2006 ER5 C5P
Previously a school bike, I bought this bike in 2016 from my friends who are instructors that own Think Bike Training (See www.thinkbike.me.uk). It had been well kept, and didn’t need for anything other than headstock bearings, which I promptly changed.
This bike has served me so well it’s unbelievable. At a paltry 48hp, this is not exactly the sports machine of the century, but what it is, is the perfect ‘Plodder’. It’s nippy enough to stay ahead of the traffic, holds it’s speed well (with a documented top speed in the region of 110mph), and handles pretty well for an ‘old technology’ bike.
Mine has been used daily, in all weathers now for a number of years, riding to and from work (around 5 miles each way), and has been stored outside with and without a cover, and considering it’s an ex school bike, I’ve done very little work on it beyond the normal running work.
In March 2019, I was involved in an RTC (Road Traffic Collision) on the way to work. This broke the front mudguard, smashed the windscreen, bent the front forks, front axle and bottom yoke, broke an indicator as well as adding a few ‘battle scars’ (scratches and scuffs). I decided that this bike has been too good to me though, and decided to repair it.
A few new parts later, and back on the road it went. Actually in better shape than before I took it off the road.
Having had this bike a few years now, it’s had a number of fixes and repairs, (discounting the accident repair of course), some of which are below.
Seat Re-cover
So, years of use and my fat ass, and the seat covering gave way – a £30 cover from eBay and my Air stapler – Problem solved!
Centre Stand Refurbishment
The weather and UK roads have not been kind to the centre stand, cue: Electrolysis! Much better.
Cylinder Head Gasket
Overheating, boiling coolant, loss of power. Yup – compression test (followed by a leak down test) gave the signal – Head gasket. Replaced, and all back up and running again.
Brake Disc
The front brake disc was well beyond ‘serviceable’, with a significant lip, and runout being more than tolerable levels, so a new one was ordered and fitted along with new pads and studs