Learner Motor Cycles, How to.....

I hold my hands up in surrender and admit that I have never, ever driven a motorcycle since 5 mins. on a 350 cc BSA(?) in 1946, but with quite a few more years under my belt, I now have a grandson who has invested in a Honda XLR125 L6 single-cylinder motor cycle.
After a week or so (!) he came to Grandad and said "It seems a bit rattly - what do you think it mght be? To cut a long story short, the dipstick had a little bit of froth at the bottom - no more!! Grandad tears out what few hairs he has left and asked when he last checked the oil level?!!!
A considerable quantity of oil later, it was quieter!
Grandad looks at the chain and notices that it has about 5 inches up and down play! Even I know that can't be right!
Now comes the crunch - not only does he not have a workshop manual but no owner's manual even (with a maintenance guide). Can anyone help a poor ignorant b****r who can't bear to see motors abused and needs help?
Borrow, buy or whatever.
How's that for Off-Topic?

very poor effort, ive seen better here
That's my contribution by the way (sorry) ive ridden a few but not really my thing.

Good luck with it
D

Be very careful of doing the chain up too tight. The XLR is an off road bike and has generous swing arm movement so will take up a lot of the slack on full compression conditions.

A useful tip - many thanks! (Just in time, actually)

Where to start?

Remember most motorbikes share the oil with engine, gearbox and clutch so ordinary motor oil is no good because it makes the clutch slip. Use special motorcycle oil and it needs changing every 3000 miles and must be checked almost daily as there ain't much in there to start with.

Keep the chain well lubricated, motor oil is ok but proper chain grease sticks better and comes in an aerosol with solvent so it penetrates and then goes sticky.

Check the chain and cogs for wear, if you can pull the chain away from the rear sprocket at the back of the rear sprocket( where it should be meshing) then the chain has had it and new chain and front and rear sprockets are needed (sorry).

If it's got an MOT the bearings will have been checked but if not check front and rear wheel bearings, swing arm bearings and the top yoke, thats the bearing which allows the front forks to pivot. Any play is bad and needs attention, it's a very weird feeling riding a bike with any play in any of these bearings and also Q dangerous.

Hope that helps a bit

John

Very kind of you to help out with the basics. Until I get a workshop manual, I will check what you have suggested

i have rebuilt lots of Xl 125,s the frame check the headstock bearings for pitting as it makes the seering notchy, as for the engine if the big end,s not knocking every thing should be ok, but the timing chain will need adjusting , with the engine running .. behind the barrel there is an auto tensioner its coverd by a rubber grommet under that is a hollow bolt just undo it and then tighten it ,done, if its high milage you might have to replace the chain and sprockets, it can be done with the engine in situ but you will need a small gear puller and a suitable tube to drive the new crank sprocket back ,a haynse manual is ok for this, as there are no marks or keyways for the crank sprocket, but if you aligne the timing marks in the outer fly wheel up you will find that one tooth is vertical ? just put the new sprocket back the same, the cam sprocket is bolted on ? so you have a 50/50 chance, of getting it wrong.lol. whilst you are on check the centrifugal oil filter its on the other end of the crank ,three cross head screws hold the top on, clean and replace? the screws are neither philips or posiez iso i think good luck

The old way of checking a chain tension was to get the rider to sit on the bike and adjust the chain up to about one inch slack. But that is for a road bike so an offroad or trail bike is obviously going to be slackerer but I don't know by how much.

If the sprocket teeth are hooked over then they definitely need replacing. The gearbox output sprocket can be an interesting job.

I'm impressed - so many closet motorcyclists on here and I never knew!

Indeed ,and you're not alone in having enjoyed the delights of a third wheel !!!.

Cheers, Carl G

What did you have Carl?

What did I have?. British iron mostly. First bike was a 500 Matchless then a couple of BSA's one of which was a sidecar scrambler as it was called pre moto x. Then mostly Triumphs with the odd Ariel or two (including a couple of Square Fours which I wish I had now !!!) thrown in . Raced Triumph outfits at various times . Last bike on the road was a 900 BMW. I've got an RS 1000 (project ?) in the garage now that I can't decide what to do with . Two wheels three wheels ........?????Two wheels three wheels...??
One things for sure, the way Brown and the bankers are performing I'll not be having much money to throw at it any time soon.
What do you use on the road /track ?
Cheers for now, Carl G

hi all i to had a combo for a number of years a 1100 godwing with a 2+2 oxford sidecar with ride with pride with a bit on the side painted on the rear

This post has been edited by zee on February 17, 2009 09:25 pm

On the road - I have a CB1300 with a Charnwood Royal on it - 2 seater side by side. My most recent outfits were 2 Merlins - one on a Pan and the other on the 1300. I have just done the Dragon rally in North Wales and did the Elephant in Germany 3 years ago. Love me outfits - just need to sort out an XM now!

hi all i to had a combo for a number of years a 1100 godwing with a 2+2 oxford sidecar with ride with pride with a bit on the side painted on the rear

zee - welcome to the sidecar sub-section!