790Bonneville

I would not do it as little furry things sometimes bolt out of hedges and its a reaction to swerve away from them. Also if your riding by their side your concentration and visibility will not be on pot holes, gravel, dead badgers, mud, etc etc (all out to get you). Instead of *cough* "pulling at his side" I would make do with just looking at his bum n maybe pulling when you get home.

Keep all lights clean, they get covered in crap, also remember car drivers don't always de mist the inside of all their windows when they start out so carry on treating them (as you should all year round) as idiots who won't see you even though their faces are pointing your way. Also remember a flashing indicator just means the bulb is working.

Hi all, (he says creepily). Riding my motorbike or metal detecting are my favourite hobbies. However I am looking for more land to go on to metal detect. So if you own a field or are indeed a friendly farmer/land owner (i.e. one that gives me the chance to run (BEFORE shooting) and fancy letting me on your land I would like to hear from you. I am based in Northamptonshire but do not mind travelling 100 miles or so. I also have a good spare metal detector and would welcome the company if you fancy having a go with me. I have lots of land to go on here and have found some nice finds I have given to the farmers and sometimes sold bits n bobs with farmers permission and gone halves with proceeds, but I fancy a change of scenery hence this message. Most fields 90 odd percent don't have much in way of finds in but I usually find something of interest (not value). Thanx Glenn

Ah well littlecat may I offer you a cheese and onion crisp in way of friendship and biking harmony (I actually have a knee down when offering said crisp in way of humbling meself).

Ah yes sorry for sexist remark but to my knowledge men can't yet have babies...apart from that american bloke who is really a woman Actually my comment was tongue in cheek when made (now waiting for reference to porn quip) Ha!

Ah Bex...glad you got knees back up again. I think it is a man thing this knee down stuff, I think maybe they think women watchers will see it and want to have their babies.

...And so to sum up Mlord ...Throttled said so!

Yes all very impressive and manly getting the knee down.. now... wake me up when someone get 2 knees down!

I think 2 cheap new helmets would be far safer than 2 bought off a bloke in a field.

I think the problem is ...it fitting like a glove, you really need one to fit like a helmet.

I look forward to seeing the pictures of close ups of dead flies

Yes, sand it off and buy spray paint...remember "buy cheap buy twice"!

Coo! a great bit of technology from China for just over 4 quid! to protect your expensive bike. Just don't tell the insurance company or your next payment may go up!

Naaa...don't go to the expense of knobbly tyres! As you want it to have the look of a fake scrambler (presume you don't want to really scramble) just chuck loads of muddy water at it ..and your self for that matter ...Hey presto! Scrambler bike and person, also for subtle effect just say Wild and Woolly every so often.

Hmmm you'd be suprised wot some blokes stick in their petrol tank holes, how often have you heard the phrase "I really love my bike"

Yes, but just don't use it as anti-freeze & coolant. You have a bike that has had many many 100's of thousands spent developing it..and erm your thinking of going to poundland! ...MEDIC!!!!

The camera you have will get you very good results quality of image wise, but its not so much the camera as the person using it. If its quality you need then the main thing is the lens, forget all the bells and whistles and owning loads of lenses you will spend ages deciding on what lens to use and possibly miss the shot. Get good with what you have. Good pictures are about composition and light. Also nowadays you can get very interesting results if you manipulate your images in Photoshop software or something similar. Go on youtube for camera tips and tricks. A good idea is to spend a day with your camera and say just have 1 theme i.e. motorbikes and see how many ways you can take interesting shots thinking outside the box. Perhaps photograph a motorbike in the reflection of some chrome of another bike (you will probably need a Harley shop for this ) Do not be in too much hurry to upgrade on a camera, you have a camera that in the right hands will take great shots.

Ah me and my mate were behind you along way back I was on my Bonneville (struggling to catch up) we saw the burning rubber from back tyre and was impressed you stayed on. However you forgot to mention to the dear readers the bike had only done less than 200 miles and not properly run in when you were doing a very good upper 70. I know this about the bike because when we told the nice man at Rockingham he was not too pleased about the bike being abused and wrecked. Was happy you were ok though.

I'm sure there must be rules in car parks or it would be full of idiots without tax or mot, doing 20mph when 10 mph stated, riding without helmets and blocking people in.

I think longer boots better, (dress to come off) there is a lot of metal things near shins bike wise and if things go wrong and you come off good chance of damage. Speaking from experience I did come off once, I had long boots on and still got bad scrape and bruise to shin if I had have had short boots on maybe a broken leg.

I know you are wanting to keep other things than wet weather kit. But just on the point of wet weather kit. You can buy all-in-one overalls for biking they roll up very small (can fit into large pocket) and ideal to slip over your leathers or regular kit. Personally I do not like top boxes as if care is not taken with what goes in them they can be heavy and make bike unstable especially on small bike. I either use leather panniers or if I am going away some large textile waterproof ones. I like to keep the weight on my bike low down. Not sure if you have a metal tank but tank bags with magnets are good and can double up as rucksack when you get off bike.

Ah Hobbies.. well for me its metal detecting (got a spare one incase anyone lets me go on their land and wants a go), playing my guitar, youtube and free chords for songs online a godsend. Also like to go sea fishing from a boat. Nice days are a bit of a swine as I am torn between riding my bike or going metal detecting.

You need to go into a good Motor Bike shop that has helmets and get advice. If you wear one that is ill fitting and you come off your bike it could break your neck where as a good fitting one will probably save it. All your motorbike clothing need to be able to do the job well and fit correctly. Remember getting cheap kit may result in expensive wheel chairs and care.

If your getting a first jacket don't buy a leather one you will get soaked in the rain. Get one of the waterproof ones, make sure its a proper good quality jacked with strong seams. Remember you have to dress to fall off. Also remember you need to allow for different garments you may or may not wear underneath so adjustable is another good idea. make sure it has back ,elbow and shoulder protection. Better to wait and get a good one than a cheap one that will rip to bits if you come off. Whilst your at it also get a hi viz top.

Ah my Bonneville also bought in 2004, from Webbs of lincoln, was ex Demo model (286 miles on clock) got it for 4K its the all black version. I like your review and picture. My bike alas is not so pretty, afraid its just a clean with an oily rag (same also with bike), bike was off road for 1 year due to not being able to afford to keep it on road (self employed), but now finances back I have been using it for the last 3 weeks. Over 46,500 on clock n still going. Like you I love the Bonneville, I got an 18 tooth cog fitted (replacing the 17 tooth) spaces gearing out better and gets me high 50's to gallon. Also got the louder pipes sounds laaavly when you open it up. My Triumph screen is rubbish chucks the wind right in your face so I extended it with perspex, I will buy a Givi screen soon.