[Closed] Motorcyclists of STW

Great thread..

I've come back into road biking in the last two years after 7 years off, currently have an ER6N and am looking to change., but no idea what to get next.

Previous bikes included a couple of Ducati 900SS' (which I loved), a little Laverda 650 (beautifully balanced but rubbish motor), Triumph T595, a Husaberg FE400 a CBR600 and best of all, a race TZR250 for the track.

I think my sportsbike days are behind me, but I could do with a bit more power thank the ER6N. Being only 5'5" also limits my choices - although I'm happy enough not to be able to put both feet flat down, I would like to get close; one of the reasons I gave up enduro hare and hounds on the Husaberg!

I commute a couple of times a week; 25 miles each way, some motorway, so would like some wind protection, and as I live in north Wales, weekend runs out on the twisties.

So what next chaps?

Bit difficult to say without a clue of cost! How much for a second hand S1000R? Same engine as my S1000XR but without the height.

edit - oh - NOW I read the bit about wind protection! 😳

Rachel

I've slowly swapped motorbikes for cycles over the years, but occasionally this creature awakes from a long winter slumber... still scares the crap out of me, but I love it !

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4231/35706842802_7a7f793343_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4231/35706842802_7a7f793343_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/WphUmJ ]ZX10r Stand unPlated[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/123339003@N04/ ]Mikey Scott[/url], on Flickr

Bakey - how about a Triumph Speed or Street Triple? I've got a Speed and with the nose fairing wind protection is ok at sensible speeds. A mate with a Street says the same.

@allthegear

I did another Ardennes trip on my XR a few weeks back. I am really starting to warm to it now. I was almost deffo going to try the KTM 1290 GT as a replacement as there were a few things bugging me on the XR.

A foot on the sidestand so I can park it without risk of it falling over and a few more miles (about 8K now) and I am loving it. Initially I thought it was a bit characterless and it let me down in Zaragoza on a tour last year.

However now I am now feeling the love of it. Its so easy to ride as the power delivery is a lot less ferocious than the Aprilia's.

I have fitted some clearwater lights to it so even riding in the dark is fine now.

Think I will extend the warranty in December and at least keep it for another year.

Here`s mine, bought it new 3 years ago and have enjoyed every mile on it.
Before this one I had
Yamaha Fazer 1000
Yamaha Fazer 600
Suzuki Gsxr750
Yamaha RD400
Honda CB250RS
Honda H100s

[img] https://www.tiger-explorer.com/index.php?action=media;sa=media;in=1667;preview [/img]

[img] https://www.tiger-explorer.com/index.php?action=media;sa=media;in=1663;preview [/img]

[img] https://www.tiger-explorer.com/index.php?action=media;sa=media;in=2476;preview [/img]

So what next chaps?

Stealth advert - My Yamaha MT09 Tracer? - Stealth Advert

2015 in armour grey, 2k miles on clock, lovely machine, just not getting used as it should.

The mighty T reg kwaker gt550 sailed through another mot this afternoon, might treat it to a service one day :oops

Much as I like my MT-07 I fancy a change, I'm torn between a Ducati monster 1200s, BMW 1200rs and another Hayabusa, I normally try and avoid bikes I've already owned but the busa was fun..

I bought a Honda CX500 last month. Plans are to turn it into a scrambler over the winter. It was many years ago since I last owned one and it's being a laugh to ride so much different to the KTM 1190 Adv I spend most of my time on.

[img] [/img]

I managed to shorten the wheelbase on one of those, all it took was 30mph and a scaffolders lorry..

Out of interest craigxxl, what do you think of the 1190? I'm idly considering changing my Tiger 800 xc and the 1190 is sitting right up at the top of the list at the moment...

Aprilia RSV1000R

I had one for a couple of years. Great bike. Got better the faster you went. Rock steady at speed.

Loved the surge if you kept it in 4th and pinned the throttle at 90-100mph. Wheeeee. Like being pushed forward by a giant hand. Very addictive.

The 1190 feels different to the previous LC8 990. The fuelling is much better so you don't get the same snatchy throttle as the 990. It's not as mad either delivering it's power much smoother too but crack the throttle open and it still a rapid beast and surprises quite a few sports bike riders. The Bosch MSC electronics fitted to the bike make a very easy bike to ride fast or to throw around allowing you to get away with more than you should i.e. accelerating hard from a roundabout whilst still banked over.
Stock seat is a bit hit and miss, some like it but many upgrade to the Power Parts Ergo version. Screens are the same depending on your height so may require changing. Bars, as with many big V Twins, can be a bit vibey so filling them with silicon dampens it right down. Everything else just fall into place and it's easy to ride all day solo or with pillion.
I've only taken mine off road a few times, mainly on gravel tracks, again the MSC comes into its own making such a big bike very easy to handle even on road biased tyres. Helped too with it being one of lightest in the class.
I highly recommend getting a test ride, they are a great bike. If it is to your liking look for a 2015 onward model as the starter motor was upgraded and the airbox modified to seal better.
Mine has had a Rottweiler airbox fitted and still returns around 50mpg giving you a range of around 270 miles before you need fill up again.

I tried the full fat Tuono whilst the Guzzi was in for a service. Awesome bikes... and somewhat terrifying with all the driver aids turned off!!!

Thanks Craig - miles more detailed than I thought!
Reckon I'll have to get to Teasdale for a test and to see what they offer on my tiger!

Been riding for 13 years, passed my car test got bored and bought a scooter.
Bikes I've owned.
Aprilia SR125
Honda Ns125
Honda Cbr 125
Hyosung GT250R x2
Suzuki GSR 600
Suzuki Bandit 650s
And my current Kawasaki Ninja 650 KRT edition.
Absolutely love riding motorbikes, ride mostly all year unless it's icy or snowing. The rain doesn't bother me.
Next bike will probably be a Kawasaki z1000sx.
Planning a trip up to Scottish Borders in August as a pre run for doing Glencoe next year.

bwfc4eva868 - Member
Planning a trip up to Scottish Borders in August as a pre run for doing Glencoe next year.

Apols if teaching to suck eggs.... The camera vans are plentiful from Rannoch Moor to Fort Augustus and usually are parked in lay bys on the straights. The cops however are a bit more playful and hide behind signs and in off road parking spots...

I'd recommend pushing through from Glencoe as the A82 through Fort Bill and the A87 out towards Skye is really quite special. Gets even better if you take the A890 to Achnasheen and then on to the A832 to Poolewe.

Whilst I like my modified SV650 I still miss cycling when out early on a Sunday morning! Also I miss my motocrossers like CR250. The SV feels a bit soft to me, but it's great around town and ear splitting noisy too.

Test ride of the GSXR-R on Saturday at Hartside, never even ridden a bike with ABS, never mind electronics. I'm sure getting back on my trusty ZX9R to ride home will feel old hat!

In the market for a new bike at the moment, just can't decide what I want. Have a demo on a s1000r booked for saturday, tempted to head over to a Ducati dealer this afternoon although at the tail end of food poisoning so probably not a good idea..

Also considering an mt-09 as they look a lot of fun. Then there's an 899 panigale...

Had to full the tank on my Multistrada the other week, second bloody fill up of the year! 😳

Been too busy cycling really, only use the multi on days when I've done a long ride the day before and I can't be arsed to cycle to work. Lost a shed load of weight though. 😀

It's 3 years old in sept so keep thinking of trading it in, but will probably just keep it as I owe nothing on it and nothings taking my fancy - XR looks nice but the same thing really. Nice bike to have sat ready for the occasional blast though, even if it is a little expensive to service (£800 the next one I think 🙁 ).

Edit : Mboy, that looks like a monster compared to a VFR, Enjoy!

A few high/lo-lights of my biking history

[img] [/img]
1st bike, £650 as a stolen-recovered

[img] [/img]
a poor eBay purchase

[img] [/img]
awesome bike, went around europe 2-up a few times

[img] [/img]
about to change the gearbox

[img] [/img]
frantic little Husky and bigger brother KTM

Current toy is a BMW K1200R which just about does the job 😀

Cheers, Rich

Had to full the tank on my Multistrada the other week, second bloody fill up of the year!

edit - (happened at least once on the way back from Africa in April)

Rachel

I've seen 4 of these in real life and own 1 of them
[img] https://www.bennetts.co.uk/-/media/default-website/aprilia-rst-1000_3.ashx?h=444&w=740&la=en&hash=B7908B70DA363402D81D445361091B51A8D09F6B [/img]

I’ve filled my S1000XR three times in a day before now

820 miles in one day on my Speed Triple, Mrs PP on her Speed 4. About 175 miles between fill ups would have been probably 5 fuel stops. 🙂

Dropping some TopGun shit on my new to me, but 35 year old Gsx400f.

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4282/34833162764_4a7b3f74b2_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4282/34833162764_4a7b3f74b2_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/V564HN ]Wellesbourne airfield[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ]Kayak23[/url], on Flickr

An adventure bike thats not seeing much adventure, no time to ride the ****ing thing. 😕

[img] [/img]

Got an R100GS with 27,000 miles mouldering in my shed.

It's too high for me - my hip feels like it's about to pop out when I go to sling a leg over. Never used to be a problem but ageing is a right bastard. Haven't ridden it since 2012 and it's getting crusty.

Did 10,000 on a BMW R850C in Oz a few years back though. Nice low seat, no problem even in dirt - where it spent most of its time. Should have brought it back with me.

Bike history:

Vf400f. First bike. Crashed it repeatedly. Refused to die. Aweful and amazing at the same time.
Rd350ypvs. Worth a fortune now. Left it at a garage 21 years ago as I couldn't afford to fix it and never went back 🙁
Vfr400 nc30. Literally never needed to slow down for any corner. Ever.
1999 R6. Awesome. I still rue the day I sold it.
Bikeless niw. I'm obsessed with getting back into it but, at 44, don't fancy sportsbikes anymore. Listing, weirdly, over a v-strom.

I cleaned my bike at the weekend for the 1st time in a long while. Basically it gets cleaned maybe twice a year, and one of those is when it gets its annual service! Anyway, I treated it to ACF50 and spent a good couple of hours cleaning.
It fkn pissed it down 2 days later 👿

[img] [/img]

Been daily commuting for 15 years now and love doing it. Had many GSXR 750s in my time and loved them all. Lots of trackdays, plus trips to Spain/France/Germany. Those were the days!

More of an ex biker now I guess. Must be the best part of ten years since I rode one more than round the block. I loved my big BMWs

Still got this in a lockup. One day soon I promise.
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3101/2548475585_61dd9ba6e3_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3101/2548475585_61dd9ba6e3_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/4TcB1e ]bsa 2[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/25846484@N04/ ]TandemJeremy[/url], on Flickr

Speaking to all these people that keep saying they don’t have time to ride their bike, would it help if I offered to ride it for you??? 😆
I’m sure I could turn it into a service: I say what type of adventure I’m going on and you all suggest whose bike I take. I then send loads of pictures back of your bike having fun.

Rachel

*s*****

I fell out of love with fast bikes. I was either going to kill myself or end up in jail if I carried on. I ride bicycles these days instead

My bike appears to have been sold (it was in a motorcycle shop on a commission basis sale) so I'm now also an ex-biker....

It's bloody expensive if your doing the 'average' annual mileage (which appears to be 1.5-2k!). It was going to cost £500+ (tyres & annual service) and I'm £400 pa for insurance and tax. Having moved recently I no longer have anywhere to store it out of the Scottish weather and I did under 2k last year (my folks were seriously ill and I had to take the car in case of 'emergency'....).

I was disappointed just how impractical a bike is for transport as ATG means it's not really suitable when off the bike (too hot and boots ain't made for walking). However, having attended a meeting in Skye yesterday I couldn't help but remember the last time I did that 'run' is was by bike and was a lot 'swifter'. Bloody tourists.... 😆

PP - 820miles?
Short day was it?

I think Alicante to Bilbao is the furthest I have done in a day. About 500 miles.

On a side not of mileage, bloke who parks next to me at work bought a GS1200 16 plate in Nov with less than 5k on it. He is coming to his 18k service 😯
He does 500 mile/week.

PP - 820miles?
Short day was it?

Switzerland to Farnborough. It's just the longest day we've ever done. 🙂

After a hard ride home last night, and reading this thread, I rode the multi to work today, and took a long-cut on some quiet lanes. 8)

Doesn't take long to remember how awesome (and sometimes scary) it is!

In other more sad motorcycle news, I've almost sold my 1980 BMW R100S. 🙁 Don't really want to sell it, but I've been made a good offer and I really would like a car to go mountain biking in new places.

Longest one for me was Nurbergring to Wimbledon on of the new generation bonnevilles, sunny day, nice bike, possibly one of the best biking days ever

Rode from Pau, south of France to Gloucester one day, on a 2004 R1, mostly in the wind and rain. The least enjoyable biking day of my life I think. Luckily the day before we'd done a track day at the Nogaro circuit in the sunshine, so the two days balanced each other out.

As we are doing photos and I'm not working atm, I give you my collection of shonky bikes!

Occassional commuter, no love showered upon it;

[img] [/img]

Lots of love showered upon it (and in mkeshift gardening mode);

[img] [/img]

One day this will be someones barn find as it never bloody starts to move from the barn;

[img] [/img]

Needs to be sent to our place in Ireland

[img] [/img]

9th December 4am Lee on the Solent, Hampshire
10th December 5am Grello, Perugia
25hrs, 1380 miles
-8 degrees through the alps and I stopped calculating the windchill once it got to that on the dash.

Hammy, yep, once it gets below about 5c and you've got all your best kit on and all the heated things turned right up, the actual temperature ceases to matter!

Today i was up at Donni with a few of the lads, was a strange day for bikes, i think maybe because it was a 'noisy day' so people were unleashing all the noise and all the bikes they can't usually ride,

Everything from R1M's to 1199R's, then RC30s, RC45's and RGV500's along with another dozen 2 strokes, then a couple of highly regarded pieces of kit like a RCV990, the £150,000 Honda GP rep bike, damn that made a noise

However, we also found this thing.

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4306/35079449444_48c9610a02_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4306/35079449444_48c9610a02_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/VrRmaS ]2017-07-14_04-13-27[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/35110178363_3d70d6c799_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/35110178363_3d70d6c799_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/VuyQNP ]2017-07-14_04-13-44[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4303/35749408472_6374e05ddc_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4303/35749408472_6374e05ddc_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Wt44DA ]2017-07-14_04-14-05[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

Evrything on the bike was perfect, not just a little bit nice, but PERFECT, there wasn't a nut, bolt or fastener that wasn't 100% right, every little bracket wasn't just a random piece off the garage floor, but was a custom designed and CNC'd piece made for function, looks and perfection.
Forks were stunning, big stickers on stating they were Ohlins R&D forks and not for road use. The calipers were a work of art.

Blokey apparently makes the frames from a 500kg piece of aluminium and it's then carved out, into a 170kg wet weighted bike. The engine is a WSB spec Yamaha R1 big bang engine with Motec electrics, Quickshifter, traction control, auto blipper etc. He was trying out the Magnesium wheels instead of the usual carbon ones and trying metal discs instead of carbon.

It was just the most amazing piece of kit

Weeksy's post got me googling. Came across this website that kept me sane through some conference calls today.

www.raresportbikesforsale.com

Weeksy, that bike you photographed looks a weapon!
Think I might have met you many years ago at Mallory?
Myself, I've got Rsv4 race bike (won championship and came 2nd a couple of times on it) and a Bmw K1300s for the road.

Certainly possible pjm. Been there a bazillion times

These are my two, still learning at the moment but a work mate was moving them on and it was too good to pass up. Honda for cutting my teeth and the Guzzi is a project.

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4320/35986739705_723d45391f_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4320/35986739705_723d45391f_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/WQ2rXp ]Braaaaap[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/28886706@N05/ ]Bigbroondug[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4294/35986731955_e30f0cc993_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4294/35986731955_e30f0cc993_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/WQ2pDM ]Braaaaap[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/28886706@N05/ ]Bigbroondug[/url], on Flickr

I’ve filled my S1000XR three times in a day before now

That's a normal track day 🙂

Though how many track bikes have 20 litre tanks?

I got my CBT yesterday, woo. First time I have ever ridden a motorbike. Enjoyable it was too. Next stop DAS. I may be stopping by here for tips some time soon.

allthegear - Member
Though how many track bikes have 20 litre tanks?

My 10R has an 18lt tank and will happily empty it within 80 miles when "playing" in Germany, etc.
On track even less than that....
The 14R has a 20lt tank and I've seen 8mpg on track - do the maths 😀 (although its on an average of 38mpg in its 21k miles life so far) yet will do 52mpg at 90mph on the Peage
The GS steadfastly refuses to drop below 42mpg regardless of how its ridden!

Thanks for the suggestions.

By way of an update, I pick up a Ducati Hyperstrada on Sunday - it is tall, but I can get both feet (well toes down). I'll be practising my 'supermotard shuffle' at the lights and be on constant camber watch 🙂

My 10R has an 18lt tank and will happily empty it within 80 miles when "playing" in Germany, etc.

My bike's got something like a 14l tank and it'll do about 250 miles an that if I have to. I usually fill up every 4 days with 208 miles on the trip, about half the time the reserve light hasn't come on at that point. 🙂
Last fill was 205 miles on 9.97 litres, 93.5 mpg. 🙂
Handy when you do the miles I do, it's a lot cheaper.

Spent the weekend away with a couple of mates on our bikes
- day 1 was twisties from London to Shropshire
- day 2 was twisties from Mid to North Wales and back
- day 3 was twisties from Shropshire home

Some brilliant roads, average weather though.

I was on a Blade with both mates on R6s, it was great fun. Would like to do that more but timing never works out.

The roads were genuinely epic. Although I'll avoid some bits of Snowdonia next time

You get a nosebleed above 22mph though PP 😀

Stupidly think of riding down through France to Valencia for the final MotoGP in November on my 19 year old ZX9R. Get Eurotunnel, couple of stops overnight on the way down, and camp at the circuit. Obviously could be Baltic or nice, any tips other than don't be daft :)?

Looking at some of the your bike histories I think I recognise a few of you from PBmagforum?

Cat69UK I did Valencia MotoGP back in 2008 and was really disapointed. Went for good seats as close to the track as possible, right in line with the apex of the first corner and although the view is elevated and you can see a lot of the track from your seat, even at it's closest you're quite a way from the action. I say action the racing more often than not is poor at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, even the moto2 and Moto3 races are usually dull there.

The best part of the trip was the Saturday evening in nearby Cheste, where the place gets taken over by bikes. It's not enough to make me want to go back though.

If we are telling tall tales I once emptied 4 tanks of 5 gallons each on my BMW at 40 mpg in 8 hrs riding 🙂 Not in the UK

Stupidly think of riding down through France to Valencia for the final MotoGP in November on my 19 year old ZX9R.

Stick it on the train at Paris Bercy, sleep, pick it up a little nearer:

[img] [/img]

I finally got just got around to getting my 2002 ZX9R back on the road. Its been sitting in a garage for 5+ years moving a maximum of 10metres in that time 🙁
Fortunately a mates dad runs a bike shop who are doing the dirty work.

In the meantime I'll keep riding the K1200R.
Will get rid of one of them as soon as the Kawa is up and running to buy something silly 🙂

tjagain - Member

If we are telling tall tales I once emptied 4 tanks of 5 gallons each on my BMW at 40 mpg in 8 hrs riding

I was kind of perversely delighted to get through 16 litres of optimax at knockhill, on my little SV650, worked it out at about 7mpg. But then less delighted when I realised I wasn't going to make it to the petrol station 😆 Spent a ridiculous proportion of each lap at wot trying to keep up with the grownups.

cat69uk - Member
Stupidly think of riding down through France to Valencia for the final MotoGP in November on my 19 year old ZX9R. Get Eurotunnel, couple of stops overnight on the way down, and camp at the circuit. Obviously could be Baltic or nice, any tips other than don't be daft :)?

Don't bother.
Go to Misano or San Marino.
Same journey time, the Alps, Italian coffee and better tracks/views.

Or ferry to Bilbao and ride down through Spain - it’s amazing! Seriously, the minor roads in Spain are the best I have ridden anywhere in the World so far.

Rachel

Biggest race track in the world, I used to say! N111 Logrono - soria was a goodun

Yes - I think I took some of the N111 on the way down to Teruel last year. I have a feeling there might be a good portion of my Michelin Pilot Road 4 spread down that stretch 😆

Rachel

tjagain - Member
If we are telling tall tales I once emptied 4 tanks of 5 gallons each on my BMW at 40 mpg in 8 hrs riding Not in the UK

Any forum recommendations? Not interested in racing or tricks etc, cool bikes and touring type stuff would be good. Or any sites worth visiting.

https://www.therevcounter.co.uk/

http://pbmagforum.co.uk/index.php?/discover/unread/

[s]cool bikes and[/s] touring type stuff

Not cool by any stretch, but my CBRF is great for long, fast blasts. Very linear power, can pootle along happily below 4K, but gets rowdy further up. Not bad for 21 years old!

[img] [/img]

Previous posts alerted me to how many ex Moto Morini owners there are here, just wondering if any were stupid enough to "progress" to a Moto Guzzi Centauro*

* last ridden at RAF Benson a couple of years back & now requiring a bit of tlc 🙁

[url] http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CRF-450-SMR-The-Black-Pearl-Award-winning-supermoto-/162600871623?hash=item25dbc466c7:g:4cUAAOSwReBZc1Lc [/url]

ARRRGHHHHHHHHH ! The bike i want is for sale !!!!!

[img] [/img]

1/3 of that Weeksy will get you one thats fully road legal and prepped for road use properly.
2 sets of wheels too.

Nice one epicyclo!

hammyuk - Member

1/3 of that Weeksy will get you one thats fully road legal and prepped for road use properly.
2 sets of wheels too.

It won't look like that though !

Will after a strip and visit to the powdercoaters 😉
Two sets of bodywork too - so you can have black or red...
Oh - and two exhaust systems as well.....

Any forum recommendations? Not interested in racing or tricks etc, cool bikes and touring type stuff would be good. Or any sites worth visiting.

So not even 12 months later (and a couple more bikes I should add!) and I’m picking this up soon...

Its an absolute weapon of a bike! That engine... What a noise!

New race/track bike (another Ape)