Could I find a tyre dealer open today to repair it ? Could have found hens teeth quicker.

Back in the car for the commute then. Bah humbug.

Self tapping screw and a drop of Araldite...

Refitted my rear suspension. Well, it was on Friday, rather than today.

Nothing wrong with Metzelers. Yes, they used to make some **** tyres in the nineties, but so did every manufacturer. Currently they make the best sports orientated road tyre, as excellent track day and sports touring rubber. They're the same company as Pirelli, after all.

Ill never have any again.

I had a set about 2 years ago and they kept giving up on gripping to the road. They were all over the place as soon as i started to push on.

Shocking.

Ill never have any again.

I had a set about 2 years ago and they kept giving up on gripping to the road. They were all over the place as soon as i started to push on.

Shocking.

If you say so, lol. Truth be told, when it comes to aftermarket (rather than OE fitment) tyres, none of the major manufacturers make bad tyres anymore. People who've only come to biking in the last few years don't know how good they've got it (apart from the price of the damn things), and have no idea what bad tyres are really like, lol.

Try a pair of old MEZ4s, or Macadams, and you'll never complain again, lol.

If you say so, lol. Truth be told, when it comes to aftermarket (rather than OE fitment) tyres, none of the major manufacturers make bad tyres anymore. People who've only come to biking in the last few years don't know how good they've got it (apart from the price of the damn things), and have no idea what bad tyres are really like, lol.

I know what a good tyres like. I like my tyres to grip well and give plenty of feedback.. The metzelers didnt do that very well. So they werent on my list of tyres that id have again.

Tyre choice is a personal choice. I fitted michelin PR3's directly after those and they were soo much better. In my opinion, of course.

Its funny what you say about people who've come to biking in recent years, because my dads been biking for nearly 40 years now, and his GSA came with metzelers. He took em on 1 trip around europe and binned em as soon as he got back.

I wouldnt fit them again.. Simpy because id have to pay for them.. Pay for them to be fitted, rhen pay for them to be taken off if i decide i dont like them, sell them for next to nothing, and pay for something decent. A big job, when i could just get somehhing i know i like.

I know what a good tyres like. I like my tyres to grip well and give plenty of feedback.. The metzelers didnt do that very well. So they werent on my list of tyres that id have again.

Tyre choice is a personal choice. I fitted michelin PR3's directly after those and they were soo much better. In my opinion, of course.

Its funny what you say about people who've come to biking in recent years, because my dads been biking for nearly 40 years now, and his GSA came with metzelers. He took em on 1 trip around europe and binned em as soon as he got back.

I wouldnt fit them again.. Simpy because id have to pay for them.. Pay for them to be fitted, rhen pay for them to be taken off if i decide i dont like them, sell them for next to nothing, and pay for something decent. A big job, when i could just get somehhing i know i like.

What that man said. I've ridden for 27 years and modern tyres are Staggering but the z3 fitted to the k13 from new were dreadful. Pirelli angel gt have transformed the bike. Well they did until the rear got flat lol

Does anyone remember TT100's?  It was like falling off the edge of the world with them!

 

I put the new Motad exhaust on the Tiger tonight but alas the bandage at the end of the old pipe tore a bit so when I put it on the new one it is blowing a bit.  So tomorrow I need to get some bandage and maybe some goo.  I am not sure really as I have never changed the exhaust on a bike before.  Anyway it all fits OK and apart from a slight bit of blowing where the new exhaust pipe meets the collector it went alright.  Oh and the baffle fell out for some reason!!! 

I had an R1150R and didn't get on with it at all. The 1200R K53 is a completely different beast.

Get a test ride!

 

Each to their own I guess! I'm leaning towards a Triumph at the mo, either a Tiger 800XRX or an Explorer but I will try the latest R1200R to see what that's like. The saddle height on their adventure bikes are just too tall for me and I'm not prepared to pay for the FF lowering package.

Does anyone remember TT100's? It was like falling off the edge of the world with them!

I put the new Motad exhaust on the Tiger tonight but alas the bandage at the end of the old pipe tore a bit so when I put it on the new one it is blowing a bit. So tomorrow I need to get some bandage and maybe some goo. I am not sure really as I have never changed the exhaust on a bike before. Anyway it all fits OK and apart from a slight bit of blowing where the new exhaust pipe meets the collector it went alright. Oh and the baffle fell out for some reason!!!

Werent called Avon Roadrunners were they?

A little blowing might sort itself out once it settles in. It has done for me in the past

I now what you mean but I shall try and cure it first.

 

Cannot recall what they were other than TT100 but they were completely flat at the bottom and then angled up on each side wall.  Well weird but in those days you never wore a front tyre out because they were too hard.

Werent called Avon Roadrunners were they?

A little blowing might sort itself out once it settles in. It has done for me in the past

Avon road runners - cor blimey that brings back memories, most of them scary over the winter months....

Avon road runners - cor blimey that brings back memories, most of them scary over the winter months....

Not for me.

Ive just got a sad obsessive memory for bike things and my dads spoken of them before.

I was born in 92. So. Yeah. Haha.

Lol trust me they were unbelievable. In the greasy stuff if you so much as grabbed a brake you were all over the shop. A great way to cut your teeth and feel for grip.

Lol trust me they were unbelievable. In the greasy stuff if you so much as grabbed a brake you were all over the shop. A great way to cut your teeth and feel for grip.

Ahaa!

Striple should like em then? Just his kinda thing? haha

Lol lol lol you know it :-)

Sad day really, decided to sell my '97 Blackbird

Sad day really, decided to sell my '97 Blackbird

Was on about these earlier on here!

Why did ya get rid? Whats next?

Only just made my mind up to sell it. Riddled with arthritis now and it's sad to see it just sat there. Full power carb bike. Sweet as can be and gathering dust.

Only just made my mind up to sell it. Riddled with arthritis now and it's sad to see it just sat there. Full power carb bike. Sweet as can be and gathering dust.

Ah. Sorry to hear it mate :(.

Ah. Sorry to hear it mate :(.

Thanks, cracking bike. Freshly powder coated wheels, new tyres and head bearings, forks rebuilt and serviced, new chain and sprockets plus all new wheel bearings and a set of Michelins. Smooth as silk and like a bullet! Classic insurance too

Edited 10 August, 201510 yr by Rocketeers

Thanks, cracking bike. Freshly powder coated wheels, new tyres and head beings, forks rebuilt and serviced, new chain and sprockets plus all new wheel bearings and a set of Michelins. Smooth as silk and like a bullet! Classic insurance too

Oh dont. I wouldnt need that much talking into it haha

Oh dont. I wouldnt need that much talking into it haha

Yep, hard decision but the centre stand is getting more wear than the tyres! Last trip was for the mot..... Clean sheet too

Thanks, cracking bike. Freshly powder coated wheels, new tyres and head beings, forks rebuilt and serviced, new chain and sprockets plus all new wheel bearings and a set of Michelins. Smooth as silk and like a bullet! Classic insurance too

Sorry to hear about the sale - I'm a huge fan, had 2 efi birds. Rode far better than it ever should.

As I don't seem to be able to delete the posts that I messed up from my mobile, let's see if I can post something marginally more interesting instead.

 

I decided on Friday for the bike handover day and arranged the insurance.

 

Friday duly arrived and summer duly departed.

 

The 80 mile round trip to collect the new bike is probably the wettest I've been in ages, and my up-to-now-pretty-waterproof Hein Gericke gear completely gave in to the rain. Soaked through.

 

Not sure what, if anything, I can do to reintroduce a little water resistance to it, but having spent lots on the new bike there's no spare cash in the kitty for new gear

Nikwax Techwash is your friend. Oh, and a washing machine.

Cleans the road muck and dead flies off, then reproofs.