MCN as a source of policy. Really?
Likewise, fantastic ride out today. 125 miles all around the lovely county of Shropshire. Fish n Chips in Newport, and back through Bridgenorth.
Had an official looking chap with a high viz and a clipboard come over to chat about the bikes, and then thanked us for observing social distancing and visiting Newport. My mate was sat on one bench eating his food, I was sat on another.
Took both my bikes to the dealer yesterday for a service and MOT...only to discover when I got home one hadn’t been MOTd after all...that will need sorting this week.
Went on the R9T today for work to do some Mental Health Act assessments around the city. Had some new tyres fitted yesterday and could not believe the difference they made to the handling. The originals were 5 years old with 6k on them but I was not expecting the improvement which was like night and day.
Did a little bike cleaning today too after my Scrambler ride. Out again tomorrow. Roll on Summer!
Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
The garage, feeling envious as still on full lockdown in Wales. Due to be reviewed in 2 weeks , so our release will seem sweeter. Including the ubiquitous “ shopping “ runs I have done less than 30 miles since early March across all four bikes!
@ Skyman - Simon - You've been on this thread at least twice as some kind of self appointed lock-down prefect and similarly elsewhere on the forum ranting about cyclists.
If all you want to do is bring preachy negativity, I'm pretty sure I speak for many to say, keep it to yourself.
I'll not partake in further discourse on this subject with you.
Have a nice day. I'm off for a ride on my push bike later - It'll be fantastic
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
Nice, I like that! Not everyones cup of tea but I think the old airheads have so much character. Mine is an ex police bike in standard trim and I'm resisting the urge to make a cafe racer or flat tracker style out of it - but I do think that's been done to death so might just tidy it and put a bigger set of pistons in it to get a little more power.
Definitely agree, I'm after an original airhead that hasn't been touched as I love them in standard form. Also, untouched ones may become more collectible as most will get retrofied
Nothing against it BTW, I had an R Nine T Racer! Sent from my SM-G977B using TZ-UK mobile app
The BMWs aren’t really my cup of tea but I do like Yamaha XV conversions.
None of these are mine and all are/were for sale on eBay.
I was just looking at the BMW R1200RT on SC and thinking what a great custom that would make, as it is the last and biggest of the boxer twin air-cooled engines (I think).
Turns out it has already been done.
I think this looks amazing
I am going to have to think about that very seriously.
Dave
Then build your own
Problem I've got with XV conversions is that I remember them being not very good and a bit troublesome when they were new, and I kind of doubt 30ish years on they have improved with age.
It's a bit like the CX500 based cafe racers that I've seen with big price tags. I always remember the poor main bearings and camchain problems that seemed to affect them all, and having taken them apart to fix these problems, how shoddy the inside of the motors were.
I had my R65 and a CX apart in the garage at the same time - the BMW for a performance upgrade and the Honda to make one good one out of 2 broken ones and there was no way the engine parts could get mixed up.
I don’t disagree and would want to build my own so I’d probably start with an engine rebuild and retire. Also, I doubt it would do many miles anyway.
I’ve never really warmed to Hondas either for the same reason as you; the engineering of both Suzukis and particularly Kawasakis of the late seventies and early eighties was head and shoulders above that of Hondas. The super dream, cx500/650 and early vf750 are classic examples of poor, over complicated engines designed in a failed attempt to show off their engineering superiority.
I’m sure that models such as the cbr600, vfr750 and Fireblade changed all that but apart from a short period with an Xr250 for green laneing, I’ve never owned or wanted a Honda.
Last edited by Dave+63; 17th May 2020 at 17:17.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
My turn for the ride-out shot whilst on a recce for a field to fly from (taken with my ride-out `phone of choice an ancient Nokia hence the grainy image)
The Vfr was Honda’s answer to the disaster that was the chocolate cam vf750 and was a great engine. Still over complicated though.
Honda have always been great with fit/finish and paintwork (unlike Suzuki) but their engineering did let them down at times.
I’m am referring to bikes built between about 1976 and 1985 but it put me off them for life.
Obviously, I’m in a minority because Honda are the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
I don't think it was that complicated Dave....well...it was....but it wasn't an issue....but I digress...
Owned a few, they were fabulous to work on (with the exception of having to drop the engine to remove the rear headers.) Although a V4, the valve gear was a dream, each bank had its own cassette which could be pulled out by removing just 2 bolts. Simples. Valve adjustment was a 40 min tappet adjust job....no bucket & shims...heaven!
Electrics were bullet proof too, providing you took care of the connectors. The VFR was deliberately over engineered to claw back some of the lost Honda respect after the VF fiasco that you mentioned.
Great bike, wish I'd kept my last one....*sighs*
I’ve just stripped two vfr800 motors (I wasn’t previously aware that the Vtec had gone back to cam chains!) and really struggled getting the cam gears out. There were four bolts, two of which were a struggle to get to and then another one that was hard to find. Perhaps I was doing something wrong?
The VFR was certainly a great engine though, there’s no denying that.
They both also had buckets and shims so that must also be a change between the 750 and 800.
At that age I was riding a tuned 250LC, with clipons, rearsets and no sense of my own mortality. Within 2 years I was on a litre bike (K100RS) and using it in a spirited manner every day for a 70 mile cross country round trip to work.
And when I think back to the amount of riding I did on big bikes in the snow...
Happy with 67bhp and a bag for my sandwiches now.
The thought of my lad jumping on a litre bike now terrifies me, mainly because I know how I rode at his age.
Just had a call from my dealer....Bobber TFC Build Number 50, should be with me on Wednesday.
And I’ve just been forcibly reminded that it’s also my 25th wedding anniversary.
Last edited by Enoch; 18th May 2020 at 11:29.
Yes. It’s just going to get the forward controls, decat, and I have a nice headlight bezel from my old Bobber, and I may bling up the engine cases with some titanium bolts.
But anything I do, can be easily put back to stock..
Just sorted the insurance. £250 quid, not to bad as I have zero NCB. All the NCB I have is used on the other bikes.
which insurance company?
I went through Adrian Flux. Not sure of the company yet as I’m still waiting for the docs to be emailed...
I tried a few comparison sites, but non of them listed the Bobber TFC in their drop down menus so had to call around.
The Ducati cost me £204
Speedmaster was £160, but not a full year as it was the old Bobber policy that was already running.
I've not been following new models that have been introduced over the last few years but I've seen one of these frequently riding past near to where I live which happens to near to the main dealer - Jack Lilleys. I assumed it was a cool one custom made bike! Very nice and I see that it's a limited run and the Rocket and Thruxton are sold out. I do love some of the custom bobbers that are shown at places like the Bike Shed at Tobacco Dock but to be fair if you can buy them ready made from the factory..............! Makes a lot of sense for many people I reckon!