Cpt_Tact

I spent years buying every type of winter glove from £30 to £100s and in the end due to my poor circulation I opted for heated grips (removed when it gets warm) and some mid weight Alpinestars waterproof gloves. When it gets so cold I shouldn't really be riding I put on my merino wool liners. I bought the winter gloves whilst wearing the liners so that I knew they wouldn't be so tight it made the circulation worse. I get grief from "proper bikers" about being a nancy with the heated grips but I'm the one with the toasty hands and not the ones having to use the palm of my hand to brake as I can't feel the lever with my fingers haha. If you have handle bars rather than clipons then a £15 set of bash guards from eBay work a treat for cutting the wind chill down even further, and like the grips when its gets above 15 degrees take them off I'd say also make sure your core is nice and toasty too as when that gets cold it makes your extremities a million times worse! So: £50 on Oxford sports grips (little less chunky than touring ones) £90 (or less) on some fairly decent waterproof & windproof gloves Optional: £10 merino wool liners (if you really suffer from the cold) £15 bash guards (reduce that wind chill) Still less than £200+ top end gloves but with all things its horses for courses

You could always use elastic bands to stop the the arms flapping. Friends Dad who is 84 still uses them to this day as he too wears a big bomber reflective jacket during the winter as its cheaper, warmer, more waterproof and reflective that most sub £300 textile motorcycle jackets

Was out on a ride last weekend and on the motorway riding fairly hard the engine just sounded like it hit a proper flat spot and wouldn't rev out. Nursed it home and just as I was pulling in it died. Now had to leave it for a week and went to start it and the below is now whats happening: Friday: - Will only start on choke, choke goes off bike dies - Got it down to my mates garage and ran a load of fuel cleaner through and now it idles ok but still feels like not as powerful as before - 3 tanks of Vpower and loads of additives - Bike is popping and banging from both cylinders at the same time and quite violently on occasions like a rifle going off but it is idling much better - Only one cut out on way home but bike is fine under acceleration its only when at lights slow moving traffic it seems to struggle Saturday - Rough as anything starting but now on choke no popping or banging - Take choke off and the popping and banging is still there but not as violent - Adjusted idle speed up and its less popping again Pull up at my mates and I can smell petrol, look down and there is a puddle (about the size of your palm) just below the kick stand, tank off and air box off and there is a fair amount of petrol around the edges of the air filter but only very small amounts around the centre. There is also what looks like spray on the inside top of the air box. I have cleaned the bike and all around the side stand switch Taken off the headlight and checked all the wiring and it seems to be fine and nothing a miss. Fuel pumped changed a month ago as the last one failed Any help would be much appreciated before taking to a garage

Great roads around Monmouthshire and up in to the Brecon Beacons. Further afield is Llandovery and on to Lampeter (fantastic all the way from Brecon). Biking stops: IMO on of the best is the Steel Horse Cafe near Raglan http://www.steelhorsecafe.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; You get an amazing selection of riders there and a great place to see shall we say more old school bikes Abergavenny bus station - main meeting place as pretty massive parking spaces and great for people watching as you get some right weirdos there... West End Cafe in Llandovery is a nice meeting spot and is pretty full of bikers

What model was it? KTM 950 SM (carbs) When did you buy it and how much did it cost? Swapped it for a GSX-R750 K9 on the 26/08/2016 (done 900 miles in 3 days) Good points? Where to start really, I have ridden a lot of motox in my younger days but alas as our group got older people got married/ kids etc and so ended up on my tod and started riding road bikes as I felt it was safer on my own as more likely to be spotted in a hedge rather than in the middle of a woods somewhere that you shouldn't be! This I can only say is a hilarious bike, I mean properly hilarious! The torque is fantastic for drive out of the corners/ over taking etc and it just loves being dropped on its side with your leg hanging out! Its designed with one purpose and that is to be a knob on the road and I don't mean 170mph+ in a 30 limit I mean on the twisties winding up the sportsbike crew where all you can see is them looking and looking in the mirror wondering what you are riding. Its designed for late breaking, locking up the rear and blowing peoples eardrums. It can be ridden like a Sunday driver whilst you admire the scenery and when required crank it open and it puts an instant smile on your face and you just start giggling. There are no real words to describe this bike and having come from motox, to sports and now supermoto I really dont know why I didnt go for it before. It does the lot and it is even happy at 90mph with the additional screen on the motorway with no drama at all. The build quality is standard KTM so pretty damn good, the engine is spot on but the biggest plus for me is the suspension as it just soaks up the "quality" British tarmac/ pot holes/ mud/ gravel with ease even in sport settings. It gives you the confidence that everything will be ok providing you dont do anything really foolish. The ride height is high but great for seeing over cars and hedges. Bad points? I need padded cycling shorts as the seat is only good for about 100 miles (tops). I need platformed shoes as with a 29" inside leg I am seriously on my tip toes and have to pre-plan which leg I will be putting down when stopping. Limited fuel range, ride as intended and light will be on at 90-100 miles. Would you get another? Hell yes I am now sold with the big supermoto on British roads - I am done with top end and now just want to have a laugh with my mates at sensible speeds but actually have to work the bike and see who can get the biggest squeal coming in to a bend Any other comments?

It depends on what you attach it to really, if it's solid and doesn't flex then the vibrations will be hardly noticeable

I have the same problem, the chin guard on my X-Lite is way to sharp. So I made up a mount in the pictures below. Works perfectly, means I don't run a mic as the air blast isn't too bad up to 100mph behind the faring and to be honest its more a safety feature that a talking point. Biggest faff was getting the angle right as it takes some time putting it on adjusting doing a dry run (about 30mins). The 3M patches are very very good but i would suggest putting on one of the GoPro sticky lanyards just in case

GSX R-750 K9 (BLACK AND ORANGE) £4700 – near Hereford Would also consider a swap for a naked bike like an MT09 or Supermoto 510cc + 2009 K9 15747 miles (will increase slightly as used) MOT till 18th March 2017 Serviced in March 2016 Dealer stamped till March 2015, Receipt for 2016 Service Service recall - Brake master cylinder completed March 2014 PIPEWRX CAN – Protected Down pipes/ Collector box via VHT Paint Dunlop SportSmart2 Tyres (6 weeks old <1000 miles used) Black Double Bubble Screen 3 mode power selector (standard) Steering Dampener (standard) R&G Crash Bobbins DATATOOL S4 ALARM 2 KEYS AND ALARM FOBS Service History Suspension setup professionally for 13.5 stone CONDITION: Good for age but there are marks on it, general scuffs from leathers etc around tank and rear seat. Scuff marks on Mirrors from what looks like squeezing down previous owners side access to shed. REASON FOR SALE: I purchased this bike after my CBR600 threw a piston and after a few months riding it I just haven’t fallen in love with it. It is a fantastic bike to ride and does everything you could ever ask but it just doesn’t give me the fizz unless you are riding hard so I want to go back to a naked or a supermoto for the giggle factor Ill be getting more photos up this weekend when I get a chance to give it a clean and show the marks etc. Cash on collection

Carrington motors in Newport - guy who runs it is really a bike mechanic and I've only had excellent service from them over the years and I live 30 miles from them now and still go back.

Just purchased a few weeks back after killing my CBR600F3 My height - 5'10 Weight - 13 stone Inside leg - 28" What model was it? R750 2009 - 13k on the clock and in black and orange for a change When did you buy it and how much did it cost? Purchased mid May 2016 - £4700 Good points? Hilarious when you get above 8k on the revs - its a giggle machine Very planted front end Surprisingly comfortable for a sportsbike - Bank holiday weekend I did nearly 1000 miles on it with some motorways but mainly back roads and fast A roads - only slightly sore around the bum cheeks as the seat Isn't the best Sounds lovely with the Pipewrx can Loves Dunlop Sportsmart 2's You can lean it to the point the pegs are nearly scraping and it just remains completely unfazed by any bumps etc on the road Low down torque is very good for just bimbling around town and traffic - even better for that corner exit punch Main beams are like flood lights - first time I switched them on I was nearly blinded by the reflection from a sign 150m down the road Being able to adjust the foot pegs even that small amount really helps if you are going touring Slipper clutch Electronic steering dampener for those slapper moments Mode select for adjusting throttle response - soft/ medium/ bonkers Low seat so can get both feet flat on the ground even with my short inseam Bad points? Why oh why did the previous owner put that seat on - being recovered next week and will be going back to black! Dipped headlights are naff to the point they are dangerous Paint can only be a micron thick so scratches easily Header pipes and collector box needs sanding down and painting to stop any rust building up on them Eats tires Encourages you to ride like a loon on open roads Will comfortably whisk you up to 120 without noticing any wind difference from 50 Tiny space under rear seat - I'm not joking a 20 pack of smokes and there Isn't much room left! Stock levers are terrible if like me you have lady hands - very hard to to release the clutch smoothly on a blip as my fingers wont reach far down the lever (shorties going on) Would you get another? Definitely! Any other comments? Was not disappointed with the bike at all - it really lives up to its reputation for being the best all round road bike. Will look at getting some Brembo brakes to replace the Tekico ones that are currently on it but even then they stop it very well!

Race can yes but no on filter, just standard OEM.

Replaced this time last year but looks like my own fault as partial to the kill switch backfire in busy towns

Turns out id blown a spark plug, CC is fine lol

Started her up this morning and was running fine! Will take her out for a gentle spin and see if it starts again when hot. I think you guys are right and that it is the CCT but freaked me out last night as it was bonkers loud

[list=] Well on the way back from a good ride, came to the last round about before home and the bike just died. Started it up and it sounded like a tractor and then died again on low revs. Nursed it back the mile to home and initially I thought one of the header pipes had come loose (hence the very loud noise) but when stopped I gave it a little revs and it has a very loud rattle around the top end which increases with the revs and then goes at idle. I am thinking valve/ timing issue as cam chains tend to rattle at idle and then goes on revs. Or could it be the big end Any quick checks I can do myself with a manual/ youtube before trailering it down to a garage? I'm not a mechanic but also not a monkey with a spanner. Thanks in advance!

Baby wipes for getting rid of flies etc, just get the 99% water ones

Get the suit on and sit in front of the TV for a few hours at a time and that should help break it in then your wife can help you take it off if it gets to uncomfortable. Other than that give it to someone slightly larger (only slightly) and get them to use it for a few outings. Getting in and out of mine involves getting one arm in and then the standing which forces my bad arm down so it never even goes above 90 degrees. Getting out means flapping one arm around until it comes lose then using it to slide the other out.

Great little camera when you get the angle right I mounted mine to my chin guard on the helmet and it gives a really good first person view. Seen a video with it on the wrist mount and that too gave a great view I have one of the sticky lan yards with the cable as a safety back up just in case it ever came loose but so far skiing, paintballing and 150mph plus hasn't caused so much as a wobble on the helmet!

If I'm munching motorway miles then always slap in ear plugs as no matter what helmet I wear there is always a high pitch whistle that kills my ears. If I'm scratching about then no plugs as mess up more of my down blips as cant hear the revs properly If you can find a way to design plugs that actually work and keep everything under 80db and discreet enough for us bikers with glasses as when I slide my glasses in they always knock my plugs lol.

I bought a Held 20l one off ebay for £40 and rather than using magnets I attached it around the headstock and then bought a metre of webbing of ebay and some clasps and attached it under the seat. Much sturdier and doesnt move an inch. Now its strapped to the rear seat and that's where it stays for the winter. To make it water proof I bought some Ziploc bags to make everything waterproof

I have two pairs of bike trainers, Dianese and TCX both very comfortable and wear them at work and had the girls commenting on where I got them from and were shocked when I said they were motorcycle shoes They are great for going to work in and when doing a lot of walking days when sight seeing on the bike but when going out for a proper blast I never wear them as no protection above the ankle

Cant say about those gloves in particular but my view on held kit is it is very good and wroth the money

Had the same with all helmets so now when I buy one I sit in front of the TV each night for a few nights and they fit perfectly now. The liner and the foam inserts will give quite a bit. My biggest problem is I have a lump on the middle of the back of my head and no matter what helmet I've bought it always digs in very very uncomfortably so have to do the TV break in for longer lol

Personally I found the RST were fine for showers but anything more and they started to leak Furygan seem to hold up a lot better they are 2 to 3 times the price and eventually succumb to the British climate. Best option I found was in the summer months take a packmack that you can wear over your leathers and then in the winter i'll wear my ski jacket over my leather jacket. Gives warmth, proper waterproofing and has plenty of high viz bits on it to give that bit extra that my textile. Thermals under Kevlar jeans and the waterproof over trousers keep the wind off and the water out. I have waster hundreds of pounds buying textile clothing sub £400 a piece and after a year they all seem to leak in our lovely climate lol If you have the cash buy Rukka and you will never ever look back

Soft panniers and a tank bag work great, but spent a week away last week and just took a Held duffle back strapped down with 6 bungies across the rear seat. Didn't move even with chucking it around. Nothing expensive in there, only clothes, tooth brush etc. If you are taking a pad or laptop then get a little rucksack and put them in a dry bag in there, they then come with you everywhere First aid kit, waterproof over trousers, spare cable tyres, bungies, cheap nasty sun glasses etc go in the tank bag for easy access.