The friendly "dumb" bike questions thread

[tom_e]

Cbull said:

Had another thought over it and you're right, suppose it's best to have it fixed up. Saying that, I've just phoned up a couple of companies of which in the end said they didn't bother with Aluminium types and I've Emailed another one. None of which are local which would add complications. Shall see what they say but thanks anyway.

http://www.westmerciaradiators.co.uk/motorbike_radiator_repairs.html

[bgunn]

Cbull said:

Yet another one, I swear it'll be road worthy eventually. It's only been off the road for a couple of months

A chain link previously snapped whilst testing it. Thought it was new'ish but not sure. So, I've just replaced the chain and sprockets myself. Everything seems spot on, Slack is set to 35mm (manual says 34-40mm, same symptoms at 30mm), no Rear wheel wobble, Rear wheel alignment measures good and looks good, no wobble at the front sprocket and torques set correctly. Everything seems to be spot on.

Problem is, there is a shake and judder of the chain and front sprocket which vibrates the bike and sounds a bit damaging/scary. Almost quite violently at times when you put rev on then just before it idles. The video link doesn't do the noise justice but hopefully you get the point. It seems worse the higher the gears.

Initially I thought it was the sprockets not aligned but I don't think it's that. Looking down the top of the chain it seems to jump a little. There is a noise from the front sprocket area about 3rd gear onwards. That kind of tells me it maybe the drive shaft but it's intermittently not constant. Messaged a friend and he's under the impression it maybe because it's not under tension. I rode up and down the road and it seemed OK but there may have been a slight noise but unsure. Scared to ride at speed as it maybe been what snapped the last chain.

Being a total mechanic noob I have no idea (although I'm trying not to be). Hoping it's something obvious to someone else. Any ideas?

https://youtu.be/kRlwsBPKk60

Thanks.

The chain will chatter a lot when off load like that, that's the torque fluctuations of the engine as it idles being passed through the drive train, rattling all of the backlash through the primary drive, gearbox and then ultimately the play in the chain too. Notice how it quietens down and smooths out when you 'drive' the bike.

If your back wheel is in line, and the chain tension is right, it'll be fine. Try a low speed run and you'll find it feels a lot better.

[Cbull]

Well, scrap the above post. Woke up and thought fk it I'll just go for it. To be fair I didn't even notice any issues with the chain.

Managed 5 miles before breaking down, currently sat on a fence awaiting recovery. The bike seemed fine. Slowed down for a junction and it just cut out. It just about starts with the choke on but the second I turn the throttle it cuts out. Quick Google says it's the carbs.

This is my second bike and had nothing but trouble in the few months of owning the last one. Dont think I'm cut out for all this malarkey, spend more time and money on it than riding. Maybe new bikes are the only way.

[TooLateForAName]

_Fayaz said:

Here's one.

Being 23 and sitting on a CBT, I'll be waiting until 24 to do an unrestricted test. Is there anything I can do now so I can pass as soon as I hit 24 or does it all need to be done afterwards (theory, mod 1 and mod 2)?

You can certainly do the theory early and book the mod1 and mod2 in advance book online.

How confident are you on the practical tests? Booking a reasonable time in advance you might be able to get both on the same day.

Question would be how are you going to access a big bike?
I don't know if you can have lessons on a big bike before you are 24, ask an instructor

[bgunn]

Cbull said:

Well, scrap the above post. Woke up and thought fk it I'll just go for it. To be fair I didn't even notice any issues with the chain.

Managed 5 miles before breaking down, currently sat on a fence awaiting recovery. The bike seemed fine. Slowed down for a junction and it just cut out. It just about starts with the choke on but the second I turn the throttle it cuts out. Quick Google says it's the carbs.

This is my second bike and had nothing but trouble in the few months of owning the last one. Dont think I'm cut out for all this malarkey, spend more time and money on it than riding. Maybe new bikes are the only way.

Sounds like you've run out of fuel!

Where are you in the country, someone might be able to help or direct you to a friendly mechanic who can help. There's nothing wrong with an 'old' bike, they just need to be well set up and in good order, carburetted bikes don't really like to stand around for long periods of time.

[Moulder]

Cbull said:

Yet another one, I swear it'll be road worthy eventually. It's only been off the road for a couple of months

A chain link previously snapped whilst testing it. Thought it was new'ish but not sure. So, I've just replaced the chain and sprockets myself. Everything seems spot on, Slack is set to 35mm (manual says 34-40mm, same symptoms at 30mm), no Rear wheel wobble, Rear wheel alignment measures good and looks good, no wobble at the front sprocket and torques set correctly. Everything seems to be spot on.

Problem is, there is a shake and judder of the chain and front sprocket which vibrates the bike and sounds a bit damaging/scary. Almost quite violently at times when you put rev on then just before it idles. The video link doesn't do the noise justice but hopefully you get the point. It seems worse the higher the gears.

Initially I thought it was the sprockets not aligned but I don't think it's that. Looking down the top of the chain it seems to jump a little. There is a noise from the front sprocket area about 3rd gear onwards. That kind of tells me it maybe the drive shaft but it's intermittently not constant. Messaged a friend and he's under the impression it maybe because it's not under tension. I rode up and down the road and it seemed OK but there may have been a slight noise but unsure. Scared to ride at speed as it maybe been what snapped the last chain.

Being a total mechanic noob I have no idea (although I'm trying not to be). Hoping it's something obvious to someone else. Any ideas?

https://youtu.be/kRlwsBPKk60

Thanks.

If I did that again on the stand I would probably tuck the loops of my laces into the shoes and wear shorts with less dangly bits.

[Prof Prolapse]

Cbull said:

Well, scrap the above post. Woke up and thought fk it I'll just go for it. To be fair I didn't even notice any issues with the chain.

Managed 5 miles before breaking down, currently sat on a fence awaiting recovery. The bike seemed fine. Slowed down for a junction and it just cut out. It just about starts with the choke on but the second I turn the throttle it cuts out. Quick Google says it's the carbs.

This is my second bike and had nothing but trouble in the few months of owning the last one. Dont think I'm cut out for all this malarkey, spend more time and money on it than riding. Maybe new bikes are the only way.

Glad you realised you chain was fine. I remember doing the same confusion when I changed mine.

Could be a number of things to be honest, you should always start with fuel and spark, given the symptoms I'd go with fuel first. Did it do it before you started working on the bike? If not then I'd start by looking at things you could have introduced yourself like kinked fuel breathers.

In my experience with bikes it's always something simple, but you need to learn how to do it, and be prepared to have the bike off the road. The bottom line is that all bikes are fairly maintenance intensive compared to cars. Last year I replaced my 1999 CBR with a 2013 GSXR as I was fed up of working on the CBR, and I've still had a few issues this year that have been very frustrating owing to their timing, one all but ruining my bike holiday.

I've stuck a new engine in the CBR, and my solution is to run two bikes, whilst I build storage for more. My wife is delighted.

[Wildfire]

jjones said:

Visor is nicer and my preference but sunglasses give the option of removing them if you are out later than planned.

These days, transition visor works really nicely for me.

[Cbull]

Thanks for giving time and effort to reply chaps, much appreciated.

Well, I know I probably shouldn't say this as pee taking will be aimed at me for sometime...and deservedly so

Regarding the chain. Seems absolutely fine whilst on the bike. Had a neighbour looking at it who's experienced and he was even baffled. Turns out it should be all good whilst on the road.

Regarding today's breakdown. Brilliant guess! Ran out of fuel . When the bloke I bought it off dropped it off he said he'd filled the tank of the good sex juice for me. It's been off the road since whilst I've only done maybe 6 miles up and down the road doing some testing, the occasional ride around the small estate and plenty of turning on for 5-10 minutes to keep the battery alive. You could even hear the fuel swirling around the tank still. The recovery guy (a biker mechanic) was also adamant it was the carbs.

Literally just before I was about to start stripping the bike my mate messaged and mentioned the reserve. So I tried it which seemed fine. Switched back on and sure enough eventually it stopped. Went and put £15 worth in and hey presto. Been out for little run and other than a couple of odd noises it's great.

Sometimes I surprise myself how fantastically dumb I can be.

Again, sorry for wasting anyone's time.

[Cbull]

Prof Prolapse said:

I've stuck a new engine in the CBR, and my solution is to run two bikes, whilst I build storage for more. My wife is delighted.

Yeah would love to do that. Wouldn't even mind having a decent little 125 for the occasional blast. Something tells me my Wife would also be over the moon about that idea. Will need to plant the seed once things have settled a little

[GavC88]

Chain lube or wax??

This time of year, 100 miles a week, 20 miles per journey.

Does it make much difference?

[MotorsportTom]

Cbull said:

Thanks for giving time and effort to reply chaps, much appreciated.

Well, I know I probably shouldn't say this as pee taking will be aimed at me for sometime...and deservedly so

Regarding the chain. Seems absolutely fine whilst on the bike. Had a neighbour looking at it who's experienced and he was even baffled. Turns out it should be all good whilst on the road.

Regarding today's breakdown. Brilliant guess! Ran out of fuel . When the bloke I bought it off dropped it off he said he'd filled the tank of the good sex juice for me. It's been off the road since whilst I've only done maybe 6 miles up and down the road doing some testing, the occasional ride around the small estate and plenty of turning on for 5-10 minutes to keep the battery alive. You could even hear the fuel swirling around the tank still. The recovery guy (a biker mechanic) was also adamant it was the carbs.

Literally just before I was about to start stripping the bike my mate messaged and mentioned the reserve. So I tried it which seemed fine. Switched back on and sure enough eventually it stopped. Went and put £15 worth in and hey presto. Been out for little run and other than a couple of odd noises it's great.

Sometimes I surprise myself how fantastically dumb I can be.

Again, sorry for wasting anyone's time.

If it makes you feel better I was working on my new purchase just the other week and after putting it back together and riding gently to the petrol station because I knew I needed fuel, I got no more than a 1/4 mile from my unit before it cut out.

Struggle pushing it back in full textiles in baking 20+ degree heat and while finding a fuel can and another vehicle to siphon fuel out I remembered when taking the tank off I had turned the fuel tap off.... but didn't turn it back on. D'oh!

I should know better as I've rebuilt things from forks to brakes having engines in and out and so on.

Sometimes the easiest things are the ones most overlooked.

[Super Slo Mo]

Don't worry about the chain, there's nothing wrong with it. My VFR does it worse than that, it's a charateristic of a lumpy idle and no load on the chain.

[Cbull]

It's great news that I'm not the only one

GavC88. Personally I go for the lube. Technically I don't know which is better but when I use the wax it manages to get everywhere around the bike and makes a mess. That's just me though, my mate said he prefers the wax because apparently you can see when it needs to be re-applied.

Went for my first big bike ride with the club yesterday with about 15 of us. 200 miles of bliss through Wales. Absolutely loved it. My riding skills need to improve quickly though as the cornering was awful. Nearly went over the line about 3 times at not so technical bends. Bikers tend to stay pretty close to each other throughout too but I just felt uncomfortable doing so and was always slower around the bends, therefor felt as if I was always having to catch up. Suppose it'll be a case watching that god awful cornering bible video again, getting practice and replacing the almost bald tyre (not confidence inspiring). Unfortunate the police were out in force specifically looking out for bikers, one of our guys got a nice £100 on the spot fine.

[Super Slo Mo]

I can strongly recommend doing ROSPA training, it made a massive difference to my ability to pre-assess corners etc.

[Cbull]

Thanks Super! Noted. My sister went on one recently with a company in Warrington. Once I get some spare money that's the first I'll be doing for sure. To be fair, over the last week or I've been getting a little better at cornering but that's more at my own pace rather than trying to keep up and on familiar roads. Will get there in ther end

[RizzoTheRat]

Cbull said:

Thanks Super! Noted. My sister went on one recently with a company in Warrington. Once I get some spare money that's the first I'll be doing for sure. To be fair, over the last week or I've been getting a little better at cornering but that's more at my own pace rather than trying to keep up and on familiar roads. Will get there in ther end

A lot of RoSPA and IAM operate as clubs so relatively cheap to do. My local IAM lot meet up once a month and will get newcomers out for an observed ride before they commit to joining up. RoSPA grade their pass, with an IAM pass apparently being equivalent to a RoSPA Silver. Also take a look at BikeSafe which is a one day thing run by the police.

[Cbull]

Certainly will, cheers. The police one has been recommended before. Strangely my first instructor said he didn't agree with a number if things they teach. Awful riding school so I'll take his opinion with a pinch of salt.

[_Fayaz]

TooLateForAName said:

You can certainly do the theory early and book the mod1 and mod2 in advance book online.

How confident are you on the practical tests? Booking a reasonable time in advance you might be able to get both on the same day.

Question would be how are you going to access a big bike?
I don't know if you can have lessons on a big bike before you are 24, ask an instructor

Reasonably confident as I ride a 125. I'd like to take a couple of lessons beforehand for tips and to get the feel of a big bike before the test. Ideally I'd like as much as possible done beforehand so I can do the tests as soon as I can.

[Dgr90]

I have heard a few people mention 'sag' when talking about suspension (rear, I think). Is this something that can be adjusted on all bikes or just fancy-pants everything adjustable bikes? I ask as I have a cbr600f (2006) and its my first 'big bike' and although a few mates have ridden it and say its fine, to me it feels like it doesnt have any suspension at all. I am 55kg's, so maybe 60 with gear (all weather textiles) and I feel like its far too stiff for my weight.

To follow up, if it is adjustable, is it something any bike shop could do, or is it more specialist?