Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Yeah and hope you believe it works.

Yes I had that, jung knows what happened.

Well I'm insured, and I think it will get stolen eventually (all the others on my road have). Then it'll be new motorbike time!

And Hello ridiculous insurance premium hike!

Found out from my insurers that my NCD is protected (cheers), however they will probably still apply a loading to the premium for having made a claim when next insurance comes round! Then I get a discount, so not really protected NCD then.

Also couldn't add a scooter to my multi bike policy and had to make a lot of phone calls to get a mirrored NCD on a second policy. Which only worked because I called the underwriters of the multi bike policy and got a policy with them. Effectively the multi bike policy that I wanted through my broker.

Conclusion. You get ripped off by thieves and then you get ripped off by more thieves.

Since my bike went I've heard about 6 other recent bike thefts, it's an epidemic. No doubt my 1150 will be pulling a cart in Romania by monday.

bought a can of Muc Off bike spray from Halfrauds on a whim on way back from washing bike today - overspray got onto my discs and pads and I very nearly didn't stop in time booting it back, so fucking scary - had to blast them with a can of brake cleaner when I got home - they're not joking when they say mask braking surface before applying

Just bought an Honda SH300 to replace my disappeared 1150. Had a few test rides and liked it but it's hard to love a scooter. I've opted for a tracker too, should have done it with the last bike of course but horse stable door.

It is a seriously fast piece of inner city transport. Honest. Needless to say it's double locked and alarmed too. Be interesting to see how long I keep that up!

Spotted in Brixton Tesco...

1 Attachment

Super street fighter or dogs dinner? One thing we do know, the rider has brass balls.

Does he take the saddle in with him?

I hope so! Carbs and trumpets looked rad, would love to hear it.

Dirt-tastic weekend in the desert. It's been a little while since I had the CR out, it's a right little monster. I see a 125 in my future, much as I love the 250, it's friggin' scary fast!

It was the annual AHRMA race weekend at Willow springs. Some beautiful bikes, notably, two TZ 750s, an ex-Millar racing YZR500, a Kwak KR750, a beautiful Gilera 500 GP bike, and one of Mike Hailwood's factory 500 Hondas. Bags of cool old brit stuff too...manxs, goldstars and the usual suspects. Big props to the loons racing hardtail, Harley flatheads with hand shifters. Sketchy.

A friend of mine has just emailed me to let me know he's bought a 2010 Harley Street Glide.

A red one.

If he stuck a ladder on the back it would be mistaken for a fire engine.

Oh God, it's also got red LEDs under the tank, to make the engine glow in the dark.

Definitely a midlife crisis.

Not to worry, if its a 2010 it'll probably disintegrate before too long.

and he won't be able to go on the North Circular

Superb! For a much more refined old-school street fighter, see Gary Inman's Black Arrow

.

Almost done, almost :)

On the Black Arrow, the oil cooler spoils it for me. So many reasons that is a bad idea and it's ugly.

It's very much a love/hate bike. But I love everything one could hate about it.

I find that era of Japanese muscle bikes very exciting.

Lots more pictures here

They do nothing for me at all. That one looks like it was designed by a committee that never met.

Any recommendations on a reasonable first bike? I'd planed on getting a Yamaha XJ-6N (mostly around £3200-3,500). Happy for other suggestions though.

Ha. I completely see where you're coming from. Love it though.

I love Gary Inman's bike - think I posted some half finished pics in here aeons back. Proper frame, modern running gear. Bet it's a blast to ride.

For my first bike I got a Moto Guzzi Breva 750, not everyone's cup of tea, but I loved it. I can't imagine having anything other than a Guzzi now.

Had a mechanical moment earlier, coasted to a stop at a roundabout in 3rd.
Cbf125, 2009 with 26k on the clock.
Bike wouldnt shift down.
Slipped the clutch and took a back street, got up to 5th then back down all the way no issues.
Is this a sign something is amiss?
Unsure what would cause this issue, hoping the box isnt fucked. Will check oil levels this weekend.
Cant be spending money on it, need to shift it soon to get a big bike (when i pass my test)