Back at ya Chris.

Had a long day at work, had the bike and I went to fill up as I didn't have much in the tank and wanted an excuse to get out for a little blast. Only did 25 miles but it was very enjoyable!

Hope you all have a good ride on Saturday, get some pics. I'm looking forward to the air ambulance ride on Sunday! Weathers looking good which is nice to see

Had a long day at work, had the bike and I went to fill up as I didn't have much in the tank and wanted an excuse to get out for a little blast. Only did 25 miles but it was very enjoyable!

Hope you all have a good ride on Saturday, get some pics. I'm looking forward to the air ambulance ride on Sunday! Weathers looking good which is nice to see

Sounds good.

Use that juice to come meet us!

I would if I didn't already have plans. :( I can't really get away with a full weekend on the bike either! Haha

Are we in the starting blocks for Saturday chaps ?

Chris - any more thoughts on a meeting place in pie town ?

Are we still aiming for an 11 am meet ?

Oli will be setting off early to allow time for the 7 fuel stops on the way :-)

Weather is looking ridiculously good.

You're not wrong. Its probably actually quicker to take the car over any long distance haha.

Looking forward to Sat myself! Weather says thunder but stupidly hot!

PM returned too!

I would if I didn't already have plans. :( I can't really get away with a full weekend on the bike either! Haha

Of course you can.

Swmbo used to say about me spendin too much time with bikes. Chose to accept it whwn i joked about getting rid of her before bikes though :D.

Quick update on my bike search boys.

Well I test ride the BMW f800gs and the Triumph Tiger xrx 800.

The beemer was a fine piece of kit. The engine had a distinctly more aggressive note than the f700gs that I tested last week. Everything else was much the same. Good build quality and quirky good looks, emphasising the off road credentials with the spoke wheels and the updated suspension. The bike was again very easy to ride, although the seat was harsh on the old botty box!

The Triumph was a completely different machine. It felt like a road bike and had a great engine with a nice roar when it was opened up.

Build quality was great again and it was well equipped. The bike was so very easy to ride. I did a number of turns in the street without any fear of feet down. The standard screen was effective and I liked the standard option of cruise control. The standard seat and screen were both adjustable on the xrx. A great feature.

At this point I was very confused. BMW f700, BMW f800 or Triumph Tiger?

I discounted the f800 first simply because it was so extremely tall. It was massive. More off road than on road possibly and not the most confidence inspiring for my aged body when Manoeuvering at low speed or pushing in and out of my garage.

This left me with the Tiger and the F700.

The Tiger came out not much short of £10k and still had no heated grips which was disappointing. A fine, fine bike in my view but the aesthetics were not fully to my taste. The three cylinder engine did not look to great sat amongst a a myriad of pipe work and frame under the tank.

This left me with the f700. A simpler machine than the other two and functional rather than engaging. However, it's pretty stance and light weight manouverability swung the day for me, given the type of riding I do, my physical constraints and my garaging arrangements.

I am ordering a new one (F700gs Rallye) in the coming days once two competing dealers offer me the best deal. So that's the end of my bike buying saga for the minute. I have to say, all three of the final bikes were truly fabulous. Thanks for your suggestion re the Triumph too as it was a revelation.

Edited 6 May, 201610 yr by kevberlin

Pleased you have sorted it all out Kev.  Sounds like you have the right bike for you and I hope you secure a good deal to leave you with a great new toy.  Don't forget the rules.  No photo it ain't happened.

Quick update on my bike search boys.

Well I test ride the BMW f800gs and the Triumph Tiger xrx 800.

The beemer was a fine piece of kit. The engine had a distinctly more aggressive note than the f700gs that I tested last week. Everything else was much the same. Good build quality and quirky good looks, emphasising the off road credentials with the spoke wheels and the updated suspension. The bike was again very easy to ride, although the seat was harsh on the old botty box!

The Triumph was a completely different machine. It felt like a road bike and had a great engine with a nice roar when it was opened up.

Build quality was great again and it was well equipped. The bike was so very easy to ride. I did a number of turns in the street without any fear of feet down. The standard screen was effective and I liked the standard option of cruise control. The standard seat and screen were both adjustable on the xrx. A great feature.

At this point I was very confused. BMW f700, BMW f800 or Triumph Tiger?

I discounted the f800 first simply because it was so extremely tall. It was massive. More off road than on road possibly and not the most confidence inspiring for my aged body when Manoeuvering at low speed or pushing in and out of my garage.

This left me with the Tiger and the F700.

The Tiger came out not much short of £10k and still had no heated grips which was disappointing. A fine, fine bike in my view but the aesthetics were not fully to my taste. The three cylinder engine did not look to great sat amongst a a myriad of pipe work and frame under the tank.

This left me with the f700. A simpler machine than the other two and functional rather than engaging. However, it's pretty stance and light weight manouverability swung the day for me, given the type of riding I do, my physical constraints and my garaging arrangements.

I am ordering a new one (F700gs Rallye) in the coming days once two competing dealers offer me the best deal. So that's the end of my bike buying saga for the minute. I have to say, all three of the final bikes were truly fabulous. Thanks for your suggestion re the Triumph too as it was a revelation.

 

Wow. Awesome to hear your thoughts on the bikes and how they compare. 

 

I really do like the look of the F700GS Rallye. Looks great! Like a 1200gs but less bulky and looks like you could throw it around abit more. 

 

What colour are you thinking of? 

 

Any idea on the turnaround from ordering to arrival? 

 

How exciting!! 

Wow. Awesome to hear your thoughts on the bikes and how they compare. 

 

I really do like the look of the F700GS Rallye. Looks great! Like a 1200gs but less bulky and looks like you could throw it around abit more. 

 

What colour are you thinking of? 

 

Any idea on the turnaround from ordering to arrival? 

 

How exciting!!

Thanks fellahs for your interest and enthusiasm.

The Rallye version comes in white with the framework picked out in red. I really like it. It has extras over and above the standard bike such as grips, handguards, computer, centre stand and pannier fastenings. I am adding the comfort seat for my bony backside too.

The bike is very flickable and easy to ride. Availability is estimated at early July which is a bit of a shame, but no great problem. My trusty Honda is going to my son and I have just advertised his (my old) KLE500 for sale..........a great bike and a snip if anyone wants a low mileage, well loved bike.

I hope to finalise the BMW purchase tomorrow after a couple of call backs. Photos as per the rules, once I have my hands on it!

Today:

I took it off SORN with 12 months tax paid.  :clap:

 

Will have to be a second relaunch video for 2016 now since I put it off the road for a couple of months there! 

 

Thanks fellahs for your interest and enthusiasm.

The Rallye version comes in white with the framework picked out in red. I really like it. It has extras over and above the standard bike such as grips, handguards, computer, centre stand and pannier fastenings. I am adding the comfort seat for my bony backside too.

The bike is very flickable and easy to ride. Availability is estimated at early July which is a bit of a shame, but no great problem. My trusty Honda is going to my son and I have just advertised his (my old) KLE500 for sale..........a great bike and a snip if anyone wants a low mileage, well loved bike.

I hope to finalise the BMW purchase tomorrow after a couple of call backs. Photos as per the rules, once I have my hands on it!

 

Sounds great mate, it really does. 

 

Red and white is a brill combo! it isnt until i just did a little research before your reply that i realised thats what the Rallye comes in . 

 

Hand guards do more than heated grips in my mind. It's the wind chill that makes your hands cold most of the time.. the guards keep the wind off. Brilliant in my mind. Those and heated grips and you're laughing. 

 

Centre stand is another one thats a PITA without. Madness to think even the K1300s centre stand is optional! 

 

Your lads a lucky guy. Gets the good end of the deal doesnt he . 

 

Look forward to seeing it. 

He's my riding buddy and has been drooling over the Honda since I bought it two years ago. It is such a good bike I did not want it going back into the marketplace. Prefer him to have it, although it lives in my garage, so he pops over to take a ride out.

The BMW handguards are class. They are based on an alloy wrap around frame and connect into the bar ends. They protect from the cold but also give hand protection in case of a collision or spillage. Very impressive in my view.

Hope I can finalise it tomorrow. Enjoy your weekend too.

He's my riding buddy and has been drooling over the Honda since I bought it two years ago. It is such a good bike I did not want it going back into the marketplace. Prefer him to have it, although it lives in my garage, so he pops over to take a ride out.

The BMW handguards are class. They are based on an alloy wrap around frame and connect into the bar ends. They protect from the cold but also give hand protection in case of a collision or spillage. Very impressive in my view.

Hope I can finalise it tomorrow. Enjoy your weekend too.

 

Nice one Kev, glad you've found the right bike for you. You just need a few farcles now!

 

I got my Vario kit from this lot If you need any luggage- much cheaper than the UK

 

http://www.bmw-motorrad-store.co.uk/

 

For the bits and bobs Nippy Norman takes some beating

 

http://www.nippynormans.com/

 

if you need any gear FC moto and Bikerland-both in Germany are again much cheaper than the UK

 

cheers

 

Ade

Nice one Kev, glad you've found the right bike for you. You just need a few farcles now!

 

I got my Vario kit from this lot If you need any luggage- much cheaper than the UK

 

http://www.bmw-motorrad-store.co.uk/

 

For the bits and bobs Nippy Norman takes some beating

 

http://www.nippynormans.com/

 

if you need any gear FC moto and Bikerland-both in Germany are again much cheaper than the UK

 

cheers

 

Ade

Ade.

Brilliant. Thanks for that. You must be a mind reader! I had never even heard of Nippy Norman before.

Kev

Dads had a few bits from Nippy Norman for his GSA.

Highly rated!

Excellent news kev !

Good update on narrowing down the choice, it read as though you were going 3 cylinder then out came the f700 !

Good luck securing a deal that works and July will soon come around.

Been lots of new bikes in the forum recently and as Chris said - pics or it didn't happen !!!

Excellent news kev !

Good update on narrowing down the choice, it read as though you were going 3 cylinder then out came the f700 !

Good luck securing a deal that works and July will soon come around.

Been lots of new bikes in the forum recently and as Chris said - pics or it didn't happen !!!

Funny. I was seriously tempted by the Triumph. It was ace. However, I jumped back on the BMW and, for some reason, preferred the twin cylinder buzz. I also like the quirky BMW styling.

One side note is that both the Triumph and BMW dealerships were very professional. Helpful, well informed and not at all pushy. Quite a difference to my experience with car dealerships.

Fitted a pair of levers to the VFR this morning which look lovely.

Also went to fit my hugger, unfortunately the screw than I need to take out from the chain guard is all rusty and has no head. Left me a little bit annoyed that I can't do it!

I've coated it in gt85 but it won't budge :(

Fabia, if you don't have rubber washers with the hugger make sure have some as lots tend to crack around the mounts.

Fitted a pair of levers to the VFR this morning which look lovely.

Also went to fit my hugger, unfortunately the screw than I need to take out from the chain guard is all rusty and has no head. Left me a little bit annoyed that I can't do it!

I've coated it in gt85 but it won't budge :(

Drill it n tap it?

Met Chris and Dave (madrunner) today.

Great people, great weather, plenty of tea and a good natter n laugh all round.

Good to meet you guys!

Likewise Oli, top bloke who likes tea.

Was very disappointed in chriss inability to sniff out cake this afternoon !

When we left Chris did you see the cafe sign about a mile down the road ? I chuckled to myself.

Good lead on the ride Chris. Thanks for sorting.

Likewise Oli, top bloke who likes tea.

Was very disappointed in chriss inability to sniff out cake this afternoon !

When we left Chris did you see the cafe sign about a mile down the road ? I chuckled to myself.

Good lead on the ride Chris. Thanks for sorting.

I did haha. A littke late by then eh!

Yeah nice one Chris. I was well impressed with the RAF spot tbh. Very good!

Where is cakeychops ?

Shopping for cakes I guess ?