took the old girl out for a little half hour ride today after filling her up with petrol. I zero’d the odometer so I can check the mpg.
She felt strange after riding almost nothing but the little Address for two years, but I soon got used to it. The bit I kept forgetting was to change down gears as I approached a junction or roundabout.
She has a little peculiar quirk which may help the mpg… Read more
Fuel is sucked through the jets by virtue of the vacuum in the manifold (for the pilot jet) and in the volume behind the butterfly valve for the main jet (modified by the needle). Vacuum levels are of the order of half an atmosphere or around 3 metres of water. Plainly, the pressure of a few centimetres of petrol will have no virtually no effect. As long as the level is high enough to keep the jets covered and low enough to not slosh out of the breather, when the bike is running and vibrating, that’s all that is important. The actual height doesn’t matter a damn.
I have done a few minor mods to the old girl to make her a bit more comfortable.
Not really a modification, but I do like to know the time. I’ve had a watch on the keyfob ever since I got the bike.
The orginal handlebars are quite low. I prefer a more “sit up” position on the bike, especially as I (my hips really) get older. So I have fitted some different handlebars. I think they are for a non LS R65.
I have also fitted Oxford heated grips – my circulation is not what it was either. Read more
I got the old girl MOT’d and taxed today. I had to stop on the way to the MOT station to do the “Bing Dance”. This happens when some dirt gets stuck in the needle valve and petrol starts dripping out. You don’t notice until you slow down and the bike does not idle properly as one side is too rich.
So, turn off the petrol, bike on centre stand, remove float chamber, empty into petrol tank, wiggle float up and down, replace float chamber, turn on petrol and away we go. Read more
I bought the SH300i in March 2021 for I wanted a reliable scooter that I would ultimately become my only bike.
But that would mean selling my beloved BMW R65LS which I’ve had for twenty five years. I just can’t do it, and space dictates that the Honda has to go. Read more
The Honda SH300 tends to just sit in the garage while the Suzuki Address 110 is the goto machine. Why? Read more
I really cannot judge the scooter without comparing it to my other two bikes – a Suzuki Address 110, and a BMW R65LS. It sits right in the middle – and that is the problem.
I enjoy the experience of riding the BMW more than the Honda. When I am riding the Address I am not really conscious of riding at all! I am simply enjoying the landscape. I feel part of the landscape. Read more
I was a bit disappointed to be honest. I’m not really sure what I was expecting. Maybe I was expecting it to be closer to the BMW. A bit unrealistic as it only has half the power and it’s not much lighter. It feels like a much smaller jump from the Suzuki to the Honda than from the Honda to the BMW. Read more
It is cold and icy just now, so these impressions are with the scooter in the garage.
I miscalculated the height of the footrests. They need to be about 4inches higher to suit my wife. A modification using wood blocks and ratchet straps is in hand. It won’t look nice, but they’ll be quickly fitted and removed. Read more
I got the Address and I really like it. It is very light, easily moved about, quick enough for most roads in Cornwall and, after fitting my Givi top box, can carry quite a high volume.
But it slows down on hills, especially two up.
I also have a 650cc BMW R65LS which I have had for a long time. It doesn’t slow down on hills, but it’s quite heavy.
So I thought that maybe a more powerful scooter might not only bridge the gap, but ultimately replace both of them.
That was the plan. Read more