A picture a day...biker banter (Vol 5)
Discussion
fastbikes76 said:
Always admired my mate's when I was young and had a many-pointed licence and couldn't afford the insurance.I had a 550 zephyr at the time and we swapped. I remember taking it to seventy something mph and thinking "why the hell would anyone want to go this fast"?
I got off and remembered I'd forgotten my earplugs.
Lovely bike, good luck!
fastbikes76 said:
Biker's Nemesis said:
Try and keep up next time.
The young ones seem to bounce better... something I learnt as I got older 
OP, Nice to see the lad out having a blast rather than glued to a sodding phone ! Long may it continue
But just in case anyone saw the photo on a small screen - he was top right, even further ahead (a close up / extract in this post).... I’ll add his view of the same moment too .... :-)
talksthetorque said:
fastbikes76 said:
Always admired my mate's when I was young and had a many-pointed licence and couldn't afford the insurance.I had a 550 zephyr at the time and we swapped. I remember taking it to seventy something mph and thinking "why the hell would anyone want to go this fast"?
I got off and remembered I'd forgotten my earplugs.
Lovely bike, good luck!
Not quick at all by modern standards but at 30 years old it was way ahead of just about everything else out there. It’s just flown through for another 12 months, bring on the crushed balls, achy wrists, cricked neck, sore back and knackered knees
fastbikes76 said:
Yes, I think one of these would have been a stark revelation from a 550 zephyr Not quick at all by modern standards but at 30 years old it was way ahead of just about everything else out there.
It’s just flown through for another 12 months, bring on the crushed balls, achy wrists, cricked neck, sore back and knackered knees
Good news! - Yes it was the first time I'd experienced that "having to hang on" feeling Not quick at all by modern standards but at 30 years old it was way ahead of just about everything else out there. It’s just flown through for another 12 months, bring on the crushed balls, achy wrists, cricked neck, sore back and knackered knees
marky911 said:
Hi Roderic,
The screen is a chavvy black double bubble thing, so there’s no saving that.
The seat unit is cracked around the front bolts either side (over-tightened?) and the paint is worn through on one edge further back. Looks like it’s seen a pillion a fair bit (the lunatic).
I am into detailing and I will be able to make the bike almost mint, but to be spot on it needs a new seat unit.
They’re £355 from Yamaha, which I’m happy to pay but they’re showing as special order which means either A) They’re special order and available, or B) They’re actually discontinued. The parts guy will only find out when he goes to order it.
There was one on eBay last week brand new but the guy wanted £380 inc postage. I offered him £350 inc postage but he said no. He reckons they’re discontinued, but he would say that.
Might be worth giving NE Trimmers a call in Byker.The screen is a chavvy black double bubble thing, so there’s no saving that.
The seat unit is cracked around the front bolts either side (over-tightened?) and the paint is worn through on one edge further back. Looks like it’s seen a pillion a fair bit (the lunatic).
I am into detailing and I will be able to make the bike almost mint, but to be spot on it needs a new seat unit.
They’re £355 from Yamaha, which I’m happy to pay but they’re showing as special order which means either A) They’re special order and available, or B) They’re actually discontinued. The parts guy will only find out when he goes to order it.
There was one on eBay last week brand new but the guy wanted £380 inc postage. I offered him £350 inc postage but he said no. He reckons they’re discontinued, but he would say that.
fastbikes76 said:
Yes, I think one of these would have been a stark revelation from a 550 zephyr Not quick at all by modern standards but at 30 years old it was way ahead of just about everything else out there.
It’s just flown through for another 12 months, bring on the crushed balls, achy wrists, cricked neck, sore back and knackered knees
The above is the reason I’m selling mine. I love the bike but it’s not much fun unless you’re doing warp speed for about 25 minutes before you feel awful. Not quick at all by modern standards but at 30 years old it was way ahead of just about everything else out there. It’s just flown through for another 12 months, bring on the crushed balls, achy wrists, cricked neck, sore back and knackered knees
My Dad has been looking out for the last couple of years for a nice classic , lightweight but brisk enough addition to his garage, something of 200-250cc with electric start and a low seat height.
Search ended today with the gorgeous RD200, been fully restored with loads of new parts , I told him if he didnt have it, id have to find room for it, its a stunner.
Genuinely a very excited boy!
Search ended today with the gorgeous RD200, been fully restored with loads of new parts , I told him if he didnt have it, id have to find room for it, its a stunner.
Genuinely a very excited boy!
That RD is ace Podman. Kudos to your dad for buying that. 
Hi John, it’s the actual red plastic seat unit that’s showing signs of wear, not the leather saddle parts.
I’ve tried M&S for two days trying to order it but nobody answers the phone in the parts department.
I’ll try again tomorrow.
Hi John, it’s the actual red plastic seat unit that’s showing signs of wear, not the leather saddle parts.
I’ve tried M&S for two days trying to order it but nobody answers the phone in the parts department.
I’ll try again tomorrow.
podman said:
My Dad has been looking out for the last couple of years for a nice classic , lightweight but brisk enough addition to his garage, something of 200-250cc with electric start and a low seat height.
Search ended today with the gorgeous RD200, been fully restored with loads of new parts , I told him if he didnt have it, id have to find room for it, its a stunner.
That is a real beauty. Search ended today with the gorgeous RD200, been fully restored with loads of new parts , I told him if he didnt have it, id have to find room for it, its a stunner.
For some reason the only 2-strokes in that era with an electric start were always around 200cc - Yamaha YCS3E, YCS5E and RD200 plus the Suzuki GT185 and GT200X5.
The 125s, 250s, 350s and 400s never had the electric start.
I hope your Dad (and maybe you) enjoy it.
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