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?
5 Fools For Kilmarnock - Prologue
The tales of mishap and trepidation leading up to this adventure is not for the faint hearted. Gird your loins we're only at the planning stage so far...
5 Fools In South West Scotland
Title page for The BATties Ayrshire expedition.
Soft Brake Fix Weirdness
Ah the old trick of zip tying the brake lever to get a good brake. It seems to work but does anyone know why?
Escape From Colditz To Poland
The lads take a brief look around Colditz before making a dash for Poland. There's a handful of shenanigans and guess what - beer.
An Easy Day Out Going Round In Circles
How can you get lost in the days of Satellite Navigation? Turn the Sat-Nav off. Now you can ride around in ever decreasing circles - which oddly enough seems to be just fine with Ren these days.
Chaos Towards Colditz
More mayhem from a bunch of blokes old enough to know better. Brits used to try and get out of Colditz, these lads are struggling to get in. Fear not - there is beer.
The Perpetual Summer Problem
Ren is typically annoyed that other people are allowed to use his personal race track. If it weren't for those pesky people life would be slightly less miserable for Mr Curmudgeonly.
She Made Me Walk
Poor poor Ren is being made to exercise against his will. After this tragedy there's disappointment too. Still, it could be worse, he could be working.
Bad Vibes Maaaaaan!
Sharon's pickup bad vibrations, they ain't given her excitations, we know a song about that. With just a little help from Ren the genius of Her Ladyship may yet prevail.
It's A Good Start
After justifying why he's mean to Sharon The Dynamic Muppets take on an arduous and testing journey to deepest darkest Derbyshire. This is a true tale of epic adventure through the harshest conditions... ish.
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Latest Posts
Review of the Honda ANF 125 Innova - By Peter Hawker
beicsconwy said :-
Brilliant comments. I've a 2003 carb Innova with 27000 miles
I've gad it in bits after the first 11 owners didnt quite neet its needs. All back together with both clutches replaced, plus the usual consumables, and it runs like s Swiss watch.
I've done some camping trips locally (N Wsles). Off around Iberia next summer 2026.
My other bike's a RE Himalayan 411
27/06/2025 23:39:14 UTC
5 Fools For Kilmarnock - Prologue
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Well I will spoil one thing - Sharon does make it through alive... as you can probably tell.
26/06/2025 20:01:00 UTC
5 Fools For Kilmarnock - Prologue
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Can we take the suspense? Here's hoping Sharon's leg improves and you don't spend your week in the local A&E.
26/06/2025 11:50:16 UTC
5 Fools For Kilmarnock - Prologue
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I resemble that remark!
26/06/2025 09:40:36 UTC
5 Fools For Kilmarnock - Prologue
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
"Upt and Er'Indoors." - are you telling me Er'Indoors is a reader of this 'ere digital website? I am struggling to imagine her excitedly awaiting an update from Glyn regarding the TZR250 or being thrilled to learn about how bad motorcycle brakes are.
We might possibly have a few nice images for you (both?). We might also have endured a total washout and spent the entire week inside the bungalow. You'll just have to wait and see. How'd you keep an idiot in suspense? I'll tell ya laters.
26/06/2025 07:54:58 UTC
Soft Brake Fix Weirdness
Snod said :-
I always wondered if the zip tie trick just crushes the pads against the disc, and the pistons against the pads, squeezing any grease and muck out the way and that's why it feels better afterwards. I mean brakes always take a little while to bed back in after being rebuilt so maybe it's a bit like that?
Of course we could avoid seized calipers with hydraulic drum brakes, self adjusting, the large cast wheels we now have would be a better heatsink than a few spokes.. all talked about in the UMG about 40 years ago and still no closer to existing! So, like Ren, I have to rebuild my horrible cheap Kawasaki calipers twice a year. And there's one either end because of fashion.
26/06/2025 01:00:35 UTC
5 Fools For Kilmarnock - Prologue
Upt'North ¹ said :-
SW wee bonny McJockland. Gotta love it.
Which reminds me....why haven't we blummin been lately.
Nice pictures please.
Upt and Er'Indoors.
25/06/2025 23:16:28 UTC
Soft Brake Fix Weirdness
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Well I don't know the specific mass of the Bedford TK nor the Tesla. The force you collide with the vehicle, either the Bedford TK or the Tesla, would still be the same. What would change depending on the mass of the vehicle is how much you move the vehicle - the greater the mass the less influence you would have on its trajectory.
Recently mankind intentionally crashed a small spacecraft into an asteroid. While the spacecraft was, relatively speaking, "small" compared to the mass of the asteroid the crash did alter the asteroid's trajectory - a small amount. However a small movement in the right place of the asteroid's trajectory can lead to a large change in it's orbit.
One has to wonder why you would place a Bedford TK into space? Mind you - you can also ask the same question for a Tesla. Marketing - that's why. I doubt Bedford has (had) the fiscal resources or the expertise with which to place a TK into orbit. The TK would have rusted away during transportation to the launch pad anyhow.
24/06/2025 13:39:10 UTC
Soft Brake Fix Weirdness
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Our leader ain't half smart....
No he ain't, he really ain't.
Ta me duck.
Upt and edumicated. But what if it's a Bedford TK and not a Tesla?
24/06/2025 13:01:28 UTC
Soft Brake Fix Weirdness
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I had to google "erudition"...
24/06/2025 12:29:27 UTC
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Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Thank you Snod! Golly I thought I was a Honda nerd but you've well and truly out-nerded me there.
26/06/2025 10:54:21 UTC
Snod said :-
It is indeed an MC24 Nighthawk, the MC26 Two Fifty had cast Grimeca wheels and the front disc brake, and different ratios in the gearbox. Oh and a tacho instead of just some lights.
Glyn, I'm pretty sure you cannot fit the 250 barrels on the 125 cases without enlarging the holes for the liners to fit. The 125 also has a shorter stroke..
That Rebel is interesting, I don't recognise that clutch cover from anywhere!
26/06/2025 00:37:56 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Of course yes! The CB250 NightHawk will be left hand drive. Oh no - what you going to do Occasional Lurker? Do you think it's worth converting it to right hand drive? I mean it's a big job especially on a motorcycle.
OK OK so it's a Yank model...
25/06/2025 10:59:48 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Nice, very nice Lurcio.
Higher bars too I would think, the yanks like their high bars.
Honda used to make decent looking bikes, then the world changed.
Keep us posted at the Forum.
Upt.
25/06/2025 09:27:23 UTC
Occasional Lurker said :-
Thank you for your kind comments gentlemen ... And thank you Ren for magically moving the picture from my phone to your site... It is as I said, an American import ... Originally made and sold in the US in 2007. Imported into the UK in September 2023... All backed up by His Majesty's GOV.MOT history site .... In the good old US of A, they had spoked wheels, chrome rims, and drum brakes front and rear, amber reflectors to the sides,and the best "giveaway" of an American market bike... the speedometer face has the speed rising in increments of 5 mph .... ie, 5mph 15mph 25mph 35mph and on to an optimistic 85mph. The tyre information sticker clearly states "Tire" Information, and the exhaust pipes are stamped with information clearly stating that they are fully in accordance with Federal Law ...
I don't think I've bought something "cobbled together", or a collection of mis-matched parts...There's even a dealer sticker from "Colorado Springs" ...
All this, and the fact that it is left-hand drive makes me think it is most certainly legitimate ... Currently, it is sorned. I hope to make it road legal in the first days of next month... I will gladly let you know of my impressions of it's manners on UK roads... Regards, Tony
24/06/2025 22:51:43 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I'm beginning to think the UK spec Two-Fifty also had mag wheels...
24/06/2025 21:21:04 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Hmmmm... the UK spec bikes (MCX250, CB Two-Fifty) had disc brakes as the front, yours does not. And Hmmmmm.
As for upgrading the CMX125 Rebel to a CMX250 with barrels and pistons? I am a man of much (useless) knowledge but I don't know the answer to that. I do know that Occasional Lurker's NightHawk engine will drop straight in though Glyn... you wanna me send his address an' you send da boys round?
24/06/2025 21:19:28 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
This is the CB250 "NightHawk". I... am not convinced by the "NightHawk" sticker on the side Occasional Lurker... This looks to me like the UK version CB "Two-Fifty" with a nighthawk sticker. I suspect the difference was only the name anyhow.
Anyhoo this is the image Occasional Lurker sent.
24/06/2025 21:15:50 UTC
Glyn said :-
Now occasional lurker you have done very well to find that machine. I have to admit that at £2850 it did make me cough a little. There’s a black one on EBay for £1999 which may be a better bet but I’ve never bought anything other than a “project bargain”. However, it has now spurred me on to track down the owner of that CMX125 that can only be described as a “hedge find”. It is not far from my home and I do keep an eye on it whilst partaking in my daily walks around the village. I understand that the barrels and heads from a 250 are all that are required to up the HP of the 125 but am not sure. This is probably knowledge that Ren holds in his encyclopaedic mind on the Honda marques. That is only if the fall backwards from his chair did not seriously damage the aforementioned mind. Congratulations on the Bentley derivative purchase.
24/06/2025 20:41:31 UTC
Occasional Lurker said :-
Thanks Ren, I do like different, or "quirky", as some have remarked. Being "one of the herd" hasn't been a trait used to describe me. I'm sure you've noticed that, after seeing my two steeds ... But wait..! I have another..!!
Yes, I've treated myself to something easier to move around the car-port/garage/patio, and throw around The Trough of Bowland at a pace a tad more "sprightly" than the Shadow Aero ... Cheap to buy...(Ren kinda price), A trade sale, no warranty given or implied, cheap to tax, hopefully cheap to insure. Not many about.A 2007 American market CB250 Nighthawk .... Powered by an engine, grown from the blueprints of the old CD200 Benly ...OOOH..!! I think I hear the sound of Ren's chair falling backwards, as he leaps up in excitement ... Remarkably similar to the CMX 250 Rebel ... They share the same Haynes manual ... I've just taken delivery a week ago, and am in the process of "licking it into shape" .... It has had a little neglect, and some hidden "butchery" visited upon it, but work is in progress ...
I,ll send a picture to your phone, and let you see for yourself... I,m rubbish at that kind of stuff.!! AND..! you know where I live.... You are most welcome to call by and have a look-see ... Regards, Tony 93606
24/06/2025 17:32:04 UTC
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Upt'North ¹ said :-
The weather was fine until the ride home.....33 of your c's was a tad on the uncomfortable side when dealing with traffic and slow movers. But better than blummin wet.
23/06/2025 12:32:10 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Very nice Upt'. Looks like the weather was on your side too.
23/06/2025 08:49:16 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
It is Ian, I'd never seen the programme and can't envisage I ever will but it's a lovely ride over the tops. Anything to avoid the masses of Whitbyites.
Pffffffftttttt.
22/06/2025 17:09:24 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Very nice too. Is that Goathland ("Heartbeat" country)?
22/06/2025 14:17:49 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
22/06/2025 13:57:34 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
22/06/2025 13:56:28 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Been riding around North Yorkshire this week. The coast....meh, inland very nice it was too. Although still way busier than Upt North.
Upt.
22/06/2025 13:55:09 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I still have sleepless nights. I had to move house to stop him turning up again.
And my spelling has never recovered......
20/06/2025 16:14:45 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
ROD!!! I'll get you boy!!
I was just about to say I'll be a couple of hundred miles north of the godawful din these nasty 'orrible strokers will make when I realised a truly horrific and traumatising thought. I'll only be about 70 miles away... Urgh. I bet at that distance I'll get the bitter stinky whiff of Castrol R and my ears will be abused by that godawful noise.
I'ma gunna be having nightmares now ROD. I know I know... you can't be too far from there. Maybe I'll pop over to your place and leave a puddle of dirty chain lube oil on your driveway while drinking your tea and eating your choccy biccies... That'll learn ya. Just ask Ian and Bogger, they'll never recover.
20/06/2025 13:22:55 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
I thought this event would be of interest to Ren.
I am tempted.
Move over on that naughty step.
https://sammymiller.co.uk/event/smokin-to-sammys-two-stroke-day/...
20/06/2025 09:21:37 UTC
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