Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

I got to borrow a Vitpilen 701 for a day, not long after they first came out. I really liked it, but I'm not a connoisseur or a particularly talented rider so my judgement may be flawed. I just liked the position and that it had guts but wasnt terrifying

Yeah I have seen that but it’s a slightly out dated review now, price has dropped on them significantly and they are now much more comparable in price. The 2021 models for example are only £200 apart for example.

whilst this is going to be primarily a commuter, I’m not spending a large sum of money to buy something I don’t want to own. Otherwise I’d just be buying whatever I could get my hands on at half the price. I am unashamedly swayed a bit by aesthetics and though I appreciate they are good bikes I would not ride a stock Duke 390 because I personally do not like the look of them. Whereas the Svartpilen I only want to swap the mirrors for bar ends and I’d be more than happy with how it looks.

I’m actually looking at a new 2020 model which is substantially cheaper than the 21 obviously and I’m hoping to be able to haggle a bit as they probably want to get rid by now(?)

Weirdly the position is what most seem to complain about with the Vitpilen, I guess it depends what you’re used to! they look great though!

Theory booked for next Thursday! Hopefully that’s enough time to revise haha.

Good work. I hate the look of KTMs too, dirt bikes aside. The little 400s look a right laugh.

Although they are car-biased apps, these significantly improved my chances of passing.

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Ah you'll be fine.
Good luck.

Husq 701 was my second choice. Just liked the absurdly high ride of the BMW more than anticipated.

Baaaaaaaaaaah. So the little bike fired straight up, sounds crispy crisp. Goes into gear, finds neutral, so far so good. Except the sodding water pump seal has gone. HOPEFULLY it's just the water pump seal, otherwise I've got to take the sodding engine out again to get to the oil seal and bearing on the other side. Motorbikes are c*$ts. Saga continues.

They look good but I would think a little screen would be a massive improvement for a lot of reasons.

How little are we talking? These are available but I can’t see an actual use for them? And I don’t really like the look either. It has risers so it’s a more sat up position, would a small screen have any use here?

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I would be more into a nose cone type with a much bigger bubble. I'm not really into naked bikes any more, they are all tough on the neck and traps if you're doing more than 50.

Until you do motorway miles, no screen is fine

It starts getting difficult to hold on at about 140 ;)

I like the bubble screens for the circa 100mph twisty dual carriageway stuff. Really makes it fun. Seems to stabilise the steering too.

It's not a great position for real riding, neither fish or foul. I hate to say it but something like a Versys is probably better all round except on looks maybe.

No shit - feels like you're getting turned inside out!

Can someone please go to Portugal and report back. This looks like the daddy....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ7_bn37LCA

Insane! That 2 strokes engine on the sampietrini is rad, really doing some moterfucking justice on that pavement. And when he started to have the lapped ones? how fun is that???? Wanna talk about the chicanes that rather than functioning as a slow down became a go-through obstacles...
Imaging doing it with a 250cc(still two strokes) Hahahah......

Damn.

Cannoli inspecting my work. To replace the cylinder head cowl bolt means removing the rear footboard, then the exhaust.

Replaced all the flywheel cowl bolts with allen bolts too. New centre stand spring fitted and whilst it was all accessible, I did all the under frame and body parts with ACF50. Shampoo, wax and protectant spray. New spark plug, new HT lead. Stripped the carb and cleaned. Starts like a champion now, first kick.

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That reminded me riding the TZR back from the girlfriends house at 3am. Knee down everywhere, pipes screaming.

Mint and WOW!! Nice. And yes, ACF50 is the best. Cannoli looks pretty happy to be on the saddle, he knows how much you love it and you're sharing it with him.

Still pining after it.

Of course not, it's just dusty in here.

That video is the closest I've seen to the buzz I used to get riding one on empty streets though.

Also enjoying my Electric Brompton a lot. Kind of dialing it in to my riding style and it's great for getting around town. Feels really quick and there's loads of shortcuts and law breaking you can get away with on a push bike. I think my 'motor' bike future will be electric. Maybe a quicker model for distance too, a least once they're lighter with removable batteries.

An electric streetfighter that does 80mph with the right weight would be lethal.