Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

It's probably the lockdown, but would love this as a track project. Local too. The cat C doesn't bother me too much but a few of the bolt heads are corroded which makes me think pass this time.

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I'd hit up a more modern iteration of those. Not saying it's a bad idea, but wringing something that old on the track might have you spending more time in the pit.

I mean..there's a track ready RSV Mille with spare wheels for two notes on eBay.

I quite like the idea of an older project bike that's tricked out, and rider capable, not far off the heels of newer machines, ala... https://youtu.be/uW5q7FLvY3Y

Hopefully being cheaper it shouldn't be as bad when it visits the kitty litter. Don't mind the spannering, actually enjoy that as much as riding but agreed when it stops you getting out not fun. I know deep down you're right about newer being the 'sensible' option, do like the idea of 2 RSV's in the garage :)

Nope. Say no more fam. I get what you're saying now and take back what I said. Tinkering for me is part of the fun as well. If I know how it works, I'll know if it goes wrong and if I know what goes wrong, I can get back out there with minimal fuss and enjoying the work.

It's why I daydream about a VFR400 as a project.

Now I have an RSV I think v-twin for the road and inline-4 for the track would suite me down to the ground. Also the thought of racing a big v-twin without a slipper clutch scares me. Just seen the Mille you mentioned, that does look super clean, good find. Get your VFR400 and let's go historic racing, life's too short eh!

Solid shout. Not sure I'd do anything more than 650 as a v-twin on track. I have NO idea how you hustle it on the RSV without any bucking on the downshift?!?

Don't start. The bike requires the space, the space requires getting the fuck out of London. Getting out of London might take a couple of years as it stands.

This however...is mighty tempting. I mean...LOOK AT IT!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-VFR400-1994-NC30-LOW-MILEAGE/293552391612?hash=item44591605bc:g:PY4AAOSwX~henHtN

That's a great price for a NC30 no?

You've seen the budget bike battle? :)

Bargain hund! Yeah, great entertainment.

It's cheaper than the crop of CBR400's, so yeah, it's a mad price and looks really clean. Talk about temptation.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/suzuki-motorbikes/suzuki-dr350-spares-and-repairs/1370815252

sad motorbike noises

Rebuild.

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The answer is clearly to let me look after the SV, free up some space

If I get the two up machine I'm looking for, you're welcome to hold on to the SV a while. Fucking shite time to be looking for bikes though.

Anyone know how rough you can be with MC disc rotors? Suspect they feel the same to straighten as bike disc rotors, just thicker! Dug my spare wheels out and forgot reason they were put into the 'pile' was last tyre change the guy use the rotor as a way of getting more purchase with a tyre iron, its probably 1.5mm out of line, not really visible, but the rear caliper drags on it.

Nice, looking very zen with the olives. Out of interest are you using any grease for the pistons and seals?

Can get them rolled/straighten.

Now teaching you to suck eggs ;)

Get all the corrosion from where the seals sit, right in to the right angles of the edges. Used to have a special bit of hardened steel for the job. Tokico calipers are buggers for that.

Oh and make sure the seals are the right way round, correct side facing out.

@chak since chatting about racing older bikes I've been getting slightly carried away. Have created a spreadsheet of all the common parts racers upgrade on their 96-99 SRADs and have printed out the ThundersportGB 'Golden Era Superbikes' technical regulations. I know no form of racing is cheap but spare parts for this category looks to be chump-change on eBay. I like the idea of moving up the ability categories at track days then (maybe) eventually making the jump to racing, but unsurprisingly the level of talent looks very high! Having watched a few videos I'd rather watch this on TV than F1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9Wco3bNd4g

Guy I work with races [modern] 600s and spends ~£30k a year doing so 😬

Edit: just looked up the series - BMCRC MRO 600.

That's probably a good reality check, even getting the bike ready and acquiring the license sounds like fun to me. I know some people pick and choose which meetings they attend depending on location/rain but yeah imagine anyway you look at it it's not cheap.

To be fair, he runs two bikes (wet/dry), has multiple engine rebuilds in a season and has an airbag suit which is top money to repair/re-arm.

The bikes are CBR600RRs so nothing exotic there.

To be fair, he runs two bikes (wet/dry), has multiple engine rebuilds in a season and has an airbag suit which is top money to repair/re-arm

In contrast to my main concerns like... where do you put the bike after racing when the regs say you have to remove the sidestand? 🤔

Haha! In the paddock on a stand:

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And I thought removing the front brake at Herne Hill was effort!