Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

The Triumph runs hot - a couple of minutes at lights and its up to 216 f with the fan spinning.
Might drain and refill the system, but I'll proably just get a big old aircooled Kwak four ( which is where I belong ) and forget about it.

My ZX12R used to run very hot. The battery sat inside the frame (think large box-section) right behind the motor. If it stalled on a hot day, you'd have to let the battery cool for 15 - 20 minutes before it would turn the motor over, after which it would start "on the button". It was a nightmare, until I changed the lead acid battery over to a new lithium ion one. The two battery types respond completely differently to heat, and lithium ion likes it. Many cooked balls were experienced!

On the other hand, my old Fireblade just doesn't care ... flawless Honda reliability.

I'm learning about a whole new level of heat/black bike down here in the Mediterranean. My views have also totally changed in regards to white leathers too.

My CBR blows a lot of hot air at me in traffic (and on my left leg at speed, weirdly) but this has helped a lot.
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/351037

my Triumph anecdotally runs hot, but has no gauge. Fan used to come on in traffic, but the switch seems to have failed so now I run the gauntlet between spraying boiling coolant onto my legs, and getting tapped out while filtering. It's brilliant. [I will replace the switch]

Tiger definitely runs warm -end of a journey pull the key out and it is almost hot to touch. Not given me any issues apart from hot nuts.

Anyone ridden to Germany recently? Might go the end of this month as the girlf parents are near Nurembourg. Advice on routes through N. Europe (Lux, Belgium etc) and best way over/under the tunnel appreciated

Anyone need a new helmet?
I've only worn it once. Shoei Quest Blood flow in small. It cost over £300.00 but I'd like £110.00. Doesn't suit my classic style of motorcycle really (1952 Francis Barnett Merlin) and don't use it (had plans to get a modern sports bike but competing priorities). Collection from SE6.

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I think the heat my wee xv250 was making that day I brought it by the hive must have cooked one of the coils, it was only running on one cylinder the next day.

Fixed it on Monday and took it to Glen Etive today so we'll see how it is tomorrow!

Didn't seem to be making the same level of heat today. I have wrapped the pipes in the interim but can't imagine that'd have had any noticeable effect.

I have to admit my squid level was pretty high today, casual cotton jacket, jeans and moto x gloves but I did at least wear a helmet that fits. That mx helmet I had on when I came to the hive is nice and airy and cool but it lifts up and tries to remove itself from my head at speed.

Would like a retro full facer but not paying the hipster tax.

Saw a guy riding what looked like a drag bike with NOS down Holborn in shorts & t-shirt yesterday - not your average commuter!

Saw a guy in a suit on a new Panigale in Putney today.

Gotta ride up to Shrewsbury/Oswestry tomorrow. Did it last week M40>M6>M54 but that was in a rush and I’d rather take it easy and take in some twisties, no motorway this time. Any route advice? Would like to go a bit more west to avoid Birmingham

Saw a guy in a suit on a new Panigale in Putney today.

It's practically muppet land out here. Motorway in tank top and shorts? Good to go. Other day overtook a crew of tourists on rentals in shorts and flip flops. That's it.

A49》A40?
I bought my bike from Shrewsbury and drove down..

Last time I ended up on A442, went through Bridgenorth

Some of the A roads are boring dual carriageway so keep an eye out for that

I did first part A roads then last part motorway to put its through its paces

A49》A40?

Quick look at the map yesterday suggests this is a straight forward route but I was hoping to make it more of a day out than an A to B, perhaps going up through Wales.

I did too, my parents live there and prices are lower than down here. Think I’ll try to buy all my bikes up that way and drive them down if possible.

I did motorways in shorts and t shirts in med, not doing leathers in 36degree. Plus going swimming in the lake and walking.

Take your risks.

I saw some powerangers up the mountains all lifted up, except gloves wtf!

A483 then A438?

A40 - A49 would take you through some nice places.
B4368 - A458 (Craven Arms - Much Wenlock) towards the Shrewsbury end for the fun of it.

Excellent, thanks guys

Bell Bullitt's RRP has just come down...

Mmm, having had a Davida I don’t think I’d do leather lining again.

The shape/fit is an acquired taste too, doesn't do it for me. I've just picked up a Nexx XG100R that I'm very happy with - a decent balance between "retro aesthetic" and "doesn't have any features"

That looks good.

I was just looking at the Biltwell Gringo and a Viper helmet there and it struck me they have zero ventilation.

I consider my AGV pretty well vented and my head was cooking yesterday.

I might just paint the AGV flat black actually. It fits me well, I have a couple visors for it.

I have a Gringo too, which I use as my throw-on-for-a-quick-blast option, the Nexx is reserved for longer journeys.

The main issue with the Gringo is definitely not ventilation, there's plenty of that because of all the gaps everywhere, its more that the lining compresses quite a bit (mine is now borderline too loose), and it's noisy AF. It's good for what it is though, the shit tonnes of peak/visor/goggle options open to you is quite fun, and fun is definitely what they were aiming for.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk2VdzHBWhJ/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1ifvucvbpflm0

Perhaps what you saw?

https://www.ducati.com/ww/en/bikes/panigale/panigale-v4

Confirms it, was a speciale. Didn't see a price, but the more regular looking one next to it was a used round the block/ pre registered or ex demo and had £26k on it.

Had a blast yesterday, tarmac so hot my knobblies (heidanau k60) were not enjoying their life. Found a bunch of valleys and roads I'd never been on before, found several sets of "perfect" twisties Imo (for my level of riding etc), sort of 30-50mph narrow a road with good surface, one constant sweep after another for a total of maybe 8-12 corners (loose concentration after that and/or start getting too brave.

But. Utterly sick to death of this bikes ability to go anywhere. The buffeting is still horrendous despite having multiple screens and add ons, and every combo of every screen and angle. Even with no screen at all it is not great (naked bike give a good stream of clean air).
With the heat at 65mph the screen now folds down toward me or just bounces around like an inflatable wavy arm man. Gonna get serious with the dremel, make some relief holes in the one in the photos, Jack it up 30mm off the bodywork so air can get to back side of it, then get someone with a 3d printer to make me a screen support (that will demolish itself in an accident so it doesn't impale me) and sat Nov mount.

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Also rear brake is a pita. One minute it's a perfect responive brake that gives good modulation and plenty of power (brembo) , next minute you can basically stand on it and nothing really happens. Been apart several times, new master and slave seals throughout, piston perfect, rear rotor slightly bent so only guess is that whilst it rubs (sometime sit does sometime it doesn't) it's glazing the pads. New rotor are quite a bit of money, will try true it and see if it makes any difference