Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

If I confess this here perhaps I'll remember to do something about it: I'm riding around with no MoT, tax or insurance.

E-scooter?

MZ, reliable, same sentence??

I did ~8 weeks commuting over the Dartford Crossing twice daily with no MOT (unintended, I got the dates mixed up)
Assumed that as they have a vast number of camera for the tolls, they would employ some ANPR checks too, but no, I got zero fines for it
(Was taxed and insured though, or as much as you can be without a valid MOT)

My plate is ANPR-proof.

Need to find a trustworthy MoT tester who won't insist on fitting unnecessary pads or whatever. The nearest guy to me has that vibe very strongly. And he doesn't even do the MoTs, he takes the bikes by van to some other place, hence he has to have the bike overnight. Every fucking thing in Brixton is so sketchy these days. Everyone is broke and desperate.

The ETZs were pretty rock solid. I did horrible things to a 251 and it didn't miss a beat.
Horrible bike, oddly effective.

Oh really? The only one I've had my hands on was all upside-down controls and refused to start most of the time.

I’ve always found sgt motorcycles in Tooting pretty good for mots, indeed my 250 scooter is going there tomorrow after a massive 480 miles last year.

Don't get me wrong, they're fucking weird in nearly every regard but they're pretty tough. I highsided one into near oblivion at 50mph and after picking up all the pieces that yard-saled up the road, managed to ride it home.

Yeah great bikes. The TS for its time is very reliable and when you get onto the ETZ they are bombproof.
They were built to last with good quality parts. Even though the Germans were still being given the cold shoulder they had links with many other countries such as the Japanese and because of this, parts were good quality.
My dad commuted for years on an ETZ which I still have. I also have another that I bought that had sat for years. New battery and cleaned the carb and it fired straight up.
ETZ's make great long distance trials bikes and you see the TS modified into loads of different platforms now.
ETZ have a great race series as well and the bikes are very cheap comparatively.

I never used to like the look of the 251 compared to the 250. The style has really grown on me recently.

For my first bike I could have bought a TS250 Supa 5. It had great reviews, but I got a CD200 instead. The MZ was too alien, too ugly, too freakish. And it sounded horrible. The Honda felt unthreatening. It purred. Even the MZ toolkit scared me, because it was so good. I thought it was a sign that MZ owners had to work on their bikes, whereas Japanese toolkits could be unused forever. The MZ seemed like something for an experienced biker.

Just a basic question here.

So my bike (new thruxton) states 36 psi all around. It feels super squishy splashy to me when the pressure is that low. I bumped it up to 39/41 and I love the way that feels. Surprised me at the difference in fact.

Is there anything to worry about with regard to with running higher pressures?

I don't know much about this but is it possible you are compensating for suspension setup by running the tyres stiffer. I imagine higher tyre pressure would have some minimal effect on the contact patch especially front tyre under heavy braking, which could be bad in the wet.

Did you check the accuracy of the gauge? Don't believe the gauges on filling station air lines.

It's a high quality digital gauge off my own 200 gallon compressor

I set up the suspension as well as I could with the correct sag, and rebound compression damping that feel nice and make sense.

Hmm. Maybe ask the dealer or a Triumph forum?

Is it a 2022 RS with the Racetec RR K3?

Yes, k3.

When I say "splashy", I mean squiggly on the exit of turns when the road surface isn't perfect. Like alterations in the road surface send the compliance in the tire left and right. Almost like a 650b that is running low psi.

I'm very happy when just above 40 psi. I can feel it when it's below 37.

Seems nuts, I know. But I've consistently been through this psi cycle now for the past three months.

All this beginner motorcycle cycle shit reminds me of when a beginner skier asks "how tight should I make my boots".

Curious that. Suppose whatever feels good.
Found the street triple horrifying at that psi. Lowered to 33/35 and it was gold.

I've never tried it that low, but this is heavier bike. I wonder if I should, though.

The pressures you like aren't excessive, not enough to reduce your grip (I hope.) But it seems odd that you can't get on with the recommended pressures. I suggest getting the bike checked. Maybe it wasn't built quite right? Something wrong with the suspension or the bearings or the axle or swing arm?

Have you had this with previous bikes? Are you really heavy?

No not heavy at all, and it was put together by a good shop. I called a few dealerships just now and the opinion is that 40 in the rear feels best to them as well. 40 up front is probably not helping anything. They suggest 36/40-41 f/r.

It could depend massively on the tyre choice as well.

I have found some tyres just don’t feel right at the OE specs, because of the different compound or construction.

The most exaggerated anecdote is using knobblies on the DR. If you run the recommended pressures with road tyres you’re golden, if you run them with knobblies it’s dangerous on tarmac. I run less than half the recommended psi just to get some compliance from the dirt wheelset, but I run maximum pressure on the road set.

Your fractional change could well be just stiffening up a softer carcass.