No he phoned her while we were with him and sent her a picture of it. Her response well now you have broken ALL the bikes in the garage!  He has 5 of his own and they are all in bits at the moment hence why he borrowed hers.  She seems fairly layed back and she knows it will be fixed.  He was lucky as if you look at the picture you sill see mud on the tank and it wasn't damaged.

We're all guilty of this! I managed to drop my last bike off the side stand whilst over in the IOM at the TT!!! Felt like an absolute idiot.

Well there were four RATS on the trip.  One of them a couple of years ago dropped his Tiger 800 as he put his sidestand down and started to get off his bike but his stand had flicked back up and he and the bike fell to the ground breaking his collarbone.  I think it is a good reminder that the ride isn't finished safely until you are off the bike and stood on your own two feet.

 

Over on the Triumph Explorer forum quite a few people have posted in a thread about dropping the TEX.  When you read the thread most of them are stupid little offs caused by letting the revs drop too much when manoeuvring in tight spaces or turning at junctions.  To let your revs drop so much it cannot keep the bike moving is such a basic error I find it hard to believe that so many have done it but once more it highlights the level of concentration that is required until you actually have got off the bike and it is safely parked.  It is no good blaming the bike (as some have) for being top heavy.  Doesn't matter what it weighs as on the move the weight is not an issue.

 

My friend was embarrassed in the extreme as he is a confident and safe rider who made a daft mistake and he has been riding for years.  It just shows as has been said above we are all guilty of the lapse of concentration from time to time and it is just a toss of the dice if it catches us out or not.

No he phoned her while we were with him and sent her a picture of it. Her response well now you have broken ALL the bikes in the garage!  He has 5 of his own and they are all in bits at the moment hence why he borrowed hers.  She seems fairly layed back and she knows it will be fixed.  He was lucky as if you look at the picture you sill see mud on the tank and it wasn't damaged.

Cant beat a laid back SWMBO.  

 

Yeah i though that about the tank when i looked in the pic. Very lucky indeed. Tanks are silly money arent they 

Well there were four RATS on the trip.  One of them a couple of years ago dropped his Tiger 800 as he put his sidestand down and started to get off his bike but his stand had flicked back up and he and the bike fell to the ground breaking his collarbone.  I think it is a good reminder that the ride isn't finished safely until you are off the bike and stood on your own two feet.

 

Over on the Triumph Explorer forum quite a few people have posted in a thread about dropping the TEX.  When you read the thread most of them are stupid little offs caused by letting the revs drop too much when manoeuvring in tight spaces or turning at junctions.  To let your revs drop so much it cannot keep the bike moving is such a basic error I find it hard to believe that so many have done it but once more it highlights the level of concentration that is required until you actually have got off the bike and it is safely parked.  It is no good blaming the bike (as some have) for being top heavy.  Doesn't matter what it weighs as on the move the weight is not an issue.

 

My friend was embarrassed in the extreme as he is a confident and safe rider who made a daft mistake and he has been riding for years.  It just shows as has been said above we are all guilty of the lapse of concentration from time to time and it is just a toss of the dice if it catches us out or not.

I guess the TEX is similar to the GSA. I've seen quite a few people drop them (not my dad though. He seems to manage pretty well.. but then he is a big bloke). for some its more of  a fashion thing and some dont really know how to handle a big bike like that. Coupled with panniers full of gear and 33 litres of fuel in the tank, it gets heavy. 

 

I guess its more about technique than brute force though. Although my bike isnt as big as the TEX or GSA i do find that its easy as pie if you keep the centre of balance in errr, the centre.  

Edited 30 January, 201610 yr by fabiamk2SE

We're all guilty of this! I managed to drop my last bike off the side stand whilst over in the IOM at the TT!!! Felt like an absolute idiot.

 urgh. what a nightmare. 

 

 

I did notice that these popped up mate.. 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222003624307?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

Although the price seems to keep climbing and climbing. So maybe you got a good deal with yours.. even if you had to spray them. Hows that gone by the way? 

 

When these ones were £5 i thought about buying them as an extra set and making money on them. But now the price is rising n i guess we'll see what they're worth in 6 hours haha

Just been out for a quick blat round the block to see what the tyres are like riding solo.  37 miles on dry and clean roads have shown me that I am having to adjust to pushing on the bars far less as I am turning into the bends too much.  Soon get used to it and the bike doesn't seem as bumpy for some reason.  Probably due the fact they are road tyres and not a compromise.

 

Filled up with fuel before I left so that would add a fair bit of weight to it which once more gave me a good indication of what it handles like now.  Well pleased so far just need to see what they are like in the wet.

urgh. what a nightmare. 

 

 

I did notice that these popped up mate.. 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222003624307?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

Although the price seems to keep climbing and climbing. So maybe you got a good deal with yours.. even if you had to spray them. Hows that gone by the way? 

 

When these ones were £5 i thought about buying them as an extra set and making money on them. But now the price is rising n i guess we'll see what they're worth in 6 hours haha

Yeah I got a bargain on mine! And I've had them sprayed along with the cowl as well. They look awesome, really finishes it off.

Can't wait to get out in the coming weeks

Yeah I got a bargain on mine! And I've had them sprayed along with the cowl as well. They look awesome, really finishes it off.

Can't wait to get out in the coming weeks

£45 plus postage

Madness for 2 little bits of plastic isnt it haha.

Woo!

Yeah i wanna get out too but the roads are too dirty here :(. Grit everywhere :(

Stop with all this grit nonsense.  Get the bike done with the All Year Biker treatment £65 and you can ride without worrying about it.  It is so easy to clean afterwards just a quick spray not even pressure wash and then a quick dry off with a cloth and you are good to go.  It really is that simple plus even if you do not clean it off that day (I often don't) you know it is going to be just as easy in a weeks tie and in the meantime the nasty salt cannot get to the bike to eat it.

Stop with all this grit nonsense. Get the bike done with the All Year Biker treatment £65 and you can ride without worrying about it. It is so easy to clean afterwards just a quick spray not even pressure wash and then a quick dry off with a cloth and you are good to go. It really is that simple plus even if you do not clean it off that day (I often don't) you know it is going to be just as easy in a weeks tie and in the meantime the nasty salt cannot get to the bike to eat it.

Its just abit too bad here at the moment though. Roads are white. Windscreen washer fluid is getting some hammer in the car .

It goes against my morals to put my bike through all that . I like to keep them like new .

Given more snow this week i think

I agree with Chris - you need to man up or trade down to a particular 3 cylinder triumph :-)

Well today I have just been out and blown the months budget on heated clothing for the wife gloves and vest and new boots for myself  Just short of 400 quid but at least we will be able to go out now without Jane freezing and I have a better set of boots to use as well as the years old Hein Gericke ones that I keep using and abusing.

 

I know what you mean about keeping the bike looking good but mine isn't a entrant in RAT of the month.  It looks good still and because I have had it treated it stands a good chance of continuing to do so but I can still go out for a blat.  I do accept that your neck of the woods has slightly crappier weather though.

I agree with Chris - you need to man up or trade down to a particular 3 cylinder triumph :-)

Its always dark atm anyway, by the time i get any spare time :(

Joking aside. It really is very windy out there today. Fighting it just tryna to walk haha.

Edited 1 February, 201610 yr by fabiamk2SE

I was told today when I bought the Keis heated gear that you can buy the battery packs from fleabay far cheaper than Keis sell them for.  Anyone any knowledge of them or if in fact they would do the job.  The connections look the same.  Oh and yes I realise that you pay your money you take your choice but I am just thinking that Jane would be able to use the heated kit when she was out walking the dog as well.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-168-12V-1800mAh-Rechargeable-Li-ON-Battery-for-CCTV-Camera-FREE-SHIP-/171758911223?hash=item27fda0fef7:g:Rq8AAOSwEeFVMosO

Hi Chris,

Would seriously suggest a hard wired solution for the bike, more heat for longer. The high heat settings really drain the battery packs. Maybe then just use the battery pack for off the bike walks etc ?

Ive got a heated Milwaukee jacket that i use for work and occassionally on the bike.

Whilst its great, even Milwaukee's best 4ah batteries only last a few hours on the hottest setting.

I dont mind too much, as ive got a collection of batteries for the power tools i use for work, which all interchange.

However, if it was for long rides on the bike, id agree with Madrunner. A perminant feed would be ideal. If its just the odd run out, batteries would be fine.

I have hardwired it with the lead they supply which was easy.  We will use that on the bike but I want to get her a battery for dog walking and wondered if the cheapo Chinese ones would do the job.

I have hardwired it with the lead they supply which was easy. We will use that on the bike but I want to get her a battery for dog walking and wondered if the cheapo Chinese ones would do the job.

Ah okay. Good plan.

They most likely will work.. Just wont give the performance or longetivity as the proper ones.

I wouldnt use them for my stuff, but they get alot of use and abuse. For just a jacket they might be fine for what Jane wants

Warm and Safe, best heated gear money can buy, wired directly to the battery. 90 watts of toasty goodness, with heating in the chest, arms, back and collar. Mines 2years old now, a gen 4 and it's to hot running on full [emoji3]

http://www.warmnsafe.com

PS, my RT is still like new, on 12k now since late May when I bought it and I ACF50 it myself, I'm to tight to pay someone £65 to do it for me, and I derive a certain perverse pleasure from cleaning the bike, which I just don't get with the car. RT will get a sluice down after most rides, and a little check up to see that the ACF50 has not been wiped / worn away anywhere. March will be full degunge and away with the ACF50 and will just apply a little fs365 after each wash / polish / dry

Edited 2 February, 201610 yr by fluffmeister

Brr. Snow this morning. Roads out of town are closed.

Means i cant get to my job

Abit of time to tinker with the bike then! Winner!

No snow here.  In fact a nice 60 odd mile round trip in sunshine.  Only about 7c but Jane was nice and toasty with her new gear on and in fact had to turn it down on the second run.  5 of us out on 4 bikes and a trip that took in two cafes which for me was fat boys mega breakfast at the first one and carrot cake at the second one.  Strangely enough I am not hungry tonight.

 

Good run out and Jane can stay warm now as well which improves the quality of it all for her.  On the way back she was complaining that her hands were cold as the gloves were not working.  When we got home we found out the connectionnat the top of the vest for the gloves had come out and when Ipushed it back in it went in a lot further than I expected so it wasn't in properly the first time hence why it came out.  Not cheap kit but well worth it.

No snow here. In fact a nice 60 odd mile round trip in sunshine. Only about 7c but Jane was nice and toasty with her new gear on and in fact had to turn it down on the second run. 5 of us out on 4 bikes and a trip that took in two cafes which for me was fat boys mega breakfast at the first one and carrot cake at the second one. Strangely enough I am not hungry tonight.

Good run out and Jane can stay warm now as well which improves the quality of it all for her. On the way back she was complaining that her hands were cold as the gloves were not working. When we got home we found out the connectionnat the top of the vest for the gloves had come out and when Ipushed it back in it went in a lot further than I expected so it wasn't in properly the first time hence why it came out. Not cheap kit but well worth it.

This is why you ride so much. 7 degrees.. Positively tropical :D.

Glad you're pleased with your latest gear! Cant beat keeping warm!

 

Cant beat keeping warm!

What more can you expect from a plumber!