Ian Frog

Looks like something from a specialist rubber goods supplier! Not that my personal fields of expertise extend t such places lol. Mind you it could mean there are some interesting bar ends out there ! Cheers Ian

Thanks guys ! I am confident all will be well. She has been with me from new in 2004 and has not given me any worries so far ! Cheers Ian

MOT on Saturday so got my best girl on the stand for a bit of a clean and check over. cheers Ian

Try the Leighton Buzzard road out of Hemel then up over Ashridge past Ashridge house to Ringshall then down to Marsorth then Long Marston down to Aylesbury, a stop at On Yer Bike for a gawp and either onward or return. Lots of back roads and villages in your back yard. Enjoy! Cheers Ian

+1 for day spent in Porto! In general the roads in Portugal are beautiful compared to the third world crap we put up with and as a bonus the food is excellent and the people are friendly. Almost everyone speaks better English than us but without exception they appreciate it if you try to communicate in their language first. Personally I love the place and am planning on going back next year. Cheers Ian

Hello @david2520 I suspect the balance weight you mention will be similar to the one in the RS250 single that is to all intents a baby XL so the information for XL or RS series bikes should be available. From memory behind the clutch cover is a vaguely triangular plate with a curved gap which is clamped in place by a bolt, the bolt is slackened and the plate pushed to reduce the slack in the drive from crank to clutch. Please check before playing with anything as the last time I was inside an XL250s or my RS250 despatch bike was before the miners strike and Thatcher lol. Cheers Ian

The Abba stands connect at the swing arm pivot allowing many different bikes to be lifted by having different connecting bobbins available for different bikes. They don`t have to be horizontal either lol. Cheers Ian

At the moment! Nice thing about the FTR Carbon is you can turn everything off. Cheers Ian

said Indian lol cheers Ian

Just google Abbastands you won't look back. Cheers Ian

For context the Indian normally resides on the lift and takes a lot less shoving to move lol. Cheers Ian

Put the Beemer up on the lift for the first time and just realised she's a big girl lol. Cheers Ian

Took the little 125 for it's 1st MOT since 2018 passed with no advisories. Probably put it up for sale after my holiday so if anyone knows of someone looking for a non chinese 125 let me know. Cheers Ian

I have exactly the same arrangement on a CG that I have recently finished getting back on the road and even in the depths of winter I haven`t found the need to keep the choke on for anything over about 2 minutes. In fact the bike seems the most warm bloodied thing I have ever come across in the 48 or so years I have been messing about with bikes which is strange for something made in South America which I would have expected the opposite. I would check your mixture and air filter first before trying to keep the lever up and riding at the same time. Cheers Ian

It`s an impressive bit of kit but god it`s so ugly lol. Cheers Ian

Hi @Fender1515 are you planning to put castors on the bench? I find they are a godsend and get used way more than I thought they would as it`s surprising how often a change of angle makes some tasks easier. Photos when complete please. Cheers Ian

Also it is likely the tyre won`t fit between the calipers if they remain in place and as @Stu says you don`t want to realise this and have to undo them when the wheel is off the deck. Cheers Ian

From the Hynes manualCheers Ian

Just a thought given that everything you mention sounds sensible I would start looking for air leakage as what you describe could be a leaning off of the mixture and it`s an easy check. Just sit the bike idling and spray carb cleaner around the joins of the fuel supply system and listen for changes. Funny it`s the second time I have mentioned this in ages. Good luck Cheers Ian

You might want to read @Grumpy Old Git`s last post on that subject ! I am sure a gathering of like minded souls shouldn`t be impossible to organise, especially as a lot of us seem to reside in East Anglia / The Midlands. Cheers Ian

As an easy check to what @Bianco2564 correctly mentions I would always start the bike and have it ticking over if possible then spray carb cleaner over the rubbers connecting the carbs to the head. An air leak will be revealed soon enough I promise. @Tinkicker is perfectly correct saving on non original jets is a false economy and will bite you in the ars* don`t ask ! Good luck. Cheers Ian

I agree with @RideWithStyles regular use much better than something that has stood unloved for a while, 11 months MOT is also encouraging. Looking on the bright side it`s not a lot of money for a useful hack or a good place to start learning about restoration, on the bad side if it turns out to be a rotbox you should get a fair bit of your money back if you break it for spares. Good luck. Cheers Ian

Hi Biffa may I ask with both modifications are you intending to be able to switch from solo to sidecar use with minimum transition time? Leading links on a solo add significant weight and slow the steering considerably which in turn makes it feel like you are always running wide (in my experience not a wonderful feeling especially in the wet). Interesting project and good luck. Cheers Ian

Hi Peepae I would get a quote from Dream machine definitley not the cheapest by a long way but excellent quality that way you will have a good idea what you are letting yourself in for. On another note ask about turn round time as all the good guys will be busy and someone that promises quick times may not be the quality you want. Good luck. Cheers Ian

Have a good look at the "Forma" adventure boots in Sportsbike shop. I have had a pair for about 3 years now and can`t fault them. Cheers Ian