New track

[RonXBR]

Good to hear you've got sorted with what looks to be a nice bike. Hopefully all will be fine engine wise. Looking forward to the transformation you have planned.

Ron.

[mthee]

Great news, Ian! Always reassuring to find a seller with another bike in good fettle, especially a shared marque. Let's  hope he finds a way to get out on his showbike now.
I hope the peashooter gets a baffle, as I like it for looks.

[themoudie]

Aye Ian,

Hope the new acquisition proves to be a good buy.

As for

The chap selling it had a gorgeous Commando Fastback which looked better than new and lives in his hallway. His wife won't let him ride it in case it gets dirty.....

 

Looked better than new, but perishing and rusting from the inside out. I just don't understand the ornamentation/investment psychosis. 

More miles on the 450 this weekend and now with over 85,000 miles on the engine, the gearbox selector forks might be starting to show signs of wear, by not selecting 3rd to 4th and 4th to 5th shifts every time. Not a constant problem, but intermittent and a bit of a pitter as the engine part of the unit is now nicely bedded in after 7,500 miles. Nobody, so far, can provide wear limits for the selector forks, but another owner has started to note a similar problem after over 50,000 miles and he has never opened the engine up since purchasing it new in 1974.

Next oil change maybe the time for a disemboweling!

Good health, Bill

[iansoady]

The Commando had actually been very nicely done but it was a shame not to use it. He also had a very original sprung hub 1950s Speed Twin as well as a unit Triumph Trophy that had been restored by the same person who'd had the XBR and was pristine. Apparently an old friend of his had been ill for some time and recently died although he and my seller had lost touch. The widow contacted him and asked him to buy the bikes - he didn't actually want the Honda but took it to sell on (to me as it turned out). All could have been a bit dodgy and sounds a bit like a sophisticated scam* but I believe him.

It's being picked up on Wednesday to be delivered to me on Thursday. Can't wait. I think I'll look for either a real peashooter or maybe a Goldie silencer. Wonder if it would twitter.....

*More so when my bank transfer didn't go through. Has he done a runner with my £2,000? No, my bank decided it was a dodgy transation but couldn't be bothered to tell me till this morning after I got very embarrassed. All gone through now, V5 transferred and bike insured in my name. I just hope I'm not back here in a few days with a tale of woe.

[Moto63]

Great news Ian. Hopefully all goes as planned for the drop off and look forward to many photos of the bike before, during and after your transformation 🤞👍
Cheers, Michael

[CrazyFrog]

Good luck with it Ian, looks like a nice bike!

[mthee]

I think I'll look for either a real peashooter or maybe a Goldie silencer. Wonder if it would twitter.

If you fancy a Motad, I've got one in the garage.

Here's  a pic and video link for sound;

[Itsme]

Hi Ian

I think this is a great thread as it has stimulated such a lot of interest. I had an XBR500 and do regret selling it although at the time it was probably the right thing to do. It was a shame they didn't catch on when they were available new, but at the time most people seemed to be fascinated by four cylinder engines and sophistication.

In a way Royal Enfield have championed the humble thumper until it is now back in the mainstream of bike buying, maybe a re-make of a simple single would succeed for Honda now?

Anyway keep up the good work and I look forward to the results.

Other Ian

[kevberlin]

Ian,
I enjoyed that video. Bike sounds lovely and I think the colour is ace. I hope it’s a good trusty steed for you.
What is the knee bend to the pegs like? Is it much “looser” than the cb250rs?
Kev

[iansoady]

Bike delivered safely this morning. Oh no - a problem. One of the side panel fixings is broken. I'll have to send it back.

Seriously though still looking great. Cost £116 to be brought from North Wales which I think is a decent price.

Matt - I may be interested - do you have the whole system (I don't think the silencer would fit my pipes) and how much? Although I'm in no rush. The Motad does sound nice - I had one on the CB250RS. I still thing a Goldie one would be nice & they're available locally for £65 or so (as are peashooters).

Kev - to be honest I haven't even sat on it but the footrest / seat positioning looks similar to the CB250. I do have some thoughts on perhaps lowering the footrests however - and may even consider building a crossover system to put the brake & gear levers on the right sides. It depends on many things including my skill level and how much room there is to spare.

Ian - yes I'm surprised and pleased by the conversations so far. This is a great forum with a small but perfectly formed membership, and a wealth of knowledge.

[spooky]

The bike I had with rs250 motor had cross over gears...

[mthee]

Sorry, Ian, silencer only. It's  heavy, but sounds great. Any measurements and/or pics you need to decide about fitment, please  let me know when the time comes. Small ding where you can't  see it and no rust.

[iansoady]

Food for thought. As with everything else I don't want to make irreversible changes.

I've started to go over it and have been very pleasantly surprised so far. It's obviously been totally restored but virtually unused since. Powder coated frame and the main paintwork is immaculate with only a couple of tiny marks. I started to do the tappets but discovered I don't have a plug spanner that goes down the hole - I must have had one at some stage when I had my Dominator - so off to toolstation tomorrow to get a set of box spanners. The air filter looks brand new and the oil is very clean but will do a full service anyway for peace of mind.

Thanks Matt, what bore is the inlet?

[mthee]

35mm, but on closer inspection,  pretty scratched up, 2 more dings and totally unsuitable  for what sounds like a bike in good nick. I should've had a better look before posting. Doh!

[Itsme]

Hi

I have a set of those metal shims that come with universal silencers to allow diameters to be altered kicking around if they're any use to you Ian. They aren't a great solution to matching a smaller pipe to a larger bore silencer but they can work given some sealant around them. Let me know if you need them.

Just thinking about the unused and immaculate bike thing, it's a strange phenomenon to me. A motorbike has one function surely and that is to act as transport. If people don't wear them out no-one will make new bits for those of us wanting to run old thumpers. From that point of view I see it as my duty to put as many miles on my GN250 as possible so that the rest of you can have parts for them should you need them. You're welcome.

Actually yesterday was funny. I have borrowed my friend Jill's Lexmoto 125 for a while after the exhaust fell off the Mighty Midget and think it is a fab little toy. Jill mentioned it needed an annual service so I volunteered to take it back to the dealer she bought it from so she could keep her service book stamped. I did have a laugh though when the dealer commented that she had the first service done last year at 207 miles and this annual service was being done at 523 miles. I've done 150 or so of those miles in the last month in between using the Mighty Midget! It isn't just classics that suffer from lack of use.

Keep it going Ian and look forward to the next steps.

Other Ian