That's lovely, and in the same way Bianchis look best in Celeste, Kawasakis look best in green.
Motorbike and scooter owners.
- Thread starter Cavalol
- Start date
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That's lovely, and in the same way Bianchis look best in Celeste, Kawasakis look best in green.
Proto
Legendary Member
- Location
- East Devon/West Dorset
Currently bikeless but still look at the adverts. Want something easy to live with, fairly light and practical, something light a Hornet but sexier.
BSA Bantam
Kawasaki KMX125
Honda Transalp
Honda CBR600
Moto Guzzi 850T
Ducati 750SS
Honda Fireblade 918
Honda RVF400 NC35
Honda Fireblade 929
BMW F650
Ducati Monster 900
Ducati Monster 900 i
Honda Fireblade 954
Honda Hornet 600
BMW R1150 Rockster
Buel XB12S Lightning
The 929 Fireblade is the one I miss the most, it was ‘my’ bike, sort of bonded with it.
BSA Bantam
Kawasaki KMX125
Honda Transalp
Honda CBR600
Moto Guzzi 850T
Ducati 750SS
Honda Fireblade 918
Honda RVF400 NC35
Honda Fireblade 929
BMW F650
Ducati Monster 900
Ducati Monster 900 i
Honda Fireblade 954
Honda Hornet 600
BMW R1150 Rockster
Buel XB12S Lightning
The 929 Fireblade is the one I miss the most, it was ‘my’ bike, sort of bonded with it.
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
Currently, Honda PCX 125, Yamaha YZF-R125, and (currently awaiting another attempt at getting Mod 1 done on it) Yamaha Xmax 400.
As to how I got to have three bikes, and why two of them have L-plates…
Did my first CBT back in 2013, so I could take possession of a cheap-and-nasty Chinese 50cc scoot I won in a competition. After work moved 20 miles away in March 2015, did nine days on the 50 before getting the PCX- now approaching 39,000 miles. Got a YBR 125 a couple of years ago, to try and get the hang of gears. That died in an RTA last August (Land Rover Discovery pulled out in front of me) so I got the R125. Had a first attempt at passing full licence in February. It did not go well, and clutch control proved very problematic indeed. Lots of stress, lots of mistakes, and I couldn't seem to get the hang of it, which pretty much screwed up everything I did. Did Mod 1 on the PCX on test day, stuffed it up anyway. So, revised plan was to go for A2 Automatic, for which I needed to buy a bike on the test list (no school anywhere near me has big scoots)- hence the Xmax. Have now flunked Mod 1 on the Xmax four times (a cone died on the slalom on the last attempt). Instructors suggested I try and get A1 auto out of the way first, as that would just cost the test fees, and hopefully break the run... So, I did Mod 1 on the PCX a month back, passed that, then got Mod 2 done two days later. Hallelujah. Am liking getting the commute down to an hour a day! Next up, Mod 1 attempt on the Xmax in a month.
As to how I got to have three bikes, and why two of them have L-plates…
Did my first CBT back in 2013, so I could take possession of a cheap-and-nasty Chinese 50cc scoot I won in a competition. After work moved 20 miles away in March 2015, did nine days on the 50 before getting the PCX- now approaching 39,000 miles. Got a YBR 125 a couple of years ago, to try and get the hang of gears. That died in an RTA last August (Land Rover Discovery pulled out in front of me) so I got the R125. Had a first attempt at passing full licence in February. It did not go well, and clutch control proved very problematic indeed. Lots of stress, lots of mistakes, and I couldn't seem to get the hang of it, which pretty much screwed up everything I did. Did Mod 1 on the PCX on test day, stuffed it up anyway. So, revised plan was to go for A2 Automatic, for which I needed to buy a bike on the test list (no school anywhere near me has big scoots)- hence the Xmax. Have now flunked Mod 1 on the Xmax four times (a cone died on the slalom on the last attempt). Instructors suggested I try and get A1 auto out of the way first, as that would just cost the test fees, and hopefully break the run... So, I did Mod 1 on the PCX a month back, passed that, then got Mod 2 done two days later. Hallelujah. Am liking getting the commute down to an hour a day! Next up, Mod 1 attempt on the Xmax in a month.
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steveindenmark
Legendary Member
I started with a Honda C50 then a C70 and then a C90. Have you seen the price of those bikes now 👀 In 1991 I was a police officer and a young guy racing his car hit me and broke both my arms and right leg. I had to retire from the force and left bikes alone for several years. After moving to Denmark I got the taste again and bought a Suzuki Intruder 750 and then a Yamaha FZ6. But then I found Moto Guzzi 😁. I bought a Moto Guzzi California 1100 in Yorkshire and rode it to the Moto Guzzi factory on Lake Como and back to Denmark. Then I restored a Moto Guzzi Cardellino and a Moto Guzzi Trotter. My next bike was a Moto Guzzi Breva 750 which I still have. I bought it in the Lake district and rode it home to Denmark. I also have a Honda Innova 125 which is a super little bike which we have used for 2 up camping in Germany
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View: https://youtu.be/Be480hYH0zY
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View: https://youtu.be/Be480hYH0zY
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Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
50's Beezer 350ohc single
Beezer 650 Gold Flash
Beezer 250 C15 SS
Honda 250 twin
Norton 650 SS
Norton Commando
Suzuki 750 3cyl "kettle"
Ducati 750 Darmah
Sold the last one to fund a new Mercian which my friend has now. Wouldn't buy another Moto.
Beezer 650 Gold Flash
Beezer 250 C15 SS
Honda 250 twin
Norton 650 SS
Norton Commando
Suzuki 750 3cyl "kettle"
Ducati 750 Darmah
Sold the last one to fund a new Mercian which my friend has now. Wouldn't buy another Moto.
Rode a few models of Guzzi's, they do have something about them and i can get why they get under the skin of the owners. All the Guzzi owners i've met are extremely passionate about this marque.
Came close to buying a Stelvio after a test ride, back in the day when i rode big cc adventure bikes, but being a dyed in the wool Jap bike rider, i ended up buying the Super Tenere 1200 instead.
A GT750 ('Kettle') is right near the top of my dream bike list, along with a Kawasaki H1 and H2. The trouble is 'dream' is the operative word, as they're crazy money these days.
This is the Fireblade I briefly owned. Swapped it for a Vespa T5 Mk1 of all things. Didn't like the 'blade at all, never been a sport bike person and it scared the hell out of me. I know they're only as fast as you make them go, but I found I was swinging wide on corners, and went trying to sit on it pushing it backwards, he fairing caught my wrists...
A Franny Barnett Plover I had earlier this year. Hadn't been on the road for 6 years, but got it going and had some memorable short runs out on it, nearly all of which ended up with some pushing. The final straw was when the kick start shaft snapped and I made a complete b*ll*cks up of trying to fit the replacement. It got sold shortly after....
This James Cadet came in a couple of months back. It had lived in a back garden since possibly 1982 and showed it. The wheels were so bad, we just hack sawed through the tyres and flung the remains of rims/rubber into a skip...
The James wasn't a planned buy, had gone up to view this...
...which had lived in a hedge since 1982. Strangely enough, it had been running and was ridden the day it was left. Clearly, time had taken it's toll and it went to a new home, as did the James.
This is the Fireblade I briefly owned. Swapped it for a Vespa T5 Mk1 of all things. Didn't like the 'blade at all, never been a sport bike person and it scared the hell out of me. I know they're only as fast as you make them go, but I found I was swinging wide on corners, and went trying to sit on it pushing it backwards, he fairing caught my wrists...
A Franny Barnett Plover I had earlier this year. Hadn't been on the road for 6 years, but got it going and had some memorable short runs out on it, nearly all of which ended up with some pushing. The final straw was when the kick start shaft snapped and I made a complete b*ll*cks up of trying to fit the replacement. It got sold shortly after....
This James Cadet came in a couple of months back. It had lived in a back garden since possibly 1982 and showed it. The wheels were so bad, we just hack sawed through the tyres and flung the remains of rims/rubber into a skip...
The James wasn't a planned buy, had gone up to view this...
...which had lived in a hedge since 1982. Strangely enough, it had been running and was ridden the day it was left. Clearly, time had taken it's toll and it went to a new home, as did the James.
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
Mention of the CBT above made me think about when I took my test in 1971 at Barnet test centre.
I understand the test process now is drawn out and quite stringent. Back then the examiner stood by the roadside and asked me to keep going around the block until told to stop, this involved him jumping out from behind a parked car which counted as an emergency stop. Then three questions, needless to say I passed.
I understand the test process now is drawn out and quite stringent. Back then the examiner stood by the roadside and asked me to keep going around the block until told to stop, this involved him jumping out from behind a parked car which counted as an emergency stop. Then three questions, needless to say I passed.
D
Deleted member 26715
Guest
Pretty much the same as me, although my indicators failed halfway through the test so I had to manually switch them on/off for the rest of the test, my positioning coming out of a one-way street got the comment from him, "Well it took you 3 attempts to be on the correct side of the road, but at least you got it right in the end" with a bit of a smirk.
Smokin Joe
Squire
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
I had one of those, same colour even. I bought it new just after Christmas 1999 and sold it in 2006. Fantastic bike with smooth power delivery and very easy to ride. Mine was as reliable as a Swiss watch and I even used it as a road race motorcycle escort.
My last bike was a Kawasaki GPZ500 bought in 2012 and sold two years later. I hated it, the way it rode, the buzzy gutless engine and the fact it was a bit of a dog. My last moto and the worst of the many I've owned.
D
Deleted member 26715
Guest
Mine too but I will never own one, they were unreliable back then so many were just trashed to death then dumped or seized then dumped
I loved my 2 Blades, awesome bike, loved going around roundabouts with my knee on the floor.
The issues with the one i bought, were down to the bike not being used. I had a stack of mot's where sometimes it had not been used between mot's, and other years that it had only done a few miles. Many things including the brakes were seizing up, carbs gummed up etc. But after sorting, the bike ran sweet as.
I've had 4 bikes with variations of these Suzi air/oil cooled engines, in various models of the 600 and 1200 Bandits. They were bulletproof engines.
Pale Rider
Legendary Member
I started on a knackered Raleigh moped which had a fanbelt primary drive which gave an auto experience with authentic torque converter slip.
Next was a slightly less knackered Yamaha FS1E.
The bike I had most fun on was a Honda CB175.
It handled terribly and was pitifully slow, but - after it was fettled - was bulletproof reliable and almost unbelievably economical.
A newish Honda 250 Superdream followed.
In theory, an upgrade to the CB175, but it didn't click with me.
My last motorbike was a Suziki GS125 commuter which I had in London in the 1980s.
Next was a slightly less knackered Yamaha FS1E.
The bike I had most fun on was a Honda CB175.
It handled terribly and was pitifully slow, but - after it was fettled - was bulletproof reliable and almost unbelievably economical.
A newish Honda 250 Superdream followed.
In theory, an upgrade to the CB175, but it didn't click with me.
My last motorbike was a Suziki GS125 commuter which I had in London in the 1980s.
