OT - BMW bike advice sought

the engines, if maintained, are very tough, 100k is no biggie

the electrics are a complete bitch, everything goes via relays

parts are readily available and cheap

_if_ you have a genuine low mileage job kept garaged and dealer serviced you should be ok, but insist on the ten minutes with a hosepipe test, and check every fastener for damage or signs of plastic metal, particularly sump area.

whatever you do, don't pay much for it, a good one is only worth 750

What became of the big Honda?

nickh=== Posted with Qusnetsoft NewsReader 2.2.0.8

Kim,

Just in case you didn't see the article by Frank Melling in last weekend's Daily Telegraph, here is the link:

I have the retro version of the XBR - the GB500TT (same running gear, but in a tubular frame with wire wheels, single seat, semi-rearsets and near clip-ons, in a quasi Gold Star/Venom/International way) - which came back today from having a slightly raunchier silencer and hidden collector box made in stainless steel for me by Gazelle exhaust systems. A 25 mile run this morning in the bright sunshine removed any temptation I might have to buy another modern and quicker motorcycle. It's evening now, and I'm still grinning!

Christopher W.

B...... oring M..... ans W......heels

Get a GSXR :))

lengthening -

I dunno, R50 was a nice bike

You know you've reached middle age when you say things like that about Beamers

thing is, I've always liked that style of bike.

I had four, R65, R100CS, R100RS and R100RT. All excellent and very well made.

Covered 250k plus miles altogether, don't think I have the reactions to go back on one now.....

Fritz Scheidegger and Max Deubel got around on them pretty well.

Peter

-- Peter & Rita Forbes Email: snipped-for-privacy@easynet.co.uk Web:

In - erm - 1963 Fritz Scheidegger passed me on the Sulby Straight in the IoM. It was early morning (fivish) and the roads were still open. I'd gone out for a quick lap on my Triumph-Norton & was making Reasonable Progress when he came past me as though I were going the other way!

Well, I bought the BMW - you knew I would, didn't you? ;o))

I collected it yesterday lunchtime having got 12% off the price because the ABS lights are flashing & the petrol gauge doesn't work. My tame BMW mechanic (worked with him for seven years thirty years ago) said that if the battery had gone flat when it was standing (it had) it is only a computer fail safe & he can clear it electronically.

I then went for a potter about on it & sort of got carried away. A twenty mile run out to Bath (Somerset) and back ended up passing through Salisbury, Stonehenge, Marlborough & home along the M4! I had a decent modern jacket on & leather riding trousers, but was not wearing the layers of warm stuff I would otherwise have had on if I knew I was going to do 130 miles & not 20 .

The bike is fine & the fairing & screen (not at all my favourite items of equipment on a motorcycle) kept the wind blast off sufficiently well to allow the jacket to retain the body's heat. The electric screen is seized up as usual, but fortunately the previous owner must be my seated height as it works for me. The air flow at speed is far from smooth, but the buffeting is bearable.

It is as competent a motorcycle as you'd expect from the manufacturer. Certainly, it is a big, heavy lump - but there, so am I ;o)) - and it pushes its 650+lbs along without fuss or drama. I was warned that it would seem a revvy beast & that's true, but it also means you can potter along in fifth & accelerate well without rowing it along on the gear pedal.

"A rhinoceros on amphetamines" was the simile that came to me as we accelerated down the ramp onto the M4 at 5.30pm & for the first time in perhaps ten years, I was happy to be on two wheels on the motorway. It was easily able to keep up with the 80-90 MPH going home traffic & acceleration at those speeds was much more than sufficient for overtaking & traffic herding. It was too crowded and well watched for attempts to see how fast it goes, but I briefly saw 110.

Thanks to those who responded from across the world, your comments were most helpful.

Regards,

Kim Siddorn

Regards,

Kim Siddorn

Diplomacy d>

"Kim Siddorn" wrote (snip):-

Can you get a Coventry-Victor flat four in the top box?

I found it kind of strange to hear folk coming over all nostalgic about comparatively modern Japanese machinery in this thread (and links), then I realised I had a few fond memories too. Never been a motorcyclist (unless you count VeloSoleX) myself, but I have pillioned on a fair few particularly during my university days (late 70's early 80's). One of the nicest I thought was the Honda 400/4 - I remember the rider complimenting me for remaining firmly glued to the back when he had to take sudden evasive action to miss an errant car. Perhaps the nastiest was a Yamaha RD something-or-other, where I seemed to alternate between clinging on for dear life and clashing helmets with the rider!

In the '80's, I had a string of Honda 400/4's & loved them all. I also had several RD's, both 250,350 & 400. I had one 400 with scrap barrels that I experimented with. Had it bored & honed to take something else's pistons - don't remember what. A couple of K&N filters, bigger main jets, racing expansion exhausts, slightly baffled & a red painted engine completed the tune up.

I remember it was crap below about 6,524, but at 6,526 all hell broke loose, including the rider's bowels ;o))

Regards,

Kim

I always reckoned the 400/4 had a gearbox full of neutrals...for a while I had a 550/4 which was an OK-ish sort of bland machine. Favourite had to be my hybrid RD/TZ 350LC, which was indecently rapid if a little thirsty! I nearly bought a Silk at one stage, and had a brief flirtation with a Kawasaki 650 four. Of cousre what I'd really like to get my hands on is a Suzuki kettle, but then what else would expect from a man whose engine shed is full of two strokes :-))

Regards

Philip T-E

This thread has reminded me how much I crave the occasional dose of fun, fresh air motoring since getting rid of my Marlin kit car. No room for a car now (engines!) and anyway, it always made me feel guilty paying out so much in tax, insurance, MOT etc for a few sunny days use. I know it's a bit Wallis and Grommit, but does one need a motorcycle licence to conduct a sidecar outfit? Nothing with sporting pretensions you understand, I rather like the look of those BMW inspired Russian outfits, just right for invading Poland! It's all a pipe dream of course, Helen has always threatened divorce if anything with three wheels were to arrive.

We always reckoned that the 400/4 was why the 500/4 was such a poor seller. Who'd want one of they boring, slow, heavy, thirsty 500's when you could have a light, handy, fast, exciting 400?

I never found the gearbox wanting, I must say, though I fixed one once by laying it on its side! A couple of dishevelled lads arrived at the shop one Saturday morning. The back wheel had locked up on the roundabout and fetched them off with a thump - could we look at it.

They go off to the cafe & I remove the rear chain cover & look at sprocket etc. Nothing. Out with the sump plug & drain the oil. On the prop stand to take the clutch cover off.

Tinkle.

Pour oil slowly into another tin - and there is a needle roller in the oil.

All present were pretty conversant with the beast & we were pretty sure there were no NRs in the motor. Down to the main dealer who nodded wisely & said "Honda had a dissatisfied employee a year or so ago and at the end of his last shift he went around to say goodbye to his mates & whilst they were all bowing to each other, his left hand was dropping NRs into partly built engines."

Never did get it confirmed, but could find no other explanation.

So, if you are pulling down a mid seventies Honda engine & find a NR wedged in a corner, don't loose too much sleep over how the Hell it got there!

Philip, there were several Suzuki Boilers in Classic Bike last month.

Regards,

Kim Siddorn

Diplomacy done, plates spun, fires fought, maidens eaten - well, three out of four ain't bad

On Tue, 21 Mar 2006 11:47:57 -0000, "Nick H" finished tucking into their plate of fish, chips and mushy peas. Wiping their mouths, they swiggged the last of their cup of tea, paid the bill and wrote::

Have you still got yours? Mine came back from France on a bike carrier on the trailer behind the Acadiane (Citroen Dyane van) and was driven off the ferry at Dover, straight into the RED lane - Susan took the van, trailer and kids through the green. I'd heard tales about the problems of importing a vehicle, so had a bill of sale (no cart gris (log book)) and bills for spares and fuel to prove it had been used.

Drive over to Customs officer, stop engine. "What can I do for you, sir?" "I want to import this so I can licence it legally. Here's the paperwork, such as it is, and here's the serial number." "That's all fine sir, there's just one thing.................." "What's that?" (with heart rapidly sinking) "Can I ride it around the Customs shed? I've always fancied having a go!" No sooner said than done: 20 minutes later, having filled in about 10% of the form I was presented with, there I am with my clearance document, no import tax or VAT to pay, and coming out of Customs just as Susan came out with the van.

Getting an MOT was "interesting" - the people in the local moped shop couldn't stop laughing!

Brian L Dominic

Web Sites: Canals:

Newsgroup readers should note that the reply-to address is NOT read: To email me, please send to brian(dot)dominic(at)tiscali(dot)co(dot)uk

BD> Have you still got yours?

'Fraid not. Arrived in 1977 or so courtesy of Colin Heath, a Scott owning friend of my father and proved rather unequal to life in the chiltern hills. It was consigned to the shed when I departed for university where I would have been hard pushed to afford the batteries for a bicycle lamp, let alone run any kind of motor vehicle. After that four wheels beckoned and I had missed out on a chunk of most people's transport history. It departed from dad's shed perhaps five years ago, I believe at a handsome profit!

nickh=== Posted with Qusnetsoft NewsReader 2.2.0.8

- erm, I've got a Velo Solex engine. It looks pretty sound, turns over ok & appears to be complete but sans generator cover.

Pics available if interested.

Offers, anyone?

Regards,

Kim Siddorn

Diplomacy done, plates spun, fires fought, maidens eaten - well, three out of four ain't bad

Kim Siddorn

Diplomacy done, plates spun, fires fought, maidens eaten - well, three out of four ain't bad