fastbob

Here you go, my first bike the aforementioned upmarket CB175. Not original, it had been done up to quite a good standard including a respray and a 2 into 1 SS matt black exhaust system. I worshipped it but I wish I'd understood how it worked.

I had a GS550 that only got stuck in gear when it got hot so I think its wishful thinking to believe the fault has gone away I'm afraid. Now that you have a second bike you have all winter to fix the gearbox yourself. Its probably a bent or worn selector fork. The best thing to do now is read and re read the Haynes manual until you have a good grasp of what's involved. I've done this job myself and it's not as daunting as it might seem.

Ah yeah, for me it's always that really distinctive DR125 oil filter cover that I look for first

I agree on the twin exhaust ones, surely it's just one more thing to rot? If they want to go for that look, I wish they'd make a copy of the CM125 engine instead of just jamming a second pipe onto a CG

Like this ? http://i.imgur.com/lbhoDFX.jpg this is a twin by the way , seen in Coventry today.

im still sporting a halfords own brand so cant find visors that fit (yey) so for myself i just ever so slightly raise the visor to make a small gap, that sorts it out for me. at speed i dont have a fogging problem and can seal it back up (thus far)

those inserts seems best bet if you can get one to fit your lid though

Please tell you don't actually go out on a motorbike with one of these on your headhttp://i.imgur.com/u4aJOJi.png

Zip tie around the chin piece.

I reckon the Lexmoto Aspire is a YBR copy, or is it the other way round ? Probably not push rod then. As a whimsical aside, an impossible bike I'd love to own would be an original '76 CG but magically scaled up in every dimension to a 500cc thumper.

It will give you an insight into Chinese 125cc motorcycles most of which have engines based on the Honda CG125 . Motorcycle Basics, on the other hand, will give you a broader understanding of the mechanical principals of all types of motorcycle and will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life. I recommend you buy both if you intend to stick with bikes.

Sound recommendation! Although I think that the DR/GS/GZ/GN125 engine is getting to be more common than the CG these days, it seems to be used in the majority of the offerings from Sinnis, Lexmoto, and Herald.

I've noticed that as well. Whenever I see a Chinese bike I always look at the left side of the barrel for the little round insert that is the cam follower shaft indicating push rod CG based origins . I'm seeing a lot more bikes without this that must be overhead cam operated. The ones that do slightly annoy me are those with twin exhausts and only one cylinder such as the inappropriately named Keeway Superlight .

I were you though I'd wait for the postman to deliver your Chinese bikes manual first. In the meantime I'd pop into Wilkinsons and buy a multi meter for about £13. This procedure is bound to be covered by the book. You are quite right, the alternator does charge the battery but there is a pesky thing called a regulator rectifier as well that can go wrong.

I recommend you buy both if you intend to stick with bikes.

 

f*ck yeah! this little 125 is just the beginning. In the next two years I hope to learn enough to rebuild my Granddad's BSA Lightning and get it on the road. I will prob not be able to do it all by myself but I would like to think I could develop the skills to get it started.

That's great to hear, oddly enough a typical Chinese bike has something in common with a BSA in that the engine is push rod operated and not overhead cam .

Wish I'd gone too , looks great. I went to the Kickback Festival of Bikes at Cheltenham race course and it was kak! There were a few good custom bikes but it was in one badly lit room , 2 or 3 trade stands and that was it . not worth £10 . I actually went back to the pay booth and asked where the rest of it was !

Honestly, the best upgrade you can do is to a bigger, faster scooter or motorcycle. Save your money until you are ready.

Haynes Motorcycle Basics is a good place to start.

 

I just orderd Haynes Chinese 125cc motorcycles. Hopefully will give me more of an insight.

It will give you an insight into Chinese 125cc motorcycles most of which have engines based on the Honda CG125 . Motorcycle Basics, on the other hand, will give you a broader understanding of the mechanical principals of all types of motorcycle and will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life. I recommend you buy both if you intend to stick with bikes.

just to clarify fellas I can do a u turn from a rolling start and I never have had to put a foot down. I get what your saying I still think a minor would suffice rather than a fail though as you haven't dropped the bike lost control of or put anyone in danger.

another thing I find harsh is getting a minor for stalling on the emergency stop, surely the object of the emergency stop is to stop the bike safely in a controlled manor , if you can achieve this why penalise you for not pulling in the clutch , you have stopped the bike in the allotted distance without dropping it or swerving or locking up. you have done exactly what the manoeuvre requires you to do and that's bring the bike to a stop in an emergency. ( I can do an emergency stop correctly without stalling it by the way) I just think a minor for a stall is not necessary. in reality if some clown pulls out in front of you from a side road and you only got a split second to react your reaction is to stop whether you don't.. pull in the clutch in is in my view should not be frowned upon as long as you stop!! an emergency stop is surely to test your reaction time.

There's no point in stopping a bike if it won't stay stopped. If you've grabbed a handful of brake and inadvertently pulled back the throttle without pulling in the clutch as soon as you let go the brake the bike could lurch forward. The test is to ensure that you will remain safe in real situations after you have passed.

Thanks guys! I need to get a manual and start taking apart and rebuilding the bike to learn and understand it all.

Haynes Motorcycle Basics is a good place to start.

Regular or premium fuel?

Pepsi or Coke ?

Exactly.....to prevent your tank emptying its contents if the float sticks in the carb.......worst case scenario is that it fills the airbox with fuel, which can then allow the fuel into the sump, via the crankcase breather.....

Yep, a very common occurrence well known to ER5 owners.only problem is that most fuel taps don't have an off position more's the pity. I had a cylinder fill with fuel overnight on my way to Scotland this year causing a hydraulic lock . I had to remove a plug and hit the starter . The resulting eruption covered me from head to foot in petrol , fortunately I quit smoking years ago. At least it proves I have good compression.

Great bike , very nice. When I look at this I can't help thinking that it's like things have almost gone full circle and the Bandit has evolved back into a GSXR again.

OK , I've found it , it's 14mm. It's in the service manual.So that's 0.5495 inches . If 5/8 of an inch is 15.9 mm then according to Stu a Hayabusa master cylinder should do the trick. Thanks mate and thanks to all who replied . Now then , what's on EBay ?......OK, had a look absolutely shed loads average price around £40 . Result.

Thanks for the replies so far, I guess I'm going to have to find out the existing bore size . I'll search the net but if all else fails it's out with the circlip pliers this weekend.

I recently fitted an EBC Kevlar complete clutch kit to my gsxr 1100 WP which included HD springs ( diaphragm type ) I'm having a bit of trouble especially on long trips with pain in my wrist and hand due to the extra force needed to pull in the clutch lever. Can anyone recommend an upgrade from another bike that has a bigger master cylinder piston ? I'm thinking maybe Hayabusa or TL 1000 perhaps ? It needs to be off a bike with down sloping clip-on style bars or the cover won't be level. All ideas most welcome. I'm basing this idea on my less than complete understanding of the principals of hydraulics by the way.

i will have to get it booked in at my garage and let them sort the carbs! hopefully not to expensive

cheers guys!

It would be cheaper and more satisfying to buy some gauges and do it yourself. The bike is a twin so there's only one adjuster screw to twiddle.http://i.imgur.com/EComsar.png

Having just googled"GS500 engine noise" I'd be more concerned if it wasn't making a strange noise ! Seriously though, I'd go with carb balancing as well just to see if you can tune the noise out first. After that I'm thinking cam chain wear.

Finally an online Africa twin flickbook.

Bollocks, you beat me to it ! There's only so many identical pics of handlebars with different backgrounds that one can take.

Clymer manual ?

If you are going to use superglue then you need to be fast and I mean very fast!

I have seen many people glue the grips on halfway and also at the same time find that their hands are glued to the grips

 

Yea pretty much my worry. If they are stuck halfway then I'm in a world of s**t, maybe some kind of no more nails type adhesive, should give me a bit longer to slide the grip onto the bar.

This is part of the Zap range of specialist super glues available from all good RC model shops. Cure time 30 - 40 seconds . http://i.imgur.com/bGzgbVP.png