Just a garage (incl motorbike content)

Agreed.

Just realised there were a few other bits...

I bought another used fuel pump to hopefully diagnose my faulty fuel level sender. After testing both as per the manual they didn't behave as they should so at a slight loss here. Having said that filling up from the odometer will be fine until I can work this one out.

The headlight has some small marks and after 20 years isn't looking as clear as it once was. I wet sanded it with 400, 600, 1200, 2000 and 3000 grade paper then Autosol, t-cut and polish but it's still not quite as clear as I'd hoped. Bit frustrating after all that work so might buy another unit if I find one cheap.

In two stroke news I bought a Stihl combi unit for our tall hedges in the garden, the ladder and hedge cutter was an accident waiting to happen. Was really satisfying cleaning and servicing the small motor, it's now working like a champ and is surely worth it for that smell of wet grass and pre-mix.

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From back in the autumn

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And most importantly... If you know, you know.

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Great thread. The GSXR is looking super fresh!

Great updates as usual. Seeing pictures of the CRF makes me think that if I do take the plunge with a motorbike finally, something like that will probably be the thing I go for. Looks so much fun and means you can kind of take other people in cars out of the equation somewhat.

Just bought our first house last week and the 50's garage isn't big enough for a car so right now I'm trying to plan how I can turn it into my workshop for bikes (and possibly motorbike)

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Looks about the size of my basement shop, maybe a little bigger.
The linked bins are great; I can see and easily access what I need.
https://www.uline.ca/Product/Detail/S-16277BLU/Plastic-Bins/Plastic-Shelf-Bins-8-1-2-x-12-x-6-Blue?pricode=YF486&gadtype=pla&id=S-16277BLU&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7aybgJ_B9QIVMQ2tBh3YLwGYEAQYAyABEgKdT_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thanks for the kind words and congrats on buying your first house, looks like you could easily squeeze in a motorcycle ;) Where abouts are you? The CRF has been a revelation, it's made slower speeds a lot more enjoyable and there's something satisfying about having arguably more fun with half the cc. Sure you probably fall off more but it's at much slower speeds.

Just shout if I can help with anything. Maybe an obvious one, but as I was really keen to have a decent workbench utilising storage under it saved a lot of floor/wall space. Also thinking hard about what the space will be used for helped dictate the layout. As you use it daily these things will inevitably become more obvious and congrats again.

Great updates as always.

1-3) Next I removed all the fittings on the walls, filled the holes and painted the walls

Sorry to go back to the beginning but what did you use to fill the holes in the wall and was it easy to use? I've got some one inch plus sized holes in my breeze blocks that are too big for poly filler.

I used British Gypsum gyproc easi fill 60, rated to 11mm thick applications. Was easi to mix and gives a smooth finish once sanded, although could be textured if you wanted it to blend in with breeze block. Only downside was I had to give it longer than stated before sanding but was about this time last year so sub 5 degrees.

Perfect thanks.

Yeah really can't face painting in this weather but want to make a start on the wall prep etc.

Sorry if i've missed it but what are doing for heating?

Nope you haven't missed anything, currently there's no heating in the garage. There are copper pipes sticking out from the wall so think these could be used for a rad but that's a way off. The garage seems well insulated so possibly the previous owners considered converting it into a living space, but for now I'll wheel in an oil heater if needed, which I haven't actually done yet.

I'm trying to plan how I can turn it into my workshop

Speaking as someone who filled up their workshop with shit and is now trying to build a work bench and shelving storage I would go:

1. Work bench with storage underneath (that spot under the shelves looks good)
   
2. Insulate and plasterboard the ceiling
   
3. Floor (paint is cheap and quick. PVC tiles would probably be the best choice on balance, in which case do the bench after the floor)
   
4. Shelves
   
   

Even more so if you have any other DIY needs for the house. Once those tins of paint and dust sheets start to accumulate.....you'll never get an empty space like that again.

Edit: just a thought - you've currently got access to the ceiling joists. As the space looks narrow I wonder if having a sky stand hanging down could be an idea? The again I recently saw that Park do a workbench mounted stand, so I'd probably go that route.

Cheers @jambon - I'm in Newcastle

Thanks for the ideas @withered_preacher and @hugo7 - don't want to hijack this thread but will definitely take those points on board. Once I'm in I'll start a plan and probably create a thread on here so will probably have more questions for you!

A few small jobs undertaken recently. The saga with the SRAD's petrol tank continues... after replacing the fuel level sender with no luck I've fitted another used unit but it's in much better condition. After testing this via the manual it seems to have worked but won't believe it until I've ridden the bike. Coincidentally the fuel pump gasket decided to stop sealing too which was a nice surprise, so fitted a new seal while tidying up the paint. I really hope this is all sorted with spring around the corner.

In CRF news the OE dual sport tyres were replaced with Michelin Trackers, of all the small changes I've made to the bike these predictably have been the biggest improvement. On the road they're not as good but make total sense when hitting the green lanes, I'm also planning to ride some enduro tracks this year so had to be done. Switching between ruts I've got a lot more confidence in the sidewall holding on and not letting go.

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We've talked about garage layout and tools a lot the last 9 pages so thought this was pretty apt, especially for tinkering on motorcycles.

https://youtu.be/UXjRFORclZc

Watched that video its great isn't it. He's like 'you don't need all this fancy shit' basically. Just good tools that work with no excess. We all like to buy tools though don't we.

Trackers look great. Much better in the mud. I don't think you can get anything road legal with a more aggressive tread can you? On a motorbike you tell when a tyre has lost its edge. I bet the difference in feeling you had was significant when you switched!

Agreed, he bucks the trend of using what you've got instead of splashing out on the latest and 'greatest' equipment. Is amazing what can be achieved with a solid foundation in engineering principles and supply of homemade cupcakes.

Like you say from reading around the Michelin Trackers are just about DOT approved for road use, if you want a more aggressive tyre that probably warrants a dedicated enduro/motocross bike, so confident they'll be great for me. The more I learn about trail riding and the UK calendar of events I'm quite tempted to buy a trailer and see what happens. Bit like Allen above, this mini-series promotes using what you've got which has motivated me to do some eventually.

https://youtu.be/XVT9JYdd9rc

I mean TBH your Enduro bike could easily do an event even with the tyres you have on now. They are super capable. You would get round the Enduro tracks by me easily on it and they aren't that easy. Would just be more awkward if there are lots of really tight bits or logs and the like to go over. Go do a few MX days and get out to a few more remote/harder lanes (wye valley, happy valley, Llangollen) or Enduro Tracks (berwyn eg) and give it a go. Then look at doing a hare and hound or a normal Enduro.

You ever watch any of the, Revzilla, Motorcylist Magazine stuff with Ari and Zack? Love the stuff they do. They do other stuff on the likes of motor trend etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Geb_QFxp_hs

Wales is somewhere I need to spend more time in after doing NCR8 a few years back, our very loose plan is to move to the Wye Valley but it's a long time away. That's essentially why I shelled out for the 450 over say more obvious trail bikes, wanted something that would grow with me as my skill level (slowly) increased. There's quite a few MX tracks around me so will likely be visiting these when they open, realistically once I've explored these a trailer will probably materialise for adventures further afield. I started watching this Revzilla video but didn't get to the end for some reason, thanks for reminding me.

Just watch all their stuff it's good. Just keep following the recommended at the side lol. Yeah I have some wye valley routes if you need the files at any point.

Almost forgot what this looked like fully assembled, it's been in bits for months. Tank now appears leak free and dare I say it the fuel level sender is fixed too. No more impromptu sunbathing by the roadside!

Front brakes on the other hand don't feel great though despite the fancy Hel master cylinder so will investigate. I'm calling 2 steps forward and 1 step back progress. The old girl fired straight up and ran like a champ too.

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Lovely stuff. I love how tidy it is. No room in my house is that tidy. My cellar (don't have a garage) definitely isn't.

Enjoying your updates.

Thanks a lot, it's still a novelty after over a year having a dedicated space to tinker. Being able to leave the place a tip, don't worry it's not always spotless, and come back to it makes things so much easier.

On close inspection the front brake master cylinder bleed nipple is definitely leaking so will see if a replacement improves things. After talking to a few people who have the same Hel unit appears I'm not the first to have this issue.

I rang Hel to mention the leaky bleed nipple, a human answered and the next day a newer MC nipple arrived in the post for free. Thought that wasnt bad considering I bought the MC used. On close inspection the new bleed nipple has a longer cone.

After fitting and rebleeding the system it's a big improvement and even better after putting a cable tie on the brake lever overnight. Fingers crossed it stays this way. Getting a bit bored of the strong winds now and motivated to get my MOT and test the work done over the winter. Should probably do something about the SRADs 16 year old tyres too.

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