The worst collection thread ever….and other musings

[Bmwdumptruck]

So Sunday I went and looked at this Bandit about 10miles from home.  I was lucky to be the first to ask to look and set an early morning viewing.  Couldn’t fault it. 3 owners, piles of paperwork. Really clean honest bike.  Arranged to collect it tonight.  Think the chap realised he’d listed it well under value, he had loads of people ask to see it.  Although a few offered stupid derisory offers.  I assured him I was buying it to keep and use, so he seemed happy.  He also had some really nice oldies. A BSA 650 Continental that was stunning, a Suzuki GT750Kettle, an old Enfield and a Matchless that was absolutely mint.  He admitted the BSA and Matchless were too good to be used.  

[Bmwdumptruck]

So I got home about 4.30, raided the piggy bank for a few more sheckles to pay the remaining cost.  Unlocked the trailer from its resting place, hunted out the box of straps, badgered the wife to join me and off we set. 
Loaded it up and as there was an accident reported on our return route the wife decided we’d go get a Mcds at the neardy A1 services.

[Bmwdumptruck]

Accident cleared from the main road we headed home, unloaded, shuffled the workshop to make room for it.  My multibike policy renews in about 12 days so ideal time to add it to the other three on the policy.  Then it’s a matter of can I hold out till the first to tax it, or pay the £10ish for the last few days of this month so I can go test it out.  

[stuboy]

very nice bike...

[Bmwdumptruck]

I had a Black one of these for some years from about 2016-2020, but I could never get it to run right.  Multiple attempts to clean the carbs, plugs, coils and plug leads, carb diaphrams, fuel tap service kit all to no avail.  It would tickover really nice, run fine for a few miles and then refuse to rev past about 2000 revs. It ended up buried until I met a landscape chap at a customers house. We got talking and and got onto bikes and well…. He bought it off me as a non runner……..for £200 more than I just paid for this one.  He got a mechanic mate to look at it, a second hand set of carbs were fitted and it was fine🤬🤬🤬.  The money went towards a very expensive set of byfold doors for our extension, cos that’s what the wife wanted.  So she couldn’t really deny me this one, even though she had banned me from buying any more bikes the last few years, or at least until I’ve sold my FJR.  So now that really needs to go.  

[stuboy]

  On 11/03/2025 at 20:00, Bmwdumptruck said:

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nice looking, wish i had ability to ride, licence to ride and moneys

[LightBulbFun]

  On 11/03/2025 at 20:04, Bmwdumptruck said:

or pay the £10ish for the last few days of this mnth so I can go test it out.  

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1st of April means the cost of VED will be going up, so depending on how much it goes up for this motorcycle, I wonder if it might be worth taxing now? (ie if it goes up by more then £10)

[Bmwdumptruck]

Thanks, i’ll maybe just tax it for six months, it’s not one I’d ride through winter, the old GS is for that.

[Bren]

These are a cracking bike. My brother had the 600 cc version.

In fact the only criticism is the quality of the finish - they go down hill very quickly unless pampered.

[Bmwdumptruck]

  On 12/03/2025 at 06:18, Bren said:

These are a cracking bike. My brother had the 600 cc version.

In fact the only criticism is the quality of the finish - they go down hill very quickly unless pampered.

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Yeh Suzuki have never been very good at finishing their bikes.  This one is better than my last one, that had quite a lot of corrosion on the engine.  But she’ll only be a summer fun bike. My local IAM club do Wed evening rides through the summer months, only about 50-60 mile loops, so that’s when I plan to use her most.  

[Stinkwheel]

  On 12/03/2025 at 06:18, Bren said:

These are a cracking bike. My brother had the 600 cc version.

In fact the only criticism is the quality of the finish - they go down hill very quickly unless pampered.

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Maybe that’s true of ones that have a few years and miles on, but I had a brand new 600N in teal  sometime late ‘95 and used it all year round for 2 years before really washing it properly or cleaning the exhaust, but for a 3999 brand new bike back then it was really well built and finished. Finish some manufacturers today  could only dream of for equivalent kind of money, I’d say. 
Mk 1 600’s & 1200 are probably some of the best looking naked bikes of the last 40 years IMO

Having said all the that the finish on my later RF900 was shite - but it was fast, so I cared less about corrosion and lifting paint 🤣

[Bmwdumptruck]

So over the last week or so I’ve been picking up bits for the Bandit.  
First thing I always add is a Baglux tank cover.  A quick search on Ebay the night I’d looked at it found a dark blue cover for sale.  Kind of told me I was meant to buy the bike as it’s quite a rare colour for these.  I always use a small clip on tank bag with my comms kit and various bits n bobs, so the same bag clips onto any of my bikes with the same covers on. 
Checking the history showed it’s done very little miles in the last 10years.  So looking at the bike showed the tyres are dated 2014!!!  So I’ve a nice pair of old spec (but 2024 date) Pirelli Angels from Demon Tweeks for £180 delivered.  Should be ideal for the mostly evening style rideouts I’ll be doing on it.  
Ordered an oil filter and a gallon of semi oil, will check the air filter when I set to with the service and tyre fit. 
And I’ve also bought another sat nav mount bracket and cable, along with the necessary Ram ball bits to mount it, although the wifes got me the clamps and double ball from temu for less than £10 for all three bits. Time will tell if they’re any good!!  Also have an Autocom power supply as I always use one for music to my helmet and to talk to the wife when she pillions with me.  So I also bought an Oxford switching power supply box.  Never used one before, pretty cheap at £12,so again only time will tell if it’s reliable.  
My new insurance policy started today, so I can now tax her if I want to try her with old tyres and oil etc.  Will check prices tomorrow morning to see if six months from now is cheaper than paying for 5 months at next months new rate. 

[Bmwdumptruck]

  On 11/03/2025 at 20:23, LightBulbFun said:

1st of April means the cost of VED will be going up, so depending on how much it goes up for this motorcycle, I wonder if it might be worth taxing now? (ie if it goes up by more then £10)

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Tax is going up by about 50p per month for monthly payment.  So no point taxing it this week.  Will get all the bits fitted to it this week/weekend, tax it next Tuesday and get out for a spin on it. 

[Bmwdumptruck]

Took the Fabia 1.4 16v estate for a new mot this morning.  Bought the end of last year with a few minor issues, clicking cv joint the worst, which I finally fixed last week after so many rained of frozen winter days!!  Got a pass bar slightly binding and rusty rear disks.  No surprise after sitting for nearly 4months.  So I’ve ordered a full set of rear discs and pads and calipers. Also ordered cambelt kit, usually just go with a full Gates kit, but keep hearing about recent issues decided to look elsewhere. Never heard of INA, but they come up amongst the cheapest. Considered a Continental kit, and nearly hit buy when I saw a QH kit with a 20% discount, so I just couldn’t resist it at £88 for the full kit, two belts, 3 pulleys and WP.  Just hope its all ok. Also ordered fan belt as the existing one is well cracked.  Already got a spare oil and air filter left over from my lads old one we scrapped last year, so just ordered a gallon of oil for it.  So she’ll be getting a pretty big service once its all arrived, and we can start using it as she certainly doesn’t like sitting idle.