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?
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.
Could Etna Be Any Better?
Save for a very minor ticketing issue Upt' and Er'Indoors remain blessed with sunshine, idyllic scenery, delightful food and fabulous roads. Some folks have all the luck eh?
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Latest Posts
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
Dams And Delights
Borsuk said :-
A 100 box of Typhoo is a weeks supply for the wife. We keep a large supply in the house at all times. If French customs ever search us we will be done for smuggling tea into Europe.
01/04/2025 14:17:08 UTC
The Beginning Of The Misery
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Of course you were carrying the obligatory breathalysers.....
01/04/2025 14:03:44 UTC
The Beginning Of The Misery
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
No, no tape on the lights - both run "symmetrical" beams if you mean they produce a flat beam with no kick.
Plus we both wear hi-viz when riding anyway so we already had that box ticked. It is also required to carry spare bulbs.. which is a real problem because neither bike has "bulbs" being LED units. The ONLY item I managed to find suggested that as our LED lights have multiple LEDs rather than one LED this is "sufficient". Both the CB500X and Z400 are available for sale in Spain so one can only hope our UK models are equal and therefore homologated for use in Spain.
If anyone has more information with reliable sources - I'd be interested to learn about them.
01/04/2025 12:26:23 UTC
The Beginning Of The Misery
ROD¹ said :-
Ian, I have just checked the images from the trip and I could not see any signs of tape on the headlights.
01/04/2025 11:20:11 UTC
The Beginning Of The Misery
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Well spotted, as I'd never bothered to check anything except France.....
And of course you'll have masked your headlights to cut out the kick up on the left. Unless your headlamps have a symmetrical beam pattern?
01/04/2025 09:56:14 UTC
The Beginning Of The Misery
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Ian. Note in your link it clearly states
"Driving in Spain, Cyprus and Malta
You must display a UK sticker to drive in Spain, Cyprus and Malta, no matter what’s on your number plate."
And that is why we both have UK stickers. We did check, more thoroughly than you and many others it seems.
Big? Yes. Oh there is no mention of the required size in the link. There are several other trustworthy sites that do list the size FOR CARS and our stickers are this size. We could not find anywhere listing a minimum size for motorcycle stickers.
As such, belt and braces, we affixed the full size car stickers negating any possible misinterpretation or confusion. No matter what other motoring infractions we unknowingly perpetrated - we had fulfilled this aspect of the regulations to the best of our ability.
31/03/2025 18:02:15 UTC
The Beginning Of The Misery
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Oh, by the way, why do you have those huge UK stickers? All you need is a little blue one at the side of the number plate with a union flag and "UK" on it - the same size as the much lamented Euro / GB emblems. All explained in the link. I understand that we had to go UK because of Northern Ireland whose population should be pleased they have "the best of both worlds" as a previous prime minister put it. Shame the erest of us couldn't continue that privilege.
https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/flags-identifiers-and-stickers...
31/03/2025 17:15:25 UTC
The Beginning Of The Misery
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I reckon if you can see Wales off the Bilbao ferry poop deck it's going the wrong way.
31/03/2025 16:23:50 UTC
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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
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
You're gonna have to help me here Ian. I totally understand that using the electric starter sucks a LOT of leccy from the system, leaving little for the rest of the bike. This is why modern bikes with computers, FI and fuel pumps WILL NOT start with a battery that is anything other than "on top form" even if it appears to be cranking just fine.
Now a CDI bike doesn't care much - it's spark comes (indirectly) from the pulse coil. How does the Boyer system work? Why does it need "good" power? And that step up DC-DC gadget - the advert advises "(2) fixed output (select) between 12-35 v, when buying, please tell the shopkeeper." Does that mean you say to the shopkeeper "Please can you set this to output 13.5v please"?
18/03/2025 08:09:09 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
With great help from various NOC members I think I'm nearly there with my Electra. The electric starter is now starting it reliably despite the missing key between motor shaft and sprocket. It seems happiest starting from cold with closed air lever and a second or so tickling.
I've finally fitted the primary cover although why the NOC supplied gasket seems designed to go under two of the lower starter assembly legs beats me. I've cut those bits off.
Carburation is reasonable although an even slow idle is hard to come by. At first the mixture screw didn't seem to do much but now is at its best about 1.5 turns out as recommended. There may have been some muck in there that has been blown out. I've checked timing using my remote rotor and as I hoped it's much easier to see that than the alternator rotor. Strobing shows a satisfactory advance from the 10 degree (crankshaft) which seems about right for idle up to 20 degrees or so at 3,000 rpm which is the most I want to inflict on my neighbours at present.
It's very rattly although this is gradually lessening, I assume as oil finds its way where it needs to be. I'm guessing cam followers as I've carefully set and checked the rocker clearances. I have read that these are noisy engines but don't have much to compare it with. There's no smoke from the exhausts and the oil is returning nicely.
I have been wondering about the voltage drop when using the starter - it goes down to about 10.4 volts - so am contemplating fitting a step-up voltage converter like the one in the link to ensure the Boyer gets enough volts.. In fact I've ordered one as it's only a fiver or so. I successfully used a similar device to get indicators to work on the 6 volt system of my ES2. It's probably unnecessary (I have a Mk 4 Boyer) but can't hurt anything. It will be fitted between ignition switched live and the Boyer live as well as the (positive) earth. See link below.
So hopefully will hit the road soon!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/296547776080...
17/03/2025 14:35:18 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I seem to remember people talking about pouring salty water onto tapers so they rusted together. Or maybe not.
16/03/2025 14:00:58 UTC
nab301 said :-
I've used grease in the past for removing bearings from blind holes with the close fitting shaft/dowel.
As for tapers, Em Zeds have the clutch fitted to a taper on the crankshaft which can be problematic with a decades old bike...
Nigel
15/03/2025 18:32:07 UTC
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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
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I am NOT amused.
Who said that?
Put a new battery on The B yesterday, the oem was sounding a little tired and at 8 years old I threw £50 of Yuasa at it from Tanya Batteries. I was pleasantly happy at this stage.
Ran it up to temp, up the road to check the brakes etc, lube the chain, all good. Smiley stupid face.
Left it running for 5 minutes or so.....bugger.....water from the water pump weep pipe. Only a couple of drips, but water? Coolant actually.
It dried up after and presently I will give it a good dose of looking at to keep an eye on things.
It had been parked since October and I'm wondering if this provoked the drip?
I really don't want to change or repair the water pump just now, but?
Flippin blummin motorcycles.
Upt.
30/03/2025 16:42:52 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I just thought I'd take a pic while they're all still present and correct.
29/03/2025 10:20:23 UTC
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