£1500 (£1700 and knock down maybe) budget... What you got ?

[MyLittleStudPony]

Just to give some balance, the SRAD 750 proves that Suzuki are perfectly capable of fitting poor brakes to a bike in the name of fashion, the following 2000 - 2003 GSXR750s weren't great either.

Couldn't disagree more. They were plenty fine for me into Mallory hairpin setting a respectable race lap time. Completely stock brakes as good as the Brembo P4s off 748R

DSC_3520 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

You should have ganned it over more.

[mangocrazy]

I'm basing my comments on conversations I had with Derek Chittenden about 25-30 years ago and unfortunately he's no longer around so I can't check with him. I've googled 'yamaha ypvs power valve patent' and whenever I do that it suggests 'yamaha ypvs rotax power valve patent', but I can't find any definitive statement as to who held the patent for the YPVS system. I'll keep searching...

Patents are funny old beasts to be fair, I wouldn't imagine you'll ever find a patent for YPVS. You might find a patent for an incredibly specific abstract idea which if you squint at you can recognise as YPVS. But you gotta speak patentese first and have nothing better to do with your evenings

"Specifically vague" is the name of the game. Protect but don't splurge!

Yeah, take your point. The aim of the game is to protect IP, not bang your chest. And it's all written in lawyer-ese. I know a few of Derek's old buddies, who were just as deeply into racing motorbikes as he was, so I'll tap them up when I next see them.

[cheb]

IIRC the original Bluespots from the Cat/Ace and developed on to the R1/6 where good because they were made from a single casting, not two halves bolted together, so they didn't 'flex'.

The blue spots unscrewed to get the pistons in/out.

As did some calipers fitted to 1970's? Nortons IIRC. Can't mind the make of them though, Lockheed maybe?

[mangocrazy]

IIRC the original Bluespots from the Cat/Ace and developed on to the R1/6 where good because they were made from a single casting, not two halves bolted together, so they didn't 'flex'.

The blue spots unscrewed to get the pistons in/out.

As did some calipers fitted to 1970's? Nortons IIRC. Can't mind the make of them though, Lockheed maybe?

Yeah, AP Lockheed.

[cheb]

Were the brake pads circular too? Some thing I've wondered but have never been arsed to find out

[mangocrazy]

The only AP Lockheed calipers I've used were those in a kit to replace the 1980-82 RD350LC's front calipers. They used square/rectangular pads, and I'm pretty sure the calipers were two-piece. So probably not much use to you...

[Bustaspoke]

The blue spots unscrewed to get the pistons in/out.

You know....I've always assumed that to be the case, ever since forever, but I've never checked . That's why they have the flower shaped torxy drivey bit?

Here you go Yamaha Blue spot brake tool

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125558706621 ... R6yvg__aYQ

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Were the brake pads circular too? Some thing I've wondered but have never been arsed to find out

GT185 pads were circular

[ZRX61]

MTFU & get an big old brutal hairy arsed Kaw.

Not many of those in that price range now,unless you include the ZZR11.

That fits the description, especially a D model. Get em while they're cheap

ZRX prices already started to climb to the point it's not difficult to get what you paid for one 20 years.. & a well sorted one recently sold for $18,000 out of Florida.

[MrLongbeard]

Have a look down the back of the sofa and up your budget, haggle a little and get;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334770499423 ... R7zbwsrcYQ

3 grand for a 3000 mile bike

[Tricky]

Have a look down the back of the sofa and up your budget, haggle a little and get;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334770499423 ... R7zbwsrcYQ

3 grand for a 3000 mile bike

Hmm, zoom in though and it looks hideous close up - dead rough attempted patch up of engine paint and lots of other corrosion lurking - I'd rather have a well used well maintained one

[Supermofo]

Have a look down the back of the sofa and up your budget, haggle a little and get;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334770499423 ... R7zbwsrcYQ

3 grand for a 3000 mile bike

Hmm, zoom in though and it looks hideous close up - dead rough attempted patch up of engine paint and lots of other corrosion lurking - I'd rather have a well used well maintained one

Yes I was thinking what state it'd be in having sat stationary in a garden for 16 years, not sure I'd want to take that punt.

[cheb]

I'm very tempted by this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144984237931 ... 1197.m1850

A CB250RS with an Xl500 engine fitted, and needing work to finish it.

[KungFooBob]

I'm very tempted by this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144984237931 ... 1197.m1850

A CB250RS with an Xl500 engine fitted, and needing work to finish it.

Or you could buy an SRX600/XBR500 and save yourself a load of hassle.

[cheb]

But neither of them are as pretty nor do they have the level of possible tedious niggles I seem to like in bikes.

[cheb]

A GB500 would be nice, all it needs is a BSA badge to irk the purists.

[KungFooBob]

A GB500 would be nice, all it needs is a BSA badge to irk the purists.

They came in 400 and 250 versions too, the 400 always seems to be more affordable to buy than the 500, if you can find one.

The 250 looks too modern, imho

[cheb]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155428081497 ... R9SF25zdYQ How much? Eeek.

Or: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155455090011 ... R9aF25zdYQ

Probably easy enough to change the front wheel etc

[KungFooBob]

The VT has Hondas famous (for all the wrong reasons) inboard front brake disc.

[Ditchfinder]

Possible new bike alert - absolute cheapness https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-fo ... n/7763963/

Rotax 660 single - upright naked, be great for pootling about the lanes.

*EDIT - It's an XT660 engine !

I'd buy it if I had room in the garage !