Welcome To Bikes And Travels...
...It's about bikes... and travels... mostly on bikes!
Spring has sprung, now we have a few months of warm pleasant rain to enjoy after the cold and miserable rain of winter.
What excitement and adventures will this year bring?
What's New?
Shtainlesh Shteel Pishtons
Sit down and take a deep breath. Ren spent some money. This time he's searching for the eternally perfect braking system. Will stainless steel solve one of his problems?
The Chaos Increases
Whilst muppetry and stupidity abound the world needs a hero - in the meantime Bogger will have to do. Fear not brave reader, there is still light at the end of the tunnel. I fear it may be a train coming towards this lot...
Let The Chaos Commence
It's a typical start to a trip and overall things seem to be going well. Except for the weather. And the traffic. And the suspect motorcycles. And the disorganisation.
Them There Alps
Title page for Bogger's retelling of the tale of a curious trip to The Alps with friends.
Pothole Ouch
I'm sure we've all had a similar experience. Ren's been shaken by a pothole, poor Ren. You'd think riding an adventure motorcycle and being experienced he'd know better. Nope.
Charging Troubles (5v not 12v)
To keep the lights on and to keep going in the right direction Ren needs charging. It's time to update and rethink the USB power setup on the 500
CB500X At 40k And What Next?
Ren's 500 is getting on a bit now. Where's the bike at and could there be a new addition to the stable?
Not A Lot To Say In The Best Possible Way
Walking and some motorcycling with not a lot to report, which is a good thing. Ren is pondering the disadvantages of going to nice places.
The Tourer Transformation Continues
Sharon's shiny new Z400's transformation from naked street machine to grand tourer is well under way. She does enjoy spending money far too much for Ren's liking.
CB500X Tappet Time Again
Ren loves the CB500X except for one service job. It's time to do the unthinkable, it's time to do the tappets. He's a grumpy old grouch.
See More What's New
Latest Posts
Shtainlesh Shteel Pishtons
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Sliding callipers are easier to make therefore cheaper. With most riders only riding in the dry they are more than sufficient for warranty periods. Also the girth of the opposed pistons makes for more complex mounting etc as you said Ian.
I ought to check out the ABS working in the front, but that terrifies me Upt'. Remember that most ABS systems only work above about 6 to 8mph so you need to be at least moving enough to get a proper wobble going if not a slow speed drop. I certainly wouldn't be trying it out on a public road intentionally. Enjoy the nice weather, it won't last I'm sure.
08/05/2024 10:29:33 UTC
Shtainlesh Shteel Pishtons
Ian Soady¹ said :-
The Guzzi had anodised aluminium pistons if I remember correctly (Brembo brakes) which seemed to resist corrosion. As an aside, no idea why most Japanese bikes (at least the ones I'm familiar with) use that sliding caliper arrangement. Much better to use an opposed piston system although I admit it is fatter on the inside of the assembly and needs careful design.
08/05/2024 10:06:52 UTC
Shtainlesh Shteel Pishtons
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I concur, motorcycle disc brakes can be a right PITA. But your solution seems a good one.
I've just had a bleeding session on The B. To be honest they bled themselves. Easy Peasy. Although I haven't rode it since. What could go wrong? All the pistons and calipers seem fine but they will be cleaned when the permafrost lifts.
I will carry out intentional activation of the ABS as advised by some bright spark but I don't think it makes a lot of difference. Again, what could go wrong?
And on that note, we are being given a plus 60f day today for the first time in 8 months, so it might just get ridden. What is it, 3 down, 6 up?
Pffffffftttttt.
Good work fella.
Upt.
08/05/2024 09:48:41 UTC
The Chaos Increases
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Are we allowed to mention motorcycles on here? I mean they are controversial.
07/05/2024 08:12:30 UTC
Yamaha MT07 "Darkside" Review
said :-
05/05/2024 15:37:18 UTC
The Chaos Increases
Upt'North ¹ said :-
You forgot the war, any war!
Don't mention THE war.
You don't want revolting students outside your front door. If they do show up, remember you have to feed em.
05/05/2024 13:07:04 UTC
The Chaos Increases
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
DOH!! Yes you're quite right Ian Soady - don't mention politics, religion, and possibly anything else. Oil. Don't mention oil. Especially oil.
So what grade will you be putting in the Yammy?
DOH!!
03/05/2024 15:24:56 UTC
The Chaos Increases
Ian Soady¹ said :-
However much I agreee with you Ren, I thought we weren't supposed to say things that might upset our more delicate correspondents.....
03/05/2024 13:35:02 UTC
The Chaos Increases
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
At least all them tappets are screw-n-locknut. Imagine that lot with bucket and shim AND the central camchain. Ooooh tharrad be a neetmur!
If we're heading for summer KiwiJeff you must be heading to winter. Ideally it'd be nice to "winter" (our winter your summer) over there in NZ and then come back to here for our summer. Oh wait, we don't get a summer. Maybe the south of France or the cooler parts of Spain. Damn you BREXIT!!
03/05/2024 12:59:20 UTC
The Chaos Increases
KiwiJeff said :-
Really enjoying trip reports Bogger, great stories. I admire your willingness to subject you and your mates to such punishment on such small bikes. I happily endured such antics when I was 16 on my twin 150cc two stroke around NZ but at 69 anything more than a few heavy showers has me heading for home! I did endure 8 hours in the pouring rain on a couple of motorcycle training courses recently which put me off booking any more courses for now! Have enjoyed a couple of 200 mile country runs one on the Bandit and one on my mates spare Honda CB500F as the Bandit was in dock as I'm checking the tappets, all 16 of them! Next bike will be a single with 2 tappets! Enjoy your summer rides everyone wherever you are headed.
03/05/2024 02:02:05 UTC
See More Comments
Latest Repair-Chat
Go To Repair-Chat
Ian Soady¹ said :-
It's not the tank that's been repaired it's the daft non-return valve which I've disabled. I've successfully used JB weld in a number of cases and it usually works well - but I probably wouldn't try to fix a tank with it. Although I did use a specialised epoxy to stick the filler cap adaptor I made to the sadly vanished XBR.
This little Yamaha (a soulful V twin according to the side panels) had the most complex fuel system I've ever come across but now much simplified.
Briefly, petrol arrives at the tap, which is one the left hand side under the tank, via two pipes from the tank - one main on (with presumably a stand pipe in the tank) and one reserve. The tap has 3 positions: main, reserve and prime. Let's ignore prime for the moment.There is a tap under the tank which can close these off but it's inaccessible without lifting the tank which of course requires the seat to be removed.
When main or reserve are selected and the engine is running providing vacuum via the front cylinder, fuel then passes to the RHS where there's another vacuum controlled device (to the left in the pic). This is both a further tap and a pump, again driven by vacuum from the rear cylinder. Fuel is then delivered to a fuel rail above the carbs. At the other end of this rail is a pipe which is the one previously mentioned ie in the pic.
Where this pipe connects to the tap is a pressure actuated non-return valve which when actuated allows fuel from the rail back into the tank via the two pipes(!). It's the bit with the pipe attached in the pic. My assumption is that this is there so that if the pump creates too much pressure in the fuel rail it will bleed off excess.
This whole thing is massively complicated and to my mind totally unnecessary. My only possible explanation is that as the carbs are quite high up (although below the bottom of the tank) the designers thought there may not be enough head to fill the carbs. But if that was the case the prime position wouldn't work (it delivers fuel to the RHS regardless of vacuum).
08/05/2024 13:13:46 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Good luck with the MOT, but I'm sure you know enough to fix anything that the inspector might pick up on before you get there.
I'm not sure how I'd feel living with a tank that's been repaired. I come from a time where anything remotely glue or filler type was crap. Anything I glued would become unglued, anything I filled would eventually become unfilled. The problem is probably 2-fold. Firstly bad preparation and implementation on my behalf, being a feckless bodger. Secondly the quality of glues and fillers has (apparently) greatly improved over the years, or so I'm told.
Car windows are bonded into place just fine these days, they don't fall out on their own. Many ally and composite chassis are also bonded without issue.
08/05/2024 10:37:07 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Well I think finally I may have cracked it.
The CMS parts arrived eventaully so refilled with fresh oil, fitted the filter and completed the mod to the exhaust flange.
I put everything back together and put some petrol in the tank, opened the main tap and after half an hour had petrol dripping from the back of the main (left hand) tap. It was coming from the non-return valve mentioned by people elsewhere. So I stripped that out, cut a 1/4" Cycle thread in the exit stub, fitted a setscrew coated with welleal and filled the other side with JB weld. Left to cure overnight then reassembled and it looks petrol-tight, at least so far.
MoT booked for Thursday morning!
07/05/2024 12:23:42 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
And the beat goes on.....
I have 2 biscuit tins of assorted metic nuts bolts etc - one for up to 8mm, the other for the bigger stuff. What always amazes me is that I have plenty of bolts with no corresponding nuts, or in other instances nuts with no bolts. I do of course have small bins of Cycle thread sorted by size, and similar for UNF.
Yes, the carbs are odd in that the inlets point straight up, the outlets straight down and sit in rubber sleeves with inaccessible clamps which then mate with angled inlet ports. The slide thus moves horizontally from left to right of the bike. Speaking of which, one diaphragm was in perfect condition, the other had a few small areas where the base material was visible through the rubber but no splits. Replacements are available but about £50 apiece so I've used superglue to repair the defects. I've been successful with this method in the past.
To be honest I'm wondering how it ran at all and am starting to understand why it was cheap - £1150 was, in truth, a good price so I can forgive it some foibles. Close examination of the receipt the vendor sent me does state it is a project - a word that strangely was omitted from the original ad. My brother, who went to have a look at the bike for me, did say he wouldn't buy it. But what does he know, riding as he does a modern Bonneville and an early 1950s AJS 500?
03/05/2024 13:45:53 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Ahh, the bolt tin. I have a bolt drawer. Explain about the carbs? I suppose this will be to do with being a V-Twin.
03/05/2024 13:02:42 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
"So from the head I'm guessing there's a 90 degree bend then a flange, which you have drilled out the M6 threads and inserted M6 nuts and bolts."
Correct. And a last resort would have been to try to remove the bend which I think would have been just as hard and ended up with me removing the head..... I just used bolts I had from the bolt tin although the nuts are stainless.
Delving further I removed the carbs and have discovered the float needles were sticking so they need a clean. I suppose I'd better take the jets out and clean them as well. The carbs are a bit odd - to me at least - as the main body is sideways on rather than vertical. Weirder and weirder.
03/05/2024 09:49:41 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
So from the head I'm guessing there's a 90 degree bend then a flange, which you have drilled out the M6 threads and inserted M6 nuts and bolts. I hoped you used stainless nuts and bolts. How does the 90 degree bend mate to the head? Is it part of the casting (unlikely) or bolted on as per usual with blind threads and usually crusty bolts?
V-Twins have quite a few mechanical benefits regarding primary and secondary balance improvements, packaging considerations and engine characteristics. They're also a blummin pain in the rear regarding carb access and oft times cooling balance.
Is it ready to ride?
02/05/2024 12:22:01 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
And hunt the throttle stop screw:
02/05/2024 11:01:02 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
OK. Reattached the exhaust using nuts & bolts - a pig to get the nut on behind (see pic of top one) - I realised for the bottom one it was easier to put the bolt through from the back & put the nut on the front. Fortunately for once Suzuki provided broad enough flanges.
They weren't quite so helpful with the throttle stop screw. I hunted for this for ages before finally discovering it...
CMSNL had the parts but were very slow - ordered on the 20th and not sent till the 26th, but did arrive on the 30th. Far from cheap as well.
Anyway, up and running now and sounds pretty good.
The exhaust flange:
02/05/2024 11:00:35 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Look good, and the 8mm will be useful. Let us know how they work (I'm sure you will!)
02/05/2024 10:08:05 UTC
Latest Chit-Chat
Go To Chit-Chat
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Thanks Ian, I'll check them out.
Upt.
04/05/2024 12:56:19 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
.. like this one.
https://www.fulli.com/en/fulli-nomade-plus...
04/05/2024 10:08:07 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Not on the bike but I have a tag from ATMB for the car. It's very cheap and works perfectly although using the toll gates that allow you through at 30 kph can be a bit scary....
Although I think it's only France, there are others that also work in Italy.
https://www.atmb.com/telepeage-tarifs/nos_abonnements_telepeage_atmb/...
04/05/2024 10:07:32 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
OK you lot of wasters, what do you know about Auto Peage payments in France and Italy.
We've all been there, soaking gloves, frozen fingers, wet ticket, can't find your credit card etc.
So the question is, have you used auto payments on a bike and which agency did you use.
Ta me ducks.
Upt.
03/05/2024 16:11:36 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
I believe it is North Cambridgeshire.
Postcode PE7 3PT.
It's in the Holme Fen Nature Reserve.
03/05/2024 09:55:46 UTC
Rev. Mick! said :-
Wow! What county is that?
02/05/2024 23:36:05 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
Making use of the ICE before it's too late.
Holme fen post, the lowest point in England at 9ft below sea level and getting lower as the fens dry out.
02/05/2024 21:50:50 UTC
Rev. Mick! said :-
That’s it, substitute Cub for Triumph and old hemp rope for Kermantle rope.
Also very famous full on climbers for a not really that good auld fella.
29/04/2024 14:17:22 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Like this? The renowned Don Whillans with Chris Bonington on the back of his Triumph complete with camping gear. Apparently off to climb the North Wall of the Eiger......
29/04/2024 10:29:56 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
How would you go on with climbing gear on the bikes Rev. Mick!? Never having climbed I don't know what's required but there usually seems to be a lot of rope involved.
What were you doing in Crickhowell Glyn? I've found their website - check out the "about us" page, proper old skool garage.
https://castlegaragecrickhowell.co.uk/...
29/04/2024 08:06:17 UTC
Random Link - Scooters Are Better Than Bikes