Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

I helped a neighbour fix up his chineseium custom special. It was a pretty solid engine and gearbox, frame and subframe fine, wiring and switchgear not so much.

Cycled past a guy on a Lexmoto 125cc yesterday, had a built in loudspeaker radio/mp3 player. Banging tunes, mega lols.

The mechanics told me some stories about Chinese bikes and scooters being made of cheese, and that the recommended service intervals are crazy short.

Not surprised the engines are relatively solid, they’re direct clones of the 80’s/90’s jap stuff from when production moved to China, right?

Yes. They are pretty solid looking copies. I would worry about metal quality on internal parts like bearings and cranks. Carb seemed like a normal carb, screw heads had already been damaged though. Chromed wheels have that slightly impossibly shiny chrome that you see pitting and failing quite dramatically after a number of years but it looks ok after 5 years, a lot of people would have ridden and sold it by then. I don't think they are going to be around for 40 years like the CG125's might be.

Since seeing @pdlouche 's DR350 I've been in a deep enduro rabbit hole, oh and @Jung is to blame for his evangelism, but seriously considering getting an XR650R in the new year. I am tempted to carry on the sports bike trajectory with an 1198s but can't help thinking I'd never reach it's potential on the road, or track for that matter. The thought of trying something new and mucking around off road is quite appealing. Mmmm

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1198s! Do it!

Join the dirt side! Can’t wait to be out on the DR proper. Over two months staring at it in the shed, I cannot wait.

With the impending Mod2 test I’ve been pushing the GN125 to limp on, so I can do drills and keep fresh on roadcraft.

Found myself really aggressively leaning the little bike with its not-so-sticky tyres. It certainly felt like drifting out on roundabouts and sweeping curves; the line I gave the bike wasn’t the line I was exiting. Think I might have to reel it back a bit.

See, comments like that aren't very helpful ;)

I lurve the 1198s. Batshit engine, dry clutch noise, trellis frame. Say no more.

However, if you've not experienced the joy of dirt...it's choice. Completely reinvigorated my interest in bikes a few years ago.

How about go for the sensible option and lift a mint 1098s and a DRZ400? Package deal.
I'll say the DRZ400 is one of the sweetest handling and competent all rounders off road you can find. Bomb proof and responds well to tuning. E-start too, which is a huge plus when you've fallen off a dozen times and are getting tired.

The DRZ400 was ‘the’ bike I wanted having assumed DR350’s weren’t possible to find in good condition. Plan was a DRZ400SM, so all the roadworthy with USD forks, and much easier to put S-range enduro wheelsets onto.

I believe the SM is the only model that makes this wheel swap easy, where the other versions require risers/spacer/caliper/disc swaps and improper speedo stuff.

Met a nice guy today who landed in the country yesterday, grabbed an Africa Twin immediately got some cowshit on it, and will by now have reached Wales to meet his cousin before they tour across the continent via lots of TET.

Your DR350 looks super clean, I'm sure it will be great! I always recommend the 400 as I'm way more familiar with them. For off road, you can't go wrong with the stock non-SM suspension, it's not too bad on the street either. You can buy SM wheels from Warp 9 which work fine out of the box....who needs a speedo....

Don't know which different models you get in the UK but the one to go for is the DRZ400E (if it's street legal there) It has the pumper carb, bigger cam and higher compression motor. Retains the E-start.

As I rented a 125 , I was considering a 125 Liberty .. cheap £2399 new .
I’m 57 , off street parking on drive in west London .
Insurance was £480-760 that’s nuts , I know I’ve not ridden for a while but my 916 ( that dates me)cost less .Thats saying no to all the naughty stuff but crucially my no claims expired years ago , that can’t help .
It might work out at 50p A mile .
It makes a whimsical purchase a tad spendy .
I guess because they get stolen a lot ?
My neighbour ( younger ) pays £130.
Perhaps I’ll give it a miss , it has cooled my jets somewhat

You need to post up some pictures of the 916!

Incidentally, just had a renewal quote come through from my current provider (Bike Sure) - £385 TPFT - 1,000 annual mileage, 1 years no claims, no convictions. Locked garage, south London. This is on a CBR650F.

My first insurance quote, was circa £1k when I passed my test and bought a Street Triple. Utterly bonkers, with an £800 excess.

If I wanted to park the bike on the road instead of being garaged, I couldn't get insurance. If I added commuting, it was around 25% more.

tl:dr - insurance premiums in London are fucking crazy.

How are you finding the 650f?

@sacredhart - absolutely love it. I passed my test last year and bought a Street Triple, which quite frankly scared the shit out of me having learnt on a CB650F. 105 BHP vs. 85 BHP.

That paired with hot start issues meant I traded it in for the 650F and I've not looked back. Its much more docile, you can open it up and the power is super smooth, gearbox and clutch both forgiving.

The ABS (which was a major consideration when trading in) is excellent. Riding position is very tame - no issues on the wrists. Switch gear, even for a 2017 model like mine, is dated but it works and its intuitive. But its faster (for me at least) in the twists with fairings.

It's a bike that wants to be ridden, its confidence inspiring and sits nicely in that "sports bike" category - something you can ride around town, tour on or go for a Sunday blast. Having said that, its much slower than my mates VFR...Reliability wise, you cant wrong with Honda. For a first bike, its ideal - DO IT.

Vtec yo

@PhilDAS - exactly!

I've always liked the looks of the VFR800. Looks like quite a big bike but gets good reviews for handling as far as I recall. And the Vtec system with it running on half the valves at low revs interested me.

And they look great with the fairings removed

Edit: that's a 750 actually

My friend loves his, been touring on it - the whole schbang. Its quite spicy top end too.

They are a big bike, definitely feels like you are sitting "in it"

I'm quite budget oriented and I've stuck with my 40yr old R80 for nearly 20 years. Insurance is still £200 p.a. with full no claims and limited mileage (3k).

It's really easy to have an accident or get the bike stolen, especially a new scooter. You need to spend decent money on locks and probably an annual tracker fee. If its just for short journeys a foldable electric is great.

R80

hmm

Love that

Barely days after passing a CBT and no previous motor ownership, in my 30’s, GN125 cost me around £180-ish TPFT with a couple extras like first claim premium protection, fall-off-yourself cover or whatever it’s called.

8 months later, so still no no-claims bonus, DR350 cost more or less the same.

Both insured with gold standard locks inside a locked shed (not garage).

Suppose Swindon has one merit over London.

That's a hard pass from me but mine is in original but ratty condition with well maintained mechanicals.

They are great bikes but having just applied for historic tax I noticed on the form that significant modifications would stop the bike being eligible.

The custom job pictured is possibly a later model judging by the brembos and single rear suspension. No idea how these have £8-10k asking prices when the starter bike is £1.5-3k.

Don't get me started on the lack of mudguards.

Sounds great, just what I’m after. I was really keen on a ninja 400 for ages. Sounded similair to my old Mx5 in that you could safely rag it. I’m now leaning towards a 650f.