Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Made by MV Agusta, no less (sort of.)

There's a company over here called Warp9 that sell SM wheels and 300mm brake conversions pretty cheaply. Tempting but if there's one type of bike that can exceed general street twattery more than a straight dirt bike, it's a SM :) Would be awesome fun though....

Found revzilla ridiculous good for reviews of just about everything. Sometimes just too much detail but if you want it its there.
Thought about the alpinestars andes as have same liner material as valparaiso, but then found epic deal on them, 230 down to 165 but only in selected sizes, got the last medium.
Would really check with their size guide as most folk need to go down a size for that range for some reason
Think the jackets are right, pants are just big waist, skinny fit and quite long, really wanted a short fitting medium but they are hard to find at any price

That's what I was thinking.

I know what you mean about getting something more worn, but I guess my logic is that if it's been well cared for, then it's in better shape for the future.

Also 2nd hand in vgc means some of the depreciation has gone but it's still been run in. Plus the new SV650 is white with blue wheels... Whereas the grey MT-07 looks a bit cooler.

I think I'll try and head to a Yam dealer on Sat and try one out.

Just on the jeans thing, I don't know if you've already looked at urban rider, but they have a London store:

http://www.urbanrider.co.uk/london_store/

I think motorbike jeans are something you defo want to try on in a shop.

Something shiny doesn't always mean cared for. It can do.

My ktm is a bit tatty outside now, as I use it daily and have done 12,000miles in 10 months. But mechanically it's bang on. Appearances can be deceiving.

Anyway. My mother always warned me about rushing into the first thing. I love to be spontaneous more so than anyone. But caution can be good too. So sleep on it and then decide. The bike won't go anywhere, it's winter.
Go ride one, get a figure for 2nd hand value and then get it if it's all good.

And most of all: Less thinking more heart. In the 80s Romans words: Daie er gas.

Husqvarna TE510

wowowowow

This thing looks like a beast, seriously need to get a bike when I'm back here for good, I would say dibs on this but I'd definitely end up in some serious trouble and/or a police chase on it...

Would anyone be interested in buying my '04 Bandit?

I 'need' to upgrade to beat next years' emission charge in London.

An animal chase...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUZwQa37zUg

Something shiny doesn't always mean cared for. It can do.

True.

But in this case I was sold by the whole package - dealer service history, neat/tidy seller, stored underground, etc.

I'm going to try and take one out from a dealer on Sat - I think part of my problem is too much choice and not enough time. I almost think I should take a couple of days holiday on a weekday.

Fair enough. Give him an offer you think fair then, it is winter so it's buyers time.
Thumbs up!

Just a quick reality check, is all mc gear built for fat knacks?

Pants jist arrived, deliberately got something euro/italian as they tend to be on the slimmer side. The ones I chose were noted for being a bit bigger than stated so don't oversize if your on the border between sixes oe thinking of space underneath for extra insulation.
I'm 5'10 75kg medium medium medium sized guy, Pant size around 32/33" waist and regular or slightly short length. So ordered medium regular length though suspected I would need the short version.
They turned up, think I actually need small short, which is the smallest size they do. That can't be right? Go from s to 4xl, or is that my answer, 4xl lol

Standing the knee shin pad is off down my shin, on adventure / commuter shaped bike still off down my shin. On a sports type bike the top of the cup is just scraping at bottom of my knee, no adjustment. Wtf!

Bend your legs in the assumed seated/riding position. Where do the knee pads reach now?
Longer pants I find better as the ankle gap is reduced.

Unless I was on a drag bike they'd still be too low :(

@hugo7 I had an ER6F - OK, but they sound like a lawnmower! Bit sketchy feeling sometimes I always thought - could have been the tyres I had on it though - I had the new 2016 ER6N (in Kwaka team greean) as a loaner a few months ago - didn't like it at all, although a group of teenage sneaker kids stood around it when I came back to it taking selfies with it so make of that what you will!

Trying to decide whether or not to flog my Bonneville - I love it but it'd mean an extra three or four grand to fix up my flat, which currently looks like a squat, and doesn't have a parking space allocated. Awful.

Put the Bonneville in the flat, should brighten the place up and sort out the parking issue.

When I was growing up there was a hells angel a few doors up from me. I was mates with his son, who he called Damien. Amazing.

Anyway each winter he'd take his motorcycle apart in their front room and over the spring he'd put it back together. In the first weeks of summer you'd occasionally hear him fire it up in their living room, while I was on the way home from school. I thought this was totally normal. My dad even tried to convince my mum to let him do it - which never worked.

In any event, he let me into my first rock bar, and ended up in prison for killing a dude (unrelated). So I think what I'm saying is: that's not a bad idea. Let's do this thing.

All true. I used to decorate mine for Christmas when it was in the living room.

Pant situation sorted, turns out there is lots of hidden adjustments in the outer shell of them to position knee/shin, hip and waist straps, also length of inner thermal to where it attachs.
Fits on both bikes (both kinda upright) really nice now. Turns out they are mega long/big at bottom of leg so that they fit over bigger offroad orientated boots like the toucan, make sense now.

Nothing like the sweet relief of an MOT pass to start the day. Tester overlooked the oil leak that's like the Exxon Valdez and a wobbly number plate, minor confusion over not having a front brake light switch but still passed with no advisories. Are they even a thing any more?

Yeah I had a tyre advisory the other day. Guess it depends on the mot station. Just bear in mind traffic police are less lenient

I had an advisory for slight (very slight) notch in headstock bearings, and rear wheel ever so slightly out of true (spoked wheels ftw)
Rear pad is near the end of its life but no biggie (their words not on the cert)

After this year's round of mot's on all vehicles I am now dead set in my opinion that they are worthless*

*to anyone who genuinely cares about the running condition and safety of their vehicle

Good point