Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Indeed. Van vans look cool but never underestimate just how much nicer and faster some decent aerodynamics makes a motorway journey.
(Says the man who took a cafe racer across Northern France)

Get a decent screen and only ever had issues above a 100 and then after a while your neck muscles get used to it ;)

I used to think like that until I got a Triumph Sprint ST as a courtesy bike when the Thruxton was being serviced, accelerated as normal down the A12, and when I looked at the speedo I was doing 110. Oops! The lack of a hurricane in my face was really disconcerting.

ditch the 600 and get that cr in the background

I knew that comment might come when I posted the photo. In all serious I've pretty much decided on a 1999 GSX-R750. The 1999 is the last year model and seems to one to go for. I found this interesting:

1999 GSX-R 600: 174Kg / 92HP
1999 GSX-R 750: 179Kg / 134HP

Alright the Honda does look awesome.

was in the van yesterday after a good week of being on the bike every day - caught myself about to nod at an oncoming biker - ha ha!! (and doing a lifesaver!)

I do similar, if riding the motorbike too much I try to use the indicators and mirrors on my bicycle or if I'm cycling too much I reach for the water bottle on my triumph. It could just be my intelligence though :s

I nod at motorcyclists when I am cycling too. Sometimes I get a nod in return, which always amuses me.

Hpw old were you? Rose tinted glases ;) I had highly modified vespas that felt quick.

17...which is now 17yrs ago...groan.

Definitely some rose tinted specs but I really did enjoy my time on 125s. Specifically my RD125lc. Ended up with an Aprilia af1 with a 180cc kit and Stan St3 tune. That was about as quick as a bog stock brazilian 350YPVS but blew up twice in a thousand miles.

Still I had some of the most amazing times on an MZ 251, so it's really not all about the bike!

17...which is now 17yrs ago...groan.

Definitely some rose tinted specs but I really did enjoy my time on 125s. Specifically my RD125lc. Ended up with an Aprilia af1 with a 180cc kit and Stan St3 tune. That was about as quick as a bog stock brazilian 350YPVS but blew up twice in a thousand miles.

Still I had some of the most amazing times on an MZ 251, so it's really not all about the bike!

Ah I was into vespas and had a mito as they were the bike to have. Then the modding and the tunning.

Two strokes fucking rock and silly amounts of gears.

I too had a few mz 125 and 251 as they were cheap and indestructible.

.................blah,blah........ there is a part of me that likes the idea of moving up the cc ladder slowly mastering each platform first................blah,blah.....

somebody told vello once that "a good biker is an old biker."

i dont think that we/you need to master each platform, i think its more important to master and curb your own enthusiasm to do reckless things with a motorcycle between your legs.
i went from a falling apart 125cc to a riding to northern france with the blokes 1000cc okay both are old but i try to ride within my limits.

around town the limit is 30+- that extra power of any bike i feel is useful for getting out of potentially dangerous predicaments which if i have taken in what i was supposed to when i was being taught about reading the road i would have forseen approx 200metres before.(hazard perception).

spoke about it before, the police run day long bike safe is something i definitely want to do this year. its good, there is no pass , fail , arrest or bike seizure at the end of the day.

sorry if i missed something

I agree with everything you say, and the bike safe course sounds spot on. I think the best riders are the safest (RoadcraftNottingham just comes to mind), which is probably right. By moving up the cc ladder slowly mastering each platform, I don't mean getting your knee down and racing your mates, but more savoring the process of owning each bike before going onto something some powerful. There may be nothing in it, but I just like the idea of moving up the cc ladder slowly.

I'm with you on this Jambon.
I have had so many mates who passed their test, bought CBR600s or Ducati 748s and crashed them at high speed.

My Vespa felt scary fast after my mountain bike.
In fact my CBR125 felt scary fast after the Vespa, it was so different.
I then bought a 400 with 33bhp on the nose, and I loved that bike. From the 125 it was a huge leap in performance, and it took me a good few weeks to really understand and gel with the different riding style and reactions you needed, how it delivered power, and how capable or otherwise its brakes tyres were.
Again when I bought the Triumph it felt so ridiculously fast after the 400 and I really didn't get on with it at first. It was too fast, too heavy, too hot, the grip was shit (wheelspin in 4 gears in the wet!), it wouldn't go round corners and it was just frightening. It took months and months to get to grips with the bike and really gel with the thing. Of course now on a dry day I can throw it around like a moped.

If I had gone straight from the CBR125 to the Triumph I would have either given up motorcycling for good or I would have killed myself in a huge accident. As it is I've only had little crashes. Of course I am atypical. I've no interest in sports bikes or bike racing. I'm never going to do a track day or get my knee down, and I buy bikes for their looks and sound.

Incidentally, one thing I have done on every single bike I've owned is change the tyres and it has transformed them. Grip is so important, and cheap or old tyres don't have any.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/motoring/25613/lotus-motorbike-to-hit-the-streets.html

Incidentally, one thing I have done on every single bike I've owned is change the tyres and it has transformed them. Grip is so important, and cheap or old tyres don't have any.

this is something I had not considered with my ER-6

in fact, I don't even know what is on there just now I'm ashamed to say!

I agree with everything you say, and the bike safe course sounds spot on. I think the best riders are the safest (RoadcraftNottingham just comes to mind), which is probably right. By moving up the cc ladder slowly mastering each platform, I don't mean getting your knee down and racing your mates, but more savoring the process of owning each bike before going onto something some powerful. There may be nothing in it, but I just like the idea of moving up the cc ladder slowly.

I have done a few bike safe courses with the Met, once a year as a refresher and a bit of a treat. They are a bit patronising in the classroom sessions, but really good when you get out on the road. You also get lunch, which is in a restaurant and worth much of the actual fee.
They tailor the training around you and your riding style, rather than trying to get you to ride in any set way, so although the don't encourage speeding especially in urban areas, they do teach you how to ride "better" once out on the open road, so a bit of enthusiasm is encouraged.
It does make you think a bit harder about your riding for a while.

Still I had some of the most amazing times on an MZ 251, so it's really not all about the bike!

Ha, maybe we should have a "cheap hacks I've loved sub-thread"...

Honda CB200 - awful

Honda CD175 - cheap > sold someone the CB200 and they gave me the CD to ride home. I fixed it and thrashed it mercilessly for over a year. Kind of fell in love with it.

Kawasaki Z200 - accidentally pulled my biggest ever wheeley when two up.

Honda CB500T - Nothing at all to recommend it.

Honda CB550K - Not bad actually.

Kawasaki Z400 - Porridge.

Suzuki AS50 - 1st bike, looked ridiculous with me on it.

Suzuki A100 - Dreadful.

Makes me laugh when I see people in "Classic WTF Magazine" paying send loads for these things.

If offered one cheap as chips I'd have a CB550, a Z200 and forget the rest.

is bike safe and advanced one and the same?

no different.

advanced will reduce your chance of killing yourself and should reduce your insurance premium.

bikesafe will reduce your chance of killing yourself.

Funny how you get fond of certain bikes, love the old gpz 9's and enfield 350's funnily enough. Right what they say about Honda reliability though - next on the list is one of them purple gold and black ( ? ) Blades, circa 99, when money allows.

Bikes will always stay in your blood, haven't got one now and I can feel the emptyness - if it wasn't for the one without the engine I'd be in a right old cotton picking mess ( spiritually speaking ).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wkSePMgR0k

is bike safe and advanced one and the same?

I have done both
Bikesafe understands that bikers have some reckless tendencies, and goes a bit of the way to reduce the chance of it ending in tears and blood. They get that motorbikes are fun
Advanced Motor Bike (from IAM) will fundamentally change your riding style. You will become captain sensible. You are not supposed to have fun.

ditch the 600 and get that cr in the background

CRF... and yes do this. I don't really see why you would when you could most likely sell your bike for more money and get a newer GSXR 1000 for around £2000

Ha, maybe we should have a "cheap hacks I've loved sub-thread"...

Honda CB200 - awful

Honda CD175 - cheap > sold someone the CB200 and they gave me the CD to ride home. I fixed it and thrashed it mercilessly for over a year. Kind of fell in love with it.

Kawasaki Z200 - accidentally pulled my biggest ever wheeley when two up.

Honda CB500T - Nothing at all to recommend it.

Honda CB550K - Not bad actually.

Kawasaki Z400 - Porridge.

Suzuki AS50 - 1st bike, looked ridiculous with me on it.

Suzuki A100 - Dreadful.

Makes me laugh when I see people in "Classic WTF Magazine" paying send loads for these things.

If offered one cheap as chips I'd have a CB550, a Z200 and forget the rest.

Rubbish bikes that you have owned?

Look up the prices of fizzies ;)

I have done both
Bikesafe understands that bikers have some reckless tendencies, and goes a bit of the way to reduce the chance of it ending in tears and blood. They get that motorbikes are fun
Advanced Motor Bike (from IAM) will fundamentally change your riding style. You will become captain sensible. You are not supposed to have fun.

You get kick out of the IAM for getting caught speeding.

CRF... and yes do this. I don't really see why you would when you could most likely sell your bike for more money and get a newer GSXR 1000 for around £2000

I'd be reluctant to get the CRF because it isn't road legal, thus even more impractical than a race rep. The most I could sell my bike for is £1200 ('89 model with 55K miles), meaning I couldn't afford a newer GSXR. I did mention on the last page why I don't want to go from a 400 to a liter bike even if I could afford it. Even though it may not be brand new, getting any bike that is 10 years younger certainly will be appreciated don't worry.