Revisiting this video as I now need it! Had an accident on monday there, but escaped with just a broken foot. A careless lady in the opposite lane was turning right. I was going straight ahead, I smashed into the front of her car after my attempt to swerve out of her way just fell short. Anyway, the bike is written off and I need another for when my foot's all better. Your videos have always helped, and even without a bike they continue to do so. Cheers again, Del.
Thanks delboy....been around bikes my whole life..40 years you reassure what I know..thank you..love your vids...all the way from queensland Australia.
Thanks mate, great to hear from you all the way from QLD, what a beautiful place you live.. Thanks for watching and taking the time to get in touch.. Del.
Hi mate,no matter how tightly you wind the axle nut in it will not pinch the bearings,the bearings have a separator tube that holds them apart inside the wheel rim & the pressure bears on the inner cup of the bearing,not the outer, so it will no cause resistance..if your chain is lubed & not over-tight, it can only be your brake pads, that is the only other thing that can possible cause free run resistance, maybe check wheel alignment to check it's running too in the first place ..good luck, Del
Looking to get my first bike in September and this vid just gives so much information and little tips I would never even think of. Thanks so much for the vid
So much valuable knowledge is shared, thank you for your great effort Delboy and the camera professional, I'm a new rider and will sure make sure your videos reach the rest of my friends
Thanks Nathan, glad to know the videos can be helpful to you and your friends, plenty more in the playlists, and don't hesitate to give us a shout if you get stuck, always happy to try and help - ride safe!
Hey buddy, I first took to the roads in 1981 as a stroppy 16yr old & have had a bike ever since... I'm afraid confidence only comes with time & despite this modern world of computers it's not something you can download! I find riding all year round in all weathers & all traffic situations builds up your 'experience bank' & it is on that on which you draw in emergencies to help keep you safe..just give it a chance mate & take every opportunity to get out on your bike - above all else, ride safe
Hi mate, thanks that is so kind and such nice comments...you know how it is, mate, when you get like us, a bit long in the tooth, it's important to share the things we know with those who may not, no-body owns knowledge, it's our duty to share it...cheers fellah, keep vlogging, speak soon! Del
Cheers mate, glad you got it sorted and new valves are always a good idea as the schrader core can get sticky and fail to seal after getting pumped up, but as for new tyres, often just getting them re-seated can be enough ...good luck and ride safe, buddy, Del
Another great video Del. Another one to remember. Found a problem on my ST1100 now too, loosing about 5 PSI a day in the rear tyre, spun the wheel around, tyre is in good nick, but there's a large hole in the rear wheel.....was hidden by the panniers and my rose tinted glasses. Everything else seems fine, and st1100 for just £1000 is still a bargain, just got to get a new wheel for the MOT next month, may get new tires and valves just to be doubly sure though. Thanks for the great uploads
Projects are a whole different ball game! ... My best advice would be decide what you want to end up with first once it's finished, try to envisage how far is left to go on the project and how much patience you have and also, how much money... .the best route would be to give yourself a dry run and just buy a tired little 125 do-er-upper first and take 6 months making it an absolute peach - this way you'll end up with something that will make you a few quid and uou'll have tested your patience!
hi del den well our summer just got cold!12 degrees today,sunny ! i was on my iron today,normally i ride t'il first snow but this year i got a dose of bad back,,``old accidents catches up to me somtimes,,thanks again for your well explained vids they sure come in handy!!
Hi Darth & Del, thanks for the feedback, I have a Kawasaki 125cc Eliminator at the moment and the bikes you mention seem like a natural progression once I have passed the test. Went to a Triumph dealer yesterday - wow - I know what I want for Xmas...
Hi David, yes, completely legal provided yo have removed the extra brake hose and caliper...there is no law stating the number of discs you must have and as you have a master cylinder pump calibrated for twin discs it squeezes twice as hard on the one that's left...so the braking power is only marginally reduced... well done on your chain & sprocs, cheers Del
Hi Alex. Well done matey, dont worry about missing a few things, most bikes you'll get a general feel if they are right, and the seller can make you feel confident too...as long as its all safe and his to sell, then anything else can be sorted, like you say, if its a shed bike, then its not so important if there is a niggle of two to sort out... ride safe mate, and thanks for watching... Del.
Thanks mate, I appreciate the offer, we are currently working with a company that will do us some stickers, T-shirts and baseball caps, but we're just trying to balance the quantities and prices, as we will have to sell them, so the costs will affect the sale price and we're still not sure we are at the stage where we could start selling merchandise - as it is a little gauche, after all, we're just a YT channel and there are many out there way bigger than ours! Thanks again, buddy, Del
Thanks, mate, good luck with it, hope you find what you are looking for, just take your time and don't rush at the first one unless it's the right one! ... Del
Hi mate, cruiser bikes certainly make for a mild mannered ride and a chilled way to enjoy the roads and as you said, you can soon move up to something sportier if you fancy.... good luck with your search, Del
Hey Del - thanks for the tips,so useful - found a local Triu mph dealer near us today - wow those cruisers look so cool - so many models both new and old to choose from - its pretty hard to make a choice. As a new biker I find big cruisers with low seat height more attractive as a stepping tone from a 125cc to a big boys bike
Hi mate, never too busy to answer, chum, firstly I wouldn't bother using it to charge your Drift, just buy some spare batteries, but for things like Sat Navs and intercoms they are great, but I would wire it to a switched live and not direct to the battery... easiest way is find a live coming off the ignition switch and splice into that, that way, when you turn the ignition off everything is dead, as wiring is my one weakness and also multi-media, can I refer ....cont'd.
Hello there, that's very kind of you, if you've watched the latest vids you'll see I sold my 1200 Sportster and have just got myself an ....883 Iron ... and loving it ... we've already loaded up some jobs we've done and we'll post up any others we do as well...in the back catalogue you'll fine loads of Iron vids from when Del had his ... thanks for watching, Penny
Thought you might enjoy a glimpse of it LOL! ... Much warmer and sunnier here now, so off for a ride to the local (well, 40miles away!) H-D dealer tomorrow ... will have a little film for you!! Cheers Penny
Fitting the fan is easy mate, they usually live behind the radiator so you may need to drop the coolant and pull the rad off, but im not sure, not looked at one for years.....i remember them, if i remember right that was the one with the 4 pipes pointing upwards like rocket tubes...wonderful..lol... and most importantly....that motor is closely related to the VFR 750 engine, if not the same....and that motor has gear driven cams....not chain...so check if yours has that, id guess it will!
Years ago I bought a second hand Honda VT500 as an around London bike. It turned into one of the best machines I ever owned. However, when I bought it, I failed to notice the steering wobble that developed above 50 miles an hour because my test drive was in a built up area with a 30mph limit. Once the wobble came on it rapidly became alarming and it took a lot of force to hold the handle bars still. Someone in the past had made a bodged effort to replace the steering head bearing and fitting a new one was pointless because of the damage that had been done. It became an expensive mistake I will never make again.
Hi Delboy, Great video with really important info. I have recently been a victim of my own negligence when buying my last bike. It came from a dealer and so I didn't pay as much attention as I should have. I bought the bike with 21000 miles on it and it was MOT'd last September. However, I checked my MOT certificate recently and it showed 111000 miles which sent a shiver down to my soul. I contacted the previous owner from log book details and he kindly confirmed that he sold it to the dealer with 21000 on it a month before my purchase (PHEW). However, then the fun begins, After several calls and emails to VOSA telling me nothing can be done after 5 days of MOT date,, they finally put me in contact with my local DVSA office (75 miles away) who agreed to change the certificate only on the condition that they inspected the bike, I showed the email from previous buyer, the original bike advert showing mileage and recent service bills showing recorded mileage. Nice man at DVSA Royston sorted it for me. Important note: if the bike had gone through another MOT, then the incorrect recording becomes historic and cannot be changed. That will then show mileage discrepancy for the life of the bike. I hope this helps others to avoid my stupidity.
+BigDave (Teapot) Hi buddy, excellent story, and good on you for getting it sussed... it must have been shocking (although quite impressive lol!)... however, it is far from your stupidity, you'd have been stupid to ignore it and done nothing, the person in fact who was stupid is the dipshit mechanic who wrote that mileage down when he inspected the bike...! Clearly unaware how important these details are, and the impact it can have... don't get me started !!!!! Glad it all worked out buddy...
I've had this video saved in my favourites for the last year maybe longer for this day. going to view my first bike. Gsx650f. not even taking a deposit. I want him to know I'm in no rush to buy as the riding season is nearly over and I'm looking for a bargain. Thanks for the great tips on the wear and tear to look for.
Sorry to hear about your accident buddy, sounds like a typical situation to me....oh well, at least your pretty much ok, and i hope its not too painful and heals quick....hope you can use the video to get yourself a right bargain and enjoy your new bike... take care buddy... Del.
Great advice Del, still love watching never a dull moment. Would love to see a bike that was a transit van though would have some rear axels and a massive chain.
Dude fantastic vid Del,there is info in there I never thought of checking. You my friend are Yoda like in your wisdom, the force is strong with you. Regards Adam.
Hi Would you recommend the Iron 883 to be a first bike? I am strongly considering this type of bike for my fist one. Is it easy to handle? Throttle response? I weigh 85 kg and lift weights if it`s any matter considering controlling the bike. But I am inexperienced and after looking at Harleys, the sportsters look small and easy to ride. Thanks for all the info.
You know them floaty discs - have you known a pair of discs where the floaty section has eventually failed and snapped? How do you know when they are too worn with those things?
Hi again mate, yeah we have been looking into it, just trying to get the costs reasonable - they either want to sell you 500 minimum (and we ain't that popular LOL!) or charge you a heap for a small quantity ... will keep working on it, but it's definitely a plan! Cheers buddy, Del
Ah, that's funny ... we did think about making some T-shirts but we are still stuck trying to source a proper company who can do the stickers - we thought we might sell Delboy's Garage stickers and raise some money for charity, but they seem to cost more to get printed than they would sell for!! I'll keep working on it! Cheers, buddy, Del
hay their dell penny!! guess who was out riding today ..,,what a day! 8 degrees!!Ihad the iron out I'm still working on my ural spring is in the air!!Iwas was at our Triumph dealer yesterday,,That bobber is one very impressive Triumph!! Idid saw your comments in shade trees blog after seeing the commercial I laughed my head off,,that's hollywood i guess safe riding see you soon
Oh yeah... the fake brand image sells lots of bikes... doesnt stop those who fall for it looking daft though aye.... lol! Glad you got out for a play... soon be summer buddy..
Great video with some very good advice. 1 change though. Hpi check it After inspecting it. Otherwise you spend£20 on a Hpi check, and at inspection find its a dog and you don't want it
Really good info there, i did not even know that when i was looking for this kind of thing it was what i should do lol now i know i was doing right, got my XJ600s from e-bay in 2007 for £470 and its been a great bike, 21 years old and 47K on the clock, every bolt i have taken out has copper slip on them so i got a good one. Hope everyone learns something here.
Sound advice Del. Always see the bike. Ebay, Autotrader, MCN whatever. I so agree. View it and go back later with the cash if you like it. One of my first Bikes, went to view it at 8 p.m in winter, liked it but it was dark. Went back for a 2nd look in the day light. Still loved it. Bought it. Actually sold it for what I paid after many miles. Bargain ;-) Bargains can be had but we all have to be really careful. Patina, love that word ;-) I hope folks listen to the vid mate, I really do!
Sound advice Del! Even though as a young whipper snapper I bought a dog of a Z250, because I couldn't "walk away from it" Many breakdowns later, I ended up bining it - not so much of a bargain after all. Gone with my gut (and onion lookers) instinct since and done good plenty of times - cheers Barry
I started watching your videos a while ago when I was looking for how to sort out knackered studs etc. (bloody Land Rovers are made of cheese) but now I'm interested in riding... and myself and my mate are after touring on Harleys so I was wondering, do you think an 883 Iron would be a good first bike? (unfortunately going to have to be restricted for a couple more years) Luckily we've got the cash to get them but after watching your videos I would really like to hear your opinion about it and if not, what cruiser type of bike would you recommend? Hope to come across you guys at some point if we head down that way :)
Hi Rick....thats great news, im so glad the videos have been able to inspire you to ride, what more could we want aye... excellent.. An 883 Iron isnt the emediate choice for touring, but they are more than capable of riding all day and not letting you down...they may be a little light on long distance comfort, but again, if all you want is to cruise and enjoy the scenery, they are great..and you can buy all manner of luggage for them too...so if its Harley's you fancy...then go for it buddy, they are amazing bikes and will hook you in for life... Hope that helps a bit.. maybe have a few test rides on other stuff too and see what you like best aye... good luck with the trip and drop us a line of you ever head for the south coast... take care, and all the best. Del.
Thinking that's what I'm gonna do, have a test ride of a few things but I'm really set on a Harley so I think i'll be going for it, then get it set for a more set back ride and comfier seat etc. hopefully it all goes somewhat to plan, cheers Del :) Rick
u talking about u get asked alot of questions just reminded me , my back wheel on my cbr seems like its proper tight to spin by hand , but the nuts not done up overly tight on my axle and my chain has the right amount of slack in it and break pads arnt rubbing , do u think that could be the axle being too dry? or shagged bairings ? ive used normal grease on a bike before on the axle but didnt realy do alot any ideas del?
I just want to point out Del is that HPI doesn't cover logbook loans where they can still take the bike and indeed a car because the seller has gotten a loan on it. HPI check won't show this, so it's not fool proof. That's not to say not to use HPI as an added form of protection. It is however not fool proof.
The new laws have been a long time coming, but they are way less restrictive than first proposed and we have the Motorcycle Action Group and the BMF with their continued lobbying of the Euro parliament to fight the ridiculous legislation...bike testing and qualifying has been getting slowly harder since 1973 when you could ride a 650 on 'L' plates and didn't need a helmet! ... my only advice to anyone would be knuckle down, crack on & get through it ..you can't fight it mate, Del
Well he gave me a Haynes manual with it, and in there it mentions chains.He did say it could it could be the tappets either but not sure. I know nothing, but I'm learning. The rear brake light switch was acting up so i got myself a multimeter and found that it switches on in the middle of it's travel when pulled by the spring and then goes off again once pulled out all the way so simply set it up so the pedal stops before pulling it beyond that point. Simple fixes, but it's all new to me!
Hi Del Great Tips & info, however I wonder could you please answer me this! I've just purchased a 12v Handlebar mounted USB adapter charger similar to a cigarette lighter type for the bike. should I wire it with an inline fuse on the live? if so what amp? should I wire straight to the battery? if not straight to the battery, where? as it's 12v would I be ok to charge the Drift-HD as it's 3.7v at 1110mAh? I Fully understand if this takes up to much of your time! If so please don't answer. Thanks
I like buying bikes that have been stood in a garage for years, that require work which puts most people off. Bargains!!! My last one can't even be divulged, it was such a good deal. :)
Best bit of knowledge you could give to a new rider I passed my test had eyed a few up went for a zx9r met them part way as it was a few hundred miles away bike was clean no issues however after the cash was handed over the old owner drove off in to the distance I was calling to set up insurance after around 4 calls of me screaming how much I coughed up the same amount in insurance as I'd paid for the bike
ha ha, Oops,. i guess you should have checked that before you even considered one... those insurance companies have a savage outlook on young riders... hope you got pats it buddy... and great bike BTW..
Haha, I was aware it kept distracting me, it was a bit of masking tape where I had touched in the paint on the black paint, it just kept catching my eye!
Hello Del, i was happy to find out about you channel and more happy i am watching your videos. As a starter in the world of motorcycling, (ive start about a year ago with a suzuki gs 125,not a chinese crap), i am confident you will be able to give me some advices. I just have passed my module 1 and 2 tests and i am in searching of a new motorcycle. As you know i have two options: restricted or unrestricted. Budget:1100 max. Please tell me from this short list, wich one you think it will be best for a new starter...(I do not want a 250 sport bike or something like that) Hereis my list, but if you know any other reliable motorcycles good for starters please let me know. 1.(My prefered) Suzuki bandit 600 2.Honda Hornet 600 3.Yamaha Fazer 600 (For this i need to install a restrictor kit) 4.Suzuki gs500E Thank you in advance, i hope you can help me.
+Manole Ionut Hi mate, first of all congrats on your test and welcome to the family...! I appreciate you asking our opinion and there is a little personal choice in all these things... but I would discount the GS500E completely, as it's a lightweight 500 twin and in a much lower class than the other 3 bikes.... depending on your physical stature, the Hornet is a baby streetfighter based on the CBR600 sports bike, so would look at that first.... then the Bandit, as they are a wonderful all rounder, a little bigger than the Hornet and then finally the Fazer, as much the same as the Bandit, but a little uglier! Look at all 3 of the 4-cylinder bikes and go with which one makes your heart beat fastest lol ! Good luck with it, Del
+Moonfleet41 Thank you for your fast reply. Keep going with your fabulous work and thank you for sharing with us. I will recommend your videos as a virtual mechanical tutorials and all learning tips that u share with us.
Hi Del, i was wondering if you knew about the new motorcycle laws that came into place last january, it restricts people to 125 until 19 then to 400 untill 21, and you also have to take 3 individual tests for the transitions, just wondering your opinion on this?
Im not requesting a video, but i would love to hear you have a comparison of bike companies, like honda, kaw, suz, yam, harley, victory , triumph. That would be a very interesting oversite. Great video by the way. As always
FYI, it's a 1982 Honday VF750C V45 Magna US import "Power Cruiser" :) Its got a bit of cam chain rattle which apparently was an issue with them, do you know if these are self adjusting and then replaceable once they come to the end of their life or can they be manually adjusted? Also, the fan doesn't work, but the guy gave me a replacement, just need to fit it - how easy/hard is that?
Yeah, well done, mate, that's the point I made, it isn't necessarily a bar to buying it, just as long as you know what you are heading into...good luck bonny lad, like laterz innit! LOL! Del
Good Tip Del as normal and the bikes we could buy for that prices for less than a grand many yrssssss back are all silly money Keep the good stuff up Penny Bike can was good should have had her to blog it
No mate, ive never ridden the Bolt....but there was a feature on it recently in BSH written by Nick Samson....great writeup and very fare.. ! check it out..
Del, trying to sell my 125 and my brake/clutch levers have scratches from going up+down an alley, can i fix these up, replace them or should i just not worry?
Hi Del, watched this video back in april when you first posted it, and then watched it last friday prior to trotting off in the car to go look at a bike to buy. It's a second bike "shed style" run around, so as to keep my XJ6 shiny and just wanted to say thanks, as buying private can be quite overwhelming and filled with trepidation. As usual, in the frenzy, I missed a few minor things before handing over cash and then discovered when i got home, but tools out after a wash and looking/working gt
when i bought the bandit off monkeyboy it had taken a slow speed drop and the speedo was mashed so had to replace it... original one read 32k approx and the replacement had 3k on it... i kept the old knackered speedo so if the time comes when she goes the journey i can show the old speedo and the reason it was replaced... funnily enough when i bought it all the alarm bells were ringing telling me i should walk away, no log book etc... i got lucky and everything checked out but i did HPI it...
Nah, I did it way more weird ... I paid £1600 for a really nice Bandit 1200 that the bloke has spent £600 on renewing every feasible consumable, MOT-ing it for 12 months and even filling it with petrol for me, them promptly painted it back with a brush, welded a cage round the engine and draped 70ft of chain round it - now that's weird LOL!
Hi Del & Penny Great guide, and much needed as there are a few unscrupulous people out there who put profits above life! What you said about M.O.T. Mileage record was spot on, I think it used to be optional to declare it on the certificate! I got lucky enough to find a bike with all the M.O.TS. Right to first registration A few years showed low miles, but the seller appear ed to have put quite a lot on during his year of ownership, when I asked how come he said he commuted Essex-London for work, figured the accumulated milege consistent with a daily commute for the year+ Highway rides were kinder for the machine, bit his hand off paid £1000, Bargain in very good order got him to include GIVI rack! Obviously I did alright, on this occasion, but do you think it would Ever be ok to conduct a compression test in situations such as these? Kind regards Warren
Hi Warren, good to hear from you again, and that's logical thinking for sure, but it's not so easy in practice... a compression test is a little invasive, I can't think too many sellers would be that keen to allow it, not they would have anything to hide, but if you imagined it on the other side of the table, it sounds a little much to start pulling your engine apart and screwing in compression testers... also the test itself isn't really that revealing, a proper leak down test is better and will tell you more about the state of the engine... compression test results are really only useful when you compare the cylinders against each other so they're all equal, or there abouts... in reality I doubt anyone does that kinda thing, but by all means, you could always ask, all they can say is no, aye?
Moonfleet41 Hi Del, I see your point, mind you I checked my naked- Z-esk type, inline 4 kwak and it was completed just over 15mins, I have to concede that for fared bikes it wouldn't get of the ground, Might be welcomed on singles/ parallel twins though, ERM by leak down test are you referring to the procedure after valves and seats have been worked on and liquid is poured on the upside down head to test integrity of the seals? Translucent tail piece translucent tail piece, What do we want Translucent tail piece! Hey Penny the angry mob are outside chanting WE WANT A TRANSLUCENT TAIL PIECE! Best give Del a nudge, Translucent tail piece, Hey up, better give em what they want, THE CROWD RETURNED HOME PLACATED! We will soon have the tail piece we have longed for VICTORY! 😁
Hi Warren, thanks for your kind words... and I love the idea of a transulcent tail piece, you could have lights underneath it, maybe the belly pan too, now that could be cool! On the leak down test, it's not as complicated as you think, and it's nothing to do with testing valve seats with fluid... it's similar to a compression test, but rather than pumping the engine over with a tester plugged in to the plug holes, you actually plug an airline in to the cylinder with a gauge attached to it, like a tyre pressure gauage, pump it up to a given pressure, usually 100psi, and then, as it says in the name, watch it leak down on the gauge... the pressure will natrually drop and you time that drop, which tests the quality of the seal... you also test where the pressure's leaking from, you rotate the crank so the valves are closed, then check the rocker cover breather to see if it's coming out of there, which would be valves leaking, or the crank case breather will indicate the bores are worn and the rings are leaking... most tuning shops will always use a leak down test over and above a regular compression test, as it's more accurate... But little thing you can do, if you do the compression test, and one cylinder is low, you can check if it's bores, or valves, bu squirting a little 3-in-1 oil in the plug hole first, which will eal the bore momentarily, and when you carry out the test, if the reading improves, then it was the bore that's leaking, but if it doesn't change, then the pressure is going up out the valves...
Moonfleet41 Hi Del, I think something better be done, THAT ANGRY MOB MIGHT NOT BE SO EASY TO PLACATE NEXT TIME, (GET THE WATER CANNON'S UP TO PRESSURE AND PRIMED! HAHA. I had no idea about the leak down test, I do now thanks to you so thanks for that mate, Did know about the old 3 in 1 oil trick, luckily didn't need to use it on this occasion as 1-4 all checked within similar specs, mate of mine will be helping with the clutch though as I've had slipige when gunning it for overtakes, looking at some E.B.C. plate sets, mate as advised taking it easy so as not to warp the steel plates until we have replaced the friction set! Top bloke Del I do enjoy the Comms, I am aware that you work hard though so I should limit the amount of your time I am taking up, As always a pleasure mate Kind regards Warren
Hi Warren , always a pleasure to talk mate, never too busy however much I have to do... with the compression test, you're looking for a max of 15% between the readings and any more the lowest pressure on will struggle to carberate properly, as it won't be sucking as hard as the others...... With the clutch, if it's a Bandit, they have a diaghram disc rather than proper clutch springs and are as weak as a kitten's fart, so usually the first casuse of slippage, it's rarely worn out plates, so before you invest, try up grading the spring, if you, or previous owners, have spent time sat at the lights with the clutch pulled in etc., they eventually flag out and start to fail under load... there are heavier duty replacement discs, or you can convert (better still) to a proper 6 spring Barnett plate conversion and it'll never slip then...
"dealer would not take in a "melon" to sell on?"... Dont you believe it mate... they're capable of anything, it just depends on the dealer....but at least with a dealer you have some legal rights under law, and they cant just tell you to bugger off if it goes wrong...but still be careful, 'buyer beware' and all that.
thanks ever so much delboy for all these tips and advice,im bout to do my mod 1,shortly after mod 2 and ive been looking oer bikes on the usual GT and AT ect for when I pass,and I WILL PASS lol but exactly as you said its mind boggling! I was thinkin of asking one of my instructors to come along with me to look over a few choices,although I do have a certain knowledge mechanical ect my mind aint been on bikes for a lot of years so I need some good eyes along ya know!! anyow im rambling on......just to say fuckin NICE ONE delboy many thanks,great vids!! Phil
Thanks again Phill. Firstly mate, good luck with your test...you're right, you WILL pass, its just a matter of focusing and giving a clean confident ride on the day... Your instructor could help you if he knows his bikes, but its not a done deal as they are often very busy and maybe not even interested. but if you want someone you can trust, then thats the best place to start... have you thought about using a dealer, they aren't all bad, and you always get a warranty, if you have any doubt, you can pay for an independent inspection on the bike, the AA, RAC and a few other firms offer the service with a guarantee on their word..and you are free to use the HPI service off your own back, that will give you a mileage report, check if its ever been written off, if it has any finance outstanding, number of owners etc etc,, and a lot of other info for not much money... On top of all that mate, when the time comes, by all means if you have a bike in mine, drop me a line and i can tell you what to look out for, what known fault that bike may have suffered from, and roughly what they sell for.....happy to help buddy, just let me know... all the best. Del.
Aaaw that's very kind of ya del but im sure you got mooooore than enough mails to reply to wi'out more from me lol!! Gotta be honest tho I was kinda thinking of buying new(street triple) from a dealer here in Sheffield cuz ive been burnt buying shit cars in the past n fancied the dealer/warranty angle ya know!!?? I just dunno mate it is a fuckin mine field aint it!! Anyow enough dreaming for now and back to roadcraft Nottingham ay lol....peace be brother.
Your a diamond, cheers Del, I thought that's what I should do, but wiring is my weakness also as I'm really colour blind! will check out navythomas8 as you said, Once again Thankyou very much.
take them off. file down the scrathes. then sand them. keep going until smooth. then polish them. I have the same thing on my mirrors from filtering to close to lorries and then like.
Revisiting this video as I now need it!
Had an accident on monday there, but escaped with just a broken foot. A careless lady in the opposite lane was turning right. I was going straight ahead, I smashed into the front of her car after my attempt to swerve out of her way just fell short.
Anyway, the bike is written off and I need another for when my foot's all better. Your videos have always helped, and even without a bike they continue to do so. Cheers again, Del.
Thanks delboy....been around bikes my whole life..40 years you reassure what I know..thank you..love your vids...all the way from queensland Australia.
Thanks mate, great to hear from you all the way from QLD, what a beautiful place you live.. Thanks for watching and taking the time to get in touch.. Del.
Hi mate,no matter how tightly you wind the axle nut in it will not pinch the bearings,the bearings have a separator tube that holds them apart inside the wheel rim & the pressure bears on the inner cup of the bearing,not the outer, so it will no cause resistance..if your chain is lubed & not over-tight, it can only be your brake pads, that is the only other thing that can possible cause free run resistance, maybe check wheel alignment to check it's running too in the first place ..good luck, Del
Looking to get my first bike in September and this vid just gives so much information and little tips I would never even think of.
Thanks so much for the vid
So much valuable knowledge is shared, thank you for your great effort Delboy and the camera professional, I'm a new rider and will sure make sure your videos reach the rest of my friends
Thanks Nathan, glad to know the videos can be helpful to you and your friends, plenty more in the playlists, and don't hesitate to give us a shout if you get stuck, always happy to try and help - ride safe!
Hey buddy, I first took to the roads in 1981 as a stroppy 16yr old & have had a bike ever since... I'm afraid confidence only comes with time & despite this modern world of computers it's not something you can download! I find riding all year round in all weathers & all traffic situations builds up your 'experience bank' & it is on that on which you draw in emergencies to help keep you safe..just give it a chance mate & take every opportunity to get out on your bike - above all else, ride safe
Hi mate, thanks that is so kind and such nice comments...you know how it is, mate, when you get like us, a bit long in the tooth, it's important to share the things we know with those who may not, no-body owns knowledge, it's our duty to share it...cheers fellah, keep vlogging, speak soon! Del
Cheers mate, glad you got it sorted and new valves are always a good idea as the schrader core can get sticky and fail to seal after getting pumped up, but as for new tyres, often just getting them re-seated can be enough ...good luck and ride safe, buddy, Del
I just want to thank you for all your invaluable videos. 👍
Another great video Del. Another one to remember. Found a problem on my ST1100 now too, loosing about 5 PSI a day in the rear tyre, spun the wheel around, tyre is in good nick, but there's a large hole in the rear wheel.....was hidden by the panniers and my rose tinted glasses. Everything else seems fine, and st1100 for just £1000 is still a bargain, just got to get a new wheel for the MOT next month, may get new tires and valves just to be doubly sure though. Thanks for the great uploads
Projects are a whole different ball game! ... My best advice would be decide what you want to end up with first once it's finished, try to envisage how far is left to go on the project and how much patience you have and also, how much money... .the best route would be to give yourself a dry run and just buy a tired little 125 do-er-upper first and take 6 months making it an absolute peach - this way you'll end up with something that will make you a few quid and uou'll have tested your patience!
hi del den well our summer just got cold!12 degrees today,sunny ! i was on my iron today,normally i ride t'il first snow but this year i got a dose of bad back,,``old accidents catches up to me somtimes,,thanks again for your well explained vids they sure come in handy!!
Hi Darth & Del, thanks for the feedback, I have a Kawasaki 125cc Eliminator at the moment and the bikes you mention seem like a natural progression once I have passed the test. Went to a Triumph dealer yesterday - wow - I know what I want for Xmas...
Hi David, yes, completely legal provided yo have removed the extra brake hose and caliper...there is no law stating the number of discs you must have and as you have a master cylinder pump calibrated for twin discs it squeezes twice as hard on the one that's left...so the braking power is only marginally reduced... well done on your chain & sprocs, cheers Del
Hi Alex. Well done matey, dont worry about missing a few things, most bikes you'll get a general feel if they are right, and the seller can make you feel confident too...as long as its all safe and his to sell, then anything else can be sorted, like you say, if its a shed bike, then its not so important if there is a niggle of two to sort out... ride safe mate, and thanks for watching... Del.
Thank you most kindly, Sir, it's great to have your kind support & we're glad you appreciate the videos! Take care, my friend, D&P
Thanks mate, I appreciate the offer, we are currently working with a company that will do us some stickers, T-shirts and baseball caps, but we're just trying to balance the quantities and prices, as we will have to sell them, so the costs will affect the sale price and we're still not sure we are at the stage where we could start selling merchandise - as it is a little gauche, after all, we're just a YT channel and there are many out there way bigger than ours! Thanks again, buddy, Del
Thanks, mate, good luck with it, hope you find what you are looking for, just take your time and don't rush at the first one unless it's the right one! ... Del
Hi mate, cruiser bikes certainly make for a mild mannered ride and a chilled way to enjoy the roads and as you said, you can soon move up to something sportier if you fancy.... good luck with your search, Del
What 'indagun' said is right, take a fine file and finesse the scratches out until they are gone! Cheaper option than new ones, good luck, Del
Hey Del - thanks for the tips,so useful - found a local Triu
mph dealer near us today - wow those cruisers look so cool - so many models both new and old to choose from - its pretty hard to make a choice. As a new biker I find big cruisers with low seat height more attractive as a stepping tone from a 125cc to a big boys bike
Hi mate, never too busy to answer, chum, firstly I wouldn't bother using it to charge your Drift, just buy some spare batteries, but for things like Sat Navs and intercoms they are great, but I would wire it to a switched live and not direct to the battery... easiest way is find a live coming off the ignition switch and splice into that, that way, when you turn the ignition off everything is dead, as wiring is my one weakness and also multi-media, can I refer ....cont'd.
Del boys garage full of brilliant concise videos, keep em coming
Thanks buddy , you're very kind, glad you enjoy the videos!
Hello there, that's very kind of you, if you've watched the latest vids you'll see I sold my 1200 Sportster and have just got myself an ....883 Iron ... and loving it ... we've already loaded up some jobs we've done and we'll post up any others we do as well...in the back catalogue you'll fine loads of Iron vids from when Del had his ... thanks for watching, Penny
Thought you might enjoy a glimpse of it LOL! ... Much warmer and sunnier here now, so off for a ride to the local (well, 40miles away!) H-D dealer tomorrow ... will have a little film for you!! Cheers Penny
Fitting the fan is easy mate, they usually live behind the radiator so you may need to drop the coolant and pull the rad off, but im not sure, not looked at one for years.....i remember them, if i remember right that was the one with the 4 pipes pointing upwards like rocket tubes...wonderful..lol... and most importantly....that motor is closely related to the VFR 750 engine, if not the same....and that motor has gear driven cams....not chain...so check if yours has that, id guess it will!
Years ago I bought a second hand Honda VT500 as an around London bike. It turned into one of the best machines I ever owned. However, when I bought it, I failed to notice the steering wobble that developed above 50 miles an hour because my test drive was in a built up area with a 30mph limit. Once the wobble came on it rapidly became alarming and it took a lot of force to hold the handle bars still. Someone in the past had made a bodged effort to replace the steering head bearing and fitting a new one was pointless because of the damage that had been done. It became an expensive mistake I will never make again.
Hi Delboy, Great video with really important info. I have recently been a victim of my own negligence when buying my last bike. It came from a dealer and so I didn't pay as much attention as I should have. I bought the bike with 21000 miles on it and it was MOT'd last September. However, I checked my MOT certificate recently and it showed 111000 miles which sent a shiver down to my soul. I contacted the previous owner from log book details and he kindly confirmed that he sold it to the dealer with 21000 on it a month before my purchase (PHEW). However, then the fun begins, After several calls and emails to VOSA telling me nothing can be done after 5 days of MOT date,, they finally put me in contact with my local DVSA office (75 miles away) who agreed to change the certificate only on the condition that they inspected the bike, I showed the email from previous buyer, the original bike advert showing mileage and recent service bills showing recorded mileage. Nice man at DVSA Royston sorted it for me. Important note: if the bike had gone through another MOT, then the incorrect recording becomes historic and cannot be changed. That will then show mileage discrepancy for the life of the bike. I hope this helps others to avoid my stupidity.
+BigDave (Teapot) Hi buddy, excellent story, and good on you for getting it sussed... it must have been shocking (although quite impressive lol!)... however, it is far from your stupidity, you'd have been stupid to ignore it and done nothing, the person in fact who was stupid is the dipshit mechanic who wrote that mileage down when he inspected the bike...! Clearly unaware how important these details are, and the impact it can have... don't get me started !!!!! Glad it all worked out buddy...
Cheers Jeff, how goes it with the project o' doom?!
I've had this video saved in my favourites for the last year maybe longer for this day. going to view my first bike. Gsx650f. not even taking a deposit. I want him to know I'm in no rush to buy as the riding season is nearly over and I'm looking for a bargain. Thanks for the great tips on the wear and tear to look for.
+misterchris1987 Thanks for watching mate, good luck with your purchace, have a good time with it.. Del .
Sorry to hear about your accident buddy, sounds like a typical situation to me....oh well, at least your pretty much ok, and i hope its not too painful and heals quick....hope you can use the video to get yourself a right bargain and enjoy your new bike... take care buddy... Del.
Great advice Del, still love watching never a dull moment. Would love to see a bike that was a transit van though would have some rear axels and a massive chain.
Dude fantastic vid Del,there is info in there I never thought of checking. You my friend are Yoda like in your wisdom, the force is strong with you. Regards Adam.
Once again another great video del, lots of handy tips there, thanks mate.
Hi
Would you recommend the Iron 883 to be a first bike? I am strongly considering this type of bike for my fist one. Is it easy to handle? Throttle response? I weigh 85 kg and lift weights if it`s any matter considering controlling the bike. But I am inexperienced and after looking at Harleys, the sportsters look small and easy to ride. Thanks for all the info.
You know them floaty discs - have you known a pair of discs where the floaty section has eventually failed and snapped? How do you know when they are too worn with those things?
An onion looker! It just gets better! Seriously though what a great vid.
Priceless info. Bikers are amazing.
Hi again mate, yeah we have been looking into it, just trying to get the costs reasonable - they either want to sell you 500 minimum (and we ain't that popular LOL!) or charge you a heap for a small quantity ... will keep working on it, but it's definitely a plan! Cheers buddy, Del
Cheers mate, kind words much appreciated ... Del
Ah, that's funny ... we did think about making some T-shirts but we are still stuck trying to source a proper company who can do the stickers - we thought we might sell Delboy's Garage stickers and raise some money for charity, but they seem to cost more to get printed than they would sell for!! I'll keep working on it! Cheers, buddy, Del
hay their dell penny!! guess who was out riding today ..,,what a day! 8 degrees!!Ihad the iron out I'm still working on my ural spring is in the air!!Iwas was at our Triumph dealer yesterday,,That bobber is one very impressive Triumph!! Idid saw your comments in shade trees blog after seeing the commercial I laughed my head off,,that's hollywood i guess safe riding see you soon
Oh yeah... the fake brand image sells lots of bikes... doesnt stop those who fall for it looking daft though aye.... lol! Glad you got out for a play... soon be summer buddy..
Great video with some very good advice. 1 change though. Hpi check it After inspecting it. Otherwise you spend£20 on a Hpi check, and at inspection find its a dog and you don't want it
Really good info there, i did not even know that when i was looking for this kind of thing it was what i should do lol now i know i was doing right, got my XJ600s from e-bay in 2007 for £470 and its been a great bike, 21 years old and 47K on the clock, every bolt i have taken out has copper slip on them so i got a good one. Hope everyone learns something here.
Best channel on TH-cam this. If only others could take his example with their content
Thanks buddy, you're very kind, and it's much appreciated !
Great points! I really liked the suggestion of "bringing" an onion checker with you. By the way, love that 883 Iron Penny!
Sound advice Del.
Always see the bike. Ebay, Autotrader, MCN whatever. I so agree.
View it and go back later with the cash if you like it.
One of my first Bikes, went to view it at 8 p.m in winter, liked it but it was dark. Went back for a 2nd look in the day light. Still loved it. Bought it.
Actually sold it for what I paid after many miles. Bargain ;-)
Bargains can be had but we all have to be really careful.
Patina, love that word ;-)
I hope folks listen to the vid mate, I really do!
Sound advice Del! Even though as a young whipper snapper I bought a dog of a Z250, because I couldn't "walk away from it"
Many breakdowns later, I ended up bining it - not so much of a bargain after all. Gone with my gut (and onion lookers) instinct since and done good plenty of times - cheers Barry
I started watching your videos a while ago when I was looking for how to sort out knackered studs etc. (bloody Land Rovers are made of cheese) but now I'm interested in riding... and myself and my mate are after touring on Harleys so I was wondering, do you think an 883 Iron would be a good first bike? (unfortunately going to have to be restricted for a couple more years) Luckily we've got the cash to get them but after watching your videos I would really like to hear your opinion about it and if not, what cruiser type of bike would you recommend?
Hope to come across you guys at some point if we head down that way :)
Hi Rick....thats great news, im so glad the videos have been able to inspire you to ride, what more could we want aye... excellent..
An 883 Iron isnt the emediate choice for touring, but they are more than capable of riding all day and not letting you down...they may be a little light on long distance comfort, but again, if all you want is to cruise and enjoy the scenery, they are great..and you can buy all manner of luggage for them too...so if its Harley's you fancy...then go for it buddy, they are amazing bikes and will hook you in for life...
Hope that helps a bit.. maybe have a few test rides on other stuff too and see what you like best aye... good luck with the trip and drop us a line of you ever head for the south coast... take care, and all the best. Del.
Thinking that's what I'm gonna do, have a test ride of a few things but I'm really set on a Harley so I think i'll be going for it, then get it set for a more set back ride and comfier seat etc. hopefully it all goes somewhat to plan, cheers Del :) Rick
u talking about u get asked alot of questions just reminded me , my back wheel on my cbr seems like its proper tight to spin by hand , but the nuts not done up overly tight on my axle and my chain has the right amount of slack in it and break pads arnt rubbing , do u think that could be the axle being too dry? or shagged bairings ? ive used normal grease on a bike before on the axle but didnt realy do alot any ideas del?
I just want to point out Del is that HPI doesn't cover logbook loans where they can still take the bike and indeed a car because the seller has gotten a loan on it. HPI check won't show this, so it's not fool proof. That's not to say not to use HPI as an added form of protection. It is however not fool proof.
Great advice mate. Gonna keep this video in my favorites for that situation.
Cheers mate, thanks for watching, Del
The new laws have been a long time coming, but they are way less restrictive than first proposed and we have the Motorcycle Action Group and the BMF with their continued lobbying of the Euro parliament to fight the ridiculous legislation...bike testing and qualifying has been getting slowly harder since 1973 when you could ride a 650 on 'L' plates and didn't need a helmet! ... my only advice to anyone would be knuckle down, crack on & get through it ..you can't fight it mate, Del
Hi, great vids as always. Would you advocate buying from a dealer rather than private in regards a dealer would not take in a "melon" to sell on?...
Well he gave me a Haynes manual with it, and in there it mentions chains.He did say it could it could be the tappets either but not sure. I know nothing, but I'm learning. The rear brake light switch was acting up so i got myself a multimeter and found that it switches on in the middle of it's travel when pulled by the spring and then goes off again once pulled out all the way so simply set it up so the pedal stops before pulling it beyond that point. Simple fixes, but it's all new to me!
Hi Del Great Tips & info, however I wonder could you please answer me this!
I've just purchased a 12v Handlebar mounted USB adapter charger similar to a cigarette lighter type for the bike.
should I wire it with an inline fuse on the live? if so what amp? should I wire straight to the battery? if not straight to the battery, where? as it's 12v would I be ok to charge the Drift-HD as it's 3.7v at 1110mAh?
I Fully understand if this takes up to much of your time! If so please don't answer. Thanks
I like buying bikes that have been stood in a garage for years, that require work which puts most people off. Bargains!!! My last one can't even be divulged, it was such a good deal. :)
Best bit of knowledge you could give to a new rider I passed my test had eyed a few up went for a zx9r met them part way as it was a few hundred miles away bike was clean no issues however after the cash was handed over the old owner drove off in to the distance I was calling to set up insurance after around 4 calls of me screaming how much I coughed up the same amount in insurance as I'd paid for the bike
ha ha, Oops,. i guess you should have checked that before you even considered one... those insurance companies have a savage outlook on young riders... hope you got pats it buddy... and great bike BTW..
Haha, I was aware it kept distracting me, it was a bit of masking tape where I had touched in the paint on the black paint, it just kept catching my eye!
Hello Del, i was happy to find out about you channel and more happy i am watching your videos.
As a starter in the world of motorcycling, (ive start about a year ago with a suzuki gs 125,not a chinese crap), i am confident you will be able to give me some advices.
I just have passed my module 1 and 2 tests and i am in searching of a new motorcycle.
As you know i have two options: restricted or unrestricted. Budget:1100 max.
Please tell me from this short list, wich one you think it will be best for a new starter...(I do not want a 250 sport bike or something like that)
Hereis my list, but if you know any other reliable motorcycles good for starters please let me know.
1.(My prefered) Suzuki bandit 600
2.Honda Hornet 600
3.Yamaha Fazer 600
(For this i need to install a restrictor kit)
4.Suzuki gs500E
Thank you in advance, i hope you can help me.
+Manole Ionut Hi mate, first of all congrats on your test and welcome to the family...! I appreciate you asking our opinion and there is a little personal choice in all these things... but I would discount the GS500E completely, as it's a lightweight 500 twin and in a much lower class than the other 3 bikes.... depending on your physical stature, the Hornet is a baby streetfighter based on the CBR600 sports bike, so would look at that first.... then the Bandit, as they are a wonderful all rounder, a little bigger than the Hornet and then finally the Fazer, as much the same as the Bandit, but a little uglier! Look at all 3 of the 4-cylinder bikes and go with which one makes your heart beat fastest lol ! Good luck with it, Del
+Moonfleet41
Thank you for your fast reply. Keep going with your fabulous work and thank you for sharing with us. I will recommend your videos as a virtual mechanical tutorials and all learning tips that u share with us.
Hi Del, i was wondering if you knew about the new motorcycle laws that came into place last january, it restricts people to 125 until 19 then to 400 untill 21, and you also have to take 3 individual tests for the transitions, just wondering your opinion on this?
Im not requesting a video, but i would love to hear you have a comparison of bike companies, like honda, kaw, suz, yam, harley, victory , triumph. That would be a very interesting oversite. Great video by the way. As always
FYI, it's a 1982 Honday VF750C V45 Magna US import "Power Cruiser" :) Its got a bit of cam chain rattle which apparently was an issue with them, do you know if these are self adjusting and then replaceable once they come to the end of their life or can they be manually adjusted? Also, the fan doesn't work, but the guy gave me a replacement, just need to fit it - how easy/hard is that?
Thanks Nick, Penny says I talk rubbish, but then she's biased! LOL!
Yeah, well done, mate, that's the point I made, it isn't necessarily a bar to buying it, just as long as you know what you are heading into...good luck bonny lad, like laterz innit! LOL! Del
Good Tip Del as normal and the bikes we could buy for that prices for less than a grand many yrssssss back are all silly money
Keep the good stuff up Penny Bike can was good should have had her to blog it
Have you ever tried a Yamaha Bolt / 950 to compare against the HD883 - I'm trying to find someone who is Not biased on the subject, new rider question
No mate, ive never ridden the Bolt....but there was a feature on it recently in BSH written by Nick Samson....great writeup and very fare.. ! check it out..
Del, trying to sell my 125 and my brake/clutch levers have scratches from going up+down an alley, can i fix these up, replace them or should i just not worry?
Tip #1 Buy a Harley. Tip #2 Buy a Harley Tip #3 Buy a Harley! .. LOL! .. Good stuff as always Del. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Cant agree more, ride, ride everywhere and build up confidence slowly.
hey Del how long you are been riding i have a hard time trying to feel confortable on my bike what can i do to get or gain confident on it
Hi great vids , your opinion or a rs125 or derbi gpr 125 ? cheers
Many thanks, mate, let me know if I can be of any help! Cheers Del
Such great advice Del .
Actually, would it be cool to request a how to sell your bike as to get the best price etc for us new riders
The bandit 1200 only has single disc? That road legal? Gd vid del stay safe buddy done my chain and sprockets cheers for tips.
Another brilliant video. I am addicted.
Hi Del, watched this video back in april when you first posted it, and then watched it last friday prior to trotting off in the car to go look at a bike to buy. It's a second bike "shed style" run around, so as to keep my XJ6 shiny and just wanted to say thanks, as buying private can be quite overwhelming and filled with trepidation. As usual, in the frenzy, I missed a few minor things before handing over cash and then discovered when i got home, but tools out after a wash and looking/working gt
when i bought the bandit off monkeyboy it had taken a slow speed drop and the speedo was mashed so had to replace it... original one read 32k approx and the replacement had 3k on it... i kept the old knackered speedo so if the time comes when she goes the journey i can show the old speedo and the reason it was replaced... funnily enough when i bought it all the alarm bells were ringing telling me i should walk away, no log book etc... i got lucky and everything checked out but i did HPI it...
Hey delboy, have you any advice for buying a project bike?
Thx
Sorry...is that a question mate..?
good points mate...always gotta be careful,
Thats it, you'd be amazed at the value of a green grocers knowledge...lol.
Hi mate, on me list ... we'll get round to that one!
Once again thank you soo much for all this tips ;). regards Miguel
Tip-top top tips as ever mate
Thanks for the advice.
another good vid del......thanks carl
Nah, I did it way more weird ... I paid £1600 for a really nice Bandit 1200 that the bloke has spent £600 on renewing every feasible consumable, MOT-ing it for 12 months and even filling it with petrol for me, them promptly painted it back with a brush, welded a cage round the engine and draped 70ft of chain round it - now that's weird LOL!
hey shirts and the stickers are a great idea mate i want one of each
Great video, very informative.
Hi Del & Penny
Great guide, and much needed as there are a few unscrupulous people out there who put profits above life!
What you said about M.O.T. Mileage record was spot on, I think it used to be optional to declare it on the certificate!
I got lucky enough to find a bike with all the M.O.TS.
Right to first registration
A few years showed low miles, but the seller appear ed to have put quite a lot on during his year of ownership, when I asked how come he said he commuted Essex-London for work, figured the accumulated milege consistent with a daily commute for the year+
Highway rides were kinder for the machine, bit his hand off paid £1000,
Bargain in very good order got him to include GIVI rack!
Obviously I did alright, on this occasion, but do you think it would Ever be ok to conduct a compression test in situations such as these?
Kind regards Warren
Hi Warren, good to hear from you again, and that's logical thinking for sure, but it's not so easy in practice... a compression test is a little invasive, I can't think too many sellers would be that keen to allow it, not they would have anything to hide, but if you imagined it on the other side of the table, it sounds a little much to start pulling your engine apart and screwing in compression testers... also the test itself isn't really that revealing, a proper leak down test is better and will tell you more about the state of the engine... compression test results are really only useful when you compare the cylinders against each other so they're all equal, or there abouts... in reality I doubt anyone does that kinda thing, but by all means, you could always ask, all they can say is no, aye?
Moonfleet41
Hi Del, I see your point, mind you I checked my naked- Z-esk type, inline 4 kwak and it was completed just over 15mins, I have to concede that for fared bikes it
wouldn't get of the ground,
Might be welcomed on singles/ parallel twins though,
ERM by leak down test are you referring to the procedure after valves and seats have been worked on and liquid is poured on the upside down head to test integrity of the seals?
Translucent tail piece translucent tail piece,
What do we want
Translucent tail piece!
Hey Penny the angry mob are outside chanting WE WANT A TRANSLUCENT TAIL PIECE!
Best give Del a nudge,
Translucent tail piece,
Hey up, better give em what they want,
THE CROWD RETURNED HOME PLACATED!
We will soon have the tail piece we have longed for
VICTORY!
😁
Hi Warren, thanks for your kind words... and I love the idea of a transulcent tail piece, you could have lights underneath it, maybe the belly pan too, now that could be cool!
On the leak down test, it's not as complicated as you think, and it's nothing to do with testing valve seats with fluid... it's similar to a compression test, but rather than pumping the engine over with a tester plugged in to the plug holes, you actually plug an airline in to the cylinder with a gauge attached to it, like a tyre pressure gauage, pump it up to a given pressure, usually 100psi, and then, as it says in the name, watch it leak down on the gauge... the pressure will natrually drop and you time that drop, which tests the quality of the seal... you also test where the pressure's leaking from, you rotate the crank so the valves are closed, then check the rocker cover breather to see if it's coming out of there, which would be valves leaking, or the crank case breather will indicate the bores are worn and the rings are leaking... most tuning shops will always use a leak down test over and above a regular compression test, as it's more accurate...
But little thing you can do, if you do the compression test, and one cylinder is low, you can check if it's bores, or valves, bu squirting a little 3-in-1 oil in the plug hole first, which will eal the bore momentarily, and when you carry out the test, if the reading improves, then it was the bore that's leaking, but if it doesn't change, then the pressure is going up out the valves...
Moonfleet41
Hi Del, I think something better be done, THAT ANGRY MOB MIGHT NOT BE SO EASY TO PLACATE NEXT TIME, (GET THE WATER CANNON'S UP TO PRESSURE AND PRIMED!
HAHA.
I had no idea about the leak down test, I do now thanks to you so thanks for that mate,
Did know about the old 3 in 1 oil trick, luckily didn't need to use it on this occasion as 1-4 all checked within similar specs, mate of mine will be helping with the clutch though as I've had slipige when gunning it for overtakes, looking at some E.B.C. plate sets, mate as advised taking it easy so as not to warp the steel plates until we have replaced the friction set!
Top bloke Del I do enjoy the Comms, I am aware that you work hard though so I should limit the amount of your time I am taking up,
As always a pleasure mate
Kind regards Warren
Hi Warren , always a pleasure to talk mate, never too busy however much I have to do... with the compression test, you're looking for a max of 15% between the readings and any more the lowest pressure on will struggle to carberate properly, as it won't be sucking as hard as the others...... With the clutch, if it's a Bandit, they have a diaghram disc rather than proper clutch springs and are as weak as a kitten's fart, so usually the first casuse of slippage, it's rarely worn out plates, so before you invest, try up grading the spring, if you, or previous owners, have spent time sat at the lights with the clutch pulled in etc., they eventually flag out and start to fail under load... there are heavier duty replacement discs, or you can convert (better still) to a proper 6 spring Barnett plate conversion and it'll never slip then...
"dealer would not take in a "melon" to sell on?"... Dont you believe it mate... they're capable of anything, it just depends on the dealer....but at least with a dealer you have some legal rights under law, and they cant just tell you to bugger off if it goes wrong...but still be careful, 'buyer beware' and all that.
Good info from you both. What good does a project bike do anyone LOL. Project bike definitely not a good first bike...
thanks ever so much delboy for all these tips and advice,im bout to do my mod 1,shortly after mod 2 and ive been looking oer bikes on the usual GT and AT ect for when I pass,and I WILL PASS lol but exactly as you said its mind boggling!
I was thinkin of asking one of my instructors to come along with me to look over a few choices,although I do have a certain knowledge mechanical ect my mind aint been on bikes for a lot of years so I need some good eyes along ya know!!
anyow im rambling on......just to say fuckin NICE ONE delboy many thanks,great vids!! Phil
Thanks again Phill. Firstly mate, good luck with your test...you're right, you WILL pass, its just a matter of focusing and giving a clean confident ride on the day... Your instructor could help you if he knows his bikes, but its not a done deal as they are often very busy and maybe not even interested. but if you want someone you can trust, then thats the best place to start...
have you thought about using a dealer, they aren't all bad, and you always get a warranty, if you have any doubt, you can pay for an independent inspection on the bike, the AA, RAC and a few other firms offer the service with a guarantee on their word..and you are free to use the HPI service off your own back, that will give you a mileage report, check if its ever been written off, if it has any finance outstanding, number of owners etc etc,, and a lot of other info for not much money...
On top of all that mate, when the time comes, by all means if you have a bike in mine, drop me a line and i can tell you what to look out for, what known fault that bike may have suffered from, and roughly what they sell for.....happy to help buddy, just let me know... all the best. Del.
Aaaw that's very kind of ya del but im sure you got mooooore than enough mails to reply to wi'out more from me lol!!
Gotta be honest tho I was kinda thinking of buying new(street triple) from a dealer here in Sheffield cuz ive been burnt buying shit cars in the past n fancied the dealer/warranty angle ya know!!?? I just dunno mate it is a fuckin mine field aint it!!
Anyow enough dreaming for now and back to roadcraft Nottingham ay lol....peace be brother.
Great video Mr D
Exactly, a good onion looker is worth his weight in spuds....!
Your a diamond, cheers Del, I thought that's what I should do, but wiring is my weakness also as I'm really colour blind! will check out navythomas8 as you said,
Once again Thankyou very much.
Wish I'd seen this before i bought mine! Turned out it wasn't a melon, but that was more down to luck than judgment!
take them off. file down the scrathes. then sand them. keep going until smooth. then polish them.
I have the same thing on my mirrors from filtering to close to lorries and then like.