I used to love the effect my high viz had when I took the ZZR1400 to UK and with my lid being mainly white scary how quickly drivers see you coming from behind and react, compared to not having it on. Then the sheer disappointment when they realise they drove sensibly for nothing muwhahahahah.

Haha yeah!

Same reason i wouldnt mind a nice white 5 series bmw around here. Theres 2 unmarked ones, and everyone knows about em.

I reckon everybody else with a 5 series bmw in buxton has a nice hassle free drive, free from idiots.

On another note. Im lookin forward to a 7 hour round trip tomorrow to South Wales. First decent run out on the VFR. Hope the weathers nice!

I've just bought plain black leathers, I have a plain white lid I can use and a 

high quality hi viz vest....  Mischief being plotted mwhahahh

Here is mine on Ebay :( it cost over £100 when I got it a few years back and had to come from USA.......... bahhh Really nice though, lets air through if using in summer not plasticy or all thin nylon building site crap! Has internal pockets etc too which are dead handy and wee square bit that says mil tec is velcrowed on and zips all round used to drop ignition key in there at filling stations as I tended to not have any key rings on it for flappy about reasons (on the Z1000SX anyway as it was new). 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Icon-Motorsports-Mil-Spec-Vest-High-Viz-Yellow-SZ-XS-LG-2830-0093-/261283134224?pt=Apparel_Merchandise&hash=item3cd5b03b10

Ah it all looks abit sensible for me though. I know it works, and its good. But im already riding a honda sports tourer.

Im only a pan European and a high viz vest from being soo sensible, that even a bmw rider wouldnt understand

Here is mine on Ebay :( it cost over £100 when I got it a few years back and had to come from USA.......... bahhh Really nice though, lets air through if using in summer not plasticy or all thin nylon building site crap! Has internal pockets etc too which are dead handy and wee square bit that says mil tec is velcrowed on and zips all round used to drop ignition key in there at filling stations as I tended to not have any key rings on it for flappy about reasons (on the Z1000SX anyway as it was new). 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Icon-Motorsports-Mil-Spec-Vest-High-Viz-Yellow-SZ-XS-LG-2830-0093-/261283134224?pt=Apparel_Merchandise&hash=item3cd5b03b10

Here's mine, Thick material, cheap price and zips out bigger to go over extra gear. 

 

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RST-Fluorescent-Safety-Jacket-Reflective-Hi-Viz-Vest-High-Visibility-Motorcycle-/131035604387?pt=UK_Other_Clothing_Protection&var=&hash=item1e8254a5a3

 

For some reason this seller is doing them at half the price of everyone else. 

Most places they are £40 odd.

 

I'm quite handy with a needle and thread so it wouldn't take much to make a pocket

type thing to fix to mine for my key and my phone.

I was reinforcing the crotch of my black and green leathers today. 

I noticed the stitching was starting to come adrift so I got in there with some waxed

kevlar thread (I used to use it to make bowstrings a long time ago) and did two rows

of stitches over the top and through the leather. That won't split again. :no:

I'm renewing the elastic panels in them as well tomorrow, The original elastic has been 

stretched too far and it is tired and damaged so I will stitch a pair of new elastic panels

on the inside of the original ones.  

 

I just tried on the new plain black leathers and the trousers fit well but the jacket is a bit big. 

Although that means I could get a couple of layers on underneath it if the weather needed me 

to wrap up a little more warmly. 

LOL, I'm a  tart too Fubar. Key only and no fob here also. 

I wear a pit pass lanyard round my neck with my keys on tucked into my jacket

when I'm out on the bike. I just unclip the bike key from it when I'm riding...

I'll get the mrs to take a pic of me in old bill mode tomorrow, LOL

Here's mine, Thick material, cheap price and zips out bigger to go over extra gear. 

 

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RST-Fluorescent-Safety-Jacket-Reflective-Hi-Viz-Vest-High-Visibility-Motorcycle-/131035604387?pt=UK_Other_Clothing_Protection&var=&hash=item1e8254a5a3

 

 

 

Looks the business. When you say thick material, is it solid piece material or breathable? The reason I went for mine at the time is I was living in the Netherlands still and had a 45Deg C summer heatwave going on and I wore it over my leathers  :sun:   Was actually really good as the lighter colour didn't attract the heat in the same way my black leathers did so sat in traffic in Germany my back wasn't blistering and on the move plenty of air. None of that matters a damn now in Northern Ireland, a waterproof one would be more apt! 

 

 

LOL, I'm a  tart too Fubar. Key only and no fob here also. 

I wear a pit pass lanyard round my neck with my keys on tucked into my jacket

 

That was exactly what I used to do! A lanyard with my hard luggage keys immobiliser/alarm fob etc on and the ignition key on the wee clip at end if not in ignition! Kept many a yoke scratch free! Current bike is a bit of a hack so I am not that fussed and only has a nylon loop thing from a dealers on it so doesn't do much, and I have no other keys or an alarm on it so sod it for now :(

 

 

I'll get the mrs to take a pic of me in old bill mode tomorrow, LOL

 

Good lad, I will look forward to it 

 

 

I was reinforcing the crotch of my black and green leathers today. 

 

That is a statement that will scar me for life!  :peek:

That is a statement that will scar me for life!  :peek:

Their puny triple nylon stitching wasn't enough to contain the old Dagenham destroyer

Their puny triple nylon stitching wasn't enough to contain the old Dagenham destroyer

Oh dear haha.

I can see youve spent some years thinking of that one haha

 Last night was hilarious, waited and waited for the rain to pass, gave up and left in the rain at 00:15. First 30 seconds were fine, then I went through a puddle and was soaked. By the time we were on the motorway I was thinking about coming back but kept going. Arrived in Brent Cross about 1:15, just kept going and going till we got to the river. Brother took a couple of snaps and we came home, got a bit lost but made it home for 4am. Totally drenched but certainly got some experience riding in the rain. 

 

Brothers bike doesnt seem to be 100% sorted. After our 2 hours of stop start traffic is started dying again. Very odd, he bumped it and got going, rode all the way home and turned it off/on again and it was fine, started first press of the button. I suspect where he has been flattening the battery it's fooked now, gonna check it's still charging correctly when he gets up, fingers crossed that'll be it. I've stuck all my gear on the line, hopefully it'll dry quick so I can get back out there in the sun today. 

WOW, I'm so supprised by how well the Michellin Pilot Streets behave in the rain. What has been highlighted though is the poor design of the zip in waterproof trousers, they don't come up high enough or go down the leg far enough to offer full protection but the jacket was perfect and I my top half stayed dry

 

Next purchase, a decent set of waterproofs.

 

Glad the tyres worked out for you mate 

 

What did you think of the RPHA ST lid Grr? I picked one up recently as Fowlers were having a 15% off lids weekend. Lovely lid compared to the cheapy Box one I started with, and it's in a really nice metallic white. Apparently it's a touring lid so was 'wind tunnel tested' - I still stick plugs in if going anywhere near NSL, sensitive lugholes I guess.

 

I like that milspec jacket too. I already have a white lid and black leathers, if I buy the jacket can I look forward to traffic parting like the red sea on my approach? 

Edited 9 August, 201411 yr by Ben90

What did you think of the RPHA ST lid Grr? I picked one up recently as Fowlers were having a 15% off lids weekend. Lovely lid compared to the cheapy Box one I started with, and it's in a really nice metallic white. Apparently it's a touring lid so was 'wind tunnel tested' - I still stick plugs in if going anywhere near NSL, sensitive lugholes I guess.

In the end I never wore it yesterday, in all honesty it's a little small for me across my forehead

and I was out for a couple of hours yesterday doing the Cardiff and back run so I decided to 

stay comfy and wear my Shark lid. (The HJC is my wifes really...) 

It was raining a bit when I set off and I was very happy with how the quick detailer I use 

for cleaning my lid (and bike for that matter) allowed the water to bead and run off by 

simply turning my head to one side. It worked almost as good as rain x does on windscreens. 

 

On face value the HJC is a nice lid. Nice and light, good visor and instinctive visor catch (unlike the fiddlefest that is my shark),

nice lining, integrated sunvisor, pinlock supplied with lid, Easy to operate vents and scored very well in all the Motorrad test.

My wifes is pearl white as well, and I love the shape of it too. R1Davie had a hand in me getting one for Mrs Grr.

 

http://www.hjc-helmets.uk.com/news-and-media/NewsItem_22/winner-of-test-helmet-motorrad

 

I wear earplugs every ride. I never go for a ride without hitting NSL speeds so I always put them in.

They say 15 mins at sustained 70 mph without plugs is enough to cause permanent hearing damage.

It's not the noise it's the vibrations of the tiny hairs in your ears that causes the problems.

I've spent enough time sat behind a drum kit to know the importance of ear plugs, I never drum without

either plugs in or a big pair of wireless headphones on. My life has been a steady succession of building sites,

metal gigs, studio sessions, power tools and now on top of that a regular earblasting on a bike so I try

and protect my ears. 

Blimey that was fast...

Bargain gloves arrived today and are as new.

 

 

 

The 99p kawasaki fleece also arrived today but needed a wash so that's out on the line. 

 

Oh and a nice pic of my ebay vinyls which I put on my panniers. :p

 

 

And I bought some Richa Textile trousers today for £16 as well. 

I really like my HJC helmet, it might be low/mid range but I find it very comfortable and it kept me dry last night.

 

Who-ever came up with the pinlock system is a genious, I didn't have any fogging/misting up last night whilst riding at any speed, even through Sheffield at a very slow pace or sat at the lights

There was no such thing last time I was a biker.

Fogging used to be a complete pain in the arris.

Pinlock is a game changer.  

Lad has joined the fold - not the sexiest of bikes, but affordable & fairly drop resistant.

 

 

He's as pleased as punch, though a little upset with me as I slightly chaved it when he wasn't looking...

 

 

I bet hes over the moon. I know I was when I was 17 on my first

geared bike. 

I thought I was the nutz on my CM125

(even with the L plates, until they 'Just fell off officer...' Ahem.... )

I bet hes over the moon. I know I was when I was 17 on my first

geared bike. 

I thought I was the nutz on my CM125

 

He was over the moon until we happened by the local Yamaha main dealer to buy all the consumables for a major service (£23.50 or so) and they had a row of YZR125s.

 

I did point out though that at £4.5K for the YZR vs £800 for his YBR, he had a choice of having the YBR or not having the YZR.

 

That reminded him how happy he was.

 

I also pointed out that if he wanted to go touring, the kit was available to make it happen (though the post from Ukraine is a bit steep)

 

http://www.mmotoparts.com/model/ybr125

 

Lad has joined the fold - not the sexiest of bikes, but affordable & fairly drop resistant.

 

 

He's as pleased as punch, though a little upset with me as I slightly chaved it when he wasn't looking...

 

YBR's are cracking little bikes, I'm really pleased with mine.

I did point out though that at £4.5K for the YZR vs £800 for his YBR, he had a choice of having the YBR or not having the YZR.

 

That reminded him how happy he was.

 

         

Those YZR 125s are silly money. That's more than I paid for my 13 plate ER6F

I bet hes over the moon. I know I was when I was 17 on my first

geared bike.

I thought I was the nutz on my CM125

(even with the L plates, until they 'Just fell off officer...' Ahem.... )

She I got my first "big bike" gs500e the restrictirs fell out one day when I was washing it!!!

These things happen

Pics of my personal bike and a little toy I get to run around on the rest of the time

I used to love the effect my high viz had when I took the ZZR1400 to UK and with my lid being mainly white scary how quickly drivers see you coming from behind and react, compared to not having it on. Then the sheer disappointment when they realise they drove sensibly for nothing muwhahahahah.  

 

So, tonight modelling a set of Hein Gericke 2 piece leathers 

bought for the princely sum of £20 plus some ahem...'random' items of Hi viz clothing

and the wifes white lid...

 

 

 

 

Add in my hi viz jacket from my van which I wear at builders yards/on site/warehouses.

 

 

 

LOL, 

LOL holy crap, you actually had a full fashion show (and or roll play session). :clap:  

Sadder than that mate.... 

The mrs is out tonight and I'm bored so.... 

The hardest thing was figuring out the timer on the camera LOL

But, to be fair that's the first time I've tried on the new leathers since 

picking them up. 

Well. 400 mile trip around wales today with only quick fuel stops and a quick burger stop! Haha.

Things iv learnt about the vfr:

- itll really shift once the vtec kicks in

- it handles bloody well and hides its size/weight once on the move.

- 220 miles to a tank is achievable if you go steady.

- 150 miles a tank is also achievable after about 1 hour and 3/4 doing between 90 and 100, non stop.

- the seats abit firm after a tank full, but alright once youve had 2 mins to stretch your legs whilst filling up

- the headlights are brilliant.

- it hasnt missed a beat! Im pretty happy with it tbh.

Edit:

Was riding with my dad on his 2012 r1200gs adventure. Its clear the GS is nowhere near as capable or as easy to throw around on the A roads and B roads, however, get it on the motorway and its miles ahead of the VFR.

Hes getting 400 miles to a tank of fuel, comfy more upright position etc etc. hes done 800 miles in a day on that thing coming back from Austria. Iv about had enough after 400 on the Vfr today haha.