Forum

[Beezabryan]

Get a C90 or CG125 for your essential transport then think of the next move at your leisure

[rustygman]

Sorry to hear of your problems bullet thrasher - i suspect most of us bikers on a budget have been through all this, I know I have. Do not whatever you do get involved with buying a bike using a credit card. When you inevitably have to start spending money on your new purchase (and with an old Triumph you will) you are on the path of debt and misery. Go for a MZ or CD175 Honda, they will get you around and you can actually enjoy yourself on these kind of bikes - an MZ will take you cross country at a reasonable lick if needed. Funnily enough my desire not to get into debt or be fooled into thinking I need a prestige motorcycle is exactly why i run a 350 bullet.

[p]

Did you say you had a 350 needing gearbox work? If so then sounds like you may have the makings of a 2 out of one.........

[Norm]

Just the thought of doing motor/box swaps on the side of the street is daunting, although I have done this in a pup carpark after a fairly late night, but I did have about 15 other Club members hovering around with an abundance of tools and buckets of advice availabe and we were back on the road with a new gearbox fitted by lunchtime. Trying to do it on your own out there, can be done, but takes a lot of determination, but good luck

[simon]

Humbug I say to you that would talk him out of repairing one of the simplest and cheapest machines around. Bullet Thrasher I suggest you find a quiet space and pull the engine to bits. It will take half a day at most to pull it apart to a point where you can tell what's wrong with it. I reckon you'll find it's a reasonably easy fix whatever it is. As for riding fast I tend to use the full acceleration available on occasions and mostly I get away with it. Triumphs especially old 70's ones are likely to be far less reliable and far more expensive to fix. The Pantah is supposed to be quite a good little bike and simple mechanically (compared to the bevels at any rate) but I say the Bullet with deliever the maximum bang for your repair buck.

[Norm]

Simon,
Sometimes a man has to know his limitations, easy if you have done it before, but if not it can take a lot of time and I think Bullet Thrasher has realised that a Bullet just isn't up to being thrashed. Now if the bobos in India had got off their arses years ago and stuck a 700 in the Bullet frame we would have an answer for Bullet Thrasher

[Alan R]

Hi Matey------ I can thoroughly recommend a HONDA CG125 for a temp run-to-work machine. Did that myself for over two years. Single cylinder, 4-stroke PUSHROD engine with tons of cheapie spares on E-bay. Then you can re-build the love-of-your-life without needing to rush it.

[another Allan]

Alan R's comment seconded!

[Beezabryan]

Thirded ............

[Bullet thrasher]

Ok. Had a damn good sleep (bottle of red always helps). I think Doris deserves the attention. Think I'll go for it but doing it in a rush is obviously to be avoided. Now I have family in India, I could conceivably have some parts brought back. Or should I rebuild the existing crank? There is still a proper Engineer/reborer in Batersea. Of course part of the reason for my love of Doris is her simplicity and relative cheapness and those guys in India will give you a rebore with their teeth and only charge you a quid. So I reckon it's whithin my capabilities. Now I can't really see the point of rebuilding her without doing all I can whithin reason to improve her reliability and power too if poss but I'm not gonna spend a grand on a stroked crank. If I need to rebore my ally barrel I'll go 535 with raised comp. I think I might set up a bench in my bedroom. Lucky I'm married only to Doris innit. Actuall a mate offered to lend me the dosh for a new bike but I'd rather owe the big business, if I don't pay them back I don't care but I'd hate to let a mate down. In the meantime I need to clear the decks. So heading for eBay if I don't find a buyer 1st is my 93 350, low mileage but with only 1st and 4th gears, it's taxed but looking a bit tatty. Was running fine until Doris came along. Gonna have a think about the Duke too, maybe recomission and sell or sell as is? Then I think I might pick up a 2 stroke trailly to get me about. Dt175, dtlc, mtx, something of that ilk. I know I can rebuild one of these in a day if I get into trouble with it. How's that sound? Many thanks all and further advice, insults appreciated. Ta