Great channel. Just discovered it as I'm looking for an F650gs. Seeing one tomorrow actually with 50k miles. You've got a new sub, from just up the M5 in Worcester. I also had the RYD, but as it reached 5 years old, replaced with the NXR2 and found it to be quieter. Good tip on the screen and fuel pump though! Brilliant presenting style!
Hi Alex. Could you tell me how tall are you? I'm planning to buy one of these, but I'm worried about touching the top with my head. I'm 6ft 2in. Thanks.
Hi -- I'm 6'3" and didn't hit the roof, so you'll be fine -- though I did need to lean forward to see when the traffic lights turned green! Avoid GTVs with a sunroof, as these have less headroom. Cheers!
Tbh I’ve not really got started on it just yet - parts are generally quite scarce, but service items like gasket kits etc are easy enough to find. My bike has been stood for a while, so I’ll start by getting the top end off to check the bores/pistons etc. I’m also going to have the frame powder coated, which should help it last longer. I’ll make sure to post videos as they come! Good luck with your restoration 👍
Hi Alex, nice video. I’ve got one of these bikes and love it. Would you consider selling your tobinators (screen adjuators) to me? I’ve been looking for a set for ages! Thanks, Will
I think you’re probably right tbh. What gets my goat is that the people selling these at bike shows tell you that it’s fuel hose, and then they fall apart like this after less than a year 😬
I had the same issues on my Triumph Scrambler. I bought several screens, short, tall, even some extenders. I bought a new helmet, custom made earplugs, nothing worked. Until I started to put more effort into “scientific” investigation of the noise sources. I found that the main source of the wind turbulence hitting my helmet was actually caused by the OEM mirrors. I also removed the screens, so I ended up with no screen, and bar end mirrors! Now I have silent ride, with the downside of massive wind pressure on my chest. That doesn’t bother me though, but the noise!
It's tricky isn't it! Big screens look like they'll be the perfect solution, but as you say it's not about the amount of air hitting you, it's the turbulence that causes the problem. My new-to-me Yamaha has a tiny screen but it seems to be just the right shape, so it does a better job than the big screen on my old R1150GSA... strange!
The yellow wire is for the lights, the green is ground, it appears you have grounded the yellow wire at the coil and the ground wire you have inserted into the connector block. This is a problem. Another problem is that you are trying to run trail bikes on the street, this is dangerous on an Alpina because they are unstable at over 50 mph.
Thanks - I’d definitely connected yellow to lights and green to ground (through the block onto a dedicated ground wire bolted to the frame near the coil). A short while later I fitted an electronic ignition, but I think it just masked other problems the bike had such as aged crank seals. Appreciate the point about trail bikes on the street, but I doubt I ever got it too close to 50mph - it didn’t handle brilliantly on the street with the short wheelbase, but it’s ok just for getting between trails if you take it easy 👍
If a 'nice and friendly' Polceman tells you the nearest petrol is 'That way' It's usually best to listen...🤣 Looks like you guys had quite an adventure! Good call on heading back to the main road...👍 (Apologies, I'm late, I've not been watching much YT lately)
This is a really helpful video, thank you! What gear did you find yourself in most of the time on the first and second green lanes? It seemed like first gear would tractor you along just fine all the way up to 20 mph, yes?
On the 650 1st was a good technical gear, like a tractor as you say, and then into 2nd for the longer/faster parts -- my R1150GS that I replaced it with was far too high geared, with a dry clutch too! At least on the 650 you can feather the clutch without fear of burning it up...
Hi Alex new subscriber here. Enjoying the vids mate. I’m a Black Country lad too. I had a question if you can offer advice. I change my bike a lot, currently on a classic 350 but previously had adventure bikes. Short version I want one back but can only spend 2.5k. Any ideas what’s reliable cheap and lightish 80/20 on road /off road. I found you as I was thinking 650gs but then saw you swapped it. 😂
Hi Ben - thanks for the kind words! Tbh I’d still recommend the BMW F650GS, it’s a good road trip bike that can handle off road pretty well, and the weight is both pretty light and quite low down as the tank is under the seat. I changed to an 1150 partly because I just fancied one, but also because while the 650 is great it does feel a bit out of power when carrying a passenger and luggage etc. You should be able to get a decent 650 for £2.5k, with a good history etc. Definitely change the windscreen from stock if you’re tall though! A slightly older alternative is the Honda Transalp 650 V-twin - well regarded, carbs rather than injection. I’ve not ridden one though…
@@TittertonRacing Hey thanks for the speedy response. Funnily enough my last bike was a 650 transalp it was almost perfect I just couldn’t deal with the grumpy carbs on cold mornings. I love this 350 but it doesn’t like off roads. I’m no Dakar rider but I enjoy having the option. Think that settles it. I’ll go 650 gs would you go f or g? I’m 6’1 so maybe I’ll need a screen change.
@@bencluroe4183 I think the G650GS is the same frame, engine design etc as the F650GS single cylinder (like I had), just made in China and has a slightly newer lights/instrument cluster. You'll probably get a better-condition single-cylinder F650GS for the same money as they're a little older, whereas a later F650GS twin-cylinder will be a bit more money than the G. I think they're all meant to be really good bikes though, so there's not a right or wrong answer as such.
@@TittertonRacing think I’ve found a 2003 f650 for £1700, I’m gonna Try to squeeze a little more out of it hopefully £1500 but it’s looking like the winner. 23k on clock
Thats a very rare bike! Try John Oldfield in Southampton for parts..............he has been a Honda parts dealer since 1964, and might have some things in stock for it.
Do your self a favor, replace the fuel filler hose with one that is as long as will fit and fit the hose clamps close to the ends. The reason for this is if you are hit from the side the petrol tank will move causing the short hose to detach causing fuel to spill into the cab. I personally watched a man burn to death for this reason. The longer the hose the more movement can happen before the hose detaches.
Didn’t they! And then you look at some of the awful looking cars they made in the 80s-90s like you see in the X-Files, and wonder where it all went wrong 🤷
It turned out to be a lot better than I'd feared! The horrible scraping noise was just a broken primary chain tensioner, and the pinging was sorted out by playing around with the main jet to richen the mixture slightly. In the end I reverted to the original Amal carb, as I found the pickup to be a bit more crisp. 👍
Did you have any concerns about a wheel off-set? Perhaps not, but on some bikes the hub is not central in the rim depending on brake and drive arrangements. Don't ask me how I know 🙄
Good question! I didn't think there was an offset on the CT90 wheels, but I'm struggling to find any information online to support or refute that... I think the newer 12V C90s have a small offset on the left vs right, but not sure about the CT90s. In any case the spokes only come in 2 sizes, for the inside and outside spokes, so I think setting it up central should be fine 👍
sounds like a snapped ring or/and the crown of the piston destroying itself, ethanol, wrong plug, and timing not set up correctly, they are the best options after that is bearings, seals, bearing-races, ethanol destroys old oil seals they have to made from Viton, the old 1970s 1980s seals turn to chewing-gum when they warm up and ethanol is present, I've taken them out of 2T engines and they are warped out of shape and are stretchy,
Interestingly the noise turned out to just be the primary chain tensioner - new tensioner and it sounds great! Agreed re the timing though, electronic ignition was fitted later and it ran much better 👍
@@TittertonRacing The Reason I know my Yamaha YZ-100-E is faster is because: We were riding side by side on a RR Bed after a rain . My friend decided to accelerate ahead of me and spray me with Water. The Next 5 water puddles I out accelerated my friend and he got splashed.. He could ride a 1/4 long wheelie on the Alpena .
Funny story ;when gasohol was first developed,it was mandatory for underground tanks to be replaced Unfortunately no one knew that all the new fiber glass tanks melted from inside out till after 50k USD was spent on every gas station.They had to replace 2500 gas station tanks a second time in less than 4 months --- that's 5000 ten thousand gallon/40k liters each tanks .Station owners weren't happy to say least ...
Have any Friends in the air plane business mechanics sometimes has to drain tanks to do repairs they store it untill disposed of , 104 octane might be a bit hot if you tune it for 104 anything less makes motor PING. Know anyone in first responders groups and where they purchase supplys..
In the US landscape and emergency responders gas powered tools don't use ethanol in rescue equipment find land scape supply company and they sell premix fuel shelf life is a year .
That’s handy! I think some chainsaw 2-stroke premix here in the UK is ethanol free but it’s very expensive… fortunately some of our super unleaded here is still zero ethanol, but it’s getting harder to find
If you live South of about Nottingham, Esso Premium is Ethanol free. It’s not ethanol free up t’North. Taco’s we’re notorious for splitting the pistons and smashing Conrods when I raced Carts in the early 70’s before Suzuki’s started to take over
I used this wired bicycle speedo, connected up to the rear wheel, with the cable going under the engine: www.cateye.com/intl/products/computers/CC-VL520/ It worked pretty well, but you need to program in the tyre diameter to get half decent readings!
Yeah it's becoming a problem for old trials bikes and some Nortons with fibreglass tanks... At least in the UK some super unleaded has zero ethanol content, but the standard stuff is 10% which just eats through the tanks and gums up the carb
I think it was - don’t think it was stainless up to the manifold, but certainly the mid and rear sections were. My previous GTV (much worse example) had the Alfaholics exhaust on, but that was about the only good thing about that car!
