The Bikeshite Thread

9,246 · August 8

Had a nice 100 odd mile route to work panned out for which the Vespa was to be pushed into use for. Gave it a once over which was mostly charging the battery and patching a hole in the exhaust. Had a bit of local running around to do the day before the off and all was well.

Yesterday all loaded and ready to roll

Then the starter didn't

Turned over weakly then nothing. Battery good, made no difference hooked up on leads either. Fuses all good. Maybe faulty ignition switch? Gawd nose. I hate electrics.

Threw bags in the van and took that instead.

6,294 · August 8

This is the first new retro that could lure me away from a Z900RS, assuming it has the same 150bhp of the Hornet I would be very tempted depending on how much they price it at

9,865 · August 9

The decals scream 250 SuperDream to me tbh.... 😂

5,475 · August 9

2 hours ago, andy18s said:

The decals scream 250 SuperDream to me tbh.... 😂

With the tank shape and decals they are absolutely going for a CB900 look

9,865 · August 9

All look the same tbh.....

9,246 · August 9

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

9,246 · August 9

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

6,294 · August 9

1 hour ago, Rustybullethole said:

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

If you don't like the fairing they have one without.

133,028 · August 10

166 miles today. Bit pissed off as had planned for 200, but when I went to the bike the battery was flat. I took my boost pack 'just in case' (lucky I did) and decided my first stop would be Dolgellau to brim the tank in case the bike packed up further away and the boost pack ran out of power.

Obviously the battery didn't sodding well charge, so pushed it out of the petrol station and jump started it. That threw me a bit as it also seems to tick over a bit lower than I would have liked and it stalled a couple of times. That made me decide to cut out the planned destination, and instead of going from Machynlleth to Staylittle and the Clywdog Reservoir before going through Llanidloes and then Newtown, I went straight from Mach to Newtown.

Obvs it decided to cut out again at a p*ss stop near Corris, so I had ten minutes sitting it out and giving my arse a rest.

Battery woes aside, it was a brilliant ride and I found myself opening it up a bit more and going for it on some bits of the roads.

Only one real close call, a handful of Power Rangers tried to overtake a van on a blind corner coming in my direction, somewhere past Bala.

August 10

At least you still got a ride out! Sorry it didn't go to plan.

What voltage are you getting while it's running mate? It's either not charging or the battery is knackered or both...

133,028 · August 10

54 minutes ago, Iamgroot said:

At least you still got a ride out! Sorry it didn't go to plan.

What voltage are you getting while it's running mate? It's either not charging or the battery is knackered or both...

Erm, truthfully, I don't know. I did read the original batteries are a bit shit (sounds like a few bikes/scooters I'm aware of) and I think the battery had gone kaput from the bike not being used for a few weeks. I'll try a new one first as hopefully that's the easiest option. Mind you, the bike is still under warranty I think.

August 10

1 minute ago, Cavcraft said:

Erm, truthfully, I don't know. I did read the original batteries are a bit shit (sounds like a few bikes/scooters I'm aware of) and I think the battery had gone kaput from the bike not being used for a few weeks. I'll try a new one first as hopefully that's the easiest option. Mind you, the bike is still under warranty I think.

Fair enough, check out the warranty, if it costs you nothing that's even better!

I knew a bloke in Chester who could batteries cheap..

46,622 · August 11

On 09/08/2025 at 11:05, andy18s said:

All look the same tbh.....

Honda called this 'Eurostyle', it was applied from the CB100 up to the CB900 (calling at 125, 250, 400 and 750). It was a conscious move away from the previous American styled flabby rounded look; 'Eurostyle' was more about straight, clean and lean lines. The distinctive graphics gave a modern feel and an instantly recognisable corporate identity.

133,028 · August 11

Day off today, so in between arsing about with push bikes, I thought I'd see why the OR50 didn't start. Took the fuel pipe off (and fucked it in the process) and chucked some accelerant down the new piece. No joy. Took the plug out, turned it over, no spark. Then I remembered it has to be in the second 'on' position, and guess what? It sparked. Cleaned the plug up, lobbed it back and it ran for a short while. Looks like the carb'll have to come off again for another bath.

3,163 · August 12

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.

9,902 · August 12

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 👌

12,777 · August 13

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.

August 13

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.

12,777 · August 13

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...

5,475 · August 13

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.

133,028 · August 13

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.

5,475 · August 13

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.

August 13

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.

12,777 · August 13

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

August 13

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.

12,155 · August 15

5,475 · August 16

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

7,847 · August 16

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.

9,760 · August 16

Popped into Thor Motorcycles today as I was passing, they had a freshly delivered BSA Bantam outside:

Had a good sniff around it and climbed aboard, I’d rock one as a commuter or a bit of fun, surprisingly big for the cc and looks smart. Would I choose one over a GB350S? Don’t know, it’d come down to how they each ride and feel but from a quick look around both I couldn’t say that either has any particular advantage.

I’d like one of these:

Fantic Caballero 700 scrambler. £9.5k is a bit salty for a new one though.

5,540 · August 16

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

The Bikeshite Thread

Recommended Posts

Rustybullethole

Heidel_Kakao

andy18s

Stinkwheel

andy18s

Rustybullethole

Rustybullethole

Heidel_Kakao

Cavcraft

Iamgroot

Cavcraft

Iamgroot

martc

Cavcraft

Snake Charmer

Jazoli

DodgeRover

Iamgroot

DodgeRover

Stinkwheel

Cavcraft

Stinkwheel

Iamgroot

DodgeRover

Iamgroot

myglaren

Stinkwheel

castros_bro

83C

Jerzy Woking

Create an account or sign in to comment

Create an account

Sign in

Similar Content

Scrapyard thread 1 2 3 4 9

Rustival Thread 1 2 3 4 9

Collection thread

The "WTF" is that? thread...

The "WTF is that?" thread 1 2 3 4 55

Browse Forums

Activity