Motorbikes general chat thread

[Wayne_H]

Yes, I can personally endorse both comments:

I was never much of a fan of riding on the road.... Sydney drivers are......

... Barry Sheen ... said that he would "never ride a motorbike on the road because it was just too dangerous"!

Over almost 20 years, I averaged 50-75,000 klm/year on motorcycles, at least 2/3 of that commuting across Sydney. I kissed the pavement 4(?) times, resulting in precautionary hospitalisation 3 times. I was struck twice by cars who's drivers aggressively changed lanes without looking, without warning - I was actually stationary at traffic lights on 1 of those occassions when he hit me hard enough to catapult me over the footpath into a ladies rose garden. Only once did I drop it due to my own "over exuberance" in the wet.

In all my years of fanging around off road, I came off a few times, picked myself up, dusted off & took off again (as you do!). I always rode defensively on-road, always wore all the proper protective gear, but only ever felt "safe" riding off road.

[Phil_G]

Took the Enfield out for a ride yesterday, first outing since the prang, bit apprehensive but settled right away, like it never happened
I like my new lid, it has an inner flip sun visor like Tom Cruise

Edit: next day, went to the Seaways Cafe at Fridaythorpe, much longer ride, all good and the apprehension is gone

[Phil_G]

My lads setting off for the IoM TT this morning...

[Martin]

Last month, I picked up my new Triumph Speed 400, as I fancied something a bit lighter and more economical than my Honda Blackbird, which I still have but it's currently SORN-ed. The new bike is just about run in now. Goes well for a 400cc single, with much less vibration than I expected. The suspension is a little firm, but I suppose that helps the handling, which is very good indeed.

The mudguards are uselessly small, and I'll be looking to upgrade them somehow. The engine warning light keeps coming on, though that seems to have no effect on performance. I've also had the main beam switch itself on a few times, even though the headlight was switched off at the time - some sort of gremlin in the fly-by-wire electrics. I'll report the electrical faults to the dealer when it goes in for its mandatory first service - I don't have much confidence in them fixing the faults though.

[Phil_G]

Hi Martin, I've a Speed 400 too, blue, for the same reasons... Well, that and my 5000-mile Enfield dropped a valve and destroyed its engine. Guess how much a 535 EFI engine is?
£3580. Three thousand five hundred and eighty quid!!!
Hence the Triumph
Are you on the FB group?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/932220448539928/

[Martin]

I wasn't in the FB group (I don't use Facebook much) but I've pressed the button to apply.
Mine is black. I would have chosen a red one, but there was a longer wait to get one of those.

[Phil_G]

I wanted black but was told December where blue was in stock
I occasionally notice I'm on full beam, always thought I must have caught the switch...

[Martin]

I've only ridden in daylight with the daylight running lights on (green indicator lamp). Then I notice the blue indicator for high beam is lit (and I've checked the actual high beam is lit too). When that happens, the main/dip/flash switch won't cancel it, until the headlamp switch is first switched on. It's distracting.
I've not ridden it yet with the headlight on, so I don't know if it spontaneously switches from dip to main, or if there are any other lighting glitches.

[AbueloBill]

Current ride after a series of Honda and Harley cruisers.

Faultless within its design and component limitations.

[Phil_G]

Dave my eldest has just fitted a new horn to his stripple. Check this out