Biker's Cafe Chatroom

[Diddums]

A lad who lives near me put an appeal on Facebook to help him with his motorbike problem on a 63 plate derbi terra (I think).

I said I would take a look, so got him to wheel it over to my garage. Got him to wheel it in, and we had a socially distanced discussion about it whilst I gave it a look over.

Started relay was welding itself closed so it would sit there trying to start all day till it killed the battery.
Got a new one on order, but my god, the bike is a wreck. The poor lad paid £800 for it, and it can't be worth more than half that. I took apart the relay and it was not working well even after a clean, and kept getting stuck.

There are loose wires, sensors hanging off, missing hoses, the fuel is blue(?), Front brake is binding, it's rusty all over. The chain is very loose, and I suspect if anyone ever tried to touch the exhaust it will disintegrate. I also think the carb might be incorrect, as its held in place with zip ties..

I'm not going to charge him for the part (it's only a tenner), but I feel bad if I let him ride the thing in that state, but he's not exactly rolling in it to be able to buy anything better.

I think I will give it a mini service once I have had a proper listen to the engine as he claims "it's a bit rattly", and see what I can straighten up. Then perhaps take a look at the brake, but I am in two minds, as I have worked on these Chinese bikes before and you just end up chasing problems as you try to undo/replace/fix things

Just venting really!!

I can't speak for today's models but when I was a youngster I knew a few folks with Derbis, both bikes and scooters. They all used the same engines as Aprilia or in the scooter's cases Minarelli engines which were used on Aprilia, Yamaha, Derbi, Malaguti, Italjet and tons more. They were good bikes and never went wrong. Spanish made, I'd say their closest relative in terms of company profile is Aprilia. Good bikes, good racing teams in their respective fields but parts can be a bit tricky and they have their little foibles as any non-jap manufacturer has.

Of course the fact they're both owned by Piaggio helps too.

 

[Malt_Vinegar]

I have had a proper look around it, and it seems this is just a poorly looked after example. The carb is held on with zip ties, and clearly has had a hard life. It does run ok when you get it going now I have replaced the starter solenoid, but its not idling well, and I suspect an air leak around the oddly suspended carb.
It looks like it used to have an automatic choke, which has no way to attach to the carb, and is tied up around the headstock, which is a big clue!
I am just going to patch it up tonight, and free up the front brake, and get him on his way with the advice to trade it in/get shot of it asap.

 

[iamdjdz]

Love Nolan/x-lite helmets . I have a n87 atm and love it ... Had x-lite in the past and was really impressed

I was going to buy this one, maybe still will.. Great looking lid

 

[tom_e]

Had a call from the dealer today they've had to order in some new headstock bearings and get them fitted before the MOT as the old ones were a bit stiff and I've asked them to fit some heated grips before they deliver it.

Then I've just got to wait and see when they can deliver, the wait is killing me even though there's no way I'd be riding in this weather

 

[khemist]

New Revit hydra 2 gloves, my goretex ones are pretty worn after a couple of years.

 

[Kreeeee]

The new Speed Triple looks tasty, but it's in the ballpark price of the supernakeds.

 

[khemist]

Thought the heated seats on my Tiger 800 only had one setting and it was pretty crap, only to find out today it was on the low setting and the high setting is really warm, great in this weather.

 

[Scythe]

The new Speed Triple looks tasty, but it's in the ballpark price of the supernakeds.

I'm on the hunt for a super naked (MT10 currently winning over KTM due to reliability woes), and now this has appeared. Looks good but I want something that can also fare a bit of luggage for me & the mrs touring.

 

[unKle]

Since I sold the Tuono I've been hankering for another naked bike. Until 2020 happened I was looking at getting the Streetfighter V4S, but Triumph have got my attention with their all new Speed Triple.

Took my GS Adventure today for it's first MOT, 3c and foggy...yuk. Just a great do it all bike though even in this snotty weather. I do miss the raw feeling of a naked bike, promised myself I wouldn't go and end up like I did a few years ago with a garage full of bikes.. As I won't be parting with the GS. The motorbike bug bites hard doesn't it??

Will need to arrange road tests for them both, I imagine they'll be completely different animals. Let's see how the next few months pan out.

 

[tom_e]

Since I sold the Tuono I've been hankering for another naked bike. Until 2020 happened I was looking at getting the Streetfighter V4S, but Triumph have got my attention with their all new Speed Triple.

Took my GS Adventure today for it's first MOT, 3c and foggy...yuk. Just a great do it all bike though even in this snotty weather. I do miss the raw feeling of a naked bike, promised myself I wouldn't go and end up like I did a few years ago with a garage full of bikes.. As I won't be parting with the GS. The motorbike bug bites hard doesn't it??

Will need to arrange road tests for them both, I imagine they'll be completely different animals. Let's see how the next few months pan out.

I told my other half in September when I sold my blackbird that I wouldn't buy another bike for a couple of years to let some of my speeding points expire...my new bike is being delivered on Friday

 

[Deleted member 651465]

What did you go for @tom_e? How's the commuting going via car?

 

[tom_e]

What did you go for @tom_e? How's the commuting going via car?

Street triple RX, I dread to think what the last owner spent on aftermarket bits but I managed to get it for a decent price probably because it's what a lot of people think is high mileage for a bike at 16k.

On the rare occurrence I go into the office these days I've actually started to not mind commuting via car, mainly I think because my hours have shifted so I'm in and gone before the traffic starts. Therefore there's no massive time saving on the bike anymore but I do still take it when it's looking like a nice summers day.

 

[Deleted member 651465]

Do like a street triple, but don't like the thought of it getting nicked every 2 mins

 

[tom_e]

Do like a street triple, but don't like the thought of it getting nicked every 2 mins

That is a worry but it's what insurance is for I'm planning on installing a wall anchor and getting a pragmasis chain for when it's at home so at least it'll be safeish there.

 

[khemist]

Got one of the cheap tyre pressure monitors, not installed yet.

 

[Maccapacca]

Got both the R1s together side by side

 

[tom_e]

Nice, R1 is a bike on my list to own one day.

 

[tom_e]

Ignore

 

[Maccapacca]

My lad is enjoying his upgrade from the Oset 20 to 24

 

[IC3]

Street triple RX, I dread to think what the last owner spent on aftermarket bits but I managed to get it for a decent price probably because it's what a lot of people think is high mileage for a bike at 16k.

On the rare occurrence I go into the office these days I've actually started to not mind commuting via car, mainly I think because my hours have shifted so I'm in and gone before the traffic starts. Therefore there's no massive time saving on the bike anymore but I do still take it when it's looking like a nice summers day.

Nice, I rode the 675 not long ago and that was amazing. You won't want to jump back on an old bike now, after trying new tech.