Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

You ever get to test that Aprillia

If anybody of the 32" waist variety is after some waterproof riding jeans, I have undergrown my Rev'It Orlando's in black.

Worn a handful of times (in the wet, obviously), and they are really good but after a summer of decent cycling mileage they now fall down.

31" waist, 34" leg - I'd say they're good for someone who wears a 32/32 jean off the bike.

£220 retail, have put them on FB marketplace for £120. Forum discount applies.

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FEMA’s survey on road closures & motorcycle noise.

In several European countries (like Germany and the Netherlands) more and more roads are closed for motorcycles, partly due to complaints about excessive motorcycle noise.

It's an interesting and contentious subject for sure. I know I dislike excessively loud motorcycles, but maybe I'm just getting old! Anyway, FEMA would like to ask us some questions on this subject ...

http://www.fema-online.eu/website/index.php/2018/08/14/survey-road-closures-noise/

Just seen this.

No. Busy. But looking at getting the v2 tuono factory, but wedding first.

That's mad. But can see how it happens, a few good bits of road get absolutely taken over on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Anyone living within 3 miles will probably have a limit to what they can take before taking action.
Saying that. My bike isn't anywhere near loud enough, there are Nissan micras that make more

I dislike excessively loud motorcycles and would by choice, run a standard quiet exhaust if it was safe to do so. It isn't, so I don't. Sucks.

My old blade's system isn't standard, it runs the same Yoshimura can that came on the bike when I got it, but I've replaced the rest with a stainless system which is the same spec as an original one. It looks nice and has a good "rort" without being stupidly loud. However, some of the sports bikes pipes I hear are really very noisy indeed, so I can see why people don't like them.

My CBR has an aftermarket carbon slip on thing and when I bought it the removable baffle was missing. It seemed obnoxiously loud at low speed in residential areas so I got the seller to post it to me and fitted it... It's now fine (and basically sounds the same) but I'm not sure if it's too quiet at speed. A quieter helmet might help but if I can't hear it properly at 60mph I'm not sure anyone in a car would.

Noise cruising at 60mph on a road open enough to do 60mph ≠ noise accelerating hard through a built up environment.

My current and last bikes (Duke 390 and Virago 250) have been reasonably quiet and it doesn’t really bother me.

With the Duke the only exhaust that didn’t lose you power was the extortionate Akra and was like £900 for a 3hp increase! I decided I’d rather keep my £££ and my bhp.

Took Mrs Hammer as a pillion for the first time today, which went ok (no-one fell off) but I hadn’t anticipated how much a physical workout it was going to be. Breaking/downhill especially!

It shouldn’t be. Can’t say I’ve ever noticed a difference between one and two up.

If they're holding on to you and not the bike then it will be like this. Some bikes worse than others for slippy seat and no grab handles. It can help if they can get one hand on the back of the fuel tank to brace themselves against that rather than all their weight on you. You can also get some stuff called wonder web for the pillion seat that makes it really grippy so less sliding.

More advanced pillion techniques help with this. One of the best for pillion and rider is pillions hands on their own knees, they can use their thighs to keep themselves back on the set and it's easier for the pillion to balance their weight. Thing is you need to lean with the rider to steer the bike in the corners so it's easier if your pillion feels comfortable with that feeling.

It's quite nice to ride really slowly if your pillion is all over you, build their confidence slowly. You'll miss the day when they felt the need to be hugging you so tight. :)

As far as noticing a pillion I would say I normally do, there have been times on long tours where they get involved and the weight disappears but generally I notice that weight on the back.

I have Alpinestars boots going spare, they're well used but still lots of life left in them. I would like £20 for them but I'm open to offers.
Pick up from SW16 6DR

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Forgot the size.
It's EU 43/ UK 9

Yeah it was better when she was a bit more confident and held the grab rail but her arms are a bit too short to reach the tank comfortably. I’ve found a model-specific seat cover of that grippy stuff which I might try - she did say she couldn’t stop sliding fore-aft.

Ah yes I forgot about hands on knees, I’ve used it when being the pillion. She’s ok with leaning (been riding a 125 scooter to work) but was shitting it a bit at the wind noise over 50mph. Not helped by it being a very windy day down here.
The hugging is fine, just not the pressure on my wrists!
I’m glad we waited till we had intercoms though, I could explain what was about to happen and she gradually relaxed. The biker side-nod thing helped there too. Apparently very amusing!

The intercoms certainly help. Had them for a trip round NZ and it kept us very sane and happy. I've got a pair in London but the bike's not even insured for pillion as I barely ride it enough myself these days. Plus it's a 40 year old bike with original suspension so I'm happy not to stress the springs any more than necessary.

Pair of panniers and they can hold on to those!
When we were in India in Feb borrowed a Royal Enfield and misses found the pillion position really comfy on that, regular and side saddle. Sideway's is how the locals do it and seemed to work really well on those bikes (big running board thing down left hand side). Didn't have much go or braking capability though so getting flung about wasn't really an issue lol

This is really handy advice - my other half has had a few goes, my first experiences riding with a pillion, and its been really hard work on the arms. She's mostly been grabbing me as I found that more confidence inspiring (if I tip her off on a RAB i'll definitely be in trouble with her mum), but I have a grab rail and a strap so we'll try those next time.

Side saddle, no lid and flip flops. Ready to jump off at the first sign of trouble. I wouldn't like to know the injury stats from that style.

Also, never let your pillion ride on the back of a Harley Ultraglide, they'll never be happy with another pillion seat.

I made this mistake in 2016. 5k miles on one across the states.

Just about to change bike but it wont be anywhere near as comfortable...

It never is! My pillion refused to go back to the R80 after the first Harley tour. Our friends who toured with us ended up buying an Ultraglide to deal with the problem. I rode pillion on his a few times and it's comfortable, you really do feel like a passenger.

I tried bigger BMW's etc. but apparently nothing measures up.

Not sure i'm ever going to buy one but there's no denying the comfort.

Swapping my MT09 for the Tracer GT in two weeks time:

Hoping with a 50L top box w/ backrest, it will make a competent medium range tourer for trips down to my parents place in France etc.