tony-1977

Pardon my stupidity but why brake fluid every two years as not like that in cars, is it a different type of fluid ? Thought you DID do brake fluid every two years in cars? My VW Bora's service schedule shows a brake fluid change every 2 years!!

Just what I thought, Walney. I've had the bike a year and not had the brake fluid done. Looks like that's my next job. Brakes are excellent but don't wanna take any risks.

Sounds like it's running too rich. The choke should allow the engine to idle (fast, though), whilst cold. If it cuts out, then it's flooding.

Hate to say this, but I'm 99% certain it's your head gasket. Driving at low revs with the heaters on will get rid of engine heat quicker (out the blowers in the car), but will not effect the thermostat opening or closing. The bubbling you hear when turning the engine over is pressure from the cylinders entering the cooling system, where there could be / is a leak in the head gasket. This will cause greater pressure in the cooling system (from compression in the engine), hence the temperature increase. Removing the thermostat will not have any effect on this, as the pressure increase will still be apparent. Hope this helps EDIT: Just re-read your post.... Removing the rad cap in the morning (after standing all night) and coolant shooting out WILL BE head gasket failure. Sorry mate!!!

Well, it's that time of year, and the bike's now out of hibernation. This time last year, it had a full service, ie, oil, filter, plugs, etc. Only done 900 miles in the year It runs like the day it was brand new. Is it still worth changing the plugs and air filter after such little miles?? Obviously will do the oil and filter Anything specific I should check for the MOT? There were no advisories last year, and it passed. It's a 2001(Y) Bandit 600, with 10k on the clock Thanks guys

Could be a number of things. Is the air filter blocked? Plug need changing? Leaking fuel? Is the choke completely disengaging after warm-up? Check the basics first

An oximiser has saved me a new battery. Mine was having to get a jump start from the car, but it flattened overnight. I've used an oximiser and now it's charged and held it's charge, starting fine. Bike's stored in a sub-zero temp garage with battery attached. Now I just plug in the oximiser when I know it'll not be used for a week or more.

Go for it, NearOn.... Only used mine once and it worked wonders. They're cheaper than Optimate, too Looks like it saved me a new battery!

Killmach, I've just got an oximiser. It took about 3 hours to show the green light, and as soon as I switched the mains off, the green light went out, leaving it at amber. A multi meter showed 12.8 volts and the bike started up fine. Hope this is of help

Well the green light came on and the bike started Took a few tries but hardly a surprise as it's still below zero out here, bloody freezing. Think I'll leave the oximiser on overnight??? or not?? For now, though, I'm gonna chill out

So I've probably fooked the battery? Last month I jump-started the bike from the car (engine off). Done this twice now. I'll see how it goes later on today. Just checked and the green light on the oximiser is still not on yet. Thanks....

The instructions are in every language except British I know from the previous owner that this battery survived the winter before last (he used it daily) and the bike stood for 6 months over last winter, indoors, and started up fine earlier this year when I bought it. What's the average life of a bike battery? My 7 year old car's got the original Not sure on bikes, though.

Well it's that time of year again, freezing, and the battery goes flat after only a week of standing in a cold garage. I was going to buy an Optimate in the new year, but I've got on Oximiser for Christmas from the wife (she actually likes my bike ). Is there any difference between the two? I've just put it on charge now and the bottom 3 lights are on, the bike only grumbles when I hit the starter (been stood for about 2 weeks now in a sub-zero temp garage. I assume I need to wait for the top green light to come on before I can start it? Will the battery need replacing now, or is there a chance the oximiser could recover it? Any help, as always, would be appreciated. This is the first winter I've had a big bike, with no kickstart, as last year, my 125 was ALWAYS flat, and the kickstart worked wonders. Just I'd hate to be left stranded at work, as the bike would be outside for 12 hours there, as this bike WILL NOT push start at all .

I would bet my life that this is the problem. Just seen this thread now, and though "Head Gasket" when I saw the first post, before I read on. The oil and water can be kept separate when a head gasket fails, as Colin said.