Cafe Racer Garage

Use the code CRG at checkout to save yourself some money when purchasing one of these.

If a carburetted motorcycle used to run but suddenly won’t, and it still has spark, the carburettors are one of the first places to look.
Old carbs can cause endless issues: blocked jets, vacuum leaks, split diaphragms, sticking floats, overflowing bowls, bad fuel, or incorrect tuning.

Modern fuel is also brutal on older bikes. Ethanol can gum up passages, absorb moisture, and destroy old seals if the bike sits too long.

One tiny blocked pilot jet alone can stop a bike from idling properly.

With older carburetted motorcycles, running them regularly and keeping fresh fuel in them makes a massive difference.

Don’t forget to sync the carbs from time to time. Here is the tool I use
Use the DISCOUNT CODE: CRG if you buy a digital sync tool from TheDigiSync.com and save yourself some money.

Most electrical problems aren’t major failures, they’re usually small issues hiding in plain sight. Before replacing expensive parts, check these first:

1. Dirty or loose connections
Vibration, moisture and age create resistance in plugs and terminals. This can cause random cutting out, weak starting or flickering lights.
Fix: Unplug connectors, inspect for green corrosion or heat marks, clean with contact cleaner and tighten loose pins.
2. Bad earths (grounds)
A poor ground can make the whole bike act possessed, dim lights, weak spark, gauges doing weird things or intermittent faults.
Fix: Check the battery earth and engine/frame grounds. Remove them, sand back to bare metal and tighten properly.
3. Weak battery under load
A battery can still show 12V and be bad. Many ignition and EFI problems come from voltage dropping while cranking.
How to find it: Watch battery voltage while starting. If it drops hard below ~10V, the battery is likely tired.
4. Broken wires near steering heads
Wires constantly flex every time the bars turn and eventually break internally.
Symptoms: Bike cuts out when turning handlebars, starter works intermittently or lights flicker.
Fix: Wiggle-test the loom while the bike is running and inspect for stiff or cracked wiring.
5. Charging system faults
Older regulator rectifiers and stators commonly fail slowly over time and can leave you stranded.
How to find it: With the bike running, the battery should usually charge around 14V. If voltage stays low or climbs too high, start checking the stator and regulator.
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We always recommend replacing your regulator rectifiers with the new digital type we sell and also consider replacing your starter solenoids especially for a bike over 10 years old.

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