Monday, September 15, 2008
Jetting
I was recently asked what jets are in the carbs on my X1. Well, not wanting to dismantle my Kanguro whilst ill... I've looked at a pair of carbs from an X3 model. The engine in my X1 came from the X3 and I didn't alter the X1 jetting so perhaps they are the same? I know that I should have noted the jets on my X1 when I cleaned the carbs all those years ago!
Needle #E3 at central position 2 out of 3
Atomizer CT260 (I think)
Main #90
Pilot #45
(0) comments
I was recently asked what jets are in the carbs on my X1. Well, not wanting to dismantle my Kanguro whilst ill... I've looked at a pair of carbs from an X3 model. The engine in my X1 came from the X3 and I didn't alter the X1 jetting so perhaps they are the same? I know that I should have noted the jets on my X1 when I cleaned the carbs all those years ago!
Needle #E3 at central position 2 out of 3
Atomizer CT260 (I think)
Main #90
Pilot #45
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Still riding
It's over a year since my last post here. However the Kanguro is not forgotten. I take it out every so often for a trail ride and find it very comfortable. If there were fewer false neutrals it would be excellent.
A lovely sunny day for exploring the lanes in Nottinghamshire.
Although the County Council are pretty switched on and are signing a good network of BOATs, there is some illegal use of tracks and the Police are active.
(0) comments
It's over a year since my last post here. However the Kanguro is not forgotten. I take it out every so often for a trail ride and find it very comfortable. If there were fewer false neutrals it would be excellent.
A lovely sunny day for exploring the lanes in Nottinghamshire.
Although the County Council are pretty switched on and are signing a good network of BOATs, there is some illegal use of tracks and the Police are active.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Too much noise
Last time I took the Kanguro out for a spin I noticed that it was making a lot of noise when closing the throttle. The chain needed tightening and the exhaust nuts had loosened a little.
One turn on the adjusters got the chain firm whilst on the stand, with the tension being taken by the guide wheel. Once on the wheels there was the usual inch or so of slack.
The castellated nuts on both cylinders had broken their lock wire and moved enough to put a little movement in the headers. I suppose some of the noise was escaping gas during engine braking.. I'm always frightened of tightening these nuts too much as one of the head threads is spolit a little and they're never excellent.
After this spot of fetttling I went out for an hour or so and took in some easy lanes. The bike is great until it gets rough and then the suspension, especially the forks, fails to cope. On tarmac and smooth gravel roads it's very stable and reassuring.
(0) comments
Last time I took the Kanguro out for a spin I noticed that it was making a lot of noise when closing the throttle. The chain needed tightening and the exhaust nuts had loosened a little.
One turn on the adjusters got the chain firm whilst on the stand, with the tension being taken by the guide wheel. Once on the wheels there was the usual inch or so of slack.
The castellated nuts on both cylinders had broken their lock wire and moved enough to put a little movement in the headers. I suppose some of the noise was escaping gas during engine braking.. I'm always frightened of tightening these nuts too much as one of the head threads is spolit a little and they're never excellent.
After this spot of fetttling I went out for an hour or so and took in some easy lanes. The bike is great until it gets rough and then the suspension, especially the forks, fails to cope. On tarmac and smooth gravel roads it's very stable and reassuring.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
MOT
Yesterday I took the Kanguro for its annual road worthiness test. I had been concerned that it might be difficult to start as it's not been out for a while and it does have daft days. Anyway, no problem, second kick and off it went.
Everything was fine for the test as I'd expected.
Riding the bike after a break highlighted a few aspects. The gears are very low - you're soon in second - but this means you've a lot of revs at low speeds whatever. I think this is why itt can be a bit fierce in the dirt. The suspension is bouncy soft, the front brake does nothing with a little squeeze but then bites. The breaking was fine for the test.
Despite mentioning these aspects of the ride it did go nicely and but for the torrential rain and rush hour traffic I would have gone for a little ride. Perhaps it would make a good supermoto style machine?
(1) comments
Yesterday I took the Kanguro for its annual road worthiness test. I had been concerned that it might be difficult to start as it's not been out for a while and it does have daft days. Anyway, no problem, second kick and off it went.
Everything was fine for the test as I'd expected.
Riding the bike after a break highlighted a few aspects. The gears are very low - you're soon in second - but this means you've a lot of revs at low speeds whatever. I think this is why itt can be a bit fierce in the dirt. The suspension is bouncy soft, the front brake does nothing with a little squeeze but then bites. The breaking was fine for the test.
Despite mentioning these aspects of the ride it did go nicely and but for the torrential rain and rush hour traffic I would have gone for a little ride. Perhaps it would make a good supermoto style machine?
Sunday, April 09, 2006
New Chain
As it's supposedly spring it seemed appropriate to make sure the Kanguro is ready fopr the road - I've neglected it a bit. The chain had worn a bit and the limit of adjustment on the swingarm reached.
So this time I've fitted the chain with 2 few links - this meant that the inital adjustment is close to the front and that the brake cable needed a lot of adjustment to get it right. Actually the lever is a lot lower now and will take some getting used to.
Unusually, on a Kanguro, the chain gets looser as the suspension is compressed and the bend around the chain roller reduced. For this reason I set the chain up to be pretty firm when the bike is on the centrestand. With a rider on board there's the usual 20mm of slack.
(0) comments
As it's supposedly spring it seemed appropriate to make sure the Kanguro is ready fopr the road - I've neglected it a bit. The chain had worn a bit and the limit of adjustment on the swingarm reached.
So this time I've fitted the chain with 2 few links - this meant that the inital adjustment is close to the front and that the brake cable needed a lot of adjustment to get it right. Actually the lever is a lot lower now and will take some getting used to.
Unusually, on a Kanguro, the chain gets looser as the suspension is compressed and the bend around the chain roller reduced. For this reason I set the chain up to be pretty firm when the bike is on the centrestand. With a rider on board there's the usual 20mm of slack.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Not a common trials bike
I'm pleased to be featured in the Winter 2005 issue of Triple the magazine of the MCC. There's a full page picture of me completing Bamford Clough, with the legend "...- not a common trials bike". Although I feel I should complete that with "... for a good reason"!
It is clear from articles in the magazine that the 2005 Edinburgh trial was tough for many people and others had more problems than me. Maybe the Kanguro isn't so bad after all?
(0) comments
I'm pleased to be featured in the Winter 2005 issue of Triple the magazine of the MCC. There's a full page picture of me completing Bamford Clough, with the legend "...- not a common trials bike". Although I feel I should complete that with "... for a good reason"!
It is clear from articles in the magazine that the 2005 Edinburgh trial was tough for many people and others had more problems than me. Maybe the Kanguro isn't so bad after all?
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Overweight
After last weekend's troublesome trial I thought a lighter machine would be in order. But how heavy is an X1 Kanguro? The brochure says 135kg dry weight...
Having calibrated the bathroom scales using a pile of weight training weights (OK, not accurate) they seemed no more than 2kg out in the 30kg to 60kg range. The front wheel weight of my partially fuelled, but otherwise ready to go, X1 is 70kg and the rear wheel just under 80kg. Looks like 150kg is more realistic. This is the dry weught quoted for the X2 model so that must be really heavy.
(0) comments
After last weekend's troublesome trial I thought a lighter machine would be in order. But how heavy is an X1 Kanguro? The brochure says 135kg dry weight...
Having calibrated the bathroom scales using a pile of weight training weights (OK, not accurate) they seemed no more than 2kg out in the 30kg to 60kg range. The front wheel weight of my partially fuelled, but otherwise ready to go, X1 is 70kg and the rear wheel just under 80kg. Looks like 150kg is more realistic. This is the dry weught quoted for the X2 model so that must be really heavy.
