big scooters they can make go really fast instead last time we talked

[Iamgroot]

1 minute ago, DodgeRover said:

Yet another one I shouldn't have sold! I'll ask the Italian guy I know if there are many left, he was saying most had been replaced by big scooters they can make go really fast instead last time we talked

That would be interesting, but I fear I would be wasting your time asking him unless it's super cheap. 

If there are still some about over there cheap, it would be worth someone with the means bringing a few over I reckon.

[myglaren]

 

[Stinkwheel]

It’s a nice day to be out and about, that is all

[castros_bro]

Anyone owned/ridden an AJP 125/250 ? 

 There's a "local" dealer in Leiria Portugal so was thinking of cashing in pension which is almost enough to buy one but have yet to find anybody who's ridden one. 

 

 

[Jerzy Woking]

Fantic look like they are on the brink of going out of business. Shame as the 500 Caballero is a nice (if somewhat pricey) bike

 

[Cavcraft]

Feeling mildly guilty about taking the seat off the other C200, I decided to see if it would start...

Once I put fuel in it, it fired up very easily and sounded well. I think the rack is going to come off and go on the other one, too. Not that it is currently working at the moment  (

Earlier on I dragged the GSX out, turned the fuel on and once I'd put the boost pack on and twigged the choke setting, it also fired right up and sounded well...

Obviously biased, but still think these are one of the best looking 4 stroke 250s of that era. Wouldn't kick a Z250 (especially a Korky) out of bed though.

[MT606]

after running out of fuel 2 or so miles from the bastarding petrol station..... 20 plus cars n 2 bikes passed me n only 1 bike stopped ( early 90s 900SS duke stopped, twat on a so called adventure bike just went by n looked in his mirror at me the cunt)  to ask if I was ok/what the issue was...... glad it wasn't a BMW snob mobile I had to push I tell thee that for a start!

[Paul-l]

On 16/08/2025 at 20:13, castros_bro said:

Anyone owned/ridden an AJP 125/250 ? 

Spent a day riding a selection of them round an mx track near Bristol about 15 years ago - does that count?

can’t remember much about them now, but the 125 was quite small , did think about getting one, but would have gone with the larger one.

[Paul-l]

On 16/08/2025 at 20:13, castros_bro said:

Anyone owned/ridden an AJP 125/250 ? 

Spent a day riding a selection of them round an mx track near Bristol about 15 years ago - does that count?

can’t remember much about them now, but the 125 was quite small , did think about getting one, but would have gone with the larger one. They’re supposed to be pretty good bikes from what I remember reading about them at the time 

[Dave_Q]

Not my first full tank on the NC but the first one I've remembered to check the mpg, done 165.3 miles on 11.44 litres for 64mpg.

[plasticvandan]

Since moving to Somerset from my dad's in Dorset 3 years ago my little collection of three MZs,half a ton of spares and my 1954 Ariel have been stashed away in various sheds at my dad's,while I got a bit more settled.I did go and get the ETZ250 and Ariel running last year,amazing things,both fired right up having not run for two years,on old fuel,the mz battery was even still charged (I had disconnected them).

I have a pair of 1970s MZ TS150s for restoration which I am never going to get round to doing so the aim this weekend is to go and fetch them and the spares in my Berlingo and bring them back to my Mrs garage to prep them to sell (in case anyone reading wants a commie project!) Once thats done and a bit of money and headspace is created in aiming to bring the Ariel home and get that on the road and hopefully get some riding in before the winter Good to ease myself back into something which has always been a big part of my life but been put on hold for a while.

[Dave_Q]

Have sold a couple of bikes recently and have space in my garage for some scrap.

This seems very cheap: https://ebay.us/m/qLELlR

Anyone know about Vespa Cosas? Are the engines and forks specific to them or will PX stuff work? Did they have front disc brakes?

@Fabergé Greggs, any intel?

Thanks

[Cavcraft]

31 minutes ago, Dave_Q said:

Have sold a couple of bikes recently and have space in my garage for some scrap.

This seems very cheap: https://ebay.us/m/qLELlR

Anyone know about Vespa Cosas? Are the engines and forks specific to them or will PX stuff work? Did they have front disc brakes?

@Fabergé Greggs, any intel?

Thanks

Almost certain the engines at least are different to the PX, as found a cheap 200 and was going to put the engine into a PX and my mate said they wouldn't fit.

[Stinkwheel]

3 hours ago, plasticvandan said:

Since moving to Somerset from my dad's in Dorset 3 years ago my little collection of three MZs,half a ton of spares and my 1954 Ariel have been stashed away in various sheds at my dad's,while I got a bit more settled.I did go and get the ETZ250 and Ariel running last year,amazing things,both fired right up having not run for two years,on old fuel,the mz battery was even still charged (I had disconnected them).

I have a pair of 1970s MZ TS150s for restoration which I am never going to get round to doing so the aim this weekend is to go and fetch them and the spares in my Berlingo and bring them back to my Mrs garage to prep them to sell (in case anyone reading wants a commie project!) Once thats done and a bit of money and headspace is created in aiming to bring the Ariel home and get that on the road and hopefully get some riding in before the winter Good to ease myself back into something which has always been a big part of my life but been put on hold for a while.

I could be tempted by a complete project MZ for sure. Do please us posted and good luck with the moving of everything, mostly wishing you all the best with getting back riding, if it’s been a big part of your life, then It will always be very important to you (I have found anyway)  👍

[plasticvandan]

I don't even have any photos of them,despite owning the two 150s for 4 years! From memory there is a 77 150 that is complete,and a 79 150 that is mostly all there apart from the seat,possibly more of a spares bike,as the engine is in bits as well,but I do have several boxes full of spares for them so might be a green lane type candidate that one.both have v5s. Ideally would like to sell them as a pair,but might split.They are typically mz scruffy as have been off the road since the early 80s but mainly been stored indoors.

Once they have gone I will look at bringing the Ariel home.

[hairnet]

5 hours ago, Dave_Q said:

Have sold a couple of bikes recently and have space in my garage for some scrap.

This seems very cheap: https://ebay.us/m/qLELlR

Anyone know about Vespa Cosas? Are the engines and forks specific to them or will PX stuff work? Did they have front disc brakes?

@Fabergé Greggs, any intel?

Thanks

shredder

[Fabergé Greggs]

13 hours ago, Dave_Q said:

Have sold a couple of bikes recently and have space in my garage for some scrap.

This seems very cheap: https://ebay.us/m/qLELlR

Anyone know about Vespa Cosas? Are the engines and forks specific to them or will PX stuff work? Did they have front disc brakes?

@Fabergé Greggs, any intel?

Thanks

Yup as @Cavcraft sez, the engine cases are different (redesigned rear suspension and brake). I think internally the engines are identical, save for the clutch which they updated and is now a really common upgrade for a PX. 
 

I think they switched to hydraulic or semi hydraulic or something for the rear brake but I can’t recall if they’re drum or disc on the front or if they share forks with a PX soz. 
 

I think they look cool- gifb and stick a hot Malossi 210 kit on it 👌

[Fabergé Greggs]

13 hours ago, Dave_Q said:

Have sold a couple of bikes recently and have space in my garage for some scrap.

This seems very cheap: https://ebay.us/m/qLELlR

Anyone know about Vespa Cosas? Are the engines and forks specific to them or will PX stuff work? Did they have front disc brakes?

@Fabergé Greggs, any intel?

Thanks

Actually looking again there seems to be a drum braked front wheel included in the bits 

[Dave_Q]

Thanks mate, I've now bought a rancid 70cc Piaggio Zip but TBF I might get the Cosa bits as well

[Cavcraft]

3 minutes ago, Dave_Q said:

TBF I might get the Cosa bits as well

They weren't massively popular, which hopefully means you could get the rest of the bits to make one up cheaply. Or it could be a massive pain in the arse trying to get the parts.