Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wayne-Rooney-Motorcycle-Lauge-Jensen-/150832190123?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item231e4c92ab

its for charity but .......

Just did a quick 1000 mile loop on my faithful bandit around Northern Spain, best roads I've ever ridden and scenery to die for, seriously recommended!

An another note, if your not all jubillee'd out, it's the 60th year in existence of the Vespa Club of GB this weekend, it's a four day event at the O2 (thur-sun), tickets are a tenner on the door. Probably the biggest Vespa gathering that has/will ever be.

Northern Spain is great riding. I've only really done the Atlantic side but the road from St Jean Pied du Port to Pamplona is a bobby dazzler...

Thanks! List is:

Braced frame, powder coated

3 spoke wheels, powder coated

Stainless hoses throughout

Stainless fasteners throughout

Nissin calipers 4pot, upgraded discs

Upgraded forks, Hagon progressive springs

Quantum piggy-back rear shocks

Mikuni flat-slide RS34 carbs

K&N filters

Braced one-off swinging arm

One-off front mudguard (looks standard but has been 'shrunk' to hug a 17inch wheel, the old front wheels on these were 19inch!)

Power booster (Japanese tuning 'black box')

Stainless exhaust, one-off link pipe to stainless GP cans

Yoshimura rear-sets with pillion pegs (rare as hen's teeth)

Seat recovered

Ally under-tray, back-end tidy

Electrex reg/rec (standard ones are know for being moody)

Earl's oil cooler, stainless lines

One-off ally sprocket cover overflow catch-tank

One-off 'Lucky 7' crank cover

Think that's it! And no it doesn't really get wet, although saying that I am determined to ride down to the Euro Kat meet in Bordeaux on it so if it rains it rains!

Interesting that you got it through Footman James, I've had two policies with them for the last three years (one for the Motorbike and another which has four classic scooters ). Recently they sent me a letter saying it transferring the policies to another company BikeInsure (or something like that) which included a nice hike in premiums. Upshot is that i've now changed all my policies, scooters are with Allstyles (underwritten by Equity Red Star) and the Bandit is with Bennetts. Big savings but going through all the paperwork again is a chore.

Although you have insured your suzuki with an agreed value this is only if the whole bike is pinched, if any of the aftermarket parts get robbed they will only replace with a standard stock item... One of my scooters has about £3.5K of trick engine, gas shocks, disc brakes etc so my choice is either insure it with every individual part insured which bumps the premium another £100 ish or just never let the bike out of my sight. This is not the same as declaring what modifications have been done to the bike btw, that just has to be done to stop the feckers wriggling out of a claim!

Oh and the European cover is a bit shit (it is free i guess), I snapped a crank in my scooter in France once, all the cover entitles you to is a tow to the nearest garage, any garage whether they deal with bikes or not. If the garage is closed they will leave your bike outside. Luckily i bribed the tow-man to take me to the ferry port where i pushed the scooter onboard and then organised a pal in a van to meet me when i docked.

Interesting that you got it through Footman James, I've had two policies with them for the last three years (one for the Motorbike and another which has four classic scooters ). Recently they sent me a letter saying it transferring the policies to another company BikeInsure (or something like that) which included a nice hike in premiums. Upshot is that i've now changed all my policies, scooters are with Allstyles (underwritten by Equity Red Star) and the Bandit is with Bennetts. Big savings but going through all the paperwork again is a chore.

Its odd how insurance companies work - I am with Footman James and last year paid £221.38 for a two bike policy. This new company, BikeTeam have quoted me £164.99 for the same cover.

Going to call Carol Nash and Bennetts for a comparison.

BikeTeam, that was it thanks, my jump was from £220ish to £320ish with no changes to the policy (claims, license points etc). I work in a casino and accept that is the main contributing factor but i went to Bennetts and it was £156 so also got the RAC cover thrown in and I'm back to where i started at £210ish. Ballache.

Ahh, my bad - this new company sent two policies, so total for the two bikes was £218.99 - very much the same as last year.

However, the excess on both bikes has gone up from £175.00 to £250.00

Cheeky buggers!

In that case it must be personal, maybe they don't like sissy scooterboys.

This is what I posted when I renewed in Jan: -

*Obviously shopping around for insurance makes sense, but just had a result for renewing next week. Been with the same insurer for 10 years, always been competitive, but price hiked in the renewal quote to £359. Looked around and got a like-for-like quote with Motorcycle Direct for £163 (including tax) on my Ducati: fully comp, £400 excess, protected no claims (on 9 years ncb), 30 days European cover, covered for pillions, legal cover, key cover, 3000 annual mileage - based on the bike being kept on a private drive (but not garaged) in Brixton and/or Peckham. Result!
*
How old are you, Mecha?

23, so my 6 years no claims is spread across a 50cc upwards since I was 16 (shhh, don't tell anyone), but I don't see why it's going up? Surely it should be going down, if anything.

I have been shopping around, but even garaged overnight in the countryside around Bath, no-one is giving me an inch. Fucking state, that.

dont forget my friend who owns scooterworks is having a little ride out on the 17th of this month starting from waterloo. should be good gently fun. 14 confirmed so far. ............**it will not be a tear up.
**
heading south westward if the weather is good and if the weather is average , a ride to the ace cafe instead.

all bikes welcome.

Won a 1982 honda xlr 125 on ebay for £340. Needs a little work to get through mot but nothing major, hopefully. First bike. Excited.

Won a 1982 honda xlr 125 on ebay for £340. Needs a little work to get through mot but nothing major, hopefully. First bike. Excited.

Need a hand?

Thanks a lot Lynx, bit of help would be great. Got to pick it up from bloody Preston first! But thanks for the offer, I'll keep you posted

casaBLANKA try shiply

lynx you have a PM

Thanks a lot Lynx, bit of help would be great. Got to pick it up from bloody Preston first! But thanks for the offer, I'll keep you posted

Have spanners and do have a soft spot for the xl. They are a hoot.

Quick nod to Hein Gericke at Stockwell. I was out on the bike on Sunday, having given the battery a quick charge over the weekend. I had no problems until I stopped for petrol on Clapham Road near the Oval and couldn't start the bike. Called the AA and the guy told me the battery was dead (no surprise it's quite old and hasn't been on an optimiser) and wasn't picking anything up off the alternator. He got me started and I headed off to Brixton, but the revs were all over the shop and I stalled with no chance of getting it started. So I wheeled it to Hein Gericke and arrive 15 minutes after they shut. The guy who was closing opened up again, let me wheel the bike through the shop to their lock-up at the back and leant me a cover. He's sorting me out a battery this week and will charge it for me, but says I'm welcome to leave the bike there until I'm ready to pick it up. Nice customer service, lovely bloke. Just thought I'd share.

Update on this. Went in today and they had a new battery charged up for me, popped it on, bike fired up first time. They knocked 10% off the price of the battery. The guy who let me leave the bike there on Sunday had noticed during the week that the cover he'd put on it wasn't holding up in the dodgy weather, so had brought his own spare cover in and secured it properly with bungees. Will be dropping a drink off for him during the week.

I can't speak highly enough of the shop and the people who work there so, if you're in the market for some clothing or accessories - and Stockwell isn't too out of your way - spend your money at Hein Gericke. I know they're part of a chain, but this shop is 10/10 for service. Ask for Aitch...

the ride yesterday was good (22 bikes) but i had to head back/bail before it got really good because my engine was smoking. the route was london to eastbourne - chill on the beach then on to brighton.
vello took some pictures and hopefully he will put them up here soon.
lots of pretty vintage bikes but the bike that got the highest number of oooos was a prisitine ducati desmo.

it looked a bit like this

As per CoppiThat's request, pictures below...

It was an amazing day, shame the BMW let you down so early... As you can see T4NYA had a Guiness in you honour on the beach.

What happened, G?

it just started to feel laboured above 3500 revs and spewing out greyish smoke on the right hand side. craig says it might not be anything more serious that the right hand carburettor being clogged up. however i do think that the clutch needs replacing soon.

it just started to feel laboured above 3500 revs and spewing out greyish smoke on the right hand side. craig says it might not be anything more serious that the right hand carburettor being clogged up. however i do think that the clutch needs replacing soon.

Sounds like it's burning oil if it's grey/blue smoke. Has it ever done anything like this before? Worst case scenario could be worn rings or valve guides. Could be crap in the carb but you'd expect a good run to clear that.

Have you checked the colour of your plugs? What's the mileage and does it need topping up with oil frequently?

Theory test passed today, now to book direct access!

Sounds like it's burning oil if it's grey/blue smoke. Has it ever done anything like this before? Worst case scenario could be worn rings or valve guides. Could be crap in the carb but you'd expect a good run to clear that.

Have you checked the colour of your plugs? What's the mileage and does it need topping up with oil frequently?

Also try running your finger around the inside of the exhaust just near the end, when it's been sitting for a while. If it's damp and black, you're probably burning oil.