Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

All that multi cylinder noise chat is rubbish.

Single cylinder thumpers through open as possible pipes are where it's at for me.

My Enfield Bullet 500 with rejetted carb and debaffled reverse cone silencer was brutal.

Spot on - fitted one when I got it dyno'd a couple of years back.

Tanya,

XR125s are pretty indestructible and fun off road. Unfortunately 125s and trail bikes in particular are amongst the most nicked bikes in the country. Make sure you buy a big chain and lock it to something!

Dron - WANT to have a go.

XR125 is not very indestructible, same as the vadero

All that multi cylinder noise chat is rubbish.

Single cylinder thumpers through open as possible pipes are where it's at for me.

My Enfield Bullet 500 with rejetted carb and debaffled reverse cone silencer was brutal.

Much as I quite like the sound of many bikes, (I have had Laverdas, Guzzis, Triumphs Ducatis and Buells, many with "modified" exhausts), it isn't very sociable, and it is a bit like RLJing. It needlessly pisses people off. I would rather get around a bit more discretely. I fixed my silencer by making a baffle from a biscuit tin, which was amazingly effective. It has knocked some power off, but with 150 horsepower I can afford to lose some!

Nah I know what you mean.

My GFs neighbours used to complain if I was round late at night on the Enfield.

I even get pissed of by some bikes with loud pipes (Harleys) but with the right bike it just puts a grin on your face like nothing else.

My mate has a Yammy XT 125 with a nice pipe, really very quiet at tick over, sensible at normal speed/throttle openings but then when he opens it up it barks like hell.

I think older bikes get away with it more too, the pre65 trials up in Kinlochleven is full of big old bikes with next to no silencing and it's amazing.

XR125 is not very indestructible, same as the vadero

Really? Same engine as the CG125, no? I ragged the living shite out of one of those on circuit for a few months and it lived just fine.

Been doing some research and there is no overnight return ferry on Sunday night Le Havre - Portsmouth.
There is one with Brittany Ferries from Caen but it works out more than double the price.
So I say we stick with the original plan and go:

Portsmouth
Depart: Thu 25 Oct @ 23:00
Le Havre
Arrive: Fri 26 Oct @ 08:00

Le Havre
Depart: Sun 28 Oct @ 17:00
Portsmouth
Arrive: Sun 28 Oct @ 21:30

Any thoughts?

Are we all happy with these times? BlueQuinn, as stated by T4NY4, not night boats, there, can you think of an alternative?

I think we should firm up the dates quickly!

How many of these should I prepare, or is there any other proposed design?? Anyone has access to a laminator?

Really? Same engine as the CG125, no? I ragged the living shite out of one of those on circuit for a few months and it lived just fine.

The engine is fine as it is the cg engine but the plastics wheels and other bits are fragile. From looking at a few and not that tall either. Vadero is the same. Think to make it as light as possible after the cg.

Also the the cg engines seem to be slipping as I've seen a few with broke engines...still not cheap tho.

Last night I made a baffle out of a biscuit tin, and it worked fine, reduced the noise to a pleasant burble. Really chuffed, so I took it to the MOT tester. He never even fired up the engine!
Anyway the performance seems unaffected and it is much quieter, and I have an MOT so I am pretty chuffed.

^ One of my finest ever bodges was making a balancer pipe for a GS450 out of a luxury biscuit tin and jubilee clips. It lasted for years, literally a good 2 or 3 years. I'm convinced it was the fact I wisely used 'luxury' biscuit tin.

Are we all happy with these times? BlueQuinn, as stated by T4NY4, not night boats, there, can you think of an alternative?

I think we should firm up the dates quickly!

How many of these should I prepare, or is there any other proposed design?? Anyone has access to a laminator?

I haz laminator

I'm happy to go with the flow. I looked at Caen and St Malo but it all gets really expensive.
Just let's not leave our ferry departure so late. I should only be riding at 100+ mph because I want to, not because I have to!
And let's try and ride back to London together, more for the increased effectiveness of lots of headlights more than anything. Unless by some miracle they have put decent tarmac, paint and street lights on the road by now.

Another possibility is Le Shuttle and we invade Paris.
They love their Triumphs and R100s there.

Damn it. I need a motorbike

Errr, this one's got your name on it;

Errr, this one's got your name on it;

Where did you find that?!

Just turn 20
Had my full licence for 3 years now looking to purchase my first big bike
Been riding a hyosung 125 for the pass 2 years just like some advice as to should I jump straight to a 600 or take it easy and get a 250?

Fuck it, jump to a 600!

I didn't ride anything for the 2+ years after I passed on a 125 then bought a 660cc Yamaha supermoto.

Be ready to feel like your arms are being torn off.

Buy a 250 or a 400.

I passed at 23, went out and bought a Fireblade and filled my leathers several time over.

Buy a 250 or a 400.

I passed at 23, went out and bought a Fireblade and filled my leathers several time over.

Nice. Passed 17, TL1000s at 19.

I'd buy a 600 or bigger and just take it easy. You'll be bored squitless in weeks on a 250/400 (unless we're talking 2stroke.)

get a 600. my first was a 500 2-stroke. just take it easy and get to know the bike.

When I was 20 - "taking it easy" had completely different meaning than it has now for me.

600 - the only reason not to go larger is the insurance.

Actually what the fuck are we talking about? Buell 1125R or GTFO

Just went on my friends gsxr........... Never felt anything that can pick up speed that quick and if I do get a 600 I would have to stop thinking I can throttle it all the way (won't make that mistake again)

Why not Hayabusa 1300?