Motorbikes

simon ess said:
Screwfix No Nonsense degreaser. Brilliant stuff.
Click to expand...
Bought some today and used it neat on the wheel and swingarm. Agitated with a soft brush it shifted the chain lube no problems. Cheers Simon!
An old mate who has sadly passed on had a square four in his collection that he was restoring but didn’t finish it. Lovely bikes.
 
7 down and 7 to go.

Last Saturday I overtook a bike and three cars in one perfectly safe manouver, the bike and cars had been dawdling and tail gating one another for ages so there was no space for me take them one at a time. As I passed the second car I saw the detector van tucked into a field enterence, *groan*. I was so intent on keeping the car between the van and my number plate I didn't see my speed, it was 60 zone but it must have been touch and go ...

My hand on the throttle so my responsibility and must admit to being a bit frustrated at the time :(

So, 7 days and no nip, fingers crossed for another 7 :)
 
Nod said:
And so chuckable compared to your Tiger once you get used to it. Enjoy it while you have it (and see if they'll do you a decent trade in on their ex-demonstrator/loan bike!!!)
Click to expand...

I did a fair few miles on it earlier. My impressions are:

Legs were far too cramped. I’m only 1.74m and I know I’d be very uncomfortable after a long ride.
Hard seat.
Too much heat from engine.

Good for a short commute!
 
Back up to Scotland for a long weekend had a glorious ride on Sunday round Loch lomond through glencoe to fort William, back down to oban and round through Lochgilphead to Inveraray, over to dunoon, across on the ferry and back to my mums in Ayrshire, 306 glorious glorious miles...no finer place on earth in the sunshine 20220731_110317.jpg20220731_171236.jpg
 
293339641_10227814237204368_9001408487672785430_n.jpg
 
Ricardodaforce said:
My ride for the next couple of days.

It feels tiny!
Click to expand...
I really like that.

Starting to get a bit of a hankering for a new bike. I've had the ZRX for 21 years so I guess some GAS is understandable. Clearly, I've grown quite attached to the REX (I used to go to the NEC every year and there was never anything that appealed to me more than what I already had) but my local dealer has just started doing Moto Guzzi and that V7 Stone in black is very tempting. And I must confess (rather like cameras) I don't use more than about 25% of my bike's capabilities or power, and it is rather heavy. That said, the Guzzi is only a few kg lighter. For what I do these days, I only need a 500 if truth be told. I could probably even get away with a 350 Enfield, if I'm honest, but maybe I need to work my way down in stages (reversing the path of 40 years ago that went 125 - 250 - 500 - 600 - 1200...)?

This is the ZRX:

ZRX at Talybont.jpg

Probably won't do anything this year. But just starting to think...

Derek
 
Last edited:
delb0y said:
Moto Guzzi and that V7 Stone in black
Click to expand...
My little heart skips a beat when I see one of these.

It's about the only thing that will tempt me away from my current little 500.

I got the Honda 500 as a reintroduction to riding with a view to getting a "proper" bike after a year or so.

Much to my surprise I've grown attached to it. It's very easy to ride, very easy to lug about and very, very capable.
 
I popped down to the Guzzi dealer this afternoon to look at one in the flesh - very nice. Lovely and comfy to sit on - not too big, not too small. I am tempted. But have yet to ride one - and I may hate it. But I shall have that test ride sometime soon... The service team can't believe I'm thinking of trading in the ZRX as I've had it so long (and they've been maintaining it for so long). The last one they took in sold within hours so I'm hoping they may offer me a decent px, if I decide to do it, especially as they know my bike so well.
 
delb0y said:
I popped down to the Guzzi dealer this afternoon to look at one in the flesh - very nice. Lovely and comfy to sit on - not too big, not too small. I am tempted. But have yet to ride one - and I may hate it. But I shall have that test ride sometime soon... The service team can't believe I'm thinking of trading in the ZRX as I've had it so long (and they've been maintaining it for so long). The last one they took in sold within hours so I'm hoping they may offer me a decent px, if I decide to do it, especially as they know my bike so well.
Click to expand...

They don’t do it for me. If I was in the market for that kind of bike I’d have a good look at the Kawasaki KZ650RS.
 
Yes, I've had my eye on those for a while, too. Could be a possibility if the test ride on the Guzzi proves negative.

However, just watching the news about the forecasted energy price increases coming over the next eight or nine months. Might have to rethink any expenditure in the short term :-(
 
delb0y said:
the path of 40 years ago that went 125 - 250 - 500 - 600 - 1200...
Click to expand...


The logical progression would be a Rocket III - Triumph not Beezer!!!
 
A friend had a Rocket III - that was a monster. Beautiful, but huge. One of the reasons I'm thinking of swapping my bike is because the ZRX is (to me) heavy. I was in my thirties when I bought it and I'm sixty next year, and my needs and riding have changed. But I think the Rocket would be twice the weight of the ZRX. I always wondered what would happen if it went over. How would you get it back up? I have the same question about Harleys and other big tourers. All that said, such concerns may be irrational, because lots of folks a lot older than me have a lot bigger and heavier bikes.
 
I changed my R III for a Bobber. Main reason was that it is such a big bu99er to move around by hand, although once on the move it didn't feel as big as it is. From memory, mine was about 330kg and that brings the second reason into play, I'm pretty damn sure that if it had gone down, I wouldn't have been able to get it up again lift it up! Thirdly, it wasn't getting the use it deserved and really needed - most of my miles are relatively short trips on fairly twisty roads which aren't really its natural habitat and the Bobber is much better suited to that sort of use.
Used to run a Harley 30 or so years ago but it was a stripped down custom rather than a dresser/bagger/tourer so was (relatively) light and I could lift it from laid down (deliberately, after being laid down on a pile of blankets in the garage!)
'63 is a very good vintage!!! ;)
 
'Kin rice burner! :P :)

FWIW, there might be a Chinese winter hack/learner steed coming in the not too distant future - Mrs Nod keeps threatening to learn and get at least her CBT this year!
 
delb0y said:
Moto Guzzi and that V7 Stone in black is very tempting.
Click to expand...
My next door neighbours son is a bike mechanic of many years experience. He worked on guzzi and wasn’t impressed. A lot of work to pdi, and slow to get parts. He had one new bike came in missing a head gasket.
Said Aprillia was a nightmare too.
I had an Enfield 350 meteor; lovely bike to ride with a splendid soundtrack. you may find it a bit slow after the ZRX.
A cracker for round town and down country lanes and well worth a test ride.
I got fed up waiting for the 650 version and bought the interceptor.
 
Topsy said:
Contrary to popular misconception I am not a Jap Bike hater. Just bought this as a winter runaround and errand bike, (not my photo it's from the add) the top box is no longer on it. :ROFLMAO:

View attachment 362781
Click to expand...
Thought I'd take my own shot :D , Leica M9 35mm Summicron.

001 Honda Varadero 01-1004225 PS Adj.JPG
 
Just watching a bit of the MotoGP.
When did this idea of when cornering sticking a leg out start.
What's it supposed to achieve? I can't remember it from when I used to watch regularly.
 
Don't think I've posted this in the thread before but I could be going senile. Either way, some will enjoy this.

overlandrider.com

VIDEO – A RIDE DOWN THE FAMOUS MILITARY ROAD, ISLE OF WIGHT - OVERLAND RIDER

I've lived on the Isle of Wight for 5 years now. It's a fairly small island, about 42 miles across at its widest point and just over 65 miles round if you follow the coastal road. Military Road is the South West part of the coastal road and runs along the beautiful beaches and white
overlandrider.com overlandrider.com
 
Cockney said:
Just watching a bit of the MotoGP.
When did this idea of when cornering sticking a leg out start.
What's it supposed to achieve? I can't remember it from when I used to watch regularly.
Click to expand...
Rossi started that years ago. It's all about counterbalancing. I saw somebody try it on the road once and nearly tore his leg off as he caught the kerb! It whipped him straight off and ended up sat on his very scuffed rear end and a "ballet" injury, best not talked about in mixed company!!! :)


The Truth Behind The Rossi Leg Wave | MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

motomatters.com motomatters.com
 
Last edited:
I've been known to wave a leg while riding! NOT on the way into or out of corners but when I feel an incipient cramp or a hip seizing up... Very rarely happens on my bikes but has been a deal breaker on a couple that I was thinking about buying, most notably an HD Sportster which was crippling after about 100 metres. Took that straight back and hopped on a Bonneville Speedmaster (old model, not the Bobber based one) which is now in my stable!
 
Nod said:
Too late for this year (probably!) but I'm planning on taking an electric bike out for a test ride at some point. I'll be keeping some noisy ones too though, if/when I get one!
Click to expand...

Do you have your eye on a particular model?
 
Not really, just something quick enough for my wants with a comfortable riding position up to the legal limit (:whistling:) and a real world range of around 100 miles.
 
MOT pass today................. and a grand total of 301 miles last year, 50 odd of which, were this morning.
 
delb0y said:
I really like that.

Starting to get a bit of a hankering for a new bike. I've had the ZRX for 21 years so I guess some GAS is understandable. Clearly, I've grown quite attached to the REX (I used to go to the NEC every year and there was never anything that appealed to me more than what I already had) but my local dealer has just started doing Moto Guzzi and that V7 Stone in black is very tempting. And I must confess (rather like cameras) I don't use more than about 25% of my bike's capabilities or power, and it is rather heavy. That said, the Guzzi is only a few kg lighter. For what I do these days, I only need a 500 if truth be told. I could probably even get away with a 350 Enfield, if I'm honest, but maybe I need to work my way down in stages (reversing the path of 40 years ago that went 125 - 250 - 500 - 600 - 1200...)?

This is the ZRX:

View attachment 362666

Probably won't do anything this year. But just starting to think...

Derek
Click to expand...


Lovely bike, I love the retro look of some modern bikes.

That's Talybont Reservoir?
 
Ricardodaforce said:
www.cycleworld.com

The UK Puts a Date on the Death of Combustion Engine Bikes

The end of the UK-made internal combustion bike isn’t here, but it’s just over the horizon.
www.cycleworld.com www.cycleworld.com
Click to expand...
I know it’s coming and understand the reasons why but just don’t think an electric bike is a proper bike
A bike has an engine and is alive an electric bike isn’t the same
Electric cars are different a car is just a tool a means of transportation but there’s something special about bikes , I know I’m being irrational and probably shouldn’t post when I’ve had a couple of beers :oops: :$
 
Last edited:
LCPete said:
I know it’s coming and understand the reasons why but just don’t think an electric bike is a proper bike
A bike has an engine and is alive an electric bike isn’t the same
Electric cars are different a car is just a tool a means of transportation but there’s something special about bikes , I know I’m being irrational and probably shouldn’t post when I’ve had a couple of beers :oops: :$
Click to expand...

THIS!

... apart from the beers ...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top