Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Never knew why these earned a widow maker reputation, apart from jurno bollox. Still think that the rear swing arm strengthening was for looks more than any thing.

Personally I like the s over the r, rotary damper idea was great design for the area but not very long lived but there are a few options to replace the whole lot. I'd recommend the bitubo shock and spring replacement and raising the rear with a couple of two mm washers. The widow maker rep I think was down to chain tension not being right hence limiting the rear suspension travel, as well as people fitting too wide a rear tyre. Brakes can be an issue 6 pots seem to have the usual issues.

Not a Honda fanboy by any means and ride an old kwak for the last six years but may have slightly rose tints but re the firestorm I had mine for a couple of years ( nice set of yoshimura pipes on it) then moved to a varedero and had a varedero for work as well. Thought the engine was a good stompybeast and never had any mechanical issues with any of them and the work varedero was abused a fair bit. They were the cheap sensible v twin at the time of launch hence the sp1. Reliable unlike the work bandits - 6&12 crappy electrics, works k1100rs - pop off mirrors, work diversions - just ugh! my guzzi - pissed oil, bantam - just a pita. They are cheap now but they seem to be hitting reasonably big mileage, was looking yesterday at getting one again but ulez makes it a bit pointless

Never knew why these earned a widow maker reputation

It was because of who bought them, that's always been the case with Suzuki sports bikes. Make a v twin with those looks and it's even more the case.

Where in SW London are you? I have a garage with space and a wall anchor in SW9, a few minutes from the tube/various bus routes. Could come to an arrangement if it's not too far.

SW15 so not too close.
I’d be annoyed if I have to park my bike a tube ride away from my house just so little scrotes don’t nick it

Fair enough, that would be quite a trek but. If it's a weekend bike, I'd still consider finding somewhere nearby to garage it. A tube ride is far less annoying than having it nicked, and leaving it parked on the street in the same place all week will make it more vulnerable.

I was using a battery powered angle grinder to cut through steel piping today. Battery went on for 20mins. Trust fam, look into that garage.

It was only the early S models that got the widow maker tag. They got a recall for a steering damper which calmed people down. I ended up binning mine and fitting a hyper pro. In my opinion, they were not especially flighty, but they were substantially lighter and more powerful than any twin had been up to that point. My 97 made a genuine 123hp to the wheel, much in a big surge between 6-8.5k. Could get flighty of you weren't expecting it. The only time it really went mental was hambfistedly landing a wheelie on the M25. Lock to lock, air under both Tyres.

Spam I’m selling a brand new Shoei helmet and some other bike bits
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F223131082506

Got any pics of the leathers as well?

See my other items for sale via link above

Had to stop myself buying those Alpinestars gloves. They're lovely, but I already have 4 different pairs of the same brand, and all in black.

The recall was also an ecu update.

Mine had had the rear altered for the the bitubo shock and a few washers to raise the rear. I removed the damper and regreased the head and swingarm bearings. Was fine, had to be carefull as giving it a fistfull would mean the occassional wheelie...honest.

How come you changed your mind on learning?

Saw one of these today:

Electric motorbike with ~50 miles of range for less than £3k.

Actually looked pretty good.

Only bloody went and passed my Mod2 this morning. Now, what bike do I get? 🤔

Yay! Nice one.

Supermoto.

Noiiiiice! Congratulations.

What he ^^^^ said. There's a CRF450 on slicks that's started parking in the same garage and I ogle it daily.

Practical or hilarious?
Either way, not what you learned on.

I’m leaning more towards an SV650

I learned on an MT07. I’d have one of those immediately but they’re out of my price range unfortunately

Oh wow, I had some honda 4 pot that had nice power delivery but no guts at all.
I assumed everywhere used similar dull bikes.
MT07nis a good bike

Ha. That's my current run around and still will be, even with the new bike looming.

Show me show me

Congrats.

Here we add the bike that we have or what we want.