It has been lovely today hasnt it!

What did you think of the Honda mate?

I like both those bikes.. But im not a big fan of a parralel twin tbh, so its not for me personally. But i can defo see the attraction.

Great day for a bike ride.

I went with a mate who is looking for a lighter machine as his BMW RT1150 is getting a bit cumbersome for him.

I am a fan of the Honda. I rode one 16 months ago. Torquey engine with a great sound too. The seat was awful but I think they have improved it since then. Bit different if you are used to revving a multi cylinder, but I liked the motor. Owner reviews very favourable. Typical understated Honda quality in my opinion.

Liked the BMW belt drive but it did not flick my switch. Bulbous front end. Prefer the GS styled version. Cracking cup of coffee though.

Great day for a bike ride.

I went with a mate who is looking for a lighter machine as his BMW RT1150 is getting a bit cumbersome for him.

I am a fan of the Honda. I rode one 16 months ago. Torquey engine with a great sound too. The seat was awful but I think they have improved it since then. Bit different if you are used to revving a multi cylinder, but I liked the motor. Owner reviews very favourable. Typical understated Honda quality in my opinion.

Liked the BMW belt drive but it did not flick my switch. Bulbous front end. Prefer the GS styled version. Cracking cup of coffee though.

Theres always the options of a Sargeant or Corbin seat if the seats the only thing putting you off from a particular bike (:

Bmw is quite abit more powerful i think? Off memory?

I like torquey, but i dno. Tbf i havent ridden a parelel twin since a rode a GPZ 500 a few years ago.. I had an SV650s at the time and it was quite a weird change, found it abit vibey n revvy. It wasnt for me.. But ofc, theyre probably quite abit different now. I would be open to trying another if their was a bike that really tickled my fancy n it happened to have one in

Theres always the options of a Sargeant or Corbin seat if the seats the only thing putting you off from a particular bike (:

Bmw is quite abit more powerful i think? Off memory?

I like torquey, but i dno. Tbf i havent ridden a parelel twin since a rode a GPZ 500 a few years ago.. I had an SV650s at the time and it was quite a weird change, found it abit vibey n revvy. It wasnt for me.. But ofc, theyre probably quite abit different now. I would be open to trying another if their was a bike that really tickled my fancy n it happened to have one in

Yes, the BMW is gruntier. My old bike, now donated to my son, was a KLE 500 twin. Same engine as the GPZ. I ride the current cbf500x.......amazing amount of torque for a small light bike that is comfortable and so very usable. I also rode the V Strom, a much admired bike, but it did not do it for me. Nice motor but it just felt a little cumbersome......perhaps that was my poor riding!

Thing is, we are all different physically and that affects what bike suits.

The biggest pleasure for me, at least, is to enjoy the ride and return home knowing I have made safe progress. If my riding does not feel good I sometimes pull over and try to start again as it were.

Anyway, my mate is now researching the bikes. I think he will go for the Beemer if he gets his wallet out!

Yes, the BMW is gruntier. My old bike, now donated to my son, was a KLE 500 twin. Same engine as the GPZ. I ride the current cbf500x.......amazing amount of torque for a small light bike that is comfortable and so very usable. I also rode the V Strom, a much admired bike, but it did not do it for me. Nice motor but it just felt a little cumbersome......perhaps that was my poor riding!

Thing is, we are all different physically and that affects what bike suits.

The biggest pleasure for me, at least, is to enjoy the ride and return home knowing I have made safe progress. If my riding does not feel good I sometimes pull over and try to start again as it were.

Anyway, my mate is now researching the bikes. I think he will go for the Beemer if he gets his wallet out!

Couldnt have said it better myself tbh.

Cant say ive ever pulled over.. But i defo have had a word with myself in the helmet in the past. We all make bad decisions occasionally. It happens. only human.

We all look for different things in bikes and different things tick our boxes. Or we'd all buy a street striple R n have done (:

Not to the bike, but i was at J&S earlier and saw a nice Shoei GT Air reduced to £350. Tried it on and it fit a treat. So i thought bugger it, n bought it.

Its got a built in sunvisor thing too, which ive not had before but i can see being a nice accessory, especially this time of year!

Good work fella ! Sunvisors are essential at this time of year - I ride face into the sun morning and night at the moment and you need to have your wits about you every second of the trip.

Good work fella ! Sunvisors are essential at this time of year - I ride face into the sun morning and night at the moment and you need to have your wits about you every second of the trip.

Ive never had one before so im yet to rate it haha. But yeah, been dazzled far too much.

Worse when its behind me though. Scared of people not seeing me tbh hahq.

Had one for a few years now and the only problem I have is the visor is OK with a pinlock but the sun visor still steams up so you have to treat it.  They are good though and you will just have to ignore the tiny gap at the bottom that you can see clear through and the fact that they might just touch the bridge of your nose.

 

As regarding the bit about stopping to have a word with yourself when it isn't quite right.  I find some days me and the bike feel as one and it is fantastic and then on other days I just can't seem to 'connect' with it.  On those days I just take it as an early warning and take it easier.

Had one for a few years now and the only problem I have is the visor is OK with a pinlock but the sun visor still steams up so you have to treat it. They are good though and you will just have to ignore the tiny gap at the bottom that you can see clear through and the fact that they might just touch the bridge of your nose.

As regarding the bit about stopping to have a word with yourself when it isn't quite right. I find some days me and the bike feel as one and it is fantastic and then on other days I just can't seem to 'connect' with it. On those days I just take it as an early warning and take it easier.

Never thought of that tbh. Have you tried riding with the visor up and the sunvisor down, or is that a big no no? Maybe abit noisey?

Its got to be better than the sun melting your eye balls on an autumn evening anyway haha

I can do especially since I have had some new brackets on my screen that mean I can move it further up as opposed to just change the angle of it.  I can actually ride at the NSL with my visor completely open but noise is still an issue if you do.

I can do especially since I have had some new brackets on my screen that mean I can move it further up as opposed to just change the angle of it. I can actually ride at the NSL with my visor completely open but noise is still an issue if you do.

Thats a winner.

No chance id get away with that on the viffer aha. The joys of your type of bike isnt it (:

Bmw is quite abit more powerful i think? Off memory?

About 35bhp more powerful. That's hardly difficult though - 54bhp from a 750cc twin? And that's the manufacturer's claimed figure, so reality will be 50bhp on a good day. What do Honda do, only fit a spark plug into one of the two cylinders, lol?

Wouldn't buy a helmet with internal drop down visor myself. Can't see the point of them, and they take up space that should be occupied by the EPS liner, so you have less protection at the front of the helmet. Black visor for daylight hours, clear for night time, job done.

Edited 29 September, 201510 yr by StripleR675

About 35bhp more powerful. That's hardly difficult though - 54bhp from a 750cc twin? And that's the manufacturer's claimed figure, so reality will be 50bhp on a good day. What do Honda do, only fit a spark plug into one of the two cylinders, lol?

Wouldn't buy a helmet with internal drop down visor myself. Can't see the point of them, and they take up space that should be occupied by the EPS liner, so you have less protection at the front of the helmet. Black visor for daylight hours, clear for night time, job done.

I guess its tuned for torque low down?

Ahh im sure itll be fine. Itll be well made, its a shoei and all the tests are passed. gold standard etc etc.

Visors are okay, unless you ride into the night or into the sun and it drops off. Then its too dark aha

Edited 29 September, 201510 yr by fabiamk2SE

I guess its tuned for torque low down?

Ahh im sure itll be fine. Itll be well made, its a shoei and all the tests are passed. gold standard etc etc.

Visors are okay, unless you ride into the night or into the sun and it drops off. Then its too dark aha

It is tuned for low down torque (it's half of a Honda Jazz shopping trolley engine after all) , but it only has about 45 ft lb, so it's hardly grunty. It's tuned for economy, rather than performance - fine if you want a worthy but dull as ditch water commuter, but it's never going to raise your pulse.

It takes less than a minute to change a visor if you're out after dark, and I only ever use a clear visor at night - if it's daylight then it's black visor every time. To me drop down visors are a pointless gimmick that compromise safety. Luckily Arai share my opinion too, lol

Edited 29 September, 201510 yr by StripleR675

its a shoei and all the tests are passed. gold standard etc etc.

ACU gold standard isn't a test, it's just a money spinner for the ACU. They don't carry out any testing, they just sell the gold stickers to the manufacturers' UK distributors to stick on any helmet that passes the minimum legal standard. I had two unused ACU gold stickers in my wallet for years, but they fell out somewhere a while ago.

Shoei are the only other manufacturer that I regard as on a par with Arai in terms of safety and build quality (although Arai's visor mechanism is far better, imho), so I was disappointed when they joined the drop down visor gimmick bandwagon.

Edited 29 September, 201510 yr by StripleR675

Tinted visors have been a big discussion point with many people over the years.  I personally don't want to have to carry a spare visor and I certainly don't want to have to change it no matter how long it takes.  As you don't ride when it is likely to rain that week riding in changing light conditions within minutes isn't a problem you have to deal with.  For me if I am riding any distance it can be bright sunlight then pitch black with rain and clouds then sunny again.  I am not bothering to stop each time to change the visor.

 

So gimmick for you but for me it is very useful.  I don't see how it compromises safety that much as if it did they would not be allowed to do it.

Another one where we will have to disagree Striple but as I have said many times in here before each to their own.

Tinted visors have been a big discussion point with many people over the years. I personally don't want to have to carry a spare visor and I certainly don't want to have to change it no matter how long it takes. As you don't ride when it is likely to rain that week riding in changing light conditions within minutes isn't a problem you have to deal with. For me if I am riding any distance it can be bright sunlight then pitch black with rain and clouds then sunny again. I am not bothering to stop each time to change the visor.

So gimmick for you but for me it is very useful. I don't see how it compromises safety that much as if it did they would not be allowed to do it.

Another one where we will have to disagree Striple but as I have said many times in here before each to their own.

I've never switched to a clear visor when caught out in rain or bad weather. If it's daylight, it's light enough for a black one whether it's sunny, cloudy or rainy. I don't use a clear visor at all, apart from night time. I'd rather spend a minute a day changing visor than have a helmet with reduced safety (the legal standard is a minimum, which a tupperware bowl stuffed with cotton wool would just about pass). The simple fact is that fitting a drop down internal visor takes up space that would otherwise be occupied by EPS liner, and that inevitably reduces the amount of protection in that area of the helmet.

Edited 29 September, 201510 yr by StripleR675

When I riding through town on the commute or filtering ill often ride with the visor up and the shade down. Nice to get some fresh air when the weather is like this.

Which is why I say we will have to agree to disagree about it.  You are entitled to your opinion and I would defend your right to voice it but it doesn't mean I have to agree with it.  Personally I think there is an increased risk of an accident riding about in dull conditions with a dark visor especially with muppets who don't bother with lights because they can see OK. 

 

It is a personal thing and we are all free to do as we please so that should make it something we can agree on I would have hoped.

 

It is a personal thing and we are all free to do as we please

CAWT.

Can't ride my StripleR with no lights on - they're permanently on with the ignition, no light switch (I think all Triumphs are these days). I always ride with lights on anyway, but it's a nuisance not being able to turn them off during maintenance.

CAWT.

Can't ride my StripleR with no lights on - they're permanently on with the ignition, no light switch (I think all Triumphs are these days). I always ride with lights on anyway, but it's a nuisance not being able to turn them off during maintenance.

Its not just Triumphs.

Every bike has been made like that since about 2005 iirc.

On the subject of visors. I dont wanna be carrying a spare. I dont even know where id put it tbh? Im not carrying a backpack incase i get delayed, and im not coming home early because its going dark.

Plus i dont wanna pull over and watch all the cars go past me that ive just made progress past.

But as chris says. Each to their own isnt it (:

On the subject of visors. I dont wanna be carrying a spare. I dont even know where id put it

In a visor carrier, round your waist inside your jacket (can't even tell it's there). I never go out without my clear spare, even if I don't necessarily intend staying out after dark, just in case I need it.

Re the headlight switch thing, it's not all bikes. It's a parts standardisation cost cutting issue - there's no legal requirement for permanent lights on in the UK (but there is in other markets so it's cheaper to only make one type of switchgear).

Edited 29 September, 201510 yr by StripleR675

I get what you mean about bike lights but it is the car drivers who think because the dash board has lights they have dipped beam on.  You will all have seen it many times before but maybe it hasn't registered.  You see a line of cars coming towards you with dipped beam on and at the front is one on sidelights hidden by the lights from behind.  It can have the effect of making you think there is enough room for an overtake and then al of a sudden you realise there is some ar$e driving along with sidelights or no lights and your ar$e starts twitching like a rabbits nose!

 

I have had bikes and cars with headlights on for a few years now and at work we had a ruling that when you were in and out of the bus station you had to have your dipped lights on.  So as a consequence we put them on and left them on as it was easier and saved you a discipline if you forgot and had a bump.  So I am used to having lights on all the time but I still believe I am invisible!

In a visor carrier, round your waist inside your jacket (can't even tell it's there). I never go out without my clear spare, even if I don't necessarily intend staying out after dark, just in case I need it.

Re the headlight switch thing, it's not all bikes. It's a parts standardisation cost cutting issue - there's no legal requirement for permanent lights on in the UK (but there is in other markets so it's cheaper to only make one type of switchgear).

Bugger that. Clear visors are spot on most of the time, its only occassionally that tinted is useful, and not neccasarily for a prolonged period. The flip down is quick and easy, and just as quick to put it back up. Ideal.

I never said its a legal requirement, but tbh, youll have a job finding a main stream manufacturer now who doesnt hardwire them on. Even my cheap and cheerful CG125 with absolutely no tech on at all didnt have a switch. The early ones did mind.

All new car models homologation since 2012 have compulsory full time daytime running lights. By law these can't be the dipped headlight, hence the proliferation of bright LED DRLs on new cars, which are much more visible markers than sidelights.

What's always bemused me is the number of f**ktards you see driving round on sidelights and fog lights, after dark. Retards.

Bugger that. Clear visors are spot on most of the time, its only occassionally that tinted is useful, and not neccasarily for a prolonged period

We'll have to agree to wildly disagree on that one. A black visor is much better, and safer, than a clear one on any remotely sunny day. And much cooler - clear visors look s**te, lol, they belong with hi vis wally bibs and Sam brown belts

Edited 29 September, 201510 yr by StripleR675