Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

@Ramsaye good suggestion, thanks. Unfortunately my insurer (Hastings Direct) don't appear to have any such useful info on their site. I've rang them many times and so far haven't found a single person who seems to know the first thing about bikes. I guess they're car biased seeing as that will be massive lion's share of their business will be 4 wheeled based.

Thanks @Constable_Savage That was exactly my concern. Hastings Direct seem to be making really heavy weather of understanding what basic bike accessories are and how to categorise them, but I'll persist as I don't want to be in a situation where they have any wiggle room.

I haven't (yet) found a paint that covers old chrome and will survive a tyre change without damage. What has worked for me is Kurust followed by silver Rub'n'Buff with an annual savage clean and re-application. Finish looks adequate from a distance though I suspect my '59 Bown is less well preserved than your Honda...

1 Attachment

Shopping for new tyres, are you able to run tubeless tyres with a tube like you would on a pushbike? Or are there other issues besides it potentially being harder to fit and seat?

Depends on the valve hole and rim. I found I tried to run a tube inside a tubeless tyre on tubeless rim and it immediately ripped the valve as there was no rimlock to stop the tyre squirming under hard stop.

Seating was a piece of piss because the tube avoided the air-leak/sealant issue of getting a tubeless over the line.

It’s a tubed rim so hopefully the valve shouldn’t be an issue, probably worth waiting til after the 600 mile round trip I have next week though

Yes insurance companies are...

Was what wonder wheels was, at a guess, as similar reaction. DO NOT USE on uncoated alloy.

Saw this yesterday, based on a Robin Reliant 850 engine, behold the Quasar!

It's as if Akira was being remade with zero budget by Ken Loach. Kaneda and Tetsuo being played by Keith and Trevor on their Quasar's in the rain running out of fuel somewhere on the M62 corridor.

2 Attachments

Had a great morning on Salisbury Plains with a returning rider. He was on a Transalp with 60/40 tyres. Benefited massively from bone-dry lanes today but he coped exceptionally well with such a heavy old bike. Well impressed.

If someone wants some gear.. it’s free.

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/398741/#comment17492475

.

Bikerpics were on the road near the plains. At least now I know for sure what my DR’s suspension sag looks like!

3 Attachments

I always feel my dr saga a lot when I sit on it, but it runs well and I've been told it's right.

Same. Especially since I gained weight… but it survives me, and it didn’t miss a beat in over 5 hours of warm weather on the plains.

New lightweight wheels get the thumbs up.

1 Attachment

Proper tart that bike. Love it.

Have you found the bike handles better? ;)

@pdlouche thank you. I had originally considered a respray but quite like the idea of fancy components under the original tatty fairings.

@lynx much better. Was worried after the money and effort spent it would feel the same. It seems to accelerate, brake and lean-in quicker. Even though they're only 5kg lighter, it's makes the bike feel more modern and generally more agile so you lean on the tyres more. Only arguable downside is you feel the road surface more where the heavier wheels would soak bumps up. Very happy indeed.

Brilliant isn't it.

The change to super duper lightweight marchinese wheels made the multiStrada handle like a super bike. Even tho the wheels were cheaper than standard multi Strada wheels.

Reducing unsprung weight really does improve handling.

Not UK related but signatures and shares would be greatly appreciated 🙏

Petition to mandate change to policing laws in Ireland around motorbike theft...

Throwback! Sorry, how do you rate the zzr? I'm looking at similar age/priced bikes that look nicely old and won't destroy my back.

Are those speedo apps close to accurate? I want to translate Vespa kph into real life.

signed

Just signed up to TRF. What do people use to map green lanes on the fly? Any decent apps?

Put marks on the vespa Speedo or remember ;)