Welcome To Bikes And Travels...
...It's about bikes... and travels... mostly on bikes!
What's New?
Braving Barmouth Bridge
Our brave and heroic editor is bravely and heroically doing something many many riders have easily done before. There's also a lot of reminiscing, oh and some chips.
Feet Forward Prologue
Bogger is organising his next French escapade. It's the who, why, what, and where this time, oh and the how. The why never makes sense, nor should it.
Best Feet Forwards
Title page for Bogger's latest trip with a bunch of people on weird motorcycles.
Back On The Road And Heading South Again
Having mostly recovered Andy's back on the road making big miles through ever more stunning scenery. A few notes then pictures aplenty that'll make you wish you were there.
Bigger Scenery South Of Biggar
Sharon has suggested today's destination with Ren putting in an add-on. It's a part of the UK less explored, which is a shame, but at least it's quiet.
Andy's Local Ride
Feeling a little better Andy's having an easy day exploring The Pyrenees. Scenery aplenty while dodging some rain.
Choo Choos And The Yorkie Disaster
Today is mostly steam powered with a little motorcycling to one side. Sharon experiences another personal loss, a terrible tragedy.
Poor Poorly Andy
The sun is shining, the air is warm, the surroundings are lovely. Andy is rather under the weather himself, it's not the best couple of days.
Prologue And A Rough First Day
Prudent as ever Ren accidentally stumbles into a super cheap static caravan north of "Skeg-Vegas". All that remains to be done is getting there. If previous experience of heading east is anything to go by - it might not be that easy.
Frolicking In The Flattish Lands
Title page for a midweek break in Lincolnshire.
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Latest Posts
Braving Barmouth Bridge
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I'm such a webel and a wascal ain't I!
23/12/2025 20:56:57 UTC
Braving Barmouth Bridge
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I think you've both been very naughty, but it's obviously your fault Ed.
It's a footpath.
Ahhhh, Blaenau you say, is that how you spell it.....who cares?
Yes, the most grey place in the world, god awful place. I can confirm it looked better on a driving course when passing through at breakneck speed, it was obviously raining and grey but at least it was blurred. If any Amrican viewers are checking in that's gray, pffffffftttttt.
Upt.
23/12/2025 12:15:25 UTC
Braving Barmouth Bridge
Bogger said :-
Breaking the law! Upsetting AND laughing old women, talking about groins!
Oh deary me, we are on a downward trajectory aren't we.
Hells Angels can't hold a candle to rebel Ren.
Keep up the good work
Bogger
23/12/2025 08:49:52 UTC
Feet Forward Prologue
Upt'North ¹ said :-
There's just somethings you can't unsee.
Just sayin.
Upt.
21/12/2025 10:04:31 UTC
Feet Forward Prologue
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I've always been fascinated by the FF movement and remember reading great articles by Royce Creasey and Paul Blezard in Motorcycle Sport before it went down market. I've never had the nerve - or spare cash - to join the club however and have never even ridden one, which is a shame. My B'Zuki has slightly forward footrests installed by its builder but I don't think that counts. Although I initially intended to fit the "proper" ones I actually find them quite comfortable although occasionally there's a bit of leg waving before I find them. Of course once the Steib is attached that won't be a problem!
21/12/2025 09:58:00 UTC
Feet Forward Prologue
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Bogger asked me to post this because he's technologically challenged...
20/12/2025 21:48:33 UTC
Feet Forward Prologue
Bogger said :-
This is HTP's FF Coda. You can still see the battle scar.
[url=https://postimg.cc/bDsRL9sD][img]https://i.postimg.cc/qRGZJmrL/IMG-20250724-WA0017-1.jpg[/img][/url]
Bogger
20/12/2025 20:30:31 UTC
Feet Forward Prologue
Bogger said :-
Paving slab not fixed. That's down to Matlock council.
So no, it will never be fixed.
Bogger
20/12/2025 17:42:45 UTC
Feet Forward Prologue
Bogger said :-
You mean High Tech Petes Bike?
Bogger
20/12/2025 17:41:16 UTC
Feet Forward Prologue
nab301 said :-
This could be good! Only two questions at the moment , did you fix the paving slab and do you have a photo of the Errant Honda 400 FF bike?
Nigel
20/12/2025 14:42:54 UTC
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Ian Soady¹ said :-
....and from the rider's viewpoint:
22/12/2025 12:01:56 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Having taken helpful comments re untidy console to heart, here is a cheap (less than £6) flyscreen from aliexpress. Makes it much tidier from the front but O probably need to fit some "wings" to conceal the wires etc from the side. The mounting brackets are a bit flimsy but will do the job I think.
Sorry about the background rubbish......
22/12/2025 12:02:53 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
It's all looking good Ian.
I am pleased that you have lots of adjustment, as I am sure that the initial set up will need tweaking at some point.
The lean out of 1/2" I think is a good staring point for a lighter rider. I think ( but I am not sure ) that if you are a heavy rider or take a pillion the lean out is increased.
If I remember correctly the toe in is a balance between tyre wear and handling.
If the toe in is too little the bike will have heavy steering and will be tiring to ride,if the toe in is too much the bike will scrub the tyres.
This balance can be helped greatly with the use of square section tyres. Back in the day and Avon speedmaster rear tyre was fitted to the front wheel with reversed rotation.
I am sure you will have an interesting time setting the outfit up.
21/12/2025 21:43:54 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
ps Rod that lean out specified is more than usually given - generally 1/2" at the steering head or 1/4" at the wheel rim. I'm planning on making a giant set square out of some square cut ply I have lying about as the usual instruction of a bob weight on a bit of string looks a bit hit-and-miss.
I made a little model out of card to get an initial idea of strut location.
21/12/2025 12:30:29 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
KJ.
Firstly merry Christmas and secondly Suzuki's never fail, we'll almost never.
The fuel pipe on the STrom is really easy to unclip so I don't know why yours is so hard to do. Unless it's because you're working upside down.
Did you say the plug was wet? Someone mentioned it but I can't remember you saying.
Dependent on age, useage, mileage etc, you'll need to check all the hoses and connections once you can get in there. Like you I don't think it's the coil, but ya never know sport.
Have you changed the plugs?
Upt.
21/12/2025 10:21:22 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Many thanks for those Rod, it adds to and reinforces the huge pile of info I'm digesting. The mountings will be infinitely adjustable by using m14 high tensile studding as the adjusting medium. The only dodgy bit might be my welding....
Jeff - do you need to remove the coils to swap, can't you just change the connections and HT leads over?
21/12/2025 10:03:26 UTC
kiwiJeff said :-
Thanks Glyn, if one cylinder happily runs on the currently measured coil resistances why doesn't the other cylinder? I'm suspicious that swapping out the coils won't fix it but it's not a big cost to change them so have ordered a couple of coils on Aliexpress. regards Jeff
21/12/2025 09:57:32 UTC
Glyn said :-
Merry. Xmas Jeff and all others. I had my BMW lose a cylinder and it was the electrical plug fitting on top of the injector. If the spark plug is wet, it would suggest a lack of spark though. A Yamaha I had ran perfectly even though the coil resistances were a long way off.
21/12/2025 08:47:15 UTC
kiwiJeff said :-
Cheers Rod just checked that but no fix. I'm replacing the coils for the same reason might check all right with the multimeter on ohms but can't handle the high secondary voltages that are generated when running. The Inazuma parts availability out of China is very good. They were manufactured there and sold throughout Asia, good prices too although postage has gone up a bit over the years. My Inazuma has mostly been used on gravel roads since I bought it so has had a bit of a shaking and lots of dust and mud so the last 3000kms has been fairly hard so something could have shaken loose but was alright on the last 40 odd km ride home from the gravel on sealed roads? Regards Jeff
21/12/2025 00:30:33 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
Spark plugs have been known to spark when checking them out of the engine and fail to spark under compression when they are returned to the engine.
Always try new plugs first and then move on to other likely causes of misfire or running on one cylinder.
The Inazuma is a very comfortable bike to cover distance on. ( I managed 714 miles in one day without problems).
20/12/2025 23:27:24 UTC
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Ian Soady¹ said :-
Yes, not bad looking - te tank seat unit has a Triumph Hurricane look about it. I'm not so keen on the exhaust pipe lines however. It might be improved with something like the Triumph's stacked pipes. Although not the comical front brake.
18/12/2025 15:49:07 UTC
nab301 said :-
That looks great and the original so called (I think) Euro styled versions (although I never owned any) were always my favourite looking bikes , CB900f CB750F etc
Nigel
17/12/2025 15:46:27 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Styling Upt'. As you say it's a modern bike in old school clothing. If you took the same chassis and engine and covered it in fairings it's a sports bike. Cover it in angular body panels its a modern naked. I think it looks lovely just as it is.
17/12/2025 11:35:51 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Is it our own fault? Is it fault? Is it what we really want? I dunno. But some of the latest bikes could at first glance be exact copies of 70/80's bikes with a detuned modern ICE thrown in.
Is it what we want?
Yes, this is what happens when the nights draw in.
17/12/2025 09:12:02 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Yes nab301 this is not going to be one of those bikes that takes you by surprise with rapid speed and arm-wrenching acceleration. I daresay if that is what someone is looking for they're probably looking in the wrong place. I think I would wish to try before I buy if nothing else to convince myself there's enough power even for one as humble as my dawdling self.
16/12/2025 18:53:06 UTC
nab301 said :-
looks great , although the power output seems to be even lower than my 2019 CB125F
Nigel
16/12/2025 16:33:39 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Well if Honda are too blummin' stoooopid to bring the CT125 to the UK then good on AJS for copying it and bringing it to us. Looking on ROD's link
Pro - low seat available 760mm
Pro - 8.5l tank - twice that of the current Super Cub 125
Con - Semi auto clutch, personally I'd prefer a regular clutch.
Con - Tube tyres
15/12/2025 22:50:58 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
A practical go anywhere bike.
https://www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk/imber...
15/12/2025 22:21:52 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Whoever thought an AJS would look like this. I like it.
15/12/2025 21:36:18 UTC
Glyn said :-
Welcome Alex, pleased to have you on here. If you’ve only been riding 6 months and on a 125 then I imagine you’re a youngster. You won’t find many of them on this site but hopefully, we will be able to assist you (if we can). There are quite a few years of experience between us all.
15/12/2025 18:51:47 UTC
Random Link - One Night Camping In The Lake District 2005 - By Ren Withnell