Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

That is the sort of scenario where one should also be covering the horn as well. As soon as there’s any drift from the car long protracted use of the audible warning, obviously whilst braking hard and shitting ones self. People seem a bit reluctant to use the horn on bikes but they’re good for focusing driver’s minds

Some people rely on horns and loud pipes. IMO the horn is and isn’t something that should be used.

I’m very much of the school “you’re invisible, and noise will not make people see you”. This view over the last 18 months has been compounded by people cutting me up and the horn has never helped in improving their awareness during or after the fact.

So, yes, covering the horn to give it a “bip-beep” to allow another road user to my presence before the fact. But, no, wasted energy beeping when they are already nearly statistic’ing me.

So far for me I think it does hold true, if you have time to hit the horn you have time to take the evasive manoeuvre. I’d sooner not hit the horn and use that fraction of mental capacity for picking my escape route.

I think I used the horn more on green lanes than ever on the road. The bi-beep from 50-100 yards is essential to give people enough notice, but not upset anyone.

Yes if you’re about to get tacco’ed use your time to manoeuvre but it’s real worth is as an early deterrent and not beep beep but really stand on the fecker and tbh if you can brake you should be able to use the horn as well (unless you’re on a scooter), if anything it may reduce the closing speeds at the point of collision :)
I’m from the roadcraft school of using the audible warning as much as necessary and if in doubt use it.
Loud pipes though are just a fucking nuisance.

:)

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/341272

I once joined the M25 at J29, and there was pretty heavy traffic building up on the M25.
I was on the slip road and watched a car "drift" from the passing lane, across 3 lanes, solid white line and onto the slip road, forcing me onto the hard shoulder.
I watched him do it, and was thinking the whole time "surely he isn't going to come into my lane"
No time to bib him, but thankfully the 44-tonne lorry driver who saw it all happen gave him a rather lengthy toot on the air horn and the wanker out of the window (I assume on my behalf)

I've found loud pipes increase awareness of your presence in city traffic and can be useful. Even as a driver I will look around a bit more if I hear a bike engine.

Never had time to use the horn. I do shout very loudly though! With an open face helmet this is a bit more useful but obviously doesn't make much difference on open roads or at speed. In town it can raise a drivers awareness.

I've created a dedicated thread for gixxer progress. Spoiler alert it's mainly cleaning. Also started an insta page (@ahumblegarage) if you're super keen.

Surprisingly hard! Mine is conveniently behind the apartment but tumbledown to say the least. I had to do the wiring myself and run it to the house via 10 gauge to the washer / dryer plug. It is even less salubrious outside...

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GN125 is sold! Guy viewed earlier and put 50% down as deposit.

Hopefully viewing the XJ600N on wednesday or end of the week at the latest.

Nicely done. Always feels like such a relief when you sell a vehicle doesn't it. Hope all works out with the XJ600N.

Sweet - good work. Try out a few other bikes too, maybe?

Yea I am hugely relieved. I hope it goes smoothly and no kickback.

Fingers crossed on the XJ.

Opinions are that it’s a very dull bike, which should stop me from losing my license for a while longer.

I like that, doesn't suggest there's a batcave full of cool vehicles around.

I missed a chance to buy a garage at the end of my street 20 years ago (didn't have the money! and didn't like the arrangement with water and electric). They wanted £50k at the time. I know the guys who own it now but I don't think there's any chance of them selling it and even if they did it would likely be £100k.

Glad it sold and thanks for the message/ offer.

Morning All - is anyone on the market for stealth scooter practicality? My wife wants to move her barely used Honda SH300i on - it’s done 11k, it’s white and it has a top box. She wants £2k for it which I think is pretty cheap but that’s mainly to avoid an extended period of eBay bullshit. Anyone up for a bit of Deliveroo?

https://scooterlab.uk/2016-honda-sh300i-review-road-test/

Quick scan through this and (I assume biased) glowing reviews it seems. Is it as good as claimed?

Not in the market for one, but I have to say I’m not totally against the concept of scooters as practical transport.

Marauder idea is on hold, I've spent 2 solid days bunking off "work from home" sorting what I'd written off as a winter neglect tragedy. Servisol soaked all the connections and switches and it jump started! So better the devil you know... One more year then I'll do my big test lol.
Swing arm is free and bushes seem ok but the bolt is stuck (standard) and in need of a tidy up. Wire brushed the lifting paint, sand, clean and slapped the Hammerite straight to rust on, same with the engine mounts up front. Looks like a community service railing job up close, but much better from a few paces and should hold off further rusting for a while.
New sprockets on, header bolts out (6 hours of soaking, trying, finally a crack and more soaking and slowly working the bolts back and forth. Exhaust is solid but rusty, going to harpic and elbow grease and see what I get.
Headset bearings adjusted, seem usable still.
Calliper piston is corroded (again, but it was a cheap Chinese copy) so ordered another caliper.
New cables and battery on order.
New rear light on order - old one was gaffa taped in place since I got it.
Original dash snapped off last year so stuck a little speedo on, but that doesn't read speed. I use my phone anyway, but my understanding is for an MOT a speedo just has to be present. N/HB/I LEDs aren't (can't be) wired in though - potential MOT fail there...
Actually can't wait to get back on it, I'll keep chipping away at the jobs list. fingers crossed!

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They are great. Had my biggest ever accident on one! Quickest bike for normal town riding, so narrow and takes off very well. Totally recommended if you like scooters although the seating position is a bit wierd.

It’s pretty good for carrying stuff/ kids and very relaxing for blatting through traffic - one handed if you want. It needs a lot less attention than my KTM and was my preference in shit weather or on a hangover if only for the ABS and the lack of snarling throttle and engine braking. 300cc makes you king of the traffic lights amid the delivery guys too.

I think I'm falling out of love with my bike.

I bought it a fair few years ago after saving for what seemed like forever, spent a bit on worthwhile upgrades (hate the word 'mods'), its been on a load of trips both UK and around Europe, had all the usual Triumph related electrical issues and various oil leaks and its seen me through amazing times and some proper shit times.

However, this is the kicker - its been just sitting in the garage unused for a year now. Obviously Covid has had a massive impact on how much I can use it, but I feel bad not using it and I just don't seem to get excited about it any more.

Is this normal? Should I sell it and get something different, or am I having some sort of lockdown crisis!

Anyway, sorry if that was a bit gushing just needed to get it off my chest!

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That looks lovely. You're having a lockdown crisis!

I think it helps if you ride a bike to maintain the warm feelings for it.

I loved mine but sold it because I didn't need 2 bikes and the R80 beat it because it was approaching classic status. I would totally recommend them to anyone, they are probably the best choice for London transport. I used mine on a motorway at one point and was surprised how capable it was at that too.

If you can, go ride it. You’ll know within 30 miles if you fall in love again. Even if you do, if there’s something even more fun out there waiting for you, only you will know if you’ll regret a sale.

That's a great looking bike. I had a Thruxton, and I did the same. Rode it everywhere, took it on European road trips, but I never really fell in love with it, and eventually, after one breakdown in the rain too many I put it in the garage and left it for 2 years before selling it.
I have never regretted selling it, and I don't miss it at all.

It really was all about the looks and the noise. It was quite a heavy, hot, sometimes-scary and unrewarding bike to ride.

I wondered about a Guzzi or the Enfield twin, but in the end I never replaced it.

A local bike place had a Moto Guzzi V7 cafe racer thing a year or two ago. It looked amaaaaaazing. So amazing I’d be afraid to use it on UK roads, and clearly by the mileage so had the previous owner.