Sounds a nice bike Tony, fingers crossed for you, not just saying this but the initial reading of this threads years ago was the kick up the backside I needed to re-do my bike CBT and then pass my tests, wish id done it years ago but a wife and newborn at the time put paid to that idea (I'm blaming you for my bike spending haha).
Sorry
Funnily enough, my son taking his CBT and buying a scooter was the catalyst for me. I'd been saying to my wife for 3 or 4 years that i wanted to get back on two wheels again and was getting a flat no each time. When Sam got his scooter - or rather, when I bought his scooter for him! - I changed tack and just said I'm no longer asking, I'm getting a bike.
I rode from age 17 to about 25, but never went above 250cc. For some reason I never took my test, though, which is probably a good thing. Jumping straight on a bike after 30+ years may not have ended well.
If you ride a Royal Enfield take a look on SC.
Woke up at silly o clock this morning so obviously got the bike out and went for a ride in the New Forest and surrounding area before the numpties in their cages and vans spoilt the empty roads.
The only thing that slightly marred an otherwise fine ride was the state of some of the road surfaces (not the NF ones they were fine), even the compliant, pliable suspension of a GS was not enough to prevent me wincing and uttering expletives as i crashed and thumped my way around Hampshire (and Wiltshire) County Councils finest highways and byeways..
Fairly chilly at 5a.m. too, - 8 degrees. Heated seat`n`grips were used!
Apparently the GS suspension is not what it used to be!
I'm always wary of riding those kind of roads early morning/evenings - because of deer.
Dont you have a deer whistle on the bike? We hit a young deer on my GS , certainly shook us up and could have been infinitely more serious. On of the Scottish lads at a UKGSER event recommended deer whistles. They are 2 for £3.50 on the bay. Dont know if they work but all our vehicles have one fitted.
Indeed, no evidence they work but as long as it doesn’t attract anything it’s a very small expense.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
So true on both counts, no more `magic carpet ride`, and the deer are always a danger......
In fact, when my mate visited Australia a few years ago he brought back some Kangaroo scarers - small devices attached to the fairing that act like a whistle when the airflow goes through them emitting a high pitch sound.
They must work because i haven`t hit a kangaroo since fitting them.
Last edited by E_2_Right-Force; 26th May 2023 at 18:40.
Pah they can’t be that good… I haven’t got one fitted and I haven’t hit a kangaroo either🤓
I've increased the performance of the R80 by using the technique so beloved by Colin Chapman - I've added lightness.
The trailer has gone, so the same fate has befallen the tow bar
I agree the 900 is a great bike. I had a 1200 (the newest model) and I felt it was still a bit under-developed - particularly in the fueling, and despite a recent software update.
I put 25000 miles on my 2019 R1250GS before the Tiger so I think I have a fair idea how this new one will behave - as it's basically the same bike.
The quickshift is pretty crap in most circumstances - apart from hard acceleration from 2nd gear upwards. This is an area where the Tiger was miles better. As for the suspension I think the biggest issue on the GS is the basic lack of adjustability. The only choice is "Road" (pretty soft) or "Dynamic" (pretty firm). Again the Triumph system is better in terms of user controls.
However, I don't ride the bike particularly hard so the GS settings are not a massive concern for me. In "road" it's compliant and comfortable and will still hold its line in a corner without a problem.
In the end I prefer the characteristics of the big twin and I prefer the generally highly evolved and resolved product that is the R1250GS. That's also one reason I decided to get a 1250 before the new 1300 goes into the ownership testing phase.
As for the white hand guards, I tend to think black might look better, but I'm not fussed enough to do anything about it.
Been a nice weekend for the bikes, a couple of rides on the CB750 and I fitted the BAAK No.1 bars to the T120, needed a long cable conversion for the clutch and front brake but it was a nice way to while away a BH Monday.
Or if don't mind a modern plate and same kind of edit as above: https://dvlaregistrations.dvla.gov.u...0OAA&price=250
I've not ridden the Tiger 900 but blimey, is it heavy! Had a rider on one with my group on a green lane ride yesterday and it required picking up several times. On rough ground it proved to be a three-person job. I think it's about 200kg completely dry, 220kg wet/fully-fuelled. Watching the rider wallowing the bike around made me think it was an exercise in masochism.
Have to confess to not really understanding adventure bikes. They look cool but there's a very narrow operating window when it comes to taking them off-road. In dry and hard-packed conditions they work (equally, so would anything other than a pure sports bike) but show them the slightest amount of slimy mud and for any riders other than the most gifted, it's carnage.
THey are only 'adventure bikes' in as much as that is the tag that (BMW) hung on them, and gets used to diss them.
They are now 'all-round touring' bikes (the best tag I can think of at short notice)
I once took my 2010 R1200GSA on slippery mud and almost had a hernia trying to stop it falling over. Lesson learned.
I've taken my R1200GS off road many times and it's truly capable. Put the right tyres on it and the limitation is the rider not the bike. Yes, they're heavy but all bikes are until theyre moving then they weigh nothing. I did the ACT in Portugal on mine. Try riding all the way to Portugal on a 250 and you'll see why they're designed that way. I'm not sure you can get off road tyres for a sports bike.
Getting tight in here....
Going down the same lane I got stuck with the KTM coming the other way.
[QUOTE=learningtofly;6219057]Tony is correct..SW Motech Legend Gear Side Bag and rack.
https://sw-motech.co.uk/products/leg...3c4cb6a7&_ss=r
https://sw-motech.co.uk/products/slc...0c714615&_ss=r
Looks like the design has changed slightly, but no complaints at all.
Last edited by djjuk; 31st May 2023 at 08:11.
Thanks both.
To be honest Tony, I had been a bit lazy and was waiting to see what yours looked like before going down that rabbit hole. You were right though, this looks like a really good set up.
Well, it would have been new bike day for me tomorrow but the guy who's bike I was after is now selling it back to his dealer for less than I was paying him and has been told they will stick it back up for £2k more.
Good job I hadn't got to the point of setting the insurance up today and paying for the train ticket up front.
Back to the drawing board...
Anyone else enjoying watching TT live?
Brilliant practice night last night Dean Harrison 134mph lap in practice Yikes….
Michael Dunlop riding like he’s just stole the bike, and old boy John McGuiness 51 years old and still did a 130mph lap..
The TT live coverage is brilliant and just £19.99 for the fortnight.
Oh and taking of bike racing Toprak to BMW for 2024… that’s his career on a downward spiral then..👎
Andrew I think you are right, he jumped from Yamaha for all the wrong reasons. Talented riders have been defeated already by that woefull BMW.
It reminds when Ducati were struggling with their chassis ( prior to the Dovi era). Rossi moved fro Yamaha in a move hailed as a dream partnership Italian champ on an Italian machine. He couldn’t tame theDuke and lasted what 2 yrs?
It’s just a confidence thing, I used to take my 1150 GSA off road quite a lot, decent tyres and confidence are the key. I did the Sabie GS challenge a few years ago and everyday was a school day. Sometimes I think that a 640 KTM would have been a better option though.
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