Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

I'd be happy finding that too! Along with the Olympic in the background please.

The Nag is mine, fortunately. He left the key in the ignition and suggested I take it out at lunch time.

Have you been back on a bike since the accident?

Until just now, no.

It was weird, after 25 plus years of riding sports bikes to be on a Hypermotard, but it was a lot of fun. I stopped and couldn't restart it, until I figured out it won't start with the side-stand down. Switch gear was a bit odd too. But one of these would be great around London, it would just take some getting used to the upright riding position.

Was it in-gear? At the mega moto store it’s great fun watching people start in neutral and hit first to pull away only to stall having forgotten the kickstand.

Even my instructor did it last week at one point.

No, in neutral with the stand down and wouldn't start. Kicked the stand up and it would. Don't know if they come like that or it's been modded?

The old 916/748s used to have the stand on a spring, which meant the popped up when you stood the bike upright - a safety feature - fine until you left the bike outside with a cover on it and the wind lifted it, the stand came up and the bike fell on its side. EVERYONE removed the spring.

Until just now, no.

Whoa. Awesome. How’s it feel?

How strange. My DR350 has a clutch switch and stand switch - so regardless of the stand I must always pull in the clutch to start as well. That, compared to the GN125 that has no switches and can be turned on with any key shoved into the barrel.

The GN has a suicide stand too. It does make me lazy, sit on the bike and tilt and it pings upward, but the issue with having limited stability when rocked forward is a real dealbreaker. Much prefer a stand that only moves when asked.

No, in neutral with the stand down and wouldn't start. Kicked the stand up and it would.

This is basically all bikes from the last decade (maybe longer). I think it might be a regulation now.

Really, so how do you start the bike up and let it run for a few minutes while you faff about with your helmet and gloves?

I had to help my mate start the V4R with jump leads (stupidly small battery drains in a week if not on a trickle charger) first thing this morning and it was on the stand.

Great, which is good of course, but means I'll spend the next few weeks looking at bikes, finances, offloading the Jeep, etc. I guess there are deals to be had in Winter/Autumn.

Really, so how do you start the bike up and let it run for a few minutes while you faff about with your helmet and gloves?

EFI vs Carb. Just get up and go, right?

Sorry being thick - though you'd said it was in gear. Ignore me.

@Markyboy that's a classy reintroduction to riding, also great news. I'm sure we can all make any future buying decisions a lot harder here ;)

Feel we haven't had any videos in a while, just started watching this.
https://youtu.be/o_HwoDRtYCo

Nice one mate. Hypermotards look like a gas. Tell him to put some proper tyres on it next time.... :)

He has some slicks but had been grass tracking at the weekends

Noice. You got your eyes set on the Augusta? Not keen on anything else?

On the list now are:

848 evo
2006/7 Fireblade
ZX7RR if I could find a decent RR

I'd love the MV675 RC but they're hen's teeth and so overpriced https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MV-Agusta-F3-675-Reparto-Corse-03-150-Worldwide-Only-381-miles/184401856562?hash=item2aef350832:g:iqoAAOSwt2lfNp94

I'll keep looking, keep changing my mind, remember that I have three kids to get through university in very quick succession and it'll come to nothing. But just maybe...

Well done, that's a long recovery. Maybe just get something sensible....just saw your short list!!

I have three kids to get through university

Oh brother, That is work. solid shout on that though, wish I'd gotten a helping hand when I went to Uni. They'll remember it for sure.
Always fancied the 848's. Thought they were a natural progression from the 749 era. They hit the sweet spot displacement wise as well; don't seem as....angry.

Not a fan of the late 90's fireblades? 954 was shocking to see. So compact.

What's the best place to look for used motorbikes? For cars I'd always go forums then autotrader and avoid dealers.
Is winter a better time to buy? I'm guessing spring early summer would be the worst?
Having made several attempts to get started bikingI'm determined to do it for next summer. Looking to buy a cbr600f with abs by the end of the year, direct access beginning of next year.

I had a few ex courier bikes that had massive mileage, kwak gt550 were a great bike that was only true dead when everything had fucked.

NTV?

You won't regret it. And yeah autumn is when you'll probably get the best deals and spring is when people will hold out for asking price. I too am allergic to dealers but my last 2 bikes have been from them in late summer when they're keen to get rid of stock. Obvious comment is obvious but eBay too. Do you have a license?

848, you know it makes sense, or multistrada as I like them.