ONE YEAR ON

I have had the bike now for a full year and it has done me proud but for one thing. It has started without fail every time I have needed to go out on the bike. The engine is bedding in really nice and for a 125cc bike has enough torque for my everyday commute to work with speeds of 30 to 50mph without thrashing the engine.

The only problem I have had with the bike was when, one morning commuting to work the bike just cut out as if I had touched the kill switch. I could not get the bike going again after that even though I had a spark from the plug. I ended up pushing the bike 3 miles home which was not a really big issue. For a bike that weighs 115kg it gave me a bit of a workout!!! I have purchased a recovery package now with my insurance renewal.

I took the bike to the dealers to have a look at the problem and even they were scratching their heads at first. The problem was with the sidestand kill switch which is on the ignition circuit which was the culprit. So if you have starting problems or it will not start check there first!  I have learnt that the sidestand switch wires are by-passed when purchased new.

Winter riding when salt is spread on the roads wreak havoc with non stainless steel parts. The exhausts system needs attention on a regular basis with it being made of mild steel and painted with heat resistant paint. Regular cleaning and the use of GT50 ptfc spray and ACF50 which is expensive but works well keeps the bike looking great. I have replaced a number of washers etc with stainless items and purchased a tin of heat resistant paint from Arc-Rite which keeps the exhaust like new.

I replaced the bog standard sparkplug with a NGK CR7E shortly after I purchased the bike which was the choice of owners on a few forums. I found the plug worked better than the torch plug but my bike dealer replaced that plug with a NGK CPR6EA-9 which is far superior and makes the bike start even better in really cold conditions and seems to be more responsive on ecceleration.

Changing the headlight bulb to a 35w / 35w halogen improves the headlight ten fold. The bulb I purchased was from ebay ( B0395HW ) and got 2 for £8.

 I have covered 2600 km now ( 1615 miles ) which is not a great deal of use for a years riding but it is my commuting bike to work and for visiting friends and family.  

    

Still going well

I have had the bike for a good month now and everything so far has been running sweet. It wont be long before it goes in for an oil change 250miles (402.5km) just to flush any metal bits if any from a new engine. The gearchanging is getting a lot smoother and the engine is opening up more now but I am still running the bike in with care. I bought a pair of mirror extentions so I can have a better view of whats behind me in traffic. In the standard setting my view was obscured by my shoulders being in the way of vision.

left side mirror extension bracket

right hand side mirrior extension bracket

 

 

 

Enjoying the ride

Well, the neck pain has gone now which is a great relief. I had the pain on and off for about 9 days which made me very miserable and grumpy due to the lack of sleep caused by the pain in my neck ear and left eye.

Anyway, I have been biking to work and back now for nearly 2 weeks and I am enjoying the lifestyle change and grin factor once again. The bike is running really well and starting to loosen up a little bit but I am still running the bike in with respect. I changed the spark plug the other day from the standard Torch brand to a NGK R CR7E for better starting and running. For a Chinese bike which rides well and looks stylish and a decent price paid, so far I am impressed with what I have purchased. So far I have clocked up 137km and counting......... 

Got the bike

Got the registration mark details back from the DVLA on Thursday 13th March and went to the local motor factors for a registration plate. My V5 and road tax came through today and took the registration plate and disk to the bike shop to be fitted and bike checked over. I finally picked the bike up after lunch time and took it for a little spin before coming home. I will have to admit, it was nice to jump on a motorised vehicle again having spent most of the last decade on a bicycle. I didn't go very far as I was having trouble with a trapped nerve in my neck and was in a lot of pain. I only clocked up 3km on my first ride and was then  parked up in my garage.

Still waiting...

Got some insurance for the bike so that I could have it registered with the DVLA. That was on Wednesday so it looks like another week will pass before I will be able to ride it. Today I have been in the garage clearing out the hoads of mess to make room for the motorbike and been quite brutal with myself in what I was throwing away. I cant believe the amount of junk that I have accumulated over the years thinking one day it will come in for something. 

Seen the bike

Had to go into work this morning ....Got a lift in to work and got dropped off at the bike shop on the way home. I had a look at the bike which has just been de-crated and needs setting up. I will have to admit it does look like a decent bike in build quality. Cant wait to have a go of it when it is all roadworthy and registered.  I even dug my leather jacket out of 27yrs and it still fits me after all this time.  I wait with anticipation.........

Time For A Change

The time has come for a change in the way I commute to and from work. For the last 13yrs I have been cycling to work day in day out, I have had good days and bad but overall I have enjoyed the experience which it has given me. I will have to admit cycling has made me fitter than I was in my teens. Unfortunately, over this 13yrs period I have been subject to quite a lot of abuse in a relatively small commuting round trip. I have shrugged off many times the verbal abuse, numerous close passes at speed from cars, lorries, busses and articulated trucks until last week in February when I nearly got knocked down by an articulated lorry at speed which pricked my concience. I decided that night enough was enough and it was time for a change of transport....

I went to a local motorcycle dealers and put my name down for a 125cc motorcycle. After a lot of browsing on the tinternet I decided on purchasing a Zontes Monster.  I dont know what I have put my name down for but I will see when I get it. I purchased a topbox and waterproof trousers from ebay so at present I am just waiting for everything to be sorted out.......