Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Ohhhhhh yes.

I wish i could, can't even wheelie a MTB.

I'm the same, necessary wheelies only.

The plot thickens.
That would be around the first time I saw it.

Knobbly tyres, instant necessary.

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Crossposting from the embroidered patch thread…

Excuse the rough edges, different material test.

For the trials riders who know…

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I'm selling my Clio 182, and thinking to pick up a 60s scooter as a winter project. The plan would be to retain as much of the patina as possible, but make the bike mechanically reliable, and ensure it stays structurally sound.

It's weird. but the prices between a rusty old projects with seized engines, and freshly painted restored items are super close.

Is this normal?

I paid far more in restoring my Vespa ET3 than I would ever get back if I sold it.
I suppose you don't know what lurks under that fresh paint. Why didn't they finish it?
If you can have photo evidence then great, otherwise I'd go for the original example.

Bike crowds' or whatever its called has made its way to Glasgow, Clydebank specifically! Spotted a huge bunch of kids out on high powered e bikes and some scooters etc, police helicopter above flashing its big light all over the spot.

It’s not ‘normal’ but it is the current situation. Bikes that were worth literally nothing a few years ago are now worth mad money. I’ve no idea if the situation will change. Madness to me!!

My wife and I took our first steps to motorbike life here in New Zealand last weekend; basic handling skills test and learner licence theory test. Passed both easily, but the scary thing is now we are both allowed to ride an approved bike up to 660 cc on the road with an L plate; only restrictions are not at night and no passengers. The basic handling skills was about 1.5h training and then a test, all in a car park and all at <20kph in 2nd gear. Being older, we are likely to be sensible but it's a scary thought of how many others could be on the road with that little training, doing 100kph on shitty, NZ roads. There's no compulsory insurance here either, so it's not like there is the cost of that to put people off getting a bigger bike.

There is another "restricted licence" level here before a full licence though. You have to have the learner licence for 6 months and then take a 60min practical test to get the restricted. Apparently, this is a decent test of your skills. You are still restricted to no passengers and an approved bike and have to have this for 12 months before sitting another test for the full licence.

Anyway, I'm off to peruse bikes for sale...

There's no compulsory insurance here either

o.O

Sounds like paradise. Well, probably not actually. But keeping in mind my (London) insurance costs...

The lanes are getting muddier.

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I was lucky to tour both islands on Harleys 10 years ago. The roads are bad in places but the amount of traffic you encounter is exponentially different. In fairness you're more likely to end up in a hedge than get t boned so it's largely in your own hands at least.

My pushbike gets more dirt on it riding through Chelsea 🤪

The signs do say keep off the grass

Was going to say, Chelsea has changed a lot since I last went. Yesterday featured mini river beds too.

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My nephew passed his test last week and bought a 1992 k75 RT the next day .
He rode it up to London from Bristol yesterday as he starts a new emergency service job Monday , battery packed in , new battery today and it runs so much better but the clutch is so heavy .
He was on the way to a ULEZ compliance fix as it’s non compliant, anyone know what’s involved and an idea of the cost to make it compliant ?
I’m not convinced it’s worth it

I had my c90 done at https://www.nationalemissionstestcentre.com/ I think it was £175 for the test and nothing else was required. I asked about another bike recently and they quoted £150 to sort out the carbs and then the £175 test. They sort it while you wait.
They’re pretty quick to get back if you tell them the details of the bike.

A k75 rt is a big lump in traffic, I had a k1100rt and it was a horrible bike - worst bike I’ve ever owned, particularly in traffic so I’m a bit biased ( although I’ve owned three other BMWs which were all great (and all boxers) and a k1100rs at work).

IMHO, riding a lot of the roads in Sw London, it’ll be a terrible commuter, they’re just too bulky. Ok if you’re riding up and down from Bristol though.

£175 is a pure joke. This emissions and LEZ is pure nonsense for bikes.

They are said to benefit from a better rear shock more than most bikes. But I had a K11LT and enjoyed the handling. Chucking it about was hilarious, perhaps in the same way that aerobatics in a 747 might also be hilarious. Get the pegs down and have fun.

@pullingteth How does he know it's not ULEZ compliant? Is it just that he can't get the right certificate of conformity? That doesn't matter, because every bike seems to pass if you take it to the ULEZ testing station. https://uleztesting.co.uk/ Call them and ask whether they have tested a K75.

Will that be what Chelsea looks like when we have the metaverse?

Yep, no disagreement with that.

@pullingteth @nick_h. personally I don’t think traffic will be a problem- anyone in their right mind will stay well out of the way of a beaten up flying brick. So the traffic will part like the Red Sea for Moses. Probably the stupidest idea I’ve ever had but I love it now so what else am I supposed to do but pursue my idiotic idea?

I'm confused now. Which K do you have?