Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

If you get the opportunity at any point, try some stuff for size in case you want to pick it up in the future. They're a good bunch and a small brand worthy of support, IMO anyway

I’ve never run them but they’re F-expensive and have a very limited shelf life. Supposed to be the nuts for desert racing etc.

Like running cut wets on a dry track day ;)

Just tried Compare the market for a quote as my policy is up for renewal... they couldn't return any quotes. How odd.

Going to double check everything as I only updated the obvious things quickly. But who do people use? - other than MCE

So I can ring around and get a benchmark quote.

Devitts are worth a look - there's discussion earlier in the thread I think.

Cheers

Meant to post these a few days ago. 1971 Ural with sidecar, as original as possible, by Avebury. Chatted to the guy, was very chatty, life history of the bike chatty.

Short version it was brought into the country illegally and barn stored for decades. Took months and months to rebuild and get working, and longer still for the registration to happen since there was no Nova. Apparently pisses oil everywhere and max speed is 40mph.

Watching him 3-point and reverse into a parking space was something.

3 Attachments

I'm a dickhead.

All these years I've been using CTM, whereas I should have been using https://www.thebikeinsurer.co.uk/ !

Postoffice = £346.82 with £175 excess and £zero vol excess.

Only annoying thing is the usual useless online reviews of insurers where no one has claimed. I mean honestly who reviews an insurer when you haven't had to claim?

ps If anyone has had experience with either Devitts or Motorcycle Direct their experience would be appreciated. Cheers.

I'm using Hastings, considerably cheaper than other quotes.
Not had to make a claim.

Thanks.

I’m using footman james on a classic policy (inc commuting), which was by far the cheapest option. 2001 reg so not even that old!

At this point I have enough quotes that are ok pricewise. It's just choosing.

Torn between:

• Motorcycle Direct = £354.15, with £425 total excess, but with legal, personal accident, leathers*, etc.
  
• PO = £346.82, with £175 total excess
  
• Devitt = £351.02, with £175 total excess
  
  

Figure Devitt as a recognised name should trump the PO. But is the leathers, etc. worth the extra £250 in excess?

*leathers carries a £25 excess

Don't forget to consider MCAMS before actually claiming on your policy, too...

MCAMS

Never heard of them before. So if you have a claim, you put it through them and they get you a better deal?

The motorcycle instructor rated them highly, and is now some kinda referrer, so I try keep a pinch of salt handy... but basically they’re a 3rd party that in the event of no-fault stuff will get you the best deal by stinging the other party. They get their fees from the other insurer.

One of the learners got rear-ended and the bike was Cat-B’d I think. Anyway, instructor got a high end loaner bike for weeks and weeks til the insurer paid out, and was paid out well. Heard other stories of people getting their bikes knocked over from stationary in petrol stations and getting new helmet, new fairings, bike repaired and some settlement from it.

Can’t qualify the stories but can verify the time the instructor had the loaner (and met the rep who came down to help with it all). Seemed pretty legit.

Also my policy is through Bikesure, and price seemed okay, but haven’t had to claim yet.

I got knocked off my bicycle and claimed through them ^ (they also have a cycling branch)
and as above, replaced my shitty steel beater with a brand new carbon cannondale hire bike for months and then got paid out a 5 figure sum. I did also have 2 broken teeth which explains some of that number. Dentists are expensive

Ah a motorcycle combination, and Urals are still made and the tech hasn't moved on much. Check out F2 motorcycles.

The issue is that the chair is on the wrong side, but you can get a power chair with the EU spec bikes so two wheel drive. They are fun to ride and are not like a motorbike.

Yea this was an original 1971, so all the ‘good’ bits hadn’t been updated, like the sidecar. Apparently the guy has a gun (‘replica’) that mounts on top too.

Watched Ryan F9 (Fortnine) on Youtube, featuring the modern one. Looked great fun and totally unnecessary.

I went to the elepantreffen on one.

http://richardedmondsauctions.com/catalogue-new/?event=1

Has anyone got any recommendations for motorbike recovery service (Eg a guy with a trailer and straps etc)? Or does anyone have a trailer and straps they’d be willing to lend / rent?

Bike is currently west London and I’m east london.

My bike has died. Sad times.

Have used SOS motorbike recovery before, after an accident.

Track day booked 💪

Used SOS when I got a p_nct_re, rescued me and dropped my bike at the garage
(Tubed tyres, unrepairable roadside)

Decat-ing a bike, is it road legal after?
And should I tell my insurance?

Tempted to replace the exhaust in the TransAlp and the LeoVince pipe and can shave several kilos off the stock kit (10+ kg) and add a couple of HP.

Also, what's good for loosening seized/ rusted bolts on an exhaust?