paulR wrote:Thanks for the warm welcome everyone
I'm in Hampshire by the way.
Stopper mod...is that something to do with the camchain tensioner?
I gave it a good going over the other day, it seems quite up together, just a bit of corrosion here and there from being stored. It's red, and some of the paintwork has gone pink where it must have been stood in the sun so I'll get a couple of bits resprayed.
The paint is peeling off the rear wheel in a few places so I might have a go at spraying that, can anyone recommend a good match? (the wheels are graphite) Halfords do a graphite wheel paint, has anyone tried that?
Stopper mod is definitely to do with the tensioner.
The CCT's are a weak point, and unusually, if one fails (usually the front one) you will frequently end up with bent valves.
New standard ones can go as well....
So most people go for manuals or the stopper mod, best done on new std Honda replacements, It's just a short length of rod inserted into the tensioner which prevents it fully retracting if the spring breaks.
Spraying wheels is cheap and easy but for a longer-lasting finish powder coating is better. If you want to use spray rattlecans, fine, but to preserve the finish a tough lacquer is recommended.
Colour doesn't matter much as they don't match any other paintwork on the bike, so go for something you like.
It's not falling off, it's an upgrade opportunity.
The previous owner hadn't used it much for the last few years, in fact when I checked the mot history the bike has been ridden less than 400 miles since 2006! It hadn't been started for almost 2 years so I fitted a new battery and spark plugs, cleaned out the carbs and poured in some fresh petrol and it started first time...you've got to love Hondas 
I drink beer like my bike drinks petrol 
