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Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:53 pm
by Cyclepeasant
All this talk of Laverda's......

Maybe I should sell the 900ss and the V11 and put a deposit on a Jota.

........ :|

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 10:57 pm
by Keith74
Will try add pics later.

Started with a cg125 that I used for everything for 4 years until I got my full licence then upgraded to a Honda vfr400 nc30 and lost my licence the next day.😳😳

Got my licence back after a year and bought a Suzuki v-Strom 650 which I spent 6 months touring round Europe on.

Since then I have raced superbikes and supermotos around the uk and Ireland.Retired from racing 4 years ago and not had a bike since but seriously tempted with a project for while this lockdown continues and maybe the new royal Enfield trials bike to nip down the shops on.

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 11:38 am
by Cheeky Monkey
Keith74 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 15, 2020 10:57 pm ... and lost my licence the next day.😳😳
:lol: :lol:

Go on, is it a good story?

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 4:13 pm
by Cyclepeasant
Probably all seen it,but...
Screenshot_20200416-160959.png
(351.81 KiB) Downloaded 1492 times
:cool:

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2020 2:22 pm
by Loki
I picked up my Honda CB125R two years ago now, buying and running it was cheaper than the monthly season ticket for the train commute I was doing at the time, not to mention something to show for the Β£180 a month I was spending, since getting it I admit I thoroughly enjoy it, although I wish it had a little more power. I hope to pass my test this year but I have my wedding and honeymoon to pay for.

ImageUntitled by Simon Kirk, on Flickr

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 11:21 am
by Keith74
Cheeky Monkey wrote: ↑Thu Apr 16, 2020 11:38 am
Keith74 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 15, 2020 10:57 pm ... and lost my licence the next day.😳😳
:lol: :lol:

Go on, is it a good story?
Haha i wish it was but having ridden a 125 with the throttle to the stop most places I in my wisdom thought that was how everything was to be rode.
At least the police officer was surprised that a 400cc bike could go so well and handle the roads.πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 10:55 am
by Robster
After starting on a beta alp 125, a few enduros and Long distance trials. My next and only road bike is my Bandit.
She never had a proper name (everyone calls them Suzy) until it’s only continental journey so far.
Image
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Down through France and across into Italy to ride up mountain on the Stella Alpina rally.

So Stella Bee it is.

There’s a Sherco, Scorpa and a Honda CRF230 in my history too.

Would love to see Norms bikes.

Cheers Rob

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:30 am
by paramart
my enfield Himalayan, no crosser but great allrounder
Image

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 6:38 pm
by Jurassic pusher
paramart wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:30 am my enfield Himalayan, no crosser but great allrounder
Image
I am very tempted by the Himalayan have had 2 test rides from the local dealer, it just did everything without fuss!

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 10:43 am
by Keith74
paramart wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:30 am my enfield Himalayan, no crosser but great allrounder
Image

Got a soft spot for a royal Enfield and was booked for a test ride but lockdown kicked in. How do you find it?

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 1:46 pm
by Dr Nick
A 2017 V-Strom 650 as my commuter. Got fed up with a stupidly expensive train ticket for a rubbish service.

Test rode and loved the Himalayan but my commute has until now involved a bit of the M1 and I just wanted a little extra ooomph - although I'm a potterer on a powered two wheeler as well as on a push bike!

I reckon the V-Strom is the Volvo estate of the bike world - dull but bloody competent!

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 2:25 pm
by paramart
Keith74 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 21, 2020 10:43 am
paramart wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:30 am my enfield Himalayan, no crosser but great allrounder
Image
Keith they have a few little niggles on some not all, they plod on about 65-70 mph great fuel economy and if like me chuck your gear on and go motorbike packing, 2 sites available on fb, royal Enfield himalayan owners uk, and RE Himalayan owners uk 2 good sites,
Got a soft spot for a royal Enfield and was booked for a test ride but lockdown kicked in. How do you find it?

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 2:41 pm
by Jurassic
paramart wrote: ↑Tue Apr 21, 2020 2:25 pm
Keith74 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 21, 2020 10:43 am
paramart wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:30 am my enfield Himalayan, no crosser but great allrounder
Image
Keith they have a few little niggles on some not all, they plod on about 65-70 mph great fuel economy and if like me chuck your gear on and go motorbike packing, 2 sites available on fb, royal Enfield himalayan owners uk, and RE Himalayan owners uk 2 good sites,
Got a soft spot for a royal Enfield and was booked for a test ride but lockdown kicked in. How do you find it?
I've been bikeless for the last few years and was considering a Tenere 700 as a comeback but using the same logic as the Himalayan I'm now wondering whether a CRF250Rally wouldn't be a better option. I have no interest in going fast on main roads (hence my bike progression went Aprilia Mille, VFR800, KTM690SM). I know a 250 (and a low powered one at that) isn't going to set my pants on fire but it'd still hustle on winding Scottish backroads, have great mpg, cheap insurance and fairly low purchase price. When you look what Ed March has done on a C90 I don't think touring would be out of the question either (using my lightweight bikepacking gear and know how).

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 4:38 pm
by fatbikephil
Hmm not been aware of the CRF 250 rally - looks pretty smart. I love trail bikes and it does annoy me that things like DRZ's are no longer available. When Honda launched the road version of the CRF450X I thought I'd found my next bike - but then saw the price..... I've been idly looking at the husky 701's but they seem a bit much....

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 4:49 pm
by Jurassic
htrider wrote: ↑Tue Apr 21, 2020 4:38 pm Hmm not been aware of the CRF 250 rally - looks pretty smart. I love trail bikes and it does annoy me that things like DRZ's are no longer available. When Honda launched the road version of the CRF450X I thought I'd found my next bike - but then saw the price..... I've been idly looking at the husky 701's but they seem a bit much....

Yeah it's quite intriguing eh? It's the CBR 250 engine so longer service intervals than posh off road bikes and apparently they're pretty bulletproof and can be revved mercilessly to achieve main road speeds with no issues. There's a guy on ADVrider and Youtube known as Minkyhead who swapped the engine in one of his 250 rallys (he has two) for the engine out of a crashed CBR300 which drops straight in. His videos are quite interesting and he's given his bikes a real test and swears by them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m83ljKvJo10

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 6:51 pm
by fatbikephil
:-bd

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:00 pm
by Chew
Yamaha FZS600 Fazer here.
Same as others as its main purpose is for commuting.

A lot more fun than sitting in the car, although its not getting much use at the moment :cry:

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 8:10 pm
by frogatthefarriers
Motorbike graveyard in the back corner of the shed
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1954 Velocette MAC - my sons
199* Honda CBR RR Gul Arm (whatever that is) - other sons
1976 Honda SS50 - My daughters
1957 BSA C12 - Mine

Last but not least, in another shed:-
From 1972
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Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 8:18 pm
by Bearbonesnorm
Fond memories of hooning round the fields on a 5 speed SS50 ... if ever she wants to sell it Lu.

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 9:29 am
by darbeze
Ha!

I had an SS50 in my youth...

Endearing looks, rather than beautiful I would say...

All this talk of motorbikes is making that itch come back :cool:

Si

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 9:44 am
by Cyclepeasant
FATF
BOND BUG!!
When was that last used!
Last one I saw running was about 2000!
Any thoughts on a resurrection?
My brother owned an ss50.
We tried to graft on a c90 head,barrel and piston,... wasn't going to happen!
However,we got a C70 head,barrel and piston to fit literally straight on!
The performance gains were... marginal!
Re the gull arm on the cb400rr. It refers to the arched swingarm as opposed to most bikes with a parallel swing arm.

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 9:06 pm
by frogatthefarriers
Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Wed Apr 29, 2020 8:18 pm Fond memories of hooning round the fields on a 5 speed SS50 ... if ever she wants to sell it Lu.
'S only got 4 gears. I had a fire in the (cow) shed that it lived in and it's got a bit of heat damage at the front end. Melted the headlamp shell, fork Gaiters and front tyre The fire did for my first Bond bug at the same time. My first field hooner was a 1938 Norton Model 50. Bought it with my mate back in 1961 or 2. Lost touch with said friend, but still got the bike (in bits).

Cyclepeasant wrote: ↑Thu Apr 30, 2020 9:44 am FATF
BOND BUG!!
When was that last used!
Last one I saw running was about 2000!
Any thoughts on a resurrection?
About ten years ago - maybe less. It was going to be a retirement project, but then I didn't retire. it was taken off the road because there were holes in the chassis and it wouldn't have passed an MOT. One day... :roll:

Re: Motorcyclists.....what ya got?

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 10:08 pm
by BigdummySteve
Bought it with my mate back in 1961 or
My first bike was bought with a mate, a Bultaco trails bike, honestly the piston/bore clearance was like a pick in a bucket. Our local motor bike shop was one of those proper bike shops.
Owner looks like Ron haslem, gentle aroma of petroleum and grease. When we showed up he immediately said β€œ I used to know your mum back in the day”
Any way he discreetly rebored it and had a private chat with my mom before he let it out the shop.
You don’t get that service now.