Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

@hanford :)

When i was hunting for spares it was all for the Twins...... but i had the 250 thumper :)

Z200 you say

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s-7EPoS0lg

Think this is what mine was, some subtle differences, maybe mine was a CSR not LTD, I changed to lower bars (faster) :)

Despite doing Direct access and trying a few big bikes even back then insurance had to be considered. I didn't like the top heavy feel of the Dakar types, sport bikes had crap low speed manners so i just stuck with 250, it would drop a lot of cars at the lights, was light in weight, nimble would do 85 ok but not nice as no fairing, just B road blasting and cruising it was ace fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIVM6kgkeaM

going to spend the weekend looking for a Z250 now see if anythings local

Swoon

The first motorcycle I ever bought was a blue Kawasaki Z200. Twenty quid, age 13/14 from the front garden of some flats on my paper round. Pumped up the tires and pushed it home. Was immediately confiscated by my dad, who kept it for himself. Still has it 25+yrs later.

In his shed, was parked running in good condition, with a load of spares. I'll ask him if he wants to get rid of it if anyone is after one? I'm sure it'll run with a carb clean. They are sweet little plodders.

Made in to a bobber worth 3k.

This is making me sob...

Gotta get this 125 up to scratch and see if I can break even if/when I get bored and strip the L-plates.

Try not to make it in to a project, enjoy it, drop it with abandon.

Sure. I think there’s a particular standard and consistency I want from the bike, effectively where a mechanic says “that’s as good as you’re gonna get without replacing (everything)”. Probably comes under the title of ‘roadworthy’.

As long as you are happy. First bikes become something special.

I’d be happier if it didn’t have the snags (or if I had access to a mechanic for free)... but it’s certainly a fun little bike.

Shame I got into this so late. Had to go to a cardiology appt this afternoon so afterward I visited my grandmother who’s still in hospital, nearly two weeks already. She told me how my grandfather bought a Levis for £10 (borrowed the money from his dad) and had to build it piece by piece.

They toured on it for years and thousands of miles, before having kids. Apparently one day no matter what he tried, it wouldn’t start. He threw it down the road in frustration, and ding! It started up great.

Grandad helped my dad put his first bike together and tune it, unfortunately manual skills skipped a generation so I’m on my own.

Had I got into this a decade ago, or even 5 years ago when the cancer was already bad, I bet grandad would have sat there and talked me through every nut, bolt and wire crimp.

Grandma made one admission, she said, “you know, we used to go round corners at all angles like this and like that... and sometimes I’d lean forward to him and say, “can we go any faster?””

You have us, we will help as much as we can. Please learn from my stupidity at least...I hope that someone does as don't seem to.

Hey if wishes were horses we could all ride off in to the sunset. Your grandma sounds awesome.

You should always put the best fuel possible in a motorbike, the shit petrol definitely won’t be helping.

Thanks!

Yea she's pretty cool, but a scrooge. Grandad was awesome, she's riding on his coat-tails a bit tbh...

@TM it's amazing just how much good advice I receive, and practically always too late ;)
Certainly learning my lessons now.

Stories of Bike.

I had to leave home and get a mortgage before i could a bike. Parents were dead against it.

Mum was a vespa rider in the 60's and Dad had several bikes, when we came along the bikes went, i only remember him coming home once on a sidecar outfit.

Turns out because mum&dad where a bit wild they assumed we would be so no go for me and my brothers.
I have had stories of pub runs involving taking the "back" road to village pub with 2 pillions, 1 on the fuel tank and sometimes one sat on the handlebars + actual rider, no helmets and coming back at kicking out time pissed......
The 60's :)

Also a neat series on you tube stories of biek, nice and glossy, bit hipster, love this one from 2014 on the 250cc theme, nothing to do with the landscape or riders :)

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

Any ideas for good motorcycle related christmas presents that are actually useful?
For a 60 yo old aspiring hipster dude. Long beard and an 80ies bike.
Budget is around 50 pounds.
Have thought about tool rolls or something.

Haynes manual or factory workshop manual for the 80's bike should be a winner if the fella wants to tinker with the machine.

I'd definately be interested if your dad wants the space.

Whereabouts are you? I can always ask.

Had to choke engine like hell. Choke closed idle revs very low, sluggish, without choke instant cut-out with clutch or throttle. Barely open choke, got a bit of consistency.

I got the old carb version of the yamaha 125 you did your cbt on and it's pretty much impossible cold, I could never get anywhere in a hurry. If I can get it to idle cold with the choke off it cuts out as soon as I touch the throttle and it hates riding with the choke on or half.
Morning / after work routine is firing it up full choke, then go get dressed up. Come back 5 mins later and I can turn the choke off and it'll behave fine.

Fortunately the instructor chap has a whole stable of bikes so he seems to know what he’s doing with his. I on the other hand do not. The little CBT bike would start no stress, but the 600cc needed a long time to warm up before riding.

Didn’t get out today but put the Suzuki idling for a while to see where the revs would sit.

There was definitely an air leak - the jubilee clip that should have been holding everything tight on the back of the carb was dangling about loose! I tightened it up, and managed to get it to sit around 1500 and not cut out, but then trying later it stuck at 2000 and if left too long idling there’s a ting ting ting sound from something in the thingy or other. Goes away when pulling the throttle a little.

It would be nice to get a lower idle and more defined needle movement, as it drops very slowly after any pull of the throttle. On the road it’ll be totally different I suppose. So long as it doesn’t go through the roof and refuse to drop.

I was trying to see if changing the choke was making any difference, but the choke seems less than smooth in its operation. At least it starts up properly now, unlike the other day.

Wera tool advent calendar. Or if a jap bike decent set of JIS screwdrivers, if he doesn't have any.

Would be ideal, but no Haynes or Clymersfor this. ´82 Guzzi V50, same as mine...
@lynx: I'll suggest that. He's got tons of tools, but mostly pretty rusty.

In that case decent socket set and rachet? Halfrauds lifetime guarantee and I have a trade card.

Is there a guzzi manual, maybe in italian that some one has scanned?

Still lots of parts plqces selling fuel hose that cant take ethanol or only 2% (its around 6 to 8% now i think is common?). Even worse some is badged as taking current levels of ethanol but cant, and also not uv stable. So you'll have brittle rotting fuel hose in 3 to 6 months. Buy a fire extinguisher!
I finally found some that seems to last, currently on 12 months and still feels rubbery, came from a local bike mechanic who gets it from an Italian manufacturer but thats all i know

Hey some modern plastic fuel tanks can't take it.

You are right, worryingly right. Read about a supposed 5 year fuel pipe recently, oh how I laughed. Get advice on fire extinguishers from the fire service, the plastic topped kiddi ones can have issues.