Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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Well it's been a long time my fellow CS chums, since I've blessed your presence with a essay! and to make this one doubley good - it's a pic fest too! Yes - this story is all about my 'project' to build a motorbike.
The story starts when a young boy of 18 (ME), wanted to have a bike as his powerful 1.2 Sxi corsa was too slow and he'd always wanted a bike anyway. Being only 18 I couldn't afford to buy a brand new £1000-£2000+ bike and was also limited to 125cc. The plan was to buy a old, f*cked Aprilia 125 RS and rebuild it as a project for me and my dad.
Well I definately found a 'F*cked bike' 
These are a couple of pics as it was when I bought it, with most of the parts randomly scattered in boxes and trays. It had a Seized engine, quite a few broken or missing parts and about a million other things wrong with it!
After quite a while of hard labour, and elbow greese we got the bike semi fixed (at least rolling). We rebuilt the engine new barrel, cylinder, rings, head, etc and got it to the state it is below.
Aww look at my old corsa
The next step was to get the electrics re-connected and working. Not easy on a old import model, which only has a manual in italian. I also sent off all my fairings to Red_SXi (old school members will remember him) who was going to spray it all in R6 blue, but instead sprayed it some 'other' blue  and rather shockingly bad, i.e. not flatterned, and thin as paper that it just flakes off.
What made it worse is it took about a year and a half to get my fairing back off of him. Meanwhile I'd bought a 106 gti, got nicked for speeding etc, didn't really need a bike anymore etc.
Found a use for my old corsa K&N filter 
Then started fitting other parts and sorting the fairing. Considering we barely had any parts that we should've we did suprisingly well, and my dad had to make countless brackets and fittings to get it all to fit properly.
Anyway... Did my CBT - Insured it - fixed a few more bits like screen and took it for a ride My dad had already ridden in the engine for me.
Was good fun, goes about as quick as my 106 gti, possibly quicker to 60, but about same to 60-90, but the bike stops accelerating about 100 ish. Great fun though leaning it into the corners and accelerating out, plus awesome on country roads being able to just overtake cars with ease, and in traffic just zipping through the middle.
Anyway, my dad wanted me to come with him and his mates to this 'Brighton Burn' which was some big bike event (20,000 bikes or more!) so we set off early in the morning. This had been my biggest ride so far on my bike.
Was a great ride up there, going up in convoy on bikes is more fun than cars, as you can catch each other up if a car gets inbetween you and the car your following. Stopped off at Rykers Cafe at box hill for a quick rest, then shot off again through some country lanes and then onto the A24 down to brighton, coming out of some of the roundabouts I was changing up through the gears and it was suddenly revving to 13k rpm? like I had knocked it into neutral? Then I'd change up again and it'd get in gear and I'd continue.
Got to brighton and the place was packed!
This went on for miles and miles!
Had a burger and looked at the bikes there. Then got ready to head back again, checked my bike was ok - and apart from an exhaust that had fallen into 2 bits (looked like a dodgy old repair!) it was sound. Bodged exhaust back together and jubilee clipped it ready for the ride back.
Stopped for some petrol, and took these two pics
^ I think the bike looks stunning in that last pic
Off we went! on the 100 ish mile trip back home, back onto the country lanes and somehow me and my dad managed to leave behind and lose his mates zipping past the traffic, turns out they went the wrong way at a roundabout and we didn't see them again.
So I'm now struggling to just keep up with my dad, who is insisting on overtaking a car each time it's clear - but I didn't mind, I was having too much fun cranking the bike over in the bends. In some of the bends I hit a bump or two cranked over and the back was 'slipping about?' or what felt like it.
Anyway continued going and was chasing my dad's bike down a straight, through the gears and suddenly nothing... No drive at all! changed up and down the gear box, but it just revved and didn't go anywhere. Pulled the clutch in knocked it into neutral and coasted and pulled into a layby.
My dad came back, but essentially something like the clutch or something has blown?  which is strange as it was only on a gear change it stopped working - not while slipping it. Anyway, I look down at my foot and next to my leg, there's a big piece of metal sticking out the side of the bike!
Imagine this sticking out twice as far! Esentially this is the single swinging arm (the thing holding the back wheel) bolt, which holds the whole swinging arm into the bike! It had been working it's way out of the frame some how as the thing holding it in had obviously broken off - the wobbling I felt on the back in the corners was the wheel falling all over the place.
I was lucky my clutch or whatever went and I stopped - otherwise my wheel would've fallen off mid bend at high speed, I could've slid straight into another car or into a tree.
Had to get brought back by the RAC on a lorry, and now noticed my silencer isn't there - so that must've fallen off in transit.
So I now have a bike which has no exhaust, a fucked clutch or gearbox, a messed up rear swing arm, a speedo that doesn't work (speedo cable sheared itself while riding) and numerous other things... I really can't be arsed.
So thinking I'm just gonna buy a bike that works instead and sell this one spares or repair.
Shame the story ended badly, from about 3 years to get it all working and on the road, I rode it for a total of about 3 and a half hours. Gutted
Paul J
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
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get a Kawasaki KR250TT. fucking amazing bikes.
looks good though Paul, shame it buggered up
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Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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Also - in all the pics I have no rear seat as I was gonna get it re-trimmed black (it was red)
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Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by robmarriott
get a Kawasaki KR250TT. fucking amazing bikes.
looks good though Paul, shame it buggered up
Limited to 125 on L's... though it is derestricted to 34 bhp which it shouldn't be  
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
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good point.
do your proper license.
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andy1868
Member
Registered: 22nd Jun 06
Location: Burscough, Lancashire
User status: Offline
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looks good indeed, i've been toying with the idea of buying a bike for a while now, but i'm only 18 too, and i'm a penniless hippy (hopefully not for much longer)
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jimmy 2.1
Member
Registered: 17th Oct 05
Location: Shipley, West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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i've got an rs125!! hate it when people on bigger bikes don't acknowledge you because your on a 125! they are the most underated bikes ever are thr rs's
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andy1868
Member
Registered: 22nd Jun 06
Location: Burscough, Lancashire
User status: Offline
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i'm unsure on the laws of motorbikes, am i right in thinking you can ride up to a 125cc on an L plate and doing a CBT test? is there anything else?
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Bram
Member
Registered: 25th Mar 02
Location: Derby
User status: Offline
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Need to get some Speedline centre caps sorted for the wheels
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ed
Member
Registered: 10th Sep 03
User status: Offline
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How much you thining of selling it for?
Used to have an RX50 thats was tuned a little bit. Wouldn't mind upgrading
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DAYZEE
Member
Registered: 13th Nov 00
Location: Stevenage, MR2 Turbo, 328i Coupe, CBR600F
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by andy1868
i'm unsure on the laws of motorbikes, am i right in thinking you can ride up to a 125cc on an L plate and doing a CBT test? is there anything else?
You have to be 17+, have a CBT certificate and have L plates. Then you can ride a 125. Providing its insured, taxed, mot....
The CBT isn't really a test though like a ful license, its just training with an instructor.
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BabyBlade
Member
Registered: 5th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Rides: Ninja 600
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by jimmy 2.1
i've got an rs125!! hate it when people on bigger bikes don't acknowledge you because your on a 125! they are the most underated bikes ever are thr rs's
I hate it when 18 year olds with L Plates try to acknowledge themselves as as someone whos actually taken their test and ride something that dosnt sound like a swarm of bee's coming to attack you
the best ones when they try and race you, or ride like a twat inbetween cars to try and prove a point
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andy1868
Member
Registered: 22nd Jun 06
Location: Burscough, Lancashire
User status: Offline
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thanks dayzee 
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DAYZEE
Member
Registered: 13th Nov 00
Location: Stevenage, MR2 Turbo, 328i Coupe, CBR600F
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by BabyBlade
quote:
Originally posted by jimmy 2.1
i've got an rs125!! hate it when people on bigger bikes don't acknowledge you because your on a 125! they are the most underated bikes ever are thr rs's
I hate it when 18 year olds with L Plates try to acknowledge themselves as as someone whos actually taken their test and ride something that dosnt sound like a swarm of bee's coming to attack you
the best ones when they try and race you, or ride like a twat inbetween cars to try and prove a point
I'll nod a 125 if they aren't behaving like a bellend....the scooter boys though, they can fvck off.
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jimmy 2.1
Member
Registered: 17th Oct 05
Location: Shipley, West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by BabyBlade
quote:
Originally posted by jimmy 2.1
i've got an rs125!! hate it when people on bigger bikes don't acknowledge you because your on a 125! they are the most underated bikes ever are thr rs's
I hate it when 18 year olds with L Plates try to acknowledge themselves as as someone whos actually taken their test and ride something that dosnt sound like a swarm of bee's coming to attack you
the best ones when they try and race you, or ride like a twat inbetween cars to try and prove a point
yeah but i arn't a twat, and i don't think i've passed my test. i'm a biker through and through since when i had my first bike when i was six to when i was racing 125 gp bikes and a cbr600 a year or so ago
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andy1868
Member
Registered: 22nd Jun 06
Location: Burscough, Lancashire
User status: Offline
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sorry to keep asking questions, but can i take a real test at 18? and have a bigger engined bike? is it recommended?
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DAYZEE
Member
Registered: 13th Nov 00
Location: Stevenage, MR2 Turbo, 328i Coupe, CBR600F
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by andy1868
sorry to keep asking questions, but can i take a real test at 18? and have a bigger engined bike? is it recommended?
You can do the test at 17 but you have to restrict the bike to 33bhp. Then 2 years from your pass date or when you turn 21 you can derestrict the bike or go out and buy a ZX10R.
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Fad
Member
Registered: 1st Feb 01
Location: Dartford Kent Drives: 330cd
User status: Offline
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Wicked thread Paul quite interested in this as I wish to do the same so I can learn a bit more about bikes....might be good for a comute into the city too
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a_j_mair
Member
Registered: 23rd Jan 04
Location: Scotland
User status: Offline
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do you need to have ctb for 2 years or can i just go and sit my test and get a bike?
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loo_goblin
Member
Registered: 14th Jul 04
Location: Horsham, West Sussex
User status: Offline
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how busy was boxhill,? been packed lately due to nice weather.
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mazdaspeed
Member
Registered: 8th Jan 05
Location: Darlington
User status: Offline
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I bought my first bike a few months ago, no mot or tax but it was £250. Everything was good except it needed a new headlight, throttle cable and gear linkage. Put a new back tyre on it and had it Mot'd. It passed 2nd time and was riding it for 3 months. Went up to Scotland with my Dad. I slipped on some diesel landed on the side of the road and a car hit the bike while it was in the road.
It was my inexperience not to notice the thick black diesel but I'll know for next time. Over winter I'm repairing the bike, it has 2 bent forks, no front end.
It was a 1200 and it was very fast.
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LeeM
Member
Registered: 26th Sep 05
Location: Liverpool
User status: Offline
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this got me thinking, so i got an insurance quote for a suzuki bandit, £700... thats 200 quid cheaper than my corsa!!!
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LeeM
Member
Registered: 26th Sep 05
Location: Liverpool
User status: Offline
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holy crap... changed the bike from a bandit 600 to an aprilia rs125,, price change from £700 for the bandit to £2k for the aprilia!
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Reedy
Member
Registered: 11th Apr 04
Location: Hammersmith
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Paul_J
Also - in all the pics I have no rear seat as I was gonna get it re-trimmed black (it was red)
you mean that red thing in the back of your car
Also you dont seem to have much luck with clutches
Sell up and put more money into the 106 
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Ojc
Member
Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
User status: Offline
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Oh dear When the RS starts to get old it really is hard to keep them up to standard, you can get a new one on the never never for like 18 quid a week
Oh and a standard RS250 is a match for any big bike on A roads and country road, just because its a 2 stroke and sounds like a bee in a can doesn't mean its gonna be slow.
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