Early 2000's Hyosung motorcycles?

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Capitano
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Re: Early 2000's Hyosung motorcycles?

Post by Capitano » Wed Jan 09, 2019 1:52 pm

AE86 wrote:
Wed Jan 09, 2019 12:39 pm
These chaps have some really crackin people on the design team. I really like that 125.
They always have had excellent aesthetics. Shame the build quality never lived up to it.

Maybe this one will be different. I'll have a look round it when Onthewheel (Sinnis HQ) get one in. :D

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Re: Early 2000's Hyosung motorcycles?

Post by AE86 » Sun Mar 24, 2019 1:31 am

So besides the switchgear and starter, any other opinions on the motor and such? I don't mind updating the switchgear and keeping an extra solenoid or wiring in another in it's place instead. I only ask because I may or may not have just been offered this bike at a significantly reduced price (from it's already low original asking price).

I've been really itching for a bigger framed bike, and because my licence only covers a 125 at the moment my options are limited.

It's either this or a Yamaha YBR125 which I've already owned before which was reliable, but a bit bland.

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Re: Early 2000's Hyosung motorcycles?

Post by Capitano » Sun Mar 24, 2019 11:17 am

AE86 wrote:
Sun Mar 24, 2019 1:31 am
So besides the switchgear and starter, any other opinions on the motor and such? I don't mind updating the switchgear and keeping an extra solenoid or wiring in another in it's place instead. I only ask because I may or may not have just been offered this bike at a significantly reduced price (from it's already low original asking price).

I've been really itching for a bigger framed bike, and because my licence only covers a 125 at the moment my options are limited.

It's either this or a Yamaha YBR125 which I've already owned before which was reliable, but a bit bland.
1. If it's done a few miles (over 10k for example) and not had a new starter motor, I'll wager it will be OK. The starter motors either tend to fail early or be as reliable as a stone doorstep.

2. Fit a starter solenoid from a Jap bike and forget about it. We fitted a Yamaha 535 Virago one.

3. The method of attaching the front sprocket was a flimsy tab washer and nut. I'd advise replacing it with a decent sized nut and spring washer. Also check the chain if it's the original. Ours was an O ring chain with a spring link. Nothing really wrong with that, but it's just something else to keep an eye on.

4. Hyosungs of that era have a fair bit in common with Suzuki. The Comet frame is actually a modified Suzuki GS500 one. Jap made Suzuki switchgear of the same era is going to be your best bet for a swap if you need to.

I'm mellowing a bit, possibly through time having passed since our Hyosung was the bane of my f***ing life.

The good bits were that the 250 V twin motor was absolutely lovely. The 125 is supposed to be equally peachy. Saying it was a GS500 frame, the whole package handled better than a GS500 (which aren't bad at all) and better than any lightweight I've ever ridden, including my proddy race 250s and the 450 Ducati I had way back.

It also looked the nuts! It got a few people looking it over any time the lad parked it up.

Like anything, if you know the possible pitfalls, have the means to work around them, and still want it, go for it... especially if it's cheap enough to make the issues insignificant. 8-)

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Re: Early 2000's Hyosung motorcycles?

Post by Capitano » Sun Mar 24, 2019 11:26 am

As an aside, when my lad was at Southampton Uni he had a CB500. He was riding back into the City centre when he saw several Harley Davidsons parked at the side of the road behind a Hyosung Comet 125. Several members of a well known backpatch motorcycle cub had stopped to help out the rider, who was having bike problems.

My lad parked up and walked over, "Won't spin the starter motor or the starter just clicks?" he asked. One of the outlaws answered him, "Won't even turn it over, bud."

My lad asked for a screwdriver, whipped off the Hyosung seat and aimed the screwdriver blade downwards into the darkness at an angle he knew well. He bridged the contacts on top of the standard starter solenoid. The starter motor span and the bike fired up. He handed the screwdriver back to the amazed outlaw, said to the rider, "Needs a new starter solenoid. Get someone to fit one from a Virago," got back on his bike and rode off.

:lol:

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Re: Early 2000's Hyosung motorcycles?

Post by AE86 » Mon Mar 25, 2019 12:38 am

Capitano wrote:
Sun Mar 24, 2019 11:17 am

It also looked the nuts! It got a few people looking it over any time the lad parked it up.
That's the side that's killing me. It looks (and sounds) great. :lol:

And the price too, it's 1/8 of the Varadero. So cheap I can almost justify it as a 2nd hand commuter!

I'm heading to the dealer this week and will update on how it goes.

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Re: Early 2000's Hyosung motorcycles?

Post by Capitano » Thu Mar 28, 2019 8:20 am

AE86 wrote:
Mon Mar 25, 2019 12:38 am
Capitano wrote:
Sun Mar 24, 2019 11:17 am

It also looked the nuts! It got a few people looking it over any time the lad parked it up.
That's the side that's killing me. It looks (and sounds) great. :lol:

And the price too, it's 1/8 of the Varadero. So cheap I can almost justify it as a 2nd hand commuter!

I'm heading to the dealer this week and will update on how it goes.
I will look forward to it. It would be nice (though it wasn't at the time) if our one was a real exception. 8-)

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Re: Early 2000's Hyosung motorcycles?

Post by Capitano » Fri May 17, 2019 7:22 am

AE86 wrote:
Mon Mar 25, 2019 12:38 am
I'm heading to the dealer this week and will update on how it goes.
Any news? I'm curious to see how the deal went down. 8-)

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Re: Early 2000's Hyosung motorcycles?

Post by AE86 » Fri May 17, 2019 9:12 am

I ended up not getting anything from the dealer so I didn't have anything to report. Truth be told, I lost interest in the bike, and coupled to the heat wave in Asia this month I've only put on 50 miles or so on my bike and the rest has been in the air conditioned pickup.

40-42 degrees in 70% humidity is enough to put anyone off riding in my opinion!

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Re: Early 2000's Hyosung motorcycles?

Post by gtd65 » Fri May 17, 2019 9:25 am

70% humidity, that's almost desert like conditions 😂

The climate in Hong Kong during the summer was awful at 99% humidity but evening rides were fine

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Re: Early 2000's Hyosung motorcycles?

Post by AE86 » Fri May 17, 2019 11:55 am

^^Bloody muggy for me, I grew up where the annual rainfall was only 2-3 inches!

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