Paging the engineeristi (Pip / Andy Bowick / WUN etc)

Having lost out on the new exhaust for the Zephyr on ebay last week (£380
fucking quid), my thoughts have turned towards fettling the old one, which
currently lurks in my shed. It will need some welding, therefore my
question is: If I were to consider obtaining a small welding set what would
be the best type to go for, i.e MIG or ARC or any other type.

I last used a MIG some years ago stitching together the chassis of a Morris
Traveller, but recall that the gun would stick, and the gas bottle was a
PITA. Are these new fangled gasless ones any good, and would a MIG be the
best animal for welding new bits onto a fucked zorst?.

My only knowledge of ARC welders is that they seem to blow holes in anything
less substantial than girders, although I may be mis-informed.

The only other type I have a sketchy knowledge of are the mini gas welders
(Bernz - O - Matic), but I am not too keen on bottles of gas laying around
for any length of time.

Any help gratefully accepted.

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going)
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament)
BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

A decent MIG has a far better level of control than arc, the gas isn't
too expensive and your welding will get better, however it also depends
on how fecked your exhaust is, if it is mostly rust then its not worth
the effort. I acquired a migmate from a cousin and have used it quite a
bit for welding exhausts, you can pick them up second hand easy enough.

The arc welders you can get out of BanQ etc will do a lot of stuff
however you really need to get the right rods etc. to get the current
low enough to weld thin metal. A variety of welder attachments can be
got for them from Frost

http://www.frost.co.uk/productList.asp?catID=33

The mini gas torches are best used for brazing and silver soldering etc,
which is useful in its own way.


HTH

--
Martin:
"For a minute there, you bored me to death."
VTR1000 Firestorm
TDR250 http://ukrm.net/BIKES/Yamaha/tdr250.html
martin dot smith nine zero three at ntlworld dot com

 

Cheers for that, this looks interesting (and cheap)

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=8349

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going)
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament)
BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

While you're shopping, you might want to get some snips too.

 

Hmm, I did consider snipping, but didn't want to incur the wrath of the
attributions police.

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going)
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament)
BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

It was all jumbled up into 2 big paragraphs, and I couldn't be arsed.

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going)
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament)
BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

Get rid of the heap of shit and get something newer, for which you can
get parts.

 

<BG>

Says the man with a 400 Four......

 

TIG. Anything else will blow the exhaust to pieces unless you're good
at welding.

 

I'm not constantly moaning about my choice of machinery. My 400 Four
is probably faster, better-handling, and better looking than that
shitty old kwacker that Dan has got.

 

Wrong on all 4 counts Ben.

Sorry

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going)
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament)
BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

It may be faster in a straight line, ok.

And your judgement will be from the *hundreds* of motorcycles you've
ridden in your long motorcycling career, right?

 

Heh. So's my 125.

 

Sigh

Okay then, here goes....

a. I have not constantly moaned about my choice of machinery. Whilst there
have been a few minor mechanical challenges, on the whole I really like the
Zephyr, despite the current exhaust related issues, which are more of an
irritating dilemma than a major problem.
b. With a half decent rider (i.e not me), the Zephyr would piss all over
your old Honda, in a straight line and through the twisties (IMHO, of
course), although TBH I couldn't really give a **** anyway.
c. The 400 Four is indeed a handsome looking bike, but beauty is in the eye
of the beholder. I can remember when the 400 four was launched actually,
and a mate's brother had one. Other than the eye catching exhaust headers
it didn't really move me that much, in fact I think I rather preferred
another mate's 550 four (this was a few years later). I can also remember
seeing the first Zephyrs on the road and being very taken with them. Now I
am lucky enough to own one.
d. My kwacker is neither shitty nor particularly old.
e. Even if I had your massive disposable income I would still have the
Zephyr (along with a 750 and, possibly something else, maybe a 400 four).
As I am not in your enviable position I have only 1 bike, and am quite
satisfied with my lot.
f. My judgement is based on my own experience, and to the best of my
recollection I have never tried to promote myself as some all seeing riding
god. However, I would wager that I have probably done more miles over the
last year on 2 wheels than you, and my mileage is 4/5ths of **** all
compared to some around here.
g. If you actually rode your 400 four on a regular basis you too would find
that occasionally bits either break, fall off or go wrong, as I have with
the Zephyr. It doesn't really bother me as the bike is basically a toy, and
fixing it goes with the territory.

Oh, and finally,
h. I bet when you were at primary school you could piss the highest up the
wall.

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going)
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament)
BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

With me at the controls I cannot argue with you there on either the looks,
handling or speed front.

Other than that, FOYRNB

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going)
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament)
BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

You're right; you haven't constantly moaned about it. But you have
moaned about the lack of availability and the prices of parts.

It's a catchphrase, from the old days before darsy had a shitty old
kwacker. You may not remember this, on account of your status as a
newbie.

Very likely, given that the only riding I've done is from Basel to
Leatherhead. On a 28 year old motorbike. In one day.

Compared to my mileage in the past, in fact. If you're trying to
score points on that score, you've picked the wrong person.

That's probably not going to happen, ever. Because even if I lived in
the same country as my 400 Four, I have four other road bikes to
choose from.

The difference is that I can get parts for mine, at reasonable prices.

 

I don't think I've moaned, I may have commented that getting bits isn't
always straightforward, but that's prolly because I haven't tapped into the
equivalent of David Silver for Kawasakis, and whilst OEM bits are available
from the main dealer, they are bloody expensive. In fact, thinking about
it, up until now parts haven't really been too much of a problem, i.e
throttle cable - fixed it myself with a generic inner cable, twist grip -
Barton Motors, mirrors - Barton Motors, filters - local SOB emporium, fork
seals - local SOB emporium, 4 into 1 zorst - Ebay (about £70, so not
extortionate) The exhaust isn't really now a problem either, the issue is
either returning it to stock (which is my preferred route) or keeping the 4
into 1 and dyno-ing. There is a problem with getting a replacement new
exhaust, but after a bit of lateral thinking I reckon I can repair the old
one, and hopefully learn some new skills along the way.

Sorry, momentarily forgot I was a newbie. When may I apply for non newbie
status then Ben?

Heh, you sort of condensed several weeks worth of my riding into 1 trip.
Dunno if my back and knees would take that kind of punishment, but then I am
somewhat older than you.

Score points? Why? How?
If I am going to do a long journey (other than for pleasure, or with other
motorcyclists) I'll take the car TYVM. I do not aspire to live the "biker
lifestyle".

Lucky you.

There's no difference then, so can I. Just because some twat paid nearly
£400 for an exhaust on ebay doesn't make that the going price, it's a
fucking joke. I could have outbid him if I had wanted to, but chose not to
as the auction ceased being good value for money at around the £350 mark
AFAIWC.

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going)
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament)
BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

When Ivan says you may.

 

Right you are then.

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going)
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament)
BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)