Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

On Sunday, on a whim, I nearly won this 1953 Royal Enfield motorcycle:

Sonofabitch. Can anyone recommend any good places for picking up vintage motorcycles like this apart from ebay? I don't think my heart can take another outbid.

Just buy a new RE Cafe Racer from TTT in Bethnal Green. So tempted.

Sweet, I'll check them out. Are they really less inflated? That Royal Enfield went for £1021 in the end, which felt cheap to me?

A mate of mine bought a '59 bullet 350 for £900 through the VMCC - at the other end of the scale I sold a Mobylette (restored, taxed, tested, spares, handbook) through the NACC for £250 compared with £400+ starting prices on ebay for equivalent.

I get the impression that there are owners clubs where trading goes on below open market values - not unlike the classifieds here?

chain lube - seems to either be thick and sludgy and gets messy and flings everywhere or too thin and your chain goes rusty

was using some white spray stuff I got from Hein Gericke which was really thick but difficult to spray and seemed to go everywhere, and quite difficult to clean off. Now using Castrol racing chain lube which gets rave reviews, but just been out to bike which has been sitting (covered) for over a week to turn it over, and chain looks like its rusting

meh

Just buy a new RE Cafe Racer from TTT in Bethnal Green. So tempted.

Are the new REs not like £6k or something utterly ridiculous?

Older one FTW.

The newest you should go IMO would be around 2005, after that the introduced the new EFI engine. I had one of the last carb models, so easy to work on.

chain lube - seems to either be thick and sludgy and gets messy and flings everywhere or too thin and your chain goes rusty

was using some white spray stuff I got from Hein Gericke which was really thick but difficult to spray and seemed to go everywhere, and quite difficult to clean off. Now using Castrol racing chain lube which gets rave reviews, but just been out to bike which has been sitting (covered) for over a week to turn it over, and chain looks like its rusting

meh

Wurth chain lube. Lube chain when the chain is warm, at the end of the ride not the start. I spray some lube in to the lid and usually do the sides with a brush. If it relube I clean the chain, using a cheap motor oil and tooth brush, wipe clean then relube.

Are the new REs not like £6k or something utterly ridiculous?

Older one FTW.

The newest you should go IMO would be around 2005, after that the introduced the new EFI engine. I had one of the last carb models, so easy to work on.

350 is better than the 500 IMO lots of go faster bits. Ok more reliable bits.

Nice! I did my first track day at Donnington Park last year. Couldn't keep the grin off my face. So much fun and feels so much faster than riding on the road. All you have to worry about is what is in front of you (assuming it is dry).

Even just the one day made a huge difference in my bike-handling skills. You get told all the time that there is more grip than you think but there is nothing like actually pushing yourself to the limit and the bike staying planted with plenty more to give.

Can't wait to do a few more this year and do some more tracks before I move back to NZ. Really spoiled for choice in the UK with the number of quality race tracks.

All very encouraging what you've said. I like the idea how a track day is such good value for money when I consider people I know who have done "experience days" where it costs £70 to be a passenger in a Ferrari around 5 laps of Silverstone for example.

Also I'm looking forward to being a novice and listening to more experienced riders for advice, although I'm reluctant to wear a fluro novice vest that I've heard some tracks encourage. What you've mentioned about the bike being more gripy than you expect and trusting the bike more chimes with everything I've already heard. My aim for the day is to spend a respectful amount of getting to know the track, then trying to get a little faster, but ashamedly I do want that knee down.

Talking of hooliganism, I just booked my first track day at Bedford Autodrome, I just need to remember to get a leather romper suit.

Check that the co allow two pieces as most do.

Maybe a few spares such as levers? maybe pegs?

Few little bits of advice, remember to breathe so many people hold their breath through nerves, so relax. It is not a race, don't forget that tyres do need warming before giving it some. If there is an instructor, why not do a few laps with him to help you with things like brakingpoints and sight lines. Maybe chatting to the suspension set up guys, if there are any to help with advice also chat to the tyre guys about tyre pressures.

Telling people that it is your first time is fine as people are there to help and are very friendly.

Yes two piece rompers are acceptable too, good point.

In all honesty I bought the bike and have improved it on a shoestring, not that I can easily replace it, but am more likely to be more cautious rather than being a hot head.
I think also breathing, but specifically relaxing is the best advice. I will report back my experiences for sure.

Wurth chain lube. Lube chain when the chain is warm, at the end of the ride not the start. I spray some lube in to the lid and usually do the sides with a brush. If it relube I clean the chain, using a cheap motor oil and tooth brush, wipe clean then relube.

Cheers will check Wurth out

Is it this dry lube?

Amazon.co.uk: Customer Reviews: WURTH HIGH PERFORMANCE DRY CHAIN LUBE 500mls

Make sure you do at least one wheelie too.

Cheers will check Wurth out

Is it this dry lube?

Amazon.co.uk: Customer Reviews: WURTH HIGH PERFORMANCE DRY CHAIN LUBE 500mls

Yeah, that is the bunny.

Make sure you do at least one wheelie too.

This better post this time,or I shall be really pissed.

Think that is more of the thinks the race schools teach. The ron haslem school teach 'stopies' on yzf 125 to show how to brake and how powerful the brakes, and how to brake.

The wheelie teaching is to not be afraid when the front wheelie lifts under power and to be able to control the bike.

Yes two piece rompers are acceptable too, good point.

In all honesty I bought the bike and have improved it on a shoestring, not that I can easily replace it, but am more likely to be more cautious rather than being a hot head.
I think also breathing, but specifically relaxing is the best advice. I will report back my experiences for sure.

You have the Bandit?

Oh Nreg monster 6, for £600 its stolen recovered and the locks are buggered. no real damage so can do a nice cafe racer as no electronics in the clocks.

Kawasaki ZXR 400

A mate of mine bought a '59 bullet 350 for £900 through the VMCC - at the other end of the scale I sold a Mobylette (restored, taxed, tested, spares, handbook) through the NACC for £250 compared with £400+ starting prices on ebay for equivalent.

I get the impression that there are owners clubs where trading goes on below open market values - not unlike the classifieds here?

Sweet. I was hoping for an equivalent of the classifieds here but I guess a lot of those guys don't go online much. I'll give a subscription a go. Many thanks.

Are the new REs not like £6k or something utterly ridiculous?

They're about that but they look so fucking cash. I saw a load when i was in India, just a tonne of dudes looking swish as shit.

First pre-season test of 2014 for MotoGP is next week. Will be interesting to see how all the new blood fares, as well as the open-class bikes (what CRT has become). If you've got a videopass on motogp.com it is all live...

It's the Continental GT that appeals to me.

http://royalenfield.com/continentalgt/

Electronic ignition, 5 speed box, kehin fuel injection, electric start, brand new lightweight Harris twin tube cradle frame proper Paioli suspension, Brembo brakes. What has the world come to?
There's one out the back of TTT that I pass every morning. I wonder if they'd let me borrow it for a day while I have them service the Triumph?

I'll admit I've no experience of the newer Enfields other than looking at them but with the one I owned the low price really helped excuse a lot if the more um...agricultural aspects of the bike. I don't think I'd have been so forgiving had I paid £6k for it.

The old carbureted engine really was a piece of piss to work on and to tune and doing that's half the appeal - to me anyway.

Kawasaki ZXR 400

Ah now I remember, so who had the bindit.

Have fun, remember countersteering and you can do it.

Knee down helps if you hang off like a monkey.

It's the Continental GT that appeals to me.

http://royalenfield.com/continentalgt/

Electronic ignition, 5 speed box, kehin fuel injection, electric start, brand new lightweight Harris twin tube cradle frame proper Paioli suspension, Brembo brakes. What has the world come to?
There's one out the back of TTT that I pass every morning. I wonder if they'd let me borrow it for a day while I have them service the Triumph?

TTT are shit, after managing to repair the wiring on the ex's ccm and treated her like absolute shit. Repair is fitting a larger fuse so the loom sets fire to itself.

Oh and shocks are the wrong way round ;)

So much want

More here

I'll admit I've no experience of the newer Enfields other than looking at them but with the one I owned the low price really helped excuse a lot if the more um...agricultural aspects of the bike. I don't think I'd have been so forgiving had I paid £6k for it.

The old carbureted engine really was a piece of piss to work on and to tune and doing that's half the appeal - to me anyway.

I took a couple of the EFI Enfields out when I was in the market for a bike a few years ago - they build them up in a shed near my folks place so I popped over to see how everything was going.

They're nice, but apart from the EFI they haven't really upgraded anything else - that means the suspension is fucking shocking. Above 60 and the whole thing feels like it was going to shake itself apart.

They do look nice though.