Hello and welcome to the channel. My name is Chris and this channel is about the mishaps, frustrations and general bodging of keeping classic motorcycles on the road. Occasionally, when one of them is running, we'll go on a ride out adventure in beautiful SW France where I have lived & worked for 20 years. This is not a "how to" channel. I have no engineering or mechanical expertise, I just like bikes & riding, which means that more often than not, they need fixing.
The older B1 still holds the torch , they are so well balanced and beautiful looking ,of course moving forward better handling brakes etc ,on the RS but it just hasn't the soul of the old zed , iv had many zeds nines thous 13,s a Rickman , but the z650 still retains a special place deep down and lots of fun and i still have one in my stable , but great to see the spirit re born within the RS models , but you wouldn't imagine the Toe cutter on a RS model .
@@stephendelaney9839 I brought the Z650B for sentimental/nostalgic reasons. It wasn’t until much later that I researched its development and realized just how much design and engineering went into its production, and the success it had on the track.
Up to now I imported two bikes and one van out of Belgium, a Triumph Trident 660 from 2021 was ready in three months no control needed and a Yamaha FZ1 Fazer from 2009 needs a control. If I ask why they cannot answer, my van a Citroen Jumpy diesel from 2005 needed two controls, one from Belgium and one in France and it took 10 months and 3 dossiers before it was ready. So my old-timer car stays on Belgium plates and one bike for the moment as well. I am in the Indre-et-Loire region, I don't know if it is different where you are. I don't do this on my own but enlist the help of a Peugeot garage in Ile-Bouchard.
Pre Brixit I imported quite a few cars, bikes & vans with no problem at all, as it should have been. Classic bikes were CT exempt at the time. Other vehicles required a CT in France. Bringing the Kawasaki RS over I had to pay 20% tva and 10% import duty at French customs in Calais. I applied for the Carte Gris on 1 July (submitting all the paperwork but no CoC as the bike has a European type approval on the V5c) and I finally received the CG last week! One of the issues is that CG's are now handled online or through approved centres (at quite a cost!) and not at the local prefecture. Not sure why your van required a Belgian CT and a French CT
Interesting review, thank you. Had the rs been supplied with a ZX6 engine, I would have bought one. However good the rs might be, I personally can't stand the sound of parallel twins. Each to their own, I guess. 👍
I own the modern Z650RS as my first big bike. I'd like both. The Z900RS is probably a better spiritual successor to the old 4. The engine braking on the RS is interesting, the engine wants to be above 4k all the time, then the off throttle braking and on throttle jerkiness goes away.
Just as I suspected the RS makes good use of it's 45 years worth of progressive technology so it should indeed be the better all round bike but if I had the choice my heart would rule my head I think and it would probably be the B1 even better with a period 4 into 1 exhaust . Nice comparison test thanks👍
@@RepairandRideout Yoshimura or Harris were my personal favourites tho they were the most expensive the other popular one was the Alpha 41 mine had a Motad Neta when bought it didn't like the sound much so swaped it for a Lazer which sounded much better imo .
Hi there. I have a RD400 and it’s not charging the battery. How to go about troubleshooting it? Where should I start? I checked all the fuses and they are intact.
Hi, sorry I'm no expert on these things. I would start with a workshop manual and a multi meter and see what output from the generator you're getting as far back in the loom and as close to the generator as possible. I think that there is a group of three wires that run up directly from the generator and over the engine to behind the fuse box/rectifier area and connect into the fuse/rectifier assembly. Your system may be different, you have a 400 and I don't know which model so it's difficult to say. If you can be sure the generator is working then it's a case of testing each component at a time with the multi meter, I think it's a resistance test. Other than that I'd check all the earths and any loose connections and of course make sure your battery isn't dud. If your generator broken I'd go for a complete ignition/charging system from Vape. I have one and it's brilliant. Good luck
Thanks for sharing the current state of affairs with MOT inspections in France. Interesting to contrast them with where we are in the US. On a positive side, safety compliance inspections are good to catch guys running bad tires, worn chains, non working brake lights, etc. Keeping folks safe out on the road is always a good idea. Conversely, too much government intervention can get out of hand in a hurry. Add in the cash grab aspect and environmental angles, things can go aft agley in a hurry. Our regulations in the US on vehicle MOT inspections vary by state. For example, New York requires annual safety inspections for cars and motorcycles. Emissions inspections are included for cars only. New York recently passed a law banning aftermarket exhaust systems and fuel modification devices like Power Commanders on motorcycles. Enforcement will be difficult. By contrast, Connecticut where I live, has no MOT inspections for motorcycles. So, I do see bad tires and worn chains on some bikes. Most of us, however practice self preservation seriously. Fresh tires, good brakes, lights that work, etc. You are right about the rabbit hole. I try to do my own thing and fly below the radar. I suspect the next few years are going to be interesting as our politicians try to regulate things more directly.
Nice bike . Looks in great condition . At present we don't have any text on motorcycles in Ireland but for sure its coming and about time. Now my issue is that the guys testing are not qualified mechanics just trained to use a tick box system. The car test is so hit and miss . One guy will pass the car and another will fail it lol. God help us when the test does get here . Great stream 👍👍👍
Thanks. I am in two minds, on the one hand I'm used to having an Mot each year on bikes so I think what the problem. On the other I get the point that it's an imposition and that its dragging us down the "compliance" road for political purposes
@@RepairandRideout Guys over here simply don't look after bikes . Bikes here are a hobby and wouldn't be as valued as bikes in Europe . I have seen 1000cc sports bike with completely bald rear and front tyres. Chains hanging of the bike . Now that's only the start of it . I have a bike shop here and god you want to see what i see . It would make your toes curl. Now in farness to those that do look after the bikes they do it very well and will listen to me and get them sorted properly . What worries me is that our bikers take on very long tripos with out getting the bike serviced or even inspected .
@@Scott-ph2yk thanks for your comment, yes sometimes i prefer a cup of joe to a cup of Earl Grey. They both hot the spot. You do see some weird and wonderful French cars for the 60’s and 70’s
It has been re-jetted, an ongoing process though as it's still not quite there yet. I ran it too lean and hence the blow up last year. This year I need to put more running-in miles on the engine before going further with the jets
My RD has leaked in the same places even with a full rebuild and new seals. Thanks for a great channel. You’ve helped me to a successful rebuild of my own and I just LOVE my RD!
That could be because of wear in the case where shaft protrudes. There a British guy making a sollution for that. as on one of the RD f.B groups or Ebay :)
Great job! Those 2 seals are usually the source of oil leaks on Yamaha twins. The neutral switch cover o ring will also leak sometimes, but it is easy to replace the o ring. Use lock tite on the screws and do not over tighten them, which will crack the cover. The engine sounds like the carbueration is crisp and well jetted. Happy Motoring!😊
The joys of running these old bikes. The hole in the case where the gear shift shaft comes through can wear on some bikes. This allows the shaft to move around and cause sealing issues. Your one looks ok though from what can be seen and it looks like you've sorted it. Good job.
I wouldn't use 20w40, but rather use 10w50 for summer, I live in Perth, Western Australia, and we have very hot summers, the 20w part is the lowest temp, buy Penrite oil if you can, the 50 side will keep the oil good.
My favourite bike the z650, I have three, to B models and a D3 SR650, a underrated classic, I am not a fan of your led head light, but I understand what you are trying to achieve. 😊
@@alanhowatson3462 thank you. In the Aude dept near Limoux. A bit more on the Z and scenery soon as I have to take it for a control MoT this week. New laws for classic bikes in France 😐
Very nice bike. On the look out for one at the moment. Spoke to a shop selling one and when I enquired were the valves done, he said they don't need checking unless you can hear something, all youtube bs 😂 any opinion?
@@paulsire difficult to say really, it’s unlikely a shop would want to go to the trouble to check the clearances. But these are old bikes now and you’d be very lucky to get one that doesn’t need something doing to it. Mine burns a little oil which I think is down to valve stem seals. Good luck in buying yours
@@MrGaryjames1 wow Sondel were legendary in their time. Only them or (I guess your arch rival Stan Steven’s?) were the tuners of choice. I bet you have some very fond memories
@@MrGaryjames1 I remember back in the early 80’s Clark’s motorcycles in St Albans had a beautiful white 250 e or f model in white for sale. There was this odd screw in the left hand switch gear. When I asked what it was for, I was told that the lad that owned it had had it tuned by you guys. His dad was not happy and put the screw in as a throttle stop!
If you can get the seal out, I would replace both. The bush seemed quite slack, the lip on the oil seal only needs to be flattened slightly and you could well find yourself not completely getting rid of the problem. However as you have rebuilt the engine it might be a big ask. Best of luck
