Okay, so let me tell you about this little project I got myself into. It all started when I decided I wanted a fun, little runaround bike. Something I could just hop on to go to the market or maybe take a little spin around the countryside. I ended up getting a used Suzuki Van Van 125. I’d always liked the look of them, kind of retro, you know? Plus, it seemed like a pretty easy bike to handle, and I ain’t getting any younger.
First thing I did was give it a good once-over. A friend of mine who knows a bit more about bikes than me suggested I really look at the frame. You know, just to make sure there are no serious cracks or rust or anything. He said to pay special attention to where the foot pegs mount. I spent a good hour crawling around that thing, checking every nook and cranny. I gotta say, it looked pretty solid for an older bike.
Then, I got into the mechanical bits. I popped open the air filter box, half expecting to find a family of mice living in there, but it was surprisingly clean. Just a bit of dust, nothing serious. Changed the air filter anyway, might as well while I was in there. I was told that it’s popular, so I found some videos about this model on the internet, and there are some good suggestions about it. I think it’s very useful.
- Checked the frame, especially around the foot pegs.
- Looked inside the air filter box – it was clean!
- Changed the air filter just to be safe.
Next up, I checked the oil. Looked a bit dark, so I did a full oil change. Figured it was better to be safe than sorry. The old oil came out pretty gunky, so I was glad I made that decision. Got some fresh oil in there, and it already felt a bit smoother.
The bike started up pretty easily, but it was idling a bit rough. I messed around with the idle screw a little, and it seemed to help a bit. I’m no mechanic, but I managed to get it running a little smoother. I found a few posts online from people with the same issue, and they had some helpful tips. Seems like a common thing with these older bikes, but it was not serious.
Further Tweeks
After riding it around for a few days, I noticed the engine would sometimes cut out, especially when it was cold. This was a bit annoying, and honestly, a little scary sometimes. I did a bit more digging online and found out that this is another one of those “common issues” with the Van Van 125. Some folks suggested checking the spark plug and the fuel lines. I replaced the spark plug – it was pretty cheap – and that seemed to do the trick! No more cutting out. Also, I tried to find some information about the price of this model these years. I learned that it’s pretty cheap and nice, then I knew I made a right choice.
Finally, I gave the whole bike a good cleaning. Got all the dirt and grime off, polished up the chrome. It’s amazing what a little elbow grease can do. It actually looks pretty sharp now, if I do say so myself.
All in all, it was a fun little project. I learned a lot about the Suzuki Van Van 125, and I ended up with a neat little bike that’s perfect for what I wanted. It’s not the fastest thing on the road, but it’s got character, and it puts a smile on my face every time I ride it. And you know what? That’s all that really matters. I guess I’m really into it now, I’ll try to make more changes to it in the future!
