My Wonderful Helix

[Jimo]

Many Muppets will know of my ongoing saga with severe vibrations on my Helix and my quest to resolve same. Having always carried out all my own work on my bikes - total 5 at present, medical problems combined with age have negated my enthusiasm and drive to complete the work needed on the Helix so it was given to a much younger local guy who runs his own motorcycle repair business as well as participating in many motorcycle Trial events around the country namely Matt Pope of www.mattpopemotorcycles.co.uk, my conclusions regarding the vibrations had ranged from it being due to a worn engine hanger to damaged crankshaft bearings necessitating a complete strip down. Following a test drive by Matt he bravely discounted crankshaft damage suspecting instead the engine hanger..... he was right on target and using some of my accumulated spares including a new engine hanger he got to work removing the extensive Tupperware and renewing the unit and at the same time replacing front and rear shocks with new HAGON units to provide a much improved ride. The repaired bike was collected on 14th November and ridden the short distance home of 3/4 mile..... the difference in running was of course immediately noticeable with all the previous vibrations gone giving a return to the smooth ride that Helix bikes are renowned for assisted in large measure by its newly installed HAGON shock absorbers.

Upon riding the Helix home an astounding difference was noticed when riding up my 100+ yard long co-owned driveway, this must be one of the roughest driveways in the country consisting of a very uneven pebble stone vehicular path with a grassed centre hump very capable of throwing any two wheeled rider off unless Both feet are securely planted on the ground for the whole way! NOT SO THE HELIX that was able to traverse the whole driveway with feet up whereas none of my other bikes could compete without going through an adjoining hedge.
The Helix with its top speed of 75mph is no racer but comfortable enough to ride motorways for hours on end thanks to its unusually low seating position, it is the ‘bike of choice’ amongst all of my bikes due to its relatively light weight and easy manoeuvrability in confined spaces.

Jim

[Capt. R Swipe]

Nice one Jimo.
It must have been a relief to part with money to get the problem resolved.
Whilst I know the Helix, I just can't remember seeing any on the road 20 years ago; I can only think that the reason is that at that time, I was into my big trailies.

[Jimo]

CRS, I kind of hung around too long - worried that an unknown repairer could possibly do more damage to the bike through attempts to get at its internals - including the Tupperware coverings like a previous owner/user did, but at end of day job wasn’t getting done sitting in garage! So bullet was bit.... To be honest I wasn’t concerned about the time repairs would take, I gave the repairer a detailed list of jobs needed as well as my carefully made parts list that was contained in a very large box accompanying the bike; I took the bike in on 28th September leaving it completely in his hands thinking to myself ‘it’ll take as long as it takes’ and expecting it to take about 3 months along with his other work in progress.
I expected problems - but there were none, the guy did a very good job including returning my box with many unused parts. Because of the bikes age I didn’t expect the repairer to have knowledge of the 20+ year old bike’s construction so provided him with a 600+ page shop manual in advance - to be returned on completion which was done and found to be a great help.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Matt Pope and his company Matt Pope Motorcycles to anyone in need of work especially on a classic scoot or bike. His shop sells many goodies like oils, chains, helmets riding suits and much more and his workshop is clean and contains at least 3 bike lifts and much other stuff.
For any ‘light fingered’ guys out there - be warned the property is extremely well protected from thieves so I don’t advise any thoughts of that nature.


Jim

[Tartan Cobbler]

Its is refreshing to hear glowing reports for maintenance

[Deleted User 4154]

Really pleased for you Jim, and all this talk is making me positively ashamed of the fact that both of mine are currently in storage. The CN broke new ground 34 years ago - there'd have been no Burgmans, no Majesties, nor any of the maxis that followed - and it's still able to hold its own in the 21st century.

[horobags]

thats a good pic Jaz.

[Jimo]

That’s a nice shot of yours Jaz - but I know that your DN1 is top of your list at moment although it’s not my thing, too heavy. Looks like you’re making a full rider cockpit on the white one with that bent screen? Viv la HAGONS eh?


Jim

[Pandrop]

Really pleased for you Jim, and all this talk is making me positively ashamed of the fact that both of mine are currently in storage. The CN broke new ground 34 years ago - there'd have been no Burgmans, no Majesties, nor any of the maxis that followed - and it's still able to hold its own in the 21st century.

Jaz , I think the black colour rocks , are you not tempted to get one of of storage ready for next summer?

[Pandrop]

Many Muppets will know of my ongoing saga with severe vibrations on my Helix and my quest to resolve same. Having always carried out all my own work on my bikes - total 5 at present, medical problems combined with age have negated my enthusiasm and drive to complete the work needed on the Helix so it was given to a much younger local guy who runs his own motorcycle repair business as well as participating in many motorcycle Trial events around the country namely Matt Pope of www.mattpopemotorcycles.co.uk, my conclusions regarding the vibrations had ranged from it being due to a worn engine hanger to damaged crankshaft bearings necessitating a complete strip down. Following a test drive by Matt he bravely discounted crankshaft damage suspecting instead the engine hanger..... he was right on target and using some of my accumulated spares including a new engine hanger he got to work removing the extensive Tupperware and renewing the unit and at the same time replacing front and rear shocks with new HAGON units to provide a much improved ride. The repaired bike was collected on 14th November and ridden the short distance home of 3/4 mile..... the difference in running was of course immediately noticeable with all the previous vibrations gone giving a return to the smooth ride that Helix bikes are renowned for assisted in large measure by its newly installed HAGON shock absorbers.

Upon riding the Helix home an astounding difference was noticed when riding up my 100+ yard long co-owned driveway, this must be one of the roughest driveways in the country consisting of a very uneven pebble stone vehicular path with a grassed centre hump very capable of throwing any two wheeled rider off unless Both feet are securely planted on the ground for the whole way! NOT SO THE HELIX that was able to traverse the whole driveway with feet up whereas none of my other bikes could compete without going through an adjoining hedge.
The Helix with its top speed of 75mph is no racer but comfortable enough to ride motorways for hours on end thanks to its unusually low seating position, it is the ‘bike of choice’ amongst all of my bikes due to its relatively light weight and easy manoeuvrability in confined spaces.

Jim

This is the sound of a very happy Helix owning man.

[Jimo]

Many folk look forward to the day/days of retirement when they are free to go anywhere in the world that they want, when this time comes an individual’s enthusiasm can be changed by the realisation that one’s former buddies are still mostly either at/in work or suffering due to the lack of it and it’s financial input whose cumulative effect tends to keep one house bound albeit much against one’s will but the fact is that the one time thrill of biking has lost some of its joys - unless one becomes a ‘lone-rider’, a freelancer not trapped by Covid regs or the like whose effects are becoming harder to escape from leaving one the remaining option of polishing one’s pride at home where it’s hopefully comfortably garaged.

Jim