The Bikeshite Thread

[Fat_Pirate]

I've taken the week off to catch up with a load of maintenance tasks... first up (yes, I realise it's Wednesday already), changing the oil and coolant on the Pan European.  Plan was to get it done before lunch, but the bastard fairing takes so long to remove, even with the fancy 'leccy tool I bought off somebody on here; this is the 3rd time I've done it but still struggle to do it in the right order.

That tub of fixings is from ONE SIDE of the fairing - there are bolts, screws, various clips, all in multiple sizes so you need to remember what goes where...

...that made me hot and tired so I went and had a lolly and sit-down.  Came back, removed a drain screw on the block to be rewarded with a thimble-full of coolant, then it took me 30 mins to get the bastard back in as access was so awkward.  That required another lolly, and some crisps too. 

Oil change included spilling a load on the drive and swearing a lot, this is the law.

Putting the fairing panels on was another almighty ballache, where all the internal panels need to be lined up in the correct order, then fitting it into the myriad slots around the headlamps, mirror, etc, without breaking anything.  This was followed by another more serious break, featuring tea and toast, a really nice M&S yogurt and a couple of Simpsons episodes.  There may have been a nap too.

5pm - finished, the conclusion of a long hard day at work, but tomorrow I have to change the rear pads on my KTM, so likely another back-breaking 8-hours of slog.

[Heidel_Kakao]

@Fat_Pirate All that faff makes a compelling argument for naked bikes!

Have anyone ever bought a bike and then wished they had waited because they released a better colour scheme later on?

I mean I really like the colour I chose but the black on black of the new SE makes it look evil in a good way.

The main reason I didn't go for an SE in the first place was I didn't fancy the yellow ball scheme.

[Shandylegs]

Remembered to turn off indicators this time and passed my Mod 2 earlier this week 🫣

Bike insured (surprisingly cheap) and taxed. Psyched myslef up for the first solo trip and then found I had no clutch! It's not been used that much over the last couple of years, luckily fresh fluid and a good bleed through sorted things out.

I've been concerned that I'd struggle with the riding position - tall, too heavy and getting old. However, from an hour pottering around, it all seems ok.

The bike seems quite civilised, dare I say it, not that quick. Suppose that will come if I ever use the other 75% of the throttle left 🤣

Very happy tonight!

[catsinthewelder]

Christ, is that a TL1000?

Good luck!

[Shandylegs]

10 minutes ago, catsinthewelder said:

Christ, is that a TL1000?

Good luck!

It is.  😬

[scdan4]

1 hour ago, Heidel_Kakao said:

@Fat_Pirate All that faff makes a compelling argument for naked bikes!

Have anyone ever bought a bike and then wished they had waited because they released a better colour scheme later on?

I mean I really like the colour I chose but the black on black of the new SE makes it look evil in a good way.

The main reason I didn't go for an SE in the first place was I didn't fancy the yellow ball scheme.

There's always a better bike the week after you level up. This is a good thing as it helps drive the n+1 = biking nirvana...

 

I'm getting old, primer grey and rattle can black from the factory . Used to be you'd have to damage the factory finish yourself first before applying the street fighter/ fixing coats of paint yourself, angrily, wincing through the painkillers....

 

I mean, you're halfway there already...... (Sorry if too soon 🙂)

Praps their insurance will end up buying you a new one.. .

[andy18s]

1 hour ago, Shandylegs said:

It is.  😬

Loved my Tls, would wheelie at any opportunity.  .

[Heidel_Kakao]

19 minutes ago, Shandylegs said:

It is.  😬

"Due to its problems, it has earned the title of ‘The Widowmaker" Well biking is a relatively dangerous pastime so if you are going to take risks may as well go all in!

[Heidel_Kakao]

@scdan4 I am hoping they can repair it to as good as new but I wouldn't say no to a replacement if it went that way. It's funny but I really like old cars but when it comes to bikes so far I like new bikes that look retro. I will get a classic bike eventually as I would love a Norton Commando.

[Rustybullethole]

2 days into a 4 day moto camp.

Kawasaki still waiting on parts so am 250 4 stroke mounted. Not spent any real time on one before though can really see the appeal. 

Edited July 31 by Rustybullethole

[UltraWomble]

How shit is an indian built BSA Bantam 350 likely to be?
Thinking that at less than £100/month for 3 years it might be worth a gamble, then rinse and repeat when the MOT falls due and its likely to fail on all sorts of things like fork seals & headstock bearings.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127273617213

[Cavcraft]

1 minute ago, UltraWomble said:

How shit is an indian built BSA Bantam 350 likely to be?
Thinking that at less than £100/month for 3 years it might be worth a gamble, then rinse and repeat when the MOT falls due and its likely to fail on all sorts of things like fork seals & headstock bearings.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127273617213

The black ones look nice.

[UltraWomble]

35 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

The black ones look nice.

These are £3K in red only at a local dealer at the moment, slightly bigger donkey at 411cc.

[83C]

 

49 minutes ago, UltraWomble said:

How shit is an indian built BSA Bantam 350 likely to be?
Thinking that at less than £100/month for 3 years it might be worth a gamble, then rinse and repeat when the MOT falls due and its likely to fail on all sorts of things like fork seals & headstock bearings.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127273617213

An extra £500 gets you Honda build quality:

To be fair I reckon the BSA will be half decent, it’s supposed to be more powerful than the Honda (29bhp vs. 22bhp) and I do like the paint schemes available. That said, if it were my money I’d definitely want to be test riding both and bearing in mind that in 3 years the Honda is more likely to hold its value. 

[castros_bro]

That'll be BSA Bantam resurrected as a new 350cc model based on Jawa 42 FJ

[hairnet]

would be slightly quicker than the honda and the hunter - but then secondhand guerilla

but how are they built

and how much after the three years

theres some hunters knocking about under 3k lightly used

 

[hairnet]

english title but italian but english reg bike

but no subtitles

tried to watch the other clearly AI one (after he said friends 4 times in 0.5 seconds)

no

 

[UltraWomble]

52 minutes ago, hairnet said:

but how are they built

and how much after the three years

The residual value doesnt really trouble me too much - for the price its a "Pay £x/Month for 36 month" then rinse and repeat when the first MOT falls due.
Its not going to be a garage queen, it will get used and commuted nearly half to death. Im mainly bothered about whether with routine oil changes and spannering / lubricating that it will last the 3 years without disintegrating into a horrible heap of nothingness around 18 months / 2 years old.

[hairnet]

visordown reviewed them and they say theyre built by mahindra

who do the gold star 650

which isnt the greatest according to reviews

hmmm

[Dave_Q]

1 hour ago, UltraWomble said:

The residual value doesnt really trouble me too much - for the price its a "Pay £x/Month for 36 month" then rinse and repeat when the first MOT falls due.
Its not going to be a garage queen, it will get used and commuted nearly half to death. Im mainly bothered about whether with routine oil changes and spannering / lubricating that it will last the 3 years without disintegrating into a horrible heap of nothingness around 18 months / 2 years old.

Honda have some good deals on finance, £89 a month with £1200 down for that GB350 but you'd surely be able to sell it for £2-3k at 3 years old?

So less overall

[RayMK]

6 hours ago, UltraWomble said:

How shit is an indian built BSA Bantam 350 likely to be?
Thinking that at less than £100/month for 3 years it might be worth a gamble, then rinse and repeat when the MOT falls due and its likely to fail on all sorts of things like fork seals & headstock bearings.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127273617213

My son bought the 650 Goldstar in February 2023 and still loves it.  It has had the odd minor niggle but is no worse than his RE 350 Meteor in that respect, all sorted under warranty and both used for commuting and pleasure.  Although his Kawasaki Z650RS has more performance and has been completely free of running niggles, he has found it to be devoid of character and a bit twitchy at speed.  He rates the BSA as his overall favourite because it has a characterful, torquey single cylinder charm, is comfortable on longer rides and nice and stable whether on back roads with poor surfaces or cruising at an easy 70mph on dual carriageways or motorways.  The Meteor also has oodles of character but he finds its low power detracts from the ride - it gets a bit breathless at 70mph.   The new Bantam is a good looking machine with decent performance.  It deserves to do well against the RE products.

My brother has had a BSA A10 for decades.  He's currently on tour with his wife on the A10 - I think he's in Denmark for a BSA rally.   Last year he traded his RE Interceptor for a BSA Goldstar.  He prefers the feel of the BSA - it's his daily ride when not on the 1960 A10.

 

[Cavcraft]

23 hours ago, UltraWomble said:

These are £3K in red only at a local dealer at the moment, slightly bigger donkey at 411cc.

If the dealer I bought (for one day) a Himalayan from wasn't so shit, I'd still be whazzing about on one. Still, the BM is a lovely thing, so it's no loss.

The Scram looks nice, possibly want to consider a fairing of some sort for shit weather commutes.

[martc]

On 31/07/2025 at 13:33, 83C said:

 

An extra £500 gets you Honda build quality:

To be fair I reckon the BSA will be half decent, it’s supposed to be more powerful than the Honda (29bhp vs. 22bhp) and I do like the paint schemes available. That said, if it were my money I’d definitely want to be test riding both and bearing in mind that in 3 years the Honda is more likely to hold its value. 

Honda quality, and built in Japan.

But the Indian built Triumph 400's are very highly regarded...

[hairnet]

On 31/07/2025 at 14:21, castros_bro said:

That'll be BSA Bantam resurrected as a new 350cc model based on Jawa 42 FJ

6k tho?

[83C]

2 hours ago, martc said:

Honda quality, and built in Japan.

But the Indian built Triumph 400's are very highly regarded...

Getting a bit spendy at £5k+ but admittedly they’re another class up from the 350s with around 40bhp:

Have to admit that if I had £5k lying around I’d like something like the Scrambler, it looks good.

[hairnet]

5k is bear 650 money

or bonneville

enfield and the honda is thumpa thumpa

speed ya have to send it everywhere - theyre very different

[martc]

If I had to buy any of the ones mentioned above, without any doubts, it would be the Honda. 

However I think I'll stick with the Zero thanks.

[DeanH]

Rode the almighty CT125 something like 250 miles around the North York Moors this weekend. A few temporary FTPs kept the 11 hour ride interesting!

Met another CT125 owner who had a far nicer example than my heap of crap.

[Cavcraft]

On 03/08/2025 at 11:38, DeanH said:

Rode the almighty CT125 something like 250 miles around the North York Moors this weekend. A few temporary FTPs kept the 11 hour ride interesting!

Met another CT125 owner who had a far nicer example than my heap of crap.

Yours looks better, imho. 

[Fat_Pirate]

Would anyone be interested in my 2005 Superduke 990?  Would like ~£2500, will knock up a proper advert if so.  26K, fresh MOT, very clean and totally standard with good tyres/chain/etc. 

I've had it 9 years but I barely use it anymore.  These have a well-deserved reputation for being somewhat mental and it's always been the Nelson Muntz of my bike collection; nowadays I prefer the company of Martin Prince (Pan European), Lisa Simpson (VFR), or the 'my-cat's-breath-smells-of-catfood' Enfield.  It's frustrating to ride at anything less than a rapid pace.