Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

It looks lovely and makes an amazing sound. It's a total posers machine.
The parallel twin gives it buckets of low down torque so you can beat all those 4 cylinder superbikes off the lights.
However it's heavy, and doesn't really handle that well. I've never really worked out how to hustle the thing in town. Also the air/oil cooled engine is capable of cooking your legs if you get stuck in traffic for any length of time. It's best on a b-road, but then aren't all bikes?

I'd considered a Thruxton and a Bonneville before getting my Honda. Sounds like I made the "sensible" choice. Not sure if that's a good thing or not.

Having just looked at the weight though, it's only ~15Kg more than my current bike.

I'd love a Bonneville or something. I can't really "cruise" on the sports bike

Yea, i know that but a bit like the bald bloke combing over the last few hairs I can't bear to be without one. Fucking stupid really. I am selling one of them in the next week or so though. Anyone want a 79 cb750 with dirt track tyres, chopped seat and various other bits on it. It needs some tlc but if i get it up and running I'll never sell it. What a tit.

Had the day off so got about uprating the factory brake lines to Hel braided lines. Since it's the first nice bike I've had I considered giving it to the garage, but it all turned out fine. MOT and service booked in for tomorrow, so I'm glad I can at least ride it there prior to the Nurburgring trip.

I hope the black cat isn't a bad omen for your MoT

That exhaust looks loud!

Ha, all passed fine. I got them to torque up the banjo bolts too for peace of mind.

The exhaust minus the baffle is pretty loud, but seldom take it out.

If anyone is interested in BMW services in London I recommend http://www.gsshop.biz. It's a guy in his garage beside his house. Very reasonable price and great service. He is highly recommended on a few motorbike forums too.

He can finish Ben's :-)

@snoops

nice

Had one of my BMW's nicked from Farm Street, W1 sometime today. Silver '02 R1150RS. Shame, because it has stupidly low mileage and in great condition. Wish I'd had a chain on it, too late for regrets. Make sure you chain your bike guys.

@Airhead sorry to hear that. hope you get it back and it still feels the same.

Thanks for that, I hope I don't get it back if it doesn't feel the same. I guess it's broken steering lock/ignition key bare minimum damage. It would be great if the thief wrecked it and killed himself in the process.

I'd like to get something bike style that can carry tools on the back but with an auto gearbox, something that doesn't attract thieves though! I'm looking at the Big Ruckus but would prefer something more powerful.

Still have my R80 at least. 3 years away from being an historic vehicle.

I'd love to know how you beat all those 4 cylinder superbikes off the lights....because it ain't superior low down torque, at least not vs anything bigger than a 600.
Had a go a while back on my mates Thruxton (with flat bar conversion.) They are comfy and sound nice but the engine is gutless for a 900 twin and they're super heavy. Reminded me of a slightly faster 450 Superdream.
Bet your Vespa would slay it in traffic.... :)

My Vespa will slay anything, including possibly me one day. It feels way faster than the Triumph.

I think the key is that most 4 cyl 600s (and 1000s) are ridden by born again bikers who don't know that you can rev past 5000 so never get to where the power is, whereas I went to the Triumph from a 400 and am used to tearing the arse out of it. Being a twin it has a nice bottom end and 0-30 is really decent, but the way I ride in town was always to keep it on the boil and pretend fuel is free.
Also thin bikes can filter better, especially if you hang the mirrors underneath the bars, like I do.

Comiserations. It's a horrible feeling.

Can I ask if you had a disc lock on it or just steering lock? Not trying to call you out, I just want to know if I'm doing enough.
All the bikes in the bay by Wallace collection had police flyers warning of thieves operating in the area placed on bars.

Thanks for that snoops.

I was relying on the steering lock only. Of course I realise now that it's not as safe a part of London as I thought. The parking bay is opposite the Punchbowl pub on Farm Street. It's quiet round there and I can see why it would attract thieves (now!). I've parked there a lot before but with the R80, which is not as tempting (based on the fact that I've had it for 10 years).

I've stayed away from newer/better bikes over time because of the theft problems but caved last year and was enjoying having a modern fast bike. In truth the 1150 is not a great town bike, I'll probably change for something that rolls around at low speed a bit more happily. Or just stick with the R80.

In short, if you are wrapping a chain around the seat, away from the ground and potential leverage for chain breakers you will stop most casual thieves. When I called to report the theft they let me know that they would access the number plate cameras around London to see if it was being ridden with the proper plates on, but advised me that the plates are often changed at the point of theft. I had no additional immobiliser so anyone overcoming the lock could ride it. Of course a chain wouldn't stop them lifting it onto a van.

That era of bike is great for nicking, good engines and no immobiliser. Since mine got pinched I now use my faghedaboudit on the front wheel, chain on the rear and a cheapo disc lock and a cover. And I'm buying an Almax chain when I stop spunking my savings on other shit.

Yeah, I'm just waking up to the fact. Coming from a late 70's bike I had no idea most ignitions are chipped now. Not sure whether to risk another newer bike or stick with what I'm used to.

I always use an alarmed disc lock on my front wheel now. When at home I chain the back wheel to a lamp post and cover it.

You've got to strike a balance between convenience and security. For me, that is an alarmed disc lock only when out and about. Forget about the bike once locked up. Don't live in fear. It took me about a few weeks after my bike was stolen to feel comfortable locking it up again.

I have a datatool system 3 alarm, and a big chain which I use when I am at home. The best thing about it is the nudge alarm, so if you touch the bike it does some beeping then the alarm goes off after a few goes. It means i can't put a cover on it, as any wind causes the alarm to go off, but its a price I'm prepared to pay for the piece of mind.

Sorry to hear about that mate.

I wouldn't leave anything in Central London in the same place too frequently without it being chained to something solid. I had a bike nicked around the corner from my flat on Ridgemount Gardens at 1.30 in the afternoon on a Saturday. Almax through the wheel, alarm blaring - 4 guys dumped it in the back of a van with a neighbouring fireblade and drove off. The landlord of the pub opposite phoned the police straight away, who despite the 'ring of steel ANPR,' managed to do the square root of fuck all. Got a call from Camden CID a few days later saying they'd found a picture of the van driving out of the congestion charge zone an hour after the bike was reported stolen but that it had cloned rental company plates. That was the end of it...

Seems the vast majority of bike theft in town (at least for anything valuable) is pretty professional. Certainly never seemed like a priority for the bill to do owt about it either. Bummer.

I've only parked in that spot a couple of times, but mostly for 5-8 hours. I don't think it was pre-meditated in this case. I think the police are happy to catch who they can, they don't seem to have much of a handle on organised theft and the subtext seems to be "look after your possessions yourself" but it does make you realise how quickly/easily things, even fairly big things can disappear. They are mostly worried about violent theft and crime I guess.

At least we're not getting held up at gunpoint. There's a u tube video from a Brazil where some guy gets held up for his bike at gunpoint and one gets shot by a passing cop. They just leave him on the floor for a few minutes. Good to watch if your bike's just been stolen.

Can lend people an almax till they are sorted.