Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Been struggling with the van ‘conversion’ and took (another) break from it earlier.

Ended up on the CBR for a couple hours. Met up with a guy a couple years older who had a Triumph STwin, claiming he was calmed down now he was older.

He was fooling nobody though - when he got going he was taking corners like someone who has sports bikes in the blood. He did: a history of cbr and gsxr models before a driving ban put him off for a few years.

With ABR Fest this weekend, I need the van finished (will be sleeping in it) but also need to actually check the DR is working!!

Not jealous at all about ABR festival.

ABR looks like a giggle - what's the weather forecast?

Looks like the first day (sat) of the Melee is going to be burning up, forecast high of 106F+ for most of the route. Urgh.

I did the ride part of a Bikesafe course on Sunday, 140 miles of mixed roads with a police observer for half of it. Mostly about positioning and interesting to see how much of the road they use and how early they use it but otherwise confirmed that I don’t like riding back lanes that would be ideal for cycling!
Had a squirrel and a fox run out almost into my wheels.

A badger nearly killed a mate the other day. Got off lucky, stayed upright, with only one plastic panel damaged.

Anyone know how to park a motorbike in canary Wharf.

Ideally as close the big Jubilee line exit/Mall as possible.

Happy to pay a bit, but don't want to spend a fortune.

Cheers.

Okay. Being a bit thick about clicking the drop down menus.

A more precise question is whether anyone knows if plenty of bays are normally available or if it's the same mad dash you get for the good spots in the City?

Hate to say it but quiet bikes are bloody lethal here. I've had more near misses on the VFR in a couple of trips to Hollywood than I'd normally have in months, including one pickup truck that changed lanes into me and crunched my leg. Cell phone usage is absolutely out of control here. Rather ruins the experience.

Jubilee car park, off the bank street one way bit. Make sure you use the motorbike specific barrier, go straight over to parent and child parking.
£3 a day, lifts bring you out in the mall or at street level by Obica.

Entrance is at ///dart.themes.charm

Normally loads of spaces by parent and child. Most people who work in the wharf have access to underground parking in their buildings.

Sounds rubbish!

Awesome cheers!

The knee incident was egregious. My knees are fucked enough already.

So we can claim your stories as our own? We can laugh and poke fun for years to come? Or we can sit and go yeah why not.

Stay safe, have fun.

Well we managed a short ride on the CLs tonight and nothing went wrong. Not much we can do now, mine feels a bit vibier and slower but they’re pretty similar. Handling at 60+ (when they eventually get there) is shopping trolley, post canal-Esque.

If we get through day 1 we’ll probably make it.

Bat dad?
Is it me or do modern motorbike semi slick look odd on a retro bike? At a guess I am missing something.

I'll bite.

Of course it suffers a little from that sort of crap but I love it. Nothing is perfect off the peg.

I looked at a lot of bikes. KTMs, all off the japanese options, various triples, even the speed triple, R nineT. i wanted a rumbly twin, and especially this twin. The engine is a really nice thing.

The R NineT was a strong contender but the shop said they had no ETA to replace the one that sold from under my nose.

New rolled bench seat is on the way without the funny pointy part, which should tone down the bat part. time, miles and a few very easy aesthetic changes will tone down the dad part.

Bat Dad,
Check the number plate on the jeep in your photo !

Facepalm. Still to the point.

Sorry that came across as confrontational.

Bat dad, was the jeep and that made me laugh and play the batman theme tune changing batman for bat dad.

As for the tyres, I like the look of these old style tyres to look at on a bike

With the rider dressed as an original ton up boy.

Have been lucky enough to ride one of the alleged ton up bikes from the 60s and they are scary to ride compared to modern bikes of two decades ago.

Bikesafe IMO is a great way to ride with a highly trained rider and an observed ride to.

Maybe compared to bikes of two decades ago, though the only thing I've found scary is shit brakes. I think the Triumph twins of the late 60s/70s were better handling than most of the UJM machines of the same era. I'd go as far as saying a nice 68-70 TR6C or something is a way more enjoyable bike to ride than the last gen of modern oil-cooled Bonnevilles.

Two old wrecks, earlier…

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Tyre tech has also moved on too. Suspect that the tyres on the BSA engined triumph were old and all felt a bit suspect. Also riding someone elses bike that was far different to anything I have ridden before.

Passed my CBT the other week, not going to lie was shitting myself for the on-the-road part but actually found it much easier than the car park riding, blasting down country lanes and a few A roads around Chippenham. Also enjoying the old CG125 I purchased, although frustratingly it has started to sputter in anything above 2nd gear and is a struggle to get started if I stall, engine was recently rebuilt... Problem with carb? It has fuel, inline filter looks half full but I presume that's normal.

Chippenham? Local to me then, in Swindon