Mad-laners Megathread

Originally Posted by specialone

This bike went for £790, that was a bargain imo, lot of bike for the money and not much difference in power to my DRZ.

yep i agree was watching

Originally Posted by robh539

yep i agree was watching

So why didnt you buy it then

Phil, I was mixing up my fords on Saturday, the 18 incher I was telling you about is at Thorpe Langton, just north or Market Harborough. Very close to me but I haven't had the opportunity to go look at it yet. http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x...earchp=ids.srf Said to be 18 inches deep normally and 21 inches when in flood.



I need to prep the XT properly before attempting that I think, silicon the spark plug chamber, re-route the carb breathers, etc.

Imagine dropping the bike in there then having to feel your way under the water to pick it up again!

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This is the ford we missed on Saturday by not doing the lanes at Dodford, normally only 4-6 inches deep, but a foot deep when in flood, but as you can see it's quite long.







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The ford I did a couple of weeks ago where the bow wave was up at the front fender, was this one http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x...earchp=ids.srf, doesn't look much but it's narrow and deep, usually 8 inches to a foot, but the guy who send it into wetroads.co.uk says he's seen it at Landrover headlight level.

Originally Posted by specialone

So why didnt you buy it then

Yeah, you defo should have bought that Rob. It would have been hilarious watching you standing in the middle of a ford, in 18 inches of water, trying to kick start it again.

That reminds me, if we are doing any laning that involves a decent length ford, we really should take a rope with us. If you did get the bike so wet that it wouldn't start again, you may have to tow it a mile up a green lane to get it back to the roadside where the AA could get to it. We should also have the correct size spark plug socket for our bikes with us, if you ever did drop the bike in water and you took in water through the air intake into the engine, getting the spark plug out is the only way you will ever clear it and get going again.

Yeah, you defo should have bought that Rob. It would have been hilarious watching you standing in the middle of a ford, in 18 inches of water, trying to kick start it again.

evil man

I have thought about the pros and cons of button to kick starts. kick start is easier to get going again if wet. I best start working my left leg not my arm lol

Originally Posted by robh539

evil man

I have thought about the pros and cons of button to kick starts. kick start is easier to get going again if wet. I best start working my left leg not my arm lol

That depends which bit has got wet! If the starter motor is still working, then a button is obviously easier. You may be able to get a bike with soaked ignition to start with a button, buy holding the button down for 10 secs until it catches and fires, but in the same scenario, you have no chance with a kick start. If you do get into a situation where the bike stalls a lot a kick start can get you absolutely knackered to the point where you just can't kick it any longer, especially if the bike is wet or it's a difficult starter anyway.

Kick start obviously makes for a lighter bike and can't stop working. A lot of XT600E (the E stands for electric start) owners retro-fit the kick starter from an older XT so they have the best of both worlds.

The starter motor is quite low on the bike so I've had it submerged a couple of times now and it's never stopped working, it's fairly well sealed, but I have had the bike cut out and refuse to start because of wet ignition. Since I changed my spark plug it is much better, but I still get an engine stutter when leaving a ford and have to nip the clutch in and give the throttle the beans to keep it running, but that could be me drawing in water through the carb breathers which are down at the footpegs, these need to be re-routed under the seat, but I haven't got round to it yet.

Col, I've got a couple of lifting strops that I use as tow ropes..
I'll pass one onto you if you want one?
I've also got a recovery point on the front and back of the bike so I can tow or be towed/dragged if need be.

Originally Posted by speedplay

Col, I've got a couple of lifting strops that I use as tow ropes..
I'll pass one onto you if you want one?
I've also got a recovery point on the front and back of the bike so I can tow or be towed/dragged if need be.

I've got some actually mate, but thanks, that's a good idea. I can use my rear rack to tow, but where is your front towing point?

Col, you aint getting me in fords that deep, fook that, if there is any type of current at that depth it will have you over, so i'll pass

BTW wouldnt bother me having a kicker, you stall in deepish water, i dont think either would start easily so would need to be pulled out anyway.

That kwak was a bargain tbh, i would have bought that, had i needed a dirtbike.

Didnt get that remus can, in the last 20 secs it went from £100 to £185 plus £10 postage.
Was prepared to pay £110 tops.

[Paul the 6th]

Yo homies!

Off to testride an xt600e tomorra all being well anything in particular I should look for or check for?it's the one col linked to on the last page or so