The Bikeshite Thread

[Hawkeyethenoo]

21 minutes ago, 93fxdl said:

Lacking in the style department for me, 80s muscle bikes are what floats my boat

Have a fixer upper Yamaha ybr125 for my daughter, made in china using old technology. Until very recently the small bikes had no development for decades 

Even now the new engines seem to only be developed to pass emissions requirements , yes the European market requires power restrictions, but not other countries so why no 30 bhp 125 for other markets?

Ttfn glenn 

30hp from 125cc is quite a lot, I'm minded there aint no replacement for displacement, Glenn.  🏍️

John. 

[93fxdl]

2 hours ago, Hawkeyethenoo said:

30hp from 125cc is quite a lot, I'm minded there aint no replacement for displacement, Glenn.  🏍️

John. 

28 bhp in 1992

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aprilia_RS125

Being an overweight geriatric type need the extra pulling power of the bigger engine 

[tom13]

On 26/12/2025 at 16:31, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

I saw this online.

£2500 0tr possibly.

Could this be the thing that breaks.my retired from bikes situation.

Always wanted a honda ct 125 but way too expensive for fun.

Anyone any experience of these new ajs's build quality and reliability ?

 

Called speedway motorcycles in Cannock about these today. They already have a few deposits on them.

£200 refundable deposit to secure and they offer 5 year warranty. £2500 OTR. Due end of March.

Demand seems high. I am tempted to put my name on one. it's annoying how cheap they are in the Asian market compared to here. I wish I had gone to the Bike show and sat on one, did anyone else sit on one?

[Verysleepyboy]

On 07/01/2026 at 15:44, tom13 said:

Hasn't someone on here got a CT90 or a CT125?

Got a 1970 CT90 with a LIfan110 engine swap

[loserone]

Didn't hairnet import a ct110 from NZ with Parky's help? That went on to Dave Q?

[Dave_Q]

45 minutes ago, loserone said:

Didn't hairnet import a ct110 from NZ with Parky's help? That went on to Dave Q?

He did, I ended up selling it to a bloke from Wales via ebay.

[Iamgroot]

Before the weather gets better and my bloody Reynaud's let's me ride again anyone fancy a bike swap shop? I've got a '92 FJ1200 or maybe an '81 Z750 kind of bobber/fighter/custom thing 

[hairnet]

3000 between mots

badge handed in

gonna need a set of tyres soon (htf is the front squaring off)

 

[Cavcraft]

Anybody tried one of these yet?

£4,999 with luggage seems a decent price.

[hairnet]

i was looking at them and the 525

but the weight puts me off - same as what i have - want smaller

think there was a german gadge that put 10k or more on one in one trip in a short space of time and nothing broke went to turkey i think

[hairnet]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/202601199267012

[93fxdl]

The hunk seems to be getting good reviews, made by one of the worlds largest bike manufacturers, used to have lots of honda joint venture work, so quality should be up there, also given a styling makeover and sold as the Harley Davidson 440x in some markets 

Prices are incredible but not many dealers around so support could be patchy 

Ttfn Glenn 

[Stinkwheel]

5 minutes ago, 93fxdl said:

The hunk seems to be getting good reviews, made by one of the worlds largest bike manufacturers, used to have lots of honda joint venture work, so quality should be up there, also given a styling makeover and sold as the Harley Davidson 440x in some markets 

Prices are incredible but not many dealers around so support could be patchy 

Ttfn Glenn 

It may be getting good reviews but that is one ugly motorcycle, the exhaust/cat bit in the front pipe looks god awful. I suppose its aptly named, its a 'hunk' of a thing 😁

[Cavcraft]

Did you find 'Hero Hunk' from Googling motorbikes or were you after something else, Hairnet?

[hairnet]

7 hours ago, Stinkwheel said:

It may be getting good reviews but that is one ugly motorcycle, the exhaust/cat bit in the front pipe looks god awful. I suppose its aptly named, its a 'hunk' of a thing 😁

embrace your man

[hairnet]

12 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

Did you find 'Hero Hunk' from Googling motorbikes or were you after something else, Hairnet?

well william blacon didnt appear so that ruled that out

i can send you some pointers?

[Stinkwheel]

I do have a question about power outputs on some of these new singles all around 350-500 cc ish seem to have about 25-35 ish bhp, is this for other markets licence restrictions? I know an A2 licence holder in the UK is allowed up to about 47bhp. 

To my mind the established japanese manufacturers have been making bikes with similar size engines cc wise that make more than that easily. Even a mid 70's japanese 400-500cc single tended to make more than about 40 hp.

Is 27bhp enough in a modern motorcycle? Or are we getting swizzed with lowering outputs over time?

[Iamgroot]

5 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

I do have a question about power outputs on some of these new singles all around 350-500 cc ish seem to have about 25-35 ish bhp, is this for other markets licence restrictions? I know an A2 licence holder in the UK is allowed up to about 47bhp. 

To my mind the established japanese manufacturers have been making bikes with similar size engines cc wise that make more than that easily. Even a mid 70's japanese 400-500cc single tended to make more than about 40 hp.

Is 27bhp enough in a modern motorcycle? Or are we getting swizzed with lowering outputs over time?

You are not alone in wondering why the power outputs seem so low. 

I think A2 restriction is Europe wide? Could be wrong, doesn't help explain why though.

A 1954 Goldstar was over 40bhp I think

[hairnet]

think its normal

aircooled 411 enfield 24 hp

watercooled 450 enfield 40hp

honda 350 aircooled 21hp but thats done on purpose 

[loserone]

2 minutes ago, hairnet said:

aircooled 411 enfield 24 hp

watercooled 450 enfield 40hp

Yes, but folk don't half moan that they're both too slow to possibly ride them on a motorway 

[Iamgroot]

Mad really though, manufacturing tolerances alone these days should make them higher performing than they were 70 years ago

[Dave_Q]

Probably a mix of things, they must reckon there is a market at that power level, making them unstressed probably makes them a tad cheaper to build, and emissions kit restricts the exhaust making it harder work to get the same power 

[Stinkwheel]

I kind of suspect it’s so they can get away with not really putting heavy duty kit like big brakes, expensive suspension etc etc I.e. use the same stuff they do on all the smaller bikes they make. But I might be way off the mark? Dunno. 

[hairnet]

57 minutes ago, loserone said:

Yes, but folk don't half moan that they're both too slow to possibly ride them on a motorway 

enfield is slow but the 450 is supposed to be ok for the size it is (ok on motorway etc)

must get a go on a 450

[93fxdl]

Many of these machines are made for the Asian markets, where prices, reliability and ease of repair are the main driving forces behind model development, a few more bhp is much less important than the ability to carry an entire family along a dirt road, and get them home again 

Reduced power output is also common amongst the Japanese superbike world, ,look at the, Moore mafia channel on YouTube where he remaps bikes to full power 

Ttfn Glenn 

[Cavcraft]

@loserone

Suzuki DR125 SM 2013 Motorcycle recent battery good condition | eBay UK

Not sure how that fits in distance and price wise, but looks a little belter that.

[Cavcraft]

21 hours ago, hairnet said:

think its normal

aircooled 411 enfield 24 hp

watercooled 450 enfield 40hp

honda 350 aircooled 21hp but thats done on purpose 

That's pretty grim, really. Just looked up the 310GS and it's showing as 34 BHP. Not really used it massively on bypasses etc, but my preferred cruising speed is about 60-65 and it'll do that and 70-75 without a huge effort, but it does feel like you're doing that speed. On a long run (on fast roads) you'd want more power maybe, especially for overtakes

On the 50/60mph twisty-ish A roads it's fine, and although bigger/faster 'adventure' bikes will go flying past, but it's not really the point, imho, as they're all about a nice riding position and just taking in the scenery but still being able to corner well and the odd bit of green-laning or whatever.

[Stinkwheel]

32 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

That's pretty grim, really. Just looked up the 310GS and it's showing as 34 BHP. Not really used it massively on bypasses etc, but my preferred cruising speed is about 60-65 and it'll do that and 70-75 without a huge effort, but it does feel like you're doing that speed. On a long run (on fast roads) you'd want more power maybe, especially for overtakes

On the 50/60mph twisty-ish A roads it's fine, and although bigger/faster 'adventure' bikes will go flying past, but it's not really the point, imho, as they're all about a nice riding position and just taking in the scenery but still being able to corner well and the odd bit of green-laning or whatever.

I think 34bhp from 310cc (if that’s correct) ☑️ s pretty good. And the BMW is lighter built than some. At least you know it will get out of its own way. 
Whereas 21bhp on a 350 Honda is kind of not enough, I mean, when I was 17 my RD125lc with jetting micron (and maybe a. 175cc kit) etc was probably about that or slightly more even and a lot lighter. That was nearly 40 years ago. 
I expect my dad’s 1952 Velocette 350 probably makes more than 21bhp. What were Honda thinking? 

[hairnet]

27 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

  That was nearly 40 years ago. 
 

🤣

[hairnet]

sorry stink are you only 6