Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Fuck me it was cold this morning! 2°C before windchill.
It’s got me looking at heated gloves/tops as I had four layers (inc merino base) and still froze. Wondering what the window of use is before frost/ice puts me off riding anyway - they’re not cheap!

Does the S1000r not have heated grips as standard?

The sport (which mine is) does but they aren’t that effective through winter gloves and do nothing for thumbs.

Got a motorway trip down to London and back today. Will definitely be layering up but the GS has handguards and a shit load of wind protection so I'm not too worried.

@Dramatic_Hammer @Soul

The single-setting ‘Hot Hands’ wraps from Oxford have done me well. They add bulk to the grips but they kept the worst of the chill off. My instructor has sworn by his heated gloves for the last year or so.

I may be getting some handlebar muffs, because I have no pride. Or rather, pride is no use when you’re numb.

Apparently the muffs make a significant difference, fit over handguards, and the benefit outweighs the naff-ness. I’ve read that coupled with heated grips it can get too warm, which sounds amazing.

Looking on ebay there are sellers with the 5V USB powered heating elements that can be sewn onto regular clothing. Half tempted to sacrifice a jacket liner to try that. For the sake of a tenner and a little battery pack, it would be a wallet-friendly test.

I use got one of these a few weeks back
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08D73WQLN?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Has quite a harsh feeling direct heat on highest setting but it is warm and all settings and relatively cheap

Big ups on farkle bikes. Added some fancy stuff recently and this mornings ride to Cambridge was toaaaasty.

Handlebar muffs are the way to keep your hands warm. Maybe these new fangled heated gloves have improved but the handlebar muffs keep your hands and gloves warmer and dryer which can't be beaten.

Think these are the cheapo option people go for...

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Those are cheap enough to take a punt on, interested to see how they work with the BMW switchgear overload.

I have a pair on order, will report back, but the DR has very minimal streetfarkle.

As far as my research online went, some months ago: some are more secure, fitting to the bar end or elsewhere, and some are much better with some pliable wire placed through the cuff loop, so they stay wide open for easy in-out with your hand.

The floppy soft ones are known to flap about and close up with the wind so a little inconvenient to get hands back in whenever removed from the bars.

I used to use the relatively cheapie Oxford ones. Never really a problem with getting your hand back in at speed but they can pull on the levers when you're getting a wiggle on. Over 85 or so, they used to pull in the clutch. Handlebar muffs really do work but I still recall the joyous spring days when they came off and went back in the box for another year.

Mine were 50% gaffer tape before they got retired. I kind of regret never making fairings from estate agents boards though. That was commitment. Especially if the bike was a Bandit 1200 :)

Ha - I’d completely forgotten that. Also of seen on terminally smoking, courier rat GT550s.... ;) London biking in the 90s!

The 550's were really the bike of choice. I think Chas bikes used to survive on the income from them alone.

I used to ride with handlebar muffs, heated jacket and ski pants. Muffs are great and the jacket was lovely.

A few years ago I was given a BMW heated gillet. Aside from it occasionally blowing the accessory fuse it's really nice. Keep your core temperature high and the rest will follow.

A friend used to use crumpled newspaper under the front of their jacket if they got caught out in the cold.

Tucano Urbano do some waterproof insulated trousers that feel a bit like the covers they make for scooters. I have a pair and they work well.

So far I’ve been lucky. Most of my jaunts have been short and sweaty - even in the cold rain a rutted byway gets you unzipping the jacket.

they can pull on the levers when you're getting a wiggle on

I wouldn’t like to run un-structured muffs for that very reason. Then again, I’m placing them over bash guards and not going over 85!

What do people think, 68 plate, 4000 miles. £1000.

I’m looking to get my CBT and a bike, with plans to get a bigger bike in the future, but figure I could ride something smaller/cheaper in the meantime until I decide what I’m after/what riding I enjoy.

Mate has that bike for sale. Reasonable starter bike?

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Lexmoto have really low resale, so consider it worth way less when you come to sell it, unless you trick someone come summer.

All the same, if it works reliably you’re one up on me when I started last year!!

Tbh, it’s a couple hundred more than I wanted to spend and he was knocking some cash off as I know him, and have seen some other 125s that I prefer that will hold resale value better. Not really that keen on it, but figured I’d see what people say. Mate who’s very knowledgeable about these things told me not to touch it with a barge pole!

For sure.

Issue is that Lexmoto are made of cheese. They are worth more in parts than as a whole bike - mostly because people constantly need replacements!!

I’ve been trying to sell my ‘93 GN125, which after all the money and time I spent on it is a reliable little thing - needs the new cam chain fitted sooner than later, as it’s started to make a bit of noise. All the same all I’ve gotten is lowball offers.

If you were closer to Swindon I’d offer you a test ride.

The easiest 125 to sell is a CB125, at least it was when I last looked. Some people don't even lose money on them. They are brilliant bikes and do hundreds of miles on a tank of petrol.

Thing is they are so good the newer ones are way over budget. The older ones are still great.

It's only fair to say that we have all seen the care and attention poured into pdlouche's GN125 so you know you would have some maintenance free miles.

Thanks, it’s ugly as sin but it’s a runner.

To be honest if you didn’t try redline it into every corner and engine brake aggressively like I did over the summer, the cam chain would probably survive thousands more miles. I haven’t even bedded in the new chain or sprockets since fitting them.

I paid the insurance and tax for another year, just in case I need to run errands, but I’d gladly let someone else try run it into the ground - it just keeps on keeping on!

That’s the general rule about older (90’s) Jap-made small capacity motors, so I hear; they were made to a standard that makes them much more reliable than the more modern Chinese or Indian made clones. That Lexmoto will use either a GN or a CB clone for its engine.

What do you lot reckon to Yamaha SR125’s?