Welcome To Bikes And Travels...
...It's about bikes...and travels...mostly on bikes!
Spring appears to have arrived, so we can now look forward to warmer rain and more daylight in which we can enjoy the rain. Heck, we might even enjoy a summer one day this year!
What's New?
La France Day 1
Bogger provides an acceptable excuse for going to France but the first day of this adventure sees them in Dorking. Dorking is not in France but it does have the best beer garden ever. Apparently.
La France!
The title page for Bogger and pals' account of their misadventures in France. 4 unsupervised grown men who should know better and 125cc motorcycles, what could possibly go wrong?
A Borsuk In Barmouth
Alas another poor BAT reader has to endure the loss of tea and biscuits to the brew monster Ren. Borsuk is the victim this time, silly boy he brought it on himself.
Homeward Bound And Thoughts
There's not much to report on the final leg of the journey - in a good way. Ren shares his thoughts on this adventure in that there daaan saaaf.
Half Way Home
Oh no! Disaster! The weather is just right, the trip goes well and even the accommodation is lovely. Surely there must be something Ren can find to moan about? It's all going terribly wrong.
Exploring The New Forest
With better weather and a tank full of fuel it's time to look around the New Forest. There's a risk of trees and horses and tractors.
Off To The New Forest
It's time to move on once again and head even further daaan saaaf. The New Forest might be quite lovely but given the foul weather Sharon and Ren won't be finding out today - in fact they are struggling to see the road ahead.
A Walk In Dinton
There's a simple and lazy day ahead of The Dynamic Muppets today with not much planned. This eventually leads Ren to his new career as a Surrealist Artist Extraordinaire. Soon he will be famous and rich?
Stonehenge On The Cheap, Salisbury On The Hoof
It's time to take in Britain's most famous monolithic structure - Stonehenge. Salisbury is also going to endure a good dose of looking at as well.
Stones and More Comfort
It's time to depart the rally and head even further daaan saaaf. There's plenty of time for tea and to explore some ancient standing stones. What will the next 3 nights' accommodation be like?
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Latest Posts
La France Day 1
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I've barely started editing this missive nab301 and I can tell already there are many shenanigans to come.
15/08/2022 20:22:32 UTC
La France Day 1
nab301 said :-
@ Bogger , think positive , at least there were no melted dipticks reported..... yet!
Nigel
15/08/2022 20:14:48 UTC
La France Day 1
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I'm working on it! People keep on interrupting me.
15/08/2022 18:21:32 UTC
La France Day 1
Bogger said :-
Ooh no images?
Bogger
15/08/2022 16:52:47 UTC
CBF 250 Tickover SOLVED!
Rob said :-
Hey everyone, does anyone know the standard jet size for the Cbf250? I'm reading through the English translated manual and it says Main Pump 150. Is this the jet size? Thanks
13/08/2022 10:05:05 UTC
Shark Skwal Visor Broken - Dammit!
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I think you and many others Scotty. Fortunately for me, I ain't got one.
I posted here just last month that Shoei sent me two replacement cheek pads when there were minor cosmetic issues with the foam, the helmet was around 4 years old.
They were sent free of charge and first class mail too.
Upt'North.
11/08/2022 18:51:30 UTC
Shark Skwal Visor Broken - Dammit!
Ste Scott said :-
I bought a Shark Skwal in June 2018 and I'm on my 3rd visor, the last one broke after only 1000 miles. I will never EVER buy a Shark helmet again. Oh and mine is the up dated version. You can't trust them at all on long or short journeys.
11/08/2022 16:28:29 UTC
Brief Ride On A Honda Innova 125 - By Ren Withnell
Andy said :-
Hi mick
Sorry for the delay in replying:
A guy who lives near me in west Yorkshire sorted the seat out it has transformed the bike totally from the standard seat ..
Next job is to fit a auxiliary fuel tank ( 4 litres ) will keep you all posted with some pictures and details etc.
11/08/2022 09:55:49 UTC
Brief Ride On A Honda Innova 125 - By Ren Withnell
Rev. Mick! said :-
Wendy = Wemyss. Spell check did not like that name.
11/08/2022 08:54:12 UTC
Brief Ride On A Honda Innova 125 - By Ren Withnell
Rev. Mick! said :-
Unfortunately I have booked on the Belfast ferry. To meet my buddy Drew in Wendy’s Bay for ferry to Bute. It looks like two days for me to go West Kerry to Belfast. So will not be passing through the NW of Ingerland.
11/08/2022 08:52:40 UTC
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Ian Soady¹ said :-
That reminds me I lent mine to my brother a year or so back and he hasn't returned it.... I must admit though I generally use a three-square file for bigger threads as you're only removing material where it's been deformed. The thread files can be a bit over the top.
Cutting down to size? I run a nut onto the thread below where I want to cut, cut with a fine hacksaw blade and file flat with a slight chamfer. Then unscrew the nut so it half leaves the thread. Run it back down again and it will have left some rags. Chamfer off with the file again (or use a fine wheel in the grinder) and repeat till the are no rags produced. A purist may then finish off with a die.
15/08/2022 10:19:25 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
These are my little beauties Glyn. They come in very handy, especially if you're cutting down fasteners to size. One is imperial and one metric. These are over 40 years old.
Upt'North.
14/08/2022 23:08:00 UTC
Glyn said :-
Sadly, no to the proper thread guage files. That particular cantilever toolbox holds all my files, punches, pullers and specialist spanners such as 3 different size plug spanners. It's one of 4 toolboxes but the others are plastic and all broken unlike the 40 year old red cantilever. I'm not rushing out to buy a 2 stroke Nigel although i might like the simplicity, I think I shall deserve a rest after this one is all finished.
12/08/2022 16:18:56 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
No, they only get filled with stuff you never use except that very special tool which hides in the bottom.....
12/08/2022 11:40:56 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Glyn. Cantilever toolboxes never die.
Upt'North.
12/08/2022 10:07:56 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Glyn, I don't know if you did or you didn't, if you have or you haven't, but proper guage thread files are worth their weight in steel filings.
Upt'North.
12/08/2022 09:39:47 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Nigel.
That is what I was referring to friend, the lights come and it's time to service. The BMW X1 is like this although Er'Indoors Seat of a similar age isn't. That's still yearly. The BMW does run LL spec oil, I don't trust it though. But that's just me.
Upt'North.
12/08/2022 09:37:52 UTC
nab301 said :-
Glyn, I'm guessing your next project will be a humble 2 stroke !! Excellent progress by the way.
@ UPT Quote "It is strange too how a lot of the car industry went completely in the opposite direction with service warnings rather than a set schedule. It is fairly routine for large diesel burners to go 20,000 miles before the dash lights up with warnings of imminent wallet emptying."
I don't have a modern car but I thought modern car oil change intervals were determined ( by the ECU) via various inputs , especially the number of cold starts and also by the sometimes optional use of longlife oil ?
Nigel
11/08/2022 21:24:41 UTC
Glyn said :-
It's all together,timed and torqued. I decided to put the clutch on, that was just as well because this was when I found that, following it's travels around various workshops, pullers and presses, the threads on the end of the input shaft had become damaged and the clutch final nut could not be fitted. It took me almost 2 hours of thread filing, junior hacksaw rendering and filing a small taper on the end of the shaft until the nut could be wound on, torqued up and the lock tab bent over. This was a tricky job and much easier 1 metre above the floor than bent over when the engine was back in the frame. There are some rust issues on the frame that need sorting before the engine returns to it's rightful place but it's getting there.
11/08/2022 20:58:46 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
The Td5 diesel engine on my demised Land Rover Discovery had a crankshaft pisition sensor but nothing on the camshafts. I understand that it used the timing between pulses to work out which stroke it was on (no idea how) and therefore fire the injectors at the right time. No spark plugs of course. I also remember that the Triumph 955i had only a crankshaft sensor for its 3 cylinders used for both the injectors and sparks. It must somehow have known which stroke each cylinder was on but I never found out how.
10/08/2022 10:29:57 UTC
Latest Chit-Chat
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Upt'North ¹ said :-
On the subject of selling the Pan...Price reduced...Now £1750.
Upt'North.
15/08/2022 16:51:33 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Rod, it's a lovely spot, well worth a day or two if you're visiting the area. If you stayed in Peebles you'd have enough day rides to last a week at least.
No interest in the bike I'm afraid, it'll probably end up without some of the bits on FleaBay auction. I can hardly wait.
Upt'North.
13/08/2022 21:37:50 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
That area looks great Upt'.
I had to Google the location, and it's now on my list!!
Have you had any interest in the BeaST? That's a lot of bike for the money, and over 8 years is some going for a stop gap bike.
I have now owned my "stop gap bike" for over 3 years now. I am half way through the 60,000 mile service.
13/08/2022 18:20:09 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
And again.
12/08/2022 23:50:27 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
What a grand day for a ride Grommet. Megget and Talla near St.Marys Loch.
Upt'North.
12/08/2022 23:49:18 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
As an aside The B is currently returning mid 60's on Super Unleaded. Two up with top box on.
Upt'North.
09/08/2022 17:50:14 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ian, I had an itch to scratch, as you do, and low and behold we really like it. It'll probably be next year before it's completely kitted out but I think it'll be up to two up touring. It reminds me a lot of my now sold CBF1000, it just gets on with it.
The Pan at around 330 KG is also a little of a maul. Although it's good preparation for laying slabs.
It returns around (the Pan) 50mpg but that's not hanging about, I reckon you could get 60mpg with a little restraint, but if we're touring on the Pan it'll be 80 mph plus on the motorways, with occasional 90's so I reckon 50'ish is pretty good.
Upt'North.
09/08/2022 17:48:57 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
Ren, I bet the pan would be more economical than your two bikes on tour!
If we go two up on the BM it is just as good, or even better on fuel than the two 125s.
09/08/2022 15:52:02 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I suppose this conversation begs the quesion as to why you bought the V-Strom (I'm sure you must have told us but my memory being what it is (or isn't....))
Too hot for motorcycling today.
09/08/2022 14:27:56 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
If only your Pan would return 85mpg I'd consider it. Oh, and the massive mass was reduced so I'd stand a chance of getting it into the shed (it's a faff). But yeah, good strong reliable engine, plenty of storage, all day comfort, good weather protection and shaft drive, what's not to like?
09/08/2022 13:47:24 UTC
Random Link - More Brecon Beacons