Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

I'm using Pilot Road 4s - quite happy with them although they only really get used around town these days.

My hands are completely freezing all the time - are Bar Muffs the answer? My poor midweight Furygan Winter gloves are useless but I'm loathe to wear my huge Rukka lobster gloves unless I have to as I like using my brakes and clutch sometimes...

Muffs and heated grips.

Any heated grip recommendations? I'm gonna be doing a lot of Brighton<->London riding again and hand warmer things are tedious af

Oxford's ran me fine for two winters without batting an eyelid come rain or shine.
Did forget to turn them off a couple of times so had to call recovery and bullshit that I had no idea what happened.

For this year. Fuck this shit...I'm migrating south and spending the money on sticky rubber instead.

My ride from Borehamwood to a similar location took 1hr - 1,15hr (except school holidays when it was 45min).Similar type of journey to the one you're proposing.

In terms of timing you are always vulnerable to traffic and accidents. Filtering looks great from a car but it's not the same as 50-70mph. Equally traffic lights and putting all your gear on takes a while.

The cold is something to consider as well this time of year. Especially the ice if you're living on one of the hilly bits of HW. You'll have to take it easy coming home from work when it's getting icey, and drivers round your way will have no consideration for you required reduction in speed.

I would definitely rent one first for a day to work out the reality.

Another thing worth pointing out is that MP3 riders seem to almost universally be cunts. So if you do go that route please try not to be.

Edit: My 2p riding a 125cc a similar route is that you'll want to get a decent sized one due 1) to the windy sections heading your way, 2) the speed of the fast sections. My Derbi was plenty fast enough for the city and a bit of duel carriage way, but as most will be driving 60-70mph at various points, you'll need something that can happily do 60mph and ideally could be ragged to 75mph. Although I think they look a bit naff the baby sportsbikes with a fairing, etc will be much more practical than anything more basic / stripped.

Bar Muffs

Definitely. Windchill does more than anything else.

Depending on your bike and how bothered by aesthetics you are, even hand guards make a big difference.

I think I'm entering a post aesthetics universe. Been using the XR to get into the office occasionally and the mitt securing, invincibility of full on bark busters has me wanting to put them on everything. Never scrape a knuckle or break a lever again.

My colleague was attacked and had her Vespa stolen last night... are there any common places for stolen bikes to end up in London?

I realise this is very vague but any ideas would be appreciated.

Probably being used to rob people of their electronic devices over our fair capital, sadly.

Have had hand guards on my last 2 KTMS but not the current one - maybe I need to invent a rufty tufty hand guard/ cosy warm hand muff hybrid.

Also considering getting heated grips installed when the bike gets serviced tomorrow - Daytona kit is what Motorcycle Service Centre in Harrow Rd have in stock - anyone used them (the Daytona grips)?

Last month Mrs5000's scooter turned up on an estate in Gospel Oak about 2 miles from where it was nicked having been comprehensively trashed - apparently dumped after a near miss with pedestrians.

Fuck....sorry to hear that. Not a pleasant experience for sure.

Try TraceLondon

Honestly not likely though, especially something as ubiquitous as a Vespa. Switch plates, scratch numbers out, use for nefarious deeds, dump.
In the hugely unlikely event that the police do find it, it'll most likely be a complete write off with no distinct identifier for them to inform it's owner.

I'd say she just goes through the ropes, reports it to plod/dvla/insurance and just moves on. More importantly is that shes ok.

Mate is selling his 2014 Triumph Thruxton 900 for 4.5k. It’s done 15,000 miles and it needs a new chain. Got the optional rear rack on it. He’s the second owner and had it for 12 months.

PM me if interested.

thanks for the link. i'm not holding out much hope but said i would investigate.

Yeah i feel really sorry for her. quite late last night as she was trying to access her parking when she was pushed from the bike, kicked in the stomach and told to hand over keys as they had a gun. cant imagine how she is feeling but was grateful to know she was kept in hospital through the night to monitor her.

i'm probably not her first shoulder to cry on as it were but would like to be able to help if possible.

Mate is selling his 2014 Triumph Thruxton 900 for 4.5k. It’s done 15,000 miles and it needs a new chain. Got the optional rear rack on it. He’s the second owner and had it for 12 months.

Good price.

I'm curious to see how these "old Bonneville body" EFI ones hold their value. The new ones are meant to be great, but they are definitely a modern retro bike, rather than a modernised old bike. Also Euro 3 which will be useful over the coming years.

Horrible. Fuck humanity.
I hope she recovers. Stuff like this can scar mentally for eternity.

That is really dreadful.

Heated grips now fitted - what a revelation.

:)

500 will drink fuel and 3 wheels will suck for filtering - just get a cg125 (or similar) and do your cbt. Will be faster, cheaper, easier, more fun.

@BrickMan Know anywhere else that lets you do your own work since you're in the know how? I know I can do the work required...just need the warm space for it..

Yep - need fleece liners and nice zip for my Sidi Couriers!

Are Honda Varadero 125s significantly different from a CG? They look a bit bigger and a bit more Aero?

Just had a look - fuel injected V Twin - might be worth a test ride.

I much preferred the performance (if you can call it that) of the CG's single, but the varadero is a bigger, more comfortable and better shielded bike for sure. I found the tiny V twin a bit gutless compared to CG, I think it got up to just over 70 mph eventually. Aside from that it's a really nice bike for a 125. When I was riding it I was around 16st so if you're lighter you would find it nippier.

Current new bike obsession. Had a close look at one at the weekend; they're teeny tiny, the frame is the purest of weld porn and the noise....the noise. Entirely pointless for 90% of my riding but....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3WdxhXlLpc