I've been invited on the 1 day tour at the Honda Adventure Centre in Taunton riding their Africa Twin's, it looks like a mixture of road and off road riding with tuition.
It's in May so hopefully the weather will be a little better / dryer.
Any one been on one of their days tours ?
Reliability and light weight has a lot going for it. I hauled the heavyweight (1150GSA) about for 14 years before I came to my senses and sold it, with 225,000 miles on it. I had the R80GS after the R100RS and as it is only 170kgs is so much easier to live with. My 650 single X Country is even better at 158kgs fuelled - giving 350hp/tonne. It is great fun and just so easy to ride. The 80GS is now worth more than double what we paid for it! (pictures are too big for the forum - they won't load).
For the first time in about 15 years I have found myself without a road bike ready to head out as the better spring weather approaches.
So...looking to spend about £5K for some summer fun and my out and out sports bike days are now behind me, sold a Fireblade at the end of last year as I found the riding position had become uncomfortable after 20 minutes or so over the summer.
Been looking at more upright nakeds and viewed a 2008 Z1000, 2008 Tuono R and also a CB1000R although a decent one at £5K is unlikely. Ruled out the big muscle bikes, CB1300 and Suzuki 1400 and Yamaha version as too lardy.
Anything else I should be looking at for £5K ish?
I’ve got an XJR1300 and it is certainly a bit of a heavyweight.
On the plus side, it has slowed me down to almost legal speeds and is still quite fun.
I keep looking at early GPz1100s and Fazer1000s though.
Having test ridden the Breakout 114, Fat Bob 114, FatBoy 114, Street Bob 107 and bought the Road King Special, with the power of hindsight the Street Bob was the best of the lot and I suspect if I'd bought one I'd still have it.
If you wanted one, the ones just gone on SC was lovely
I’m considering selling my Triumph Rocket, please talk me out of it. It’s the previous model, done 500miles and it’s wrapped up in bubble wrap in storage.
Please talk me out of it..
Its not quite finished yet, and when it is, I like to ride them for at least a year or two before considering selling them. Got another 'Restomod' Z650 I'm building at the moment which I was given, along with a Z1000Mk2, which is getting the old engine (rebuilt) out of my turbo Z1400 drag bike, though without the turbo. Got a couple of other projects too to keep me busy.
Dont like the wheels and shocks on the Mk2 so they will be replaced..
Long term Guzzi project
The Free Z650, its already in bits..
Indeed, though their brakes and suspension can be lacking.. I tend to mod my projects rather than restore them to original condition.. except for a couple of old Ducatis I have.
Actually I have a mate with a GS1000S.. the blue and white one, which I could buy, but have no room at the moment, and not much time.
Oh, I have a lot of help.. one mate has a home machine shop and another is a bike mechanic.. I tend to do the easy stuff... final build, wiring etc.
Here is a short vid of some of my current projects, included the Z650/1170. Each bike has its own very long running build playlist on YT..
https://youtu.be/OuDfUyVwW_A
Some of the Japanese tuning shops build amazing retro customs, with super lightweight wheels, Ohlins shocks etc.. Check Out 'Sanctuary RCM'..
The good news is that the older air cooled bikes are easy to upgrade with modern running gear, lighter bodywork, exhaust etc.. they wont be as light as a modern superbike, but losing 100lbs can be done.
I had a GS1000S in red and white back in the early 80's. Always regret selling that bike
I put Marzocchi's on the rear and tapered head race bearings to make it handle.
With the front pads changed to sintered items it stopped ok.
Loved that bike and often think about getting another
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Well today was a first I did the 40th year Wirral Egg run, which is a bike run from New Brighton on the top of the Wirral to Clatterbridge hospital. There are three charities
Clare house kids hospice
Blood bikes and Air ambulance
So I joined 3000 plus bikes for a 11 am start. After watching folk holding bikes at the rev limiter I realised it was time to wait a while!
I set off at appx 11:30 and was still stuck in a 6 wide bike log jam . You can only be over taken , under taken, boxed in so many times. So after about 3/4 mile of the 15 mile route I bailed! . It was so nice ride with a clear road ahead without quads and absolute nutters doing wheeleys!
I feel your pain.
Done a few things like that many years ago.
But it brings out the ‘knuckle draggers’ and I would rather not be riding anywhere near them.
Nick , spot on . Today I saw three separate people wearing “ Predator”:helmets complete with dreds
https://www.bonanzamarket.co.uk/list...BoCcu0QAvD_BwE
Never in my life have I seen something so perfect for convincing 100% of the non biking public that we are a bunch of ideots !