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nab301 said :-
@ Glyn , thanks for enlightening me, should your next project not be a Suzuki 380 triple , even if it isn't ,I'm definitely looking forward to that!
@ Ren , where would the fun in that be ! An acquaintance of mine rode an aging CG125 from Ireland to Spain just before Christmas 2021...
09/01/2023 20:53:15 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Did he ride all the way from Ireland to Spain - or catch the ferry from Rosslare? I'd be more than happy to ride a mechanically sound 125 from Ireland to Spain, my 125 ain't gunna manage that without some "support".
My 125 is in bits. Some nidiot went off-roading on it and got it stuck up to the numberplate in a mud hole. It took some heaving and dragging on it's side to get it out and I broke an indicator. I think some screws, a strip of metal and some zip-ties are in order. I think I've cracked a rib. You can't fix stupid.
10/01/2023 09:06:51 UTC
Glyn said :-
Yes Nigel, you're exactly right,the expected arrival (Tuesday) is a Suzuki GT380 triple and not a Kawasaki as I stated. The faults noted are carburettor problems and a crankcase currently full of fuel. It shouldn't be too difficult but I always get caught out one way or another. It's also arriving in several boxes.
14/01/2023 20:27:51 UTC
Glyn said :-
The TS250 remains. When the weather had dried up enough I decided to take it up the lane for an outing. It's not nice, very heavy clutch and the engine power snatches in and out. Unfortunately, the electrical system is such that half of it works off the 6volt battery and half works off the engine coils. So the main beam worked but the dipped beam did not. After some work with the electrical meter this was traced to the dipped beam wire being shorted to ground because the wire was trapped underneath the switch control on the handlebars. There was some wiring connections loose and one of the plugs/sockets incorrectly wired. Also the short on the switch managed to flatten the small 2Ahr battery and I found it wasn't charging at all. This is because the charge rectifier (Fancy name for a diode to make it appear to be worth £8.00+) was open circuit. Waiting for the part to come now.
16/01/2023 19:17:15 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Glyn said - "It's not nice". It's a two stroke Glyn, what's to like? So more and more problems? AND!!! AND another even noisier and smellier stroker on the way too. This is more frightening than the worst Stephen King book I tell ya. 2 questions.
How do you come by these jobs? Have you inadvertently built up a reputation among your local motorcycling community to the point where you're the go-to friendly fixit chap? I don't get the sense this is a business you're building.
Are you enjoying it? It's a love-hate thing for me, especially because I'm working on my own bikes that I want to be riding not fixing. However I do gain a sense of satisfaction when the job is done. I'd love for someone to ask me to fix something of theirs but in my own time, no rush.
17/01/2023 08:30:42 UTC
Glyn said :-
It all goes back a few years Ren. Back in the years when a fix was possible I was a TV engineer for the Currys group. I was promoted to the roll of "Troubleshooter engineer" of which there were only 3 south of London. The general engineers were given 8 jobs per day and therefore less than 1 hour to fix each set. If they couldn't repair a set then it was put to one side for the attention of a troubleshooter who would tour the area and take on these problem sets. Now they got less than an hour and I could take all day (or longer) so gained an undeserved admiration for my abilities. There's quite a buzz from fixing something that others couldn't and 45 years later I still get it. It's certainly not a bike business as I have earned approximately £1 per hour on the TS250. The jobs generally come from contacts of my brother or friends of his friends. He is quite a renowned biker over quite a large area of the country. My help is generally thought to be the last resort as paying a proper shop to complete these jobs would be uneconomical. I curse and swear all the way through any fix but the buzz from success is what I do it for. I always reserve the right to be unsuccessful and guarantee nothing.
22/01/2023 14:31:56 UTC
Glyn said :-
All Parts arrived and fitted to the TS250. I think this is a great looking bike but it has to be said that it's the worst bike I've ridden for a long while. The brakes are appalling and, even with new shoes front and rear, are no match for the power of the bike. The "ring a ding ding" of the engine is horrid and the handling is not too sharp either. It is a very good example that this bike is 50 years old and things have come a long way since (I believe there were people driving around in Austin Allegros when this was new). My dad used to say that when you take an old bike out of the ditch, do it all up and ride it, then you realise why it was in the ditch in the first place. He's not wrong. It is all up together and working now and heading home next weekend when the GT380 will be delivered.
22/01/2023 20:22:23 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Nowt much wrong with Allegros especially when you compare them with the instant-rot Italians and mundane Japanese offerings of the time. They suffered from the perennial British disease of doing down our own products especially in the car magazines.
23/01/2023 14:26:48 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Reading your comments Glyn about that which was once "cutting edge" is now pretty rubbish - I gets to thinking(ish). We know modern brakes are better, handling has improved (mostly modern tyres I bet) and ignition is way less fiddly (but much more complex). What we miss though is the simplicity and DIY fixability of the old bikes.
Is there a modern bike that is as simple as it can be today, given the emission restrictions and safety requirements now? Modern 125s are probably as close as we can get. These still require linked brakes or ABS, fuel injection, and now EVAP cannisters. There's a computer to run the FI and ignition.
24/01/2023 09:32:15 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
You may not consider them modern but some of the Enfield offerings are pretty basic. The Interceptor is well reviewed in various magazines and I've read good reports on various forums. Other possibilities are the various Chinese offerings based on the Honda RFVC engine (although maybe more sensible to go for the real thing as I have).
Strange how the folk who once drooled over R1s and the like, then wouldn't be seen on anything but a R1200GS have suddenly realised that you don't have to spend knocking on £20,000 to enjoy yourself.
24/01/2023 10:28:51 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I still see enough 1250 GSs on the roads Ian - alongside various other "super" - adventure/sport models. I think Enfield are gradually moving a few folks away from "anything less than 120 HP is slow". The success of Yamaha's Tenere 700 has galvanised Honda and Suzuki to copy them (New Transalp for example). While these models are still in the 80 - 90 HP range it's still less than "as much as possible".
I wonder with the Enfields - they must have a computer. Can you get to the fault codes without proprietary software and cables?
25/01/2023 14:06:44 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Wouldn't know Ren. As you will be aware I prefer bikes that are well run in (or worn out) so don't have to bother with any of that stuff. No idea why anybody does to be honest.
25/01/2023 14:14:56 UTC
nab301 said :-
Quote "I wonder with the Enfields - they must have a computer. Can you get to the fault codes without proprietary software and cables?"
Ren , plenty of faults on EFI Enfields ,just search for Mil (Malfunction indicator light).
Plenty of woes on specific forums. What you want is the last of the pre unit Bullet 65's with disc front brake and 5 speed gearbox (assuming you don't want a R/H gearchange)
for a software free ride straight out of the 50's! Or you can always convert your EFI model to a Carburettor .
Nigel
25/01/2023 23:15:41 UTC
Glyn said :-
As arranged the Suzuki GT380 has arrived. I think this could be another tricky one as there are electrical problems with some parts arriving in boxes and bags including the points and condenser plate and the airbox. The kick start doesn't return and the clutch is suspect. The last time it ran was many years ago. If you didn't like the sound of the TS250 single then this 380cc triple will drive you mad. Having said that, I've got to get it going in order for that to happen.
29/01/2023 16:37:34 UTC
nab301 said :-
Lovely !! We need a video / sound of this one when you get it running
Nigel
29/01/2023 19:22:27 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
I owned a GT380 mid 1970s. I have fond memories of this bike.
When setting up the ignition timing take care, as the middle cylinder has a slightly different dial gauge setting to the outside cylinders, and these triples will melt pistons if they are not set up correctly.
Probably teaching my grandmother to suck eggs again...
29/01/2023 19:34:57 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I've just gotten a little bit of bile in the back of my throat seeing that monstrosity!
29/01/2023 20:35:44 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I never saw the point of the 380. Although the noise was nice.
It was just about as quick as the GT250 which was a cracker.
The middle piston was always a problem.
Good luck Glyn.
Upt'North.
30/01/2023 00:02:39 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
Sorry Upt',I have to disagree about the GT380. I would regularly see over 110mph, and was once clocked by the police on the M23 at 103mph two up.
The biggest difference between the 250 & the 380 was riding into a headwind, or two up.
I would easily keep up with a solo 250 when I was two up on the 380.
30/01/2023 08:52:39 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Well, you don't have to Rod, but it is your prerogative.
I had a GT250A, probably 1978, I can see that two up the 380 would probably do things better.
The 250 was a cracking bike and very underrated. The X7 was a different kettle of fish altogether, made for folks Ren's size.
Upt'North.
30/01/2023 18:40:40 UTC
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