bonio

Yeah, I'd be suspicious too tbh. And old people can be vulnerable to cold calls from cowboy traders or workmen. At least, we've seen plenty of examples of that in our house... the guy was over 90 when he moved out.

People don't choose to leave good houses. They only move out for care or for the coffin.

yeah, that was good, ta.

Best post of the year.

Meant to edit. Reposted instead. Needed a better brain.

Have to say I like a having a quickshifter. It really does what it says on the tin.

Doesn't sound like a great experience tbh. Seems a bit unfair that the guys on automatics got the attention and you were left to figure it out on your own. For example, it makes no sense to send someone off to do a figure of eight before telling them to use the rear brake - it just sets you you up to get it wrong. It's also unreasonable to expect someone to do the figure of eight right first time (well, first time after being told how to do it). It takes practice; it's not surprising you put your foot down first go as it takes a while to get a feel of how much brake to use and how much throttle. On the scale of bad to good, it's not a really bad, totally woeful experience. But it's bad enough to look around and see if there's a better place. What part of the country are you in? - you might some recommendations.

If you're in a higher gear, like 4 - 6, and you're coming to a stop, bear in mind that you can change down more than one gear at once before engaging the clutch again. You might want to try it out first on a quiet day.

Won't actually be snowbound in October, but it will be cool to cold, and you could find yourself in icy and snowy weather. The passes typically close in November, and open in May.

That's looks awesome @Mickly. Looks in good nick too.

Welcome mate. I'm thinking about a trip to Romania in '26. Starting to put some early plans together now.

I'm not sure I'd consider crossing the Alps between mid September until the start of June; between those dates you're more likely to meet bad weather on the mountain passes. If you're happy to use the tunnels, you'd get yourself another month or so each side, but I can't see there's a lot of fun in breathing in everyone else's fumes for so long. You could avoid the Alps, though, by heading on down through France and crossing into Italy at Menton. Then you'll have warm weather all the way down to Bari (even if you get a few thunderstorms). I've not ridden in Italy; people say that, outside the mountains, the straight roads make it a bit dull. Dang Romans. Your other route is to keep further north, heading east through Germany, and then over the Carpathians - they're half the height of the Alps, so easier to cross. Aim for the hills in Germany, like the Harz mountains, and this could be great route. Kalymnos is magical. Please don't tell anyone about it. (no, I'm not a climber).

I love the shots to the rear of the dust rising and catching the light of the setting sun.

That's how I felt about my Tiger. Great bike. For someone else. In the end fate had its way and someone else nicked it.

So, let me hazard a guess... the ZZR does 0 to 60 fairly effortlessly??

As above. The idea is that one end is permanently connected to the battery and the other end of the lead is tucked away somewhere dryish but accessible. Makes it quick and easy to plug in a trickle charger when you're not riding.

Yup... 6.2.3 "including a slalom" is missing. I think most countries do the same.

Yeah mebbe, but when it comes to the motorcycle licence test, the EU directive says this My guess is that most EU countries miss out the less convenient bits.

Thanks mate. I'd wondered if this was the case, wasn't sure though.

Sorry to bang on with the same question but I've been asking myself thus for years and haven't found the answer.... On the test (ie ignoring the IBT) how were you tested for emergency stop, swerve avoidance, figure of 8, and for slalom?

Very nice bike, sir. But you must a lot more bendy than me to ride it.

I've done the same myself often enough. Sometimes it's too much effort, and it's not nice having to act like a nob.

I'd agree with that. The supplier is responsible for ensuring they fit properly. You might have to find ways of being "more persuasive with them". My argument would be that if they are so difficult to put in correctly that I get it wrong every single time, then they are clwlearly not fit for purpose. If all else fails, and if you paid by credit card, consider a charge back. Use email when contacting customer services, so you have the evidence that you've tried to get the refund from the suppliers and they've refused.

Does it matter if the hotel has a secure parking area for your bike? Yes, if it's in a city. No if it's in a small town, but even then the least I want is off-road parking, and out of sight of people passing through on the main road. Is it important for you to have a spot to dry clothes or even a small area for minor repairs? No Do you look for options like late check-in or early check-out flexibility? Late check in is often really useful. What about room comfort: is having a shower, a comfy bed, or maybe even a kitchenette something you value? I want a bit of space, as my kit takes up room, especially if I'm going to bring the panniers in. A comfy bed is good. Breakfast is a plus too. Or are there other factors you always check before booking a hotel? I usually pick a place on the edge of a town, so I don't have to spend ages in traffic getting to the place. I usually want to be up and out quickly in the morning.