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Messages - Dave48
1551
« on: 12 April 2012, 09:10:44 am »
How many foccers use a dental mirror & torch when cleaning their bikes? Have a friend with a shiny BSA-he cleans more than rides it-I always get the mirror underneath his sump to wind him up but confess I use same on my Fazer to check the nooks & crannies.Perfectionist?..Probably as I dont trust garages,dealers like some people do. I have NEVER had correct tyre pressures after service so do as much work myself as poss. Also like to check authenticity of vehicles in "period" films/tv dramas so its only a small step to checking the no of blades on that Spitfire prop!Im told they cant lock you up for this sort of thing but what would i know?
1552
« on: 09 April 2012, 11:25:37 am »
Hi Steve,
i have a friend who is currently riding a YBR 125 on L-plates. She cant afford to take her test until she finishes her degree course in a year or so, by which time it will be even more of an obstacle course to obtain a full bike licence. The "unspoken" official attitude seems to be something along the lines of... If we keep making it more difficult people wont bother and go straight into "cages" where the only regulations concerning power output,performance etc is financial(insurance etc). Seems a great shame that future potential riders will be discouraged from starting by the complexity of the procedure-there again we live in a very risk-averse society-all sorts of health & safety nonsense being spouted forth.
I was one of the lucky ones who started riding in the 60s-trouble is when the present crop of riders hang up their boots who will replace them? Rant over!
1553
« on: 09 April 2012, 10:34:30 am »
Yes Streetbike my local main dealer-a friendly bunch-have had 2 bikes from them in past. Sometimes I buy stuff from them and sometimes internet-have found Busters & M&P Direct good. My Thou came from CMC Cannock-again a nice outfit to deal with. Shame about the Bank holiday weather but lots of time yet for sunshine and rides out! Guess its computer biking for me today!
1554
« on: 09 April 2012, 10:08:09 am »
Hi there,
Nice looking bike. I previously owned an FZ6 Fazer(2004) & currently have a Gen 1 Fazer thou(2002) which I bought last August. Im close to you (Stirchley) so hope to see you around. Where did you get your bike? Best wishes,Dave
1555
« on: 21 February 2012, 06:03:51 am »
How long is a piece of string?!
Fuel consumption is related to various factors, including mechanical condition of machine, tyre pressure,loading, but mainly its down to the rider. How you read the road & anticipate changing situations/conditions,use of gears,brakes& throttle.
I can get anything from low 30s to approaching 50mpg on my FZS1000-depends how I ride!
One thing is certain however-fuel is never going to become cheaper with rapidly rising demand from developing countries-mainly China & India and thats the actual cost of fuel-not the extortionate additional[size=78%] tax burden imposed on us by the government.[/size]
I used 150Litres less fuel in my "cage" in 2011 compared with 2010 not by driving it any differently but by using it less and riding/walking more.
Its interesting that the only real growth in two-wheeler sales last year took place in the 125cc sector, in response to rapidly increasing rail/bus fares,pump prices and worsening congestion/parking issues.
How about a Euro-emissions compliant replacement Honda 90? A Yammie YBR 125 will ,in the right hands, return over 90mpg.
1556
« on: 21 February 2012, 05:39:33 am »
Having used both soft & hard luggage on various bikes, there are advantages/disadvantages with both systems. When I toured Ireland for a week with my partner a few years back we had a 46Litre Givi top box for her stuff & a Givi "double-decker" tank bag for mine. Lessons learned the hard way: The top box keeps stuff drier-the waterproof cover for the tank bag would draw in air & "inflate" as you travelled along-bit like an unwanted airbag! .We both learnt to travel light. First time I ever did a decent trip I took everything I thought I might ever need-the reality is very little is essential but how you pack it all can make the world of difference to your enjoyment of the journey. Top boxes have a warning in the instructions about how much weight they are designed to carry-also too much weight high up & @ the back lightens the front end.
Soft luggage is great unless you have underseat exhaust as on FZ6 Fazer-things can get a bit warm!. Also you need to be absolutely sure that the mountings are tight. Security can be an issue with soft luggage. I guess it all depends on whether you go solo/with pillion but one thing is certain we are spoilt for choice these days! I have a Givi rack & top box-without the box you have a useful carrier platform-also a Hein Gericke expanding bag that can be used as a tank bag or strapped to pillion seat. Also the "double-decker" Givi tank bag can be used singly(has map pocket) or zipped together for extra storage.-base is magnetic & has extra strap for securing to headstock.
Security of mounting/locking is vital. I was travelling up the M5 in Somerset in works van a few years ago and encountered a "Kamikazi" motorcyclist trying to pick up the contents of his top box that had spread themselves over the 3 northbound lanes. So----even if the lid is shut---make sure its locked in place! One of my pals lost a huge chain & padlock out of his box this way!
1557
« on: 18 February 2012, 06:53:48 am »
Worcester Bosch! Replaced my boiler back in summer from Potterton- which was still working fine since 1994)
I have a Greenstar i Junior and the gas bill is the ONLY one thats gone down in the last few months![size=78%] Which helps offset the rising cost of everything else,although any savings made will probably end up in Shells balance sheet!Now costing over£28 to fill Fazer tank![/size]
1558
« on: 05 February 2012, 02:11:52 pm »
Welcome to the site. Am doing some armchair biking today- but soon be Spring!
1559
« on: 05 February 2012, 11:32:56 am »
We had about 4" yesterday afternoon/evening in Birmingham. Went out in friends car last night-you should have seen the cagers(Mercs,BMWs mainly) sliding around: you know the story-high revs & 1st gear! Didnt see any gritters or snow ploughs on the 3 main roads we used. Daresay they were all out on the M6/M5.
The Fazer is wrapped up nice and warm in the kitchen(where else?) There is a friends YBR 125 in the shed with a couple of older bikes. I had to wait years to be able to enjoy having the bike indoors-no-one to nag me. I can do my little maintenance jobs/polishing whatever with the radio, kettle, heat & light. I did manage a couple of rides out last month before the weather turned colder and looking forward to the spring. 45 years ago I rode year round in all weathers & 60s bike gear wasnt particularly good at keeping you warm & dry.
1560
« on: 02 February 2012, 09:52:20 am »
Hi there! Sounds like youve done a good cleaning job on the outside. However, if you remove each caliper in turn and take out the pads etc and clean up everything including anti-squeal shims,pivot pins etc-make sure you put a thin layer of copper grease on the back of the pads-also on the pins-this will probably cure the problem. While you have the pads out-clean around the pistons with brake cleaner and lube the visible part of pistons with red rubber brake grease-dont use any other type of grease-it will damage the seals. You may have to pump the pistons out SLIGHTLY to access any old dirt,grease and brake dust. Also clean out any grooves on the front of the pads-they often harbour muck-and while youre at it just make sure there are no small stones or grit embedded in the lining material. Fazer brakes are good but need regular cleaning to get the best outof them. Good luck!
1561
« on: 18 November 2011, 08:24:49 pm »
Read about Bennetts new requirements in this weeks MCNews. They obviously dont want the business. Where does this stop?
What about car insurance-I suppose they would argue that non factory fitted rubber floor mats were a performance enhancer!
I have just reinsured my Gen 1 Fazer thou and car with Carole Nash on a 6-wheel policy-saved a fortune on the car and the bike was a fair price. I declared all the non-standard stuff like bellypan,hugger, end can,braided hoses etc-they werent bothered at all as none of these things alter the performance very much.I am going to the NEC on Sunday & will try to find out what Bennetts have to say for themselves! Its a bl**dy crazy world out there! Still foc-em!
1562
« on: 18 November 2011, 07:40:11 pm »
Thats a nice looking bike-looks like my Gen 1 FZS 1000s baby brother. Havent ridden for a week or so but got the red beast out today-charged the battery,quick wash & shine-may get a ride in tomorrow then its off to NEC Sunday to drool over the new stuff!-Still love these Fazers best though. Hope you have as many happy miles as Ive had! Good luck 
1563
« on: 02 October 2011, 07:00:20 pm »
1965 Austin Minivan DEX 174C with wide wheels,big-bore exhaust, twin spot & fog lamps in grille, all held together with lashings of rust under the blue paintwork and black roof. This was the dry sprung model not hydrolastic and drove like a go kart. Paid my mate Steve £100 @ £10 a month. Steve passed his bike test before me in 1966 and had a Villiers powered Norman 197cc two-stroke single. I was riding a Lambretta TV175 with polished ports , Ancilloti exhaust, and I could usually beat him from a standing start although eventually he could pip me on top speed. Although slow by modern standards I seem to remember we overtook a lot of cagers. Cars began to get better(quicker) with the crossflow engine Fords. Steves brother had a Janspeed conversion Morris Minor convertible with twin SU carbed 1275 tuned engine. Looked shabby but it shifted! Petrol was 6 bob a gallon in 1965 (30p in modern jargon) Happy days!
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