Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Just acquired - 390cc's of two stroke, Swedish fireball. 34 years young...

Needs a basic strip and tidy up but has monster compression and the suspension is good (original Ohlins shocks.) Should be a beast!

Going to get a daytime mot on it and greenlane ?

Re chargers, I have an Optimate 4 which is pretty speedy but has been known to fuck with my engine management computer. If my bike stands for over two weeks it gets a juice up that takes about 2.5hrs, before I lost the garage space I would plug it in much more regularly.

Everyone needs to know how to tickle a carb, advance the ignition, turn the engine over to just the right point and then kick.
I am sorely tempted to go back to something that simple.

Iused to have an Enfield that needed decompressed and such but the KLR250 I'm now riding is, petrol on, full choke (in winter), kick, kick, going.

Going to get a daytime mot on it and greenlane ?

I'm in California these days - incredible off road riding here, you don't even need a number plate. Just register as an off highway vehicle, get your green sticker and go. Very groovy.

The problem with batteries over Winter is that the cold kills them, so if they are a bit marginal they cannot be revived and need to be replaced. The Triumph now lives in a heated garage, so hopefully I won't have that problem any more.

I have a smart charger that I used to use when my bikes lived at work, and it really helped. These days I just ride the thing a bit more.

the Halfords charger did the job of charging OK took about 2.5 hours - no problem - all good today

The problem with batteries over Winter is that the cold kills them, so if they are a bit marginal they cannot be revived and need to be replaced. The Triumph now lives in a heated garage, so hopefully I won't have that problem any more.

I have a smart charger that I used to use when my bikes lived at work, and it really helped. These days I just ride the thing a bit more.

Moving house at the end of the month and will have a garage, not going to heat it though...

Would a 6' 2" chap look ridiculous/be uncomfortable on a CB350 K3?

And would it break down all the bloody time?

The dark green one from the 70s? I wouldn't say so, I'm 6' 5" and pissed about on one for a while. Not fast but nice to ride.

Think they've been racing them so maybe check for drilled oil drain bolt.

They do indeed race them, the engine is unburstable. I think you would notice if it had been raced though, not just by the drilled sump plug bolt!
Formula CB350 - YouTube

Unfortunately I missed out on it on eBay for the sake of £150, which I'm still annoyed about. Looked really nice.

I'm in California these days - incredible off road riding here, you don't even need a number plate. Just register as an off highway vehicle, get your green sticker and go. Very groovy.

http://www.dirk-behlau.de/SERIE-MINT-400-DESERT-RACE

One of my things on the list to do this year is get some one piece leathers and get down to a track day.

Do it! Some of the best fun you can have on 2 wheels. Highly recommend brands indy if you're near London.

The only niggle I've got is I book it and it rains, I probably should man up I know.

I'd like to get myself something cheap and cheerful to do track days on. If I chucked the guzzi down the tarmac on a track, i'd probably cry.

The only niggle I've got is I book it and it rains, I probably should man up I know.

You will actually benefit a lot more from a wet track day, even if it can be a miserable thing to do at times. You will be amazed at the wet grip, and learn much more about brake and throttle control
(and really enjoy a sunny summery track day later!)

Moving house at the end of the month and will have a garage, not going to heat it though...

Awesome. It's just so nice not having to worry about the bikes all the time.
Mine's rented from the council, and is heated for free by the big pipes that heat the flats above. It's lovely and warm and dry.

I used to love riding in the wet - my first track day was wet in the morning at Castlecombe and it scared the pants out of me. You can't pick the weather but it's much easier to get spooked into making a mistake in the wet if it's your first time out.

Spot on about throttle control.

Almost can't remember what rain feels like here. It's rained 4 times in 10 months. Bonkers.

Dismembering in progress - nothing particularly corroded yet. I've forgotten what wells of petrochemical depravity two stroke expansion chambers can be. Rudely reminded when it emptied half a lt of denatured petrol, oil and squirrel piss over the floor when I took it off.

Cursory inspection via the exhaust port has the piston and cylinder in great condition, will stick a compression tester on it but I don't think I need to take the top end off. New inlet manifold en-route to replace to cracked old one.

Seeing as I'm going to inspect, regrease and replace all the moving parts that need doing, I'm tempted to take the rest off and send the frame and swingarm off to the powder coaters....depends how much rope the missus gives me for back bedroom mechanic-ing....

That's a sweet little project Jung, glad you're getting straight to it.

Which part of California? I have a friend who houses a scooter for me in San Fran and he's a two stroke nut, I think he had registered three import yam RD/RZ's last time I was there which for California is pretty good going.

had a rear wobble this morning on a greasy looking cold road when I gave it beans when pulling away and leaning to right slightly and the rear wheel had to catch up - woke me up and made me concentrate though!!

Inchpincher - I'm in LA. That is good going - it's a real shame they didn't get the elsies here. There's a decent amount of the old aircooled RDs burbling around. Every now and the I see a YPVS for sale but the prices are insane!

I love those bikes - I had a series of them back in the mid 90s when they were cheap thrills!

Has anybody tried transporting their bicycle on the back of their motorbike,

I need to take my motorbike in for a service and don't fancy getting the bus back. have seen these online

http://itsallaboutthebike.com/the-jake-rack-take-your-bike-on-your-bike/

http://www.pashnit.com/product/2x2/motorcycle_bike_rack.html

Has anybody tried transporting their bicycle on the back of their motorbike,

I need to take my motorbike in for a service and don't fancy getting the bus back. have seen these online

http://itsallaboutthebike.com/the-jake-rack-take-your-bike-on-your-bike/

http://www.pashnit.com/product/2x2/motorcycle_bike_rack.html

Seems a bit OTT for just one journey. Whip the wheels off and lash it all together with gaffa tape then bungee against the top box would be my method if pushed. But you'll have to do the reverse when you collect, sounds like more hassle than worth. Although i did get three bags of cement and a pillion on my bandit once, not recommended.

btw, best bungees ever invented are Rok straps, used them today in fact, cracking product. They kept this lot lashed together for three months...

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