Gerontious

5% HPS are offering 10%

Just getting back to the subject of wheels. When i decided to go tubeless on my bike (I consider tubes a liability) There were several options and the ones I thought were the best solution also happened to be the most expensive. Spoked wheels that look like this on the inside. and this, from the side. I was mocked mercilessly for getting them. Insane for spending that kind of money. Fast forward to 2020 and Honda bring out a new version of my bike.. a small increase in engine size. a very sparkly new display and TUBELESS wheels!! These new Tubeless wheels are available to order from Honda.. a few minor tweaks and they will fit the older bikes. But, heres the rub. They cost the same as my hand made Kineos. Mostly because they come from Japan and my wheels were made in the EU, Italy. Changing wheels is not normal, for me the benefit was not having to repair or change a tube. (a massive pain in the neck) That was the only reason for doing the swap. It wasnt about any other type of improvement. But, I am so glad i did it as its one massive worry removed. A flat tyre with a punctured tube. Or the nightmare scenario, A flat FRONT tyre that has come off the rim. Imagine. Carbon wheels are something else entirely.. all about performance and handling improvements. Its an upgrade that most people with high performance sports bikes dream about, but never do. Like my kineo wheels, BST are the best you can get and have none of the issues that have beset carbon fibre wheels in times past. This level of workmanship and materials comes at a price. if you can justify that price then that is the only bar. Get them.

Nice here tomorrow.. and wales is reopening, so... i might just. if I can get motivated.. and a few hours sleep tonight. see how it goes. Tonight is my last of 6 night shifts.... and then off until Wednesday. Today.. not very motivated, so just washed the bike and tried on the luggage, all 3 parts to see how it looks.

Probably platinum in the cat tbf. £1,220.99

Its actually a lot worse than it looks, That price is just for the base exhaust can. It doesn't include anything else, like the heat shield, end cap. clamp and so on. I gave a price for my Scorpion. thats the list price. I got mine for just over £280 due to a promotion. The heat shield for the OEM exhaust. costs £277.58

Its a very new model.. only 5 years old. So, its not just a very new model.. its also very modern. Effectively a rewrapped MT-07 Changes over a 5 year period, especially in these recent times, tend to be minor and incremental. I wouldn't worry too much about whether one year is better than another. What I would suggest is that if this is the bike you want then look seriously at what upgrades are popular, what upgrades are something you might want. And then see if you can find a bike that ticks those boxes. However... The bike market for new and recent bikes is somewhat distorted (to your favour) by the ongoing crisis. Owners are being forced due to circumstances to sell bikes.. Im seeing that all the time now on the Africa Twin FB groups. "Selling my bike because Ive lost my job." - "Not ridden it, can no longer justify owning it." tales of woe. Its already July so the season is more than half way through and so prices will be forced down further. I would think the odd pricings you are seeing are largely due to this years very peculiar circumstances. with varying attitudes towards this major drop-off in value that some sellers accept and others cannot. These are not normal times in either the second hand or 'new' market. On top of all that.. Yamaha and its dealer network will be looking at an entire years inventory. Bikes that are sitting in showrooms and warehouses unsold - and have done so for almost half a year. There are also bound to be left-over bikes unsold from 2019. Time is running out. 2021 is almost upon us - from their perspective. we are only a month or two away from the start of 2021 production in Japan. I have a lot of sympathy for anyone who bought a bike "new" at the start of this year, before the Virus hit.

Which probably cost more Funny you should say that. Africa Twin Exhaust... Replaced with a £379 Scorpion.

That's more than enough for plenty of stroms, you should find a good Nc750 for that too. You looked on mcn sale section The chap in our local Honda dealer warned me against the NC750 as it has got low brake horse power. He said I'd get bored with it too quickly especially going from a hornet to a NC750. And yet they are very popular, I would ignore what the dealers say as they always ALWAYS have a motive. Its a current bike so get a test ride and form your own opinion.

If you do go for a crossrunner pay careful attention to the service history. The major 16,000 mile service for those bikes really is MAJOR £££ If the bike you are looking at is getting close to that, then factor that into your price negotiations.

Perhaps one of the "adventure' style bikes would suit you and your stature? I'm 6'7 in my boots so any other style of bike doesn't 'fit'. your budget encompasses a huge range... really you have a massive choice. Obviously these are made for touring and its often the case that luggage will come included.. just a matter of being patient until the right bike turns up. you can often get an idea of what a bike is like by test riding a newer one and then looking for an example maybe 5 or more years old.

I havent declared any of the changes i have made to my bike. might do that next time. Wheels. Exhaust. Full luggage. plus minor things like new seat, screen, pillion plate. So, none of them are insured. renewal is in November.

added a top box. I'm not a fan of huge top boxes, helmet or twin helmet size. This one is 30L which is plenty big for me. It will also act as a 'brake' for my dry bag which will be across the pillion plate with all my camping equipment inside.

I have a powersocket standard to the bike, but its only rated at 2A. so the pump is likely to blow the fuse.. hopefully, I will be able to fit a 15A powersocket before we set off for the Alps If not, i will just stick a footpump in the panniers. A Heyner (made in Germany) more expensive than a Chinese made pump. but built to last. And a precise gauge.

So, what are you saying to the OP? should he get a Torque wrench or not?

And... We're off!!! So, I expect the governments advice on travel to change quite soon, which will mean we can get travel insurance. I still have my tunnel crossing booked as well as a room for the Friday night at the Premier inn. Big smiles. Alps, here we come!!!

So, something has happened that I didn't notice. And just found out, rather belatedly today. This means that some of my ideas can be put back into the mix. Apparently on Monday.. things are going to happen here. not that the current situation has been putting people off, FB is crammed with trip reports from bikers who have thumbed their noses at this farcical 14 day quarantine. And none.. not a single one of them has reported a phone call from the GOV making sure they are self isolating. and a pretty photo. 58 Days to go... .

Of course you will benefit from using one.. but the trick is to learn how to use one properly. There are plenty of videos on YT showing how to set one.. but Ive yet to see a single video showing how to use one. There are effectively two settings. one is for a clean and dry (non lubed) fixing. the other is for a fixing that has some form of lube on it.. or, perhaps you are adding loctite. and that is generally 30% less. so a 100nm would go down to 65 in that scenario. The mistake people make is following the torque recommendations in manuals religiously with little or no concern for the state of the fixing. and then things go horribly wrong. as for recommendations. I would always start with a British made Norbar or Teng. and move onward and upward from there. My TW is german, which i was lucky to find massively discounted on Amazon, And I use it mostly for the 100nm axe nut, which I always make sure is nice and clean. mine is a 1/2" 40-200nm edit. I also believe, it certainly used to be the case that Halfords TWs were made for them by Norbar. if thats still true then they will have "made in England" on the packaging. always store it at its lowest setting, this is crucial for longevity. and never EVER be tempted to use it to undo. Its a precision instrument that should be treated with respect.

Took it for a 120 mile jolly round the North Staffs moors (A favourite) Abbots Bromley, Alton, Oakamoor, Ashbourne, Winster, Darley Dale and Matlock (which was heaving - I didnt stop) Roads round Alton were fantastic with the Theme Park shut.. its normally a place to avoid. only place i did stop was at Abbots Bromley.. lovely little place

Good point, good point... For changing tyres there is no difference between Carbon and Alloy... you just leave it to someone who does the task for a living and not some muppet who does them 'occasionally' Im lucky to have such a specialist just down the road from me, This is the sort of outfit you want. https://www.mtsnottingham.co.uk/about.htm My wheels cost me £2,500 and he fitted the tyres, no problems at all. (after drooling over them, just a tad)

again, that depends entirely on who made the rims and to what severity of testing they are subjected to.

of all the sources of information THAT IDIOT is the last person you should look to, this is the same man who reckons the way to make a bike go faster is to grind down your brake pads. if you want answers.. ask HPS. or the manufacturer.

The other side of the coin... That is because, I would venture that most if not all the problems people have had were either in the dim and distant past or from people who bought 'cheap'. BST are definitely not cheap. when i say they are the best you can buy. I mean exactly that.

Fairly minor thing compared with the above. but have just received a lighter plug/USB and lead, fired the bike up.. put the plug into the power socket. it lit up (success) and then plugged the phone in and it began to charge. so, I can now keep the phone charged up while galumphing around the Alps. in 60 days time. Also had an email and the top box I ordered should be with me quite soon, its en route from Bulgaria.

Go for it. If you can justify the expense then that is the only issue you need concern yourself with. BST are the very best you can buy and are far stronger than any alloy wheel. I bought my wheels via HPS and can recommend them wholeheartedly. Mine were not carbon, but were rather pricey and definitely the best 'upgrade' I have ever made to any bike Ive owned.

Never. I use a Mac running Safari