Motorcycles In Sri Lanka

[ShintaroX]

Hey all,

I've been keeping an eye on the local motorcycles and they're mostly Indian ones. The only sport bikes I've seen are Honda CBRs and while I get that they're well-designed and attractive, I'm not such a Honda bike guy. Well I've used a Firestorm for a while, quite happily, but my fave was the Kawasaki Ninja. I can't really explain why I liked it more, it certainly wasn't the looks, I'm not sure, I just felt like it was...well, me.

So, I've been casting my eye on the roads and I only see CBRs. I saw 1 GSX, but it looked like it was dying a slow death. I stopped at a bike shop and had a chat with the owner. In my broken Sinhala I tried to ascertain why he stocked only Hondas and he said "Honda's market have" and I asked him why he doesn't have any Kawasakis and he said, predictably "ah Kawasakis market no have". Ducattis? I asked facetiously, and he raised his palm to his forehead and uttered an "arpo...". Thats right. He facepalmed me at the mention of the Ducatti.

So I appeal to you AutoLankans...please help me make sense of all this....what is this Honda CBR fever? How come no other bike can get a foot (or wheel) in the door?

And, most importantly...will I never own a Kawasaki Ninja here on paradise isle? Must I go on living like this half-person, like my life is missing something that only a Ninja can fill (how ironic that ninjas usually take away bits of people's lives!), even if it is only a poofy 250R?

Will I never get a chance to look into the Ninja's headlight and while my wife is momentarily distracted, say "U complete me"?

p.s. apologies for the melodrama.

[Pericles]

valves and pistons, i refreshed the whole engine due to low compression and i friends who race pretty regularly that rebuilds there motors.

with the Kawi zx6rs there is a design flow, when you drain oil and replace the filter for the oil change it creates an air pocket and restrict oil flow to the top causing it to wear the top end. there is a trick to take the air pocket out right after the oil change, but if the bike as been worked on by somebody who dont know about the bike can lead to some damage. i bought by bike used so i had to deal with the click that caused by the previous owner.

I know nothing about bikes, but it seems to me you just said the cause of this is incorrect maintenance procedure. Which is sort of contradicting with your 20k statement. Any incorrectly maintained vehicle can have issues.

[Mani]

Blkr6,

What type of racing do you participate in? Are you talking about track days or actual racing with points and a purse involved? If your bike spends more time doing burnouts and wheelies than it does in an actual road race track, most of your points are invalid. If you're pulling a lot of wheelies what do you think is happening to the oil in the engine when your front wheels are pointing in the air? Some of the issues you've described are not unique to one make. Some of us could be speaking from experience too......... ya know.

[blkr6]

Blkr6,

What type of racing do you participate in? Are you talking about track days or actual racing with points and a purse involved? If your bike spends more time doing burnouts and wheelies than it does in an actual road race track, most of your points are invalid. If you're pulling a lot of wheelies what do you think is happening to the oil in the engine when your front wheels are pointing in the air? Some of the issues you've described are not unique to one make. Some of us could be speaking from experience too......... ya know.

racing with points and purse involved... i was in Sri Lanka this summer so i didn't race this season. i do 1 sec wheelies and i do burnouts when i need tires which wont effect the bike a bit.

[shamitz]

These are my two babies in SL...

very nice !!!

[Chooti Putha]

i work with Facts! not opinions. all my statements were based on factual data. egsample of an opinion: Family ecoboxes like Honda Civics should be left alone like eco-boxes not race cars.

See again u go and say something stupid....so how is anyone to even believe that u r not some little boy playing with his scooter

Edited October 14, 2011 by Chooti Putha

[Mani]

racing with points and purse involved... i was in Sri Lanka this summer so i didn't race this season. i do 1 sec wheelies and i do burnouts when i need tires which wont effect the bike a bit.

What organization do you race with? Post some pictures from your track events. So far we've only seen just your street bikes.

[pravino007]

nice bikes . the r1 was bought down from a friend . it looked mean.hope its still tht way

yes ..its still the mean machine.. taking good care of it as well....

[shamitz]

racing with points and purse involved... i was in Sri Lanka this summer so i didn't race this season. i do 1 sec wheelies and i do burnouts when i need tires which wont effect the bike a bit.

Mate the next time you're in SL, you should hook up with some of the local racers. If you're down in SL for christmas this year, you'll get to meet local riders at the colombo night race.

In the mean time, would love to see photos / videos of you in action at the circuit (not street shots).

cheers

[Ripper]

valves and pistons, i refreshed the whole engine due to low compression and i friends who race pretty regularly that rebuilds there motors.

with the Kawi zx6rs there is a design flow, when you drain oil and replace the filter for the oil change it creates an air pocket and restrict oil flow to the top causing it to wear the top end. there is a trick to take the air pocket out right after the oil change, but if the bike as been worked on by somebody who dont know about the bike can lead to some damage. i bought by bike used so i had to deal with the click that caused by the previous owner.

some bikes have oil filling methods you gotta follow and they are detailed in the owners manual/workshop manual.

even my little XR is a dry sump with oil "sump" located in the frame. oil level check is done after warming the bike up a bit. If you try it cold you're pretty much effed!

So any failures to follow these little things and any damages cause by that is not the brands fault. It's the owners fault and you can't diss an entire brand by drawing out one case like that.

In your own words you kawi suffered the top end wear out due to oil starvation caused by improper maintainance. And you still go ahead and say Kawasakis start "clicking" at 20k?

Dude...seriously! all the experience you talk about and you say something stupid like that!!!

I busted 3 valves on my XR once. Over revving on lowe gear. Stupidity on my part. And im not going on forums saying XR's are unrealiable and bust valves.

I bet your yammie too must've had some history to it to have lost all that power at 20k.

And as usual...you go ahead and say all yammies are loosing power after 20k on the clock :)

if you actually build bikes...i feel sorry for your customers!

[Ripper]

What organization do you race with? Post some pictures from your track events. So far we've only seen just your street bikes.

hmm...good point mani

[Ripper]

What organization do you race with? Post some pictures from your track events. So far we've only seen just your street bikes.

Hey BlackR6

Any luck with them racing pics????

[Mani]

Ripper,

To get this started, I hope you don't mind me posting this of our last outing.

[Ripper]

Ripper,

To get this started, I hope you don't mind me posting this of our last outing.

no worries matey!

[Chooti Putha]

no worries matey!

Super stuff guys...

[Pericles]

Marvelous bit of photography.

[MasterDon]

no worries matey!

Waaaw...you guys are riding Fiat motorcycles ...be careful guys they make a slight 'dicking' sound after 30k kilometers.

[Ripper]

Waaaw...you guys are riding Fiat motorcycles ...be careful guys they make a slight 'dicking' sound after 30k kilometers.

my toyota motorcycle gives me the best fuel figures, best resale value and also the engine runs unlimited amount miles without any ticking sounds. except for the tick tock of the built it analog clock of course

also...you should see my BS125... proper cafe racer man! built with me own two hands..

Edited October 24, 2011 by Ripper

[Fiat]

Guyz,

Going through the postings on this topic I think I see ego at play with many loving their own machines and the very statement(s) setting ablaze the topic to a hot gun fighting topic bursting the whole place out of orbit.

Nice cyper fights guys it was intersting to watch all comments and to see who is scoring best with their inputs! Nice!

Couldn't help my self to comment.

Cheers! guys in the forum!

[Fiat]

These are my two babies in SL...

Wow nice Pics man! must have spent a fortune for these... Lucky fellow!

[Watchman]

Guyz,

Going through the postings on this topic I think I see ego at play with many loving their own machines and the very statement(s) setting ablaze the topic to a hot gun fighting topic bursting the whole place out of orbit.

Nice cyper fights guys it was intersting to watch all comments and to see who is scoring best with their inputs! Nice!

Couldn't help my self to comment.

Cheers! guys in the forum!

and ........?

Edited July 27, 2012 by Watchman

[kevin1462]

guys I've heard people telling that 400cc bikes can be registered now is it true? I also would like to go for a cb400 super four since it's still available in Honda japan web site.

[dingy]

guys I've heard people telling that 400cc bikes can be registered now is it true? I also would like to go for a cb400 super four since it's still available in Honda japan web site.

last iheard was upto 400cc can be registered and if u hv the permit for high capacity bikes u can register even a 1000cc one

[Watchman]

last iheard was upto 400cc can be registered and if u hv the permit for high capacity bikes u can register even a 1000cc one

werent you talking about having issues riding your HC bikes on the roads..

[dingy]

werent you talking about having issues riding your HC bikes on the roads..

i heard it quite recently since i had my exams i cldnt really look into it

there is a special license which is issued,to apply for it your bike must have the documents stating that u have cleared it from customs+payed tax,then u hv to take it to rnv with a permit from the defence secretary or from a local dij(i am not sure about that one)then they will check your knowledge on the bike and they will get u to ride it and they will test....this test is suppose to be similar to a racing license test so if u pass it u can ride but only 1 bike per permit is allowed....

I have issues coz i still dnt have the proper license i jst hv a learners permit so i cnt apply

Edited August 9, 2012 by dingy

[Pericles]

What the heck is a local dij?