Dav3y

If the battery will take a charge disconnected from the bike I would imagine it should be fine. Long term completely flat is what can kill batteries. Good that it seems you've found the source of the problem.

Well, as I've got no intention of using it on a track I don't think the 1 or 2 degrees difference to the steering rake angle will be of any concern for road use. In fact, lowering the back without lowering the front should increase the cornering ability due to the increased steering angle if I understand correctly. It's very early days as I've only had one trip to work and back since doing the suspension and have been rained off since, so I'm going to give it a good few miles and rideouts before I decide how I like it. I might yet end up refitting the original plates if I decide I don't like the feel but the main reason for the lowering in the first place was reducing the chances of dropping the bike should I pull up on uneven ground and give me a better footing. It's also a little easier to get my leg over when getting on and off without some sort of movement of the hips I'd think is more normal for a dancer or gymnast. Getting it on and off the Abba skylift is nigh on impossible now without a piece of wood or something similar under the rear wheel to get the stand engaged with the swingarm Have yet to play with any of the suspension settings other than rear preload. I'm definately going to firm the front up a bit but really want to get a feel for things now I've finished running her in before I start making many more changes. I do like things on the soft side for general poodling about though and after all, I did get this bike to be a more comfortable tourer than my previous bike.

Didn't touch the forks to be honest. Rear lowering seems to have made enough of a difference for me. There is room to raise the forks if it proves necessary but not by much, I don't know how different the 750 is from mine. One thing you might need to do though if the 750 is anything like my bike is shorten the side stand. With the 30mm drop, parking the bike up on sloping ground feels a little perilous. It's pretty upright on level ground. I would imagine lowering the rear by that much and possibly the front as well it might well become a necessity.

Running in completed a week ago and been having a bit more fun with her. OMG, vibrations start at around 6500-7000rpm (just outside the running in rpm). Apparently it's a trait of the engine but it does kinda of feel like your nuts getting tickled. Despite the vibrations though, am liking the performance. 30mm lowering kit fitted as well, we will see how that pans out over the next few hundred miles. Rear mudguard is shit, definitely going to sort a hugger out so the rear suspension and underside of the bike doesn't get so dirty.

What's the plan with tests ? A1 (surely not, just means removal of L plates and able to take a pillion - still stuck with a 125) A2 (can ride a pretty decent bike on this albeit restricted) A (unrestricted but you need to be either 24 or hold A2 for 2 years) I did my theory before CBT but it doesn't matter as long as both are completed before Mod 1. Good luck

https://totalcarcheck.co.uk/ Any good ?

Where in Essex are you ? Anywhere near southwest essex you might find the J&S branch in Eltham might not be too far. Failing that, go to the bike show at the NEC next month

Not so. A2 license is A2 license with all the restrictions that brings. There is no longer automatic removal of restriction after two years. You either have to hold A2 license for two years (minimum age 21) before taking A license or I believe at 24 via DAS route.

Sounds like the battery is flat or knackered. I take it the 24-48 hrs was on a trickle charger and not just some ordinary car charger ? The noise is almost certainly the solenoid and it's possible that's where the problem lies but given you've had to regularly charge the battery before being able to start the bike, you could have a problem with the alternator/rectifier/regulator if it turns out the battery is o.k. I don't suppose you have a meter you can check the battery voltage with ?

Are they the only codes on there as they don't seem right ? H code seems to be pre 97 A used to be car when bikes used to be D. Any full car license will give you provisional motorcycle but from the codes you mention and the time you got the licence it doesn't sound like you have car entitlement either !! If you have your driving license number and National Insurance number you can check your license here and check out the codes here

Get rid of the bodge up Scorpion and put a proper pipe for the bike on it ? Doesn't even look like that pipe was made for that bike the way it's mounted.

Both. Mate's R6 is not well. Blew out the top of cylinder number 1 and as a result was pumping lots of smoke out of the back and oil into the airbox. Currently in the process of making a Frankenstein engine from another one with the same engine code that's got a good(ish) top end and smashed lower crankcase. I've ridden a friends 1100 Virago so am very appreciative of the comfort level of cruisers

Sounds like a loose nut may now be a missing nut. Get your torch out and have a look around for threaded holes with nothing in them or threads with nothing on them. As long as engine mounts, suspension and brake mountings are all good you should be o.k. It sounds unlikely something within the engine came undone. I would have expected it to have seized or make a worse noise if that was the case. I'm assuming clutch and gear change are fine ?

Nice pics. Will deffo be up for joining you guys soon. Just trying to get a mates R6 engine rebuilt so he can get back on the road in the next few weeks.. Might sneak out if the route isn't too long or fairly local though. Who's got the sensible bike with the armchair at the front in that first pic ?

This Offline app so no need for data connection while on the move. Free to try and regular 40% discounts.

I'm tempted but might well be rebuilding an R6 engine for a mate on Sunday. You do these regularly or just got lucky the last few weeks ? There's a great bikers café that your route skirts around in Horam. Worth a visit if you've never been. Linky

Looks like something has shorted within the light unit and because someone has dicked around with the wiring and maybe bypassed or upgraded a fuse so much that the wiring melted instead of a fuse blowing. That's how fires start. If you have a wiring diagram, try and trace back to the fuse wherever it is. Surely there should be one and I'd question why it didn't blow. Oh, and as for the radiator, that looks pretty messed up and I wonder how on earth it got like that unless some clown used a jet wash on it or something in the past. You could try and straighten the fins with a cocktail stick to improve airflow but if it's not overheating or leaking you could just leave well alone.

Bugger, missed this. I suck. Too preoccupied running in the new bike. Deffo up for joining anything around Kent/Essex/East&West Sussex if you do another one. Nice piccies, looks like you all had a great rideout.

I'll get some photos at my next rideout photo oportunity. Had the screen fully erected on my first 500 miles. I've yet to be blessed with a downpour to see really how well things are working. Last 100 miles miles i tried screen in middle position and it seemed equally good at deflecting wind. Footpeg positioning is quite nice too as they are set back slightly from what i'm used to and it means i can get my feet down without the pegs being in the way.

O.k. , update time. Collected my 2015 model in Red. Spec is the same as 2014 model except different colour schemes. Candy Fire Red looks great. Not quite as loud as the Green one. Now covered 600 miles. Back to my original points. Mirrors although a little on the small side are perfectly adequate with proper adjustment. Although the seat height is quite high for a shortarse like me, taking the preload right off the back suspension has improved things quite nicely. I have purchased a lowering kit to replace the brackets on the shock which will provide a 30mm drop on the seat once the first service is out of the way next weekend. Have purchased and fitted 4100FZ Givi arms and carrier. It's possible to add panniers to this setup as well with the V35 cases if I wish to at a later date. Currently quite happy with my M5M Monolock carrier and top box that some would say has ruined the look of the bike These arms will also take Monokey plate/carrier if required. Can also get just the pannier quick release racks and fitting kit as an alternative to the slightly smaller Kawasaki panniers but the Kawasaki setup wont allow a top box as well as the factory panniers. Centre stand would have been nice but for maintenance purposes you can fit bobbins into the rear arm and get a cheap paddock stand or get an ABBA stand or Skylift. Side stand only is fine for everyday use. Will report on this once the rear end is lowered as some say side stand needs shortening. What's it like to ride ? Amazing now the first 500 miles are out of the way. Looking forward to the 1000 mile mark now to open up the 6000+ rpm range. Was thinking about replacing the standard exhaust but now I've got her the exhaust note is quite pleasant so will probably stick with standard system for now. Only disappointment is the bloody Bridgestone tyres I've got again. Why oh why don't they come with Michelins ?

Sold mine after 13 months. What an excellent bike it was. I miss her already but only ever was a stepping stone. Did about 7500 miles in that time and apart from the slight buzziness was an excellent first big bike. Averaged around 55mpg botomming out at high 40's and going up to low 60's depending on road types and riding style. Never had an issue with comfort and full fairing provided good weather protection. I shall miss her

Congrats on the CBT. No brainer I think. Do your Theory and book your DAS. Why get a 125 when you don't need to or want to ?

Generally, most people do the Mod 1 on a school bike. You certainly can't ride anything other than a 125 on CBT.

There are Acrapovic ones available from Kawasaki and I've been looking at ones SP Engineering do. Apparently they shouldn't need a power commander or remapping at all and give a very slight boost to mid range power (not that that's what I'm looking for anyway) I think ii'll have to have a measure up on Tuesday once I've picked the bike up as I'm likely to be putting luggage on it and that may include panniers at some point as well as the top box. The ones I've seen do seem to be angled up in the air quite a bit so could foul panniers if they are too high or too long.

Can be very hit and miss. I've imported stuff from GoPro twice that was shipped by FedEx. First time I didn't get charged any duty (although it's generally 10%-20% depending on what type of equipment it is). On top of zero duty I got charged VAT and £10 advancement fee (courier charge for customs clearance) Result of this was $598 order and bill for £83.60 to pay FedEx. Not too bad and saved about £50 over U.K. retail prices not that everything was available in the U.K. at the time. Second time they must have seen me coming. Similar equipment, 10% duty this time then 20% VAT plus £10 advancement fee. That hurt ever so slightly as I pretty much paid in total normal U.K. retail shop price for that order I believe there's a threshold as well for things to be marked as gifts before raising suspicions. Cheap crap from China nearly always is marked as gift with no extra charges. If you're prepared for the potential charges and it's something unavailable to buy over here though, go for it