Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

These ones...

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With the TDR125, take the plug out, clean and dry it off, then heat the tip with a cigarette lighter. When it's good and hot, pop it back in and try and start the bike. Never failed to restart a flooded bike Vespa, or even one with a dodgy oil seal

They're nuts dude ;)

Those locking washers are amazing though, that's what I was gonna dig around for in the shed. Torque them up and mark with a fluoro chalk pen across the nut and rim so you can see at a glance if they're unscrewing.

Fuck it, add some loctite for good measure too!

Ah thanks for explaining - it has a separate oil reservoir which is full so presumably the bike does do the mixing for me.

To drain the tank, would you expect there to be a tap I could release or would it be a case of removing a a pipe from somewhere around the petcock? I have had a look at the bike and the manual and nothing jumps out as a fuel draining tap.

or would it be a case of siphoning the fuel out from the tank directly as I have seen on youtube?

EB and TPR, no haven't tried bump starting it but this does seem to be the solution that various sources point to. what sort of speed would I need to get it up too? light jog or full on run? God it would be nice to ease into things rather than have my first experience of the engine running to be with me running alongside it.

Wow just watched a really long video about carburetors and carb maintenance: leant a lot but the idea of fully de installing and taking it apart feels a little daunting

You can bump start rolling down a small slope, that's probably easiest.

Thanks for the advice all

lynx: no kick start unfortunately, though it looks like one could be installed, I feel like I'd feel a bit less dejected if I could kick it.

BQ: That sounds doable, would the plug not just cool in the time it takes me to fiddle around getting it back in tight? or is there a trick?

In regards to all these methods, bump starts etc, is it the case in theory that once the engine is up and running, it should start normally the next time? or is it botched starts forever?

If you can find the petcock and pipe to the carb, remove one end of that pipe and drain tank that way. Wouldn't worry about getting every last drop out, just get rid of most of it and chuck a few litres of fresh in.

People probably suggesting bump starting as repeatedly attempting to start off the button will quickly drain the battery. Maybe a bump is s 'stronger' start too? Either way, should be possible to get it back to how it should be working ie off the button.

Carbs aren't too complex really. If you can put a headset on a bicycle together then you should manage to strip and rebuild a carb. Get a Haynes for the bike, it should have a step by step guide for things like carb cleaning.

Careful with the throttle though bumping it @wildmaurice , 2 stroke 125 will have a bit of go when it takes! Don't want to end up on your back with the new bike wheelie-ing itself down the street!

^ most definitely this - cover the clutch with your hand and be prepared to pull it back in once it fires up

If you're bump starting, put it in 2nd gear, not first

I found that pushing the electric start at the same time as dropping the clutch whilst bumping helps..

I've got the fear now. Think I need longer studs... Don't want to part ways with my front wheel at speed.

Hub needs a powdercoat anyway so I've asked Beedspeed if they'll do that and fit studs too. No word back yet.

I'd just like to ride the thing really. Maybe I'll whack the old rim/tyre back on for now.

If the bike's been running recently (like the last few weeks) then you might want to charge the battery before you dismantle the carb. I've had success boiling carbs before now, no need to dismantle them if you do it that way. If you've got a fully charged battery try removing the air filter and spraying some carb cleaner in the carb inlet, it's very flammable.

If you were round the corner I'd try to help but I've no time to get over to Lewisham.

Felt the same, the best bikes were on the wharf or in the car park. Probably not fair on the exhibits really but they looked a bit sterile. I did like "Enid the Crooked Nose Stripper", a honda cub with nitrous. There's a full review on Bike Shed.

Paased my theory test on Friday, big bike lessons start on Saturday.
Hopefully wont be too long until i cn buy a proper bike.
Still debating a MT07 or something older

well done - theory is good to get out the way

module 1 is a bit of a pain in the ass, but shouldn't take you too long

Congrats!

Big bikes are fun. Do you know what you'll be learning on?

Ignore these guys. Get an old Vespa.

5/600cc honda of some description.
Been riding a cbf125 daily for 2months now, so bike handling should be ok, just need a few hours on the bigger one for practice. Luckily they have access to the Mod1 playground on weekends so shpuld have a crack on that before attempting it.

No chance of me getting a vespa, i need moar speed not less!

Speed? You've never experienced the visceral thrill of soaring off the lights up to a heady 30mph in just a dozen seconds: braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap.

Hmm....right hand side drive required for my flat track project. Can't bring myself to have the torque arm tabs cut and re-welded on the swing arm. Wanting air-cooled two stroke power which leaves me with late 70's, through to 81? Honda and the Euro stuff like Husky, Maico, KTM, Rotax etc...

Really want Honda power but I don't really want anything bigger than a 250cc lump in there. Problem is 250 Elsinores are getting bloody pricey...CR480s come up cheap from time to time but seems like too much motor. Decisions, decisions.

.ignore me

Has there ever been/been thought of a LFGSS Motorcycle ride/trip ?

We've done a few trips to France and Belgium in the past.
I'm sure some of the people would be interested in doing more.

Cool link for those that like turning left. Scroll down for the Banshee engined, Cheney-Yamaha. Sickness.

http://www.vft.org/vftforsale2.html