Welcome To Bikes And Travels...
...It's about bikes...and travels...mostly on bikes!
Spring is here, winter has passed - yey! Now we get to stay at home and tinker with our bikes without
frozen fingers. Great...
What's New?
Honda Cub Debacle
Bogger finds the tiniest speck of rust on his Honda Cub. Older men should never trust a fart or waste a... or think a job should only take an hour or two. Luckily he's got a friend at work.
Changing The Fork Oil
Mark quite rightly points out that fork oil is all to often overlooked when if comes to servicing. However we CAN NOT recommend his ridiculous method of draining the oil.
CBF125 At 90,000 Miles
Ren still shows no mercy to the long suffering CBF125. Just how long can this pitiful cruel torture go on for? There can't be long left now.
Bums On Seats
Upt'North and Er'Indoors are seeking a little luxury for their delicate behinds. Admittedly some money changed hands butt (HA!) not too much. Are the results worthwhile?
Too Damn Clean
We know Ren isn't really the cleaning type. Or the fastidious sort. Or beholden to the wonder of "nice". Here he's just making more excuses for his slapdash ways.
Number Plates: How Small Dare You Go?
Being a fine, clean cut and upstanding member of Manx society circles Mark dubiously reveals his dark side. Clap that man in irons!
Innova Tart Up
Bogger's Innova might have been free at the point of acquisition but it's received some TLC since. This time he's battling the rust bugs, being careful not to "overdo" the job.
No Nessie And Wet Cairngorms
Andy looks at Loch Ness and The Cairngorms, well, when the weather allows at least.
Airhawk 2 Seat Pad Review
Mark espouses the solution to derriere numbness on a long motorcycle trip. Trapped wind, is, apparently, that which eases his suffering. It's a funny old world.
Kangarooing CBF125
In search of safer adventures Ren has transformed his smooth 125 into a bucking bronco ride. Is this first class muppetry or has he got an issue? (We know he has issues.)
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Latest Posts
Kawasaki Z250SL Battery Access
Upt'North said :-
Brake pipes, cables, electrics, are you MAD!
I don't think the bars will make much difference other than....
1. Sharon will resemble a sail at anything more than 40 mph.
2. Er arms will grow longer and she will start to walk like an orangutan from wind blast.
3. She will hit you very hard if you mess er bike up.
Upt'North.
Now get off to that garden centre.
04/08/2020 05:35:04 UTC
Kawasaki Z250SL Battery Access
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
She makes it sound like I'm taking her down the UK's worst lanes! I am, I know, but still...
Tell me dear readers. Having briefly ridden Sharon's diminutive 250 across a campsite's gravelly track I noticed something. It's harder to steer than my 500. I have checked the head bearing and Sharon regularly checks the tyre pressures without fail. I suspect it's the narrow 'bars and thus lack of leverage. On road and moving this isn't a problem but at slow speeds and off road the lack of leverage means the 'bars fight back more.
Would it be a reasonable experiment to fit wider bars? My hope is that while not ruining the road manners it may help a tad with the slow speed and off road manners. I can't decide if I'm clutching at straws or onto something here.
04/08/2020 03:04:37 UTC
Changing The Fork Oil
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
There is a better way to drain the forks Pocketpete. Leave them alone for years and years then when the fork seals fail still leave them alone. It might take a while but the oil will drain out over time. This also has the added bonus the if you're lucky some of the oil will dribble down onto the front disk. This greatly increases pad life, but can greatly reduce your own life.
04/08/2020 02:59:22 UTC
The Ferry Home
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Follow the link below to see Google Map's view of the same spot. Yes we passed along that magnificent and majestic road, that's a ways before the famous deer statue. I shall leave your pipe unlicked seeing as you asked so nicely. It's not galvanised anyhow.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@42.972731,-4.9972146,3a,75y,264.91h,79.88t/data=!...
04/08/2020 02:57:00 UTC
Too Damn Clean
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
nab301 - I have learned to stop monitoring the fuel consumption on the display as it was having a detrimental effect on my riding! I was looking at the readout and not the road. It will cost a lot more if I crash then I'd spend in fuel. But yes, it is remarkable the difference between uphill and downhill, into and with the wind. I think to my cycling. I forget all to easily how much harder it is to ride up even a gentle incline or a light headwind. On the bike it's another degree to two of throttle, on the pedal bike it's the difference between normal breathing and puffing like an old steam train. The motorcycle subtly hides this from the rider until you see the consumption figures.
Oh sheeeez, not the blooming garden centre...AGAIN!
04/08/2020 02:51:47 UTC
Too Damn Clean
Sharon said :-
Wow that garden is lovely, just look at them gorgeous pots.
Also something strange has happened to me. I don't know if it is a result of the pandemic or the sheer fact that no matter how much I polish and clean the damn bike it is still bloody rusting but either way I no longer clean my bike as much. Now don't get me wrong it does not in any way resemble Ren's bike but if not too dirty it has been going away unwashed. Yep standards are slipping as the Parker household.
Now must go to the garden centre I think I need another fern to add to the collection.
04/08/2020 01:21:43 UTC
Kawasaki Z250SL Battery Access
Sharon said :-
Ren likes to find back lanes on our adventures. Not serious off road stuff with me in tow but the type with grass down the middle, strewn with gravel washout, pot holes, bad cambers and poo from horses cows and sheep, you get the idea. While he goes merrily on his way with his semi off roader I shake and sway and slip and slide behind on the little Kwak. The fact I have managed to stay upright (lets just forget the gravel on the bend slide down the road) probably either says the Kwak is pretty mustard for a road bike or I am a better rider than I ever thought I could be. :-D As much as I do love the Z250SL because I too love the back lanes I have begun to wonder if there is a better bike out there for such riding. However being a weak hobbit does limit my choice as always.
04/08/2020 10:20:38 UTC
Changing The Fork Oil
Pocketpete said :-
I feel a ren bodge coming on here. Surely it would be easier to drill and tap a hole in the bottom of the forks.
Find a suitable movable tap to let the oil out.
Come on ren, you already have managed this on the 125s engine.
04/08/2020 04:13:34 UTC
The Ferry Home
Upt'North said :-
Just had a thought our Ed, I looked at the bike and thought the pipes are looking a little dirty after a shortish ride, then I remembered we'd ridden here from Amsterdam!
Please excuse my dirty pipe, and don't lick it.
Upt'North.
03/08/2020 11:13:44 UTC
The Ferry Home
Upt'North said :-
After extensive research (30 seconds on googlies) I'm almost nearly almost certain in a slightly doubtful way that it is looking West towards Riano on the N621. Probably about 25 miles south of Potes. The sun came out once we popped over the tops and headed south.
Upt'North.
03/08/2020 11:07:06 UTC
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Latest Chit-Chat
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Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
HA! Yes the old silent treatment. I used to worry when Sharon did this to me but I have come to realise she's more likely thinking about garden centres and wall decorations than she is my appalling attitude towards her.
Remember though, whatever you say or do will be taken down and misinterpreted as evidence against you in an argument 14 years later.
04/08/2020 03:08:14 UTC
Ross said :-
I saw this and thought, for some reason, it may apply to some of the BAT residents! :))
04/08/2020 11:25:55 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
That video is one of those perfect moments.
03/08/2020 08:36:51 UTC
nab301 said :-
Quote "Speaking of licking lammposts..."
Laughing at that video
Just as well he did't try peeing on the lamppost!
Nigel
03/08/2020 05:54:10 UTC
Upt'North said :-
Ta Ed.
Upt'North.
02/08/2020 11:00:06 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
As for licking things, it'll be easier for me to list the bits I didn't lick?
02/08/2020 07:30:24 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Is this what you're after Upt'? I still think Mrs North would love to go camping. Even better how about a couple of bivvy bags and a small spade? Awww she'd be thrilled. I'm so excited for you both.
https://bikesandtravels.com/biker.aspx?ride=1189...
02/08/2020 07:28:43 UTC
Upt'North said :-
P.S.
If I'm right, you didn't lick anything did you?
Upt'North.
02/08/2020 04:06:15 UTC
Upt'North said :-
Ed, somewhere in the deep sordid areas of my brain I recall you did a write up on green Spain. Is that correct? If so give us a link.
Also if anyone else has something to add about Northern Spain/Northern Portugal for a ride out let me know. No campsite details required.......
Ta me ducks.
Moi,
02/08/2020 04:04:55 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Oh my goodness, my most humble apologies Ross! You've another month and a bit to go. Reckon you could squeeze another thousand in before then.
I dare say my milage this year won't be up to my usual standards. I'm racking up a few here and there but as you say, the usual excuses for journeys are sadly missing. Here's to either a treatment or cure. In the meantime I promise to only lick lampposts after I've sterilised them and keep my mask on.
01/08/2020 08:50:23 UTC
Random Link - France Day 16 - A Historical Walk Around Chinon