Slowlycatchymonkey

That’s a bargain.

Thanks for for suggestions [mention]Gerontious[/mention] thankyou for the link I had no idea they existed. The company I was aware of is in Cardiff. The dealer said (when he rang to ask how tall and strong I was ) that they have a seat person that could shave some height off the seat (probably for more wedge) but if it goes ahead I’d rather use someone local. I like the seat in the first pic and have no interest in carry a pillion (happy to risk my own neck but don’t want to be responsible for other people’s) perhaps a cut down pillion seat would be an advantage for carrying luggage?

Dunno why that description has made me think of the MIL The MIL? Am I too young?? One of the most wicked abbreviations known to man- Mother In Law

I saw a pic of a custom seat where they removed the ridge by making the seat in one smooth piece. Looked good but large like a horses saddle! It also Looked pricey! Sargent seat? If so, very comfortable. I do not know it was one of many google images. What is this Sargent seat you know of?

I would guess that its on the lowest possible. my Africa Twin doesn't have a ridge, it has the opposite and there are many complaints about it from owners who have been forced to put the seat on the lower setting. If someone produce a 'filler' they would sell shedloads/ I saw a pic of a custom seat where they removed the ridge by making the seat in one smooth piece. Looked good but large like a horses saddle! It also Looked pricey!

Nothing can beat riding with a cold, wet, dead rat round your neck Dunno why that description has made me think of the MIL

It did cross my mind that coming from Japan it would have likely been ridden by someone short and men tend to have proportionally shorter legs than women. You can see in the pic from the ugly ridge it’s already been lowered, I just wonder how far!

You only have bad helmet hair once you take the helmet off. With the helmet on it could all be perfectly quaffed, who would know?!

As learningtofly said- Yes Enjoy

On that same site i linked to above, one interesting thing. An earlier version of the bike is given 3 seat heights. (29.9 / 30.7 / 31.5 inches) Now.. that isn't the sort of thing BMW would get rid of as the bike was updated.. so, you never know. Take the seat off and see if there is any adjustment. Thankyou. I clocked the three heights thing but stupidly wouldn’t have thought to have a look! The old man image may have gone but they still have a bit of an image problem. When someone asks what bike I’ve got once I’ve replied it generally gets a disappointed “oh” that I’m sure I wouldn’t get it I said a Harley, a Bonnie or an Indian! If 30.7 is the lowest and it’s a close thing I can always lose a smidgen from the seat, although I’d rather not if I go down that route I might go the whole hog and get a gel seat, any opinions?

Thanks for the brake lines info and link. That’s seems quite doable. Picking up a 250kg bike? No problem Great article. The website layout doesn’t look promising but the contents well written. Loved the description of the bike design ending up looking like a boxer engine does with “pug nose and cauliflower ears” It was a surprise to read the speedo was an overly optimistic speedo- out by 6mph. I wonder how far out the 9T is?! It mentioned more than once a “bikini bike” or “bikini machine” guessing that’s a naked bike? Tried googling it but you can imagine what came up! Only problem I have now is the more I’ve read about it the more I’ve thought it sounds like just what I want, it’ll be very disappointing if I get up there and it’s not a fit!

Yup: My first comment was just light-hearted (hence the laughing face), but then Mr Happy turned up with his f*cking laughometer and Vulcan grasp of humour and I found myself having to justify something that clearly wasn't supposed to be taken seriously. I imagine he'll be along again in a minute to pronounce on my haughty contempt for Trump supporters in the 'Over-used words' thread... Contempt for Trump?! Now you’re ‘pushing the envelope’ Oops wrong thread

Oh I completely understand why people love their pets; my issue is with people who can't understand why I don't love them. If I greeted visitors to my house by leaping on them stark naked, clawing at their clothes whilst slobbering and rubbing my dick all over them they'd probably have something to say about it. But fail to show unbridled joy when their dog does it to you and you're instantly a pariah. Then there's the overwhelming urge to vomit into the aspidistra as you watch them kiss their dog on the nose or let it lick their face. And God help you if you've got young kids and ever move to intercept one of the bloody things as it comes barrelling towards you. I recently saw a toddler and his parents absolutely terrified in our local park as a huge dog came hurtling at them. The father instinctively stuck his foot out to try to fend it off, at which point the owner (who was under the common delusion that "It's OK - he's friendly" makes it all alright) went completely mental, accusing him of animal cruelty despite the fact that his dog clearly ran into the guy's foot rather than it having been kicked. He turned to me for support, and got none whatsoever. Plus around here there's also the twice-daily delight of the turd-strewn walk to school with the kids, the relentless yapping or barking at anything and everything all hours of the day and night, the pissing up the side of my car... And then there are cat lovers. Not the normal people who just happen to have a cat (in my case because I think it's good for kids to learn how to look after a pet) but the socially maladjusted who talk to the bloody things as though they can understand (hint: they can't - it just makes you look deranged) or who bore the shite out of you with interminably tedious stories about their antics, or show you endless photographs of the sodding things the same way new parents show pictures of their babies. And then there's that special moment when you discover that the person whose house you've been eating at for years lets the cat sit on the kitchen work surface, which is fine apparently, because Mr f*cking Snuggles or whatever the bloody thing is called is 'one of the family'. Pets can obviously be good company for the elderly, but for anyone who is not elderly and who thinks that the relationship they have with their pet is a suitable and sufficient surrogate for human interaction, I'm sorry, but the problem is with you, not with the rest of us. And as for horses... Jesus! One of our senior managers has a riding stables, and regularly regales me with anecdotes about how intelligent they are. They're not. Horses are f*cking stupid. They've produced nothing in the way of literature, and such art as they have produced (when encouraged so to do by their demented owners) would be considered simplistic and excremental even by Cy Twombly's low standards. On the other hand, having eaten them a few times I can attest to their being quite tasty. Well you’ve morphed this a bit. You started off with - “I hate dogs. And cats. Also hamsters, gerbils, mice, guinea pigs, horses... in fact anything that needs looking after that isn't one day going to be able to fetch me a cup of tea and a slice of cake. All pets are obsolete technology in my opinion.” Now it’s sounding more like I don’t hate pets, I hate some/most pet owners. After I finished laughing I found myself agreeing with the majority of what you’ve said. All of these fouls are human errors though not the pets. Humans with dogs they can’t control and don’t clear up after are the ones who should become obsolete but your post already seems to be saying that. The part I find off kilter - “......their pet is a suitable and sufficient surrogate for human interaction, I'm sorry, but the problem is with you, not with the rest of us.” Animals are for most humans not a surrogate but an adjunct, for some yes they are substitutes but what you’re saying is based on the idea that human interaction is superior and if people don’t seek it out over a relationship with a pet then that’s their problem. I don’t think they see it as a problem, they’re quite happy with it - if you don’t like it that’s your problem. They’ve already decided they’re not that fond of humans.... hmmm that reminds of someone Perhaps we need a thread called ‘People Who Get On MarkW’s Nerves’ or ‘Who Should Die Today’ I get what you’re saying about having to listen to cat/rabbit/dog/horse stories and look at photos of their ‘babies’ cos I worked on a ward where the majority were not married, did not have children or a lot going on outside work but even in the saddest of dull animal anecdotes (that I smiled and nodded my way through) my overwhelming feeling was this person has a lot of love to give and nowhere to put it. I have kicked a dog hard enough to send it sideways, the little b**tard was running free and straight at my son with evil intent, my sons speedy little toddler legs had powered ahead and I had to run to intercept and deflect the animal before it made contact with what I guess would have been it’s fangs on his sweet little chubby chops. I have no sympathy with people who don’t control their animals or clear up after them or who inconvenience others with their life choices but I couldn’t say I hate pets because of it. You mention ‘normal cat owners’ you don’t fall into this category, normal is just what’s average and ones things for certain you Mark are not average If you do ever leap on your guests naked and slobbering please load it up on here it would be hoot, I’d pay to see it Do it, doo it, dooo it!

Thanks [mention]Gerontious[/mention] The dealer said it’s 225kg, google threw up 235kg do you think that’s about right? Looked at the Wilbur shocks. They’re about £350 each so times two plus labour is a pricey upgrade. So if the quick google I did is correct the braided lines hold there shape unlike the flexible hoses so they’re more efficient? Do you think it’s pricey job? It doesn’t sound it but you never know!

[mention]Gerontious[/mention] Who leaves their bike ticking over for hours, someone suffering from amnesia? I’m not familiar with what burning oil is like. I’m assuming smokey and stinky? Thanks for the oil top up tips, let’s hope there’s a centre stand, I’m shamefully mañana on the maintenance front. Why braided brake lines and the two shock absorbers? [mention]Fozzie[/mention] yep I made to noises

So technically a reverse suspender? A shirt pullerer? A shirt tugadowner? Yep that’s the thing. They are fond of sock suspenders too! [mention]Mississippi Bullfrog[/mention] even the best fitting shirt will untuck a bit when you sit down, if it didn’t you wouldn’t be able to.... unless your trousers moved northward and that’s not a good look. You’ve obviously not worn many catsuits!

Ooh the shirt suspender, I understand they are the beloved attire of some military folk who wouldn’t want to be caught off guard by a naughty shirt riding up at the back. That’s sounds a lot ruder than I intended.

They do... yes. Never heard of them before. First question.. I have no idea. but 'probably' its definitely worth having.. as to costs. well.. cross that bridge if I'm forced to. Second questions. TPO is third party only and is the minimum insurance level you need here or once over the channel. with a lot of insurers.. you might have fully comp here in the UK, but for european travel most of them will only give you the minimum legal requirement. TPO. Cripes glad I asked that although stupid I didn’t think TPO is third party only when I’ve seen it hundreds of times. Doh. If your bike gets trashed while abroad thats it then, curtains for the bike. That’s no good.

I don’t think this’ll go down well in some quarters but this is my take on it- People love their pets like they’re human because it’s a basic human need (for most people) to feel loved (and for many to be wanted and needed) animals can fulfill this function without the risks of any of the other damaging aspects of humans, you attach whatever level of importance you like and anthromorphasise away to your hearts content, the animal will agree with you. In a way they’re an upgrade from a human relationship because you get all the love and affection you need for very little return. Unlike a person who will be demanding of your time and attention, occasionally disruptive and likely to require a lot of thought and input. You could if you were being hard nosed and not wanting to be arsed with other people say they are more efficient than humans on delivering a good relationship. You just have to set aside the notion that human interaction is somehow superior. Judging the animal as lesser than a human so the person must be too is what leads to the snears. I’ve shown and bred dogs for years, currently I have four dogs (MarkW would hate it here) we all anthrorphasise the hell out them and enjoy it (although I will say we wouldn’t dream of doing that in front of other people). In the morning I’m greeted by multicoloured fast waving tails and this enthusiastic entourage of fans follow me about tinkled pink to see that I’m still me (and alive to feed them ) for a few minutes everyday before they settle down and bugger off to do whatever they want to do. It’s a great way to start the day. And don’t get me started on the dogs (and strangely some cats!) that have saved human lives.

That’s worth having. I think it’s worth having? Can you buy that sort of recovery separately and if so is it more costly than the the insurance recovery combined? I expect you’re going to politely say “yes you fool or I’d do it separately” but maybe there are other benefits? What’s TPO?

Not one I want to look at with them! They also keep targeting me with older women’s plus size clothing- if I got much smaller I’d be in the children’s section so whatever these cookies are doing they need to work harder!

[mention]Gerontious[/mention] didn’t you say something a while back about them being the only company that covers ..... umm I think it was recovery on any age bike?

This pee taking insurance nonsense is the only bit that puts me off getting another bike. If a political party said they were going to legislate to force them to behave it would be a vote winner- who doesn’t have a “the bloody insurance company” story?

Facebook the doyens of morality? No! I mainly couldn’t careless if companies know what I’ve been searching or how I’ve used their site (perhaps I’m not understanding something?) but what I want to know is WTF did I google to end up with an influx of adverts for- grey hair dye, a stairlift, a bunion correcting device one of those electric chairs that helps you up!!! I mean I’m no spring chicken but 46 isn’t exactly stana stairlift time is it?!

[mention]MarkW[/mention] run out of benzodiazepines again?