Levers

As I'd mentioned before, the levers are at risk of catching on the brushguards. Why do manufacturers fit such long levers? Anyway, I obtained a spare pair from the UK importer, Lampkin Imports Ltd at great expense: they were £20 each!! I now need to take them to my local dealer and find out if what pattern part will fit.

I then sawed around 1cm out of each lever, on an angle of 45 degrees and replaced the ball on the end with Techno-weld, the low temperature alloy brazing system. The joins then needed tidying up with a file and emery paper, the end result is marked with a yellow arrow. Of course, the shiny laquer burnt off! I then swapped the shortened levers for the OE ones, including a little water-resistant lithium base bicycle grease.



I've used this approach before and found the levers to be plenty strong enough, Actually if the join were to break it might protect the lever perches.

Rear brake adjustment

On my little ride out I'd had real difficulty applying the rear brake whislt standing. I could barely feel the pedal, never mind tilt my ankle enough to apply it.

In the manual an adjustment of pedal height is shown via a locked screw inboard of the lever. How can you get to it?! I removed the return spring and brake lever and turned the screw (lock nut is 8mm WAF) in to lift the pedal. I was aiming to have it level with the footpeg. However this removed the piston actuator from the cylinder, so miles of free play. The actuator then needed adjustment. The lock nut (10mm WAF) was fine but the actuator needed a bit of persuasion with penetrating oil to unscrew. It was screwed fully home. I took it out, wirebrushed it, placed copperslip and replaced it about 5mm higher than before. With a trial assembly I felt I'd achieved a higher pedal, with just 5mm of play, as suggested in the manual. Fresh copperslip and grease on the pivot and it could all go together. To be tested...

In the dirt

At last I've managed to do a ride along some unsurfaced tracks. Not far, but a good introduction.

On the first grassy track, with a few short grassy steps, I felt the forks were a little firm and harsh, and the whole frame a bit skitish on the little steps. Then I went along an easy stony track, here I was impressed that nothing rattled and the forks felt OK here, especially on a pebble-strewn descent that can make quite severe vibrations.

My next ascent was on a dirt/worn asphlat track, again where vibration is the main problem. Here the bike felt very planted. On a flat grass area I tried tight turns. The turning circle must be small, I didn't get to the stops. What I did find was that the brake pedal is too low to be used when standing, that's not a good plan.

Then I went on to a rocky ascent that I often find a challange. Here the fork action felt only a very little firm and I was very impressed by the bike's stability on the loose rocks. Occasionally I wondered if I needed a lower first gear but the engine didn't stall and pulled well at very low revs. After a mile on a potentially slippery dirtroad I took a short track uphil that can be very easy, but can be slippery in the wet. Easy - I tried to go very slowly and found plenty of torque. Next stop was a slippery lane, the bottom is firm, but covered in slippery leaves, the top gives two choices - stone steps or muddy ruts. The lower half was easy and I was thinking that it was impossible to stall the engine. The stone steps proved me wrong! I took these far to gently and found myself sliding backwards with no grip what so ever. Really I know that these have to be attacked with more power and lower tyre pressures. The bike came to rest horizontal in mud. It wasn't too heavy to lift and started after a few spins on the button. To be honest I was a little shaken so took the muddy ruts route out with some needless dabs.

After an initial doubt I found the bike confidence-inspiring. On ascents the position seems good, but standing whilst riding on the level it was a long reach to the bars.

The over-long sidestand was OK on the dirt as I could find a little dent to plant it in the few times I needed it.

Actions needed

Raise rear brake lever rest position

Shorten levers so they clear brushguards with ease

Slightly higher bend of handlebars

Strip off pillion pegs & nearside mirror

Possibly try lighter fork oil