DJP

I think that the issues are twofold: The young just aren't that interested in driving/riding full stop. I have two kids at uni. The eldest passed his car test last year and the youngest is about to take his. Neither have any real interest in driving or owning a car, let alone a motorcycle. Doesn't help that we live in London (well, the suburbs) and it's easier for them to jump on public transport than bother with the hassle, and expense, of having their own. They're also children of the internet and pretty much everything they need and want is available online. The second problem is the manufacturers failing to face reality of the bike buying demographic: I'm in my fifties with money to spend and I want a new bike but I'm stuck riding a 15 year old Bandit 1250 because there is just nothing new that I like. Over the last 30 years I've bought 6 brand new motorcycles but I look at the current offerings and just think: Meh. What I really want is a modern UJM, but there's nothing like that made: Everything now falls into niche categories: Full-on sports bikes – too uncomfortable for me and too fast for modern roads, Adventure bikes - just too massive for daily use and Retro bikes which are either ridiculously tiny, ridiculously slow or both. What I'd really like is something like a lighter, more modern Bandit. I actually thought that Honda had it licked with the Hornet 1000 until I sat on one and realised that it was designed for someone either a lot shorter or a lot younger than me (and the latter probably either aren't interested or can't afford it anyway). Right up to that point I was prepared to plunk down the money. So nice try Honda, but no cigar. Where it goes from here I don't know, but I'd suggest that the manufacturers start looking at the wants of people who actually ride and buy motorcycles, rather than chasing people that don't.

I had a very similar experience with Adrian Flux. Some years ago I insured my car with Adrian Flux Insurance. I provided all the required details, paid the premium and uploaded the required documents. And, as far as I was concerned, that was that. But then it started: Endless texts and emails threatening to cancel my policy unless I provided details already provided (and often things that no other insurer even asks for). The website would say that my documents had been uploaded, the person on the phone would say that they hadn't. It went on for weeks, was absolutely exhausting and I swore never to go near Adrian Flux Insurance ever again. And then recently I bought a Suzuki motorcycle policy without realising that it was administered through Adrian Flux Insurance. And the whole saga started again: The second I paid, I received a text stating that my policy was “In danger of being cancelled”... And so I phoned them and got treated to a third degree of intrusive and irrelevant questioning that I've never received from any other insurer. They even tried to claim that my email address was linked to a company and that therefore I should have business insurance even though my email address is simply a derivation of my name. It got to the point that I opted to cancel the policy rather than endure any more of it. And even so they charged me a £35 cancellation fee for a policy that hadn't even started (although I considered it worth the rip-off just to be rid of Adrian Flux Insurance). I'm not sure if they're about upselling, data mining or simple incompetence but it smells strongly of scam and if they're like this when you're trying to buy from them, you'd have to ask yourself what they'd be like if you had to make a claim. It would seem that Devitt can now also be added to the list of insurers to avoid like the plague.

RST do long leg fittings too. It's the main reason that I use their stuff.

And that's exactly the way RiteBike worked when I bought mine: You pay the deposit and the balance when they turn up (if satisfied). Obviously if the bike turns out to be a dog then you can refuse it and argue over the deposit. But, if push came to shove, I'd rather argue over a £few hundred worth of deposit than £thousands on a shit bike.

In defence of RiteBike, I bought my current steed off them three years ago and I've no complaints. I bought the bike over the phone and had it delivered. Not my preferred way to do business admittedly, but I needed a bike asap and there was nothing suitable locally. But the bike was as described (lots of photos and video on their site) and came well prepared with fresh fluids and decent consumables. Of course, I gave it the once over when it arrived (checked all fluids/consumables and safety critical torque settings), I've put 12,000 miles on it since it's been rock solid. I think that the key with any used bike purchase is to go in with eyes open, know what you're buying, what to look for and what questions to ask.

If my MT07 had been a car it would have been zero tax instead of £100 a year...

E10 for my Bandit 1250. The engine's old enough not to need E5 and the bike's new enough not to be adversely affected by E10.

Always. And I only buy jackets & trousers that can zip together.

I've said it before but "Stop 'n Go" plugs are rubbish. I have the kit and, per the video, they end up falling into the tyre. Sticky strings are the best roadside repair but few use them properly (and nor does the chap in the video): They should be fully inserted into the tyre and there should be very little excess to cut off. Used like that they form a large mushroom inside the tyre and pretty much weld themselves in. Yes shop repairs are best but I've had punctures in new tyres, used sticky strings and run them until the tyre wore out.

Yep, cheapish for me this year: Just over £100 FC on the Bandit with commuting in London. Car insurance tried to charge me an extra £100 though so I went elsewhere and got it down to an extra £45, I could have got it cheaper but these days I only insure with companies that I've heard of.

I fell off my moped on the first day back when I was 16, 37 years ago. Not fallen off since but been rear-ended twice while stationary.

Unfortunately it seems that the major manufacturers are in denial about their customer base. We're an ageing demographic and the CB350RS appeals to that demographic whereas the CB300 doesn't. They're making bikes to appeal to people who don't buy bikes while ignoring the ones who do.

Bennetts

Last year mine went up by £90 following a non-fault prang. This year it's back to pretty much where it was. (£150 FC with commuting in London).

Finally got around to respraying an annoying scratch on the Bandit fairing. I forgot to take a "Before" photo but I'm very happy with the colour match and finish and I (mostly) managed to lose the masking edges by following the lines of the panel. It's not perfect but it's a lot better than it was.

Best - Bandit 1250 Worst - 250 Superdream Bike I should have kept - RD 350N (YPVS) Wanted: Nothing new, that's for sure. They don't currently make anything that I'd want. If they did I'd buy it.

Changed the fork oil in the Bandit. Then gave it a good going over with the ACF50.

No, but I think that she made off from the accident on purpose.

That's just a matter of timing. The intent is the same.

So was Anne Sacoolas running away.

I've had two (non fault) claims, 7 years apart, processed through 4th Dimension / Bike Assist and both went fine.

I commute and scratch (the latter fairly gently, these days). I'm 52, 6'1” and like comfort and practicality, but with a turn of speed when required. My current ride is a Bandit 1250 and I'd like something a tad lighter/more modern but I'm not a fan of too many “Rider aids”. Current thoughts are: Suzuki V Strom 650 (the sensible option): Comfortable, economical, reliable, super practical, minimal electronic gadgetry. Everything I need, but is it everything that I want...? Triumph Tiger 660: Similar to V Strom and a tad livelier but I'm a bit put off by conflicting reports re Triumph reliability. Yamaha MT09: I've test ridden this one. Comfortable and quick but slightly crude, slightly cheap feeling and festooned with electro-gizmology. Kawasaki Z1000SX: Looks to be everything that I'd ever want, if I can get comfortable on one (I've never sat on one). Or... The new Hornet 750: Again, depends on the ergos and what accessories (eg luggage) are going to be available for it. Or anything else that I might have missed?

That^^. Whether it's a whole new bike or just new pads, new tyres etc. I just ride normally until I get used to the feel of it. Don't rag the tits off it but don't baby it either.

Cheers guys!

Yes, especially if you do short journeys. It'll go away when you do a longer run.