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It is not that simple. Our Lead Acid compatible inverter has 3 cycle of charging: Initially max current (Ie the nominal 20A). Then at "bulk" charge, constant voltage (14.1V) until the charge current drops to about 20%. Then "float" charge, constant voltage (13.5V). So if you double your Ah capacity the charger will spend longer in the 1st and 2nd cycles. Net result you get more Ah into your system in less time. The real problem with LA is that the max current charge time is limited and the actual time to fully charge them is much longer. A dedicated Li charger will charge at constant current with 14.5V, or higher voltage, until the battery is 80% full, then back off to a float charge.

That sounds like very good value for your spend. This should keep a home office, TV and some LED lights going. Next gotcha's Do you plan on wiring it into your DB board? Very convenient, but requires careful planning as to which circuits run off the inverter and what gets plugged into them. Budget up to ~R10 000. Check the noise specs for the inverter fans. Ours can get noisy, but fortunately it is quite far away from our bedroom.

I have not checked if anybody else replied to this. But I have a 24V 3kVA, "non Li compatible" inverter at home. I have 4 100Ah lead acid batteries on it. It was sized for 2 100Ah batteries but I had 2 more used ones on hand so wired the 2nd pair in parallel. Our load is modest, just computers, TV and LED lights (120W to 250W). I have had no problems over about 5 months of heavy load shedding. Doubling the batteries in parallel allows, more capacity, lower depth of discharge and faster recharge. I have also set the cut off voltage to be about 40% of LA discharge to protect the batteries but we have never got it that low. In the office we have UPS systems, also running on Lead Acid, These have been around for 10 years or more. We have got up to 7 years on a set of batteries - but we also have a diesel generator so the batteries do not have a hard life. I looked at buying Lithium batteries for the last UPS replacements. But the 100Ah "LA Compatible" Lithium batteries were actually "2nd life" (ie 2nd hand) and more expensive than a new dedicated Li 48V unit. The modern kit has smart comms between the battery and the inverter, this can optimise the charge cycle and battery protection. The old LA inverters and UPS's only measure the battery voltage and adjust charge behaviour to that. I suspect this does not allow full use of the available capacity of Li batteries. Also the LA charger's max voltage might not be enough to reach 100% charge in LI batteries. Maybe someone who has experience with "LA compatible Li" batteries on old generation inverters can comment. As a rule of thumb, measure your load and estimate your required battery capacity. Then double the capacity. And if your using lead acid, double it again. Get a gas stove for the kitchen and solar for the hot water. Use utility power for the rest of the kitchen and hot water. Also in the garage and for "hot" appliances like hair dryers. This allows 85% family convenience without spending many R100 000's. I am not convinced that solar panels are cost effective verses a pure inverter setup (but this will change). My experience with solar geysers is that available solar energy drops off from the beginning of May to the end of August.

Maybe the new post covid "rolling" start procedure caught them out. The IT program for identifying the groups might have not work so well.

I have a look at that document. I note Section 23.(1)(d) reads: "No dealer may deliver goods acquired by him or her to a person or change the form or alter the appearance thereof until after the expiration date of a period of seven days from the date of acquisition thereof" The first add has a datestamp "2 days ago". The 2nd one has a datestamp "5 hours ago". This is not proof, but definitely evidence, of a contravention of the Second-Hand Goods Act, 2009. Note that Act allows for imprisonment for up to 10 years for an infringement of section 23. Schedule 1 specifically lists "Bicycles or any part or accessory thereof". 😳

We are sorted. Thanks throttles!

She is 171cm. She is currently riding a 54cm bike. She previously rode a 56cm and found that too big. A hubber has offered a 55cm bike, which I will follow up. I hope that will work for her...

Bump I have not had any luck with this yet. Last shout, if anybody has a medium sized road bike in Cape Town that is not going to be used over the CTCT weekend, please check the add below and send me a direct message if you can assist. Thanks

Is that a 4 valve per cylinder model? - Then one did make it to ZA. Nice bike but the original valve springs were too heavy for rest of the valve train. There are recalls and mods to the springs, cams, rockers ... etc. But if the heads are damaged, you have a big problem. Do some homework before you take on this one.

I will send a PM

Is this in ZA or UK? Lots of Guzzi spares are available if you look around. Also new parts can fit on older bikes. But some parts, like pistons for my V50 Mk II, are very difficult to find. (Big blocks pistons and Mk III pistons are no problem, just Mk II). Also do your homework before you buy an old 4 valve model, some of them have lots of issues and there are very parts left to fix them. I don't think any of these made it to ZA.

The Dutch military ordered about a 1000 of these and I think the Italians used them too. Google "V50 NATO". There is a facebook group and website. A bike shop in Netherlands specialises in service and spares for them. https://www.motoguzziv50nato.nl/ You can also get parts from Stein Diense https://www.stein-dinse.biz/ Not sure what it is worth - a lot depends on condition.

That just like mine, 1979 V50! Not sure if that one is a MkI or MkII. Also it is "dressed up" like a "NATO" model. There were a whole bunch of them sold to the military in Europe - which had slightly different specs. Lower compression and I think they had kick starters. Civilian models had electric start only. Did you buy it? Is it still available? Maybe not good for the DJ, but you can ride it around London without paying congestion tax.

Does anybody have a medium sized road bike that will be sitting in a garage in Cape Town on Sunday 12th March? My daughter will be visiting from the UK and she has entered the World Fun Ride Championship (CTCT). She is looking to hire or borrow a road bike for the event. Details in the add linked below. https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/road-bikes/620719/wanted-to-hireborrow-road-bike-for-the-ctct/?utm_source=email_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=advert_created Please PM me if you can help. Thanks!

I have a similar but different problem: 3kVA Inverter powers, lights, TV, internet etc. (Nothing in the kitchen, workshop or other appliances). Solar hot water with tandem geysers - works well. Electric element in geyser on utility power. 220V circulation pump on geyser on utility power. Geyserwise controllers on utility power. Now I want the circulation pump to run off the inverter but the geyser elements must stay on utility. Obviously some relays required. Has anybody got a solution to this?

Two things to do ASAP: Get your doctor to document your injuries. There is a standard police form that must be completed and signed. The Dr's rooms should have a copy available. Some photo's could help too. Then take a copy of that form to the police this morning and lay a charge. Take a bit of time, try speak to someone senior, maybe go to the police station closest to the scene. But lay the charge of "assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm” (assault GBH). The form will make process easier. Assault GHB will get the prosecutors attention if the case gets to a bail hearing. Then leverage off social media, the press etc. A few photo's or a video will make all the difference. Maybe also talk to PPA, maybe they can get a lawyer to help you. Good luck and get well soon.

This: There is lots of pressure from development, with more and more houses being built in the South Peninsular. This is why there are no other road cycling events in the South Peninsular left on the calendar. CoCT has a bunch of red tape requirements with plans for disaster, traffic etc and lots of traffic cops working overtime on the day. Entries are fewer and I suspect the authorities will not let it go up to 35000 again. The money has to come from somewhere - hence entry fees are up. Sponsorship also is down and the charities are also loosing out - blame the state of our economy for that. If you are planning on riding 21, then you better get going because this race might not be around forever and it is definitely going to get more expensive in future years. Is it worth it? I ride it every year just to enjoy the scenery with pavement to pavement road closures for the entire 109 km. (There are whole suburbs which are cut off for the day for our benefit have you ever stopped to consider what the cost for that is for the folks who live and work there). It is a priceless opportunity! But more still, It is the cheapest way to ride through a bunch of red robots with the traffic cops watching 😁😈!

If you are in the Southern Suburbs, I have had good service in the past from Aerontec: https://www.aerontec.co.za/ If you buying resin, local suppliers' "in house" brands are likely to be cheaper than international brand names.

I go with this. From the picks you are close to the limit both on both "cross gear" selections, big-big sprocket and small-small sprocket. Maybe the derailleur is a bit short for your the sprockets currently on the bike. But check one thing, what happens when you sit on the bike and compress the suspension, does it get tighter or looser? If it gets tighter, you may have a problem. If it gets looser, no issues. Obviously avoid using cross gear selections when riding. Finally, if in doubt, a too long chain will cause the chain on the derailleur to rub against the chain on the small sprocket in the small-small sprocket selection. This will make horrible noise but it won't cause a rapid failure. A too short chain will be less forgiving. So if you have to chose between one link too short or one link too long - take the latter.

My first bicycle I got 2nd hand when I was 8 had front brake on the right as did my first motorbike (2nd hand Zundapp) when I was 16. Somewhere in the meantime bicycles started getting sold with front brakes on the left, I am not too sure when or why, I was only riding motorbikes at that time. But when I got back into cycling, I swapped my brakes back to the correct arrangement. What has changed in the meantime, is that now days, both motor bike and bicycle brakes actually work! You didn't need ABS on drum brakes. Although I can recall locking up the twin leading shoe drum on the front of my Yamaha 180 twin smoke, it took quite a lot of adrenaline. My Guzzi has trademark "Intergral" brakes. The foot brake master cylinder activates the rear Brembo disk as well as one Brembo disk on front wheel. Stand on it and the bike stops very, very quickly! With little tendency to lock anything. The right front leaver operates the other front wheel Brembo disk, but the front leaver ratio is poorly selected and you have to pull it very hard. Guzzi fitted the same setup on the Le Mans but it came in for quite a lot of criticism and they dropped it on later models.

Exactly, so the markets for a new entry shop might be: Sell "Bafang" bikes. Open dead OEM battery packs and replace the cells, re-seal them. (May require a software "unlock"?) Service out of warrantee OEM motors. Import "grey" spares for OEM products. Supply "alternate" software for OEM products. Supply alternate brand e-bike specific chains, cassettes etc. Wear life is likely to be a bigger concern to customers than weight and competitive performance. You would need to source technology and parts. Maybe from overseas or maybe enlist some bright Safer's. You would need to have a very good understanding of what works and what does not and know what to sell and what to avoid. An on line presence would probably be very important to. Anybody here doing any of the above already? Care to comment?

I don't think I would ever try open a "hobby" related business, let alone a bicycle shop. But if I did open a bicycle shop I would look at e-bikes. Importing components and batteries. Testing and refurbishing battery packs. Rebuilding motor units. Controller and software upgrades. Charging station sales and installation. E-bike conversions. Sales of alternate brand bikes and maybe even e-motor-bikes. I don't own an e-bike and I know very little about that industry but I think the market for high value brand name bike components has peaked, while the e-bike market is growing rapidly.

You asked, so I went to take a pic. It looked a bit dusty, so I washed it and ended up hosing it down. Then I had to get it dry again, so easiest was to take it for a ride 😃 (then I had to resize and rotate the pics to get them to display here..)

Take your gamma for a ride round London for me and I will ride the guzzi around Cape Town for you! 🙃😉

I have owned my Guzzi V50 for nearly 40 of its 43 years. It has basically the same engine as the 85TT. My V50 still runs beautifully, is great fun to ride, has excellent handling and useful in traffic. And it sounds and feels like a Guzzi! It is still possible to get most spares (ex import from Europe) as they are used on many other Guzzi's and some other bikes. Parts prices are reasonable compared to those for modern bikes from local dealerships. But it does need some cosmetic work - that is a project for a future date. I don't plan to sell the V50, and I am not planning to buy another bike. But if I were I would have a good look at the 85TT. The difference between the 85TT and the T700 is that you can do wheelies on an T700 but you would not bother keeping one for 40 years, even if it could last that long. I understand if I lived in London, my V50 would be exempt from congestion and pollution charges, because of its age. That would make it an excellent bike to own there!