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Post by JonW on Jul 22, 2023 0:32:56 GMT 1
Im with Alex, I have high hopes for you on the SR. Youve tidied it up and got to know it, plus they go forever. Let us know how you go.
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Post by midlifecrisisrd on Jul 22, 2023 10:42:37 GMT 1
I'd e more concerned about the strangers than your bike making it after being prepped so well
I'd worry you are going to spend a lot of time at the side of the road looking at why that Chinese thing has stopped going or looking for the bits that fell off
The SR will be a dream
Steve
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Post by Tobyjugs on Jul 22, 2023 20:43:07 GMT 1
i'm pretty sure your going to have a lot of fun.
Can't wait to read about the adventure. Good luck Steve.
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Post by steve63 on Jul 23, 2023 19:08:31 GMT 1
Thanks for the kind wishes all. I'm not sure I share your optimism though. Maybe an engine strip and inspection might be a good idea but it's all too late now . The big news is five has become four one guy dropped out officially today. I'm going no matter what. The other news is that one guy after over a year of planning took his bike for MOT it failed on brakes twice and then developed a running issue it didn't. The good news is he picked up a reserve bike one that another associate of our used for a rally in Wales during winter so should be good. The other part to the good news is that it's another Yamaha SR125. A bit newer than mine with a twin pot caliper but otherwise the same. The previous owner said it cruises easily at 55/60 so either his speedo lies or mine lacks power. We'll find out on Friday. I think that means it's an all Japanese bike ride. The one that failed to even make the start line was Chinese. Update: there is still a Chinese bike in the running. Possibly a Lifan or something similar. So that's one Suzuki GN 125 a Lifan 125 and two Yam SR125's.
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Post by donkeychomp on Jul 23, 2023 21:14:24 GMT 1
Why am I not surprised? eBay is full of them for sale as 'projects'. Most are less than a year old. Get some vids up if you can, I'd love to see that!
Alex
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Post by steve63 on Jul 24, 2023 12:57:08 GMT 1
Why am I not surprised? eBay is full of them for sale as 'projects'. Most are less than a year old. Get some vids up if you can, I'd love to see that! Alex It's a shame for him to be honest. He bought it with an engine that had been ran without oil and was completely scrap but he replaced all the (badly) worn out stuff and rebuilt the engine. What finished him off was a fault with something on the ignition and basically running out of time. On the plus side it seems like parts are easy to get hold of and cheap. A replacement lock set for £40 is good value. He was saying he would advertise is afterwards with the 'completed Lands End to John O Groats' tag as a major selling point . Getting the loan of a last minute replacement bike shows he's keen anyway! I'm not sure why but suddenly making sure I have decent waterproofs has moved to the top of my priority list I have my Garmin Virb Action Cam with me. Not sure 'Action' is the right term though. You could always put it on fast forward to make it look normal
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Post by steve63 on Jul 28, 2023 6:39:34 GMT 1
First stage completed, Hull to Northampton -167 miles in about 4 hours. All 3 bikes made it ok. Bad news is I looked out of the window and no one has stolen them so we have to keep going 😊. The other two are in the garden.
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Post by donkeychomp on Jul 28, 2023 22:30:40 GMT 1
A great start! How did the ride go? Did you all make it on one tank? I'm also surprised to see the bike parked there as no one would nick that so called 'MG', they'd have the bike any day of the week.
Alex
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Post by steve63 on Jul 29, 2023 6:48:08 GMT 1
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Post by donkeychomp on Jul 29, 2023 21:39:56 GMT 1
So all of you are intense?
Alex
sorry, sorry...
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Post by steve63 on Jul 30, 2023 6:25:50 GMT 1
So all of you are intense? Alex sorry, sorry... It's 6:15am. It took me quite a while to figure that one out 🙂. We're not in our tents tonight! Yesterday afternoon the Suzuki started developing problems on the way back here from Lands End. After a campsite carb strip and test ride there was no improvement so the RAC were summoned. 11pm was the time advised for collection. I was in bed for 9:30 and haven't looked outside the tent but I presume 4 is now 3. The Jin Lun is now ok. A loose coil connection was found and tightened and it cured the issue. It's raining. There's a particular depression associated with packing away a tent and loading a bike in the rain.
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richb
Thrash Merchant
Posts: 355
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Post by richb on Jul 30, 2023 10:45:51 GMT 1
Get your shovel out quick you have struck gold
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Post by steve63 on Jul 30, 2023 23:05:24 GMT 1
Get your shovel out quick you have struck gold The sun poked itself through the cloud for about 2 seconds then ferked off out of it and hasn't been seen since. It's rained every bit of the day and every one of the 270 miles to here in Telford. Is that some kind of a record? Is it one big rain cloud covering the whole of the UK or just small one following us? F the tent tonight, we're in The Premier Inn! The hairdryer has had some hammer 😉 Bike maintenance tomorrow, well, check the oil and lube/tighten the chain. Over 1000 miles done, I think.
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Post by donkeychomp on Jul 30, 2023 23:24:15 GMT 1
What a machine! When you complete your epic voyage you need to mount her on a plinth somewhere. Lounge maybe...or then again, maybe not.
Alex
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Post by JonW on Jul 31, 2023 0:39:26 GMT 1
superb work for enduring the trip so far Steve!
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Post by steve63 on Jul 31, 2023 6:48:06 GMT 1
superb work for enduring the trip so far Steve! We had a fantastic ride on the coast road from Lands End back to the campsite and the three of us all agreed even yesterday was great fun. I guess if you like riding bikes then even 270 miles at no more than 55 in the rain can still be fun. We're not hanging around on the corners even though the other SR has got some unknown tyre with very little tread on the back that I wouldn't fancy on mine 🫣
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Post by steve63 on Aug 1, 2023 6:33:59 GMT 1
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Post by Tobyjugs on Aug 1, 2023 7:08:42 GMT 1
Wow making good progress. Thanks for updates.
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Post by midlifecrisisrd on Aug 1, 2023 8:46:11 GMT 1
You are doing really well 👍
Don't think the bikes will worry the average speed cameras on the 100 miles from Perth to Inverness 🤣
Steve
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Post by donkeychomp on Aug 1, 2023 21:20:44 GMT 1
That's some progress! Despite the rain (and it's everywhere) I bet you're all enjoying yourselves. Inverness is a great place, just avoid the Charles dickens restaurant.
Alex
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Post by steve63 on Aug 2, 2023 12:34:01 GMT 1
Well, bad news I'm afraid. The dream is over! Spinning along happily at about 50 close to The Forth Road Bridge and the internal engine components decided to part company with each other. No warning, just a sudden change from not much power (normal) to none at all. Looking on the bright side, if you had to break down you couldn't pick a better place. It was just as if the bike said " here we are, there's a Macdonalds right there, that'l do I've had enough". Pulled the clutch in, coasted down the slip road, around the bend and pretty much into a parking spot right outside one of their finest restaurants 😉. Made my self at home by filling a four seater table and benches with all my gear, plugged my phone into a charger and went through the process with the AA. The bike stopped at about 10:30am, the AA man arrived at 12:50 and took us (me and the bike) to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Another AA guy picked us up and brought us home for about 8:30 or so. About 11pm last night I removed the cover over the cam sprocket but all looks fine. Just after it stopped the engine would spin over fine on the starter but showed no inclination to start. When Mr. AA tried with his power pack it was seized. Usually it's the opposite. Plenty of oil in it BYW. I'm off to the garage in a minute. If you want to have a bet on what stopped it get your guesses in! I received a message from the remaining two this morning, "final 120 mile push to John O Groats today". They have to do another 120 back to the campsite 🫣. Apparently it's NOT raining, it is here just outside Hull. It looks like the other engine I bought for £50 was the right decision.
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Post by steve63 on Aug 2, 2023 12:40:15 GMT 1
Quick update. The other two arrived at about 12:30. It was dry until ten minutes before they arrived and then started raining AGAIN!
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Post by steve63 on Aug 2, 2023 12:41:54 GMT 1
That's some progress! Despite the rain (and it's everywhere) I bet you're all enjoying yourselves. Inverness is a great place, just avoid the Charles dickens restaurant. Alex Absolutely everywhere. From Cornwall to Edinburgh about 90% of the time it rained. I wish I could have seen it but the bike decided to avoid going any further than Edinburgh 😁
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Post by midlifecrisisrd on Aug 2, 2023 12:50:56 GMT 1
Oh bugger ☹️
I'll guess something minor has came loose
Thought that little engine would run forever
Steve
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Post by JonW on Aug 2, 2023 13:44:08 GMT 1
Oh no! sorry to hear that. At least the AA mans cab was dry...
Im with Steve, its the pickup for the ignition or something similar.
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Post by steve63 on Aug 2, 2023 14:01:14 GMT 1
I'm no MotoGP technician but I don't think there should be bits of metal in the inlet manifold!
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Post by midlifecrisisrd on Aug 2, 2023 14:02:06 GMT 1
Oh dear 🫣
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Post by JonW on Aug 2, 2023 14:02:46 GMT 1
Ahh inlet valve or cam then?
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Post by donkeychomp on Aug 2, 2023 21:13:29 GMT 1
Oh bollocks. Like us all I was convinced she'd do the whole jaunt. Sorry mate, really am.
Alex
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Post by steve63 on Aug 2, 2023 22:04:14 GMT 1
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