The Bikeshite Thread

[John F]

I was unsure whether to put this on "eBay Bargains", but in fairness it's not excessively pricey, it just looks weird.

 

Honda 1982 CB250N cafe racer*... would suit someone with MASSIVE ARSE.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cafe-Racer-Honda-Super-Dream-CB250N-/162514632457?hash=item25d6a07f09:g:YJAAAOSwcgNZBMj7

 

 

 

[CreepingJesus]

Other than the MAHOOSIVE ARRRSE that's not too bad as these things go.

 

In other news, the CZ I gave FOAD has passed through his hands, and onto another Retroshite member who's looking to get shot already, apparently. I didn't think it was that bad...!

[jonathan_dyane]

250 superslug im afraid but super original

Still a nice machine

[3VOM]

They appear massively popular in the states, loads get customised in various degrees of wtf. Yanks seem to love them as a small second bike given they don't have as many 125s knocking around due to not having our learner laws.

Have I got this right? They (the Yanks) have Tai built Groms but we get MSXs which come from somewhere else?

[3VOM]

Might have bought a 1981 super wet dream today !

Was this on Ebay and in the north-ish?

[sawdustman]

I did a bit of motorcycle courier work a couple weeks ago.

[Guest Hooli]

I did a bit of motorcycle courier work a couple weeks ago.

 

No wonder you had to give it up, the parcel isn't inverted & being kicked for starters.

[UltraWomble]

Have I got this right? They (the Yanks) have Tai built Groms but we get MSXs which come from somewhere else?

Same bike  Honda bikes are made in Taiwan.

I think you can buy several different "clones" though ( lastest seems to be the WK Colt) made in god knows where.

There is just a HUGE Thai market for aftermarket bits and tuning products

[UltraWomble]

Chinese MSX Clone:

£1500

https://www.minibikecraze.co.uk/shop/bikes/new-stock-motrac-125cc-metallic-green/#iLightbox[product-gallery]/0

[UltraWomble]

And another Chinese MSX knock off:

[UltraWomble]

You can also buy a 250cc knock off

http://goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show?21523673244773

[Dave_Q]

They look pretty wank though, can't imagine the black one with the c90/pitbike engine lasting long.

 

I would deffo buy a second hand Honda one for £2000 or so rather than a copy for £1500.

[UltraWomble]

The WK Colt 50 looks "OK" and for an occasional bike might be viable ( £36 a month on finance)

50cc can be derestricted ( to do 40!) or the engine is a YK variant so a YK140 would bolt in

[Guest Hooli]

Hideous as fuck though & too small to do anything except give it to a five year old.

[UltraWomble]

Another Chinese Clone £1500

https://www.powerdirtbikes.com/product-page/grome-motorcycle-125cc-grome-motorcycle-chinese-grome

[UltraWomble]

Wonjan WJ150-18

[twosmoke300]

Was this on Ebay and in the north-ish?

Nope - off my dad and doesn't get much further south !

[twosmoke300]

Was this on Ebay and in the north-ish?

Nope - off my dad and doesn't get much further south !

[John F]

Hooli, on 15 May 2017 - 11:13 PM, said:

Hideous as fuck though & too small to do anything except give it to a five year old.

 

I'm not feeling the love for them either, or anything else with tiny wheels for that matter.

[LostnotFound]

They look pretty wank though, can't imagine the black one with the c90/pitbike engine lasting long.

 

I would deffo buy a second hand Honda one for £2000 or so rather than a copy for £1500.

 

 

This is the issue Chinese bikes currently have. With Euro 4 requirements pushing up prices, they no longer are so cheap as to be disposable by the first MOT.

 

When you could get a new Chinese bike for a grand and the alternatives were 20 year old CG125 that had been thrashed by learners all it's life you can see how they could look like good value. But 1500 quid would get you a 4 year old YBR, with no issue on parts supply (I know lots of Chinese bikes have interchangeable parts and can be ordered directly from China, but most people won't want to be spending their time doing that) and it'll only lose 100 a year depreciation should you want to chop it in for a big bike.

 

Honda MSX wise, I'm also going to now contradict myself, having remembered the current licence laws. Given 17 - 19 year olds are stuck on 125s even if they pass their tests, there is going to be a whole new generation of bikers who will know they will have their 125 for a while so maybe the premium 125 offerings make more sense than they did a couple of years ago where bike mad teenagers would be wanting at least their 33bhp licence asap? Two years on something that has a scene might be more tempting than a 'boring' commuter.

[John F]

^ This.

 

A mate has just bought a 3-year old YBR125 with 3k miles on the clock for £1250.

[Aston Martin]

No need for a licence sir, just £100 quid and an afternoon wobbling around cones for a CBT.

.

But that means L plates.

I think CBT to full-bike is 3 days for about £550 or so. One day I shall do it.

[UltraWomble]

If I had the money I would have another Queen Bee yellow MSX ( a D or an E) but it would be a fun bike only - and at the moment the prices are too much for me to spend that on a "fun bike".

[John F]

I'm pleased that I spent a few years on 125s when I was a learner.

 

It meant that the (almost) inevitable noob-related mishaps were at lower speeds and involved a lighter bike.

 

Not sure I would recommend going from novice to a full-power bike in 3 days tbh.

[strangeangel]

Not sure I would recommend going from novice to a full-power bike in 3 days tbh.

 

No, I liked the '125 -> 33bhp -> full licence two years later' route, which is how I got mine.

 

Still, there's nothing saying you have to buy an R1 the minute you pass! My little cousin did DAS and went from a YBR to a Ducati Monster 696, which seems to be working for him.

[hairnet]

That 250 msx HORN

 

Does anywhere here do them

 

Grom/msx are thai built not Taiwan /pedant

[conkerman]

I did direct access. Bought a TRX850 and found it easier to handle than the smaller bikes.

 

Sent from my Vodafone Smart ultra 6 using Tapatalk

[John F]

Anyone got a leather bike jacket they want to get rid of? Mine's a bit small, would be happy to swap / PX it.

 

Mine is a yellow / black 42" Frank Thomas, sleeves are approx. 21" (54 cm) from wrist to armpit, approx. 39" (100 cm) around stomach. See pics below.

 

I'm looking for 43-44" chest, 40" or thereabouts around stomach.

 

 

 

[LostnotFound]

But that means L plates.

I think CBT to full-bike is 3 days for about £550 or so. One day I shall do it.

 

 

I know most of us more mature gentleman take that route, and if you have lots of experience riding field bikes, or are super confident you'll take to it like a DUKW to water it makes perfect sense. However if you like the look of a 125 the CBT route and don't need a big bike now, it has it's advantages. Although I wanted to do DAS the training school suggested I go the 125 route and it's suited me to get confidence on a bike a potter about, it's also told me that I definitely want my licence and bikes are as much fun as I always thought they'd be. 

 

Given how slow I was to start with I could well have seen myself failing at least one part of the test, resulting in building costs and a risk of jacking it in. Given you can sell a 125 for what you pay for it, it's a cheap way to try it out. It may just be the route that takes you from 'one day' to next week... you can always do your cbt then book the rest of DAS straight afterwards, in the knowledge at least you like that training school as you've had experience of it. 

 

The whole tiered thing after L plates I don't really get, on a 125 you are significantly slower so when you get to a corner and go eeek this is a bit hot you really aren't going that fast, presuming you don't get anything really ropey the bike will out handle the power and a learners abilities by miles. Although lets not get started on the A1 thing, actively dissuading 17 year olds from taking extra training by offering nothing for passing their test is just bonkers.

 

What are people's opinions on  A2 / A thing for the young folk, surely anyone that is going to get an R1 and rag till they find the first local hedge will do so just as quickly on an A2 bike? if you haven't got the ability to make it round a corner at 120 doing 90 is rarely likely to be the difference? I have no experience on big bikes so I'm happy to be corrected.

[John F]

I was having this chat with a mate last weekend.

 

He's currently restricted to 33 bhp, his 650 Bandit takes 8-9 seconds to get from 0 to 60 whereas an unrestricted one would do it in about half the time.

 

So I suspect that the intended goal of the 33 bhp legislation is to restrict rapid acceleration rather than top speed.