Fozzie

Save any work for a series of wet and windy days when you can't ride it, clean it up, service it, wack on some crash protection

2 nobs of the day, after defending them somewhat I saw two incidents... First was a van was overtaking when a cyclist at the last moment swung out to overtake another cyclist, hitting the side of the van. I saw it, and then they caused a MASSIVE stink about it. It was their fault entirely! Then on the walk home from the shops, I had one shout at me, small path for pedestrians to stroll along the parks near the Thames. He nearly clips me and grazes a bush, and then goes right into it to avoid a dog walker. He held his hands out and I heard him yell about me having earphones in... The lady dog walker points to a "no cyclists" sign as they whizz down there. I just said "silly c*nt". I think as economical travel goes, its more environmentally costly. Imagine the damage they cause in people they slow down... Also Joeman, I feel for you buddy, fooking numpties aren't they? The trip to paracetemol is far shorter than it is to the bridge to jump off! Sad someone wants to kill themselves, but very stupid to halt millions in their tracks. And almost like they want to ruin everyones day! As last acts go, not great...

Don't use BP high octane stuff, it is one of the worst premium fuels out there. Use Shell V-power, my own tests along with Fifth gear tests found it was by far the best for engine power. People argue there isn't a difference, I've published on here about 3 different tests with various bikes, 2-stroke, small and big and even a car and all correlated with Fifth gears results that came out this year

Yikes... That's a lot of stuff to go wrong (not that I can talk) I had an Aprilia RS125 (2 of them in fact) and people heckled me on the unreliability. It needed to idle for 5 minutes before you could ride it in a morning, it would seize if you rode it too hard or shut off the throttle at high rpm's. And configuring the electronic exhaust valve got tricky when it decided what day it would and wouldn't work So I can't really say much but I did 4000 miles in 2 months through all weathers which was a big ask for a 125. And it managed about 5 or 6 months before it went pop the first time. Chinese bikes seem to have an array of various problems, Italian ones seem to have ones you half expect Maybe you should follow Bikermoo and get a Honda... you can get these for less than £1500 http://www.motorcyclenews.com/upload/840/images/MVT1220043BA-01.jpg Engine from a varadero and it will do 75-80mph apparently.

Pop into newbies, even if you don't intend to stay always nice to know who we are dealing with! I dont think they make a exhaust for it, best thing to do is measure the pipe and see if you can graft a slip on pipe. It just has to have a ID 1mm greater for it to be a snug and easy to clamp fit.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Exhaust-Gaske ... 3a7c0881ea I had to do a CBR125 exhaust recently, I used this and it was fine. The material you need is copper, you only need one, it's only £2 And the word is thanks

You seem stressed Have a kitkat I'm busy bike shopping but it's turning into a total nightmare.

Good choice, not a fan of rat bikes anyway! Or whatever by definition it was going to be...

Doesn't make you any less crap at cornering though Oooh owww, kitty can scratch I rode a 125 recently, CBR125. I now see what people were on about, when I was 20 and I had a YZF-R125 I could get to 86mph. I was 10.5 stone at 6 foot 2 so very skinny and light. I started doing weights and so on and now weigh 13.5 stone, I rode the CBR125 which I know the little lady owner (5 foot 4 and 8 stone) can get to 82mph on, and I was stuck at 71mph. Plus it has been hot lately, you have an air cooled bike! It is not efficient in hot temperatures in the slightest. So it will be running rich to compensate (or so I hear) and this means you can only use 9 of the 11 mice or so that power it

On which end did the rec/reg cables melt? Generator end means it's sending way too much power up the line. Rec/reg end means that failed but why? Check the generator readouts, makesure they are giving out the right voltage. Does the smoke stink of burnt plastic? Or could it just be crap from the exhaust headers from you moving it around. I get WD40 on them all the time and it sends a plume of smoke up afterwards. Get the fairing off and switch it on again, damage is done wherever it is so you may as well find it before it totally fails!

I was following an old ZZR1100 which was his second hand hack! You dont need to tell me weight makes a difference!

You're on the right track I think... But my top tip is don't give up, you may be there doing it over and over and over. Keep at it, some people spend a few days of repeatedly doing it until it comes off. And it will go eventually! Just takes time and patience, and it doesn't sound too bad so hopefully won't have too many swear words thrown at it

I've had a 2004 SV650 In terms of handling, The blackbird is planted, firm and has a slower but given its size quick turn in. The SV is softer, it is more spongey but it's very easy to ride even at quick speeds. I've owned a 2008 CBR600RR that could not in a million years go down the roads as quick as the Bird did in the video, the bird absorbs bumps and glides over them, the RR would do them but you'd be knackered so quickly you'd slow down out of choice. Which is why I don't understand some people who buy them, as they are great for the Sunday blast on smooth roads, but crap at everything else! But I would still say have one so you can have the T-shirt All in all told, in my videos I wont care too much about what people think of the speed. I know in the biking world, I'm no Valentino Rossi, but I'm able to keep pace and have fun with riders on 1000cc. They all do mad speeds, just mine takes longer to get there And Stu a TL1000 came up on sale near me for £1900, mint condition, all the needed mods done. Tried to tear his arm off but got beaten to it

I wish I recorded day two on this thing... But was advised against it for obvious reasons! A friend of my Dads saw the video and asked me to come out. Had the best days riding ever. Went through the Yorkshire Dales for the first time and was blown away by them. Also after the first stint I was feeling confident and able to control the bird. Next stint was the quickest I've ever dared cornered. I never "try" to get rid of my tyre edges. My 600F is down to the directional markers and I find it just happens. As any sod can get rid of them at 30mph round a tight enough bend. And likewise I won't ride like a stabbed rat when filming! I did fall in love with the bike to an extent... I was up against a Kawasaki ZZR1100. At points we were like a pair of ferrets shooting down a set of pipes. I focused, accepted I was the week link in the equation and pushed it. And I reckon this one day out left me 10% better as a rider. I can enter bends with more speed just from being shown how to go quick while still letting the bends flow. So even after 7 years of non-stop biking. I'm still picking up things! But I came down south only to find I disliked my Honda. I test rode the new CBR600F and with the RR engine nestled in there it was such a nicer bike than my 600. So as I fancy a change and can't yet justify a 1000cc, might move onto the new one and have some fun with super motos as a second bike for a couple of years Feeling confident with my biking future now... I went quick without being a prat, it was all smooth, controlled... There is no toe slider left (tyre at the back is 42psi) and likewise the guy I was following was just shifting it through bends, each one kicking up sparks from his pegs. Best bit, he said he reckoned he'd get 50mpg out of his bike. The quickest riders he goes with get his bike down to 41, and I managed to get him down to 42mpg. On a bike that isn't mine and only ridden half a dozen times I was chuffed. I always thought after my accident and a string of silly things I'd never be the rider I wanted to be... Safely can say today I'm actually heading in the right direction. Feeling 110%!

Apparently (heard this a lot) the wide angle lens of the Drift makes it undesirable for track day recording as the bike doesnt look to be going as fast or lean as much as it actually is. However this works out very well for the vlogger not wishing to be busted being naughty. Its a narrow, bumpy road covered at times in gravel or farm debris. You can't really go much faster so it made it ideal for videoing! I still managed to grind the left peg when I misjudged a bend and just cracked it over to get round it. In a video I did the other day I mention you really need a supermoto to get the most out of those roads! Then couldnt put it up as on some big proper roads the Bird did another thing I keep finding it does, when it feels like I'm doing 70mph the bike is probably closer to 130. It's just mad how slow it feels but fast its actually going Thats the problem with 1000cc+ machines including this 1100. They feel slower than what they are actually doing. And its not really a perception I like so I may stick to 600cc machines or maybe a 1000cc nude bike for the time being.

Too fast as in me or the bike was too fast? As I said I was at a steady pace! Remember it was filmed, and how it looks is very different to how it was. I have use of it for the week, ending Saturday while I'm away off work for studies so I get out for an hour or two per day as a break. Its an odd one, but its a bike I both love and hate in equal measure! I love it as it is smooth, well balanced, feels light, pulls like a train in all situations and feels planted. I don't like it as it doesn't have an exciting rev range, it hit the pegs as it did in the video with about 2/3rds of the lean I'm used to going to and it can feel lumbersome in a quick set of bends. So it feels light, to a point! So far I've ridden a Kawasaki Z1000SX, a Triumph Speed Triple, a Yamaha FZ1 and so far the last two in that line up were in my opinion better than the Blackbird. Im in the market for a 1000cc machine, if I cant find one by a deadline of my 23rd birthday next month I am just trading in for a new CBR600 to play the safe bet!

Went for a spin on the blackbird, I have a Drift HD camera and I usually only use it to defend against bad drivers. Never really recorded many leisure rides! So I gave it a shot. I don't go nuts or super speed, bike isnt mine so I kept it at a steady pace through out. I comment very little during the video, but I think all I comment on is you may see a few corners I brake as I enter the bend, the pegs too easily hit the floor and its not my bike so I'm not hanging off like a gibbon! Other than that I think I only mention a car I was worried about being stuck behind (dont let the wide angle lens fool you there is NO place to overtake). And I thought a bunch of cows were going to hold me up for ages! Other than that, its just a ride through some country roads I learnt to ride on that I've gone back to after years away! Thought I'd share so here you are ">

I dont think Matty was having a pop, he was saying what we hear from the respective fraternity... Best option is to build it and label it how you see it in terms of style... Streetfighters roll with the phrase "built, not bought" but if you buy parts to fit some of them get a bit ratty with you. Just style it how you please and if it matches a rat bike style then that is what it is for you and for others.

Whoa... I cant believe the garage looked like that Forgot this thread tbh!!! Im away up north at the moment. Looking after things while the family are away on holiday, so cant upload a new photo. But using this picture: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8387/8625164285_850b7328b3.jpg The excess wooden panels leaning on the right wall are all gone and used properly, so a lot more space, I've got rid of the junk seen in the back left corner and extended the work benches, fitted 2, 4 foot long wood shelves on the right hand wall where the wood was, fitted 3 new shelves on the back right and back wall and ran a 12v power supply from the light ring so I could run some funky lighting gadgets. I have mounted more wooden panels on the walls so I could pin my designs im working on to and so on. I've built a mount for the bench grinder so it now stands free of the work bench. I've put some flooring in there, and a chair. Also beefed up security, added 4 new latches to the door. I will have to get in there and take some pictures when im back. Its being used by friends as i tooled it to the high heavens, and now you can strip and rebuild bikes, you can even rehone cylinders. Pictures to come when i get back, a lot has happened in the last few months If that doesnt serve as inspiration to do it yourself im cheap to hire for electrical and building purposes

They are known for this! It is the fuelling, so the ECU is playing silly buggers. Try a different ECU, clean the sensors and if that fails I've read a power commander fixes it. Has the exhaust note changed at all? I hear when they do this it's accompanied by an extra loudness from the exhaust. Not much but enough to notice!

They are only cheap, I got a laser DMM from Halfords for £10.99 You have a K7, not like you don't have cash to spare if you can afford that

When you start your build I will track this and buy some raffle tickets to win it, so you have my support

If you had a different bikes electrics it wouldnt work anyway! To convert for carbs you either need a custom CDI which controls the spark. It's a far more basic version of a fuel injected bikes ECU. Or you will need a bike that uses the same engine but with the carb... I personally would suggest you stick with injection, plenty of parts on ebay, I know in the Haynes you could build one if you were attentive enough and had the parts. If you do go ahead, fit the 172cc kit to it, it's just a top end change basically. And comes with something to plug into the ECU to make it fuel correctly. Gives a few more BHP and more torque. If your doing a custom go-kart my tip is buy a wrecked one. Or an old one with a blown engine and modify it to take your engine etc. It is much easier!

Give your son the bike and a manual... Leave him to it. It's what my dad did with me If you need to be taught in a class room rather than able to sit down and learn it, you shouldn't try to mess with your bike.

Carbs off the 1994 model are the exact same as the 1987... This bike really did go unchanged! http://i943.photobucket.com/albums/ad275/Chris-Fozzie/GPZ500Carbs.jpg But yet again... the pilot jet of the left hand carb is screwed http://i943.photobucket.com/albums/ad275/Chris-Fozzie/GPZPilotJet.jpg How am I supposed to get that out? Drill and small extractor? As the last one I drilled damaged the threads a bit, I need to retap that one or drill and try and retap this one. The good thing at least is the condition of them was better. Running out of things to do so I'm starting to turn my eye to the frame and the corrosion. I think I will mimic what Polecat did and paint the frame myself. http://i943.photobucket.com/albums/ad275/Chris-Fozzie/GPZCorrosion.jpg Sorry for the lack of updates, I have been very busy fixing my own bike as it's being sold for a new one. Had it 2 years so time for a change.