What did you do to your bike today?

[Shepherd]

Mine had a second label warning me to either point the bike towards the sun, or away (can't remember which),to avoid screen focusing the sunlight onto the dash.

A bit like we used to burn the ants with a magnifying glass  

[Simon Davey]

28 minutes ago, Shepherd said:

A bit like we used burn the ants with a magnifying glass  

Those hazy days....

[Fiddlesticks]

Thought I'd share a little pic of my old headstock bearings...

.. And the new ones going on...

(Yes, I know there are better ways than tapping them down!)

[Fiddlesticks]

And the old cups... 

Vs. new...

 

[Tinkicker]

Oil tank for the 175 duly arrived and fitted.  An amazing reproduction of a long out of production and unobtainable part.

 

[Simon Davey]

That can only be, very satisfying. 

[JRH]

On 03/04/2025 at 07:17, Simon Davey said:

Thanks, and Yes indeed.

Just a couple of planes, both trainers, and one I never flew. I found the helicopter much easier, but that's not been in the air for 15 years. 

I need to sell them on, and admit I don't have time. 

Bought new radio gear etc (Spectrum NX8) a few years ago, thought I'd have a revival, but it all just needs to go on eBay.

I've had a couple of electric gliders, 1 crashed and its replacement still in its box. Been there for about 15 years.

Got a 'copter as well. Never mastered that even with the very expensive futaba helicopter radio.

Now just stick with the yachts and power boats. I  need to get rid of some though. 13 is too many and an unlucky number. 

[Yorky]

53 minutes ago, JRH said:

I  need to get rid of some though. 13 is too many and an unlucky number. 

Or buy 1 more

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

The CBF passed it's MOT, no advisories. Not bad for 19 year old bike with 38k on the clock. 

 

The bad news is the MOT place is stopping doing bikes next week. 

[JRH]

2 hours ago, Yorky said:

Or buy 1 more

Don’t think Mrs JRH would approve.

[Mawsley]

On 19/03/2025 at 08:39, Yorky said:

This is becoming more of a Merchant Navy Forum

[S-Westerly]

Humph. 

[Fiddlesticks]

Adding to my collection of allen keys...

Bit of damage to the rear hugger, but not terminal. Successfully plugged at the roadside.

[Simon Davey]

Good work @Fiddlesticks

I dread a puncture, I have the gear, just no idea. 

[Tinkicker]

Today I burped the oil pump, although truth be told, as expected, I only got a tiny air bubble out.  It would have probably passed through the pump and into the motor without incident.  But for the sake of four screws and the bleed screw it was not worth it.

Consider yourself burped..

 

Then I took her out for her first post recommisioning shakedown ride.  She behaved flawlessly over the 30 or so miles and would loft the front end in first with a snap of the throttle (even with my hopeless,  inexpert attempt.. if only I had the fluid skills and reactions I used to have) and even with the road friendly gearing in which first is probably closer to second on stock gearing.  Again, in top, she is obviously overgeared but far less of a busy bee at highway speeds.  50mph equates to 5000rpm.
Hottest cyl head temp I saw was 164C on the 135 main jet.  She would probably do a little better with the stock 130, albeit with higher temps, but for the sake of my piston I am happy as she is.  IIRC she was hitting around 175/180 on the stock jetting.  I am happy that I can hold full throttle in a headwind and be still in the very safe zone.  The few mph it costs at the topend is worth the sacrifice for the good of the motor.
I am no longer a speed demon.

Big blue paying his respects to the 892 brave aircrew who lost their lives flying bombing missions over enemy occupied territory from RAF Snaith during WW2.  She rolled over 2300 miles on the oddometer as we turned in the gate and the trip meter showed 105 trouble free miles since the complete engine rebuild.

[Stu]

On 04/04/2025 at 09:41, Fiddlesticks said:

(Yes, I know there are better ways than tapping them down!)

This is exactly how I do them! it works 

[Tinkicker]

Good and bad, but mostly good thanks to this forum.

 

Today was the shakedown ride for the VFR.  Again, my usual 30 mile route.  Stopped a few times to sniff suspiciously for leaking fuel as it was the first time the new carb o rings were being used in anger.  Nothing, no smell of leaking fuel.  Great.  Bike was a delight to ride.

 

The new Michelins.  Well was surprised to find they appeared to slow down the steering quite a bit.  When tipping into corners, it was a bit like falling off a cliff with the previous bridgestones.  Of course new tyres so I was not pushing them, not that I ever push them these days.  Very low speed work with feet up seemed far more sure footed and confidence inspiring too.  I think I made the correct choice..

 

25 miles in and I stop at the petrol station and fill her to the brim with Esso 99 supreme, once again checking for drips under the bike.  Nothing.

I ride the remaining five miles towards home.

Just before reaching the outskirts of the village, I thought that I should take a quick pic to document the ride for this forum and pulled over, ran over the road while leaving the bike idling.  Waited for some cyclists to pass  and took my pic.

 

Returned to the bike and saw fuel literally running down the rear footrest hanger onto the floor.  What the hell.  Only thing above that footrest hanger is the fuel pump.

I surmised I must have tugged on and disturbed one of the delivery hoses when I took the carbs off and it had just started to leak at the fuel pump hose barb.

Damn.  At least it is literally only a 60 second ride home.

 

Arrived home, pulled the seat and loosened the seat cowl to get a view of the pump.  The connections were dry, so where is the leak?

 

Pulled the pump out and voila! Fuel was leaking out of the drain hole on the points cover.  Only one thing would cause that, the diaphragm must have split.

 

The damn thing is only 3 years old.. At least it failed or was discovered to have failed less than a half mile from home, not 70 miles away in Scarborough.

 

Failed pump.  Could have been far worse so I am not too perturbed.  Edit:  Ordered one with a 5 year warranty for £25 all in.  Will fit it next weekend. 

I remember when you were forced to buy OEM from Honda.  We had 3x Deauville instructor bikes and their pumps also seemed to split diaphragms around the 3 year mark / 20,000 miles.  I also remember they were £220 in the early 2000s. Eek.  Appears to be the same pump as the deauville.

 

 

 

Edited April 6 by Tinkicker

[Simon Davey]

@Tinkicker

At least a strip down isn't needed. Glad it's something you can easily remedy. 

[husoi]

Ordered my new honda rebel 500

they have a whole department just for proper bikes

[Simon Davey]

That's very exciting @husoi    

Hope you don't have to wait too long. 

Edited April 7 by Simon Davey

[husoi]

10 minutes ago, Simon Davey said:

That's very exciting @husoi    

Hope you don't have to wait too long. 

Only 4 to 7 months

It will be manufactured to order in Thailand.

[bud]

That's pretty safe @Tinkicker I think up to 175°C is considered okay for a CHT gauge on an air cooled bike.

It's always better to be on the safe side.

[Mawsley]

On 05/04/2025 at 12:44, Fiddlesticks said:

Adding to my collection of allen keys...

Bit of damage to the rear hugger, but not terminal. Successfully plugged at the roadside.

 

That's a handy workaround to avoid buying a tool roll for the bike.

[RideWithStyles]

Fiddles, strictly speaking it’s a torqx key and not an Allen . shame it killed the tyre so soon.
How old /mileage is that tyre, it looks new?you might have to keep an eye on the pressure or the suspension, tyre starting to ripple/pucker already. 

 

Tinkicker, The road 6 have a flatter top yet rounder edge on both front and rear to the BS, the steering will be slower (slow to late progression) and should reduce squaring off longer.

[Fiddlesticks]

33 minutes ago, RideWithStyles said:

Fiddles, strictly speaking it’s a torqx key and not an Allen . shame it killed the tyre so soon.
How old /mileage is that tyre, it looks new?you might have to keep an eye on the pressure or the suspension, tyre starting to ripple/pucker already.

 

I was wondering if someone would notice that

Yes, don't rub it in, the tyre has done 2.5k miles since I fitted it in Feb. to replace the last one that had been attacked by a screw.

Some people are babe magnets.  I'm just a magnet.  Metal finds me irresistible.

 

There's a new one in the post.  I can't really justify taking Mrs. Fiddlesticks away over Easter with a bacon strip standing between a nice ride and a rapid unscheduled disassembly.

 

Dem's the breaks.  Life is good, I don't complain.