The Bikeshite Thread

[Stinkwheel]

1 hour ago, hairnet said:

sorry stink are you only 6

 

47 mate, the RD was 40 years old, but I didn’t have it new 😉

[hairnet]

1 hour ago, Stinkwheel said:

47 mate, the RD was 40 years old, but I didn’t have it new 😉

6 then i meant

[93fxdl]

The biggest downside to the BMW 310 is, you will be paying a premium price for an Indian made Motorcycle,  which explains the low power output 

Ttfn Glenn 

[93fxdl]

Moving my daughter's ybr125 this morning, you can see why I like my bigger bikes 

Ttfn Glenn 

[tom13]

Can anyone recommend me a decent day insurance company?

It's only for a road trial. I know I can take a policy out and cancel but if I can just get a day policy it will save the cancellation faff.

[martc]

On 02/02/2026 at 16:41, Cavcraft said:

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

I see your Hunk and raise you the Benda Napoleanbob. 

47bhp though. https://bendamoto.co.uk/

[Barry Cade]

4 minutes ago, martc said:

I see your Hunk and raise you the Benda Napoleanbob. 

47bhp though. https://bendamoto.co.uk/

What do you ride? 

A Benda.

 

I'm oot....

[martc]

Just now, Barry Cade said:

What do you ride? 

A Benda.

 

I'm oot....

Yeah, it makes you wonder about name choices. Surely someone at the UK importers must have raised an eyebrow at it.

I read a report on the larger Benda LFC700 and it was supposed to be a complete hoot, it also has the widest tyre on a production motorbike (31cm) but that name really gets in the way ....

[RayMK]

1 minute ago, martc said:

Yeah, it makes you wonder about name choices. Surely someone at the UK importers must have raised an eyebrow at it.

I read a report on the larger Benda LFC700 and it was supposed to be a complete hoot, it also has the widest tyre on a production motorbike (31cm) but that name really gets in the way ....

Apparently the company is part of the Keyway, Benelli group (China).  Benda has only been around since 2016 but today is the first time I've heard of them.  There's only a limited market for that style of bike in the UK, making it more difficult for a recent Chinese brand to gain much presence - I would have thought.  Chinese brands of motorcycles are rapidly gaining ground,  having mostly risen out of the poor quality efforts of 10 years ago.  I think many potential buyers will still hesitate because of the perceived uncertainty regarding  after sales service despite the good warranty, equipment levels and purchase price.   

[martc]

21 minutes ago, RayMK said:

Apparently the company is part of the Keyway, Benelli group (China).  Benda has only been around since 2016 but today is the first time I've heard of them.  There's only a limited market for that style of bike in the UK, making it more difficult for a recent Chinese brand to gain much presence - I would have thought.  Chinese brands of motorcycles are rapidly gaining ground,  having mostly risen out of the poor quality efforts of 10 years ago.  I think many potential buyers will still hesitate because of the perceived uncertainty regarding  after sales service despite the good warranty, equipment levels and purchase price.   

I had a good shufty around the MotoGB (who seem to be the most serious Chinese bike importer for the UK) stand at the NEC last year and there was some pretty decent Chinese stuff (including the Bendas, which beyond the name where actually quite nicely made things). There were plenty of looky likey Triumph Tiger style tourers but the one that took my eye was the Morbidelli. Like Benelli, they are a nominally Italian company, but the bikes are actually Chinese. Morbidelli do have a history, making some fantastic racing bikes, but they never made road bikes. They do now - a 1000cc v twin tourer and a cruiser (with the same engine). And lots of others, in fact a much more handsome challenger to the Hero Hunk

350cc, 40.9 bhp, that's more like it https://www.morbidelli.com/int-en/products/f352

https://www.morbidelli.com/int-en/products/t1002vx

 

[5speedracer]

19 hours ago, martc said:

I had a good shufty around the MotoGB (who seem to be the most serious Chinese bike importer for the UK) stand at the NEC last year and there was some pretty decent Chinese stuff (including the Bendas, which beyond the name where actually quite nicely made things). There were plenty of looky likey Triumph Tiger style tourers but the one that took my eye was the Morbidelli. Like Benelli, they are a nominally Italian company, but the bikes are actually Chinese. Morbidelli do have a history, making some fantastic racing bikes, but they never made road bikes. They do now - a 1000cc v twin tourer and a cruiser (with the same engine). And lots of others, in fact a much more handsome challenger to the Hero Hunk

350cc, 40.9 bhp, that's more like it https://www.morbidelli.com/int-en/products/f352

https://www.morbidelli.com/int-en/products/t1002vx

 

Quite a few reviews of the Morbidelli T1002VX on YT. With the luggage on it'd be a serious distance tourer. Looks wise it's very similar to my Benelli TRK702 and the new QJ 900SRT.

[Bren]

I have decided. My busa is up for sale in the spring. Middle age has caught up and I need something more sensible - probably a ducati monster.

[93fxdl]

5 hours ago, Bren said:

I have decided. My busa is up for sale in the spring. Middle age has caught up and I need something more sensible - probably a ducati monster.

Thought middle age meant buying a Harley 

Ttfn Glenn 

[AltheJazzman]

Good day Shiters. I would like to introduce you to my accidental latest acquisition: a 1984 Suzuki GSX400T.

What happened here is that my Mum's partner (hereon Alan) was looking for a classic bike project to to enjoy in his retirement, specifically a Suzuki 2 stroke from the 70's, and ideally a GT750. He also knew that I had realised the limitations of my 1993 Yamaha SR250 with just 16.5bhp and was looking for an older Japanese twin (any more carbs than two scares me), but with that classic British look, flat seat, no pointy bits of plastic and stupid high tails. Something tax and ULEZ exempt too.

So Alan saw this bike advertised on eBay, but with only a few days for the auction to run, the price was only £500. He seemed interested in putting in a bid on the day it was due to end, so I asked him if he was seriously going to buy it. His response surprised me "I thought if I win it, we can get it running properly and see if you like it. If not, we'll sell it on, and if you do, pay me back later when you can afford it". The final sale price was £690. Here's the problem though: No MOT since 2010, and only ran on one cylinder.

From October 2025 until Christmas the same year, we had the carbs ultrasonic cleaned, rebuilt and balanced, new tyres, battery, brakes rebuilt, and unseized the clutch. On the first week of January we achieved it's first MOT pass in 16 years, and then I immediately sent off the V5C to change it to historic status.

Since then I've been pouring over parts diagrams on CMSNL and buying new-old-stock to make everything work properly and tidy it up. Confusingly they only apparently made this model for 1981, so mine must have sat unsold for ages, or was used on an Army barracks perhaps? Finding the proper year of manufacture was essential in finding parts. Nothing came up for 1984. It's clearly been dropped and many trim pieces are missing or worn out, and the above pictures bely the various shades of mismatched paint, and scratches everywhere!

It's quite an innovative bike for the year though:

• Suzuki's first 4-stroke engine since the 1950's
• Suzuki's first twin-cam 4-valve per cylinder engine
• 6 speed close ratio transmission with gear position indicator lights on the dash
• Makes about 40 bhp at 9,500 rpm
• Sounds great!
• Long wheelbase, comfortable and very stable

I've been struggling with finding a luggage rack for it, but then three came along at once. The one I have fitted is a bit short, but follows the seat lines nicely.

Debating whether to buy this one instead: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/198083725038

[rustdevil]

I had the four cylinder version of this you had to rev the granny out of it to get it to go though. Loved the bike itself didn't like the engine, good luck with it.

[Cavcraft]

5 hours ago, AltheJazzman said:

Good day Shiters. I would like to introduce you to my accidental latest acquisition: a 1984 Suzuki GSX400T.

What happened here is that my Mum's partner (hereon Alan) was looking for a classic bike project to to enjoy in his retirement, specifically a Suzuki 2 stroke from the 70's, and ideally a GT750. He also knew that I had realised the limitations of my 1993 Yamaha SR250 with just 16.5bhp and was looking for an older Japanese twin (any more carbs than two scares me), but with that classic British look, flat seat, no pointy bits of plastic and stupid high tails. Something tax and ULEZ exempt too.

So Alan saw this bike advertised on eBay, but with only a few days for the auction to run, the price was only £500. He seemed interested in putting in a bid on the day it was due to end, so I asked him if he was seriously going to buy it. His response surprised me "I thought if I win it, we can get it running properly and see if you like it. If not, we'll sell it on, and if you do, pay me back later when you can afford it". The final sale price was £690. Here's the problem though: No MOT since 2010, and only ran on one cylinder.

From October 2025 until Christmas the same year, we had the carbs ultrasonic cleaned, rebuilt and balanced, new tyres, battery, brakes rebuilt, and unseized the clutch. On the first week of January we achieved it's first MOT pass in 16 years, and then I immediately sent off the V5C to change it to historic status.

Since then I've been pouring over parts diagrams on CMSNL and buying new-old-stock to make everything work properly and tidy it up. Confusingly they only apparently made this model for 1981, so mine must have sat unsold for ages, or was used on an Army barracks perhaps? Finding the proper year of manufacture was essential in finding parts. Nothing came up for 1984. It's clearly been dropped and many trim pieces are missing or worn out, and the above pictures bely the various shades of mismatched paint, and scratches everywhere!

It's quite an innovative bike for the year though:

• Suzuki's first 4-stroke engine since the 1950's
• Suzuki's first twin-cam 4-valve per cylinder engine
• 6 speed close ratio transmission with gear position indicator lights on the dash
• Makes about 40 bhp at 9,500 rpm
• Sounds great!
• Long wheelbase, comfortable and very stable

I've been struggling with finding a luggage rack for it, but then three came along at once. The one I have fitted is a bit short, but follows the seat lines nicely.

Debating whether to buy this one instead: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/198083725038

That's ace! My OR50 was circa 1981 but not registered until 1984. Maybe there was a Suzuki dealer somewhere who couldn't sell bikes?

[loserone]

Not fast these things, are they?

 

[Stinkwheel]

2 hours ago, loserone said:

Not fast these things, are they?

 

Those ones,  no! 

[Dave_Q]

The last time I did a CBT they gave me some kind of Kawasaki 125, the thing could only crack 49mph up the Farsley bypass with me on.

[loserone]

I made 51 on the A690 by leaning forward but then saw I'd left the other guy behind and had to let off 😂

[Bren]

On 07/02/2026 at 00:54, 93fxdl said:

Thought middle age meant buying a Harley 

Ttfn Glenn 

I had looked at the XR1200 as it looks fab. But it's slow and heavy. Like any other Harley really.

[AltheJazzman]

14 hours ago, loserone said:

Not fast these things, are they?

 

No, for city riding only. But look at the fuel economy!

[Iamgroot]

14 hours ago, loserone said:

Not fast these things, are they?

 

More weirdly underpowered bikes, my mates son's lexmoto 125 would do 65