The Bikeshite Thread

[Guest Hooli]

The 1200 Sportster I had was bloody rapid - Edelbrock heads, Andrews cam, Mukini flat side carb and fat exhaust headers saw to that, it was a shame that a Puch Maxi could out handle and out brake it. Truely a scary bike to ride fast (ie above 85mph), even in a straight line. 

 

My ex's 883 Sporty was a lot quicker than people expected with decent pipes, air filter & PC3. You're right about handling though, but that just made it feel faster.

[Guest Hooli]

Cheapo pads fitted. due in work for 5:30am so I'll test them tomorrow along with the LED headlight...

[Guest Hooli]

My ex's 883 Sporty was a lot quicker than people expected with decent pipes, air filter & PC3. You're right about handling though, but that just made it feel faster.

 

TBH, with a decent saddle I'd get one if they weren't so expensive. It's a fun bike, but you can get more fun for the money.

 

I do like how she pissed off HD lovers though, she got it brand new & powder coated it as a winter bike to keep her suzuki out the salt her words 'its a tractor, its for riding in mud'.

[Jazoli]

Cheapo pads fitted. due in work for 5:30am so I'll test them tomorrow along with the LED headlight...

 

Wouldn't mind thoughts on the Headlamp, I have fitted a HID to the versys but I'd like to fit an led to match my drl wanker lights and sidelights,, which one did you use? the ones with the mesh heat sink?

 

Don't need an update on the pads, if you reply we'll know you haven't died.

[Guest Hooli]

I'll find a link to the lights I used later, but it's pretty good. The beam is a bit 'squarer' than with a H4, but it actually lights things up so I can see. The one I've got has the fan on the back, but that only occupies the same space the multiplug would on a H4 so it's not any longer.

 

Pads work & are starting to bed in after 24miles, they feel like they'll be good. Looked like real friction material too, unlike how some cheap pads look.

[Guest Hooli]

Found the link, I got these https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073J46H8X?th=1

 

I just couldn't find a single one for sale that wasn't the less bright 20w version, these are 30w (according to the printing on them) 40w according to the advert. So still a power saving over a normal H4.

[srad34]

coming to a Japanese auction site soon....oooof

 Now that Bimota have again gone bust (This time looks pretty final), these will go up and up, probably one of the better Bimota Sportsbikes with the GSXR1100 lump at the heart, lush

[LostnotFound]

I appear to have found myself standing on a platform carrying my helmet, this time it's not because I just don't trust those ropey train drivers......

[LostnotFound]

The real question is, will it have more leg room than this train? Given I've not test ridden it the ride home might be interesting...

 

I shan't spam this thread anymore till it's back home, as it's really not collection thread material, (sold by someone through a dealer with 12 months ticket, so the real risk is me dropping it trying to get out of the car park and breaking unobtainable fairings)

[John F]

Ducati 888?

[LostnotFound]

Well it is red.... But then if it was Italian it would have probably been twice the price. So ok if you twist my arm here's a petrol station shot.

 

Only been for a twenty mile pootle to meet someone for lunch but first impressions are rather good!

[Jazoli]

Nice, I like these old VFR's, proper build quality, owned a couple when they were newish, would imagine they'll be just as good now.

[John F]

LostnotFound, on 07 Sept 2017 - 11:46 AM, said:

Well it is red.... But then if it was Italian it would have probably been twice the price.

 

The Ducati 888 is fetching silly money now, they start around 13k...

[John F]

So, who's planning on riding through winter then? I've just seen this on ebay:

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1981-kawasaki-ke175-classic-2-stroke-trail-bike-/192276585951?hash=item2cc493dddf:g:cfgAAOSwLzhZnFeB

 

1981 Kawasaki Ke175... classified ad price £795, which seems quite cheap for one of those. It is on a Q plate though.

[hairnet]

For At least the last 20 years

[Jazoli]

So, who's planning on riding through winter then? I've just seen this on ebay:

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1981-kawasaki-ke175-classic-2-stroke-trail-bike-/192276585951?hash=item2cc493dddf:g:cfgAAOSwLzhZnFeB

 

1981 Kawasaki Ke175... classified ad price £795, which seems quite cheap for one of those. It is on a Q plate though.

 

Not a chance, I only use the bike for work as I enjoy riding, it actually is a lot more faff/effort to unlock bike/garage, get gear on, sort work clothes out and ride to work than it is to get in the car put stereo/heaters/wipers on and drive the 10 mile 'C' road commute to work, no traffic on the way home either as I finish at 4.

 

That Kawasaki would be a shit commuter for anything outside a town, shit lights, shit brakes, a 125cc scooter would be immeasurably better, nice little bikes though, I had one almost 25 years ago now!

[gtd2000]

All this progress on bikes has inspired me to get my finger out of my arse and get my old GSX-R750G sorted out.

 

I've managed to order a new throttle cable online....

 

That just leave the rear brake service, properly refit the carbs and tank, get the rear wheel valve stem replaced and front fork seal sorted out.

 

Going to attempt to sort the fork seal repair by scraping an S shaped bit of milk carton plastic around it first!

[John F]

Go for it!

 

Replacing fork seals can be a bit fiddly but the job's well within the capabilities of a competent DIY-er.

[plasticvandan]

i did the fork seal trick with the carton,it works (wont help if your stanchions are corroded though

[LostnotFound]

The Ducati 888 is fetching silly money now, they start around 13k...

 

Ah so 13 times rather than twice  , Ducati's do seem to be collected like stamps or coins by a certain sort of person.

 

 

So filtering down a motorway that had been reduced to one lane wasn't what I was expecting as a first ride. But the VFR handled it and my cack handedness with aplomb, got a bit warm after a few miles of it being the only issue.

 

Far easier to ride than the modern Honda I did my DAS on, even if you're an idiot like myself and forget what gear you're in it'll pull away happily in 2nd. It's also just a tad quicker, it might take a few more rides before I get anywhere near giving it a decent handful...

 

I'm pretty chuffed with it atm, it's novice friendly but with realistically more headroom then I'll ever need as I get more experience. To be fair the v4 alone is worth the money to listen to on it's own!

[Dave_Q]

Winning at life there with the VFR, loved the "half a V8" sound on my old one.

[Arthur Foxhake]

I've been using my MT125 a bit the last couple of days.

Makes me wonder why I don't ride it more.

I think it's mostly that I didn't think I could be trusted to not be a dick on it but I seem to be quite rational and safe with it.

Memories of ragging the hell out of my Cagiva Mito kept coming back but that was a different bike entirely and I was a lot younger then and a lot more stupid.

Now summer is almost over, I've just got the bug again.

 

Ah well, the CR125 will have to be dusted off and taken to the track for some winter mud action I suppose.

[twosmoke300]

Ke175's are awesome ! I've had one for 22 years and it's commuted , pleasure rides , loads of green laning inc leading groups of ten or more and marshalled horse and motorcycle enduros on it .

Hard as nails ! Makes me smile every time I ride it .

[Guest Hooli]

I ride all winter, still on the GSX14. It's a bike it's designed* to last outside.

 

 

 

 

*it's not, it's rots like a 60s ford.

[DodgeRover]

Festers like a Spanish built Honda would be more apt

[Dave_Q]

Made some progress on the Rank Bandit, in fact it should be pretty much finished.

 

That is to say, it's fully assembled and the lights all work.

 

Connected up the pez tank and tried to fire it up, but it pissed petrol out the bottom of the carbs.

 

Thought it was stuck floats or something so came back home to look at how to fix.

 

Decided to have a quick check that I had actually connected it up right, so found this here picture of a set of carbs off one.

 

 

Erm, yeah... I've connected the fuel to those 2 overflow things at the top, not the inlet. 

 

 

One of the dangers of trying to do a jigsaw with no picture to show what it's meant to look like!

[UltraWomble]

Fancy a Scoot

Dont really have a lorra cash - and certainly dont want a 4T one.

Debating going into a never never with the local dealer and buying an LML ( limited colours of the 2T ones) - £60 a month

 

Or

 

Locally there is a 1999 Bajaj Vespa Sprint  which has been rebuilt* and restored* for £1200

 

Or

 

Buying a Honda Cub Clone for £900.

 

The Cub clone thing seems to be a generic Chinese thing, I know nothing about the Bajaj Vespas - I seem to remember they were like the LML's in the 80's and 90's - cheep Vespa copies and looked down upon by Vespa owners - that I dont give a shiney shite about, just how reliable are they in terms of mechanics? Given there are bloody loads in India Im assuming not that bad. Certainly if not soaked too often.

[Jerzy Woking]

Ah so 13 times rather than twice  , Ducati's do seem to be collected like stamps or coins by a certain sort of person.

 

 

So filtering down a motor that arethat had been reduced to one lane wasn't what I was expecting as a first ride. But the VFR handled it and my cack handedness with aplomb, got a bit warm after a few miles of it being the only issue.

 

Far easier to ride than the modern Honda I did my DAS on, even if you're an idiot like myself and forget what gear you're in it'll pull away happily in 2nd. It's also just a tad quicker, it might take a few more rides before I get anywhere near giving it a decent handful...

 

I'm pretty chuffed with it atm, it's novice friendly but with realistically more headroom then I'll ever need as I get more experience. To be fair the v4 alone is worth the money to listen to on it's own!

 

 

You can make a very nice 888 copy using an ST4 and a few bits and pieces. And some laser cut graphics.

 

I have a Ducati (my first in 40 odd years of legal riding) and have found there is indeed a "certain" type of owner. Likewise Harley's - I met a lot of people who's every piece of clothing was H-D branded. Most of whom, it has to be said, came across as bellends. Oh, and Moto Guzzi owners.  And KTM owners. And BMW owners. Not forgetting Suzuki owners too.

[John F]

People, eh? lol

[Dave_Q]

Fancy a Scoot

Dont really have a lorra cash - and certainly dont want a 4T one.

Debating going into a never never with the local dealer and buying an LML ( limited colours of the 2T ones) - £60 a month

 

Or

 

Locally there is a 1999 Bajaj Vespa Sprint which has been rebuilt* and restored* for £1200

 

Or

 

Buying a Honda Cub Clone for £900.

 

The Cub clone thing seems to be a generic Chinese thing, I know nothing about the Bajaj Vespas - I seem to remember they were like the LML's in the 80's and 90's - cheep Vespa copies and looked down upon by Vespa owners - that I dont give a shiney shite about, just how reliable are they in terms of mechanics? Given there are bloody loads in India Im assuming not that bad. Certainly if not soaked too often.

Would let my ex-Cavcraft Vespa go for £1200 to a nice man like you, see for sale thread elsewhere. Delivery possible as it fits in the Berlingo.

 

The Bajaj ones can be a bit of a faff to get parts for as ISTR they're based on a 60s design rather than the PX that the LML is a copy of.

 

Poss PX for anything 2 wheeled that is small enough to hide in the cellar.