SM Motorbike thread

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
The modern MV's are works of art but I was shocked a couple of years ago when a neighbour's Brutale was taken off the shopfront by thieves (caught just a few yards later), he had been relying on the steering lock and as I discovered when I fixed it for him, frankly a 5-year old would have been strong enough to break it! A single finger of 2mm pressed tin about 8mm across was all that stood in their way! One pull on the bar end and it just folded up... suffice to say he invested in a huge disk lock and later a 20' container to keep it safe after that!
 

TimR

Member
Messages
2,656
Wow, I remember Performance Bikes raving about the V-Due when it came out. There was one in a bike garage (no longer there) on the A3 South out of Guildford. You never know, big 2-strokes might possibly make a resurgence as KTM's 2-strokes are fuel injected as of the last couple of years. I suppose it's probable the climate issues might be the final straw though.
And they are very good...
I rode their latest iteration, actually, a Husqvarna TE300i. The fueling is great. My n/a 2014 TE300 was awful from factory..I started to wonder if they had any idea what they were doing as none of their set-up numbers seemed anything close to a decent burn but these injected machines run upto 100:1. Yep- you read that right !
With the balancer shaft added in the newest bikes, they are just so good to use...
I was a little sad I rode it and liked it so much. I think my 2014 TE300 is great. But I had to do alot of learning to get it sorted. And they are brilliant. So simple and so tunable. From torque powered rubberband bottom end to powerband monster, I am glad I made the effort to make it work- but the newest injection bikes are a step change better from KTM, it has to be said !
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,114
Having 4 stroke Enduro bikes for a few years now the last one a BMW G450 X which I had for several years I now fancy a 2 stroke TPi and they get some great reviews too.
After a KTM 350 years ago costing me loads of money I thought never again.
The new bikes though are beautiful and the 300 looks the business.IMG-20190524-WA0022.jpg
 

Tipmethewink

Junior Member
Messages
366
And they are very good...
I rode their latest iteration, actually, a Husqvarna TE300i. The fueling is great. My n/a 2014 TE300 was awful from factory..I started to wonder if they had any idea what they were doing as none of their set-up numbers seemed anything close to a decent burn but these injected machines run upto 100:1. Yep- you read that right !
With the balancer shaft added in the newest bikes, they are just so good to use...
I was a little sad I rode it and liked it so much. I think my 2014 TE300 is great. But I had to do alot of learning to get it sorted. And they are brilliant. So simple and so tunable. From torque powered rubberband bottom end to powerband monster, I am glad I made the effort to make it work- but the newest injection bikes are a step change better from KTM, it has to be said !
KTMs are renowned for lean running throughout the range aren't they? Not just the oil ratio. I've only had big road going KTMs. Beta man now.
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
Alex has a restricted 125 Duke and that was so lean, you knew it was running when it was pinking!!!
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
I loved my KTMs, been all over Europe on them from the Med to glaciers in northern Norway.

i-HsKZJZ5-L.jpg


i-vkGnfH4-L.jpg


i-Vbt6wH8-L.jpg


i-5JRLfg6-L.jpg
 

Hawk13

Member
Messages
1,471
I came very close to buying an RC8 but the one I tested had appalling low down fuelling and the dealer told me they all do that and tried to sell me a power commander as well. I then rode the R version and that was brilliant and sounded ace witk Akrapovic pipes.

But a Buell 1125R fell into my lap at a stupid price and I bought that instead. Less than 600 miles and about £4k spent on bigger throttle bodies, race ecu and exhaust, cams, suspension work and loads of carbon.

Everyone expected it to be an asthmatic old Buell whereas the reality was that it had (what was basically) an overbored and tuned Aprillia Mille engine - it was a real sleeper and (until the front brake faded) a really quick steering track tool.
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
My RC8 has perfect fuelling, the dealer was talking ****. The R is a bit quicker but the real advantages is a softer rear spring and damper and revised pick up points which makes it more comfy.
 

TimR

Member
Messages
2,656
1125R/CR Buells were a good bike- perhaps not the most attractive thing out there but with the usual Buell quirks, they were interesting and promised a lot. They were just too small. A common trend at the time...Erik has since turned his hand to pedelec E=Powered pushbikes.
The RC8 on the other hand was a surprisingly roomy and comfortable bike from the cockpit...
Lean fueling was in full swing amongst most manufacturers by this time. I think KTM took a fair bit of flack in the motoring press for it. They arent always the most erudite of opinions..!
 
Last edited:

outrun

Member
Messages
5,017
I’d love an MV to go with the R Nine T but as my wife hates the bike, I suspect two might push her over the edge. I only manage 1000 or 1500 miles a years so one is plenty I guess.

(Opens man maths calculator......)
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,102
I've restarted my Kawasaki ZXR 750 L1 restoration.

When I first bought it,I changed the oil and coolant as the oil was oil and water and the coolant was just coloured water. I tried to start it to no avail, so i thought that it was the stale fuel in the carbs. There's plenty of spark and compression, which is surprising as it had been dormant for around 5 years before my ownership accoring to the DVLA MOT check. So set about removing the carbs with a view to cleaning them. This came to an end when I got the job here at Gatwick.

So after moving jobs, house (twice) and Maseratis, I got round to finally rebuilding the carbs after finding a lot of crud (Felonious, no less!) in the jets but had a few bits missing, (gone somewhere between Westbourne, Southbourne and Chilworth. I've duly ordered them and should have them by the weekend to finish them off.

Last Night, I connected up a battery and gave it a few spins, after injecting 3inOne, WD40 and IPA into the cyclinders. Got some bangs and farts from the spark plugs igniting the mixture, all good fun but the valves are filthy. If after fitting the carbs, I manage to get it started I'll take a view whether the engine should come out for rebuilding or just leave it in and get it roadworthy. The brakes need rebuilding, both front and rear, I have new brake lines and a new chain and sprockets to fit. I'll need to repaint the black metalwork , touch up the frame and refit the fairing. The tyres are 2008 vintage but luckily there's a bike tyre place in my village. There's not much in my village in terms of retail shops but we have one of those! So they'll get my custom once it's ready to roll. If you're interested I'll post pictures.

But this is what it should look like.
59590
 

Hawk13

Member
Messages
1,471
very nice - I remember watching Team France endurance race those in the early 90 (with Terry Rymer on board).

Aaahhh, the good old days when you could ride the track and view from the Mulsanne
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,102
very nice - I remember watching Team France endurance race those in the early 90 (with Terry Rymer on board).

Aaahhh, the good old days when you could ride the track and view from the Mulsanne
Ahh 'Too Tall Tel', what a star he is. First Brit to win a WSB race. World Endurance Champion in 92 with some bloke called Carl Fogarty. What ever happenned to him? However Scott Russell who won the WSB in 93 on a ZXR750 was a cool dude too.
59592
 

Tipmethewink

Junior Member
Messages
366
Now we're talking. Had three ZX7Rs over the years. Last one had flat slides and 130 bhp at the rear wheel.
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,102
Off to the IOM tomorrow for the classic TT & MGP. Going in the 4200, it’s never been around the mountain course before, should be fun!
Did that 20 years ago on a ZX9R, would love to take the restored ZXR750 round, see what it can do.
 

Marco07

Member
Messages
373
I’m also a bike fan
 

Attachments

  • AA3916D8-31BA-4E41-96C6-B607AB52FA85.jpeg
    AA3916D8-31BA-4E41-96C6-B607AB52FA85.jpeg
    81.7 KB · Views: 11
  • 24FB4A36-E447-4F2B-9D37-81BA27BAC6BE.jpeg
    24FB4A36-E447-4F2B-9D37-81BA27BAC6BE.jpeg
    1 MB · Views: 11
  • 8B64C4CE-3608-443E-A7BA-E3AFECB5211D.jpeg
    8B64C4CE-3608-443E-A7BA-E3AFECB5211D.jpeg
    2.5 MB · Views: 13
  • A030C9C7-DAF2-4B2A-A0DA-7A84A86BFBEB.jpeg
    A030C9C7-DAF2-4B2A-A0DA-7A84A86BFBEB.jpeg
    95.1 KB · Views: 13

Needamaser

Member
Messages
1,491
I’m also a bike fan
Very nearly bought a V7 Racer last month. Had only done 700 miles and had lived mainly in a living room. However it was missing the seat cowl and although it had fantastic sounding aftermarket pipes on it the originals were missing as well. There was a slight scratch on the chrome tank and that would have driven me mad and that was the deciding factor not to buy it.
Would still have one if I came across an immaculate example. Nice collection of bikes