First ride, Sinnis Apache.

Well, I took my new Green Apache out yesterday, a very short ride to the shops and back, I've had many large bike so this one came as a pleasant surprise, it being so light, it's so easy to wheel around and manouver.

My first SM, very strange sitting "on top" of it, most bikes I've had, you feel as if sitting on them but, in them if you know what I mean?
This feels like you're on top, bars seem low, it will take some getting used to, a nice ride.

I've forgotten how gutless 125s are but, that's no problem, I've bought this bike for the London commute so it will be ideal for that, I'm sure it will become more lively after it's run in.

The controls are great, all falls to hand nicely, second nature, it's as good as any jap bike I've had, brakes are a bit weak but, they too, are still running in, the tyres feel a bit skittish (it is wet after all) but again, all new all need running in.

Really pleased with the Finnish on the bike, welds are neat, particularly the swinging are, the colour is great, had a few looks from passers by.

Look forward to putting it through its paces in the heart of London, will keep you updated, for now - very pleased.

TTFN.

the Sinnis is put together well but performance wise its on the lower end of 125's I used to ride with a guy with one when I had a Rieju Marathon Pro 125 SM could be in 4th and he'll just about keep up but for London it could be okay, the tyres are always skittish since they're nylon last ages but no real feel of grip I would suggest Michelin Pilot sportys very good tyres had them fitted to my Supermoto.

Kennon

Hi Kennon, thanks for your reply, I've been looking at new tyres, probably change them and keep the OE one's as backup.

Yes it's a bit slow but we'll see after run in, do you know if it's restricted in any way?

Cheers.
Rob1n.

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Originally Posted by Rob1n

Well, I took my new Green Apache out yesterday, a very short ride to the shops and back, I've had many large bike so this one came as a pleasant surprise, it being so light, it's so easy to wheel around and manouver.

My first SM, very strange sitting "on top" of it, most bikes I've had, you feel as if sitting on them but, in them if you know what I mean?
This feels like you're on top, bars seem low, it will take some getting used to, a nice ride.

I've forgotten how gutless 125s are but, that's no problem, I've bought this bike for the London commute so it will be ideal for that, I'm sure it will become more lively after it's run in.

The controls are great, all falls to hand nicely, second nature, it's as good as any jap bike I've had, brakes are a bit weak but, they too, are still running in, the tyres feel a bit skittish (it is wet after all) but again, all new all need running in.

Really pleased with the Finnish on the bike, welds are neat, particularly the swinging are, the colour is great, had a few looks from passers by.

Look forward to putting it through its paces in the heart of London, will keep you updated, for now - very pleased.

TTFN.

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Ah huh, but no pictures and it's all fairy dust...

the Michelin's are lovely had them fitted to the supermoto after I got a puncture in my Sava's which were great in the dry but terrible in the wet and took some time to get heat into the Michelin's I never had any issues with Yamaha use them as standard on the YZF R-125 and WR125 and theyre not that expensive which is another plus point.

Performance wise most carb bikes are always jetted super lean to meet emissions so going up a jet size or 2 would be a improvement also getting rid of the cat in the exhaust system you can get a chromed system then change the silencer for something more free flowing, the engine can be bored up to 150cc aswell for more oomph.

Kennon

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Originally Posted by bikerdoc

Ah huh, but no pictures and it's all fairy dust...

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My bike.hope this works, I'm not good at attaching photos!

I like the green! Good choice!! Our (US) Qingqi/Pioneer bikes offered through Qlink and SSR do not offer green; I always liked the orange, especially the more solid orange offered by SSR, but that green is very sharp...

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Originally Posted by Kennon

the Sinnis is put together well but performance wise its on the lower end of 125's

Kennon

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They have an upgrade to solve the lack of power...a 250cc :lol8: :riding:

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Originally Posted by Kennon

the Sinnis is put together well but performance wise its on the lower end of 125's I used to ride with a guy with one when I had a Rieju Marathon Pro 125 SM could be in 4th and he'll just about keep up but for London it could be okay, the tyres are always skittish since they're nylon last ages but no real feel of grip I would suggest Michelin Pilot sportys very good tyres had them fitted to my Supermoto.

Kennon

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You can pretty much recommend Michelin Pilot sports in any instance, on a car, on a bike, on your bicycle. LOL. They're basically on the standard of grippyness.

I've now had a couple of forays through London traffic, it's very good nipping through the traffic, as it's running in I'm hoping it will loosen up a bit soon.

It is a bit sluggish but, I have been used to big bikes in the past so, shouldn't expect too much.

It handle very well, brakes are ok but again probably still bedding in, mirrors are good can see quite well with them, even the lights aren't bad,I tend to ride with the high beam on just so the car drivers can see me.

I'm very impressed with the engine/ gearbox, all electrics working well even though it's had a good soaking!

Tyres seem ok, I will be changing them although the OE tyres aren't as bad as I thought the'd be, it has proved to be an excellent town bike, not sure of the economy just yet, I'll try to work that out and post my findings.

I'm impressed with the Apache but can't wait for it to be run in!

Be careful there in London's streets. Bicycles are being mowed down at an alarming rate these days, and I can't imagine things are safer for motorbikes.

cheers
euphonius

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Originally Posted by euphonius

Be careful there in London's streets. Bicycles are being mowed down at an alarming rate these days, and I can't imagine things are safer for motorbikes.

cheers
euphonius

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Whilst it's true that there has been an increase in the number of cyclists killed in London recently it's also true there are more and more cyclists doing stupid things on the road, people with absolutely no training set loose amongst larger vehicles on fairly narrow streets that just can't see clearly what's going on due to the design of their vehicle. The trucks need a different design, the cycle lanes need a redesign and the cyclists really need more education. Mostly those deaths are caused by cyclists riding bikes up the inside of buses and trucks at intersections and running red lights. It's not politically correct to 'blame the victim' but only a minority of the truck and bus drivers are found at fault and charged with dangerous driving or manslaughter, which tells a tale. I'm an avid cyclist and a former truck driver and have driven trucks and ridden bicycles in London. I'd say a well trained motorcyclist riding in a prudent manner was much less at risk than a completely untrained cyclist.

ZMC888, couldn't agree with you more, training and experience will get you through, London is packed with small narrow streets, a hell of a lot of cyclists ride really badly, it's often painful to watch and sometimes you just want to grab them and tell them not to be so silly for their own sake- probably only get verbal abuse if you did!

Now had the bike a month and more, riding through London has been a boon, the high seat makes it easy to see over most traffic.

I've now fitted LED running lights, long strips about 12 LEDs I think, each mounted vertically down each fork leg protector (I'll try and post some pics).

I found the Headlight very average, I have replaced it with a Zenon type bulb, soon I'll try a HID, I've seen one on eBay, the light now is better and I tend to run on Highbeam, what with the LEDs I look like a Christmas tree riding down the road!

I've found the horn to be quite weak and will be looking for a replacement (anyone know of a good one), tyres- seem ok but, a bit twitchy in the wet, once Christmas is out of the way I 'll be looking for replacement.

The engine has now loosened up a bit and it is faster, I'd imagine it's good for 70 perhaps.

The winter so far, hasn't done any damage, the bike is covered every night, regularly sprayed over with wd40 all electrical connectors have been liberally spayed with wd40 so, hopefully I won't be suffering any electrical breakdowns, one point about the electrics, it pays to check behind the Headlight, under the seat and behind each side panel, check the connectors are pushed in tight, I found a few to be only loosely connected.

Thinking about getting an alarm too, has anyone a recommendation?

That's about it, funny I haven't yet seen another apache on the road, from my experience of Japanese bikes from the 70s to the 90s big and small, this apache is as good as any of them, the finish is certainly as good and the running hear just as good too, not(touch wood) had a problem with it at all, I'm getting on a bit now (51) and probably won't do too much winter riding I'll see but, I must say, this bike has encouraged me out on days I wouldn't normally ride on, I'm really enjoying it.

Safe riding to all of you.

Change those tires mate, worth every penny to have better rubber. I think most Chinese tires are a bit too hard and might be a bit dangerous in the wet.

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Originally Posted by ZMC888

Change those tires mate, worth every penny to have better rubber. I think most Chinese tires are a bit too hard and might be a bit dangerous in the wet.

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Yeah, they look hard, I know I've only done about 150 miles but there is absolutely no sign of wear, it's like they just got put on new not a scuff!

Somewhere I read they were Nylon tyres, this is the sort of crap the Japs were fitting in the 70s!

Considering they are made in what is a Suzuki factory in China, you'd think they would've learnt by the mistakes the Japs made in the 70's, I mean they've not made the mistakes of fitting steel brake discs that don't rust but also don't stop when wet!

I remember the Suzuki Gt380 I had that had a sticker on the fork leg warning you that the brakes might not be too effective when wet!

Oh we'll.

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I too have recntly got an Apache 125, I've found it quite good so far - No problems to date!! :)

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Originally Posted by MrTomDaniels

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I too have recntly got an Apache 125, I've found it quite good so far - No problems to date!! :)

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Hi, hope you enjoy it, I've found it to be a very good machine, had no major problems, last week it did cut out at traffic lights, took a couple of stabs of the starter to get it going again but, hopefully it was only the wet weather that caused that, I'll junk the metal ht cap soon as this might have caused the stall?

Have fun.