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Merlin

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  • Gender
    Female
  • Bike(s)
    Suzuki Marauder 125, Yamaha YBR125, Nipponia Dion
  • Location
    North Yorkshire

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  1. Thanks eastanglianbiker. I was going to contact them next week, just wondered if anyone had any thoughts this weekend. I am an impatient bugger! I have traded in my YBR 125 for a twist and go 125 scooter, so at least I can get out and about as soon as I get medical clearance (and something to stick on the end of my leg to keep the draught out of my trouser leg)! I have already adapted both bikes to carry my crutches - I asked on here for some advice on what kind of clips to use and "jobs a good 'un", as we say up here!
  2. I am not sure if this has been discussed before, apols if it has I have just come out of hospital having had my left foot amputated and am looking to convert my Suzuki Marauder 125 to have the gears on the handlebars. Would I be better buying the kit and getting a mechanic to do it for me? or risking getting ripped off by asking someone to get the kit and do the work? I have rebuilt a car, but I have very limited knowledge with bikes. Having already lost part of a limb I don't want to risk an accident by cocking up this adaption by attempting to do it myself I have looked on the NABD site and they can supply the kit at a discount (through a grant scheme) though it doesn't say what the cost is It says that the kit comes with simple, idiot proof instructions. I am thinking I might be as well getting the kit and seeing how "idiot" proof it is, and if it is too complicated, perhaps asking my normal MOT mechanic to fit it for the cost of the labour. Does that sound reasonable? I have spoken to him this afternoon, and he did say it was something he hadn't done before, but if it is simple, for a mechanic, it would be a string to his bow, if the kit was supplied, and not unreasonable to ask? What do you think?
  3. I know you don't want to make the shed look "abnormal" from the outside, but a security light might be an idea. No thief is going to want to nick something in full view of neighbours/if you are alerted by the security light coming on. If you didn't want to attach it to the shed, you could attach it to the house and point it to the shed. I am sure the landlord wouldn't object to this security measure. They are dead easy to fit. I have fitted a few at my house and I'm a girl! Putting a couple of heavy duty chains on the bike in the shed would act as a deterrent. You could bolt something to the shed floor, or just fix the chain to the bike. I have my marauder just chained in the garage. If anyone did happen to get in past your security measures, they might give up if they had to crack a couple of chains.... Unfortunately, if someone is determined enough, they will nick your stuff whatever you do. There have been a couple of bikes nicked from locked garages round here recently, and a friend of mine has had 2 Harleys pinched from their garage in the past few years, in a "nice" village about 10 miles from me. Unfortunately its the world we live in.....
  4. I need to update my profile Virago was my post full bike test plan as I like cruisers (and am a very short ass at just over 5 feet), but when it fell on me I realised that if I can't move it in the garage then I am unlikely to be able to move it when it is going! I could get footboards for my marauder though. No, I am not hugely confident, but haven't put in many miles since passing CBT, as I broke my foot a few weeks after (fool!) Thank you for taking the time to offer advice, and not advising an invalid mobile Jo
  5. Thanks Joeman. LOL! Yes, I was anxious about 'putting myself in a pigeon hole'. I hadn't considered mounting the brake on the handlebar - DOH! (See how helpful it is to ask for advice?!) I might have a few spins round the block, because it'll be a bugger if I get to the test centre, which is about 8 miles away, and it has all come back, the instructor is rather handsome though...... and if I am still "wobbly" of mind book a half day refresher, and explore getting the brake moved. thanks for taking the time to reply. Jo
  6. I passed my CBT, in fact the training was so thorough the instructor said I should put in for my theory test and get on with mod 1 and 2, as he covered all the stuff I needed and was ready. (Yippee! ) I stupidly then broke my foot which failed to heal - apparently this happens to 0.0001% of the population . Eventually after 7 months on crutches the orthopaedic surgeon offered to operate on said damaged foot as the break was getting worse! So a year after passing CBT I had surgery. Two days later I was in resus in my local hospital with life threatening lung clots. My life was saved by the expertise of my local hospital and the day case surgery turned into a week's stay to clear my lungs of blood. Unfortunately, the surgery didn't work and more surgery isn't an option as that was the second time I have had lung clots after surgery, the first time was after major thoracic surgery in 2010, so now my lungs are knackered too! It's now a year since I broke my foot, I am still on crutches, but feel I need to "just get on with it". It is my right foot that is damaged, so only used for braking, which my instructor kept chastising me for and said I should use the hand brake first and foot brake second - so it shouldn't see too much action, unlike the gear foot. However, it's now 17 months since I took my CBT and I don't feel like I know anything. Is it "like riding a bike"? Will it come back to me when I get out? Should I book a half day refresher with my excellent instructor? My Mum thinks I should get an automatic "sit up and beg". I have seen a nice Suzuki Bergman 125, and they go up to quite powerful bikes when I do take my full bike test, but I would rather master a geared bike than be restricted to automatics, and have the choice later if required to go for an automatic. I may even need a trike! I have a beautiful Suzuki marauder 125 and also a Yamaha YBR 125 (which is the model I learned on). Any advice from seasoned, or even novice bikers appreciated......
  7. Wonder if anyone can help? I am trying to fit a sissy bar to my Marauder 125 (so I can mount my topbox). The trims on the mudguard are held on by 4 allen bolts, and nuts that I assume are replacements as according to the manual they should just be held on with bolts through threaded holes. I have spent literally hours trying to get these 4 bolts out. Unfortunately the space between the fairly fat tyre and the mudguard is just wide enough for my small hands Thanks to whoever replaced these bolts I have so far removed a size 14, 12 and 11mm bolt - would have been nice if they used a matching set, but hey ho, thankfully I have a well stocked tool box. I went to a local garage centre and the young chap in there was really helpful and suggested I use Plus Gas - this was effective on bolt 3, bots 1 and 2 were down to grim determination! but bolt 4 is giving me the run around and refusing to shift. I have used nearly the whole tin of Plus Gas (and spent 2 days smelling of the stuff) all to no avail. I have done a search on here and seen a thread about coca cola working on rust! Does anyone have any ideas for what else I can try? Now my "back end" is loose and I can't use my bike, so I'd really like to try and resolve this. The one thing I don't have is a lift to raise the bike up to see, but I can't even get an inspection mirror in the space, so if I did I don't suppose I would see much, and I'd probably end up with a face full of Plus Gas or Coke! Thanks for any tips/advice Merlin
  8. What model was it? I have a Marauder 125GZ, it is a 2008 model and has done just over 4,000 miles. When did you buy it and how much did it cost? I got it in January 2013 and part exchanged my Suzuki 125GS for it and £800. Good points? For those of us with short legs (I am 5 feet one), it is really, really comfortable with an inside leg of a pair of cropped trousers at 23 inches! However, the chap I got it off was six foot three and he looked cool on it too - its not a 'girls bike' or a 'toy bike', in fact everyone who has seen it can't believe it's 'just a 125' as it looks like a bigger capacity bike. All the bits are adjustable to make it fit the rider comfortably(after all it is a cruiser!) I have adjusted the clutch (small feet on the end of my short legs) and dropped the handlebars so I am not sat 'at full stretch' and now it is even more comfy. I bought a sissy bar and rack for the back with a padded seat rest for the passenger to complete the look, but some people take the passenger seat off to attach saddlebags - lots of options! Bad points? The 'manual' is buried in the back of the Suzuki 125 book along with the GS, GN, and DR and limited so you need to be not scared to 'learn by doing'. Having said that I snapped the right hand side panel fixing screw plate to access the battery as I didn't know it was screwed on (Doh!) and you have to take the seat off to get to it. I also learned that eBay have 5 million left hand side panels and no right hand side panels - where do they all go I wonder Mine is metallic blue, though on some of the MOT's it is describes as grey (eek), so I now need to match the paint colour to respray the black right hand panel I have managed to source. Would you get another? Absolutely! And I would recommend them to all learners as it looks different to the standard YBR's, CBR's, or anyone wanting a 'pootling about' bike. It is comfy, looks like a 'big bike', is economical on petrol, sounds smooth, it is a real head turner. Any other comments? Spare bits are aplenty on eBay (apart from right hand side panels, lol). Any little bits and bobs you might want to further cutomise your bike can be picked up cheaply and make it a real peach of a bike, though it really is a cool looking bike already. Since buying my metallic blue one I have found that black ones are more popular and 'common' - but who wants to look like everyone else? I'll stick a pic on later.
  9. Just be careful of the timing Connor, its good that you are keen! The theory test is like the CBT and valid for 2 years - so you have 2 years from the date of issue to take your full bike test. It'll be a bugger if you miss out by a few weeks due to your age and end up with an expired theory test - though for now it only cost £31, its £31 you could put towards something else, and in a couple of years will probably cost fifty quid! If you are aiming to take your bike test when you are 19, aim to do your theory test in March then it won't have expired. You can always revise for a few weeks and take some mock tests on the internet to prepare.
  10. Well - what a mammoth task that all turned out to be! The repair cost just over £435 in the end, (brand spanking new swing arm £200, pins x2 £40 each, nuts and bolts, delivery and labour). Then the guy doing the repair didn't take it for re-MOT so "sat on it" for 3 weeks, one of which he spent in the Isle of Man watching some racing! Nice MOT mechanic didn't charge for re-MOT (bless). I finally got it back tonight yippee!! Guess what I'm doing tomorrow! I do have quite a few tools but don't have a lifting table or paddock stand - once I recover from this outlay I'll purchase a lifting table I think as they are worth it - especially as I struggle to kneel down after last years accident. We live and learn - thanks to everyone for their advice. I have got the rotten swing arm back from the garage - it's like lace and am going to persue the fact that I was sold something unroadworthy in the first place. It'll make me feel better if nothing else! Merlin
  11. Thanks Hodgy - I spent ages researching something that would fit, and adapting it since my surgery - I don't really want to start all over again...... Fixing my bike was my "gut" instinct. But now my Mum, who was freaking out before, is convinced its now a condemned death trap. I'm sure with this brand spanking new swinging arm, I aim to keep it in the garage and most likely won't ride in the worst of winter and only intend to commute a fairly short distance and 'pootle' round on it, it will be good for years to come. I googled the Chinese bike and they are available new for £895. I don't want to do the garage out of a living, but it did seem a bit steep. Merlin
  12. Well - there's bad news and worse news. The garage has had a good look and it's going to cost circa £500 to fix - definately need a new swing arm. 2nd garage who is a mate of 1st garage said he may be able to plate it - but the whole of one side has basically disappeared so it is not viable. I am now in the position of shelling out £500 to fix a 10 year old bike (which I have bonded with and being short does fit me, and I have spent a few bob making it "mine"). This is an original Japanese Suzuki - not a Chinese or Tiwanese version. Garage chap wanted to sell me a Chinese Tomyoto (?) Arrow 125 for £1300. Straight away I said it was too tall (I'm not too short). He asked if I was sure (?!). Made me get on it and lo and behold I was barely on tippy toes. He said for £40 I could get the seat lowered. And "once you've bounced it down the road it'll drop another half inch". But all this will mean I still won't be able to get both feet flat on the floor like I can my Suzuki It's also not a very comfortable riding position....... I don't feel he was pressuring me, but this Chinese bike didn't feel right. Rang another garage and they have a Yamaha YBR 125 2011 less than 500 miles for £1800. I have a feeling this is going to be too tall, and not a comfortable riding position (I'm 5' 2") the fuel tank looks massive. Thing is I had major chest surgery 2 years ago and need to be sat up otherwise I get chest pain from my surigcally broken sternum. I have changed the handlebars on my Suzuki. It isn't an option on the chinese bike as the bars are in 2 bits, might be an option on the Yamaha? But I would have to put my current handlebars on, as I will be eating beans on toast for a year if I shell out that kind of dosh...... What would you do ? :: Thanks for any advice as I'm thinking about buying a car!!!!!! Thanks Borgy for the reminder about making sure I get the right year parts - I have nearly fallen for that before! Why they need to make small tweaks on these small bikes I don't know (if it ain't broke, don't fix it, lol!!!)
  13. I'm just cross that someone is willing to sell a death-trap! According to "the bible" (aka Haynes manual) parts are interchangable between the GS, GN, GZ and DR - but I enquired on eBay about a luggage rack from a GN and the seller (a motorcyle dealer) said it wouldn't fit a GS - so now I'm a bit confused..... I'm tempted to believe the Haynes though.... If the part finder site Bear kindly suggested doesn't come up with anything I might check with my mechanic. I don't want to look an eejit by taking him a part from another bike and it not fit - whatever the Haynes says - lol
  14. Thanks Bear I have given your suggested site a shot. Also rung a couple of local garages to see if they can source cheaper than £200! Erm, I think I have been sold a bit if a duffer Matty as the rear swing arm has been coated in finest Dulux black gloss, as has the main stand and the carburettor, and most of the frame come to think of it. I know it's gloss paint as when the engine runs it bloody stinks heavens high. It's had one owner from new (2000) and we (mechanic and I) think it has been stored outside uncovered and left to rot a bit..... Merlin
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