Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Some subtle differences to my old bike but looks great (and would look better if cleaned!).
I think you should visit with your cheque book ( or Apple Pay if you are young! 😀)

I think that's just the starting price too! Probably have worn the cheque book down to stubs by the time I'm on the mad mile at Box Hill.

It really is too early for porn!! 😀😀
I’ve been looking at 500 two strokes on YouTube - really no practical use on the road but I still want one!
I found a 12 cylinder CBX too - back to my lottery win thoughts ….

That's bloody lovely! I've always desperately wanted an RGV250.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum has anyone tried a Zero DS/ DSR? Seems like a pretty excellent option for a commuter (I've got a 160km round trip with ample charge time in the middle) that would still be a bit of fun to mess about with?
Here's an amusing special edition one by Filson...

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Where do you put the paddock stand when it's not in use?

That chainsaw blade could be a liability if you forget it's there. Filson should maybe stick to making bags.

On a serious electric bike point though. Sounds like you are in a position to benefit from it. Zero had a reputation for being the most thought through option. Performance is way over what it needs to be on most of the electric bikes at the moment but why not have insane acceleration?

Weight is the main downside. Lighter bikes are more fun.

Paddock stand should slot over the chainsaw as a crash guard.

If you were riding behind someone with a chainsaw mounted like that, how much space do you leave? :)

I think I’d opt for point.

I have a long ignored 2009 Honda CBF125 in the garage.
Hasn't been used since 2015.

Reckon it is sellable as a project*?
Any idea what sort of price i should ask for (or if anyone is interested, make me an offer, will need a trailer, it is in Essex)

*It was my daily driver until I got a big bike licence.
Has mild scuff marks from a horizontal trip down the road, and one of the indicators is held on with gaffer tape, have replacement indicators, but never got round to fitting.

These go for mad monies these days. Well worth sprucing it up and selling it.

I have a Zero S and it's great. I didn't test ride a DS as I was only going to do road riding but I imagine it's pretty similar. Tried an SR/F and SR/S too and they were also great, though I didn't like the riding position as much as the S. The lack of gears / clutch make them completely hassle free to ride (once you get over phantom reaching for the clutch :)).

Hmm, maybe
2 pints of oil and new battery should only run to £30, just need to see if i can figure out how to drain the fuel tank.

Oh nice one! How have you gotten on with range in real use and have you had any issues with it or has it just been plain sailing?

Have you made it happen yet?

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Ha! Not yet.

I need to move the TransAlp on first, and maybe the old 125, if I can get it working.

Currently watching the eBay SMT Skinny posted
Turns out it is just round the corner from me (15 minute drive, anyway)

This is worth a watch if you have nothing better to do. On live now.
https://youtu.be/jv6cd6Yljzo

Bling! Fits perfectly. Feels great. Not ridden it yet because the bike won’t start. I think I ran it out of gas.

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I’m sure there’s a Led Zeppelin song title for a morning like this…!

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@jung the jealousy is real, will eventually get something similar for the srad. Liking the purposeful master cylinder bracket too. Bike looks in cracking nick up close too.

@pdlouche think I'm sold on this off road business, going to try and sell the RSV to purchase something with knobbly tyres. Looks super atmospheric. Our of interest what % of your riding with the DR350 if off road? Still trying to get my head around dual sports whilst investigating local green lanes.

Unrelated to the above, have been watching this guy on YouTube and had to share. Bless him he's very enthusiastic but something very Partridge about him.

https://youtu.be/C11F7QVSFtU

Buy dad’s CRF!

Initially when I bought it last year it was probably 80% road, 20% lanes. I got a second set of wheels so I could enjoy proper grip in each situation. The aim was 50/50, but it had a lot of road use across the winter and almost no green lanes.

Since buying the XJ600, the DR350 is solely for green lanes now. The actual number of miles on tarmac vs unpaved is still up to 50/50. I have had to drive to/from lanes, and sometimes I use it for running errands in-between dirt riding. 10-15 miles each way on the road, plus transitions, maybe 60 miles or so in total across a few hours, you get the picture.

Mine being a ‘98 electric start means it was very road-oriented, with the CV carb and relatively high gearing. The original dirt models had lower gearing (different primary gears as well), and the pumper carb as standard.

Mine now has the pumper carb, and I have already added two teeth to the rear. It’s not quite lively enough so I’ll be dropping at least one tooth at the front as well.

Until now, I would climb or do technical work in first and slip the clutch when necessary. I want to get the front wheel lifting on command, so I’m keen to push what I did in first gear to second gear. I don’t mind the loss in top speed because it’s not a bike for speed.

Stock setup with road gearing and road tyres it was hella fun. Aggressive shifts and up to 80mph, but to be honest even 60mph is a bit unnecessary. So long as you can hit 50mph you can do the transitions between lanes.

On the lanes once you know them well, you go around 30mph. In the ruts and technical stuff you’re barely 5 or 10mph.

Modern ones like dad’s CRF250 (or new 300) are built for it. Fuel injected, easy to gear lower for more torque. Not fast, but not very heavy either. Dad did 1300 on the road and got the Royal Enfield because he never bothered using it on the dirt where it would really shine.

Thanks for that, useful to know how dual sporting works in reality. I've been looking into them on and off for a year so that has to say something. Up until recently it seemed like most bikes were either too highly strung or pedestrian, baring older steeds like your DR or Honda XR's. The new CRF300L looks like a cracker and seems to fall in that middle ground of offroad capable and handle some motorways (if occasionally needed).

In all YouTube comments the CRF450L seems to be criticised for high price, low bhp and frequent servicing but that's my current thinking. The fact it's now been discontinued means I'll have to go 2nd hand but will try and sell the RSV and see what's about. A CRF250/300L would probably be fine but hoping to hold onto the bike for a long time so want to future proof things.

Yea there’s someone locally with a CRF450L and he wants around 8 1/2 for it. He did a lot of upgrades, but anyone with £8k is going to buy an enduro or a T7, not a weird overpriced 450.

Currently prices are holding. Dad wants £4k ono offer for his CRF250L as recent 2020’s are selling for £4.1k on ebay. However, even a 7 year old CRF is worth 3.5k. So you don’t lose much on resale because they are a great entry into laning.

That’s the beauty of it as far as value. If dad’s bike sits there unsold for a year, it’s not going to devalue. If someone buys it and doesn’t get on with it, they won’t lose much money on resale.

As far as future-proofing on skill… I think that unless you’re doing enduro races then you don’t really outgrow these smaller bikes. I’d love a lightweight enduro for more ‘fun’ or technical stuff, but only so I don’t have so much weight to pick up if I drop it.

The DR’s are stupid money now. I couldn’t afford to buy one with the current asking prices. There’s also the maintenance costs and needing to avoid E10 to protect the carb and fuel parts.

a weird overpriced 450

It does seem in a class of it's own with the urethane filled swing arm, polite road manners and engine covers. But still being relatively light. I think my issue with enduros would be them gettingng annoying on the road and a T7 being too heavy offroad. Even the highly praised Husky 701 is quite a bit more weight. This review articulates what I'm trying to say a lot better https://youtu.be/WMEzyDpZHGU

Good point too on newer bikes holding their value right now, this has been a reassuring factor in potentially spending more than I normally do.

Not saying I wouldn’t own the 450, but I wouldn’t pay for one!