bonio

Don't know about it... Any details?

35 bikes all the same time?? How did you choose which one to take out on a Sunday afternoon? 3 is my whole-life max and I'm now on 2. Welcome in.

What he said.

Insurance can be expensive for your first year riding - no NCD and you're a high risk. It comes down steeply in year 2. Definitely worth getting some quotes to save heartbreak later. I think an SV650 will be too small for you. The bike is more than powerful enough, but I'd imagine (and at 5' 7", I can only imagine...) it'll always feel like being on a monkey bike. I think the Street Triple will be too small too (ask @Bungleaio). But it's a subjective thing... this is from reddit The tip about the forks is a good one. TBH, I'm struggling to think of a bike to suggest. Seems to me you like sportsbikes and nakeds, but these tend to be either small in size or wild in nature. I should be saying to you to try a Versys 650, or a F650GS but they would just make you want to retch. The BMW F900R is a pretty good idea. Although it's a reasonably powerful bike, it's one that's quite forgiving; it won't throw you off if you get something a bit wrong. Some people suggest an MT07 or an XSR700 for tall blokes, so they might worth checking out too. All the best with it, and keep us updated.

Pillion seat came of mine today too, to attach the tail bag.

That's a great route. Good balance of motorway / non-motorway. No day so long that you don't want get back on the bike the day after.

Looks like a great trip! But keep in mind that riding a bike is a lot more tiring than driving a car: I've done 750 miles in a car straight after a day's work - but I've never covered much more than 400 miles on bike even by riding all day. So 1200 miles on a bike - that's a minimum of 3 long days in my reckoning, or 4 days done with more comfort and better roads (i.e. fewer motorways). Routes. My approach would be: avoid large towns or cities (or use motorways to get through them quickly) and head for the hills wherever there are some nearby. Avoid anywhere flat like Holland (sorry Dutch people, but there's no pleasure to be had riding your roads) or the Danube valley. After that, it's balance between getting there quickly enough and enjoying the roads while you're doing it. Don't forget: take some pics and come back here to tell us how it all went.

@Bungleaio Very nice. Didn't know the Tiger could stand up that well against a GS. I'll bear that in mind... Next time you go shopping make sure to invite me along as your spotter.

I've done the same as the Great Goat, with much the same outcome. At best, I could have shelled out £150 or so for a mahoosive chain and lock for a £10 discount. I currently use an alarmed disc lock, which I don't declare on the insurance so I can use it when I want to and not bother when it doesn't suit me.

Wassat you got? The 900XR? And have you really parted company with the GS? Congratulations, by the way.

Hooned over to Cambridge on the pretext of working in the office. Glorious ride home surrounded by barleyfields glowing in May sunshine.

This was my downfall too. Started out by trying to save money.

If youre after saving time, then rent. You might even be able to find a place that will pick you up at the airport.

True, but you can tell whether your toes are going to touch the ground or not.

Playing with ChatGPT

Me too. It took me literally years of searching to find something to replace the GS. I used cycle-ergo a lot to rule out a number of bikes that looked interesting on paper.

I like Paul too. I admired his self control. Must have been sooooo tempting to pull the clutch out and start juggling with the plates, or something. By the way, when did you jammy sod get a Daytona? Please, please post a pic so I can drool a little into my keyboard.

Had both my soakaways redone here. Separate jobs. One lot brought a nanodigger. The other lot chose to do it by hand; it took them two full days of pain and sweat. And they were younger and fitter than you matey. (And even youngerer than goat). A cubic metre is the standard size. Needs to be buried just deep enough to run the drainpipe into the top of one side. As goat says, the hole needs to be a bit oversized to fill in afterwards. Both have made a huge improvement to the drainage - with one, we went from an inch of standing water next to the garage after heavy rain to not a drop.

It is weird, particularly in a Honda. I'd get on the phone to the dealer, book it in for it's 6000 km (mile?) service and explain the problems you're having at the same time. Say you'd like them fixed under warranty.

Phoenixpoo? Griffinshit?

Get some insurance quotes. The cost is racked up for your first year on a bigger bike.

Apologies if this is all obvious, but the disc you've used more in the last few minutes is the one that's going to be hotter; this is normal. Why not take it out for few minutes' spin, keep completely off the back brake, and come to a stop on the front only. If the back disc is hot after that, it means your disc is binding - probably the piston is stuck on and needs servicing. Normally you can tell if the rear brake is binding by the reduced power at slow speeds.

Yup. A very light touch of copper grease on the back of the pad. Given that there's a mistake to be made there, sure enough, I've gone and done it before now.

Daft question: did you fit the oil filter correctly? Can't imagine where else it might be coming from...

Mine was stolen a couple of years ago. Police opened a case and closed it two hours later.