Heidel_Kakao Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Apologies for the indulgence as I could probably put this in the Bikeshite thread but would rather have my own sporadically updated thread to document my adventures with my first bike and most likely other bikes down the line. So my first bike! It's a 2016 Suzuki RV125 Van Van ( so good they named it twice) and when I collected it from Penrith Motorcycles it had just 173 miles on it! The first owner was apparently an 80 year old guy who did 7 miles on it by its first MOT then the second owner carried it around on the back of a motorhome so it's as close to a new one of these that I could find. It's bloody good fun and while slow I can see myself keeping it long term even when I can buy a bigger bike, it's stupidly cute too. It still managed to put on the Fuel Injection light though which could be down to lack of use, a quick Google shows you can read the codes with a paper clip so I may try that, despite the dire warnings in the manual it seems to drive fine so I am going to ignore it for now. The manual also says not to exceed more than half throttle for the first 500 miles whilst running in, oops! First 100 miles were covered riding to my accomodation in York which is somehow in my mind a halfway point in my two day collection misson. Going to visit the National Railway Museum in the morning then bimble home. I had this key fob lying around from when I had a Samurai so didn't have to buy a new one. BlankFrank, 500tops, Jim Bell and 27 others 30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asimo Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Surprised you didn't go for the estate version! DSdriver, Heidel_Kakao, mk2_craig and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Didn't they make similar in the seventies ? Small tank and fat sand tyres ..Most local lads had rd250 or kh250...but one lad no one really spoke to , had this thing and everyone took the piss ? 500tops 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Yes i looked on google...banana yellow and looks like a banana too !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 running in? bolox as long as its warm kick its arse itll need a service in 400 miles anyway paulplom and Heidel_Kakao 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
500tops Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 4 minutes ago, Christine said: Didn't they make similar in the seventies ? Small tank and fat sand tyres ..Most local lads had rd250 or kh250...but one lad no one really spoke to , had this thing and everyone took the piss ? They did RV 50, 75, 90, 125 and 200 Joey spud, Fat_Pirate, Heidel_Kakao and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 You've got to be popping wheelies and doing speedway drifts round the fod next weekend! It's been raining, it'll be nice and damp! paulplom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidel_Kakao Posted September 4, 2020 Author Share Posted September 4, 2020 5 minutes ago, beko1987 said: You've got to be popping wheelies and doing speedway drifts round the fod next weekend! It's been raining, it'll be nice and damp! Don't tempt me haha, I have not even drifted the field bikes yet..... beko1987 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nacho man Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 That’s mega! Mrs T has wanted one of these for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 That's ace! Bet with a little maintenance and not leaving it uncovered outside in all weathers, it'll last for absolutely years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twosmoke300 Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Dad has the 200 version . Cool little bike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wack Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 13 hours ago, Christine said: Didn't they make similar in the seventies ? Small tank and fat sand tyres ..Most local lads had rd250 or kh250...but one lad no one really spoke to , had this thing and everyone took the piss ? There was always one of those wasn't there , we had one guy with a TY50 when I was 16 , it did 30 flat out so people soon got fed up with waiting for him to catch up every 5 miles In the showroom it looked great but if he wanted a trials moped he should've bought a gilera Cavcraft 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UltraWomble Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 14 hours ago, Christine said: Yes i looked on google...banana yellow and looks like a banana too !! Nothing wrong with slow and comfortable banana somewhatfoolish and Cavcraft 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidel_Kakao Posted September 5, 2020 Author Share Posted September 5, 2020 On the way home from York I saw a bike meeting so I popped in, didn't speak to anyone though as I wasn't feeling very sociable but I have been nodding at the vast majority of fellow bikers as I guess I am one now! I stopped off at my mom's on the way home to show off my new steed and even gave it a quick wash which is a sign of how much I like it. The above image is a clear indication that I live on my own haha, the carpet was already knackered from having dogs and stuff so meh, it's great having it in my living room as I can glance over at while watching telly. And the mileage now stands at just over 400, I have doubled what it had on it yesterday,. I am going to take it into work with me tomorrow to show off and then next outing should be to the field of dreams next weekend. Fat_Pirate, UltraWomble, spartacus and 12 others 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 loon enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reanimation-films Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 Cool looking little bike! Great find. Cavcraft 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulplom Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 Looks lovely. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom13 Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 She's looking good. Glad the trip went well. Best thing about these is that they don't really look like a 125. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 As you'll find, one of the great things about motorbikes is the social side. Pull into pretty much any bike dealers or cafe car parks and other riders will come over for a chat. chaseracer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Tidybeard Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 you''l have to go down to Streetbike in Halesowen for a bacon sandwhich oh and a look round the showroom at the bikes! Heidel_Kakao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83C Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 Good effort for just jumping in and going for it! I did the same collecting my Varadero 125 and riding it 300 miles home, took a wee bit longer than anticipated though... I do like the Van Vans, might have to experience one sometime. Cavcraft 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidel_Kakao Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share Posted September 10, 2020 On 9/4/2020 at 9:43 PM, twosmoke300 said: Dad has the 200 version . Cool little bike I would be interested to see how the extra 6BHP feels on the 200, I would prefer that version as the ultimate iteration of a Van Van but it's obviously not learner legal and they are much rarer as they only did the bigger engine for two years. On 9/6/2020 at 8:43 PM, tom13 said: Best thing about these is that they don't really look like a 125. Yeah that's partly why I was attracted to it, all the sports bike 125's are all mouth no trousers in my opinion. I have disconnected the battery to see if that clears the Fuel Injection warning light and will investigate further if it doesn't. I also removed the rear foot pegs as I can't legally have a pillion passenger on L plates and when you only have a whopping 11BHP to play with any weight savings can't hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 might get 60 down hill Heidel_Kakao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidel_Kakao Posted March 6, 2021 Author Share Posted March 6, 2021 I actually rode it for the first time in weeks today. I am such a fair weather rider! Maybe it's just me but I start work at 07:00 and if I have the choice between commuting in a car with heated seats or a bike the car wins every time. Also its still so pristine (other than being dusty lol) that the thought of subjecting it to salted winter roads brings me out in a sweat. I actually had my first positive comment from a van driver at some traffic lights today, he wanted to know how many CC it was and said it looked mint for a 2016 plate. It fits in my mother's garage nicely after a lot of clearing out of rubbish so I will definitely be using it a lot more in the future as I basically don't want to leave it anywhere unsecured as I am paranoid about it being stolen. strangeangel and LightBulbFun 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidel_Kakao Posted April 14, 2021 Author Share Posted April 14, 2021 I swapped the bar ends, original on the left and new on the right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidel_Kakao Posted April 29, 2021 Author Share Posted April 29, 2021 I just purchased for the first time in my life a personalised number plate to go on the Van Van, I think it looks older then it actually is and a bit silly on a 2016 plate. So the new registration will be revealed once I have the paperwork and it's on the bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidel_Kakao Posted June 18, 2021 Author Share Posted June 18, 2021 Nearly there..... And there it is 😀 The Van Van hit 1000 miles yesterday. twosmoke300, martc, LightBulbFun and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martc Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 On 4/29/2021 at 8:08 PM, Heidel_Kakao said: I just purchased for the first time in my life a personalised number plate to go on the Van Van, I think it looks older then it actually is and a bit silly on a 2016 plate. So the new registration will be revealed once I have the paperwork and it's on the bike. If it doesn't contain the letters A,N and V I'll eat my (edible) hat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidel_Kakao Posted July 19, 2021 Author Share Posted July 19, 2021 Getting back to nature 😀 LightBulbFun and Fat_Pirate 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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