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?
Honda V Kwakker Headlight
Are Ren's eyes failing him? Are LED headlights just plain poop? Maybe Sharon's new Z5 can bring some illumination to Ren's world.
The Beginning Of The Misery
Ren is not having a good day at all. He's trying to stay positive by clinging to the memory of an excellent adventure and the handrails. I'm sure you'll all enjoy sharing his distress.
Dodging Rain And A Dodgy Chain
Considering we're covering Italy and France these are brief notes from Upt's homeward journey. He seems to be having a great time but he might be missing his shaft...
Michael Finnegan
Sharon is sprinkling her new Z500 with accoutrements and necessary alterations. It's all good but she's still not fully feeling it just yet.
Not Too Much Chaos
It's all going far too well - I mean losing half your crew is an everyday occurrence ain't it? Well it is for this lot. There's little mention of beer.
Back To Santander
One last day on the road for the Dynamic Muppets - luckily it's an good one with easy miles and sensational scenery. Fear not - the night is not without its woes.
Bikes Are Faster Than Cars?
When you appear to be going faster than all the cars around you - does that mean cars are slow? Well it's a little more complicated than that.
A Dull Day Here Is Better Than Home
The surroundings are great, the riding is fun, the town is lovely. This isn't the best day of the trip so far but Ren is just a miserable fool.
Ponderings
Sharon has a shiny new motorcycle! The thing is she's rather non-plussed about the whole affair really. Still, it's a good place to start.
Tea Is Tea, Even If It's Poor Tea
The morning is all about the desperate search for real tea. The afternoon would have been fine if Ren's wallet hadn't been opened so vigorously.
See More What's New
Latest Posts
Honda V Kwakker Headlight
Bogger said :-
Good grief Ian You've just p***** Sharon right off. Get your hard hat on pal, pronto.
Bogger
03/04/2025 22:52:50 UTC
Honda V Kwakker Headlight
Ian Soady¹ said :-
My personal (and probably minority) opinion is that the Kawasaki is grotesque. But I know some people love that style.....
03/04/2025 16:42:52 UTC
Honda V Kwakker Headlight
Bogger said :-
The Kawasaki is better looking as well.
Just saying like.
Bogger
03/04/2025 16:05:34 UTC
Honda V Kwakker Headlight
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Bogger - stick your comment up your... erm. Stick it in your pipe and smoke it!
I just don't need such negativity in my life maaaaaaan.
03/04/2025 15:07:32 UTC
Honda V Kwakker Headlight
Bogger said :-
I reckon you should have bought a Kawasaki Ren. Seems like Sharon is the only one with any sense?
I believe Kawasaki used to produce two strokes. Get one of those, it'll be a lot better than the Honda.
You know it makes sense.
Bogger
03/04/2025 14:02:01 UTC
Honda V Kwakker Headlight
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Sheez! Thank you ROD for that cheery outlook.
03/04/2025 07:56:14 UTC
Honda V Kwakker Headlight
Upt'North ¹ said :-
The VSTrom is bulbs innit, halogen like.
But as I've never ridden it in the dark other than an enclosed car park I have nothing.
You need some lights on it, although if you've lived this long you'll probably be OK.
Upt.
02/04/2025 16:17:02 UTC
Honda V Kwakker Headlight
ROD¹ said :-
Don't worry too much about the future Ren.
That bright white lighting that you see now will become increasingly yellow with the growth of cataracts.
02/04/2025 13:23:00 UTC
The Beginning Of The Misery
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Not required in Spain Ian. However I do have a crumpled pair in the shed - I must bin them they'll be what, 10 years old at least now.
01/04/2025 20:55:05 UTC
The Beginning Of The Misery
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Sorry, my head's still in France. In any case you might not need them any more even there.
01/04/2025 15:28:44 UTC
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Ian Soady¹ said :-
Many thanks Rod. It is a puzzler. Valve clearances checked (twice). Only one carb - thank goodness. In fact, I've been trying again and it seems it needs a VERY rich mixture to start - air slide fully down and tickled as well. I've also discovered that if instead of holding the starter button down, I release it after a couple of engine revs, it seems to start better - possibly because the ignition black box is seeing full voltage instead of the 10.5 or so it gets when cranking as the starter motor takes so much.
These things are sent to try us......
03/04/2025 12:00:27 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
Ian, in my experience, not starting when hot is usually a rich mixture. I will not try to teach my grandmother how to suck eggs, but I would start with a valve clearance check, and then look at the carbs.
03/04/2025 11:51:57 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Hard = cold. Generally a high performance engine needs hard plugs to resist high temperatures, a tourer softer as temperatures may not be as high but the softer plugs burn off deposits better.
But I'm beginning to doubt my logic.....
03/04/2025 10:29:43 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
"I suspect the plugs (Champion N4C) may be on the hard side?" - what do you mean on the hard side Ian? I'm guessing too hot/cold?
03/04/2025 07:58:11 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
So..... pushed the little Norton out of the garage into the sunlight, started it up (first push of the button) and wobbled off for a very short - 2 miles or so - ride backwards and forwards along the local lane.
Good points:
Excellent riding position, good brakes, lovely planted feel. Plenty of urge - pulled up a hill - maybe 1 in 10 - in top with no trouble. Decent gearchange although there was too much slack in the clutch cable so neutral was somewhat elusive. It's a much nicer ride than the Yam, to my relief.
Bad points:
Only one really. It doesn't like to restart after the first try. I managed to stall it when trying to set off and it took several goes to get it running again. The same when I deliberately stopped the engine half way through my little run. I suspect the plugs (Champion N4C) may be on the hard side? And I've only been able to adjust the mixture when it's been cold so that needs some attention. The problem is that having had one hip and one knee replaced, I find getting my foot up far enough to use the kickstart almost impossible. Hence my choice of the Electra.
So I'm feeling much more confident about taking it for a longer run as long as I don't have to stop the engine!
01/04/2025 14:05:07 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
It's taken from a pdf of the manufacturer's manual, which is a bit light on illustrations. Probably because they didn't actually make that many.
24/03/2025 13:58:05 UTC
nab301 said :-
Thanks for that Ian , I had done a search but never thought of including the crankshaft when looking for parts diagrams...
Nigel
23/03/2025 10:26:00 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Hi Nigel.
The device arrived and I fitted it but it didn't really do what I wanted. It seems that the output voltage is related to the input so as the latter drops on using the starter so does the output. I could overcome that by using changeover relays but I think I would then be introducing too many potential points of failure so have reconnected as standard and shelved the voltage converter.
The Electra starter is unique as far as I know. It does have a sprag clutch on the crankshaft which is driven by 3 pawls which, when the starter operates, are rotated via slots in a wavy pressure waher acting as a sort of clutch to engage with the sprag. When the engine fires the pawls are retracted as the crankshaft is spinning faster than the starter drive. I hope the attached picture helps. There is no kickback protection which of course is a drawback and may indeed have contributed to the shaft failure in my case. It also needs a well charged battery with decent CCA (cold cranking amps) which I think is a more relevant figure than the amp-hour one which people often quote.
The starter has a pretty poor reputation which I think is often due to wear in the various components. I'm lucky in that mine seems to have seen little use so wear isn't an issue although I did have to replace a couple of items eg the wavy spring.
22/03/2025 10:17:08 UTC
nab301 said :-
I've always been a fan of retaining points and coil ignition but I know plenty of Indian Enfield electric start systems have been damaged by kick backs caused by low voltage and those earlier Boyer systems strangely going to full ignition advance..
The step up converter if it works seems like a good insurance policy.
I'm curious how the chain drive starter system operates is there a sprag clutch incorporated in the starter motor?
Nigel
21/03/2025 15:14:10 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Yes, many later bikes like my Yamaha and Suzuki-engined BSA have a self generating ignition system that doesn't depend on battery voltage. In fact, in principle, they're very similar to the old magneto. The Norton feeds its ignition system from the battery - originally using points but I'm using a Boyer CDI system which still uses the battery to power it. The original Boyer system did have problems with low voltage, tending to go onto full advance which is obviously not ideal. The later Mk 4 system I have fitted is said by the manufacturer to be good down to 10 volts. It does seem to be working well but 10.4 volts seems a bit marginal to me especially if the battery has faded a bit. I'm keeping it on trickle charge so all my testing has been done with a fully charged battery.
WRT your second question, no idea - there didn't actually seem to be such an option when I bought the thing. Going by past experience the adjuster is the tiny screw on top of a blue component on the edge of the unit. I'll see when it arrives.
18/03/2025 10:24:46 UTC
Latest Chit-Chat
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Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Looks a bit like my kitchen that. Proper workshop.
02/04/2025 12:49:44 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Even messier than my garage!
02/04/2025 10:20:32 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Timmy testers place.
01/04/2025 16:38:43 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
About my dripping issue, no not that one, the waterpump weep hole!
You could be right Ed, what am I saying, you're always right Ed.
Went to it in the garage today.
Dry.
Rode it about 20 miles to Berwick-upon-the-Tweed for its test.
Rode it back.
Left it running outside my buddies (I've only got one) garage for ten minutes, Rode it into the garage and parked it up.
All dry.
Does parking a motorcycle up for 6 months in the perma frost of the NE allow a little condensation to collect or even a couple of drops of coolant to pass the seal?
Dunno, but on reflection I suppose a seal which resists the passing of a little wet over 6 months would be a rare thing indeed.
01/04/2025 16:36:49 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I was in a tent this weekend Upt' while Madam Soleil was wisely ensconced at home in a real house. No spanners were turned so no results as yet.
Let me see nab301... my list of water cooled motorcycles comprises of 2 CB500Xs, a Fazer 600, a CB400 Super Four, an NT400 Bros, and an NT600 Revere. Let me see... 260,000 miles roughly. So far no water pumps have been replaced. So far...
You've cursed me ain't ya.
31/03/2025 15:03:13 UTC
nab301 said :-
@ Ian , hopefully after all that effort with the Yamaha you can find a new owner to appreciate it.
@Upt , if you search coolant drips on Vstrom there are quite a few hits but they never seem to get further than that , maybe this is another reason to ride through the winter ! I don't think Ren (or rather his bikes ) have ever developed water pump issues..
The F650 I had years ago developed a pump leak , the single seal actually wore a groove in the pump shaft , the Suzuki set up appears to be a little more technical with 2 seals plus some o rings and a gasket and the possibility (I think) of oil mixing with coolant
Nigel
31/03/2025 13:45:49 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Any news on Madame Soleil's buzzing?
31/03/2025 09:09:20 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
31/03/2025 09:08:06 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I'll be out on it soon/this week hopefully to get it MOT'd at Timmy Testers at Berwick-upon-the-Tweed.
That'll be 20 miles each way.
That should make or break it.
I have studied the manual and I think the clutch housing has to come off too, so not really a spring job.
We'll see.
Upt.
31/03/2025 09:07:30 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Condensation Upt'? Can't be sure but you can hope.
30/03/2025 18:02:01 UTC
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