ChrisCH

Sounds like a great trip. I had intended to do the Sahara (trail bikes) for my 40th but gave up for a variety of reasons, but one thing that really put me off was all the paperwork and nonsense to take a vehicle through Egypt. Some years later I discovered that Tunisia was a great deal easier and the better option (go via Italy) but by then too late for me and then there were the terrorist shootings and that put paid to that. Maybe for my 70th/80th now, if the pandemic has ended.....

That is possible, but the carnet is an International document agreed by everyone. I would hope that a customs officer will have had at least basic training that identifies standard documents. Where I think you are going to be correct is that the customs officers in the channel ports probably do not have the experience. I would think such documents are not uncommon for visitors coming in elsewhere. Also the Dutch have recently trained and appointed a lot of new customs officials (they seem clued up on sandwiches). I agree the French Douaniers can be a bit jobsworth. They also can be found at the motorway toll booths sometimes and that could be interesting if someone has slipped through at Calais.

I doubt the ACU are in the business of scaremongering to be honest. Switzerland, France, Norway and Sweden are all EEA countries so there is no issue. The UK is a third country and so requires carnets for entry into the EU/EEA. If your brother returned prior to the 1st Jan 2021 there would have been no issue as we were in the transition period. Plus as above posted by not ron the vehicle was driven not part of the sports goods cargo. I guess we will see how strictly this is imposed. We are in new territory as this is the first time people from the UK have been outside the EU. If the customs officers on the mainland want to be a bit of a jobsworth it could be problematic. Not that anyone in a uniform is ever a jobsworth ?

Looking at that list it includes pushbikes. Hmph. I wonder if the customs people will start to get picky about taking a (pedal) bike over? All those camper vans with a bike rack headed to the beach in France/Spain. To quote the Beach Boys, its gonna be fun, fun, fun. (I don't have a T-Bird and my dad is dead...) Edit: Just laughing about this in the office and the missus points out all the skiing people could get a shock too.

Surely the way forward is to register the bike(s)? The carnet required is for goods. If the vehicle has a V5 and insurance it is no different to taking a car over on the ferry. Don't forget you need to carry the V5 with you - always have for travelling on the mainland.

You can get an MOT on any vehicle whether or not it is registered in the UK. The test is simply a requirement for UK registered vehicles. I registered our car when we returned to the UK and the requirements were some sort of insurance and a current MOT (if over 3 years old). As the car was registered elsewhere in the EU you just changed the documentation. Since leaving the EU the process is a bit more complex to my personal experience but essentially you will still need an MOT on an old vehicle and this can be issued on the VIN number if the vehicle is not registered. Therefore the existence of an MOT does not confirm the vehicle has already been registered. You posted same second as me - edit - for us on the car you had to have insurance and the application required payment for the VED as well. Not sure if you can apply and SORN at the same time, doubt it - the DVLA want your cash ?

It would stump me too. Sounds like you have a good handle on it. Just worried when people suggesting more pressure - the rim is alloy (I assume) so please be careful - we need to look after all fellow motorcyclists.

I would be cautious. The tyre should seat at 60psi. That is a lot. Much more and the shock could quite literality destroy either the tyre or the rim. You could easily hurt yourself in the process. Assuming enough lubrication the tyre should seat properly with or without a tube. Sometimes it takes a few seconds and it can help just to tap (gently) round the tyre with a rubber mallet. Washing up liquid is OK if you don't have tyre soap. If you struggled to get the tyre on it does sound to me like it is a bit too tight and this is the issue. The tyre should seat at a much lower psi. https://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/wheel-and-tyres.htm#re-inflation-of-pneumatic

i can only speak for myself. I am a bit odd.

Electric bikes are a nonsense from environmental grounds, just as electric cars are. The "benefit" is less exhaust fumes, which is great in cities but irrelevant in a rural setting. The point about what is used to transport the bike is also correct. I am not at all sure they are not so capable either. The cycle parts are the same and the motive power is different, not less. X-Trial is very popular in other countries so perhaps the problem is not trials as such it is the way it is promoted and seen in the UK. Mud, wet, cold, rain and old men are not the basis of a popular sport.

More practice needed ?

I love MTB too. Is there any good riding near you? I have ridden through Antwerpen on the road (motor)bike a few times and remember it as very industrial. We used to go to Assen for the racing but there was no camping allowed at the track so it was not my favourite venue. Nice coastline though.

We are locked down and no riding. I am not much in love with our little friend either. Hopefully things will improve by the summer. My wife's Evo gets half a litre as that makes it easy to get two oil changes from a litre bottle. 550ml is the "proper" amount.

The XT 500 trail bike is a modern classic and worth enough to buy you a brand new Vertigo outfit built by Paul for you. Tidy it up as much as you can and expect a decent return on it. If you want to sell it off for a few hundred to get a crappy old TY PM me and I will have it.

That's a rather nice Yam. Sounds like you have got the right idea. I know how easy it is to get carried away - I bought a Bonneville many years back (the co-operative one) and I loved it. The front wheel rocked in tune to the engine. But it was a money pit and was stupid to keep shovelling the cash into it. I could have bought another bike with what I wasted keeping the thing running. If the engine is good the gasser is worth a few bob as things stand. I hope you get it sorted and enjoy it.

Looking at the rim I would be sceptical the tubeless will seal on the corrosion. You can save a bit by using duct tape rather than rim tape - you would need the wide 4" tape for fat MTB on a trials rim, or the proper trials tape (£20 - probably will not seal either). If you are worried about spokes you might just have to bite the bullet and put a rim on, by which time you are at new wheel stage. What is the engine like? It is a very hard decision to make but by the sound of it you are very unhappy with the cycle parts and trying to renovate on the cheap? I think you have to decide if you are repairing it to resell or to ride. If the engine is good you might have to come to terms with spending more than you are comfortable with and at least having a basic ride for a year or so. If you want to resell it stop looking for faults to fix - fit a tube and relist it on eBay. Thinking you will ride it for a while then break it seems to me to put you in the position of getting the worst of both outcomes.

I have no idea if this helps but the wife's 2014 Evo has a black spring. The suspension feels quite normal, a bit soft compared to my TRS. I find it (Evo) bottoms out easily but the TRS seems to ride as I think it should (I am no expert mind). I even thought about replacing the shocker.

I don't know the usage but about the same as al_orange - 10 hours - at a guess. Three or four weekends of practice and a trial - ish. The same as him the oil looks as if it has had some wear and noticeably smells a bit different. I am sure it would last longer but it is not a big or expensive job. Oils - Nano trans in the Beta (it is really noticeably better for cold stick) and light gear oil (Putoline) in the TRS. In the Beta I use half a tin (500ml) so you get two changes per tin.

I wish I had known that a week ago. You are correct and once the mud is cleaned out it would be an obvious way to get WD40 into the threads at the other end. I might have got away with the oil and tiny turn routine. I will make a point of keeping this clean and lubed now.

One on ebay if you are content to go second hand.... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254795016554

As we are locked down and cannot ride I thought I would do the chain and sprockets. Looks like the last owner struggled with this - one of the bolts slightly bent. Sadly even with three days of penetrating oil and tiny turns I managed to finish the job off and snapped the bolt. So a twenty minute job has become a day. Swinging arm out to get the broken bolt out and new bolts and copper grease both sides. I guess it is bad workmanship before - the rear sprocket bolts were two different types (cannot surely be normal?) Anyway - worth bumping the thread and remind anyone that is bored sitting at home this is a worthwhile job. So far this is the only bad point I have found on the bike.

78Kg. One here: https://www.powerstartbikes.co.uk/product/tenaci-wong-twc-200-2020/ The new TRS also have electric option but are a lot more money. Nice though. (That's the problem I like them all)

I would love to try one. I am curious about the weight issue though, they are (according to the web page) nearly 50Kg. It really is not that much less than a light ICE bike. If I could pick up one cheap (dream on) I would have on to play with. The main problem seems to be decent tyres and if you put better wheels on to get good tyres you lose the weight advantage such as it is. As above I think I would be looking at the eMotion or similar as a better alternative (although they are "normal" weight). Anyway if you get one please let us all know how you get on. They look like great fun on the Smadge videos.

You are obviously a sensible, nice person. Lots of MX or enduro bikes round here, often illegal or illegal pipes, ridden like loons at high speed past dog walkers and the like. We are lucky to have a few decent green lanes but they are abused (and by the 4x4 noddies as well). I have always taken the view that a nice quiet four stroke ridden sensibly and with a degree of politeness to other people bothers no one. Plenty of dads letting their kids ride over the heath in the New Forest as well. As you say - idiots.

Farley has a cheap Gasser. No idea what they are doing lockdown wise but I am sure they could ship it. http://www.gfmotorcycles.co.uk/used.html 280TXT 2006 £1795 Trouble is you can't go look at anything. Shop has a good rep though, I bought my old Rev3 from them. Slightly overpriced IMHO at the time but handy as I have a customer nearby and can justify taking the van there on work diesel.