Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Full on rain is always better then simply dewy ones. You'll always have more grip on modern tyres.

I'd take it easy on diesel covered tarmac stuff. One day one will surprise you. I'll never ride in the wet like I used to. Tamper the speeds down 20%. Limb and bike will give you more years for it. Give it the beans in the wet when there aren't vehicles behind you.

For sure. Absolute pissing torrential rain is nice and consistent. It’s that drizzly stuff that can kill.

Been running Avons on the BMW for as long as I can remember. They have been reliable and give good feedback. I'm looking to change because they're a close metric size but not actually the correct size for the bike and it creates a problem getting the rear wheel out while it's on the stand if you have a puncture. Really don't want to change though.

I've been trundling around on BT023 Battlax on a very heavy BM K12RS for a long time in all weathers - can recommend.

Hey all,

I'm thinking of buying this: https://www.gumtree.com/p/suzuki-motorbikes/suzuki-sv650-sv650n-naked-black-2003-k1-twin-caf-racer-excellent-condition/1392237974

In the current times I'm trying to avoid travelling so can anyone see anything obviously wrong with it. I've only ever brought new bikes so I'm a newbie to the used world.

Hasn’t got a sprocket cover, this would bother me but ymmv. Given the blurb I’d want to know if it had previously been written off and check against market prices if it had. Usual check MOT history and the seat looks a bit meh - matching leathers territory.

+1 on checking for a write off.

Replacement fairings are expensive, so a it's a pretty reasonable story that the previous owner would have bailed on fixing. And the damage could have been caused by a minor off.

However, you want to check the more structural bits just to make sure. I'd search for some specific tips/guides on how to do this.

Otherwise it looks pretty clean and well restored / looked after. It's been done to a budget, but that doesn't mean its bad. Just look for little tips and cues to see if it's been done poorly. Off the top of my head... the indicators are LED so if they flash too fast because they've not added a resistor I'd wonder what else has been sloppily done.

Great. Thanks for the info.

Who runs the xr650r again?
What do you do to prevent someone just riding off, have you got an electric start fitted? Or live somewhere that wouldnt happen.

@Jung

Thanks

What do you do to prevent someone just riding off,

A la this Husaberg?

Was chatting about this with some dirt bike owners, and my mechanic.

When I removed the clutch lever safety switch from the DR350SE, I put an inline fuse, just in case the e-start blows. So my mechanic recommended I leave the fuse accessible by the headlamp - whack out the fuse and it’s one more issue to overcome when thieving.

One of the guys I went on the green lanes with has that KTM exc 2 smoker, and so no keyed ignition. We were discussing this, about fitting a lanyard killswitch (or else a hidden killswitch) to the same effect.

Without the lanyard you’re stuffed. Or, if you have a killswitch wired in and hidden from view, it will be pretty difficult to start without knowing where to look.

Those were the two ideas I’ve heard about.

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Yeah that was about what I'd though, wiring a switch in.

Thankfully I'm out in spain and you can park a bike here without much worry where I am. But I'd need some deterrent as no garage.

A disc lock is a good low effort solution.

Yeah that and a killswitch would do job fine.

Cheap too.

https://www.tytrials.com/trailandtrialsuk/prod_186019-Kill-Switch-Seeley-Honda.html

That’s literally the same switch they sell for auxiliary lights, pennies on ebay.

I’d probably look for the much smaller, lower profile button type that are sold as a specific killswitch. They’d be that much smaller for hiding on the bike somewhere.

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a mate of mine used to ride an old Enfield Bullet, which was kickstart only. He wired up a killswitch for it that lived on the inside of an ammo box attached to the side, so on brand. That, in combination with the fact that you had to be a sort of bike-whisperer to get it to start anyway, meant it was fairly secure.

I have been known to softly say “c’mon baby don’t be like that...” to my bike before.

there should probably be a selection of choice phrases in the Troubleshooting section of Haynes manuals

Talking of choice phrases, and the DR...been trying to find a better lever option to increase pull, and reduce tension.

It’s a really heavy clutch even with clean lubed cable. Also, there is almost no free play on the lever and it’s still engaging at near-maximum cable pull.

Bought some adjustable levers made of Chinesium. They don’t fit the original perches, so tried the perch/lever assy on the clutch side and instantly hated it compared to the tiny rally levers I had fitted. Shame as this was allowing me a greater degree of travel and a choice of clutch engagement.

So then I tried the EZ-Pull gadget, that so-say improves lever tension. Yes, it works fine, but while riding I found it more difficult to shift down the gears and couldn’t get neutral nearly as easily. I tried to tighten up the cabling more but concerned by the time it runs better I’m just riding the clutch.

Now, it could be something else clutch-related, but this hasn’t happened at all before fitting the ez-pull. Shame, the device actually works well as far as reducing pressure required to pull the lever.

Ho hum.

Honda nt700, mid size shaftie. Few come up for sale locally, High miles but just after a commuter and occasional mid distance tourer. Think they are all of 60hp from a 700cc v twin, but proper pillion provision on a not 1200cc bike appeals.
Anyone had one? I imagine they are like a heavier slower nc700

NT700? That's a Deuville?

I have an XL700 (transalp) which is essentially a chain drive version (same Haynes manual)
It's a fine commuter/ first bike. I did 10k/year for 3 years on it without fault.

Likes a hill, good torque (v twin innit) but sluggish on the move and not very punchy (40-70 is nothing to be excited about)
I've accidentally nudged 3 figures* on a quiet stretch of wide motorway, so it can move, but you won't get there before a sports bike.

*Your honour, this is just internet bravado and nothing more.

Edit: not related to the NC700, iirc that's a flat twin, essentially a Honda Jazz engine cut in half.

Not a lot. Mine's pretty much off road only and lives in a garage. On the rare occasions I do ride it around town, I stick a disc lock on and don't leave it anywhere too long. For what it's worth, kick starting a hi-comp, 650 single is a definite skill - rules out a lot of the random squids.

The Husqvarna 500 I had before, had no ignition and electric start - that was a bloody liability!

Could be someone has put HD clutch springs in. I wouldn't expect the clutch to be particularly heavy, and looks like you've tried everything else.