Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Can I phone it in from here? No hard luggage but I do still have a VFR. Doesn’t get much more Middle Aged than that….

You'll have to join the ride and find out.

Worth checking your charging system before buying a new battery, it's very easy to do.

Likewise. I'm unlikely to make it over the water for any spin for the foreseeable. 30+ year old Super Ténéré counts right? No hard luggage sadly...

It’ll take a minute to arrange a forum moto ride won’t it? My ecu is in Germany for a remap and then there’s the whole cerakoting a silencer part to come

Hey all, any recommendations for handguards for a naked bike? To keep the windchill down so the heated grips can do the job.

Bike is dead again.
Last week, recharging the battery got it to start, then again a couple of hours later and went for a blast about town and was fine, parked it until today, won't start.
Charging it again, new battery is on order.
Its booked in for a service and new boots tomorrow, so will ask them to check the battery, if it is fucked, all good, I have a new one coming. If not, I will see if they can investigate the issue.

I don't have a multimeter to check myself.

Have you got any aftermarket accessories installed?

Are you local to London I forget.

Is the reg/rec /stator charge system working properly?

Any bike tracker/alarm installed?

What is the bike? I had similar problems with a honda and it was the HISS system

Is anyone in here familiar with the daylight mot (which I know isn’t actually a thing) rules? Like how much electrics do I really need?

Thinking about doing a trials/scrambler style makeover on my ‘55 Matchless.

If lights are present they must be complete, secure, and functional.

To be road legal you need a speedo. Not necessary for the MOT but useful to leave on.

You need a number plate, a horn, and normal working brakes etc.

My Sherco has no lights at all, no headlight no brake light, no indicators. It has a bicycle speedo, and a 9V-battery Megahorn.

If you can, remove all the lights as a whole.

If you want to leave a light on, you may find it’s a case of the tester wanting a tail light to suit the headlight.

Triumph Explorer 1200, 2015, had it for 3 or 4 years now, no issues (other than a blown relay, not long after I got it)

Have you got any aftermarket accessories installed?

Has non-factory heated grips and fog lights, both operated by a switch on the bars (2 button, 1 unit) which were there when I got it.

Are you local to London I forget.

South Essex, closer than some, but not really close

Is the reg/rec /stator charge system working properly?
Any bike tracker/alarm installed?

No idea on reg/rec/ stator - I am an ignorant bike rider.
Has factory immobiliser no alarm.

Issues arose after the MOT a couple of weeks ago, dropped it off and picked it up with no problems, but a week later it wouldn't start.
Mains battery charger hooked up to the batter in situ charged it after a short while and fired up no drama, and again an hour later.
Been left for a week and wouldn't start again, battery charger again and it fired up.

Its in the garage tomorrow so will see if they can diagnose the battery or if I need something more expensive.

Thanks for your input!

Well, either:

The battery doesn’t hold charge (new battery)
The battery isn’t being charged (new charging system ie stator/regrec)
The battery is being drained (electrical gremlin)

Is it registered as a Historic Vehicle? If so you could probably avoid the annual conversation with an MOT tester...
On the one occasion I took my Trojan for an MOT (wanting an official opinion on roadworthiness to support the V5 application) the certificate had "lights not fitted" as an advisory

Yeah, no tax or mot required and I’ve not, so far, had an mot tester look at it.

I was thinking a tail/brake light might have been sensible but if it’s all out nothing that’s fine. Could probably run a horn straight off a battery eh?

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Probably yes. While a bulb horn is fine for a cycle motor you'd need something more assertive for a Matchless.
D.C. horn for a battery? My other bikes have A.C. horns powered from the lighting coil - I have in the past bought the wrong type by mistake.
Edit: photo above appeared while I was typing - really you'd want a straight one to avoid water pooling and rusting it through.

Pretty sure these are no longer accepted

They would be on 1955 bike

"Motorcycles first used on or after 1 August 1973 must emit a continuous or uniform sound that is not harsh or grating.
Motorcycles first used before 1 August 1973 can have a bulb horn as the audible warning."
( https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-motorcycles/7-audible-warning )

Having said that, most replica bulb horns will fail the " loud enough to be heard by other road users" requirement. I'd want something reassuringly loud if it came to a roadside conversation with law enforcement, though the pathetic electronic bleat from a Mobylette appears to be sufficient.

Not like you need an MOT on a 55 bike anyway….

I was definitely kidding, but now I want it to happen haha

After a couple of months hiatus, I've been doing a bit of work on my Triumph. Serviced it, with new tranny and engine oil, checked the valves and cleaned the carbs again and it's now a one kick wonder. I machined up some billet tank mounts, which were a bit overkill but work fine. I've got a little electrical work to do, fit a rear mudguard and light of some sort then swap out the clutch springs for lighter ones.
Finally, I want to make a fork brace.

Probably going to do something like this, looks a nice piece but $250 seems a little salty. I've bought a 180 degree loop of 1" 16ga Stainless tubing (for 15 bucks!) and will make similar 6061 billet clamps from the remnant pile. Shouldn't be too much work.

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