[Closed] Born again bikers, what are you riding?

Bultaco Sherpa t 350 trials bike.
Taken a while to get restored, registration was a bit of a pain too... but it’s worth it for the little bit of riding I’ll be doing..

Tbh @bikebouy if I were to choose the bike it'd be a little vintage stroker too. There used to be a lot of Spanish trials bikes around for pennies here, but doubt that's the case now.
A mate was telling me that my old RGV I used to race in Formula 400 has recently turned up in someone's barn. Would be seriously tempted by that too.

Been reading contemporary reviews of the ZZR - doesn't seem that scary. Wouldn't like to have to pick it up off the road though.

Depends ...
Do you want to sell the ZZR- always kind of fancied one...

I suspect I will end up selling it but not until I've convinced myself that keeping it would be ridiculous.

I've tried to register 2 vehicles in Spain before (albeit pre '96 or whenever the whole type approval thing kicked in - newer vehicles are easier) and it just wasn't worth the cost and hassle. Chuck Brexit in the mix and I may be flogging a dead horse from the off.

I've had a Triumph Sprint ST 1050 since it was new in 2005 and last year I sold a classic BSA 650 twin I'd had for 10 years or so. In the last few years I lost the love for Motorcycling a bit and they'd been very neglected.

I've done a little bit more very recently and have slowly rekindled my interest. I plan to sell the Trumpet and get something new. I've partly been egged on by my wife who doesn't ride herself but loves to go on pillion and we've been reminiscing about some great tours we've done together on the Sprint in the past. My wife has actually suggested I should buy myself a new motorbike, what's a fella to do in that situation?

I'm thinking the unthinkable and find myself drooling over a bike I used to sneer at as a boring old bloke's bike. I have to finally accept that I am that bloke, so plan on getting a GS. 1200 or 1250. The new R1250GS looks awesome as an uber comfortable continental mile muncher dripping with rider aids and fancy electrickery. I know they are common as muck and lack "cool", but the great thing about being a grumpy old bloke is you don't give a flying **** about what other people think anymore.

little vintage stroker too. There used to be a lot of Spanish trials

Well, I looked around for 2yrs before settling on mine. There was plenty around, some looked brand new and others boxes of bits. I wanted a bike with matching numbers, which is harder than you think, and a few upgrades but not mint.

There is a good small circuit, twinshock trials is definitely a thing and thankfully we all seem to more respectful of each other and the places we ride.

But I did buy it to ride some small single country lanes and discover new places at slower speeds. I’m having lights fitted next weekend to help with being seen and being able to stay out later in the summer evenings.

I’d recommend it for anyone interested in old bikes and a good friendship social.

I'd sell the ZZR and look at something like a CRF250 for a mix of road and trail in Spain. Nowadays I really don't get the need for anything above 100hp (I run a 3 yr old Africa Twin with 94hp, it's brilliant and being sat up, I never fear getting caught doing 3 figure speeds)

If you're an ex-club racer it will come back very very quickly. Nothing has changed. Bit of restrain, bit of respect and you'll be golden.

I'd keep it for nostalgia value and personal attachment.

I've got a Triumph Street Triple 675 R. It really is a very nice bike, I can't really imagine wanting anything anymore powerful. I think my next bike will be a Street Twin, probably in about two years time. I plan on buying a new, or nearly new, one and keeping it till I can no longer ride.

You were on visordown back in the day @weeksy weren't you? Would you recommend a refresher course? Haven't touched a bike since I sold them all to emigrate 10 years ago...

Nowadays I really don’t get the need for anything above 100hp

For what I'd use it for, I'm inclined to agree. Have read reports that they're gentle giants if ridden with restraint. If I was in the market I'd be looking at stuff like the Street Triple ^

For getting back into it I recommend giving your knees and elbows a light skim with your angle grinder, and getting your other half to give you a few enthusiastic whacks on your fleshier parts with a pick axe handle.

Then it will all come flooding back to you and you'll remember the important unbreakable rule.

Keep the rubber side down.

🙂

(Currently BMW R100)

You will be fine on it, its just like riding a bike 🙂

Born again bikers, what are you riding?

A Triumph Bonneville that was sitting unused in my father in laws garage.

When I finish paying for childcare in a couple of years time I’ll be swapping it for one of these to fulfil a childhood dream.

You were on visordown back in the day @weeksy weren’t you? Would you recommend a refresher course? Haven’t touched a bike since I sold them all to emigrate 10 years ago…

I was mate yes.

IT's now www.therevcounter.com

I think the place you want is called Rapid Training. All run by ex-cops and focus on road skills etc. I think it would be ideal for you. (That is, assuming you're back in the UK and not abroad, then i don't know)

I don't even remember my login, but sure we crossed paths back then. Used to buy home roasted coffee off a bloke called Zanx on there, way before artisan coffee was a thing 😅

Will no doubt be in the UK for a couple of weeks over summer, I could do a course then if it's reasonably local.

LOL i bought a few Almx chains because of him too 🙂

Oh yeah, just remembered those excellent vids he did!

Well I'm officially old. Just got some tentative insurance quotes for the ZZR thinking they'd be north of a grand, and they're cheaper than it cost me to insure a FS1E in 1990...

At 48 would anyone recommend doing their bike test, or just accept that ship has sailed?

Never too late! Been riding since 15 so not really qualified to comment, but I imagine starting to ride when you have a bit more maturity (assuming you do!) may not be a bad thing.

Not getting out so much these days but have a 2004 R1 and a ZX7RR track day bike languishing in the garage!

^ At 48 I’d say it’s a great time to get on a bike. There’s still 30 years of riding ahead of you - that’s a long time...

Can’t believe as a club rider you’re even thinking about needing a refresher if I’m honest. By all means do one, but it’s just a motorbike, and you’ll just get on and ride it.

ZZR1400s are still one of my all time favourite bikes. They are too fast, maybe a bit heavy on the wrists on a slow, twisty country road if you’re just plotting along, but they are a lovely thing to ride - and this one has sentimental value, so it’s obviously better.

I did mine at 53. It has brought me much pleasure in my retirement. First "big" bike. No L plates/CBT nonsense. It puts a smile on my face whether I am riding it or just walking past it in the garage.

TBH at 48 I don't think many ships should have sailed!

All the best if you decide to give it a go.

At 48 would anyone recommend doing their bike test, or just accept that ship has sailed?

I passed my test yonks ago... but sold my TL200 about a year after passing. Never ridden a motorbike on the road until last year, about 25yrs gap give or take.

Mates have bikes, those bike BMW 1200 enduro GS things... one said “have a refresher course before you hit the road on your trials bike” so I went to Barhnstomer near Alton and booked a weekends refresher course on one of those R9t scramblers.
Brilliant, utterly brilliant. Gave loads of sensible advice on handling/holding/starting and stopping, distance and road manners... even though I’m not going to use 70% of the knowledge it’s given me confidence that you forget you had when back in your yoof.

There is no reason on earth why you shouldn’t pass your test at whatever age. I’m sure there are riders around that are in their 80’s and thinking about it...

@iamtheresurrection I wasn't a very good club racer 😅

Actually the most daunting thing is the size. I was nervous just moving it round the garage! If you end up needing to move backwards uphill you're stuffed, right? Ie careful where you park it.

So jumping the gun a bit, but locks? Not for home garage use but on the road, eg a night left outside a formula1 (shudder) hotel if I'm bringing it back that way?

screamy alarm type disc lock.

I actually don't bother with a lock unless its in the UK and parked outside somewhere for more than one night in the same place in full view of passing traffic.

So jumping the gun a bit, but locks? Not for home garage use but on the road, eg a night left outside a formula1 (shudder) hotel if I’m bringing it back that way?

I travel through France quite a bit on mine. I use an Oxford disc lock with alarm included which gives some peace of mind but to be honest I pay much more attention to the location of the hotel and the security of its parking space. I now have two very good stopover places (Wimmereux and Orleans) for my journey back and forth to Limousin.

More expensive than F1 but I do sleep very well at both.

The ship definitely hasn't sailed at 48! The average age for a biker these days must be nearer 60. Get yourself an R1250GS with 3 huge aluminium boxes on the back, BMW branded clothing and a flip up helmet and join the gang.

Get yourself an R1250GS with 3 huge aluminium boxes on the back

Hopefully said in jest? To be fair though, if I get my arse in gear & sort out my guzzi* I've got first dips on a mates 06 plate GS with less than 10k on the clock, so me & Mrs Db can go touring 🙂

* apparently has the world's most uncomfortable pillion seat

OP - at least do one more big ride on the zzr for memories sake, I'm planning on taking my dad's old Brough Superior to Kop Hill Climb this September, I've only ever ridden it once before & didn't particularly enjoy it but whilst it's still in the family I think I would regret it if I didn't take it for a spin.

I was actually thinking 650GS for a first bike 🙂

But without the trimmings

@dickyboy the Brough would be more my style!

Definitely sentimental value, my dad always had bikes even as a teen in post war, bombed-out Barrow, him and his bro working to support their widowed mum and family of five. No mean feat! Then came kids, but I got him back into bikes when I stashed my seized RG500* in his garage in disgust. I couldn't afford the loan repayments so he took it on, got it running and started riding again. Sadly we never rode together but used to go to the NEC or just devils bridge on a Sunday to talk bikes. I remember calling him out after seizing my LC on Shap summit. Came up with the spanners and we managed to break the bike into enough pieces to fit in a MK4 Cortina 😅

So yeah, there's that!

* Working as a toolmaker and fancying myself as a budding Stan Stephens, my biking history is littered with home tuned, seized strokers...

@Bianchi-Boy - whereabouts in the Limousin you back and firth to? I keep having thoughts of riding down to our place in the Auvergne (Pleaux 15700) on my Guzzi, might be more fun with company.....

Last time I drove (from Yorkshire) found a place in Arras which had great secure parking and wasn't overly expensive.

@dickyboy - A Brough? Wow. Which model?

Yes, I was being a wee bit cheeky with the GS quip. They are superb bikes, though - but everywhere now. Too big and heavy for me, I don't like to have to be worrying about dropping it every time I stop. A pal has got an R1200R, which is a better road bike than the GS and much easier to handle. I have to admit to owning a BMW myself, but it's a 'little' F800R.

@failedengineer a 1928 ss80/100 - rare model but not original matching numbers etc so only worth about £60k, dad was a founder member of the owners club 60yrs ago and recons to have owned 30 of them over the years (bought for peanuts back in the 50's and 60's), this was the last one he owned and now in my brothers hands & I know I'll regret it if I don't take the opportunity to give it a good outing sometime.

@smokey_jo I'm in Haute Vienne, about 45 km N of Limoges, 87290.

@Bianchi-Boy About 2 1/2 hours away then, what's your usual route down from the ferry? Still on the Duke 390?

@dickyboy - are you/he from the North East? I saw a couple of well-used Broughs at the Corbridge Classic Car show about 6 years ago, ridden by two also well-used old-ish chaps (pisspot helmets, tattered Belstaffs etc).

Yes, I was being a wee bit cheeky with the GS quip. They are superb bikes, though – but everywhere now. Too big and heavy for me, I don’t like to have to be worrying about dropping it every time I stop. A pal has got an R1200R, which is a better road bike than the GS and much easier to handle. I have to admit to owning a BMW myself, but it’s a ‘little’ F800R.

I had a R1150GS for quite a few years but sold it about 2 years ago. It was a shame as it was so capable but at age 70 it had become just a bit too heavy for me. I decided to give up the motos. I could have got something smaller and lighter but decided I'd had enough.

After about 5 years off bikes I'm back with a KTM950SMR for commuting purposes.  I love it.  Totally impractical but its my first 4 stroke twin and it rides and sounds glorious.

Thought I'd resurrect this. My dad's ZZR from the OP which I neither needed nor particularly wanted did about 2000km camping around the Pyrenees and Catalunya in August and I must say it was great to get back on a bike after ten years off. Credit to the thing too - apart from a bit of wrist ache, I haven't really noticed the distance and the weight/power of it didn't really make itself felt. If anyone is touring over here then I can heartily recommend the N-260 which connects one end of the Pyrenees to the other.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Awesome! So are you going to hang on to it then? I'm awaiting delivery of a new bike which I bought to tweak a waning interest. Getting fobbed off and messed around by the dealer though who keeps pushing the delivery date back. I should have had it at the beginning of August and am frustrated as the last weeks of half decent weather ebb away! Hope to do the Pyrenees or Picos de Europa next year with the missus on pillion if the world is back to some semblance of normality.

Glad you hung onto it 🙂

I love the N260 also the Col du Boxiols towards Tremp awesome 🙂

I was meant to go to the Alps on Friday, off to Scotland now instead.

Enjoy 🙂

Well done for getting a big trip in - looks that ship has sailed for me this year but had a few long commutes before lockdown eased 🙂

Next two weeks will be spent planning bike storage at our place in the Cantal as I've come to the conclusion I need another one, maybe a project, maybe early Hinckley Triumph based.

If I can sort out a decent garage / workshop over there retirement plans may include guided tours partnering with the Auberge in town for food and accommodation.

Cheers!

@blokeuptheroad yeah I will - now needs new rubber and a service, and I have to get it officially imported. What have you ordered?

@bazzer I only knew it from road cycling and always figured it must be a great moto road.

@smokey_jo - very nice area that! Haven't been for years though as it seems harder to get there from Spain than it did from the UK!

New model Triumph Tiger 900 to replace a 15 year old Triumph Sprint 1050

A 1999 Suzuki SV650.

Here's a photo from this afternoon.

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50294686467_d6f61f27b4_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50294686467_d6f61f27b4_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2jCnq3F ]DSC_1503[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

I've had it for a couple of years now. It took me a while to (slowly) get used to the feel of a bike again after 25 years off one. I think I'm now at the stage where I'm much more relaxed, comfortable and capable with it so I'm looking at something a wee bit more modern, with decent suspension (the thing the old SV lacks).

I've not had one for 20 years. Moved to London and had no where to keep a bike then the wife and kids came along and I've not had a chance to get one again so far. I will do at some point, a Ducati Diavel would look very nice parked outside my door.