Liveware Problem

Apparently they have construction underway at various stages all the way up to SN19, I imagine it must be quite a challenge as after every launch the design of each succeeding model will have to be updated with the new data in mind.. maybe now they will give future models less flimsy legs!

Pretty sure you are also a millennial @Stu? Those born 1981 - 1996

I'm sure the test changes have something to do with it, making it much more expensive and arduous to gain your license.

Owning a bike is just a huge luxury for most people that it's difficult to justify, and they're not really practical when compared to a car.

 I also feel most people don't think they are cool, just dangerous. And unnecessary and polluting etc.. a relic of a bygone era, sadly.

And unlike for boomers houses can't be bought for a fiver and a packet of Quavers any more, so all or spare money goes paying rent to wealthy landlords 

Belated Birthday wishes @bonio hope you had a great day! 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.motorcyclenews.com/amp/news/covid-19-coronavirus-cbt-driving-test/

Seems a barmy decision, if there's any activity that could be carried out safely right now wouldn't it be CBTs? Naturally socially-distanced, everyone wearing full face helmets etc.

So if you rely on a 125 for commuting, or your actual job - like food delivery workers - you're screwed!

Belated Birthday wishes  

But what about the sprockets, they would need to be coated in the same ta-carbon, or they'd be worn down faster than usual by the super hard chain?

We have separate accounts, just split all the household bills.

Only part where it falls down is that I do pretty much all of the general/food shopping, and forget how much I've bought over a few weeks.

But it's pretty equitable, we don't ever have to justify out spending to each other but still are open about the state of our finances, yes including my expenditure on bike related stuff!

17 minutes ago, husoi said:

Meaning that if your unfortunate to have a crash with a car while filtering, your insurance company is likely to split the responsibility 50/50 or thereabout.

I think that would depend a great deal on the circumstances, and doesn't mean you are not supposed to filter.

We all know insurance companies are not interested in protecting their clients!

1 hour ago, husoi said:

Never said it's illegal. Just that you're not supposed to do it.

 

"There are no filtering specific laws to define its legal status explicitly, however, because filtering is made allowance for within the highway code we can take that as it’s defined allowance on the public road within the UK."

 

From: https://begin-motorcycling.co.uk/lane-splitting-filtering-law/

 

Yes there is allowance in the highway code for it but nothing specifically saying it is legal.

Argument can be made for "if is not forbidden then it is legal" but riders are also responsible to ensure that enough care is taken to prevent accidents.

 

We all know that some idiot riders go way too fast while filtering.

My understanding is that is how UK law works - generally speaking, if it is not forbidden, it is legal

What do you mean by you're not supposed to do it?

1 hour ago, Bender said:

More acceptable, it should just be accepted.

@Liveware Problem his loss, hope it dosen't impact you too much.

 

 

Thanks @Bender, Not too much really, it's generally a sort of 'elephant in the room' scenario.

Hurts a bit to treated differently to my brother and sister, and makes my partner feel uncomfortable at times, but it could be a lot worse.

He's not a bad person just misguided. (I'm sure he would say the same of me).

Sorry, went off topic a fair bit!

25 minutes ago, Richzx6r said:

What is so bad about your relationship making it not valid and that it never will be?

Wrong gender.. well everyone is entitled to their opinion I suppose.

8 minutes ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

Is it deliberate or can he not be bothered to remember her name?

 

I did my dads shopping for 6 months until he could get finally get online delivery slots. He went to the supermarket himself once at the beginning of lockdown and the security guard told him he couldn’t enter the shop because it was OAP hour. He laughed and said “you flatterer” and walked in, the guard chased after him and explained it was pensioner time and he had to leave.

He’s 73

Haha did he have any ID to prove it?

Entirely deliberate, he knows his name. Ah well!

8 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

The trouble you have is that it's been made harder to get the licence for that all important powerful bike we all craved at 20 years old! 

Fair point, that puts quite a few off I'm sure.

I could be wrong, I think perhaps there was more of a natural sequence (pushbike - motorbike - car) previously, and having tried a motorbike some would enjoy it and wish to pursue biking, whereas now younger people are less likely to own a car let alone have started off with a motorbike. A lost opportunity perhaps.

I have shopped for my friend (79) during lockdown as he was shielding, he is far from frail though

As for parents, mum is gone and Dad is practical and not elderly either. 

Although I'm not looking forward to when he is, a man who deliberately doesn't put my partner of over two year's name in the Christmas card he sent me, and has made it quite clear my relationship is not valid and never could be.

Still what do you expect from someone that still believes Mass should be conducted in Latin!

16 hours ago, skyrider said:

yeah a lot of modern youths only have their modern scooters for a short while and then it's straight on to cars 

Agreed, I think more than ever are not even trying a bike at all and it is slowly dying out.. admittedly I don't have the figures to hand but whenever stopping at bike cafes etc. in the past couple of years I'm usually one of the youngest there, and I'm not young - most pro footballers my age would be considered well past it 

The vast majority of 125s I see are food delivery scooters.

I think on the whole society is becoming increasingly risk-averse, why would you ride a motorcycle they're so dangerous! Better to be in a steel cocoon with multiple airbags etc.

Better yet get AI to take over, given how fallible humans are!

MAG seem to have some laudable aims, I can't agree with them on helmets but at least there are some people prepared to actively defend biking and try to halt or at least slow it being legislated out of existence!

32 minutes ago, Bender said:

Your point is lost on me though, I am the thief in waiting that should have been.

I'm pretty sure I said more likely, not certain. I didn't seek to imply a difficult upbringing will automatically make someone turn to crime. 

As other people have pointed out, there are plenty of 'white collar' criminals who are no better, or worse. But I thought we were discussing this in the context of the theft of motorbikes, not criminality in general.

2 hours ago, S-Westerly said:

One reason people steal is simply because they can and know the chances of being caught are negligible and if they do get caught punishment is a slap on the wrist. I'm not rich but I've never thought of stealing someone else's stuff. I work for everything I own. Face it some people are just born rotten.

Maybe some people are just born rotten, but I'd wager most are a product of their environment and upbringing. We all are to some extent.

Why would you steal if you had something to lose? I'm not rich either but I have a job, rent a house etc. However I've had opportunities many people have not, and parents to instil certain values in me.

Maybe this thief did too, I don't know. Maybe if you have nothing or little growing up you are more likely to take from 'the rich' (even if most of their victims wouldn't class themselves as such).

I think we can agree to disagree on this forum without falling out, usually 

I don't think speeding after someone and deliberately knocking them off in a way very likely to kill them is a reasonable and proportionate response to your bike being stolen.

That's essentially saying if someone steals from you you should be able to execute them.. where do you draw the line? If someone takes your TV should you chase them down and beat them to a pulp with a baseball bat? What level of crime equates to your life now meaning nothing?

Yes being a victim of theft sucks, I've had two motorbikes stolen and it made me furious and the idea the thief might crash into a ditch seemed pretty appealing, but it's not a solution.

People don't commit theft for no reason, it's symptomatic of our unequal society and the environment they grow up in.

Clearly the red mist descended and he wasn't thinking things through. I reckon he was lucky to get manslaughter not murder really.

10 years in jail and taking someone's life though.. is a motorbike really worth that!? 

I found I needed both, back when I was commuting through winter. The grips heat your palms, the gloves the back of your hands.

If I had to choose one I'd probably go with grips.

According to this video at any rate - it doesn't cause any excess wear on your engine. Good news if like me you make a lot of use of it naturally. Also the vid explains how it works-

Just posted this as the topic came up recently I think.

Convinced?

7 hours ago, Stu said:

Which makes me laugh as triumph couldn't make the trophy euro 5 and was one of the main reasons it was dropped! 

 

Maybe they just didnt want to invest in the Trophy as most people looking to buy in that segment bought a BMW instead!

1 minute ago, geofferz said:

99bhp will feel slow to me - I don't need to ride it. 

Sure, to you perhaps. That doesn't mean the bike is underpowered though.

2 hours ago, geofferz said:

Underpowered at 99bhp, overpriced at 10k underspecc'd. 

 

Hard pass. 

Why is it underpowered? I think it's a little difficult to say that unless you've ridden it.

As far as I can tell (from the 44teeth video) it is a twin and more a competitor for the Ninja 650 etc., although it's substantially more powerful. It isn't meant to be a super sports.

..you don't fix your own bike.

That seems to be a fairly widely-held belief, I've even heard it from people who don't own motorbikes.

I've always felt guilty I've done so little to mine. I know people say just watch some youtube videos and get stuck in but I can't help thinking I'll end up making things worse, not tighten up a bolt properly or be unable to reassemble it etc., and electrics.. no chance!

But the fact remains, paying a mechanic is hugely expensive.

What are your thoughts? Everyone should learn or at least try? Or leave it to the pros?