Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

What kind of riding are you going to do?

Most likely commuting and some on the weekends (road)

Look at the rollers and the belt.

Most flip ups are much less safe in an accident than a solid one.

In other news I just tester my new boots out. Managed to find the only patch of ice (wasn't a cold night, no ice anywhere else, suspect filthy disgusting shitter of a taxi blew it's load all over the hill) down a steep hill into a fast t junction. Lost traction regained, lost, regained, until I got to point of either going into traffic or ditch the bike.
Managed to do the latter. Two facts....
BMW stock engine/crash bars are utter shite, protect nothing. My new panniers racks did most of the protecting
My new paintwork was coated in a fairly expensive "automotive" lacquer. Obviously only for diesel cars as it's not petrol resistant.

Aside, new boots saved my ankle from being more damaged than it is. Falco avantour, similar to a sidi courier but prob more waterproof, more ankle protection (d3o), vibram sole, and quite rigid, only slightly ridiculous to walk around a lot in but I'm happy them.

Get one that fits your head, note that the display one has been used so has a little give. Certain helmets have certain head shapes. If that makes sense. Try lots on and then find one that is quiet.

Certain makes you can change the pads so you can make the helmet fit.

On the beemers I've had I could scrape the head protectors whilst riding.

But that is my riding style.

Probably best to go full face with an internal visor. If you're on a budget avoid flip ups. I only really know the older brands like Arai & Shoei, I've had a few Roof lids and really liked the fit although you hear the bike a lot more (which is good sometimes).

If your forehead fits in a Schuberth they seem like great helmets, they have just made one with a bit more forehead space. Personally I like Arai for comfort but I've got a Shoei at the moment, it's taken a long time for the cheek pads to give a little. All the other cheaper brands I've bought I've stopped wearing them after a few months, they usually get baggy or the interior cloth doesn't wear well, they are generally a lot noisier too.

I've had to throw out my 10 year old expensive helmets although I'd still have worn them, you shouldn't keep them forever as the material degrades. They've always been the best bang for buck though. First one was the bottom of the range Arai, saw me through all kinds of riding and never bothered me.

I dumped half a tin of brake cleaner in last week and it’s now perfectly smooth.

Transformed it for £4.

As mentioned try on as many as possible, I find Arai the best for my head shape but have used shoei and hjc with no issues. I've had flip up ones for work and actually got a cheap OP one now TBH unless you need to chat to people a lot I would not bother with one unless they're a real bargain. The internal dark visors are well worth getting though. At the risk of sounding like an old bugger, if you're new to biking when you get your helmet get ear plugs as well even for commuting.

Thanks for the advice guys. Tried on so many today, face is feeling a bit sore.
Looks like I’m going with an AGV K3 SV. Refraining myself from getting A Rossi replica.
Anyone got any experience with a K3?

Nope - but just to echo Airhead a bit. check Google for long term reviews of interior fit and finish. The lining and pads are key to feeling comfy and not like your helmet is spreading communicable disease after sopping up your greasy bonse in all
Weather for a couple of years.

If you feel especially gangsta - you can go the hairnet route... ;) They do mitigate substantial grime.

View from the shed - got to rebuild some forks tomorrow. Boooo.

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Have you seen the revzilla review? Apparently the K3 is very different in design and fit to the K3 SV.

I've got a GT Veloce, which shares some of the shape and characteristics. It's good. AVG make excellent helmets. The lining is very high quality and with a decent jacket collar / more tucked head it is fairly quiet.

The vents look different on the K3 SV to the GT Veloce, but ime AVG vent controls are a bit harder to use on the go... Although they look cool.

On noise I'd echo what someone up thread said about ear plugs. They're really important for protecting your ears. I got some little keyring pods from Ali express to keep mine in.

I have an AGV Veloce GT. I was fully expecting to buy an Arai or Shoei, but the AGV fitted much better, and I can honestly say now that it is the best lid I've ever had. After trying it on at Infinity, I then bought it brand new online for £150, saving £250

This.....was a lot of fun. N260 is the dream that keeps on giving.

Many lessons learnt. Some good, some bad. Came off a couple of times in shadow of mountains but SV just shrugged it all off. Always remember to let tyres warm up. Hydrate always. Stretch often.
Other than that. Much fun. Longingly looking at something that's more stable at higher speeds.

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Doing a bit of idle daydreaming and looking at the Suzuki Savage / Boulevard S40. Never sold in the UK, but I really like the idea of a stripped down thumper.

https://www.wep.co.nz/wep/member-images/32/image/bob14.jpg

Bit of a random question, but how hard do you think it would be to "temporarily tune" a basic carbed bike to pass a EURO 3 emissions test? Can't imagine having space/permission for 2 bikes but if I did the ULEZ possibly limits my use.

I suspect that you have zero chance getting something certified to a different euro standard if it wasn't originally certified to that standard by the manufacturer.

I guess those Savage motors must be distantly related to the DR650 lump - that's a very sweet old plonker.

Slight rant but the fact that motorcycles got included in the ULEZ thing at all is a fucking joke. Even in CA they're excluded from smog testing because their net contribution to emissions is so small and by getting people out of cars, they reduce congestion.

It is annoying. Although they don't have a harsh level as cars. I was just wondering if you could use filters and exhausts to choke the engine outside the emissions limits.

I wonder how it applies to custom fab'd bikes. Also whether the classic car/bike classification is only from the point the ULEZ comes in, or if it increases each year - ie in 2025 can I have a 1985 vehicle?

Obviously more hassle than it's worth, but I did wonder whether you could just grab a <1980 bike for the frame and VIN. Unfortunately they only started making the Savage in the mid-80s.

Gah - I'm walking like a thunderbird puppet. Did a few laps of the MX track on Sunday and it's given me a serious case of wobbly knee. I couldn't have ridden more than 30 mins collectively....mental. Every time I go to the track I end up flopping about like a broken marionette with bruised clackers. It's probably a sign....

Completely agree, it's a fucking pain and I'll probably end up getting rid of my old gt550 and not replacing it with another bike as I can't justify spunking out the cash for something that'll only get occasional use

So...

I quite fancy a bike to do adventures on, but realistically the chances I'll do epic off-roading on it are low. I'd like to ride down to see friends in the German Alps, whizz up to the Highlands, climb a hill, whizz home. That sort of stuff.

I don't want it massively heavy or massively fast and I'd like to spend £5-7k ish.

Would I be daft to get a little adventure bike like a BMW F800GS or a Honda 700 Transalp?

Should I just go for a proper sports tourer?

I'd say they're both a bit weedy for continent crushing. I've never sat on the Peage thinking, oh I'd really like a bit less power here.

If you harbour designs on the 'adventure' theme, KTM Adventure 1190 should be in that pocket and will handle off road with ease. After that maybe a Ducati Multistrada or Tiger 1050?

If you really don't care for the off road stuff the Suzuki GSXS1000f looks just about perfect. Superb, Uber grunty motor and apparently some very useful chops on the Tarmac when you find yourself on continental twisties. Think a GSXR but with high bars, a proper fairing, lower pegs and a dose of manners. Cheap too.

Oh and a budget buster most likely but the new Ducati super sport could be marvellous too. They are much prettier in the flesh - kind of like a sportier Italian take on the VFR750.

F800gs has 21inch front wheel so would be a bit compromised on road. But still mor than capable. If you don’t want to do much more than 100mph and don’t plan on touring 2 up fully loaded a bike like that would be fine. A good choice tbh.

Could consider a ktm 990 adventure. Honda Africa twin (newer). Triumph 800 adventure.

I’ve done some 800 mile days on my 990 smt. It’s good.

@Jung

Thanks both.

The KTM adventure does seem to be a sensible choice but I find the looks challenging. Maybe I need to go and have a go on one IRL.

In theory I’ll not be going over 100mph much / at all. Part of the reason for going smaller is to stop me getting carried away.

I’ll have a look at the Suzuki but my immediate reaction is that I want something more upright and less sports bike than that.