Welcome To Bikes And Travels...
...It's about bikes...and travels...mostly on bikes!
It's summertime now and the rain has gotten warmer. Where are you planning to explore then huh?
What's New?
Fruitless Overtaking
Is persistent overtaking the only way to make good progress or just an unnecessary additional hassle that offers very little gain?
Puig Screen For Kawasaki Z250SL Review
Sharon has been suffering from wind. Hopefully Puig has a screen that can help. But will it be pretty as well as purposeful?
A long Way Up for a Tartan Sausage
Upt'North has the regrettable task of riding around the Scottish Highlands in glorious sunshine and having to eat sausages. It's a dirty job but someone has to do it.
Summer Holidays Commuting Bliss
Even the curmudgeon that is Ren has unwittingly enjoyed a brief moment of the summer holidays. Is there hope or is this just a hiatus?
Upcycled Oil Dispenser
In a bid to save the world Ren has saved one small bit of plastic from the world's oceans. Probably spilt more oil than the Exxon Valdez in the process but still.
The Tour-A-Plank Tale
Sharon won't let Ren mess up her pretty 250. Ren hates Sharon's luggage. It's a quandary in a problem wrapped up in a conundrum with a dilemma. Ren might have the answer(ish)
Going Home With Elan, Valley
The Elan Valley. Over-hyped or actually worthy of it's accolades? Sharon and Ren check it out on their way home.
Honda CBF125 Service Check Short
A brief guide to getting the ECU computer error codes out of a Honda CBF125
More Brecon Beacons
It's all waterfalls and nature today with a little motorcycling thrown in.
Breathtaking Bute
Sharon would like a lazy, laid back and chilled day. Unfortunately she has brought a Ren with her. He's not so bad when he stops flapping.
See More What's New
Latest Posts
Fruitless Overtaking
Ren - The Ed said :-
With power comes corruption, with absolute power comes absolute corruption. The more powerful the vehicle the easier the overtake thus encouraging the overtake because it's easy. I'm far far less likely to overtake on the 125 than I am on the 500 for obvious reasons.
I'm just more aware that it's not worth the bother to me if all I'm going to do is gain a few seconds here and there. Same at the lights - why filter to the front passed 3 or 4 cars? If there's a long queue then maybe I will but for a few car lengths? I'll just have a stretch and admire myself in the shop window.
19/8/2019 5:11:21 PM UTC
Fruitless Overtaking
Jim said :-
It's a funny one, this. I subscribe 100% to this philosophy when driving my car - no point in exposing yourself to danger to gain one place in the queue that's just round the next corner. I'm teaching my youngest son to drive just now and have given him the same advice. However, I've noticed on the bike I'm much more likely to take on the overtake if it's safe, just because I can. Strange old world.
19/8/2019 4:32:12 PM UTC
CBF 125 Worn Out Clutch
Ren - The Ed said :-
Cheers Cryo, useful stuff :)
19/8/2019 8:48:33 AM UTC
CBF 125 Worn Out Clutch
Cryo said :-
If anyone wants to know, my official honda cbf125 service manual states:
clutch plates service limit (warpage)= 0.20mm (checking it with a feeler gauge on a flat surface
Clutch discs service limit (both A width front and back and B width 3 in the middle)= 2.80mm
Clutch discs Thickness= 2.92mm - 3.08mm
Spring free length= 39.0mm
You are welcome
17/8/2019 7:03:46 PM UTC
Z Day...Hello Kawasaki Z 250 SL
Ewan Stevenson said :-
Hi Sharon,
This might interest you. It's not the SL but the Ninja 250R.
https://youtu.be/Kz03sQeX02c
Paste that into your browser.
It shows how 250s can trash litre bikes on the corners.
I reckon the SL would be able to do the same, maybe even better as it is 15kgs lighter and it's second gear is so fast. Tempted to do this on mine and film it on the web cam. :)
I did see a great SL vid on the motorway. Will send if I can find it. He was like Rossi on an SL..
15/8/2019 2:22:06 PM UTC
Puig Screen For Kawasaki Z250SL Review
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Ooooofff... Note to self - don't try it with squirrels. Thanks Bill.
15/8/2019 1:48:11 PM UTC
Puig Screen For Kawasaki Z250SL Review
Bill said :-
Ren just don't try it with a squirrel as they eat nuts ??
15/8/2019 11:49:04 AM UTC
Z Day...Hello Kawasaki Z 250 SL
Sharon said :-
Hi Ewan,
Yes it us a pity the 250cc superlight Kawasaki bikes didn't sell well in the UK. But when I hear people passing their tests saying they won't consider anything under a 650cc because they would be bored then it's not surprising. There is a lot of misconceptions about fun factor and engine size. A bigger engine does not always denote more fun and a smaller one does not denote boredom. I have had thousands of miles of fun on mine. Both in the UK and abroad.
As for the gears I have never really noticed a short first gear. Probably because I change up pretty quick so never spend much time in first apart from setting off and slow speeds.
What do I want next? I'm not sure because I have no plans to change my Kawasaki Z250SL at the moment because there is nothing as light as this bike out there. I do like the Kawasaki 400z so that is a possible maybe for the future.
I hope you enjoy your Kawasaki Z250SL and look forward to hopefully hearing about your adventures on it.
14/8/2019 10:16:37 PM UTC
Summer Holidays Commuting Bliss
Upt'North said :-
Ed, it would be the B5250, Langton Brow? I think.
The body shop/paint shop would be on the N/S I think going into Eccy from the general direction of J27.
I know I'm a bit vague but I haven't been there for about 15 years.
Upt'North.
14/8/2019 4:17:26 PM UTC
Summer Holidays Commuting Bliss
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Are you coming into Eccy along the A49 or B5250?
14/8/2019 3:16:46 PM UTC
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Latest Chit-Chat
Go To Chit-Chat
Ren - The Ed said :-
We're off to Germany in the next few weeks Henrik :) Only dipping into the Mid West and only a short break but at least we'll be out and about.
We manage to get out most weekends. This weekend 150 miles around Derbyshire and Cheshire.
19/8/2019 10:29:10 AM UTC
Henrik said :-
19/8/2019 9:37:59 AM UTC
Henrik said :-
Ren, be happy, soon you will be off again, in a year or so,... making pancakes now, on a civilised camp, Vaxholm, north f stockholm,...
19/8/2019 9:36:26 AM UTC
Upt'North said :-
Whatever you're seeing Ed in your tea and digestive induced haze is not me in a bivouac in any midge filled Scottish Glen. Although pooping in the woods maybe.
Now that image will haunt you, sleep well.
Upt'North.
19/8/2019 9:08:34 AM UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
I guess you'll be pooping in the woods Henrik? Upt', I can see you wild camping on a remote Grampian mountain with just a bivvy bag and a bottle of water. You'd be soooo happy covered in midge bites, hungry and cold.
19/8/2019 8:51:34 AM UTC
Upt'North said :-
Is that out intrepid Henrik on tour.
I've come up in Mosquito lumps just looking at the picture.
Enjoy your free sleep amigo.
Upt'North.
18/8/2019 5:18:41 PM UTC
said :-
The sleep is best when its free ;-)
18/8/2019 1:39:30 PM UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Sorry Borsuk, but we are not responsible for what goes on in your brain. It is a perfectly reasonable thing to talk about is the erection of a shed in one's own back yard. I can't imagine why you'd need brain floss. Upt', tell me would you be coming into the erected shed via the front door or back door?
PS. It's been a little quiet blog-wise here simply because not a lot is happening in the bike world for me. I'm riding and I'm tinkering but I've nothing new or interesting to report. Any suggestions anyone? And no, I'm not purchasing an old CZ or Jawa just to make life interesting.
16/8/2019 3:13:44 PM UTC
Borsuk said :-
Aaaarggghhhhhh.
Why is there never brain floss handy when you need it.
16/8/2019 3:07:45 PM UTC
Upt'North said :-
Ed, I don't know if it had anything to do with my own experience but mine was erected at about 1000 ft up on the edge of the Staffordshire Moorlands. We had a lot of weather. It wasn't unusual to have colder, snowier, fogger, you get it, conditions for days and weeks at a time. Most winter's we would have lying snow for long periods. I put extra vents in to mine, I think it was a Yardmaster around 12 x 8 ish I would think.
Nothing could stop the condensation that literally ran off the roof, so that's why I ended up lining just the ceiling. I first tried polystyrene tiles but they all fell on me noggin. It wasn't a good look.
I was very impressed with the quality of the steel shed, after around ten years it still looked good.
Like the Borsuk erection too, I feel quite left out as I haven't got a shed now.
Should I start thinking about my own erection?
Upt'North.
16/8/2019 10:12:03 AM UTC