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...It's about bikes... and travels... mostly on bikes!
What's New?
GB350S Or CB125F?
Due to comments on other posts Ren is focusing his thoughts on smaller capacity machinery. There's no right answer, it all depends dunnit.
Finally To The Gite
It's a much less stressful day's ride today. Good weather, a sensible mileage to cover, and no reason to rush. Fear not Ren will find a few things to gripe about.
Struggling Into France
It's time to go to France, alas there's far too much time to go to France. Ren is early, the trains are late, it's hot, and it's disorganised. Oh and Sharon's life flashes before her eyes - or was it a Transit van?
Honda GB350S Test Ride Review
Ren stumbles into a test ride of the Honda GB350S. Can he get his head around a new way of riding? It's all very different in the world of low revs and heavy flywheels.
A Dodgy Hip, A Mesh Seat Cover, And Pants
In trying to reduce leakage in the rain our brave and heroic half-wit Ren has got himself a cunning and devious plan. However this idea is causing him issues because he's getting old now and the newness has worn off.
Bedfordshire Is Not In France
And they're off to France! Well Bedfordshire today, but they will get to France eventually... hopefully... maybe?
The Last Day Of A Big Ride
It's Andy's last day of an epic trip. Save for some wind (no not that kind of wind) it seems all rather mundane somehow. Anyhow he's home and safe after over 4,500 miles.
Home And Epilogue
Just a brief summary of the return leg from Much Wenlock and Ren's thoughts of the lovely little town.
A Holiday In Normandy - Prologue
France! Well northern France because our soft arsed lazy writers can't be bothered to go any further. It's time for excuses and explanations as to why The Dynamic Muppets are off on holiday and not an exciting expedition.
A Holiday In Normandy
Title page for A Holiday In Normandy
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Latest Posts
GB350S Or CB125F?
Snod said :-
Given the amount of BSA Bantam 350s I see at the local meets, maybe Honda should consider doing something else with that CRF motor because they're definitely losing sales.
21/08/2026 14:44:04 UTC
GB350S Or CB125F?
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Re swapping forks: one of the problems these days is the dearth of old-style breakers. Many years ago there was a breaker round every back street corner where you were generally welcome to rootle through piles of rusty tat. That's if you could avoid the slavering Dobermann. Ebay is all very well but you can't see what you're getting and it's increasingly populated by shysters.
I've actually started cutting out the middle person and buying stuff from Aliexpress. Just the same things the ebay sellers have, often at a fraction of the price. Two examples: a stainles steel digital caliper for less than £8. Checked against my M&W microemeter it's within a thou. And a little flyscreen for the B'Zuki for less than a tenner. Fairly flimsy mountings but adequate. In fact I've boought another for the Herald. Stuff generally arrives within a week or so.
21/08/2026 14:40:45 UTC
GB350S Or CB125F?
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
It's my guess there's a reason the GB350S is low on power. Style. The 350 was never intended to be quick, it was intended to be air cooled and softly tuned with a long stroke and low revs. I've no doubt at all Honda could make a liquid cooled high revving engine that makes 27 bhp reliably - it's called the CRF300L motor. I'm sure it could be lighter too but it's a full steel cradle frame (engine is not a stressed member) and it's built to a price.
The XPulse seems to be gaining a good reputation, providing a good experience with a great price from the reviews I've seen. It'll be one to watch that and I think it's great to see something that's not a GS1300 or a clone of the GS1300.
I can't comment either way on the forks Ian. I guess it would depend on the person doing the work and their tolerance for a "fudge". There may be a stanchion from another model that's identical, or perhaps 3mm longer or shorter. There may be a whole set of forks that'll drop in... or a whole front end. Then do you tell your insurance? Will you be sure it'll handle correctly? Some folks love to try, others just want to know it's right.
21/08/2026 13:54:30 UTC
Repairing or Servicing Rear Brake Light Switches - By Ren Withnell
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
It's a very long time since I wrote this Ian. I note I said a new one is about £10, I've just had a look on Ebay and I can get a generic one for £2.50 these days. The wonders of modern tech. However these things seldom happen when it's convenient to wait a few days for the postie to play knock-a-door-run. As such stripping and cleaning might give you enough time to actually be in when the postie arrives.
But nick's brass ring on his is duff. Looks like you'll be wanting a new one nick.
21/08/2026 13:36:43 UTC
GB350S Or CB125F?
Snod said :-
I absolutely agree that 160kg is overweight but a GB350S is 178kg and the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 is 181kg, all of them are around 20BHP. Is this the price of EFI and ABS?
The Xpulse has some very reasonably priced and useful looking aftermarket parts too like a centre stand and semi hard luggage. I might have to go and find one to sit on. There's also the more off-roady Pro version with fully adjustable forks and more suspension travel but the seat height of that is a lofty 891mm, not for me thanks!
21/08/2026 13:34:13 UTC
Repairing or Servicing Rear Brake Light Switches - By Ren Withnell
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Nice to see these zombie topics rising from the dead. To be honest despite my parsimonious nature I probably wouldn't bother trying to fix these although have done similar in the past. Th repair doesn't usually last long anyway.
And of course you can still ride the bike with one switch inoperative - just remember it and make sure you use the other brake as well if you're one of those odd people who only use one brake. The chances of being done for it are about the same as Nigel Farage donating to Care4Calais. In any case, it was working when you set off wasn't it?
21/08/2026 13:03:55 UTC
GB350S Or CB125F?
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Just had a look at that, but lardy at 160kg and tall seat height at 820mm. Cheap though.....
Also noting your comment re forks for the Honda Ren. Surely there's another bike with similar dimensions whose forks could be persuaded to fit? You don't always have to fit factory-made (actually probably not the headline factory anyway) parts.
21/08/2026 12:23:39 UTC
Repairing or Servicing Rear Brake Light Switches - By Ren Withnell
nick said :-
the brass ring on the needle in my case has been chewed up by the other two brass sliders :(
21/08/2026 12:14:11 UTC
GB350S Or CB125F?
Snod said :-
Personally I'm more interested in the Hero Xpulse 200, which is in between these two bikes I suppose.
Part of me asks why we have to put up with such low power and high weight though. The Z250SL is 146kg and 28HP, the ancient CB250RS was 148kg and 26BHP. There are many examples of better power to weight over the decades.
21/08/2026 10:06:29 UTC
GB350S Or CB125F?
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
nab301 - and you're calling me a wind up merchant!! This time I can PROVE the image is mine from my extensive gallery with a place, date and what CAMERA (not phone it's an old piccy) it was taken on. Pffffft, don't be sending me a bill.
Bogger - I think the point is *IF* I were to be looking at these 2 bikes what would be my considerations. You might not know this but not all of use are wealthy enough to keep a fleet of motorcycles at our disposal. And nab301 yeah the CBF250 is a cracking bike but they're quite rare these days and parts are getting harder to find. Right now I'm sticking to just one bike - unless Bogger wants to share some of his extensive wealth with me...?
Martin - well observed on the lack of cush drive on the Z250SL. I had no issues keeping Sharon's bike smooth when riding but I did wonder what the lack of cush drive might do to the transmission when higher miles are reached. Belt drive? That would be great. I'd always been told that belt drives sap power more than a chain, then I watched a video recently - some chap ran his chain driven KTM on the dyno, swapped to belt in a couple of hours, then re-dyno'd the bike. The difference was nominal, barely noticeable.
The whole Chinese build quality question is slowly becoming moot. There's some very well designed, made, and high standard bikes, I'm sure there's some not quite so good bikes as well. We've got to the stage where we need to look at the machine in front of us rather than where it was made. My Indian made CBF125 got me to 100,000 miles. My current CB500X is Thai and the quality is "good". Sharon's Keeway engine finish was absolutely fantastic, other bits not quite so.
The parts question is a concern. On the one hand there's parts so cheap it's actually cheaper to replace a whole front caliper rather than change the pads and replace the seals. On the other hand with SO MANY models and marques out there if your marque falls by the wayside or your model is discontinued - will you still be able to get parts? That being said we recently found out we can no longer get fork stanchions for a HONDA CLR125 City Fly didn't we.
21/08/2026 08:26:28 UTC
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nab301 said :-
Ian , I never had an AVO but I remember a biking neighbour back in the 70's had one , or rather his father had which was useful for fault finding on his electric start Yamaha 200 (combined alternator / dynamo electric start)
BTW , I recently purchased a cheap digital meter from Lidl which has a capacitance check feature that works as you describe.
Nigel
08/08/2026 18:08:12 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I thought there may be some people who remembered AVOs here given the demographics. Sadly mine didn't come with the leather case although does have the original heavy cardboard box together with instruction manual. I've sorted out the overload button which just needed a hard press to reseat it and it now measures voltages correctly. I'll pick up a D battery later today and will order the 15 volt one - there's a seller on ebay.
It's so beautifully made inside and as you say Jeff the rolls-royce of meters and I look forward to using it in earnest.
I too have forsworn kickstarts given my knee issues - saw a physio yesterday who said I was progressing well. Three months with ongoing - although lessening - doesn't feel like good progress to me but heigh-ho.
06/08/2026 14:03:31 UTC
kiwiJeff said :-
Ian your mention of AVO8 certainly bought back memories. Like Glyn I used one through the 70s and early 80s as a radio technician working on communications valve radios. They were the Rolls Royce of multimeters. Using one balanced at the top of an equipment rack was a challenge though, they were heavy! Did the meter come in a stitched leather carry bag with a carry strap? Riding through our winter on the Bandit although while you are overheating in Europe we are having an unusually cold winter? Turned around on one of my favorite roads when I reached a sign that said next 12 kms is ice and grit! We use grit instead of salt on icy roads here which while our vehicles don't rust like yours due to the salt causing rust the grit doesn't melt so becomes a hazard on the bike for some time after the ice is gone! Ren you have my sympathies with your aching hip, my titanium hip aches in the cold my theory is the metal gets cold and affects the surrounding tissue so causing pain. The hip and the arthritic ankle mean I'll never use a kick starter on a bike again! I have to get the missus to help me roll the Bandit onto the centre stand these days! Getting old is a privilege but comes with it's challenges! Ride safe everyone through your summer, we are off to China for a month to have a look at where everything we use these days is made! Regards Jeff
06/08/2026 11:14:26 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I had to google U2 Battery, apparently it's what I would know as a D Cell? If I recall that's the big 'uns that were in the Ever Ready bicycle lights when I were a lad. Several weeks worth of pocket money for a pack of 2 D cells into the bicycle light that would be bright for 20 minutes, then dim for maybe half an hour, then dead. Today you fit a AAA into an LED light that'll blind drivers for several weeks. Kids these days, don't know how lucky they are(n't).
06/08/2026 08:27:11 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Nostalgia's not what it was.... As Glyn says, the 10A current measuring is a bonus - my digital meter has this but it's a bit of a faff. The AVO is a beautifully made bit of kit. I've found out why it doesn't work - the overload button has been activated and won't stay down It should be a simple repair or if necessary bypass it. When I hold it down it works for voltage (and I assume current). The batteries for measuring resistance have of course disintegrated. One is just an ordinary U2 - the other is special but replacements are available.
One use of an analogue ohm-meter is to check capacitors. Connect one way and the needle should make a slight kick and drop back to zero. Connect the other way and the kick should be repeated. This won't work on a digital meter.
I do have an old analogue job but it won't zero any more so when I get the AVO fixed that will be retired.
05/08/2026 13:08:16 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I would be Glyn but have a look at Chit-Chat. Due to "unforseen circumstances" I've had to remove the ability to upload images :(
Why do you want the old mulitimeter Ian? Nostalgia I presume.
05/08/2026 12:03:12 UTC
Glyn said :-
I used an Avo8 daily for at least 5 years back in the early 70’s. It was forcibly removed from me and replaced with a Fluke digital which I hated for a while. One of the plus’s of the Avo was the current measurement, even a 10Amp setting if I remember correctly. This was very useful then and would be so today.
The surgeon that repaired my finger may not have done me a favour, it’s been that painful since, I’ve often thought it would have been better to have removed the top. Are you ready for that picture of it now Ed?
903306...
05/08/2026 11:13:01 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Idly browsing my local auction house's offerings I came across a "vintage" Avo Mk 8 multimeter. I rmember using these nearly 60 years ago as an apprentice. A low bid secured it for just over £12. It doesn't work but I'm sure I can fix that. Or can I?
No pic (obviously) but here's the link.
https://www.lilybidsauctionhouse.com/catalogue/lot/482979564e1c213be831d1848eb58...
05/08/2026 09:53:30 UTC
nab301 said :-
Glyn , looking forward to seeing and hopefully hearing the fruits of your labours , will you be stripping the engine?
Nigel
26/06/2026 14:53:36 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Ooooh eeeee ouch! I'm glad you didn't post your gory sliced digit Glyn (Flyn). You can show us when it's healed a little and we can imagine the rest. As for the heat... Enough already but it won't be long until I'm griping about the rain/cold dagnammit. The nights are already drawing in.
26/06/2026 09:57:29 UTC
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nab301 said :-
Although I'm in a different jurisdiction I'm envious of the home and motor quotes posted on here, my home insurance policy has increased by approx 40% in recent years. Rebuild costs have increased exponentially since 2020 and adverse weather claims seem to be feeding into the equation.
Nigel
16/08/2026 17:02:21 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Too hot for the shed.
Regarding insurance I probably wrote about this at the time. Anyway, I had 2 bikes stolen from my garage in March 2004. Fortunately no other damage and they left my Norton behind! I had (and still have) agreeed value insurance as the bikes were "classics". The insurance broker (Howden, then called RH) were excellent and I had a full payout (less excess) within a couple of weeks.
But then the issues started. The underwriter refused to renew my policy as I'd had "two theft events" in the year. In vain I protested that this was a single event but they were adamant. I eventually secured cover from Robin James at around £350 pa - my previous premium had been less than £100.
I stayed with Robin James for a couple of years but tried Howden again this year and was pleased to get a quote of £145 - still more than I used to pay but more acceptable. And when I got the little Herald they agreed to add it to the policy - for an extra £90 or so - despite it being a classic policy and the Herald a mere 10 years old.
I'm not sure what the moral of this tale is (other than that insurance companies in general are greedy money-grabbing vermin) but thought it might be of interest.
14/08/2026 14:11:04 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I hate sorting insurance. The car is due soon. Urgh.
14/08/2026 08:21:47 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ian, it is a big hoos for sure but not a mansion. Not by North Northumberland examples anyway.
I did the comparison thing last year and Admiral were the cheapest at around £300.00 for a decent policy so the £60 off is very nice indeed. Didn't even bother checking it this year.
I think the small claim from Storm Arwen in 2021(?) has done us no favours. Lesson learned, don't claim unless your house burns down. Can anybody smell burning?
Upt.
13/08/2026 14:18:30 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
If 20% is £60 the you must have been paying £300 or so. Our current combined buildings and contents is just over £220 for an average sort of house & contents..... It includes £50 or so for emergency assistance just in case we get flooded so the base premium is £170. Through Policy Expert.
Of course you probably live in a mansion with millions of pounds worth of jewellery.
13/08/2026 12:23:25 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Berghaus Storm Cloud - I must try to remember that although I think Snod's ex-army pants are worth a shot. They're a lot easier to get off-n-on aren't they Upt', even with ya boots and ya troosers still on.
As for insurance - just smile, take the saving and mutter to yourself "I'm a lucky sod.. I'm a lucky sod..."
13/08/2026 09:59:02 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Renewed the Home Contents and Building insurance with Admiral. They knocked 20% off last years figure without me asking. I'm confused.
Are Admiral really nice people?
Did they overcharge me last year?
Are they still overcharging me this year?
Should I really care, it's just paid for me pants?
Upt.
13/08/2026 09:34:09 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ay up Ed, you provided details of the Berghaus overtroosers recently. We popped into GoOutdoors today at Berwick-upon-the-Tweed. Cut a long story short, I am now the proud owner of a pair of Berghaus Storm Cloud Pants, purchased at double discount for around £60.00. They zip all the way up and include poppers. I bought the long length, 33 inch leg I think. They weigh just around bugger all.
Ta me duck.
Upt.
12/08/2026 17:32:55 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
The grammar police nab301? We'll be fine here if we're visited by the grammar police - innit. Kos we is awl edumicated tipes an speek posh like. I dun av an GCSE level in Engleesh (is "D" a pass?) an I chex all da messejes two, I korect dem all see.
Perhaps I should set myself up as a professional writer? The only problem is what would I write about?
11/08/2026 07:59:25 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ren , I haven't been on here in a few days but that's a bummer with the copyright issues , as they say " a picture tells a thousand stories" hopefully you'll continue even if just with text while avoiding visits from the grammar police...
Nigel
08/08/2026 18:35:50 UTC
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