Edible hats at the ready guys...

OK. I'll measure my gixxer thou (bang up to date), and ZX7R (say,
approx a generation out of date), and my 750 turbo (er, about 4
generations out of date) this evening.

 

Champ <> spouted the following in

Ok, I'll ring dale and get some commando measurements. 650ss ackshully
but same bottom end and barrel castings. I'll get him to include the
primary chaincase and timing chest.

May the slimmest motor win! )

--
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tallbloke
http://www.tallbloke.net
BONY#1 DIAABTCOD#7
Bikes 'n' Bits.

 

"Fix It Again, Tony"


frag

 

Yes and no.

It took fucking ages, but when it was done it was fast as ****, but
being a mid-eighties kit car, it had rattles and bodges.

They're ace, aren't they? If I had "real" mechanical skills, I'd
probably build a really top-notch GT40 or Cobra rep.

 

When was the last time you changed the wheel bearings?

 

christofire <> spouted the following in

Quick praisee.

a) I met the challenge set by Champ.
b) Champ and me are mates again.
c) Bear's still in denial ;-)

Wolfgang uses his tuned commando as his regular steed.

140 mph
65 mpg @75mph
Cheap narrow section tyres


YKIMS

--
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tallbloke
http://www.tallbloke.net
BONY#1 DIAABTCOD#7
Bikes 'n' Bits.

 

It's got newish tyres, newish Koni shocks, newish wheel bearings.
Also, rebuilt rad with 20% more cooling area. Rebuilt motor with 5k
miles on the bottom end from new.

Cockpit is scruffy, rag top has slashed rear screen.

Ideal for racing ;-)

Asking 4.5k West yorks

--
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tallbloke
http://www.tallbloke.net
BONY#1 DIAABTCOD#7
Bikes 'n' Bits.

 

I'll give you 2 for it ;o)
The reason I asked about the wheel bearings was when my Dad had one it used
to eat them about every 5k miles. Them and tyres.

 

Rebuilds how frequently?

 

No, it really doesn't, but that's just MHO. I use my SV as my regular
steed. It's never let me down and so far has only needed minimal in the
way of maintenance. I.e. oil and filters, plugs and new fork oil.

I believe that an old bike of the style you are advocating would not be
sensible at all. For what I'd save in the costs of tyres I'd more than
lose in the time taken to keep the thing going. SV's will put out 60+
mpg at around 70mph too, so you've got nothing there. About 15mph on
the top end but that doesn't matter "in the real world". ;-)

I enjoy riding my bike around the twistiest roads I can find. For that
I'd guess that the 010's would be more suitable than narrow section
tyres.

 

Toni, surely?

 

Yes. A long, long time ago[1], it's true, but they're well-known for
vibrating just a wee bit, are they not? ISTR they developed the
Isolastic frame mounting to help alleviate this trait...

<Shrugs> Dunno mate, never heard anyone saying this of TDMs - maybe it
was just would-be racers over-revving the motor? No rev limiter,
AFAICR.

Mebbe. But you said the 'souped-up' commando was comparable to the TDM
in 'reliability' terms. If you're going to exclude my, quite
reasonable, expectations (and practical experience) of reliability
it's a fairly meaningless statement.


[1] But I can still[2] remember...
[2] Only vaguely, mind.

 

christofire <> spouted the following in

It's true. Fast old bikes are for dedicated nutters ;-)

Heh. I'd agree that with bikes like the SV, the japs are showing more
imagination and sense than they did in the years of bloated 4's.

Doesn't make much that much odds really, the extra contact area assists
on a nice smooth tarmac I guess.

--
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tallbloke
http://www.tallbloke.net
BONY#1 DIAABTCOD#7
Bikes 'n' Bits.

 

Doesn't matter - it's still reliable, even though it needs rebuilding
every thousand miles...

 

Exactly. And it does it really well. The engines shivers like a shiting
dog at tickover, but it all smoothes out above 1500 revs and is tingle
free to the red-line. Smoother to ride than a BMW and less tingly than a
jap 4 on long runs.

Possibly. They do seem variable in build quality though. I rode a TDM
which was at 25k miles - beautiful motor. And a TRX at 17k miles, rough
and rattly...

Fair enough, it does take more attention to keep an old bike running
sweetly.

--
-
tallbloke
http://www.tallbloke.net
BONY#1 DIAABTCOD#7
Bikes 'n' Bits.

 

Now you're the one being unfair and unreasonable now Ace. For example,
Dale's tuned 650ss motors usually do about 30k between rebuilds.

As usual, it's the quality of the work that counts.


--
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tallbloke
http://www.tallbloke.net
BONY#1 DIAABTCOD#7
Bikes 'n' Bits.

 

The thing is see, we're on the QE2 with just about everyone else.
You're in a dingy with one and a half paddles.

HTH.



frag

 

Well as the french say:

Pas de lieu Rhone que nous.

--
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tallbloke
http://www.tallbloke.net
BONY#1 DIAABTCOD#7
Bikes 'n' Bits.

 

Gunga Dan <> spouted the following in

You can have the 'r' in dream on for that.

--
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tallbloke
http://www.tallbloke.net
BONY#1 DIAABTCOD#7
Bikes 'n' Bits.

 

Britains finest? This the finest that they designed well once, then made
for 25 years without any changes and wondered why people didn't buy them?

They lost the plot the very second they locked up the designers drawing
office. The current trumpets being the exception.

Feck right off, I ain't a pawn in your twos boring argument.



frag