Colin the Bear

The carb for a 50 will supply enough fuel mixture for a 50. A 120 needs more. A larger engine is not the way to go for fuel efficiency but it is the way to go for performance. Performance comes at a price

If you like the idea of modifying bikes , the best thing you can do is get your test passed and buy a bike you can keep for a while. then all you need is a shed , some tools and loads of money.

I like there to be a definite click when fitting the plug cap. Every poor connection in the high tension part of the ignition means the spark has to jump it. By the time it gets to the plug it may be too tired. A weak spark may cause a mis fire then the plug gets wet then down goes that cylinder. For fitting and removing spark plugs I find a deep socket is best. Some socket sets come with a rubber lined one specificaly for plugs.

In summer or starting the bike in a warm garage you may need no choke at all. Sitting on the bike , select neutral gear (light comes on) and raise side stand. Check kill switch is in run position. Lights off. Some bikes need the clutch lever in. Some start better with it in. Press the start button and listen to the engine. Use short bursts of the starter so as not to drain the battery. If it fires, catch it with the throttle. If it doesn't fire, move the choke to the first position and try again. If no joy move to second position and try again. It should start. Don't be tempted to ride off at this point. Let the motor run for 30 seconds or so , listening all the time. As the revs pick up, move the choke to its resting position, in small increments. The choke does just that, it cuts off the air to the air fuel mix , making it "richer." This will help a cold engine to fire up but is undesirable for normal running purposes. Too rich a mixture on a cold day will wet the spark plug rendering it unable to do its job. ie ignite the mixture with a spark. So less is more and don't be tempted to blip the throttle before you hear it firing. Once the bike is running smothly and responding to the throttle it's time to move off. Moving off before the engine is warm may result in an unexpected stall and an off. Which will take a lot longer than the 30 seconds or so to warm the engine. Your bike is 5ish years old and may be in need of a service. Nothing too complicated on the XR. Make sure you lock it up well. They are highly nickable.

http://www.themotorbikeforum.co.uk/view ... =5&t=24824

http://www.silvermans.co.uk/Products/ta ... fault.aspx

Have you eliminated a faulty safety switch as mentioned earlier? Side stand and clutch.

Silk scarf

A failing cylinder head gasket may be allowing combustion pressure into the coolant system and blowing it out. Then when it's low it overheats or it interupts the flow of coolant causing overheating. You don't always get a water oil mix. White exhaust smoke will indicate water in the combustion chamber. My brain hurts

Remove cylinder head and get bolts spark eroded or replace cylinder head. Sheesh. Gets complicated sometimes.

Drill ,ream ,tap and upsize mirror stem

Marigold work gloves are excellent. http://www.mccormicktools.com/Marigold- ... 4wod1n3QHA

Bear with youhttp://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z28/Colin_the_bear/bear_ermm.gif Try here. Your bike may be listed http://www.carlsalter.com/motorcycle-manuals.asp

WD40 is a poor penetrating oil. Something Graphite based works better. A bolt extractor kit may work. You drill a small hole into the bolt and screw in a left hand thread tapered cutter. As it bites the bolt should come out. When fitting replacment bolts use copperslip. Or studs and brass nuts. American site but good for ideas on kit available http://www.brandsplace.com/tool-hand-to ... ctors.html This may help http://www.bikerlifestyle.co.uk/tech/screw/extract.htm Knock yourself out here http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&so ... ractor+kit

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z28/Colin_the_bear/0083.gif

Brake discs

http://www.crash.net/british+superbikes ... irmed.html They not do http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc261/Squeeze_Bang/logo.gif down there

Forecast is fine. Nights are drawing in lately. Might be your last chance this year. Usualy lots of bikes and quirky stuff to look at. Nice coffee shop, fish and chips and an old fashioned sweet shop. All they need is a band and they've got the lot

Quite sureal

Cornflake

On the upside, anything you replace will be new. Pointing out the faults on a bike to the owner and explaining your reduced offer reflects this, is a good haggling start point.

I think anyone who refers to breaking in an engine must be a cowboy

I also like to wear blazer and slacks on the bike. A bullet proof T shirt at only £99 sounds like a lot of sense to me. Sandals and kevlar socks anyone? Is five consecutive posts a record... or a stuck record

I wouldn't dream of riding a bike without a leather jacket. Fetish or not