Bugs me when you pay good money and end up finishing it off yourself. Half a job. I'm with you its just far easier to resolve it yourself.

My building supplier insisted the base had to be level within +/-5mm diagonally side to side and front to back and they thoroughly checked it before unloading. I knew it was level as I checked and double checked but was still a bit nervous.

Well we had to have a fall on the block paving to keep the water away from the house.  If like he had stated at the start he had done the base in concrete then I don't think it would have been a problem but we got block paving for the same price so there we go.  When you look at the shed you can see it is on a very slight slant but it isn't as though you have to walk up hill from one end to the other!

 

So back to the thread title. Just about to take the bike to the local dealers for a service.  Using them as the Tiger is out of warranty now and it means I don't ave to trek across to Lincoln in the fog/  I used to do training for the guy many moons ago and trust him and his lads to do a proper job which counts for more than having Triumph do the service.

Ive had em before n thought they were great tbh. My tyre of choice.

  

Simply the most confidence inspiring tyre I've ridden on.

I have to admit that I generally corner like someone that doesn't like cornering, but with the Pilot Road 4s on the R I'm back to scraping my toes on roundabouts again.

Exactly what I thought.

Love 'em and will go for another set when I've worn these out

Well the bike is serviced. They were going to change the plugs but they are not changed until 20k. It did need pads front and rear which bumped the price up a fair chunk. It will also need a back tyre soon. I was thinking about putting Pilots on it front and rear but he seems to think I will struggle to get a 19" for the front.

Oh and it is in it's new house but I am crapping myself about getting it back out. So tomorrow while the wife is here I will have a go.

Well it is finished and the bike fits a treat.  Need to titivate things a little and the ramp isn't perfect as it moves a bit when the bike gets onto it.  I think I will bite the bullet and have a steel one made that sits over the lip of the doorway and won't move.

 

So pictures as promised.

 

 

 

 

Here is a close up of the turntable which means I can straighten the bike up once it is inside and then it is sat on steel and not the wooden floor which I think would end up being damaged with constant use.

 

That looks brilliant chris.

Top work!

Nice shed! Im trying to find a dolly wheel for the rear wheel so I can turn my bike around as its a bit long to shuffle about on. I screwed my ramp to the shed but I'm guessing your looking for the clean look when not in use?

Yes I don't want a ramp stuck out of the shed when it isn't in use.

 

I have found the turntable to be fantastic even with a great big lump like the Explorer on it it can be turned with one hand.  You do have to have a centre stand though.  I know there are a number of contraptions available for turning but this was quite reasonably priced as well.  Tomorrow I shall go on the hunt for some brackets that I can screw to the boards and hook over the door brace to stop the ramp from moving.  I knew I had some brackets (I never chuck stuff away just in case) but these are too small so larger ones are on the shopping list and if they work it will save me the cost of a metal ramp.  Fingers crossed.

Well as not to feel left out had to do a bit of sheddage myself today.

Like a prize numpty I didn't really think about rain, water, ingress into the shed from the joint between the treated frame under the shed and the concrete base - needless to say I've had a swim this afternoon. I made the base precisely to the dimensions instructed which I should have ignored and made it size for size so the rain had no where to pool.

Anyhows with a very long crowbar, my weight and the wife we lifted the building a side at a time and ran a good strip of Dpc under the bearer, wrapped it up inside by 100 mm and tacked it in place. Jobs a fish. Well the fish have gone.

Just need to straighten the barn doors up where it's moved at the front and bosh some weather strips on the doors.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing lol

Yes I don't want a ramp stuck out of the shed when it isn't in use.

I have found the turntable to be fantastic even with a great big lump like the Explorer on it it can be turned with one hand. You do have to have a centre stand though. I know there are a number of contraptions available for turning but this was quite reasonably priced as well. Tomorrow I shall go on the hunt for some brackets that I can screw to the boards and hook over the door brace to stop the ramp from moving. I knew I had some brackets (I never chuck stuff away just in case) but these are too small so larger ones are on the shopping list and if they work it will save me the cost of a metal ramp. Fingers crossed.

Yeah don't want to cover up the nice blockwork. Mines more of a workshop and the paving isn't as nice so I wasn't as fussed at covering it up, although my ramps still too steep for my wife to push her bike up, I need to make a small one inside to protect the threshold when getting the bikes out too.

Alas I don't have any bikes with centrestands so it wouldn't work for me :-( maybe I will have to make something

Yes I don't want a ramp stuck out of the shed when it isn't in use.

I have found the turntable to be fantastic even with a great big lump like the Explorer on it it can be turned with one hand. You do have to have a centre stand though. I know there are a number of contraptions available for turning but this was quite reasonably priced as well. Tomorrow I shall go on the hunt for some brackets that I can screw to the boards and hook over the door brace to stop the ramp from moving. I knew I had some brackets (I never chuck stuff away just in case) but these are too small so larger ones are on the shopping list and if they work it will save me the cost of a metal ramp. Fingers crossed.

Chris.

A mate of mine has an engineering business and often makes ramps and such.

Let me know if you struggle with one.. Im sure he could make you something up (:

I do have a metal ramp thats surplus to requirements, solid bit of kit that I had in a VW T5 for loading the bike into the back, but the T5 has now gone.

 

I'm in Notts, dont want anything for it, so let me know if its any use.

 

RBW.

 

 

Yes I don't want a ramp stuck out of the shed when it isn't in use.

 

I have found the turntable to be fantastic even with a great big lump like the Explorer on it it can be turned with one hand.  You do have to have a centre stand though.  I know there are a number of contraptions available for turning but this was quite reasonably priced as well.  Tomorrow I shall go on the hunt for some brackets that I can screw to the boards and hook over the door brace to stop the ramp from moving.  I knew I had some brackets (I never chuck stuff away just in case) but these are too small so larger ones are on the shopping list and if they work it will save me the cost of a metal ramp.  Fingers crossed.

Well took the s1000xr out for a good blast today. The weather was appalling windy, heavy rain, leaves everywhere.

First observation was the seat height. I've got silly long legs but to get a foot flat I had to slide a cheek off the seat.

I kept it in dynamic mode and by gum does it go. The upright position certainly helps this feeling but it's genuinely rapid.

The wide bars make it pin point accurate, it holds any line and feels rock solid.

Suspension is far plusher than the k13, very very impressive.

The sound from the engine and exhaust is epic, especially when using the quick shifter up and down. I tried to trick it with part throttle openings but it was faultless.

Weather protection was as good as the k especially with the hand guards.

Vibrations were no worse than mine, the odd tingle but nothing to complain about.

One issue is the low gearing. Presumably they've chosen low gearing for acceleration but it doesn't half rev on the motorway, too high for a long trip, but that's not what this bike is about.

Would I have one ? Yes for sure.

Still rebuilding my 2nd DRZ. Blackbird away for the winter. Other DR out for the winter

Oh and a tidy up

Well took the s1000xr out for a good blast today. The weather was appalling windy, heavy rain, leaves everywhere.

First observation was the seat height. I've got silly long legs but to get a foot flat I had to slide a cheek off the seat.

I kept it in dynamic mode and by gum does it go. The upright position certainly helps this feeling but it's genuinely rapid.

The wide bars make it pin point accurate, it holds any line and feels rock solid.

Suspension is far plusher than the k13, very very impressive.

The sound from the engine and exhaust is epic, especially when using the quick shifter up and down. I tried to trick it with part throttle openings but it was faultless.

Weather protection was as good as the k especially with the hand guards.

Vibrations were no worse than mine, the odd tingle but nothing to complain about.

One issue is the low gearing. Presumably they've chosen low gearing for acceleration but it doesn't half rev on the motorway, too high for a long trip, but that's not what this bike is about.

Would I have one ? Yes for sure.

Good to hear (:

So you put a deposit down then?

I'm getting splinters sitting on the fence. ...

As a commuting weapon it's far better than the k13, more upright, more comfy, more flick able, higher visibility, loads of grunt.

My only real reservation is losing the shaft drive, it makes looking after the bike so much easier.

I'm getting splinters sitting on the fence. ...

As a commuting weapon it's far better than the k13, more upright, more comfy, more flick able, higher visibility, loads of grunt.

My only real reservation is losing the shaft drive, it makes looking after the bike so much easier.

I know what you mean, they arent cheap either! Haha

Have you had a go on Ducatis Multistrada? Maybe another one to add to the mix?

Thatd be my pick.. Simply for the vtwin

New tyre fitted to the baby Panigale yesterday, just need the weather to be slightly less crap to get it scrubbed in .  Weird size (180/60) so not a huge choice, went with OEM Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa for the 2nd time, as have no complaints with them.

 

Have a great local tyre fitter (MTS in Colwick), and getting the back wheel off of the Ducati is a damn sight easier than removing the rear wheel on my scooter.

RBW.

Still waiting for the weather to improve a little so I can get out on the bike and bed in the new brake pads.  Today has been good enough but sadly our dog had the runs yesterday so I don't want to leave him alone for long today.

 

So today I spent a bit of time titivating the ramp for the shed and have changed the shape of it so it is a better angle to get in the shed and fitted it with some brackets that slot over the shed lip to stop it from moving.  Not tried it as yet but it looks better.

 

In the meantime I am still considering the possibility of a second bike.  You may recall I was considering a Kwacker 600 thanks to Fuby's influence!  I haven't rule that out but I am also considering buying something to make a cafe racer with.  There is a company called Cafe Race Kits who strangely enough make kits to convert bikes.  One of which is for the CX500 which I still have a soft spot for as it was my second bike and the other is for the Triumph 900 bikes which looks really nice to me.  So all I have to do is buy a donor and then I have a winter project in the shed.

With mine due for delivery next month I've now ordered some new kit for me and have been buying some for SWMBO at the weekend. Also placed an order for the 1st garage accessory - one of the dolly thingies so I can move it into position in the garage in front of my car and also be able to turn it around rather than have to reverse it in. More farcle sourcing to be had in the run up to D day......

Rode it in an immature and socially unacceptable way.

You make that sound like a bad thing.

You make that sound like a bad thing.

 

Far from it.

 

Actually, I'm amazed quite how much the new bike has caused me to "take the bike" when previously I'd just have jumped in the car.

 

Being naked (the bike, not me), I don't end up going particularly fast, but the thing is awesome fun between zero and not particularly fast, getting to not particularly fast quite quickly.

 

I'm don't think any other bike I've owned has spent so much time with the front wheel not quite on the floor.

Far from it.

Actually, I'm amazed quite how much the new bike has caused me to "take the bike" when previously I'd just have jumped in the car.

Being naked (the bike, not me), I don't end up going particularly fast, but the thing is awesome fun between zero and not particularly fast, getting to not particularly fast quite quickly.

I'm don't think any other bike I've owned has spent so much time with the front wheel not quite on the floor.

Sounds like fun!

Sorry, what bikes this again? I forget what everybodys riding

Sounds like fun!

Sorry, what bikes this again? I forget what everybodys riding

BMW R1200R Sport.

It's got a real attitude. My old R80RT suits waxed cottons and Derriboots and an open faced lid, but the new R12 is a lot more skinny jeans, bomber jacket and a white Simpson Bandit lid with black visor.

Not that I could fit in my skinny jeans or bomber jacket from the 80's any more.

I can still ride like a pillock though.

BMW R1200R Sport.

It's got a real attitude. My old R80RT suits waxed cottons and Derriboots and an open faced lid, but the new R12 is a lot more skinny jeans, bomber jacket and a white Simpson Bandit lid with black visor.

Not that I could fit in my skinny jeans or bomber jacket from the 80's any more.

I can still ride like a pillock though.

Yes! I like those!

Not a very big bike to have the 1200 boxer twin engine in is it!

Ive looked at em before n thought.. I bet thats a good bike to ride