Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

First thing I checked over. Bike was knocked over and there's too many issues and not enough daylight hours to sit and tinker with it. I prefer doing my own work generally, but in this instance, I just want to ride the damned thing!

@lynx you sir, are a gent and a scholar. Might take you up on that. Have to transport the damned thing from NW first

Is anyone familiar with Zeus motorcycles in Leyton? Or can recommend anywhere in Walthamstow and the surrounding area- my vanvan needs an MOT and probably a minor service too...

Vanvan servicing is pretty straight forward. When was the last service done and how many miles?

I anyone selling a learner legal 125cc? My girlfriend is looking for something cheap to practise on until she can take her full license and be let loose on my big bike. A long as it runs she's not fussed about looks or brand.

Anyone got the real best technique for ensuring forks wheel handlebar and 100% aligned?

I greased the head bearings and think it's a tiny bit out. I don't think most people would notice.
I think I'll just take it all apart ar the weekend and put it back together again, seems the best way to be 100% happy. Rather than the slacken it off and pump method.

Dropped my 16 Speed last week. Absolutely gutted. 99.9% of the time I take a quick glance to see if the stand is down. Must have slightly caught the kerb enough to push it back a bit. I knew as soon as I let go.....

Cracked the engine case cover, pissing oil. Broke the clutch lever, bent the bar end mirror arm and bent the indicator. However. I'm still here, it's just stuff and the moral is. Fuck it. This is it. It is what it is

That's a lot of damage for just off side stand, shit luck. Though not too expensive to fix.
I dropped mine in backing it into garage a few weeks back, was tired and just slipped over. Happens to everyone. On the chin.

£280 quid main stealer fix - ouch

Do I buy another (working) Honda RS125. It's an NX5 so the generation up from my old one. Always wanted one. Spares (which you need lots of) are getting short though and NOTHING is cheap.

Plus side, I can't see any way I can lose money on it over time. They're already pretty collectable.

Hmmmm.

@Soul you won't be able to get cctv unless you get insurers involved.

I got paid out recently for my scooter theft.

Bought scooter for 1100 insured for 1300.

Paid out 1300 - 400 excess = new frame time.

So have a Caberg Duke helmet in Medium for sellz - 40 quid

Tucano urbano jacket XL - 50 quid

Richa summer leather gloves - 20 quid

Shoei NSX helmet medium white - 200 quid, two months old pristine condition. Spare summer visor included.

Have given up motorised travel.

That is ace. Never been a Honda guy but they're lovely.

Cheers dude. Needs a little (hopefully) reconditioning but should be ripping again soon. At least parts are available for this generation.

I've tingles at the thought of getting back on track..it's been 17years since I last rode one of these. Crazy.

I can only imagine what a proper 125 set up for race fuel would be like. You gonna race it?

Aside from being too old, the Mrs would kill me if I started racing again. And I don't have the time or money to do it properly. And and and....I'll do a few track days and see how I get on. Going to be a shock to the system, they're positively telepathic to ride and you've got to be committed otherwise they don't work properly.

Yeah they've got to run on race gas otherwise they detonate themselves to pieces. Even unleaded race gas with the heads re-profiled is less than ideal. Fortunately I can get a 5 Gallon can of VP110 leaded delivered to my house for $60. Not bad...

... think of it as 5 gallons of fun fun fun!!!

Esso Supreme 102 + Tetraboost used to be the fuel of choice in mine but that won't be in anywhere near the same state of tune and if you've got access to proper full-fat leaded then that sounds a better bet. As a trackday tool it should upset plenty of the big boys on four strokes as long as there's enough corners.

I've been looking at gsxr 750 Srads on ebay recently, tempted.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/suzuki-gsxr-750-srad/262851526098?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D41434%26meid%3D800809f0bad14929a3151ddd3dfa0a68%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D182455268846

I love SRADS - they have almost identical geometry to Kevin Schwantz's championship winning GP bike. I made about a gazillion credit aps to buy one new when I was 18 (all refused, natch.)
I was over at a place in Anaheim last weekend which has about 6 ex-WSB / BSB GSXR's sat around. Lovely.

Cagimaha - I'm not going to be surprising anyone I suspect. It was delicious fun back in the day riding around the outside of bigger bikes - Corams at Snett used to be a fave for it. Also diving up the inside of peeps braking for Paddock Hill at Brands still WFO.

I'll wobble around for a bit and see if any of the old magic comes back.....

J.

Yeah there is something appealing about their fat look to me. Plus I might be able to afford one! (if I sell a bunch more stuff)

They're actually still pretty small, if a bit fatter than the more modern gear. One of the all time great snicketty-snick gearboxes too. Love 'em.

Also a fan of SRAD's and even the TL1000R with similar lines. Used to work at a Suzuki stealership many moons ago, you could still then at least buy a lot of the XR0 kit parts used on the race bikes. Would love to build a trick one with a dry clutch, flatslides and a pukka works frame with the adjustable pivot and headstock.

The dollar quote for fuel threw me, I assumed you were Stateside! There's a fair bit of scope on UK tracks for making the most of a smaller, lighter bike. Cadwell was my fave hunting ground.

Not a fan of the tlr the fake swing arm brace made it ugly.
Preferred the TL.

The srad were harder to handle but they improved with the suspension set up well.

I'm in So-Cal now mate but am from the UK - All racing was done there some time back in the dark ages. Cadwell full circuit is a MEGA track. Of all of them, the one I always wanted to ride at but never got to was Oulton Park. Looks superb.

Of the local tracks here the only one I've ridden around is Willow Springs, again an awful long time ago. It's a VERY fast circuit with some great elevation changes out in the desert about an hour and a bit north. There are 3 others within striking distance but not terribly exciting looking. (one exception.) Britain is spoiled for great tracks by comparison.

Laguna Seca is on the bucket list but they have such absurd noise restrictions even all stock new bikes can struggle.

I'd love a kitted SRAD, dry clutch, factory Kayaba bouncy bits, mag yokes etc....hmmm.

Aha nice! I did a bit of hillclimbing years back but only ever trackdays on short circuit stuff. I grew up in the Lake District so Oulton was the closest to us, awesome place.

Chili rep looks ace, I always had a thing for the Phase One endurance bikes too: