Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

It’s on the list, yea.

Current priority list is something like:

DR350:
New exhaust system
Hagon rear shock
Hagon fork rebuild
Big bore kit

XJ600:
Hagon rear shock

However, I really want a trials bike. So all the above might go on hold if a Gas Gas or Sherco comes available at the right price.

Why not do the forks yourself? Just get some emulators from race tech or somewhere. They’re a doddle to do.

Sorry I mean buy the kit from Hagon, and either DIY or have the mechanics do it to save me the mess. I’m not sure that emulators are considered the best route for this year of DR, but at least Hagon would be bragging rights.

Test ride was successful. Only an hour or so this morning on flat easy lanes, mud and gravel.

Front wheel lifts off the ground in first to third, without clutch, if you get your body position right. I could go along at 20mph or so, stand, lean back, chop throttle then blip and the front wheel would come up a bit.

Sitting, chop and blip, and it can break traction with the ground.

With clutch-ups or good technique I bet it could be consistent.

Also, found someone left a battery behind!

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So, I'm thinking about getting an electric motorbike for commuting. Will need to be able to handle dual carriageway / motorway riding, so I can't get away with a little scooter. Mainly looking at a Zero DSR or SR/F, anyone own or ridden them and have any thoughts or other suggestions?

How far is your commute? I got beasted by Zero DSR off the lights a while back - they're fast as fuck up to fifty or so. It didn't wheelie or anything, just boogied up the road. Did reel him in but it took full beans in second. I think they're probably unbeatable in the traffic light GP, save for something long, low and with massive grunt.

Squid on a TMax tried that with me on the XJ yesterday. Didn’t even realise til I engine braked for a red light and he flew past and wobbled to get his feet down slamming on the brakes.

I’ve ridden an SR. They’re ridiculous under legal speeds.

Claimed range is a joke though (unless you drive like a 95yr old vicar) so beware if your commute is marginal against the claimed range….

Tmaxs are pretty handy - I followed a fella riding one down the hill from Grasse to Cannes once upon a time with the Mrs on the back and she was not amused. He was NOT hanging around. Nothing compares with those electric bikes off the lights though. Bit like the Teslas, they run out of puff quick, but initial acceleration is explosive.

I've been done by a Tesla Model D off the lights too and was in 3rd gear going very fast when I eventually caught him. Ridiculously fast considering how enormous they are.

Oh for sure. I was really impressed how sprightly it was... less so by the squid’s stopping and balancing.

Commute isn't that far that range will be an issue, it's just not on town streets. I guess for further travel you'd want to get the fast charger kit for top ups.

BMW’s offering? I got absolutely owned by one somewhere around Barcelona. It just...went. They guy was out to drain the battery out in the mountains.

@pdlouche I don’t fuck with those x/tmax’s here, they’re generally ridden by people who have very little regard for self. They fucking go as well!

@Soul I can’t wait for this electric shit to come down in price.

They do appear to draw particular clientele.

I'm with you on price!

I'd totally have an electric scooter, MX Bike (the Alta was awesome) or little track bike, like MOTO3 sized with an Alta power unit. All are perfectly viable with pre-existing battery tech, too.

Considering the price of a trials bike, the electric offerings become more and more appealing there as well.

I was hoping for a £1000 starter bike, then it looked like £2k minimum. Now I’m being warned maybe £3k for something serviceable, up to £4 in a dealer (preowned).

That’s pretty much on (starter/used) electric trials money. What I’d lose in range/waterproofing, I’d surely gain in silence and naughty trips to local trails.

Damn that seems a lot! Can you find anything older like a Yamaha TY175 / TY250? My mate has a 175 for vintage trials here and swears by it. Air-cooled, super easy to service and still good parts availability.

I bet the electric ones are great - all that torque must lend itself well I imagine.

I’m all for it really, even if it came down to track whips.
Imagine half a days battery life with instant, on tap, modulated torque with no mechanical aspects to go wrong on an MX bike? What’s not to like?

Track bike, just lay that throttle down, only think to worry about is brake pads abd overheating rubber!

People bang on about noise, yeah, it’s nice on the overrun, but frankly, when you’re full WOT, noise is the last thing you’re thinking about.

Was a nice beta for sale in Fort William last week

@Jung it’s a problem across all disciplines.

My DR has doubled in resale value, anything dirt-worthy sells with a massive tax, even road bikes are short supply/high ticket used affect by the shortage of new bikes. Every dealer (with dad stupidly wanting a road bike) said the same thing. Used bike prices are very strong, and (particular) new bikes are in limited numbers.

On the trials scene the prices are more fluid, but the dealer said they just can’t get enough (cheaper) bikes at the moment.

Older would be fine, if condition wasn’t suspect.

@Chak so long as the water doesn’t kill the electrics, I’m all for it.

@BrickMan I’ve been warned against anything north of Birmingham:

“They’re mental up there. Really rocky terrain. Their technique for riding it is to hammer into the rocks as fast as possible. Generally bikes in the south are better condition, all we have is mud.”

This is killing my wallet this weekend as well.

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@pdlouche 2L fits nicely, thanks for the links.

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Brilliant.

It's quite a snug fit so need to make sure it doesn't expand and become stuck, most probably when I most need it.

If I had the option I’d brace it in there 90 degrees to that, moving the tool kit. Just for avoidance of said issue.

So long as you leave some space for air, and maybe vent it when at home before each ride, you may get away with it.

Edit: my smaller one expanded but only in width and only a little. Unlikely it gets longer/taller unless you left zero air space.