Here you go bud!

http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/99662

Purchased.

Thought if i dont do it now, ill end up not doing it again haha.

Cheers Chris

Hey fabia_19 sounds like you're pretty local to me ? Where you based ?

Where abouts was this? There have been a few horse drawn travellers in Telford over the last few weeks and I noticed yesterday that they'd gone! Maybe a coincidence!

 

They were leaving Bromsgrove towards Kidderminster on the A448 so looks like they were the ones from Redditch Madrunner knows! I came out at the Perryfields crossroads and the traffic was stationary and backing up before the M5 bridge by then. Interesting to know they were a tidy lot- that's very unusual for travellers and to be applauded TBF, but the horses looked a bit sorry for themselves with matted dirty coats. The bloke walking who asked me to keep my distance from his under taking horse was polite enough and I was in return but they really should have split up into single units to give the cars a chance to get past and stopped regularly to free up the traffic flow but suppose that's too much to ask. I bet they had a rough day yesterday in all that wind and rain where ever they got to.

Proper travellers though, not oike the ones around here that have the biggest caravans ive ever seen and a brand new L200 to tow it about.. Then the rest...

On another note.

Happy New Year to all the biker bunch in here (:

Here you go bud!

 

http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/99662

 

There's more options if you want the custom fit ones on ebay for around £15. I can't post the link-think it's a windoze 10 thing but put proguard in and you should find them.

 

Chris,

 

I always wear earplugs and like you can still hear enough with them in

Hey fabia_19 sounds like you're pretty local to me ? Where you based ?

I'm in Telford, what about yourself?

They were parked up near the new pub by Denso on 30th, thought I was seeing things when I popped down to see my folks on Wednesday

Now that I can finally upload pictures... Here is a little shot of my pride and joy.

VFR 800 VTEC

What do you all think?

I like it and have owned two VFR 800s in the past.  I started with an ex demo black one in 1998 and did 3 years instructing on it and covered in excess of 30000 miles with very little problem apart from a second hand rectifier as mine failed out of warranty, a well known issue.  Other than servicing and replacing tyres one when it was less than a week old as it had picked up a nail it was used on an almost daily basis and never let me down.  It would hardly ever be cleaned because when I had finished a day doing CBTs in the wind rain and cold washing the bike when I got home was never a top priority for me.

 

Second one a VTEC black again when I got back into biking and had been using a CBF600 for commuting to work and back and the occasional tour and wanted something a bit bigger for the wife and me.  I tried a BMW GS1200 the same day and I have said this before it was good, handled far better than it should be able to and was comfortable BUT I just cannot abide the Boxer engine.  So I went across to Louth and to the place where I used to do my instruction as I knew he had a VFR in there.  Bit naughty really as I rode over there on the BMW parked it up while I went for a test ride on the VTEC.  The Honda just felt right to me immediately and a deal was offered that I didn't refuse.  Only problem I had with it was the rear shocker lost all of it's oil due to the seal perishing which was down to being covered in crap and salt and not being cleaned properly!  As you can tell I am not a big one for cleaning bikes.  I had a service, MOT, new back tyre and the shocker and the bill was four figures!!!

 

Would I have another one?  No not now I have the TEX.  My only ever issue with the VTEC was the lump in the throttle from trailing to back on like in a tight turn or roundabout.  My garage would sort it out but it would return to haunt me eventually and I was never happy about that.  It wasn't the reason for swapping though.  I had just decided that I needed to update as mine had become a little tatty and worn from my usual neglect.

 

I went to Webbs the Yamaha dealers in Lincoln as I wanted to look at the FJ1300 as I wanted to do some serious touring on a bike.  Had a look but something about it just didn't click with me and I didn't even sit on it.  I went upstairs as I wondered what was up there and hadn't even considered Triumph nor realised they sold them.  Big sign in the window should have been a clue but hey I wasn't a detective at that time of my life so had probably lost some of the old skills!

 

I saw and immediately liked the Sprint 1050 GT.  I saw and loved the price bearing in mind it came with the panniers included.  I would have had the SE model but the colours were naff.  It was only a few hundred quid (£500 I seem to recall) more and for that you got the top box, heated grips and a taller screen.  As it was the top box cost me that alone!  I had a ride on a demo bike and instantly loved it.  A triple has such a different sound and as much as I liked the howl of the VTEC this was something different but just as good.  Yes of course there was more power as it is a far bigger engine but it was just so smooth to ride.  The only difference I could tell in riding was that it had a longer wheelbase so took more room to turn but on the open road it handled as good if not better than the Honda.

 

Having ben out for a few rides with the RATS I notice a lot of them (most) had Tigers and some of them the Explorer with it's 1215 size engine.  When my bike was in for a service with Webbs they lent me an Exlorer for the day.  They are not daft are they?  Hooked immediately on everything about it and to cut the story short bought a second hand one from their Peterborough shop a couple of weeks later.  Having only owned the Sprint for a year I lost a shed load of cash on it but I coped with that in my mind.

 

When we were out the other day on the RAT run we were sat in a pub at lunchtime and obviously discussing bikes as you would expect.  One of the RATS has just chucked his Triumph Trophy in for some sort of Harley.  Obviously there was much p taking but I did ask them seriously how they found it and the (his wife included) loved it to bits and found it far better for them than the Triumph.  One of the other guys sat with us also has an Explorer and he, like me says it is the best bike he has ever owned and will not be changing it.  I love it because the riding position is much better suited to me these days, the power is just there whenever you need it in whatever gear you are in and that makes it effortless to ride slow or quick and I love the look of it although I am not into the whole off road Wrong Way Down bo11ocks!

 

So in answer to your question I love the look of your bike and I am sure you will have bags of fun on it.  It may be with you for many years or you may indeed have the itch like we all get from time to time to try something else (Fabiamk) but you have that knowledge now that car drivers just don't get.  Biking is brilliant and done properly is about the best thing you can do with your cloths on!  Oh and you get to eat cake too. :clap:

I'm in Telford, what about yourself?

Agh ok not a million miles away just between Redditch and alvechurch.

Crikey Chris. Your fingers are abit keen on the keyboard today. Been drinkin too much coffee mate? Haha

Nope just bored sh1tless!  Thinking of training to be a plumber but then they are sat about all day drinking tea so no change for me there really!

Nope just bored sh1tless! Thinking of training to be a plumber but then they are sat about all day drinking tea so no change for me there really!

Why not mate .

Back to the world of work on Monday though. Jobs mounting up now

Hang on I will just have a look at the weather forecast for Monday and see if I can be out on the bike scoffing cake while you are working your nuts off!

Here you go bud!

 

 

Tried to reply a couple of nights ago:

Apart from deafness, tinnitus is a vicious little barsteward, permanent ringing in the ears, which is all right if you're into campanology but a real quality of life slayer!

Also re PR4s:

  " New PR4s fitted to wheels £220 less £25 fuel voucher*.

8430 miles, so obviously not trying hard enough! "

* ended 12th December  :( 

? Worth asking your friendly tyre place if there's another promotion due ?

I do tend to get a bit of discount at the place I use for work on the bike as he does instruction as well and I worked for him for 4 years instructing riders.

 

Yes tinnitus is what my mate has been diagnosed with and that is purely through riding without protection.  To be fair I had a problem hearing the covert radio while on the bike and that was why he and others did not wear earplugs   But that is not knowing that you can still hear a radio with them in really.  ignorance isn't always bliss/  The Police did provide them and do regular hearing tests but we being what we are always know best I guess.

My dads got tinnitus. Wont admit it.. But its got be from all the biking over the years!

Chaps.

For what it's worth, here's my two.

First up is my Beemer, a 1998 R1200C, the type used in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies. Pretty tidy all round and runs well, up for sale if anyone is interested?

Then my project, I have always been a fan of Suzuki Two Strokes so I am currently working on a full restoration of a 1969 Suzuki T500-II, super scarce in the UK, believed to be one of less than a dozen. Pic shows it before work started...

Edited 3 January, 201610 yr by Mence

First up is my Beemer, a 1998 R1200C, the type used in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies. Pretty tidy all round and runs well, up for sale if anyone is interested?

I tried one of these when they were new but didn't buy one. Shame as they're one of the few bikes that held or increased their value.

Nope just bored sh1tless!  Thinking of training to be a plumber but then they are sat about all day drinking tea so no change for me there really!

Got an email an hour ago from:  Plumbing Courses.   Subject:  Become an Electrician Now.

2 birds, one stone springs to mind!

So, that's how they do it - can forward if you're keen

Edited 3 January, 201610 yr by punyXpress

Got an email an hour ago from: Plumbing Courses. Subject: Become an Electrician Now.

2 birds, one stone springs to mind!

So, that's how they do it - can forward if you're keen

Good arent they, those quick courses

I spent 5 years in an apprenticeship.

People go on those courses for a week or two and wonder why they dont have a clue what theyre doing haha.

Got an email an hour ago from:  Plumbing Courses.   Subject:  Become an Electrician Now.

2 birds, one stone springs to mind!

So, that's how they do it - can forward if you're keen

Thanks but no thanks I was just taking the mick out of Fabiam as he 'allegedly' is a plumber yet is on here all the time!

Long time bike or let's say bikes owner , ridden on the road since 1995 ,ride most days , and fortunate enough to have a great job working on them daily , and at weekends when bsb is on

Bikes in the garage are

2004 cbr600rr

2005 hornet 600

1992 bros 650

2004 sherco 290

1993 rm 250

Well strictly the last 2 are in the front room lol

Anyone owned a KTM?

I am going to look at the 690 Duke and the 1050 Adventurer.

Unlike my Honda and previous BMW, I am unsure about reliability, dealer service and value.

Any views or experiences would be appreciated.

Cheers

Anyone owned a KTM?

I am going to look at the 690 Duke and the 1050 Adventurer.

Unlike my Honda and previous BMW, I am unsure about reliability, dealer service and value.

Any views or experiences would be appreciated.

Cheers

An ex forum member had (i think he still has) a 690 KTM. Raved about how fun it is, how you dont need more power etc etc, but then it broke. It decided it didnt want to run anymore, and was a ballache. 

 

Not sure if he ever did find out what was wrong with it. He got to the stage where he just wanted to fix it n sell it, fed up of the hassle. 

 

It wasnt very old either and hadnt done many miles. 

 

MattChelski might remember more, i think he went to look at it for him before he bought it?