This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
Messages - cooleronthecoast
256
« on: November 08, 2019, 11:45:22 AM »
Sorry folks, I know tyres are always a subjective issue on any bikes, but because of the wheel sizes (19" and 18") on our bikes, the choices of available rubber is limited and I would really appreciate your views on what suits a 550. I did a search and the last thread in this section seems to have died out in 2010 so perhaps it is time for an update. When I bought my bike last year it came with Mitas tyres. Both are in good condition, but the profile of the rear one reminds me of the old Avon SM (ditch finder) tyres I had fitted to a Honda 90 in the early 70's. They also seem to be made out of the hardest rubber I've ever encountered and don't inspire me with any kind of confidence when cornering,  so I'll be looking to fit some new ones come next Spring. Avon do the Road rider in 19" front and 18" rear. There seem to be a few deals on those on fleay at the mo, has anyone got experience with them?
257
« on: November 07, 2019, 07:36:14 PM »
Its a lot of work on a system that already costs a fortune. I'd really like an original system like that, but for that money I'd not want to be ploughing more cash in to make it perfect. I'll stick with the Delcavic at half that price.
258
« on: October 26, 2019, 11:44:11 AM »
I bought a set of JIS screwdrivers last year and use them all the time now on my bike. They aren't any dearer to buy than a Philips or crosshead driver, I'd recommend anyone with a Jap bike to get some.
259
« on: October 19, 2019, 11:12:42 AM »
As we all know, 1970's stuff fetches high prices at the mo. The 70's teenager has become the 50/60 year old with a pair of nostalgic rose tinted glasses and a larger wallet now, but the dealerships here do tend to take the piss. There's loads of people jumping on the bandwagon and importing container loads of old bikes, from the States in particular. That place in Stoke have been doing it for years, but there's a whole micro industry growing up now. I had a 1977 Yamaha RD200 I bought privately a couple of years back, they aren't too badly priced, but the 400's are going nuts with people asking £10k for less than perfect examples. Early Kawa triples are also going for daft money. I had this 750 H2 back in the 90's and let it go for about £2k at the time. [ Guests cannot view attachments ] Sorry the photo is on its side!!  I'd get £10k more now, maybe more than that, but I wouldn't buy one for £12 or £15k myself. Its the same with a Z1 or early CB750. It's nice to have an old bike to ride around on, but I wouldn't want as much as £20k tied up in one. There's plenty of excellent modern bikes for that money. Take the new Royal Enfield 650 twins, not everybodys cup of tea perhaps, but you could get two brand new for less than £11k. Yes, I know what you're thinking, a modern bike will depreciate whilst a 70's classic will hold or even increase in value. Mebbe so, but at close to 61 years old, I'm not hanging around to see a bike I own double its value in ten years, I might be dead by then!
260
« on: October 18, 2019, 10:57:55 AM »
Nice looking machine. The exhaust screams LOUD to me, so keep it 👍.
Welkome back looks like a Delkevic system 
Good spot Paul. Yes its a Delcavic. I'm very impressed with the quality of the system they supply for the 550. It comes with everything you need to fit including sealing paste, less than £300 the lot, but you are right Laverda120, its bloody loud!
261
« on: October 16, 2019, 06:45:07 PM »
Thanks for the welcomes guys. I just got back from two sunny weeks in Rhodes, ok well we did have a day and a half of torrential rain, but the rest of the time it was between 25 and 30 degrees C during the day.
Here's a photo of my wee beastie
262
« on: September 30, 2019, 03:33:17 PM »
Welcome to the forum and have fun. You should find the silencer next to the holy grail, locked up in pandora's box.
Thanks mate, I did think about offering up my Faberge Egg in p/x for one, together with an undiscovered Van Gough painting I picked up at a car boot recently but I think there's more chance of knitting fog. 
263
« on: September 30, 2019, 01:02:28 PM »
I’ve been to Greece in October. It rains a lot!
Take your phone. Install Tapatalk app and post away 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Well if it rains I'll just sit in the bar, the weather report says 27 degrees and sunny for most of this week although they are forecasting showers at the weekend. We're stopping on an all inclusive basis so I can drink their watered down spirits instead of sitting on the beach. Lol I want to get away from phones and the internet for a couple of weeks, if the rain stays away I'll hire a small bike or moped and explore the island (Rhodes). Got the avatar working at least. 
264
« on: September 30, 2019, 12:01:09 PM »
Thanks Steve, I'll check that out, but as I mentioned I'm heading off to Greece for a couple of weeks starting tomorrow, fortunately we booked with Tui and not poor old Thomas Cook!
I've got a couple of technical queries re the carbs I'll post up in the relevant section on my return, so I guess I'll soon have 5 posts under my belt.
265
« on: September 30, 2019, 11:40:59 AM »
Hello to everyone. My real name is John and I've been riding powered two wheelers since I was ten. I'm approaching 61 now so though I say so myself, I've got a little bit of biking experience. My first SOHC Honda was a 400/4 back in the mid 70's, followed by a couple of 750/4's, the last one I traded for a CBX-6 in 1979. Between then and now I've been lucky enough to own a lot of bikes, British, Italian, even the odd American Buell and of course Japanese. One bike that I didn't have (first time around as it were) was a CB550, although I did take one for a test ride, I traded my 400/4 for a CB750F2 instead. I rectified that last year and bought a CB550F2 that was virtually complete, but was in the process of being made into a 'brat' bike by its former owner. I've spent the last year or so slowly putting it back into standard trim and whilst its not 100% original now its probably 85 -90%. I'm not trying to make it a concours bike by any means, I'm looking to end up with a reliable weekend ride that I'm not afraid to take out because its too clean. Regulars here get ready to laugh, but if anyone has an original Sankel silencer for the CB550F in decent nick they want to part with, then please let me know. Yes, I know, they are like rocking horse shit, but if you don't ask you don't get. My modern bike is an Aprilia Tuono 1100RR, ever so slightly different to the Honda (well they do both have 4 cylinders!) but a ton of fun, even for an old boy like me, if you've never ridden one I suggest you blag a ride if you can, they are just a little rapid!  That's all for the time being, I'll post up some pics of the 550 when I get sorted, but I'm heading off on my jollies tomorrow for a couple of weeks so that will have to wait 'til I return. Cheers for now.
|
Show Posts