2008 Deauville rework

[sickpup]

Bought this VA8 Deauville a few year back from a good mate who was moving back to Brazil.
Was a good price considering it had a new very custom Top Sellerie raised, gelled and heated seat that set him back £700 which is now on my main bike.
I knew the bike had some problems courtesy of being looked after by bad mechanics but it should be pretty easy to turn it back into a reliable bike.

Biggest problem with it is the wiring. It had a heated seat, heated muffs, heated grips, two sets of spotlights, 2 wireless phone chargers, USB points, cigarette socket, 3 heated clothing cables and cameras.

Some of the bits were wired (badly) into a switched live on the fuse box but were rated beyond the main loom wiring, some was wired direct to the battery, its all a mess. It all needs stripping out, a fuse box adding via a switched live relay, possibly an always live fuse box, an alarm added and some serious cable management.

Rats nest under the seat

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/20250109_160839.jpg

Multiple earths taped together

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/20250109_160920.jpg

Multiple lives taped together

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/20250109_160834.jpg

After all that it needs a good service, the rad is leaking so that needs repairing, fork gaitors adding and anything else I find along the way.

[Tarmacsurfer]

I'm vaguely surprised that didn't lose the magic smoke in a very spectacular fashion. Did I ever tell you the tale of my ZZR trying to set itself alight when the starter solenoid shook loose after a spirited ride took me over an unexpected speedbump and shorted live to the frame just under the fuel tank?

I'll admit to never having tried the Deauville, but I did spend a truly miserable six months on an NTV before convincing the boss to fuck it off and let me switch to that tatty old XJ9 I was on for years. Honestly hated the thing with a passion, did they actually change much or was the Deauville just a bodywork refresh on the same motor and frame?
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I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[sickpup]

[sickpup]

Had some more time today so started taking it apart and found more horrors. About 60%+ of the bolts are wrong, too long, too short, wrong machine screw etc and a fair smattering of panel nuts instead of the correct fittings.

There are cables coiled all over the bike, under every panel.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/20250429_154743.jpg

The mechanics who fitted the heated grips decide not to use the fitted multi connectors and changed them for 4mm bullets which are too big then wrapped them with insulating tape so there are snake bellies everywhere.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/img-20250429-wa0010.jpeg

The heated grips were so badly fitted that although they had a mount to bolt the controller to the front brake master cylinder, it was cable tied to the handlebars.

Deauvilles have an accessory called a 'Quartet harness' that plugs in and gives 3 powered points to add spot lights, heated grips etc. Instead of using this fully, it has one fitted, the previous mechanics hacked into the loom.
One item was plugged in the Quartet harness and then another bodged into it.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/img-20250429-wa0016.jpeg

In the end, I removed all of these cables from the bike, easier to just remove them all and start again.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/img-20250429-wa0018.jpeg

There is a take off (that isn't in the wiring diagram) at the rear of the bike for the Honda Averto Alarm, this was used for the camera system fitted to the bike. Again, instead of using a plug and just plugging in the previous mechanic hacked the loom.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/img-20250429-wa0005.jpeg

The belly pan kit on these comes with rubber well nuts. Instead of using them the previous mechanic knew better and used panel nuts. This is of course inside the fairing so pretty hard to get to.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/img-20250429-wa0020.jpeg

[A100man]

As a rule previous owners are witless wankers..
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[sickpup]

It wasn't the owner, he paid a lot of money to a garage to make a mess of his bike.

[Easy-X]

"...snake bellies everywhere."

This is why I started doing my own vehicle servicing: why pay someone > £80 per hour to fuck something up when I can break it for free?
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[A100man]

[WD Forte]

Thats a mess
Was it dem Brazilian 'mechanics' did that?
Every time my Deliveroo guy turns up with his scoot I see evidence of their work.
The idiot keeps going back to the feckers though despite my advice not to.
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bikers smell of wee

[sickpup]

[WD Forte]

Every time I see and have often had to correct their work
it looks like it was done by someone who might have a box of spanners butnever had training in any kind of engineering or good working practise.
For folk like this to to charge for professional services is a piss take

My guy (a full time delivery boi) bought a brand new PCX from Fowlers the local main dealer.
He came by last week I had a look around it and was shocked by the flimsy, shabby, box platform
"Surely Fowlers didnt fit this" I said
"Oh no, I got the Brazilians guys to do that"

I shouldn't complain I suppose, another job for me soon I expect
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bikers smell of wee

[sickpup]