Thumper Club Forum
Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: manxie on January 26, 2016, 08:46:21 AM
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Hi fella`s. Just looking for some of your friendly advice ??? ;) Does anyone know what the Gilera Saturno 500 is like as a bike? Any good? Parts availability? I MIGHT have sold my Guzzi :o so I`m just having a look around. This is the bike I`ve spotted ....
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C669275
Cheers.
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My goodness, that's a bit different. Only ever seen one in the flesh, and that was at last years MGP :)
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I've seen one, very pretty bike but as I recall physically quite small - only about 130 Kg's. The Japanese had a hand in the design of the 'Nuovo' version ( the original Saturno has been around since the 50's) and I'm not sure if it doesn't have Japanese engine ( don't quote me on that). Practical Sportsbike did a test alongside an SZR660 and the Bimoto single thingy and It came out top of the three. I'm not sure if I still have that copy but I'll have a dig around. Spares may be a problem, and probably quite scarce/expensive. A bike for sunny summer days rather than day to day.
http://classic-motorbikes.net/gilera-nuovo-saturno/
(http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/uploads/cars/gilera/6557474.jpg)
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I thought you meant a real one:
(http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/uploads/cars/gilera/3698098.jpg)
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Yeah,the last thing I want is to be stuck finding parts when something breaks. Just been watching some youtube videos of people riding them, I think it may be to much of a back breaker for me...plus my gut will get in the way!!
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I have to say that if I was shopping , after a nice GB500, the Enfield Continental GT would be pretty high on my list. Affordable, useable and looks the part ( OK not fast but you don't always want fast).
(http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery%20C/Royal%20Enfield%20Continental%20GT%20%203.jpg)
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" you don't always want fast"........ YEAH YA DO ;) ;) ;)
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I like the Continental GT, in fact only last week took my Guzzi to the local bike dealership and tried to strike a deal on a new yellow one, but couldn`t agree on the outcome. Yes, I do like the GT`s 8) Oh, it would nice to have something that`ll cruise around 80mph though ;)
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Yep, I really like the modern RE Continental. Now also in black I believe ;)
Was that the dealer in Ramsey Manxie?
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Hi Timbo, yes in Ramsey down by the Mooragh Park ..... Paul Dedman Motorcycles. Did you survive the latest storm ok? They closed the mountain at 6am this morning due to the forcast?? Pain in the a$$ getting to work, took me about 1 1/2 hrs instead of 25 mins and I don't think the weather was as bad as it was a couple of weeks ago!! Ooops, a rant.... sorry >:( ....... The Enfields are nice aren`t they ;) :)
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Well fella`s, I`ve knocked the idea of this bike on the head. As I said earlier, although no money has changed hands yet, I think I`ve sold the Guzzi (fingers crossed) and I`ve just found my next bike all being well. I`ve located a very nice SR500, been wanting one for a long time so fingers crossed all will go well :-\ ;D ;D
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Good choice, the SR500 has a great following and Kedo in Germany do loads of stuff for them including tuning goodies. I love the looks of the Continental GT and I believe Hitchcocks do tuning parts for them but given the choice I'd go for the SR.
Good luck with both the sale and purchase.
Ian
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Thanks Ian, I`m keeping my fingers crossed. Are there any SR "experts" on here I could PM a few technical questions? Thanks, Steve.
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Not me personally, but I know a man who can ;)
My mate has years of experience of owning an SR, and I'm sure knows all the trials and tribulations of them, so feel free to contact me, and I will get his advice anytime. I would have had a Haynes manual for you, only I just sold it at a jumble :(
I love SRs but have never owned one. Most owners hold onton them and don't sell.
Storms here were OK, though power wentn off briefly.
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Cheers Timbo, PM sent already :o ;)
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Aye Steve,
Bob Wright for spares and I have seen one with the Nordwest motor 558cc slotted in place.
Nice and light, all tucked up and low, no idea about reliability.
There was a lot of 'pondering' 12 years ago when across for the Manx. A visit to Paul Dedman Motorcycles, with a "local" revealed a Saturno 500 in red and in good clean condition with a spare set of complete wheels thrown into the deal for £2,800, with the possibility of haggling! There was a lot of lusting, ::) my "Procrastination, stagnation" mentality got the better of me, but nothing more, as Kat and I were over on the Bros and a BMW Funday 650 and getting the purchase home would have taken time and my friends workshop was full of race bikes at the time (storage!). Occasionally, the lust returns and Kat makes encouraging noises, but I have plenty in the workshop to keep me occupied at present. ;)
There was also a Nordwest raced at the MGP in ???? can't remember, but it was quick going up through the twisties above Ballacraine and survived merciless thrashing for the whole of practice and the race on fresh oil, spark plugs and avgas if I rember correctly. The rider was adopting the flat track posture for wind cheating over the Mountain, with the feet on the pillion rests and the left hand on the left stanchion, whilst burying the head beneath the clocks and that 'screen' in front of them. :)
Hope the Ambassador deal goes through.
My regards, Bill
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Hey Bill,
great info thanks, but looking at the riding position put me off pursuing it further. The Nordwest?..... you know, I think I remember that racing over here, thinking "what a hero" flat out over the mountain, one hand on the forks flat tracker style!! :o but I`m buggered if I can remember when it was? Yeah, I hope the Ambo deal comes off too, keeping my fingers crossed on that one ;) Well, off to get ready for work now, it`s 06-15, lets see if the mountains open today? it`s blowing a hoolie, and p**sing rain....reminds me of our summer ??? Cheers, Steve.
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Been looking at video`s for the SR`s and found this....I believe there`s a knack in starting the old SR`s
;D ;D
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Wot a wuss, get pushing/bumping it. If it meant the difference between going out for a ride or not going for a ride y'd be tryin harder than that to get it started eh. ;) ;) ;)
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Been looking at video`s for the SR`s and found this....I believe there`s a knack in starting the old SR`s
;D ;D
He obviously hasn't learnt the magical incantation for starting big singles....
Startyoufeckinbastardoryouregoingonebay ::)
On my SP370 you had to prod it over until a cross head bolt appeared in a window in the rocker cover at which point you let the kickstart up and leapt on it from a great height which resulted either in it starting or you laying in a heap on the ground with an SP370 laying on top of you ( it only ever did the latter when you mates were there!).
In the words of Mr Punch " Thats the way to do it!!"
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"Startyoufeckinbastardoryouregoingonebay"....I like it!! ;D I can`t say I`ve seen a window on my SP370, but I`ve kicked it over and started it ok. The SR has a window too, although the one I`m looking at has had it removed and a "Kedo" blanking plate fitted instead....handy ???
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I can`t say I`ve seen a window on my SP370, but I`ve kicked it over and started it ok.
You can just about see it at the bottom of the picture. I'm not sure if the later 370's had it, I know the 400's didn't.
(http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/m/mf3RPK8BnAw0Wc4GJ-3DIug/s-l225.jpg)
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Hmm, I`ll have a look at mine see if it`s there? There`s that much dirt and crap on mine, it could well be hidden. Cheers ;)
Found it!!! Didn`t even notice that ???
[deleted to save space]
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Kicking it on the stand isn't great practice. It bends the stand and if you get it off balance you'll be hoping it doesn't fire.
The Enfield was good on the kicker, stand on the lever until it stopped, pull decompressor, kick like you mean it while dropping the lever. All this guff about watching the ammeter needle never struck me as that useful.
I'm going to keep an eye on this thread as in the next 18 months or so I will be in the market for something similar. The SR400, MASH and Enfield all appeal. I am rather addicted to the V7's 300 mile range and tubeless tyres though, so I might think about a V7-II for even taking the dried frog pills and dealing with a mechanic to get an MOT.
Andy
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I've got a standard RE Bullet 500 EFI (as well as an XBR and RS 250)and my RE is easy to start on the electric foot or the kicker as it has an auto decompressor.I presume the Continental GT is the same.You have to pay a premium price for the Conti however- a bit like a GB500.The lack of electric foot has put me off an SR500.
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Found an easy way to start an SR500 .......
:o ;D
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Show off!!
( Lets see him do that with a Panther!!)
(I could do that on my Ural but it was only 6:1 compression)
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Show off!!
( Lets see him do that with a Panther!!)
(I could do that on my Ural but it was onlt 6:1 compression)
Yeah, me too with a Honda Express ;) ;)
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He obviously hasn't learnt the magical incantation for starting big singles....
Startyoufeckinbastardoryouregoingonebay ::)
Or the Fawlty style thrashing with a twig. ;D
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That reminds me of a four day motorcycle trip to the highlands of Scotland. It rained the whole time, and we couldn't see any of the beautiful scenery. On the last day we pulled over in a layby for a break. I looked round to see my mate Ago leaping up and down beating the ground with a large stick, shouting, "I fn hate Scotland", repeatedly ;D
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Good bit of MZ diagnostics:
Can you start it by hand? --> Yes --> Compression is low, tighten spark plug, head bolts etc.
No --> Did it kick back and break your wrist?
Yes --> On return from hospital adjust timing
No --> Try by foot
My Ural was an utter POS and was a *** to start on the electrics, but the kicker was useless, you couldn't get your foot in the gap between bike and sidecar mounts.
Andy
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My Ural was an utter POS and was a *** to start on the electrics,
Andy
...start on the electrics?.... sorry don't understand. Close the choke tube down to about 1/4 open, tickle the carbs ( remember carb ticklers!) until the petrol runs out of the carbs into 2 puddles under the bike (that use to get 'em worried) 1 or 2 prods and it would start on one then the other pot joined in a few seconds later....simples.. ;)
Urals and Dneprs were always a pig to start with a chair as it was fitted to the 'wrong' side.
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My apologies to you All, :-[
Yes, the Gilera Nordwest was raced, but in a Spondon modified frame and I believe it expired in the Junior race, as the race results for the Junior and Senior Manx GP's show it as a DNF! :(
The rider was Gary Rowe, who unfortunately was killed in a road accident in 2003 on the mainland. He will always be remembered by me, for the splendid show of exuberant riding he put on for us in the 1994 MGP races.
Link to an article/obituary for Gary: Gary_Rowe_Obituary (http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/former-mgp-rider-dies-1-1743547)
My regards, Bill
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ThanksBill for posting this sad news. As an ex fire officer, road race fan, and someone who lived in Telford for a while, I am very sad to hear this news.