I sympathize with you on the heat - I’m in Florida temp averaging 98F with a heat index 110F You mentioned the rear brake - when I got mine a 2022 I found I was toes all the way down -,I resolved the issue by adjusting the lever Lots of info on doing that online and it made all the difference I now have a good back brake As to the wobble it could be the bars you just put on it - shame you didn’t try it with the original bars and that way you’d know as the original has bar end weights to balance the front end other than that the tire especially in the heat Good luck with your endeavors Regards from Florida
Thanks for your input. I fitted the new bars with bar end weights so I don't think the bars are the issue. I have a new front tyre on order so hoping that might resolve the problem.
The engine surging is atypical and should be fixed. Some have over-filled their fuel tanks such that the charcoal canister becomes saturated with liquid fuel and this can lead to surging. The improper feeling of the back brake means something is wrong. Have it fixed. The wheel wobble is also atypical. I have no idea what it is but have it diagnosed and fixed. The Interceptor is very solid bike all around, a joy to own and ride, and a tremendous value.
Absolutely agree with you about slowing down, enjoying the journey and buying reparable motorcycles. My next bike purchase will be following your advice as I used to maintain my early cars ie Mini, Beetle and Mk 1 Golf. I am 65 and owned a GSX 1100R in the late 80’s but now ride an early Speed Triple and C90 Cub.
After a few tanks of fuel you'll have a better idea of whats what. On my Orange Crush I had to bleed that terrible orange tinted brake fluid through replacing it with new DOT4, front and rear brakes are much improved. Real mods are up to your tastes, i went with a gauze air filter, booster plug & mufflers resulting in more smiles & much better sound. Are your throttle cables too tight? Treat it like a vintage bike and you won't be disappointed.
Ian. I had an identical front-end problem with my BMW R100 airhead. Hands off the bars and the front end would start shaking touch on even with one finger and it stopped. Turned out to be a distorted top yolk causing the fork legs to be slightly different lengths. The top yolk on the BMW is effectively a flat plate that sits on top of the fork legs. It may be worth checking that both fork legs are set at the same height in the top and bottom yolks.
Good comment. I did check the fork legs and they are both the same height. I am pretty sure it is the tyre. It seems these days reputable manufacturers have things made in dubious places. The Pirelli Phantoms are not the same quality as the European ones. Mickey Mouse springs to mind 😂
You might check your balance weights on the front rim. Mine actually fell off during a streak of 90 degree days last week. I’d parked it with the weights on the high side of the wheel, and my wife found the weights on the floor. I hadn’t ridden it prior to replacing the weights, so I don’t know what effect it would have had. I switched to Bridgestone BT 41 tires from the original Ceats and the high speed handling and ride are much improved. Hopefully your new tire will be the cure.
Great video Ian. That surging you mention sounds very much to me like a very hot engine and the oil thinning out with the heat. Mostly down to the extreme temperatures you are getting there I think. I would fit a Fuel X or the American system you mention to permanently richen up the fuel/air mixture to cool the engine down a bit and I would also think about changing the oil a bit sharpish and putting in some fresh much wider ranging multi grade oil. As the bike is fully run in now, you may want to go down the fully synthetic route here.
@@iantoy7778 Thinking about it mate, that loud whine you were getting from the gearbox could most likely be down to really thin, very hot oil too, which just isn't insulating the gear noise like a thicker, cooler oil would. Just a thought....
I think you might be spot on regarding the headshake. I watched another owner that went through the whole suite of checks and it was his front Phantom. Once replaced it fixed the headshakes issue.
Yez those tires are thin as tissue paper and only last a few thousand anyhow .I put ,Shinko 705 dual sport tires on mine and wide dirt bike bars.Makes a perfect scrambler and adv bike.Immaculate on gravel.
@deltabluesdavidraye Being only 5'7" I bought some SS bars from a manufacturer in Australia. Only minimal rise and rake but reduces the reach for me so much more comfortable as a cruiser.
Head shake .Well tbe short rake of the frame will always make headshake a possibility but it can be remedied ,usually the tire.Stock these bikes have 10 mm of the fork caps above the triple trees.Loosen and drop them down flush and it will definitely help with removing headshake and also helps ergonomics slightly. The whistling is just the primary drive gear.Hey much superior to a chain primary.
Nice looking bike. I like the analogue clocks. I am a resident in Spain. Your experience with local paperwork and vehicle registrations reminds me of Spain. The numbers on my residency card also don't always get accepted by some on line forms. Likewise, my 40 year old car has a historic registration. It begins with an H (for Historico). However, car parks don't recognise the number because of the extra digit.
Could be the relays Ian, check them for horrible thick white grease, mine was surging and also cutting out sometimes, the dealer flashed the ecu and I put some hitchcocks relays in problem solved, I don't blame you for not wearing a jacket, to warm 🏍🇬🇧🙂🌞
Since recording this video I have cleaned all the relay grease out but the problem is still there. I think the problem could be due to the exceptionally high temperatures at the moment. This is making it run extra weak. I will be fitting a fuel module this week which I think will sort it out.
We are holding about the exact temperatures Ian. 5am-- 32,33 celsius ( 90°) It doesn't warrant even starting the bike. 650 looks stunning 😍! I can relate to the sewing machine analogy completely. I say the same thing🤔. The original mirrors look good, but some don't like the mouse ear effect. Did not see any vibration in them. The bike sounds 👌 spot on, like water running down some of those spots you filmed for us. The rear brake lever may have been damaged when the previous owner dropped it. Idling at 1100 rpm if I can see. Your camera was pointing down a little, but that may have been your intent. I am amazed you drive on the opposite side of the road compared to the UK and New Zealand. How is the weight of the bike Ian in reference to the riding position ? Naz drowie.
When you are riding the bike it feels very light. It feels just like riding my old Triumph T100. No vibrations at all. Sue was very impressed when I took her out the other day. She'll be giving her thoughts in another video so I won't spoil it by saying any more. Apart from Malta I think all of continental Europe drives on the right hand side. It feels strange now if we go back to the UK. It's surprising how quickly you adapt. наздраве (Cheers)
Great vid again love to see the countryside, just wondered how you communicate, do you speak the language or are they quite good at English, when I lived in northern Spain no English so had to learn Spanish, got there in the end, yes I like the interceptor but won’t be getting one himi next I think, thanks again just had2 days o of quite good weather here no rain, thanks Ted NW biker dude, sore big toe, alias bay Bimbler
I leave most of the communicating to Sue. I get by but only have limited Bulgarian. Sue is better at it. We finally had rain ourselves yesterday with torrential downpours.
40-45 degree days here in Perth WA Australia , we get them in summer as well . I wear wool gardening gloves , they breath and when a 1 inch long flying Cockroach hits your middle right finger at 120kph ,, We get the heat and major insects . Edit : We get the same speedo here in OZ , the combo MPH/KPH speedo's ? to much .
Sounds just like our summers. I like riding with an open face helmet but in the summer it's like being shot in the face with a sawn off shotgun due to the insects.
A very interesting handlebar. I did a first impression video about this bike. I also rode the new Himalayan. To be honest I like the Himalayan a bit more. Otherwise both great bike. By the way I am planning the trip to Bulgaria for next year. Got my like. Drop by when you can to check my content. Cheers.
@@iantoy7778 Thanks a lot bro. Will go from Serbia to Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas to Varna and then via Veliko Tarnovo back. This is just the idea for now. :)
@@iantoy7778 Yeah, I hope so. Where are you exactly located in Bulgaria? I rode some RE bikes, just check the First impression playlist that I have. :)
Agree the Himmi is the best for the Bulgarian roads but Sue struggles to get on it. She loves the Interceptor so that's good enough for me. Happy wife makes for a happy life 😂
Good video again Ian . I was unsubscribed , but not by my action . Maybe the almighty algo -bl**dy- rythm had a dickyfit . Temp here in Canada has touched 40c and been in the high thirties , so I know what you're going through . Not a criticism so please don't take it that way , but maybe you should consider some mesh riding gear . I've had a few friends leave skin on the road and it's not nice . Also I sometimes watch a channel called Moto Giant , he had a prang this year and lost his foot . Well that prompted me to get new , tougher , boots . Surging might be a partially blocked filter or bad fuel , my Tiger is very sensitive to poor fuel and surges . I'm glad you are liking the Interceptor . Slight wobble is common on some bikes , my old VStrom did it , but only downhill . I could have spent money on a Scott damper , but I learned to live with it . Anyway , I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of the problem . Ride safe .
It's getting quite a common problem with people getting unsubscribed. Quite a few You Tubers have mentioned it. I'm going to fit a fuel module tomorrow so hopefully that will solve the problem. I've got a new filter on order as well. The more I ride the bike the more it is growing on me.
I'll swap your surging engine for my cylinder misfiring... ... no, not really. I don't understand either, so I might as well, continue in my already advanced trial and error journey! :) --------- About you being crazy enough to ride your motorcycle without a full leather suit, ideally airbag equipped, not forgetting gloves (!) and, of course, a full face helmet: Here, where I am, we have to wear at least an approved helmet and gloves to protect ourselves. From the police. Back in the UK, and I believe, also in Denmark, most three-wheeled scooters, with their two front wheels at a minimum distance (that I've forgotten) apart, are classified as 'tricycles', which allows riders with a license older than, I seem to remember, 2013, to choose if and what safety gear they wish to wear. So, I fondly remember being free to ride in normal outdoor attire and enjoy wind in the hair bliss. :) Having said that, I did once lowside a motorcycle and slid behind it on the tarmac afor a fair distance without acquiring a single blemish to my person, because of my leather boots, -trousers, -jacket, -gloves and full face helmet. The bike, however, was a total write off and my boots were no longer waterproof - most inconvenient! :) --------- Lucky you, that you like the stock footpeg position. I have yet to come across a non-cruiser that has adequate peg-to-seat distance for me. Happily, there seems to be a wide and varied choice of aftermarket stuff for the Interceptor 650, including relocating kits for footpegs and their controls. So, to relax my knee joints a little, I moved mine forward by about 10cm. Feels almost (!) cruise-esque comfortable. :) --------- Mainly to prevent stalling at idle, like at junctions, I fitted a Fuel-X Pro kit. It's compatible with Euro 5 bikes, which mine is. --------- Thanks for sharing your journey on your Interceptor 650. :)
Your handlebar seems to be non-standard. The OEM handlebar is straight while this one is curved and could have been incorrectly installed. Maybe this is the cause of wobbling.
The handlebar is aftermarket. I installed it myself and fitted bar end weights. I am fairly certain after checking everything else the problem is the tyre. I have a new one arriving Friday. Hopefully this will solve the problem.
I sympathize with you on the heat - I’m in Florida temp averaging 98F with a heat index 110F
You mentioned the rear brake - when I got mine a 2022 I found I was toes all the way down -,I resolved the issue by adjusting the lever Lots of info on doing that online and it made all the difference I now have a good back brake
As to the wobble it could be the bars you just put on it - shame you didn’t try it with the original bars and that way you’d know as the original has bar end weights to balance the front end other than that the tire especially in the heat
Good luck with your endeavors
Regards from Florida
Thanks for your input. I fitted the new bars with bar end weights so I don't think the bars are the issue. I have a new front tyre on order so hoping that might resolve the problem.
The engine surging is atypical and should be fixed. Some have over-filled their fuel tanks such that the charcoal canister becomes saturated with liquid fuel and this can lead to surging. The improper feeling of the back brake means something is wrong. Have it fixed. The wheel wobble is also atypical. I have no idea what it is but have it diagnosed and fixed. The Interceptor is very solid bike all around, a joy to own and ride, and a tremendous value.
Absolutely agree with you about slowing down, enjoying the journey and buying reparable motorcycles. My next bike purchase will be following your advice as I used to maintain my early cars ie Mini, Beetle and Mk 1 Golf. I am 65 and owned a GSX 1100R in the late 80’s but now ride an early Speed Triple and C90 Cub.
At our age it's definitely time to slow down. We've done it all in the past and could teach todays youngsters a thing or two.
After a few tanks of fuel you'll have a better idea of whats what. On my Orange Crush I had to bleed that terrible orange tinted brake fluid through replacing it with new DOT4, front and rear brakes are much improved. Real mods are up to your tastes, i went with a gauze air filter, booster plug & mufflers resulting in more smiles & much better sound.
Are your throttle cables too tight?
Treat it like a vintage bike and you won't be disappointed.
The more I ride it the more I love it. Did a 300 km ride yesterday 2 up with Sue
My my bike is identical to yours. After i changed to Bridgestone battle axe tire on the front, no more head shake when you let go of the bars.
@@knifecharlatan8912 I have a front tyre on order. Hopefully that will do the trick
Ian. I had an identical front-end problem with my BMW R100 airhead. Hands off the bars and the front end would start shaking touch on even with one finger and it stopped. Turned out to be a distorted top yolk causing the fork legs to be slightly different lengths. The top yolk on the BMW is effectively a flat plate that sits on top of the fork legs. It may be worth checking that both fork legs are set at the same height in the top and bottom yolks.
Good comment. I did check the fork legs and they are both the same height. I am pretty sure it is the tyre. It seems these days reputable manufacturers have things made in dubious places. The Pirelli Phantoms are not the same quality as the European ones. Mickey Mouse springs to mind 😂
Love to see more videos on this bike.Looks great-interesting to see how you sort the gremlins out👍.
There will be plenty more videos to come. Thanks for watching
You might check your balance weights on the front rim. Mine actually fell off during a streak of 90 degree days last week. I’d parked it with the weights on the high side of the wheel, and my wife found the weights on the floor. I hadn’t ridden it prior to replacing the weights, so I don’t know what effect it would have had. I switched to Bridgestone BT 41 tires from the original Ceats and the high speed handling and ride are much improved. Hopefully your new tire will be the cure.
I agree with you. My new tyre is arriving Friday so I will be fitting and balancing the wheel. Hopefully that will cure the problem.
The bars look great. Did you say you got them from desert sled?
I bought them from Ace Classics in London, UK. The bars are called Desert Sled on their website.
www.aceclassics.co.uk
Great to know. They fit nicely.
Great video Ian. That surging you mention sounds very much to me like a very hot engine and the oil thinning out with the heat. Mostly down to the extreme temperatures you are getting there I think. I would fit a Fuel X or the American system you mention to permanently richen up the fuel/air mixture to cool the engine down a bit and I would also think about changing the oil a bit sharpish and putting in some fresh much wider ranging multi grade oil. As the bike is fully run in now, you may want to go down the fully synthetic route here.
Agree the fuel mod is tomorrows job. I am just waiting for an oil filter to arrive then I can give her a service.
@@iantoy7778 Thinking about it mate, that loud whine you were getting from the gearbox could most likely be down to really thin, very hot oil too, which just isn't insulating the gear noise like a thicker, cooler oil would. Just a thought....
I think you might be spot on regarding the headshake. I watched another owner that went through the whole suite of checks and it was his front Phantom. Once replaced it fixed the headshakes issue.
Fairly sure that is the problem as ruled out the rest.
Yez those tires are thin as tissue paper and only last a few thousand anyhow .I put ,Shinko 705 dual sport tires on mine and wide dirt bike bars.Makes a perfect scrambler and adv bike.Immaculate on gravel.
@@deltabluesdavidraye Nice.
@deltabluesdavidraye Being only 5'7" I bought some SS bars from a manufacturer in Australia. Only minimal rise and rake but reduces the reach for me so much more comfortable as a cruiser.
Head shake .Well tbe short rake of the frame will always make headshake a possibility but it can be remedied ,usually the tire.Stock these bikes have 10 mm of the fork caps above the triple trees.Loosen and drop them down flush and it will definitely help with removing headshake and also helps ergonomics slightly. The whistling is just the primary drive gear.Hey much superior to a chain primary.
@@deltabluesdavidraye have already dropped the forks flush still does it. New tyre should be here Friday. Really nice bike
Great bikes, but do yourself a favour and invest in the latest touring seat, the standard ones are like sitting on a plank 🙄
Sue has one on order😂
Nice looking bike. I like the analogue clocks.
I am a resident in Spain. Your experience with local paperwork and vehicle registrations reminds me of Spain. The numbers on my residency card also don't always get accepted by some on line forms. Likewise, my 40 year old car has a historic registration. It begins with an H (for Historico). However, car parks don't recognise the number because of the extra digit.
The joys of living in a foreign country lol
Could be the relays Ian, check them for horrible thick white grease, mine was surging and also cutting out sometimes, the dealer flashed the ecu and I put some hitchcocks relays in problem solved, I don't blame you for not wearing a jacket, to warm 🏍🇬🇧🙂🌞
Since recording this video I have cleaned all the relay grease out but the problem is still there. I think the problem could be due to the exceptionally high temperatures at the moment. This is making it run extra weak. I will be fitting a fuel module this week which I think will sort it out.
We are holding about the exact temperatures Ian. 5am-- 32,33 celsius ( 90°) It doesn't warrant even starting the bike.
650 looks stunning 😍!
I can relate to the sewing machine analogy completely. I say the same thing🤔.
The original mirrors look good, but some don't like the mouse ear effect.
Did not see any vibration in them. The bike sounds 👌 spot on, like water running down some of those spots you filmed for us. The rear brake lever may have been damaged when the previous owner dropped it. Idling at 1100 rpm if I can see. Your camera was pointing down a little, but that may have been your intent.
I am amazed you drive on the opposite side of the road compared to the UK and New Zealand. How is the weight of the bike Ian in reference to the riding position ? Naz drowie.
When you are riding the bike it feels very light. It feels just like riding my old Triumph T100. No vibrations at all. Sue was very impressed when I took her out the other day. She'll be giving her thoughts in another video so I won't spoil it by saying any more.
Apart from Malta I think all of continental Europe drives on the right hand side. It feels strange now if we go back to the UK. It's surprising how quickly you adapt.
наздраве (Cheers)
Great vid again love to see the countryside, just wondered how you communicate, do you speak the language or are they quite good at English, when I lived in northern Spain no English so had to learn Spanish, got there in the end, yes I like the interceptor but won’t be getting one himi next I think, thanks again just had2 days o of quite good weather here no rain, thanks Ted NW biker dude, sore big toe, alias bay Bimbler
I leave most of the communicating to Sue. I get by but only have limited Bulgarian. Sue is better at it. We finally had rain ourselves yesterday with torrential downpours.
40-45 degree days here in Perth WA Australia , we get them in summer as well .
I wear wool gardening gloves , they breath and when a 1 inch long flying Cockroach hits your middle right finger at 120kph ,, We get the heat and major insects .
Edit : We get the same speedo here in OZ , the combo MPH/KPH speedo's ? to much .
Sounds just like our summers. I like riding with an open face helmet but in the summer it's like being shot in the face with a sawn off shotgun due to the insects.
@@iantoy7778 Midgeys ,,, major Midgeys
Wind in hear = Bugs in teeth
@@Beanerds 😂😂
A very interesting handlebar. I did a first impression video about this bike. I also rode the new Himalayan. To be honest I like the Himalayan a bit more. Otherwise both great bike. By the way I am planning the trip to Bulgaria for next year. Got my like. Drop by when you can to check my content. Cheers.
Thanks. Will have a look at your channel. What part of Bulgaria are you visiting?
@@iantoy7778 Thanks a lot bro. Will go from Serbia to Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas to Varna and then via Veliko Tarnovo back. This is just the idea for now. :)
@@RRRRefuelRideRace Sounds a good trip
@@iantoy7778 Yeah, I hope so. Where are you exactly located in Bulgaria? I rode some RE bikes, just check the First impression playlist that I have. :)
@@RRRRefuelRideRace We are located between Kozloduy and Oryahovo in the north west.
I like your Interceptor but I think the best option for Bulgaria is your Himmi because the roads are in very bad condition.
Agree the Himmi is the best for the Bulgarian roads but Sue struggles to get on it. She loves the Interceptor so that's good enough for me. Happy wife makes for a happy life 😂
Int is great in the dirt with dual sport tires
Must be like riding through a Sauna !!
Feels like it some days
Good video again Ian .
I was unsubscribed , but not by my action . Maybe the almighty algo -bl**dy- rythm had a dickyfit .
Temp here in Canada has touched 40c and been in the high thirties , so I know what you're going through . Not a criticism so please don't take it that way , but maybe you should consider some mesh riding gear . I've had a few friends leave skin on the road and it's not nice . Also I sometimes watch a channel called Moto Giant , he had a prang this year and lost his foot . Well that prompted me to get new , tougher , boots .
Surging might be a partially blocked filter or bad fuel , my Tiger is very sensitive to poor fuel and surges .
I'm glad you are liking the Interceptor . Slight wobble is common on some bikes , my old VStrom did it , but only downhill . I could have spent money on a Scott damper , but I learned to live with it .
Anyway , I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of the problem .
Ride safe .
It's getting quite a common problem with people getting unsubscribed. Quite a few You Tubers have mentioned it.
I'm going to fit a fuel module tomorrow so hopefully that will solve the problem. I've got a new filter on order as well. The more I ride the bike the more it is growing on me.
I'll swap your surging engine for my cylinder misfiring...
... no, not really. I don't understand either, so I might as well, continue in my already advanced trial and error journey! :)
---------
About you being crazy enough to ride your motorcycle without a full leather suit, ideally airbag equipped, not forgetting gloves (!) and, of course, a full face helmet:
Here, where I am, we have to wear at least an approved helmet and gloves to protect ourselves.
From the police.
Back in the UK, and I believe, also in Denmark, most three-wheeled scooters, with their two front wheels at a minimum distance (that I've forgotten) apart, are classified as 'tricycles', which allows riders with a license older than, I seem to remember, 2013, to choose if and what safety gear they wish to wear.
So, I fondly remember being free to ride in normal outdoor attire and enjoy wind in the hair bliss. :)
Having said that, I did once lowside a motorcycle and slid behind it on the tarmac afor a fair distance without acquiring a single blemish to my person, because of my leather boots, -trousers, -jacket, -gloves and full face helmet. The bike, however, was a total write off and my boots were no longer waterproof - most inconvenient! :)
---------
Lucky you, that you like the stock footpeg position. I have yet to come across a non-cruiser that has adequate peg-to-seat distance for me.
Happily, there seems to be a wide and varied choice of aftermarket stuff for the Interceptor 650, including relocating kits for footpegs and their controls. So, to relax my knee joints a little, I moved mine forward by about 10cm. Feels almost (!) cruise-esque comfortable. :)
---------
Mainly to prevent stalling at idle, like at junctions, I fitted a Fuel-X Pro kit. It's compatible with Euro 5 bikes, which mine is.
---------
Thanks for sharing your journey on your Interceptor 650. :)
I put better quality pads on y rear disk, and it did improve things. But it's not the best I've had, but good enough for me.
Yes I will be replacing my pads when I get chance
Your handlebar seems to be non-standard. The OEM handlebar is straight while this one is curved and could have been incorrectly installed. Maybe this is the cause of wobbling.
The handlebar is aftermarket. I installed it myself and fitted bar end weights. I am fairly certain after checking everything else the problem is the tyre. I have a new one arriving Friday. Hopefully this will solve the problem.
You should have gloves on! I have seen the result of coming off without gloves on......
I know I should really
Wheel balancing louse spokes may be forks.
I will be balancing the wheel when I fit the new tyre. Checked the spokes and forks they are good.
@@iantoy7778 Hot temps can pressurise the tank this may be the reason the bike is hunting.
Yeah them handle bars look fantastic
Thanks
Looks like wheel balance problem to me.
Yes I will be balancing the wheel when I fit the new tyre. It will be here Friday
Forks could be bent…oscillation
@@hectorshouse7348 checked the forks. They are fine. Ordered a new tyre and hopefully that will sort it out
@@iantoy7778 that’s good…Hope the tyre sorts it mate 😀👍