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Events

2010 list of Events.
Wed, 2010-02-10 (All day)

Schedule of events.
 

May. 29  Zwartkops

June. 19 Wednesday 1
 
6 June is a holiday. East London.

August. 7  Phakisa

September. 18  Kyalami

October.    16  Zwartkops

December.   4  Zwartkops
 

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Wheel bearings etc

November 17, 2009 by SAHMG

Technical. No 2.
Getting the wheels set-up properly and in line.
 
How are the bearings?
Fit the wheel to the bike without any brake assembly, or set the brakes so there is no binding whatsoever.
Spin the wheel. It should rotate for 1 to 2-minutes or more and never come to the same place when it stops.
If the bearings are shot or too tight, you need to fix this before carrying on.
Most new bearings are sealed, but the older models are not.

Valve Springs

November 17, 2009 by SAHMG

Valve springs and installed height.
All those with two-strokes skip one page, but don’t smirk, check your reeds and clean your exhausts out with a small tissue.

Spark Plugs

November 17, 2009 by SAHMG

Most if not all bike ignitions are poor cousins of the car world.
Minimal energy to fire plugs was quite common on bikes from the year dot right up to the seventies bikes. Only then did CDI and other improved designs arrive.
Bikes need all the ignition help you can give them.
 
Apart from better HT coils and best quality ht leads, the sparkplug can offer increased spark energy if you know what to ask for.

Silicone for bikes.

November 17, 2009 by SAHMG

Silicone sealant as a replacement for paper gaskets.
If you do some research into this remarkable product you will find there are literally 100 plus different types, all specifically manufactured for specific purposes.
 
So is the product sold at hardware stores for general use, suitable for our bike applications?
 

Setting up static ignition timing

November 17, 2009 by SAHMG

All engines require accurate timing if you want maximum performance from your machine.
When owner’s manuals say, measure T.D.C with a straight rod through the sparkplug hole. Make a mark on the engine corresponding to the T.D.C mark on the rod.

Punctures and tyre fitting

November 17, 2009 by SAHMG

Puncture repairs.
Most of us know how to take a tyre off and put back on again, but some don’t, or if they think they do, do it wrong.
First I would never recommend repairing an inner-tube that has a puncture. Inners are so cheap in relation to an accident when the patch pulls off, it’s not worth the hassle.
Second, don’t use the cheap Taiwanese tubes, they are made of polypropylene and tear when a puncture occurs. The better makes are made of rubber and the hole closes up as the pressure drops.

Oils

November 17, 2009 by SAHMG

What oil should you use?
Now this is a subject that has caused more discussions and sometimes arguments than anything else combined has.
If you have definite thoughts on this subject, then bypass this article.

A lap of the Isle of Man on a sidecar in 1967

November 17, 2009 by SAHMG

Written by John Thornton.                            
I thought that it might be of interest to take you through a lap from the passenger’s viewpoint. Most people think that this must be a very frightening experience. Quite right! But no-one in their right mind would jump on a sidecar without a great deal of experience in lesser races before tackling this one.
 

Kicking tyres

November 17, 2009 by SAHMG

You may not know it but there is a right and wrong way to kick tyres when checking tyre pressures.

  1. Don’t kick the tyre hard, especially if you are kicking away from the side stand. The result is a bike on its side and if you are tightly packed amongst other bikes, a big hassle.
  2. Don’t look away when kicking. A foot jammed between the spokes is also very embarrassing.
  3. Don’t do a big swing if you are standing on oil.
  4. Don’t wear soft shoes with long toenails. Trust me.

Information & some history on our tracks

November 17, 2009 by SAHMG

KYALAMI
 
While most of Africa was unable to develop motor racing, South Africa had the stability and financial means to support the sport although the first events did not take place until 1934 when a track in East London - called the Prince George circuit - was laid out in the outskirts of the city. It was 15 miles long and the first South African Grand Prix was won there by Whitney Straight in a Maserati. The track was shortened to 11 miles but was used again between 1936 and 1939.

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