Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

commute from work last night, snowing full on, hairy as....

bus today

hate this weather

hate fucking Scotland :(

Then you were very unlucky. Because Harley keeps uplifting the price of the new bikes, the second hand price tends to track upwards as well. Mind you, personally I never buy new bikes because of the loss the moment you wheel it out of the showroom.

They're not made for British weather. Great bike for the west coast of 'merica though.

Can't say mine is any worse condition than any other bike its age and it's spent a fair amount of time outdoors in all weathers all year round.

Buy a dirt bike!?
Or an advenutee bike.

First time I've heard of it. A friend had one in our street, the chrome on the wheels came off from dogs pissing on it. I've ridden 1000's of miles on Harleys but wouldn't buy one in London, it just doesn't make sense to me, it's a personal choice and fair play to anyone who enjoys theirs. Their reputation however is not one of great durability, maybe that's changing.

Buy a dirt bike!?

Or an advenutee bike.>

I've considered just getting a shitty old Gixxer 750 or something

Never a bad idea - they're great bikes (at least the beam frame ones, I've never ridden one of the old oil boilers.)

The long stroke (k3 I think) has a sweet motor and they really handle.

Spend a lot of your time with all your weight on your wrists in town though. Hence the adventure bike craze where your back takes the punishment instead.

Thanks all. I'll give it a going-over and get something booked. A wash will probably help with first impressions, too.

@Mirius That's your mate? I've followed him on YouTube for a while. Love his new garage. He needs to do some old Vespa videos, though... I'm happy to lend him one.

:)

Then you were very unlucky.

Perhaps.

It got wet on the way home and that was the end of the finish on the fork clamps. Air filter cover followed suit soon after, and so on.

Ironic thing is that I thought it'd be more reliable than the Enfield it replaced. Ha!

Maybe that's what he should've bought instead as a project bike! Would have been fun. Might suggest that next time I see him.

Harley's need to be either kept in a garage and polished or ratted. They are the best for both.

Just don't try riding the blooming thing eh?

True. Real Supermotos or fast scooters are about as good as it gets for town.
I still really want a PROPER SM...I'm honestly not responsible enough though. I found a new crazy crest on a back street shortcut on my commute home a couple of weeks back and am now regularly jumping my poor old GSXR off it. Can't help it. :)

I'm doubting the fast scooter theory after my recent off. They are very quick around town because no gears but a bit too quiet and stealthy. A bigger engine / bike does alert people around you. All the same at legal speeds the SH300 is very relaxed. SuperMotards are perfect for the city hooligan, I don't have the self control for them either.

Isn't riding the point of a rat?

Have only ridden the Ninja a few times over the last year but every time I look at the costs I can't get rid.

MOT -£30
Tax -59
Insurance - £107

Should probably start looking at track days before they all get booked up. Bring on the spring.

Feckitty feck. Jumping inappropriate bikes has delivered immediate mechanical karma. Massively blown fork seal on the GSXR. I KNEW that was a bad idea. Grrr.

Anyone have experience painting alloy rims ( spoked wheel)

Mine the finish on the alloy has gone over, not rotted or pitted yet, but becoming rough to the touch.

Wanted to find a solid primer (avid etch?) that will neutralise any oxidation before painting over it

Just painted my helix, going for a Humvee look, might camo the seat next.

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American chrome is the worst in the world. Thin and crap almost without exception,

What paint did you use on the plastics, plasticote?

Bike looks same as this one. But used to be red, for sake of insurance and v5 simplification prob gonna rattle can the plastics back to red. But also like the green colour that they came in.

Difference between the bikes is bigger front wheel and mudguard. Have both to go on the bike and a new tall screen.
Think plastikote outdoor real red for the top and side plastics, and mudguard. Then anthracite textured stuff for rims and radiator edge and lower plastics (belly pan etc). Frame and everything else is that standard sparkle silver colour.

Hoping that will tidy it up a bit as well as modernising it just a little

I went to E1 car colours.

I bought a plastic paint primer, and they mixed me up a two pack paint in a spray can for the top coat. You push a button in, in the base of the can and it mixes the hardener.