A biking history by garth.

[garth]

Ten years I’ve been on here. TEN. That’s a lot of years, I feel very old. This isn’t a bad thing, I don’t stay awake at night in fear of being fingered by two little boys with two little toys, I rest easy. However, I can assure all those nubile young ladies out there that I am infact, still in my prime and fertile, so fear not. If you’d like me to send you a sperm sample to prove my fertility please pm me. Anyway, there have been a few people doing bike histories on here of late, so I thought I would chime in. I’ve used actual photos where possible. Where not possible I’ve used google-fu.

I started riding when I was somewhere around the age of four. My dad built a bike out of a Suffolk Punch sidevalve lawnmower engine and a Barbie bicycle from the local tip. He called it ‘The Surplus Special’ and we still have it. Quite a clever man my dad, he’s also made his own clutch and various bits for other bikes.

After that I progressed to several other field bikes, from a Yamaha BOP-II to a V80 step thru and the obligatory Honda C90 (plus wooden sidecar…!)

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/V80_zps4a1ed043.jpg

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/C70_zps75400007.jpg

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/C70chopped_zps93a84115.jpg

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/C90outfit_zps32f12ee3.jpg

My first geared bike was a C200, a pushrod 4 speed 60’s Honda. We (I say ‘we’ – I mean my Dad…) fitted telescopic forks from an RXS100 and a different rear mudguard aswell as longer shocks, different exhaust, etc. I’ve got a photo but fucked if I can find it, which is a shame.

Fast forward a few years to when I turned sixteen. I had little interest in getting a twist and go, instead I had the only bike that I truly regret selling – A 1964 Honda C100. The C100 is the predecessor to the C90, a 49cc pushrod, 3 speed semi auto underbone motorcycle designed for delivering noodles. DOR 967C was the reg. Anyway being sixteen it was fitted with a later C70 big valve engine and big carb and it went fairly well, good for 50mph on a flat. I wheelied it everywhere it until the rings wore out.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/C100ampStinger_zpsb46a68a8.jpg

Whilst I still had that on the road I bought a ’77 Honda SS50 5-Speed. I stripped this, powdercoated the frame and did a little engine work. It was around now that I really took an interest in engines. It went from 49cc to 88cc, and with the addition of a pointy camshaft (and subsequently no tickover), a large carb, open exhaust and beefier clutch it became the fastest ‘50’ around. It did however blow up three times in 4,000 miles and was ridiculously uncomfortable for someone 6’1”. I was clocked at 70mph on it, if my memory serves me correctly. It certainly kept up with my brothers GN125, just not for very long. Engine failures included a cracked piston, main bearings and valve stem seals.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/SS50build_zpse8e47751.jpg

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/download_zps2a33c182.jpg

Somewhere inbetween those two I had a Purple Helmet replica C70, given the offroad treatment. Can’t find any pictures of that one – I do still have the piston though. When I took it out it only had one ring left but was still running. Problem with the cub engines is the oil pumps cannot give enough pressure when they are wheelied, and it starves the top end of oil. I found out the hard way. A few times…

I turned 17 and much like Paddys girlfriend, immediately needed something bigger. Well, not needed, but wanted. A 1972 Suzuki T125 ‘Stinger’ fitted the bill. Silky smooth two stroke 125 twin, good for 80mph.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/Stinger_zpsc65c0390.jpg

Nice bike, too small for me though. A few months after riding that around, I went in for my bike test and passed with one minor, restricted to 33bhp for two years.

I bought a Mk1 600 bandit, a really early one with no grab rails. Kept it restricted for a few months and then went full potato. The suspension was truly, utterly awful, but it served me very well. I learnt a lot about bigger bikes and how comparatively easy they are to go fast on compared to 1970’s tiddlers. I also had a 1970’s Suzuki TS250 for winter and offroad duties. I fell off that one quite a bit. Can’t find a pic of my bandit on this computer, but will look on the PC later, here’s the TS.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/TS250_zpsd2ae9559.jpg

Part two to follow...
____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

[garth]

12,000 miles and eighteen months on the bandit later, my brother was going to Australia and offered me his much tidier SV650S for sale at a good price, so I bought that. They get a lot of flack on here, but aside from the pogo front end, I quite liked it.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/DSC00013_zpsf7f26857.jpg

I didn’t keep it too long though, I wanted something fast. Bye bye SV, hello GSXR600K1. I have a soft spot for these – I love the induction noise. The electrics did shit themselves though and it needed a new stator, right before I was due to take it up the stip at the bulldog bash. I’m sure you’re all aware of what a GSXR looks like, which is just as well because I can’t find a pic. Sausage.

Not to worry, I’d bought a work hack, an old XJ600N Yamaha. A truly shite bike, but somehow I liked it. Easy to ride, slow, handled okay, took lots of abuse and proved utterly reliable. It ran a 13.5 second ¼ mile too, which I was quite impressed with! I even took it green laning, sprayed it matt black, cut off the exhaust and then sold it two years later for £200 less than I bought it for.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/DSC00407_zpsf0bc9e9d.jpg

Somewhere inbetween those I bought a Suzuki Goose. It had been ran out of oil and I bought it cheap. Needed a piston, rings and rockers. Very pretty bike, got a bit carried away with it and made it even prettier. Last seen was the frame on ebay, it had been stripped for parts.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/DSC00071_zps75c7affa.jpg

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/wheeliefornet4_zps65162c36.jpg

This GSXR was getting me into trouble. I like IL4’s but fast, revvy ones have little point on UK roads. I thought I’d try a twin, so I bought a facelift 900SSie Ducati. Well built, handled extremely well and very stable – quite confidence inspiring. Useless however below 4,000rpm and useless above 8,000rpm. I rode back from Poole Quay to Southampton one evening flat out at an indicated 140mph, when I stopped the speedo and rev counter fell off. Haha. Pictured below with the tarted Goose.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/DSC00202_zps2c6916a1.jpg

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/DSC00271_zpsa6d790cd.jpg

I then booked myself onto a trackday, loved it, booked another one and then bought a race bike – A 583 Ducati Monster, for use in the Desmodue championship.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/DSC00293_zpsb1e73870.jpg

Another trackday and I did my first race(s). I didn’t do fantastically, but I was quickest rookie and finished 13th out of 28. Unfortunately I lost my job and that put an end to racing. I did keep the monster though, it underwent a bit of a makeover before being sold later on.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/download01_zps712523ee.jpg

I did get another cub though! A 1983 C70c. Six of us went on holiday on them. This ended up with a 110cc Lifan engine in.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/09032010293_zpsa70a708a.jpg

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/06012010224_zpsfe74c3e8.jpg

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/DSC00660_zps69b0a3a0.jpg

The 900ss was replaced with a different tractor – an MZ Baghira ‘supermoto’ – tuned XT660 engine with WP suspension and grimeca brakes sounds good on paper, but it was heavy and cursed. It put me in hospital twice, something not quite right with how it was sprung. Internal bleeding, lovely.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/16042010018_zps92b785d6.jpg

Sold that and didn’t have a big bike for a while. Until, for some strange reason I thought it’d be a good idea to buy a GSXR1000K2. It wasn’t. Too quick for me on the road, didn’t enjoy it. Yes, it was fast, but it required next to no input to be so. I didn’t find it rewarding to ride, it was very tidy though.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/03072010104_zpsf2a1aca8.jpg

Replaced it with a cheap Fazer – Which I did like. Nice kick in power at 7k rpm, good tank range, very well built, only sold after riding all year round for a year because of the clunking into third which used to piss me off. Maybe it was just mine, I’d probably have another.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/11072010120_zps5c00ee74.jpg



More to come.
____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

[garth]

Got given an XS750 by an ex’s dad. I tarted it up, got it running, MOT’d and flogged it. Scary thing, allergic to corners and afraid of stopping. No thankyou. It weighed even more than that fat bird that used to present You’ve Been Framed and was about as appealing to ride.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/IMG_0039_zpsa8d5bf44.jpg

With the money from the 750 and a little extra I bought a Versys. I’d read good things, I wasn’t sold on the looks and ultimately it was too nice for me. I don’t like immaculate things, I spend too much time worrying about them. I’d arranged to go to the French Alps with my brother, the Versys being the perfect bike to do so. However I have the attention span of a gnat and sold it two weeks before we were supposed to go, leaving my bikeless.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/Picture006_zpse5ccdeab.jpg

So in comes a ZX9R. A C1, the ones that shit their gearboxes. Funnily enough, this one shit it’s gearbox. I replaced the internals with Z1000 ones after the trip, powdercoated the wheels, replaced the brakes etc etc… then sold it. Idiot. It’s since been stolen, dumped in a ditch and needs repairing. I’ve got the chance to but it back, cheap, but not sure if I want to.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/Orrey_zps9f3a0252.jpg

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/Wheelie1_zpsf125d668.jpg

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/KGrHqZ_hgE3wBJFKuGBOJHlkqSjg_3_zps00d14239.jpg

To replace the ZX9R I got a cheap Hornet. It had a load of tat on it which I removed, along with replacing fork seals and a load of other stuff. Aside from ludicrously high gearing it was quite a good bike. It took me around France and Italy no problems. 16” front wheel was a bit spastic, though.

https://oi50.tinypic.com/2z3oox2.jpg

Somewhere around about this point I bought a 140 Stomp pitbike and converted it into a Supermoto. If you haven’t tried pitbike SM, I’d highly recommend it. It’s the same skills as a big bike and you can really learn how to push a bike. Mines ever changing form and I still own and use it regularly – race once a month and practice where possible. Most of the time I’m on my arse though.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/82779E77-0783-43D6-B72E-33B798FF4F6D_zpssacsdd6y.jpg

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/2194E636-4A83-4CEE-B275-0EFB90BC8712_zpsx1zii6vr.jpg

Soon enough got bored of the hornet though. Sold it in the summer, was bikeless for a little while until I decided that commuting by car was really grating my badger and I needed a winter hack. A CB500 was bought for a very cheap price. I’d read that they’re highly regarded so thought it was worth the risk. Yeah, I was wrong. It was marginally better with the Avon tyes replaced for a set of scrubs, but I still hated it. Honestly, my diesel 106 is more entertaining. I won’t bother with a picture
____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

[garth]

Sold that pronto, for a profit. Then £150 bought me a YBR125 from a member of this forum. It’d been crashed and needed a little TLC and had 40k on the clocks but still ran sweet. Used it for a while, fell off it, green laned it, sold it.

https://i47.tinypic.com/rknh2o.jpg

https://i48.tinypic.com/2ry3gc4.jpg

Around about this time I bought another GSXR. It was an accident, a practically mint example that was about 50% of the price it should be, so I had to buy it. This one was a good one, remapped and filter’d up it had 105bhp at the wheel which isn’t too shabby for a 12 year old 600.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/IMG_0985_zps99851608.jpg

It took me around Europe two up, served as a commuter, did a trackday and was generally just a really good bike. Feared for my license again and sold it.

I then bought a bike in a box. A Chinese copy of a C90. Most people discard Chinese bikes without any experience, but honestly they aren’t that bad. Not Jap quality, but then for £600 what do you expect?

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/32BE97CA-6472-41E7-A868-6561CDF96BB7-1291-0000019EF6FF3DB8_zpsa8360300.jpg

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/D52FC58B-32B1-453E-BEF0-05E2ADE9D015-1648-00000110A04F5B0B_zpsb9278af5.jpg

There was also some moped racing in there somewhere too. 8 hour endurance races – I’ve done Anglesey, Mallory and Cadwell.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/CC3B489C-0D06-4786-9348-F7EB22F5FF05-1063-000000B9E0C009A4_zpsb536c13a.jpg

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/3EA4D35F-F522-4DDF-A4B3-BA8BB74CA136-1063-000000B9B2587109_zps752bc076.jpg

I do like small bikes, but not all the time. As a second bike, running around etc – but I like having a big bike alongside. With that in mind, I bought another hornet. This one was approximately a million times better than my old one. Very nice to ride, as a road only bike. I planned on keeping it but sold it to fund my latest trip…

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/IMG_1317_zps029681e5.jpg

Africa by the aforementioned C90. I won’t clog up this with too many details, instead there’s a link to my blog in my sig and a thread on here. Yes, I failed, but atleast I tried.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/7112AA35-1942-4620-A6BC-F12403A1611E_zpsyyp8hbws.jpg

So, now I’m back at home and I’ve just dug out the NSR125 powered C90 that I started to build ages ago. It’s something to keep me off the walls for a bit I guess.

https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y459/nark_square/Picture019_zpsd65d9c70.jpg
____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

[rideslikean00...]

Was having a shite day at work and reading this really cheered me up, interesting seeing which directions you've taken as a rider.
____________________
.
Previous/Current Bikes
2013 Yamaha YBR-125ED -> 1997 Yamaha YZF-1000R Thunderace -> 2009 Yamaha XJ-6 Diversion -> 2007 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer S2

[Matt B]

Nice write up

That SS50 brings back memories. My mate had one when we were 16, we stuck the engine out of his dad's C70 in it complete with the 3 speed crash box Joyous days.
____________________
stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[P.]

Girlfriend would cry if she received more than my 10 inch man sausage.

Very good read mate

[-Monty-]

Great read that was

Is there a thread on the NSR powered C90? I don't remember seeing one but I'm pretty interested (as I'm sure many others are).


____________________
Present: [Kawasaki ZX7r][Suzuki DRZ 400s]
Past: [Honda PCX 125] [Yamaha RXS 100] [Honda CB 500] [Triumph Speed Four] [Honda ST1100 Pan European - Po-Po Edition]

[Clanger]

Garth, your Dad's bike shed is a place to behold. It's an amazing space. Thanks to you letting me test ride your Versys, I have now owned my own for three years in March... Wow... time flies.
____________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Good read fella.

Still got the MX5?
____________________
My Flickr

[Pigeon]

Great pics, great bikes, great read.

[WULFSTAN]

That hornet looks really familiar I think I owned it for a week hated it and got rid.
____________________
Your backside is better enough for you to run again, if need be – bristle up the courage of the cornered rat, put on a bold front, and to hell with them. Bluff my boy – bluff, shift and lie for the sake of your neck and the honour of Old England

[_Iain_]

[400bandit]

I'm starting to think that I'm in the same camp as you, I've currently got a Tuono but miss my 650 Bros (which is rotting away in the garage!) despite being 6'2" and looking ridiculous on it!.

This post also made me realised that I must have been on here for 10 years too!

Top post.
____________________
Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[waffles]

Oh god, I remember the thread about people going on holiday on cubs, didn't someone put a hole in one of the engine casings? That was a really great read
____________________
Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[Knacker]

Great thread, So much K1 Love
____________________
Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[Moxey]

[garth]

Thanks all.

Ham - MX5 went ages ago. I needed more than 30mpg with the commute I had. (As a side-note, the 106 Diseaseall I replaced it with just did 74.8mpg on the last tankfull )

With regards to the hornet - the red one was a dog. One of the three main jets was different to the others before I dynojetted it.


There is a thread somewhere for the NSR/90. I'll make another.

My time has been taken up recently by my latest acquisition, a CB-1.
____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

[STONEY!]

Nice selection of toys, we have similar taste, must do something with my c90 soon

106 Diesel is spot on, I use mine to tow on a regular basis and even with a bike on the trailer it still does 60+mpg, if you need any parts for yours I have 3 of em and a shed full of bits!

Sorry to see your trip got cut short, did you sell the bikes in the end?

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[garth]

[P.]

Let me know when you come to sell that bad boy

[STONEY!]

Devilishly handsome erm nope!

I have a full length round viper can I could swap you for the one you have or you can buy it for £30?

Fork seals you may get away with cleaning between them and the stanchion with a feeler guage, head bearings remove clean up re grease, refit and adjust usually gets a bit more life out of them!

[STONEY!]

Oh thinking about it I have a nice carbon simmi can that would probably be good too

[garth]

I'm very interested in pictures of your semi.

Edit. Simmi.
____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was