Is motorcycling allowed?

[Hairy]

2 hours ago, mazambaan said:

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.

She comes with this Carb

https://www.keihin-fcr.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=592

[mazambaan]

20 hours ago, Hairy said:

She comes with this Carb

https://www.keihin-fcr.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=592

I think that is the preferred one to the Mikuni BST 40 (640 Adv models).

https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/which-carb-is-best-on-lc4-640.167872/

But as long as it runs well through the rev range it will be acceptable - I never changed my BST; just cut the pollution stuff out. Your won't have this I am pretty sure.

 

[mazambaan]

Let me add; check that the chain adjuster bolts in the swing arm turn freely; grease, molyslip etc the hell out of them. They are prone to seizing.  Check the chain tension is correct; KTM's look loose, tightening them can lead to a countershaft leak and, worst case, wear on the countershaft.

[Hairy]

2 hours ago, mazambaan said:

Let me add; check that the chain adjuster bolts in the swing arm turn freely; grease, molyslip etc the hell out of them. They are prone to seizing.  Check the chain tension is correct; KTM's look loose, tightening them can lead to a countershaft leak and, worst case, wear on the countershaft.

They are replacing the chain and sprockets, so this will be done as part of the service being carried out.

Will give these bolts a squirt of QD40 every other wash thanks ... hopefully this will also help in the long run.

[Andymann]

Guys - need some Hub Motorcycling enthusiast's opinions here.....

Some of you might recall my Dad bought that V50 Guzzi before just before he died - it was(is) is a real POS - he paid too much, and then paid extra to get the papers, and could never get it running properly.  He eventually parked it and never worked on it again.  I gave it a shot and actually found quite a few burnt wires in the harness (it's got Yamaha light switches, some cheap Motrix start button thing).  It's actually now running but not charging which I find odd because I'm sure my Dad would have check that.  Anyway, bottom line is it will never be an original bike.  

So, here's the question - I can get a body kit made which replicates the the bike below - I have a mate who makes aluminum parts - do I make a nice tribute bike for my Dad (at a cost of probably R50k - waaaaaay more than it's worth), or do I continue with the bike the two of us were building together (at a similar cost - maybe even more) and sell the V50 off as a parts bike?

I don't have space for both of them unless I either get rid of the XTZ660 or the TRX850, both of which I quite enjoy - but are also parked in the back of the garage in favor of the DT's at the moment which are much easier to use around town.

First world problems I know!

[IceCreamMan]

Tough decision. I like em old guzzi’s so that’s the direction I would go. 
 

but that’s just me. 
 

edit: you must know Lawrence ( and Dean). If not I can give you his details. 

Edited August 12, 2025 by IceCreamMan

[Hairy]

Good luck making the call.

 

Build up the other two and see if the dude at he Helderberg Motorcycle Museum would be interested in the Guzzi .. even as a parts bike.

 

That way you know she will live on and be looked after

 

[i24]

It depends on what you enjoy working on and what you will enjoy riding when you are finished.

The Guzzi is quite a simple bike, many parts did not change over many years and some parts are still available. It was all made in Italy, in relatively low volumes - which is both positive and negative. Are you in the mood to build Japanese, Italian, metric or imperial?

The V50 is a shaft drive with lots of torque, very comfortable in town and country, It handles like it is on rails. But it is short of reserves on the freeway and does not hooligan well - don't expect it to pull a wheelie. Keep the battery charged and the carbs clean and it is an easy bike to own. 

(I am biased so I won't express an opinion).

Too many bikes, too little time. 😃
 

[Hairy]

I was excited to get the bike back on Wednesday, but then I was told it would be better to give them till Thursday.

Thursday I was told we need till Friday.

Today I am told they picked up something on the decomp and cam, and I can collect on Monday.

5 1/2 weeks later and I still have not even started her myself yet.

6 weeks IF I collect her on Monday since she arrived in CT.

Gone from excited, to disappointed and to excited again and then whenever the $%$ I will get the bike when I get the bike.

[mazambaan]

On 8/15/2025 at 1:45 PM, Hairy said:

I was excited to get the bike back on Wednesday, but then I was told it would be better to give them till Thursday.

Thursday I was told we need till Friday.

Today I am told they picked up something on the decomp and cam, and I can collect on Monday.

5 1/2 weeks later and I still have not even started her myself yet.

6 weeks IF I collect her on Monday since she arrived in CT.

Gone from excited, to disappointed and to excited again and then whenever the $%$ I will get the bike when I get the bike.

That is irritating. One current problem is a lack of spares, both from age and KTM's financial woes (Lyndon Poskitt is advertising asking for LC4 although 690 cylinders for his conversions). I hope this is not the case with you and that an honest KTM experienced mechanic is doing the work. Simple machines but you have to follow the procedures.  Check out Poskitt anyway.

https://lyndonposkittracing.com/

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1288913129262265&set=a.253485102805078

[Hairy]

1 hour ago, mazambaan said:

That is irritating. One current problem is a lack of spares, both from age and KTM's financial woes (Lyndon Poskitt is advertising asking for LC4 although 690 cylinders for his conversions). I hope this is not the case with you and that an honest KTM experienced mechanic is doing the work. Simple machines but you have to follow the procedures.  Check out Poskitt anyway.

https://lyndonposkittracing.com/

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1288913129262265&set=a.253485102805078

This workshop also has access to a wide range of good condition used parts if required.

The guy working on the bike used to be the KTM branches main dude a couple of years back, and I trust his work.

I think they loose time in the workshop by being too accommodating by quickly helping here and quickly helping there with smalls vs booking the bikes in and working through them systematically.

He picked up on an issue Friday that he is now resolving, and is also not charging for .... so all in I give them the benefit of the doubt, even though the frustration factor is real.

All in, I should ride out there today on a rocking and rolling bike.

Will give those links a spin thanks.

[Hairy]

Just an update.

 

 

 

Still no bike ... now they hunting for brushes for the starter motor ... you know the MAIN fooking thing that the bike was booked in for.

Projection of timelines, I would think given their current expediency, and if nothing else falls through the gaps, Wed. next week I would get my bike ........ but not holding my breath.

[WaynejG]

I would of lost it a longtime ago.

[mazambaan]

16 hours ago, Hairy said:

Just an update.

 

 

 

Still no bike ... now they hunting for brushes for the starter motor ... you know the MAIN fooking thing that the bike was booked in for.

Projection of timelines, I would think given their current expediency, and if nothing else falls through the gaps, Wed. next week I would get my bike ........ but not holding my breath.

All I can say is good luck and I sympathise. Losing it seldom helps and I just hope it gets done properly. My default setting is DIY (these single cylinder KTM's are not complicated bikes, procedures and manuals are widely available) if at all possible then go to someone I actually know and trust (not many and getting fewer all the time and not foolproof, sob).  Frustrating I know and a worldwide issue, mainly KTM spares.

[Hairy]

10 hours ago, WaynejG said:

I would of lost it a longtime ago.

I did, a little bit later in the day ... but in a "controlled way"

Edited August 21, 2025 by Hairy

[Hairy]

8 hours ago, mazambaan said:

All I can say is good luck and I sympathise. Losing it seldom helps and I just hope it gets done properly. My default setting is DIY (these single cylinder KTM's are not complicated bikes, procedures and manuals are widely available) if at all possible then go to someone I actually know and trust (not many and getting fewer all the time and not foolproof, sob).  Frustrating I know and a worldwide issue, mainly KTM spares.

Certainly going to be going this way moving forwards .... was the same with cycling, enough let downs at an LBS and you start doing things yourself.