Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Yea, wiggle the key

Check you have spark and fuel getting to the combustion chamber - could be many things from a dodgy fuel tap to a defunct coil - just be systematic and you'll suss it. Lots of help on yootoob.

Hey might be preaching to the converted but the mixture screw is the opposite of the air screw on a two stroke carb. Out is more fuel. Just had a diddle with the Duc carbs and it seems happier now. There’s no right setting, but somewhere between half and one and a half turns out is probably good. Any more than that and the pilot jet size is size is likely a bit small (lean.)

Yep. But its position doesn’t affect hanging idle. Tried 1.5 turns, one turn, etc. Gotta be elsewhere.

Before opening it wasn’t a problem. My money is on fubaring

This turned up last week from Northern Ireland. Had a busy weekend but managed to find the local green lane before the heavens opened so headed home before needing to be rescued. I will be back.

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Great!!!

That surface looks good to start with.

Are there ruts? Did you pin it or did you take it steady?

Also, get onto amazon for a set of these folding mirrors immediately.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-Adjustable-Motorcycle-Rearview-Mirrors/dp/B07FY8VGGW/

If you do a proper search and fight the algorithms, you may find them for £10 or less. It takes catching the system on a good day though.

Look at the tyres by Metzeler, Mitas, and my preferred Michelin Tracker. Some don’t like Trackers, but they are pretty okay and long-lasting.

Consider Bikeseal in your tubes, sod trailside punctures!

It's no KTM/Husky but seems comically light compared to my previous sports bikes. I haven't explored the lane much but the other end is really steep so thought I'd start here as it's a more inviting. It looks like this surface for a while though. I gave it some beans on the road but find not being able to see the revs very strange so didn't go wild, sure that will come with time. It has the US ECU, wider airbox tube and decat-ed exhaust so should be somewhere near 40bhp.

Thanks for all the tips!

Yea I am not sure how it’s been set up but it will be way more exciting than most dual sports, and you will likely embarrass the two smoke crowd. Glad you got what you wanted in the end!

Hopefully you’ll quickly accept that road miles will be awful and a compromise, and from that you’ll just go as aggressive as possible on tyres!

Just… like… enduro boots and knee armour…

This is a little over a week on from the slam. Muscle isn’t swollen and I was walking a lot, but the bruising goes from foot up back of the knee. Okay it was 30mph, and okay it was on chalk on a DR… but even half the speed without a rigid boot would have been catastrophic.

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I've got a bit of a sad motorcycle in my garage that I need rid of. 650 I think. Hoping to get about £300 back from it. I don't think the issues were major but at this stage I don't really know what's wrong with it.
I know it'll need a new gasket, but the main issue is it's no longer starting, which it was doing when I put it in there a few years ago.
🤷🏽‍♂️

I might be back here with more info once I can get some help diagnosing what it needs.

Glad you got what you wanted in the end!

Me too, although did go to the local Honda dealer and look around a CRF300L so feel better for considering this as an option. After having now ridden on the rough stuff, for a whole 30 mins, I see why aggressive tyres and less weight are your friends. Can't imagine navigating the local lanes on a GS/Africa Twin. My bike it relatively light, but being so tall it kind of works against you when you have to lift it up I imagine!

Look up on Youtube:

Bret Tkacs
Brake Magazine
Fortnine

Ryan F9 is more like RevZilla, you’ll enjoy the informative but general stuff that will be mostly what you know already. But F9 has a bunch of dirt-focused vids.

Bret Tkacs and Llewelyn Pavey (Brake) are both Adv bike focused. However I find it great to know what to do by big-bike standards. Just cos it’s half the weight, doesn’t mean you should lift it wrong.

Looks like I'm subscribed to two of them already, so that's a good start. Shame Llewelyn's dad doesn't have his own channel but see Simon pops up now and again on Brake Magazine. I'll probably do an off road courses eventually, to be fair don't need any excuses to visit Wales. Thanks for mentioning Bret Tkacs, noted. I'm sure there will be lots of opportunities to lift it wrong, then hopefully right :)

Going by the photo of those shallow ruts in your garage thread…. Yes. You’ll be picking it up pretty soon!

Take them slow as possible and learn to feel out the bike’s change in balance point depending on your sitting or standing position.

Ruts are easier stood up, but only once you’re comfortable to ride them. You gotta know how to correct your balance before doing what I do (falling).

Awesome! Proper bike.

New jacket turned up, and I forgot I ordered matching gloves to go with it.
When I off-hand mentioned tehy also do trousers in the same colourways, MrsDeth said "full kit wanker to the max"
Which was nice.
(FYI I wasn't planning on buying the full set)

What is it?

Very good question 😅
Its a Honda...I think.
A mate dumped it on me and left the country. I'll get some pictures and better info when I'm next with it (sometime this week for sure)

Would've kept it to repair if I wasn't moving myself.

If you're really fresh off road....get used to standing up everywhere, keeping your shoulders loose, elbows up and gripping the bike like velcro with your calves and knees. Give the front a good squeeze on various surfaces - you'll be amazed how hard you can stop and if you lock up, it's not really a big deal like on tarmac. If there's anywhere flat and open, practice kicking the rear out on the power - sliding a dirt bike is one of the most enjoyable damn things you can do on two wheels and is way easier than you might think. Totally essential skill for turning on loose surfaces.

Have fun mate - that's a proper weapon, you won't believe the stuff you can do with it. Sounds somewhat reckless, but if in doubt, gas it!

if in doubt, gas it!

Wholeheartedly agree with everything @Jung says.... but this is the truest of all. I was shocked by how many times just accelerating has saved my bacon.

Standing up is why I’m reluctant to get rid of the Tiger. It’s just fucking awesome fun. I’ll now do long stints mostly standing up. I’m learning to sorta track stand on it as well, surprisingly manageable.

Steering by pushing down on the pegs is a right gaff.
Power sliding was another nice shocker off tarmac…it’s…pleasant.

Braking on the other hand is a different ball game.

@pdlouche glad to see it healing well.
These channels are essential. Learnt so much about bike handling

Yep did lots of standing up today, was amazed how much putting weight on either footpeg affected the handling. For better or worse I often cover the front brake when accelerating and my wrist didn't like this when standing so will have to train myself not to do it. Got to 40mph (off road) which felt fast, but sure I'll build up to this feeling normal. Did think about trying to loose traction on the rear but then thoughts of A&E came to mind. Looking forward to learning though. Was amazed how much the front and rear moved around with the bike taking it all in its stride, like you say momentum seemed to be my friend in those instances. Thanks for all the tips, the bike felt happy enough doing 70mph on the road but unsurprisingly on the trails it really shined.

Be forewarned about trying to go fast on byways.

I'm the first in line to both congratulate and encourage you... but I am very much a 'you gotta learn to go slow' kind of byway rider.

At the moment the weather is rubbish and the lanes will become incredibly muddy and slippery. That's fun, but comes with its own risks. The empty lanes mean you haven't yet learned to deal with the other byway users.

Your top three are horses, doggos, and walkers. MTB guys won't hear you beep or rev, and other bikers and quads may struggle as much as you to choose the right line for you to pass each other safely.

Horses, you stop dead as soon as you clock them, engine off, get out the way. You need to learn how to grab a fistful of front brake, hit the killswitch, and then pull the clutch to allow the last of the momentum to roll you calmly onto the verge. If there's enough space and time then great, use the engine to rev out the way, but you're safer killing it and rolling to a stop to the side.

People also say carry mints for the horses. Me personally, I just try to keep out of the way of a panicked sideways equine dropkick.

Dogs will forever be off their leads. Technically a byway is an unpaved road so they should be under control (on a leash) at all times. Half the owers won't even realise you are allowed to be where you are. I try to give a bi-beep of the horn from a hundred yards, slow down, take a side, and idle the engine. If there's multiple dogs or one cowers, engine off. If it's a gun dog, it'll walk past you looking for game.

Ramblers/walkers will be the pits. You'll get the number of them happy to wave as you wave, that appreciate the bi-beep warning and shout of hello. What you will remember all week though is the one that gives you a shout and nasty words because they have a National Trust sticker on their windscreen and that means they can police the lanes.

40mph is fast. It's not excessive, but it's fast. My slam was 30mph and usually I'm not going over 35. I have hit maybe 50 or so on gravel and hard packed stuff but it's just not worth it. You want momentum not speed.

All this as TL:DR as it is, get out and do the drills. Get used to stopping before you are stopped by something. I enjoy the drills, because practicing dead slow stuff and braking on different surfaces means confidence in any scenario.

You'll feel a lot of difference with the front when your position is good and far back on the seat when standing. All the weight off the front keeps the wheel light and suspension un-loaded so it glances over rather than slamming through obstacles. Then try leaning forward and you'll notice the change. There are benefits to both depending on the terrain and speed.

Oh also double check your lever position for your height and riding position. Mine are pretty parallel to the ground, to force me back on the seat. No bent wrist when on the brakes, and no leaning forward when arms and hand are straight and locked.

@pdlouche glad to see it healing well.

Thanks! The more I talk to friends about it, the more I count myself lucky to suffer only muscle damage. All that bruising down to my foot even with enduro boots... a squid would be in a cast right now.

Here's an article on attack position. I don't get too far off the back unless I'm in deep sand. You don't want to be pulling on the bars or throttle. Definitely agree with PD you want to be on the gas over obstacles....a general rule is the sharper the edge of the jump or kicker, the more throttle you want. If you hit a sharp bump like a root or dirt kicker fast with a neutral or closed throttle, the rear compresses and will try and ping you over the bars.

Anyways, to start with, just standing up and gripping the bike hard between your legs (oo-er) will keep you out of most trouble!

https://motocrossactionmag.com/mx-education-body-position-the-art-of-bike-handling/