Simon Davey

We keep in touch on Whatsapp, and we're doing it again this year It's been done for 12 years by the same guy who organises it, but this was my first trip. I part exchanged the ZZR just at the end of March, got £1000 for it with the luggage, not too bad, I'd have gotten £1500 privately, but couldn't be bothered. The V-Strom was reduced from £13500 to £11000 because it was brand new, but MY2023, and, I got it on 0% interest. An absolute no brainer.

I think I'd only just got the luggage, it's ugly, but the pannier frames were Givi Monokey, and were already on the bike. At 15000 miles on the clock, I paid £1500 for her, she was a CatN because there were scrapes on the fairing, she was sat for over a year, so I spent about a grand on her because the carb's were shitted up. That was one thrilling machine to ride, but you had to ride hard to tip into bends nicely, it wasn't very stable at slow speeds in bends and big roundabouts. I took it to Germany for a week, we stayed in the same hotel and went in a different direction each day. It was amazing, we had such a blast. You wouldn't believe how you could push something so heavy and long so hard into hairpins and up and down hills and mountains. I really learned to ride it. But it was pretty painful at times. Here she is outside the hotel. Here she is with my new friends for life, hadn't met any of them before I went on the trip. The organiser, Tony, Isn't in the picture though,. Sorry, your thread has become about my ZZR.

The superb V-strom

Oh wow! @OmegaSteve, that's brilliant. Good for you matey. I know exactly how you feel about riding it, I recently replaced my ZZR1200 with a 1050. I can corner faster and work more confidence than the ZZR, it's a much more refined bike, it had loads of rider aids, it's quieter and better on fuel than the ZZR. BUT, boy do I miss that ZZR, there's something really special about them, they have such character, I used to actually stroke it front to back. Has to change for comfort though, the sport position is too painful for my ageing shoulders. Good luck luck Steve, I'm insanely jealous.

The most difficult test is yet to come..... It's keeping your wallet in your pocket whenever you go to a bike shop.

Fair enough matey, just being cautious. On the flip side, you'd have to pay someone then trust them to do as you're asking. Also, depending on exact locations, as already mentioned, Sudbury to Basildon isn't a mega distance. Is it not something you could do? I'm only 1/2 hour from Sudbury, but to do what you're asking would take at least 3 1/2 hours, not something I could offer to do.

So, whoever collects it has to pay the cash, right? Whoever collects it has to give you their bank details first, so you can pay them before they go to collect it? Not that I'm an untrusting kind of person..........

Good morning bikers

What's a theory test? Can't recommend any apps, but good luck anyhoo

Waheeeeey

Just returned from the vet's, took my dawg for the second part of his Lepto jab. I say to her, can you please check his teeth, he's not catching a ball very well, and he definitely doesn't want the occasional tug of war with a stick that he likes.... Yup, needs a tooth extracted, going to be in the region of £600. I really hope Petplan pull their weight.

That's phenomenal @Mickly. Congratulations to your mate. (the jammy bugger). I just won a fiver on the lottery, not quite the same though.

That's a good shout. Assuming it's g to keep them safe.

Superb looking bike @Bianco2564 Love that Suzuki white and blue.

Good morning bikers