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.
See More What's New
Latest Posts
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
Soft Brake Fix Weirdness
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Very nice & concise explanation Ren. Your erudition is showing......
24/06/2025 10:18:54 UTC
Soft Brake Fix Weirdness
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
You always have the same mass even if you are "weightless" in space. Weight is how much a gravitational well is affecting your mass. You mass might be 100kg, if it is it is always 100kg. Here on earth the scales would show 100kg meaning your weight is 100kg, on the moon the same scales would show about 17kg so your weight on the moon is 17kg. But your mass on earth, or the space station, or on the moon is still 100kg.
Imagine you and your bike's combined mass is 300kg. Imagine then you bump into a stationary car at 10kmh (about 6mph). The force you hit the car with is 300kg at 10kmh. Now imagine you are floating through space on your bike and you bump into the Tesla that SpaceX put up there. If you are moving directly towards the Tesla at 10kmh (relative to the Tesla's trajectory) you will hit the Tesla with a force of 300kg at 10kmh - even though you are "weightless".
But here on earth we tend to use mass and weight to mean the same thing.
24/06/2025 08:14:05 UTC
Soft Brake Fix Weirdness
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Yes it's a bottle tester. And yes against every ounce of self preservation about 50 years of motorcycling instills into ones being.
It is strange how easily a front will lock when snatched. It's all about weight transference innit, or lack of it. When I say lock I mean activate the ABS.
One of the best training tips ever placed into my noggin is always lightly brake with the front first, then as soon as weight transference commences apply the rear also along with more front brake. In normal riding I can't remember locking a wheel in years, with or without ABS.
Is it weight or is it mass? Ed'll know.
Upt.
23/06/2025 12:43:56 UTC
Soft Brake Fix Weirdness
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I've had no REAL problem bleeding the brakes on the CB500X Nigel - but don't let that get in the way of making a point. I have not tried the tapping method before so when (not if) I'm struggling next time I'll give it a go.
I presume the only way to activate the ABS Upt' is to simply grab a handful of brake? In which case yes fresh underpants will be required. I can activate the rear just fine but grabbing a handful of front goes against EVERYTHING motorcycling has taught me over the years.
23/06/2025 08:44:27 UTC
Soft Brake Fix Weirdness
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Just catching up with this chat. I can't answer your question re holding the lever in overnight Ed but it does work from experience.
I'm with Nigel too and "tapping" the lever. Although I wouldn't describe it as tapping, using my delicate sausages I move/apply the lever by an almost imperceptible amount constantly and rapidly for a few minutes or the trigger finger kicks in. Leave the cap off and watch the little bubbly beggars rise and die.
Bleeding non linked ABS systems hasn't been an issue. Bleed once. Activate ABS. Change underwear. Bleed again.
Upt.
22/06/2025 13:42:10 UTC
Soft Brake Fix Weirdness
Ian Soady¹ said :-
The hardest system I had to bleed was the Moto Guzzi V50 with its linked brakes. The pipe run was such that there was always a bit of trapped air. I bought a cheap vacuum pump from ebay and that sorted it out.
I like the sound of your method Nigel but all my bikes have drums now. No doubt in the future I'll be lured to the dark side again.
20/06/2025 16:16:59 UTC
Soft Brake Fix Weirdness
nab301 said :-
Ren when you mention that you bleed , and bleed the brakes what method are you using? If you're talking (non ABS system) about forcing air downhill towards the bleed nipple , don't bother , push the caliper pistons in fully and hold them there with a suitable piece of timber, then just tap the brake lever rapidly , a steady stream of bubbles should appear in the reservoir ( air naturally moves up) , if not maybe crack open the upper banjo to release a large airlock , retighten, and brakes should bleed as above in minutes .
Basic ABS systems may require a suitable hand vacuum pump and other systems may require the ABS pump to be "activated" . As mentioned previously , I did rebuild and bleed an Enfield Himalayan system successfully with the vacuum pump method in minutes.
Tapping / flexing the hydraulic lines can help release any air bubbles too.
I spent years with an Enfield twin leading shoe front brake setting it up correctly , using different linings , bedding in and checking with chalk , all was a waste of time .
The best brake was obtained with a £10 set of shoes purchased on Ebay but as with all the others was never consistent , the brake issues were solved in minutes with a disc brake conversion .... braking has since been excellent , consistent, and strangely never seized !
Nigel
20/06/2025 14:03:53 UTC
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Latest Repair-Chat
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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
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Oooooooo that's a lot of tiddlers.
24/06/2025 13:52:38 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Hi there Occasional Lurker
If you mean the bike as linked to below - it MUST be a JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) model because the engine is different! I do not recognise the motor and therefore I cannot comment regarding it's build or design etc.
Mind you, blummin' well done for finding it. And now... now I'm off to peruse the rest of their bikes. Leeds ain't too far from Bolton. Ooooooh CT110...
https://www.sevenseasmotors.com/vehicle/honda-rebel-250-A772/...
24/06/2025 12:14:04 UTC
Occasional Lurker said :-
Hello folks, Honda CMX rarity..? I may be wrong... but, may I ask of you Glyn, do you refer to the recent sad example of a "Rebel" lying in a hedge, recently pictured..? And a further one, a gorgeous, pristine example in an American contributor's home..?
If so, there is one for sale, described as a Rebel 250... Seven Seas Motors, Morley, Leeds. These are importers of Japanese market machines. The majority of their inventory seems to be "tiddlers", ie. C50's & C90's, and derivatives for postal/pizza/noodle deliveries.
I check every now and again, reeling in disbelief at the asking price of dusty, tired example of a Honda CD250U.I bought one, (brand new), in 1989. For £1989 .... They are asking £15 short of £3K for their'
s..!! Yes, it hasn't sold in many,many months.
The rest of their stock seems to be priced similarly,and I fear I may not be keeping up with "the times", or I'm just becoming an "old-skinflint" ... Hope this may be of use to you, or others ... Regards, Tony
24/06/2025 08:57:03 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Mrs Glyn and Sharon would get along like a house on fire Glyn. Sharon LOVES her bloody garden and loves to put stupid pot plants and green things right in the path of where motorcycles should be. Can I suggest the installation of a LARGE workshop, resplendent with lathes, milling machines, lifts, hoists, paint booth, welding area, and kitchen/bathroom facilities? I estimate this would require the best part of that half acre. This would immediately solve the problem of having to "mow the lawn" as well as provide a more fitting location for you to continue your craft.
Mrs Glyn would probably divorce you which might impact on your finances somewhat, but you'd have a lovely workshop to console yourself with.
FZR250? Smashing. Be a revvy little screamer that will. Complex too, 4 carbs, 4 pistons, 16 valves, not sure about the ignition system - it *might* be digital?
24/06/2025 08:23:13 UTC
Latest Chit-Chat
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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
Random Link - Honda SH125 Mode Test Ride Review