Arwen

I'm hoping for dry weather for the next week at least. Picking up my new bike tomorrow I don't mind too much if it rains on the way home, but I hate arriving at work dripping and having nowhere to dry gear.

Or you like it.... It's your money, spend it on what you like.

I've not updated it in a while (I'll probably do it in a few weeks) but here is my running review of my little msx - https://www.themotorbikeforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=58582

The grom is a great little bike, so long as you don't expect it to be much use at 60mph+ (it will get more if you don't weight a lot). I've had mine 4 years and other than the neutral switch rusting after 2 years and needing replaced, it is a fantasticly fun little bike for my commute through the city. The TNT is much of the same. I've not heard anything bad about them. I've had a sit on one, and build quality seems on par.

That is cool

I talk to pretty much anything, cars and bikes are no exception. In a way it keeps me calm when trouble shooting an issue. I do get laughed at for saying please and thank you to Google lady when I ask for something though

Want me to post the documents I get with It? Since it's free supply and fit, I'll get it for a year and see what it's about. Update: User doc's are here - https://adventure.trakking.net/pdf/TrakKINGAdventureUserGuide.pdf

Thanks [mention]Stu[/mention]. [mention]Six30[/mention], It's £109 a year, so I doubt it. However that's the same price as netflix so I'm probably going to try it for a year and see what I think. Since the actual device and fitting is free.

Me again... Honda are now providing Datatool's TrakKING Adventure system free of charge to new bikes. The only cost to the new owner is the on going subscription. https://www.datatool.co.uk/motorcycle-tracking-trakkingadventure/ Anyone here know about/use it? How annoying is it when you are moving it around in the garage? What happens if you stop paying for the subscription - do they plague you with emails? Do you find it useful at all even if your bike has never been stolen?

Nope, nothing is sacred. I'll just leave this here too... Check out forest fr1ends (@forest_fr1ends):

That wooden wheel looks well made!

Really?! I've only heard of renthal fat bars that are like that? They would make life a bit easier... What other brands do them? I'd like to have a look. Yes there is a locator peg, yes it makes it more difficult, but it's not impossible. It's easy enough to get a 7/8th throttle tube. Wich will go with the 7/8th heated grips. Oxford cruiser heated grips are... Naff looking in my opinion. "Oxford" written in big letters with silly tribal swirls... The retro ones is what I like, but they only come in 7/8th.

Thanks guys, guess I just wanted reassurance that it would work. Yes [mention]fastbob[/mention] , it has inch bars. Previous rebels had 7/8th bars which is why some sites list the 500 as having the same. I went down to Honda yesterday with a measuring tape to confirm [mention]TimR[/mention] the wiring will all reach no bother. I'm only looking to bring them back an inch or so. As for the controls, most are clamps, so I'll probably use the shims there too. I will need to confirm how the indicator switch's bit is mounted though.

Looks for opinions please… are handlebar shims safe? Example: https://sjmotorcycleengineering.com/collections/handlebars/products/bsa-triumph-t100-t120-t140-handlebar-sleeve-shim-7-8-bars-set-4-97-1425-sj191 The reason I am asking is on my rebel I could do with heated grips and the bars slightly closer to me. The heated grips I like are only available on 7/8th inch bars. The clocks on the rebel are molded(?) onto the top clamp, and the rebel has stock has 1inch bars. So I am thinking of buying 7/8th inch bars that will work well for me position wise, and using the above shims so I can still use the stock clamp. However somewhere in my head is saying using shims like this may be... problematic.

I'd give the whole area under the tank a good look over. Clean it, check for frayed cables/deteriorating rubber etc. Depending on the age and condition of the battery, maybe replace it.

I take my wheels off and drive them and my new tyres around to one of the local,smaller, bike mechanics/garages. They are happy enough to change them over for me. Usually it's around £10-15 per wheel. Worth it for the job taking 30min (including driving) and a coffee rather than me shouting at the stupid thing for hours cause I can't get it to work

Love that video! The title of the thread reminds me of that gorrila next to the road in Plymouth

If your friend wants an easy way to practise... I use two parking spaces (side by side) in an old unused carpark. They are roughly the right width.

I removed the bar end wights from my F700. I've noticed no difference to be honest. It does however have metal hand guards, so there is still some weight there. The more well made bar end mirrors have weights in them too, so if there is a noticable difference without the weights. Installing the mirrors should solve it.

Update: Deed is done. I'll have a rebel in my garage in a couple of weeks time! Already got a shopping list of parts for it on the go.

After this current course of anti inflammatories are finished I'm going to start weight training. I've been on between 120-240mg of codeine most days since January simply to be able to breathe without being in pain. Not being able to ride has really gotten to me, so changing to a bike I can easier ride for now should make me feel a lot better. Hopefully the weight training pays off and I stop damaging muscles so much. Then I may get a bigger bike in a few years, if I feel the need to change again I did like the triple. However I felt the riding position was uncomfortable for me.

I visited HD, Triumph and Ducati in glasgow this week, and yet again was completely ignored! Two of us sitting on all the bikes, moving them around and stuff. No service. Anyways, the HD's all felt wide and heavy. Plus they are expensive... The Triumph Street twin was nice, felt lighter than my BMW but was still on the cusp of tall for me. Ducati only had one scambler that I could sit on, and it was the very tall version. The gorgouse MV agusta they had was also way too tall for me However, I finally managed to take this little one out for a test ride yesterday! I was pleasently suprised with it. It feels comepltely different due to such a differente riding position, but it was comfortable. The rear tyre felt stupidly fat compared to the MSX/BMW and I did have to help it into corners a bit. Feels compeltely soild, like I could ride it through a brick wall and it would be fine on the other side. But most off all, I learned just how much easierriding is when you can get your feet comofrtably on the ground! This has prety much sold it to me. So I'm going to talk figures with the dealer tomorrow. Exciting!

Awesome! I took one for a test ride yesterday... Going in to talk figures tomorrow!

I prefer RST over Frank Thomas and Oxford. I've had Frank Thomas trousers and they didn't last. I do really rate Halvarsson gear. They do a massive range of gear, and many sizes so I wouldn't discount the brand on one jacket. I've had the ladies version of this one for about 3 years now. It's light but fully waterproof. You would need a fleece on during the winter though, as it's not the warmest of jackets. Furygan are another make I would concider.

Shaft drive too! I do have a Moto Guzzi dealer relativly near by. Maygo for a look and ssee what thye have next week too. Not sure how easy they are to lower/shave the seats.