manxie49

I wouldn't pay a great deal of attention to "online horror stories" regarding bikes. You'll find those stories about all bikes. Work on the basis that most people only tend to post the bad things, consider how many have been sold worldwide, so they can't all be bad? If you like the bike then what I tend to do is talk to people who currently own them, get their opinions then do a bit of digging. I read loads of horror stories about the S1000RR, but none of them have proven true, for me anyway, the bike hasn't missed a beat

Happy birthday mucker, have a good day

I'm not long back, had a great trip. As usual I encountered rain, fog, flies and sunshine, mostly all in the same day, but had a cracking time. I found that it isn't true what they say about the Scot's, I met a very helpful farmer at a place called Connel, not far from Oban. he let me pitch up in a field close to his farm, and use the facilities, toilet and running water in his farm yard, really nice bloke. Hope you had a great trip

Packed and loaded my bike up ready for my trip North of the Border tomorrow! Been looking forward to this run for a while now, hopefully the weather "and the midges" are kind ....

Just had a look at my bike and the lever is on a spline, so I assume it can be taken off and adjusted accordingly without having any effect on the quick shifter? Never had to adjust my lever though, but it doesn't look to be a problem. Maybe someone here with a little more knowledge of the system will know more

I'm presuming it's an upshift only? If so, as Stu says, keep the power on and upshift through the gears. I have one and absolutely love it, especially for the fast runs. Its also great if you have a pillion, makes the shift transition smoother and helps stop that helmet clash you sometimes get with someone on the back. Not sure about your one but on mine it recommends not to use it between 1st and 2nd gear, above 2nd gear though no issues.

It is sad seeing these places closed down. Sadly it isn't the first and it won't be the last the way things are going.

"PRANK" FFS, that's just the sort of attitude that seems to have become aytypical of Police forces around this country. It's just like these nob head tyre deflators that are currently doing the rounds, not one arrest, as far as I'm aware, is yet to be made! It's like they couldn't care less.

A link here and info for your Crit'air sticker https://www.france.fr/en/holiday-prep/crit-air-anti-pollution-vehicle-sticker

Done & Shared

Congratulations on the wedding I've personally always used R&G Bungs / sliders. Easy to fit, and although I've been fortunate enough to have never had to test out there efficacy, there is a good you tube video of some guy testing them in a controlled low side. Some people will say bungs cause the bike to dig in and flip, basically wrecking the bike, however, whilst this may be the case I sort of think that R&G research would have identified and addressed this problem? Good luck with the new bike

It's all just another tax, it's "FA" to do with the environment and clean air. If it was, vehicles would be banned, but so long as you can afford to pay the fee's, your vehicle can be there dirtiest, most ill maintained in the country. Just another money grab, and I'm sure I'm the same as most other normal people, I'm sick and tired of it. I have a mate that lives in the US, he openly says they laugh at us over here, and tag this country "Tax capital of the world" ..... And yes, I now avoid London like the plague, the only time I ever head down that way is to visit my brother in Uxbridge.

Mines kept in the garage. I used to have to leave it outside though, I had no option. I used a decent cover and I'd smother the bike in ACF50 for the winter months. Made sure that I washed road salt of it as soon as I possibly could, and just paid a bit of attention to detail when cleaning it. I can't say I ever had any major problems other than it blowing over in the wind once.

I'm off up to Scotland end of the week. I know full well I'm going to get soaked at some stage. It never dampens my enthusiasm, I still love it, it's just great to get away and explore. As Throttled said, having decent clothing goes a long way to making it more bearable. A few of my mates don't understand why I still enjoy it so much, but they're not bikers .... Flip side of that coin I don't understand their fascination for laying on a beach in Spain for seven days. Each to their own I suppose.

It seems very strange that both sidecars lost it at ago's leap. I really hope they find that it's nothing to do with the road, I believe the road in that area was recently re-surfaced with alterations to the adjoining pavement? I do know there was a lot of work going on down there in the months prior to TT.

S1000RR I'm getting pretty pants milage, about 37 mpg, a lot less if I tan it, but it's sort of what I expect from a bike like that. I can get about 50mpg out of the Tracer, maybe a bit more if I really try.

Happy Birthday

Took me a while to get my head around things when riding in the South of Ireland. I couldn't understand why so many people were pulling onto the hard shoulder when I came up behind them. I was told by a local that its the done thing over there. The same as everywhere you ride, all places have their unique standards of poor driving, this place here is no different

Always sad moment, seeing what was once your pride and joy heading off to a new home .....

Simon Andrews legacy lap this morning, good turn out for it, and thankfully it stayed dry.

Been watching the racing .... A couple of long years waiting so making the most of it! Bottom of Bray Hill (Ago's leap), fair play to these boys, balls the size of water Mellons, they're literally a blur coming through here! Weather has been cracking today, fingers crossed it lasts. BBQ and beer in the garden this evening .... Happy days!

Heading up to the Creg, to hopefully, "weather dependant", watch todays delayed practice and enjoy a beer

Happy Birthday

As has already been said, join a local group or club. They will take you out on the best lanes and routes dependant on experience level. I found a 250cc was big enough for me, I'm a big bloke though, some people prefer smaller machines. Easier to manoeuvre and less tiring. 2 Stroke or 4 Stroke? Personally I went for 4 stroke, the 2 stroke I had a go on was mental, and IMHO designed for someone far more professional off road than me. Lastly, stick to the lanes, don't be tempted to go "off piste". Some people love to complain and moan about off roaders, those who do wander off the designated lanes are basically just giving the anti green lane lobby all the ammunition they need to get them closed down. Be courteous, respectful and remember you're an ambassador for every other rider that may use that lane after you in the future. Mostly though, just get out there and enjoy

Thanks very much for this, it's going to be really helpful. Will look these up later. Heading off just after TT, hoping the weather is going to be kind "and the midges"