I suppose it does depend how you compare, no knocking your Fabia but like for like I guess its nearer a 125 or a 250 commuter bike, the VFR is more of a grand tourer in the car world and a sports bike like a Ferrari or something

I suppose it does depend how you compare, no knocking your Fabia but like for like I guess its nearer a 125 or a 250 commuter bike, the VFR is more of a grand tourer in the car world and a sports bike like a Ferrari or something

I know what you're sayin yeah. Very true. Fabias about as quick off the line as a 125 lol.

Its the weight isnt it. Weights a killer.

If it was classed the same as a car, itd cost me £180 a year instead of the £80 max tax band for bikes over 600cc which its in now.

Yet how many bikers moan about the tax, especially on smaller bikes when the eco cars get £0 tax......?

 

Let's face it, you follow a bike and it can stink like an 80s car, follow a pack and you get dizzy with fumes.

 

I'm gonna sound old and boring now, but having had fast bikes, I really can't see the point now with all the unmarked cars, average speed and hidden cameras, helicopter speed tracking, etc.  You spend more time worrying than enjoying the ride-and has been said countless times it is more fun riding something near to its limits than trickling around on something at a twentieth of its potential.  Its like being in a brothel and only being able to play with the ankles...

 

If you are going touring, you only need enough power for safe uphill overtakes two-up and if you want fun and cornering, a super-sharp modern 250 can do all of that-and land you in jail in a day of silly riding.  The rest is all c*ck-waving to me 

 

Anything with a loud exhaust needs instantly scrapping (don't tell me they are safer; wear the right clothes, turn your light on and ride defensively) and is just a huge great advert to get booked-and so it should be.  Stupid mini-indicators,, cut down plates, removed rear huggers etc all have a safety impact.

 

Etc.

Perhaps I'm old and jaded 

I got a quicker bike because I like the acceleration, not for top speed or breaking the limit. Hooning about zero to 50/60/70 is where the fun is for me. My old CB was quick enough for getting about, done 80-90 flat out but with me on, it needed serious ahead planning for overtakes, took the fun away a bit for me, not having anything in reserve on the motorway if I needed it worried me a little too. Plus, no doubt in the further I'll end up on the track, so can happily smash about without worries. 

 

Your last paragraph, I never really bought the 'loud pipes save lives' story before I went out with my brother on his old bike, particularly filtering it was like a parting of the waves as we went down the road as oppose to me on my own no one spotted me until I'd passed them. I like a bit more noise and tone too, I dont mean exhaust less deafening pipes, just a bit more noise and tone, I keep the revs down round town and in built up areas even on my stock bike out of respect for peoples ears. Mini indicators? I've got stock ones, my mate had mini LED ones, his are brighter. I've binned the rear fender thing, it looked awful but never considered it to be a safety issue? 

 

Each to their own, I can 100% see the fun in riding something not too powerful, I've said before I fancy a TW200 or something to bugger about round town on but I can also see the fun in the fast bikes and trick bits. 

Ahh you must be getting old mate .

I too just like the acceleration a big bike gives. I wont say how fast I've been on it, but i do usually keep around the speed limits. But when you want to overtake, theres all the power in reserve.

Power is safer when used in the right places too. I've used it to get out the way of things before. I like being in any gear at any speed, opening up and taking off.

Loud exhausts are good too. Not stupidly loud, but i do like the sound of a V configuration.

People do hear you coming and people do move. I've had quiet bikes and quite noisey ones, n people tend to hear you before they see you with a noisey bike. Which is nice.

Ahh you must be getting old mate .

I too just like the acceleration a big bike gives. I wont say how fast I've been on it, but i do usually keep around the speed limits. But when you want to overtake, theres all the power in reserve.

Power is safer when used in the right places too. I've used it to get out the way of things before. I like being in any gear at any speed, opening up and taking off.

Loud exhausts are good too. Not stupidly loud, but i do like the sound of a V configuration.

People do hear you coming and people do move. I've had quiet bikes and quite noisey ones, n people tend to hear you before they see you with a noisey bike. Which is nice.

This is where the R1200RT was nice, subtle, quiet, unassuming.  But too easy to get into three figures in seconds....

 

I just think anything but quiet standard pipes are irritating and wince when people try to justify their safety on them.

This is where the R1200RT was nice, subtle, quiet, unassuming. But too easy to get into three figures in seconds....

I just think anything but quiet standard pipes are irritating and wince when people try to justify their safety on them.

Dont you think its a nice sound though?

Tbh, my dads r1200gs is only abit quieter than my bike. But the VFR with standard exhausts is soo quiet. Sawing machine. They need aftermarket pipes to get the v4 growl.

Dont know it the RT has a different silencer than the GS, but the GS is quite fruity as standard tbh.

Yeah plenty quick enough. My dads quite sensible but i have made ground on him over fast overtakes. So although the boxer twins are torquey, a cbr600 is a quicker bike at full chat isnt it.

Well, here it is...

I got my mate to take me to get it, on his bike, so we had to take the very long way home.

60 miles of nice A and B roads later and I'm well chuffed. ))

Its now time to progress with the next step towards getting my full licence. Theory test has been booked

Yesterday I finished my training. Module 2 passed.

Now to find a bike I like.

:-D

4 faults on the test, passed despite trying to do a hill start in 2nd gear.

Yesterday I finished my training. Module 2 passed.

Now to find a bike I like.

:-D

4 faults on the test, passed despite trying to do a hill start in 2nd gear.

Woo. Well done!

A restricted licence now then? Or did you do direct access?

Im sure us brisky bikers could throw around a few bike suggestions, we enjoy doing that (:

Direct access.

I'm old enough and ugly enough to ride whatever I want.

Have roughly 2k to spend, less if possible. Looking towards Bandits. But I want a faired one. They look far nicer.

Direct access.

I'm old enough and ugly enough to ride whatever I want.

Have roughly 2k to spend, less if possible. Looking towards Bandits. But I want a faired one. They look far nicer.

Happy days.

People seen to like bandits, but im not entirely sure why if im honest.

I had an sv650 and would take another any day over a bandit tbh, but its each to their own (:

You could get a pretty decent CB600F for 2k

Or have you considered a Fazer 600?

Both with half fairings, easy to ride quite forgiving for a new rider.

You could get a pretty decent CB600F for 2k

Or have you considered a Fazer 600?

Both with half fairings, easy to ride quite forgiving for a new rider.

Both are on the list.

CB600F is the Hornet is it not? They're a bit more rare than the naked versions.

Both are on the list.

CB600F is the Hornet is it not? They're a bit more rare than the naked versions.

Depends if you like an inline 4

Theyre alreet. Its not for me though tbh. I avoid them.

You could get a pretty decent CB600F for 2k

Or have you considered a Fazer 600?

Both with half fairings, easy to ride quite forgiving for a new rider.

Nah, I meant one of these...

I got it wrong way round, it's actually a CBF600

Well, here it is...

I got my mate to take me to get it, on his bike, so we had to take the very long way home.

60 miles of nice A and B roads later and I'm well chuffed. ))

Hi CFB,

            That to me looks like an NC750X? I have been out of biking for quite a few years and am getting the itch again, I am looking at those as I think they are an ideal bike for getting back into it, especially a DCT equipped one to help with my dodgy wrists. How do you find the braking? I wonder if a single disc set up is up to the job when really needed.

 

Ian.

48/50 on my Theory Test & 65/75 on my Hazard Perception Test

 

No studying done, no looking a mock tests, hadn't seen a Hazard Perception video until I was in the exam room.

 

I was pleasantly suprised to see some 1st aid questions, are the 1st aid questions only relevant to the motorcycle theory test or are they now included on the motorcar theory test too? (I didn't have to sit a theory test when I sat my driving test)

48/50 on my Theory Test & 65/75 on my Hazard Perception Test

No studying done, no looking a mock tests, hadn't seen a Hazard Perception video until I was in the exam room.

I was pleasantly suprised to see some 1st aid questions, are the 1st aid questions only relevant to the motorcycle theory test or are they now included on the motorcar theory test too? (I didn't have to sit a theory test when I sat my driving test)

Well done!

Car too iirc.

They car and bike theory are almost the same, juet the odd bike related question thrown in.

From memory anyway. Seems like ages ago. Haha.

BIke emissions are generally far dirtier than cars as most don't have catalytic converters

Modern ones all do (and a load of other pointless, unnecessary s**the, unfortunately). Mine's in the box the Arrow 3 into 1 full race system came in, along with the rest of the oe exhaust system

People seen to like bandits, but im not entirely sure why if im honest

Because they were cheap as dirt, an absolute hoot to behave like a hooligan on, have a whole industry of goodies to make it your own with, and don't have the rather girly image that always went with the SV650, they looked like a "proper bike" (as long as it's a proper mk1, obviously), rather than something your Mrs would (and often did) ride. And you don't need a hacksaw to fit a fruity race can to a Bandit, like you do on an SV, lol. To be fair, the sharper mk2 SV did look a whole lot better and more purposeful than the rounded mk1 (and you can't argue against the fact that the SV has a better handling frame and carries a shed load less weight).

Nah, I meant one of these...

I got it wrong way round, it's actually a CBF600

CBF uses a detuned Hornet motor. No, I can't understand why they deemed that necessary either...

Because they were cheap as dirt, an absolute hoot to behave like a hooligan on, have a whole industry of goodies to make it your own with, and don't have the rather girly image that always went with the SV650, they looked like a "proper bike" (as long as it's a proper mk1, obviously), rather than something your Mrs would (and often did) ride. And you don't need a hacksaw to fit a fruity race can to a Bandit, like you do on an SV, lol. To be fair, the sharper mk2 SV did look a whole lot better and more purposeful than the rounded mk1 (and you can't argue against the fact that the SV has a better handling frame and carries a shed load less weight).

The sv is actually quite a capable bike. It just needs the suspension sorting as thats crap stock, but its light, nimble and fast enoigh to have a giggle with the usual supersports riders that point and squirt the straights but cant take a corner.

Then they stop telling you how its a girls bike... Because its better ridin a girls bike like a man, than riding a mans bike like a girl.

Having to grind the sv pipe up to fit an end can is a ballache tbh!

But the sv has a much nicer engine, sounds better too. The curvy isnt actually a whole lot different than the pointy from a riding point of view.

Bandits are just the corsa of the bike world imo. All chavved up with shiney bits.

Edited 16 July, 201510 yr by fabiamk2SE

Bandits are just the corsa of the bike world imo. All chavved up with shiney bits.

Plenty are, but that's the fault of owners with no taste, not the bike, lol. The SV is a great little bike, but it always will carry that "girls bike" image, whereas a (mk1) Bandit looks like a "proper bike". I remember donkey's years back having an entertaining little few miles against an SV on my Bandit, between Sedbergh and Kendal. The SV had more low down grunt out of tight bends (can't remember if that was before or after I fitted the quick action throttle cam) but my Bandit had the legs on it (by an admittedly small margin) once you got the revs up (on a 6 Bandit you need to keep the needle pointing above 10k, the throttle's just an on/off switch, lol), and he was soon behind me, and staying there.

Suspension on both bikes is woefully basic, but that was part of the appeal - you could go out and rag the bike senseless everywhere, and feel you've properly ridden it, rather than having a bike where you can only use half the performance unless you like hospital food or prison - when you've only got 76.44bhp at the dyno measured rear wheel you use all the power all of the time, lol. I improved the suspension on mine for pocket money, with a 1200 shock and Jack up kit on the back and stiffer linear springs, 12.5wt oil and a reduced air gap in the forks (which I raised 10mm through the yokes) - made the ultra basic damper rod forks harsher over bumps, but much more controlled for "enthusiastic" riding (and I liked the way it liked to shake it's head a bit on bumpy b roads when in a hurry).

As for sound, that's a subjective matter. An SV on a fruity pipe does sound nice, but for me the 4 cylinder howl through 300mm straight through stainless can sounds better.