Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

@underuser53929, ULEZ isn't really a factor for me, as I am outside of London, and it would be a rare trip into the city.
But certainly not something I had considered.

@skinny, I have similar thoughts. It's a 2010 R1200 GS with 6500 miles on it, a bike that is famed for long hauling, but only done ~100 miles a month for 5 years then parked up.
It is on for £6700, so about right for a bike of that age, they have a 20k 2011 for £6400

(I am looking at dealers rather than private as I have a bike to chop in, CBA to sell it myself)

tbh i'd buy the 20k one easy

you tried we buy any bike? but also chopping might give you better barging, work getting a price and then you can use it to compare what dealer offers

Don't say that, I'll end up keeping it. Thanks for the heads up with with the 1.0mm threads, that would be one expensive mistake. Have you had any issues with the new MC hitting the clocks? I'm keen to avoid this when doing the swap myself sometime down the road.

Oh an this is currently for sale too, went for a ride yesterday and almost took the ad down. Oh v-twins.

Pretty sure n+1 is the goal.
I get wanting something new but it really feels like you'll regret selling that.

You might be right but I've only done 3k miles in 3 years, so that says something. I always wanted an Italian litre v-twin and have scratched that itch. I've thoroughly enjoyed climbing the cc ladder and don't see much point getting anything faster. It's a fantastic bike with so much 'character' but for riding on British b-roads the heavy clutch and heat it emits at anything under 70 mph is just comical. I have the SRAD which does a similar job and dare I say it prefer to ride most of the time. Shit I must be getting old.

List time.
Two lists this time, let's see if it rolls.

Do you nip off the little noodle things from new tyres?

I remove them:

1. ...
   
2. ...
   
   

I let them be, they'll wear off:

1. @drøn
   
2. ...
   
   

^ how do I know how rad my cornering ability is if a pull them all off?

They are good for keeping the insides of the mudguards clean...

Nope - the K5 GSXR has a radial MC anyway so it’s kind of a like for like. Ended up with better clearance on the old bike.

What you getting if you sell the Aprilia?

Surley a 690 SM

Honda CRF450L Shirley. If I can find/afford one.

Doooooope, they're so cool. Looking forward to living vicariously once you locate a good one. Make sure it's fully uncorked!

They weren't popular here, due to the price and like you say heavily corked European model. Fitting a wider airbox tube and vortex ECU seems to be the way to go. In the UK Honda even started selling it with their 'power up kit' which was essentially uncorking themselves but think the damage was done as it's now been discontinued. For obvious reasons they're a lot more popular across the pond and I've seen some epic builds.

They are such sophisticated bikes - a real Honda. Honestly, you don't see that many of them here because most people are silly and chase numbers. They spend more money and buy 60hp KTM and Husqvarnas, regardless of the fact that the Honda would be better in every way for 90-95% of riders.

Interestingly, they are almost non-existent second hand and absurdly expensive. Which I guess shows how much people like them.

£8.5k with upgrades, the only one I know of locally.

Are you saying that Honda make the best bikes or am I reading too much into your post?

Nope, most Hondas are OK but occasionally, they really throw the full might of their bike R&D into building something special. The CRF450L looks like one of those to me.

Couldn't have put it better. Every YouTube comment criticises the CRF450L for being more expensive and underpowered compared to an enduro KTM/Husky, but like you say that's slightly missing the point.

Fair enough. I’m just being nosey! 😀
Specials - RC30, SP1 and probably the first Blade and OBVIOUSLY the CBX! 😀😀

They're nearly 2k cheaper new here than a KTM....I wonder why they were so much in Europe?

@TGR - Yeah...RC30s don't count as they were built by HRC and everything they make is special. :)

The others for sure! I'd throw in the C90, original CB750, the first 250 Elsinore, the Africa Twin, CBR600 F2 (bleurgh but....)VFR750, mid 90s CR250, the XR650R, the first CRF450Rs. All the Japanese market exotica like the NC30, NSR250s etc...

Maybe the Wing and the Pan too?

CR500 too for the royal flush?

I agree to a point. UK models differ a little. The NR??? A friend of mine saw one a few weeks ago but the owner forbid him to take pics. If you knew where I am, that’s just unreal!!!
I would agree re. the original unfaired Wing.
CR500 defo and, perhaps, the CX 500 Turbo - it’s an odd one - crap bike BUT it has a turbo!!
The Jap bikes, NC30 etc and the mad 125s, VFR400 etc all fall into the brilliant category. Did I mention the CBX? 😂😂😂
Lottery win and a CBX is heading my way (Moto Martin if a BIG win).

Dunno about the CR5hunny, I had one and it was pretty horrible. Mine was a motard admittedly, but it wasn't that fast, handled poorly and vibrated like a diesel dildo. The KX murdered it in the desert too....

Think the NR was built by HRC. Allen Millyard had a CX500 Turbo and loved it...I suppose if you HAVE to have a maggot, stick a blower on it.

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handled poorly and vibrated like a diesel dildo.

Would rep. Aaron Colton can be heard in the latest MotoGeo vid saying he can't do more than 5 laps on his CR500 because of the vibrations. You've had some cracking bikes. Saw a XR650R last weekend and it did get me thinking, although slightly overkill for UK greenlanes I think.

Haha, I think my general standards have gone up over the years but I'd had some unbelievable piles of shite too.

Nah, wouldn't bother with a XR650R - lack of an e-start and they'll all have been FLOGGED. I rebuilt the suspension front and rear and replaced every single chassis bush and bearing on mine. Now it needs a top end.