Is motorcycling allowed?

[RocknRolla]

I have always fancied a rig with a sidecar. 

Specifically the Ural.

This weekend my lightie arrived with his mate's dad's rig. Not ural, but cool enough to had me smiling.

It feels super dodgy in the sidecar, it feels like sitting outside of a car very close to the ground. Methinks the RnineT is perhaps too feisty for this setup. I would say a sidecar rig lends itself more towards cruizing, smelling the flowers rather than the pull of the 1200. 

Was novel in any event. 

[Spokey]

Took the little 1200 for an icecream by the sea!

[mazambaan]

On 7/7/2025 at 11:08 PM, Hairy said:

She arrived, but the battery is flat.

Got her charging a bit tonight, and will charge her again tomorrow ... do not want to leave a bike I do not "know" with a trickle charger connected to it through the night.

A few panel bolts required here and there from a first glance. The indicators will need replacing to look a little sharper, current foam filter is ok, but will replace with new to start with, oil is crystal clear, so he was rightly stating that the oil was changed 300km ago, prob. going to replace the battery anyway so I know it is good and then slowly go through her as I give her a shake down.

Named her Lucy, and I do not often name bikes or bicycles .... the LC4 motor = LLLL and the CCC = Llllluucccyyy and therefore Lucy 

One of the iconic big singles methinks. I had a 640 Adventure and regret selling; sometimes. Comment: Loctite everything, try change to LED indicators and check the wiring behind the headlight same time - it can rub.  They do not like to stand (ride them!) - mine started seeping water at the water pump; known issue but fiddly to sort out and someone suggested it as because it wasn't used enough. Check the rear suspension linkage, many don't have a grease nipple and need regular greasing, particularly if used in wet conditions. Check the air filter - it is a somewhat fiddly thing (3 or 4 bolts) to get to compared to a dirt bike so can be neglected. Grease the seal between filter and airbox. Extensive threads on AdvRider.

Ride and enjoy.

[Spokey]

Back at work now but had a super 110km run on the little Honda just before returning. Went up to the Karatara river. The bike is 50 years old and my plan is to do a multi day trip to Cape Town during this year. Be great to ride the R44 between Gordons Bay and Rooi-Els as well as the Peninsula. Perhaps have the Missus driving support and get the bike home on the X Ramp!

[BigDL]

On 7/8/2025 at 10:19 AM, IceCreamMan said:

Did a bike trip through northern wales with 4 other blokes from the east rand who live here now. wales is stunningly beautiful and when them 6 numbers come in I will be relocating. Every morning was spent walking 6 or 7 kms before breakfast just taking in the beauty. Then we would plan the ride for the day. We stayed near Barmouth and rode every day from there as a base. Worked pretty well, weather was groovy. GSA did not miss a beat this trip, thankfully. 
 

Did not take too many pictures. The first picture is not Wales, it’s west Kington. West Kington is where the safety dance was filmed by men without hats ( Canadian band) back in 1982. I like quirky things like that so made a stop there on the way. 
 

last pic is hawkstone lager I found on tap in the Cotswold coming home. Had to try it. It’s pretty fu#£&*:* good actually. 

Looks like an incredible trip 

 

 

[BigDL]

On 7/14/2025 at 8:18 AM, RocknRolla said:

I have always fancied a rig with a sidecar. 

Specifically the Ural.

This weekend my lightie arrived with his mate's dad's rig. Not ural, but cool enough to had me smiling.

It feels super dodgy in the sidecar, it feels like sitting outside of a car very close to the ground. Methinks the RnineT is perhaps too feisty for this setup. I would say a sidecar rig lends itself more towards cruizing, smelling the flowers rather than the pull of the 1200. 

Was novel in any event. 

Love this - My old Man rebuilt a 1942 Harley with a sidecar when I was about 7 or 8 and it was great fun riding in the sidecar between Maritzburg and Durban. Happy memories. 

[WaynejG]

10 hours ago, Spokey said:

Back at work now but had a super 110km run on the little Honda just before returning. Went up to the Karatara river. The bike is 50 years old and my plan is to do a multi day trip to Cape Town during this year. Be great to ride the R44 between Gordons Bay and Rooi-Els as well as the Peninsula. Perhaps have the Missus driving support and get the bike home on the X Ramp!

Ah man those slanted headers 👌

[Hairy]

 

[Hairy]

XR400 finding a new lease on life
 

 

XR400 Living Life
 

 

[Duane_Bosch]

World Supercross coming to CAYPE TOWNE! Dec 13. Tomac, Roczen and a bunch of others! Tickets are on sale.

[Hairy]

Now nearly a month later since getting the 625 SXC, the workshop finally got to quoting on the repairs/work required on the bike. 

First price was a shocker, managed to bring that down a good bit by getting my own mirrors, indicators, etc.

Second pricing is still on the steep side, but they are doing a good bit of work.

Waiting on the final refined pricing no. 3 and will the get her sorted out after all this time.

The tyres on her are going to have to still do service for a month or two before replacing them with fresh rubber.

All in, I just want to ride this bike already ... actually, just hearing her fire up for the first time would be great too.

[Hairy]

The dude I bought the bike from sent this pic with her wearing her larger "long range" black tank.

I am going to have to get a set of black race no's made for the plastics I think.

[mazambaan]

On 8/4/2025 at 1:32 PM, Hairy said:

Now nearly a month later since getting the 625 SXC, the workshop finally got to quoting on the repairs/work required on the bike. 

First price was a shocker, managed to bring that down a good bit by getting my own mirrors, indicators, etc.

Second pricing is still on the steep side, but they are doing a good bit of work.

Waiting on the final refined pricing no. 3 and will the get her sorted out after all this time.

The tyres on her are going to have to still do service for a month or two before replacing them with fresh rubber.

All in, I just want to ride this bike already ... actually, just hearing her fire up for the first time would be great too.

I hope you can get it all done well and for a reasonable price to listen to that big single boom. They are simple bikes as long as you can get spares. Folding mirrors can be had from a Wilddogs contributor and there was someone who sold LED indicators although not the greatest quality. A shop such as Startline (in KZN) can be helpful. 

Bleed the forks after almost every ride to limit fork seal leaks.

[Hairy]

4 hours ago, mazambaan said:

I hope you can get it all done well and for a reasonable price to listen to that big single boom. They are simple bikes as long as you can get spares. Folding mirrors can be had from a Wilddogs contributor and there was someone who sold LED indicators although not the greatest quality. A shop such as Startline (in KZN) can be helpful. 

Bleed the forks after almost every ride to limit fork seal leaks.

Thanks.

Mirrors and indicators have been ordered from Temu. I ordered the same folding mirrors before from then for the 950, and they were actually pretty good. (Also order other mirrors for the HD, and these have also been decent).

The guy you refer to, I have bought from him before, and his service is really good. I am actually eyeing out his mini towers for dual sports ... but this I will only seriously consider once I have some miles on the 625 and know that we will be together for a while.

From this point on I will do the mechanical work on her, as there should be nothing serious to contend with, and the basic oil change/services are easy peasy too..

EDIT:  a friend has the same year 625, but in the super moto build and I can not wait to hear what mine sounds like compared this his. He has a set of dual Akro's vs the single KTM "Performance" pipe on mine.

Edited August 6, 2025 by Hairy

[Hairy]

4 hours ago, mazambaan said:

I hope you can get it all done well and for a reasonable price to listen to that big single boom. They are simple bikes as long as you can get spares. Folding mirrors can be had from a Wilddogs contributor and there was someone who sold LED indicators although not the greatest quality. A shop such as Startline (in KZN) can be helpful. 

Bleed the forks after almost every ride to limit fork seal leaks.

As part of the work being done, the seals are being replaced, and new fork oil being supplied. The forks fortunately have bleed nipples on them, and when I had the 950 I would often use them to purge any trapped air. Nice little things those.

[mazambaan]

21 hours ago, Hairy said:

As part of the work being done, the seals are being replaced, and new fork oil being supplied. The forks fortunately have bleed nipples on them, and when I had the 950 I would often use them to purge any trapped air. Nice little things those.

You are on it and thanks for the Temu note; I am a late joiner in that area but some good pricing for sure. The curse of a fork seal leak is that, if you have it on the brake side, the oil contaminates the pads resulting in poor braking 🙃 and new pads needed (the 640Adv had dual discs = overkill). Check the rear suspension linkage (I know I've said this before), easy to service but a swine if it seizes or wears.  Hope yours has a non-diaphragm carb although it doesn't really matter unless you are power crazed.

Enjoy it.