Here's the story .  Mate likes bikes , has a mint FZR250 , but he's 6'4'' and 15 st.    He arrives home  (dunno how it made it ) on a badly cared for XTZ750ST  which , through many mechanical interventions by me ,and much to my surprise , he hacked around on for the last few years .  Anyway , the poor old  XTZ recently shit a plank on the motorway . He got it vanned home and it was pronounced dead by yours truly the next day .   Nice one ! I thought , no more fixing that horrible fecking thing ! He'll buy himself a more modern/reliable bike and I can relax . I mean everything on the old bike was shagged . But not so fast !  Matey has other ideas ! He likes his old bike and doesn't want a different one . I tell him the only way to sort it is a replacement engine and that it would be easier and probably cheaper to buy a new bike .  

 " I have an engine in the van ", says our mechanically challenged hero .   "Bollocks!", says I .

"The wheels are f**ked beyond repair ", I told him .   " I have some in the van " , he said .  " A front one off an FZR 400/600 , not sure , and a back one off a Varadero ".  

 I kid you not !!

 So , assuming this supposedly "alright" engine works , I seem to have been nominated as mateys SuperMoto build guru , and have to put the wheels on the bike . ( It's gonna be f'n hideous , but he won't have it any other way ) . Please tell me one of you out there has attempted something as ridiculous as this and how to achieve it .  PLEASE!!

Big hammer, whack it till it gives in or something falls off you gotta love some folks for their dedication and sheer fucking stupidity !!! Give him what he wants and stand back making cooing noises like you really think it's great then run the fuck away.

I daren't show him that in case it's just what he wants .

IT LIVES !!!   Got the engine in and fired up .  And , you could've knocked me down with a feather but , the Varadero 18 in rear wheel and disc went straight on . The brake fits the disc , just needs a coupla washers .   

Well done you, so from now on your his "go to guy" is that right?

Well done you, so from now on your his "go to guy" is that right?

I've been that guy since he bought his first bike , lol ..

Edited September 19, 20159 yr by KevtheRev

P.s.  That was a Varadero 125 rear wheel .

Actually I'm now told the wheel is from a TDR 125 .

Edited September 27, 20159 yr by KevtheRev
Misinfo.

"The Thing" went from Wexford to Donegal and back during the week .  I asked matey if he'd changed the oil filter or fixed the brakes like I told him before he left . Is there an oil filter ? he replied .  No reply on the brakes front . Truly , ignorance is bliss !!!???

Oh well what's the worst that could happen????? https://youtu.be/5LEGhltmPLU

I'm hoping the motor blows up before he finds out what happens when the brake pistons pop out just when you need 'em most . He has been warned !

P.s.  That was a Varadero 125 rear wheel .

Actually I'm now told the wheel is from a TDR 125 .

P.p.s   Sorry folks , (if anyone is interested )  , It's actually , positively a Diversion 600 rear wheel .  Our hero took my advice on board and decided to change the oil filter . Good man!   However he managed to shear one of the bolts holding the oil filter retaining plate .  Cue panicky text at 10pm .   ( Always try to get an early start so you'll be fresh and alert )  I rocked around to his next morn to have a look . It wasnt a total disaster , once the sump plate was removed ,the end of the bolt was protruding about 3mm from the thread and screwed out easily by hand .  So , a new gasket should see her right . I did however take the opportunity to remove the (barely functional ) rear brake , so he'll(I'll)  have to sort that and the  front brakes before the bike ventures on the road again (sigh of relief) .   I'll keep you posted , I'm sure this isn't the end of this one .

I'm interested Kev, makes me smile every time. You just gotta be in awe of his technical skills and faith in "what's the worst that could happen?"

lol. love reading this thread

The lad wants to put the cast wheel on the bike which will entail sourcing two suitable discs and making plates for the brakes and a new tyre  , and maybe having to shim the discs/brakes in/out. I reckon he's better off lacing a new rim with new spokes onto his old hub . .the rim he has is oxidizng as I type .  If he gets a new rim he can use the brand new tyre he already has . Will he listen to reason ? Your guess is as good as mine . My guess is no .

Oh dear, I think you have created a monster Kev.

 

Right , new gasket arrived and was fitted , no leaks so far .  She's getting there . Matey says he's buying an Aprillia Mille . Should be fun .

I have to overhaul this rear brake . The bleed nipple is seized and rounded off with vise grip marks all over it and the pad retaining pins are also in a similar state . Oh what fun !

Re above -- BIG HAMMER!

Re above -- BIG HAMMER!

I might just give the heat gun a shot before I go to the big guns . Drilled out the pin and the nipple came unstuck with a bit of heat .

Edited October 23, 20159 yr by KevtheRev

My two cents, for what it,s worth. Actively encourage him to buy the Mille. Tell him it,s an  absolutely rock-solid, unburstable machine. When he discovers the truth, it,ll put him off bikes for life.....problem solved!