Is motorcycling allowed?

[Hairy]

Dropped the bike off at the workshop, they will take the tanks, etc off and see if they can trace the leak.

So here is holding thumbs it is just the o-rings.

[Hairy]

The news is in, it is the base gasket, but it is meant to be a very small / slow leak that I do not have to worry about now. So I am not going to worry now.

I can get the base gaskets for under 1K and could take on the project during the Dec. holidays. I met a guy in Melkbos that did his 950's base gaskets a month or two ago, and he recons you can remove the top end mostly intact. But these are my Dec. holidays and I want to be riding the bike, not working on the bike.

You can also take the approach of giving the motor a refresh if you are taking it apart, a full gasket pack is around the 7.5K mark, then that excludes pistons, rings, whatever else needs to be replaced. I have been cautioned this can very quickly sit around the 25+K mark.... now things are getting serious. 

One can then say the motor is good to go then for at least the next 70K/km, it is just a question of do I want to be doing the next 70K/km of my riding on this bike vs another bike.

[Wannabe]

Excellent choice, I would say.

When she entered the workshop and I saw the Yammie's all around, I said it's going to be a 660, but the 600 is a good enough choice. Not too heavy or too high, so she should be able to handle it in all situasions.

As Andy said, bombproof motor, as long as they modernise the ignition system. 

[Hairy]

 

[Wannabe]

Lots of customization was done to create a truly special and one of a kind motorcycle.

My concern is, will she be able to have it repaired in the back country should something go wrong. It's a true frankenstein build, even though it's all Yamaha, it's from a variety of models, modified to work with each other.

But man, what a collection of XT, TT and Tenere's and parts does this guy have.  

[Andymann]

I was always a bit underwhelmed with my XTZ - it went well enough but on tar it would barely get to 130 which I attributed to having done almost 70000km (even thought it wasn't using oil or smoking) and maybe because it was better off-road. It was also getting hard to start when cold which was a pain so I actually just stopped using it.

As I mentioned I finally decided to rebuild the carb and also did the inlet valves which were tight.  I was a bit scared of the carb - it was one of Yamaha's wierd 90's experiments - CV carbs don't work well on big singles where the pulses are unlike on a multi but they are really good at wide open throttle.  Slide carbs work well on singles but not as well at WOT.  So Yamaha combined the two.  YDIS they called it.  I've heard horror stories about setting them up but I read the manual, used some experience from working on carbs over the years.

Anyway, long story short it's a completely different bike - to a point where I reckon the previous owner probably wouldn't have sold it if it was running properly.  Starts right up from cold and settles into a nice idle. 

As Allen Millyard always says " I am well pleased with that"

 

Oh and my new YouTube fix - this guy

https://www.youtube.com/@SuperbikeSurgeryTV

 

 

 

 

[Spokey]

Right, so I went and did it. Bought the 1190 R. I was sold on a ZZR1400 and then realised that I do not need such a road bike. I took my ZRX1200R around my local tar loop and decided the roads are shite! So…..my Big Orange 1190 S now becomes my road bike and this is my new dirt bike. Okay……..this is a ridiculous big enduro bike. I will never be able to ride it to its full capability but am willing to give it a go! It is a delight in the dirt despite its weight. The difference to the S model is absolutely evident. The S is way superior on the road and this undeniably offroad. I reset the suspension to standard as the previous owner had it on comfort. Way to wobbly for me. So…….swapping the crash bars between the bikes and semi restoring the S model Big Orange! Pics to follow.  The exhaust is an interesting thing. It is a KTM option extra but is surprisingly quiet. The baffles can be removed but with a lot of extra work.(drilling out the rivets) I will leave it as is. The Ostriches in the Klein Karoo were not disturbed by my passing!

Edited October 7 by Spokey
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[Hairy]

9 hours ago, Spokey said:

Right, so I went and did it. Bought the 1190 R. I was sold on a ZZR1400 and then realised that I do not need such a road bike. I took my ZRX1200R around my local tar loop and decided the roads are shite! So…..my Big Orange 1190 S now becomes my road bike and this is my new dirt bike. Okay……..this is a ridiculous big enduro bike. I will never be able to ride it to its full capability but am willing to give it a go! It is a delight in the dirt despite its weight. The difference to the S model is absolutely evident. The S is way superior on the road and this undeniably offroad. I reset the suspension to standard as the previous owner had it on comfort. Way to wobbly for me. So…….swapping the crash bars between the bikes and semi restoring the S model Big Orange! Pics to follow.  The exhaust is an interesting thing. It is a KTM option extra but is surprisingly quiet. The baffles can be removed but with a lot of extra work.(drilling out the rivets) I will leave it as is. The Ostriches in the Klein Karoo were not disturbed by my passing!

Congrats and enjoy, I am sure that bike on the road is also rather quick.....quick enough to get you into trouble with the traffic dept.

[IceCreamMan]

Road trip

[IceCreamMan]

Yesterday’s British superbike race 3 at brandshatch. Bridewell was 4 points in the lead of championship. Winner gets 25 runner up gets 20. Thus winner takes all. These 2 were swooping the lead regularly from around lap 10. Possibly the finest championship winning race I have ever watched. I was giggling like a nervous kid. Incredible finale
 

 

Edited October 14 by IceCreamMan

[Andymann]

I have access via my Brother in the UK to the BSB races.  It's the most exciting racing of the lot - reminds me of the early 90's superbike racing with Haga, Chile, Edwards and Foggy

[Spokey]

On 10/8/2024 at 2:11 AM, Hairy said:

Congrats and enjoy, I am sure that bike on the road is also rather quick.....quick enough to get you into trouble with the traffic dept.

Thanks! Late reply! I am out at work, currently in US and heading to Mid East tomorrow.  This 1190R is everything I expected. I am a huge fan of my S model and that old girl has 75000 kms on and is well used. She will be able to take a break!

[Hairy]

This must be the best example of how to fit a tool tube to a bike
 

 

[Andymann]

Next weekend the big drive down to Cape Town happens for the ride in memory of my Dad.  I planned to to the minimal on the XTZ because the plan was always to get rid of it after the ride but since I did the valves it's become a lot nicer to live with.  The carb is still not 100% - it's a difficult old thing to get spot on but I'm waiting for the 6Sigma jet kit to arrive from the US - apparently that's the kit to get.  The US market sold 1000's of 660 Raptors and 660 Rhinos before the move to FI and they have really got that YDIS carb setup spot on they say.  Even includes spacers for between the circlip on the needle so you can set the needle *between* the standard grooves.  Of course when you chat to the guys in the US they recommend ditching the standard exhaust system for something a little more free-flowing, so who am I to argue with the experts!  Jaco from Stealth came to the party again.

Only problem now is something I would never have said 25 years ago: "It's a little too loud for me now....."

[Hairy]

@Andymann Not sure if I missed your loop and schedule down to the Cape, if you are keen to share this please, do and if you are keen to have people pop in along the way just shout. 

 

[Andymann]

So I'm not that brave to ride it down!  I'm towing it over two days and then on Monday and Tuesday next week is the "Fairest Cape Tour"- it's a ride from Goudini Spa on Monday and Tuesday for bikes older than 25 years.  My Dad used to regularly ride it and loved blasting down Baineskloof - he even crashed on year on a 450 Honda!

I'll do the two days and then depending on how the bike is running at sea level I might ride it to Stilbaai where my Wife and I are taking a few days breather