Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

6 days. gonna send them email.

Anyone know how progressive (or not) my clutch should be? I reckon all the slippage is in about the first 1cm of lever movement, which is fine when setting off (auto choke idling @ 3k) and great when changes need only the slightest squeeze to smooth them out but rather embarrassing when the bikes hot and you're attempting a hill start in front of loads of other people, without having figured out the gas/clutch balance yet.

Most of them do this, either when cold or hot it might become grabby. Sometimes it's an indicator that the clutch pack is worn as a whole, sometimes the basket is notched (bikes that habe dome a lot of city miles can suffer this), and sometimes they just do that.

A slightly crap clutch cable will make it worse than it is. Worth disconnecting both ends and feeling for smoothness. Should be like butter.

I had one for a while, shit electrics, pissed oil a lot.

Yikes.
Apparantly no oil leaks on this one, but bad electrics are worrying me.
I hate the electric stuff.
Are there actually any old bikes with good solid wiring?

Yes just not Italian ones.

The one suzuki I have is pretty bad too, but that might be down to previous owners efforts.

Hmm thanks, will add that to the list of things for the shop to check when I take it in. At the moment I don’t know if it’s supposed to be like that or dodgy adjustment/wear.

Twatting, cunting, fucking thieving cunts, my 1999 Kawasaki gt550 knicked from the front garden in Wimbledon this morning. Had it for about eight years, bitcscruffy but under 26k on the clock. Presumably it’ll be in pieces soon.

Ah shit! That sucks man. Did they cut through any locks?

They’ll steal anything. That sucks. You’d have thought that’d be safe.
Sorry.

bloody hell. not the one parked in a front garden opposite haydons road rec. ground?

I have a suspect!!!! Yes that’s the one. Lifted clean out. I was chatting to a guy in Hardy Road, next Road along as I walked to the tube this morning and they’d been in his front garden looking at his two bikes as well but not lifted them as they were chained together so obviously doing the rounds last night.

Unbelievable. I used to live at no.20 (moved out in October so I have a solid alibi), and often admired your kwak. I wonder if they got that Harley up the road, though I've no idea how that guy ever manoeuvred it into his front garden

Hey everybody.

Just had good news about our motorcycles that are pre 1978 ,

you no longer need an MOT or road tax. Just insurance.

Sorry if you knew this already and if you did why didn’t you tell me?

If only the importer of my Vespa had researched what year it was rather than telling the DVLA it was 1984. Oh well, only 6 more years to wait.

I thought I'd mentioned it before. Mine happens around the Ulez start so perfect timing since it's Ulez free too. The no MOT part is a bit weird, it's one of those times we're benefiting from the wealthy car collecting lobby who have got tired of trailering their collectables to the grubby mot station once a year.

Of course if you get pulled for an MOT infraction there'll be a fine (only a worry for poor people who actually drive their classics).

Not to be sniffed at though, expect all pre '79 bikes to go up in value come the Ulez start. So buy one before then and don't claim no-one told you it was happening. :)

buy one before then

I've been thinking about this with things like minis and MGs. I guess if you know what you're doing and you have the space you could make a bit of extra change.

I still really want to find a lightweight cruiser to make a soft tailed bobber-ish thing from. But the big Jap cruiser phase didn't seem to kick in properly until the mid to late 80s...

So it'll be a long wait.

If it's actually made in 78 then a letter from a suitable person (manufacturer, main dealer, owners club, etc.) and it's not that much hassle to apply for an age related plate.

Question (and I'm looking at you @hugo7 )

Motorcycle throttle cables, are they fairly standard things that shouldn't be very difficult to source? Do you generally need to replace the whole part when it snaps or can you get away with just replacing the metal inner?

Ah if only some dishonest Italian many years ago hadn't buggered about with the serial number!

I only worked out it was older than the V5 said by the size of the steering lock it needed.

I've had a local bikeshop modify a too-long inner cable to fit my bike by cutting it short and welding the end back on at the right length. It worked but I wouldn't say it's ideal.

Usually you can just replace the inner. Not sure if you can just buy the inner though :-D

Yes. But something like wemoto or Fowlers let's you search by bike model, and usually it will give you the compatibe parts.

You only need to replace the inner. But if its old you may as well do both as they'll come together.

Thanks all. I think I've sourced the correct part (he says with no confidence at all)