S-Westerly

Mine was half what it was last year but that's due to me coming back to biking after quite a few years. I managed not to fall off it or damage anything or anyone so the premium was a lot less and the excess about 25 percent less.

Had a day free and the weather was perfect so took a run out to North Wales and got as far as Harlech. Had a great ride apart from meeting a suicidal pheasant who killed itself on my right hand handguard. damaged it too the rotten bast*rd.

Somewhere in Gwynedd

She called me back just now and she was so apologetic. She asked me what I wanted and I said I didn’t want anything but thanked her for calling back. Hahahaha

Well done her then. Not many would have got back to you.

As I'm not famous / infamous and my bike is a bog standard more or less, Multistrada I can say I have never been photographed so far as I know unless speed cameras count? I certainly haven't been beset by paparazzi.

I know but sadly I didn't buy the gloves from them but from a Ducati dealership.

The other bike is a BMW though so probably assumed that you would just be overwhelmed by the general awesomeness of his bike.

Everything Italian is overpriced, it starts with pizza and pasta

My bike wasn't. Having said that I bought a pair of XL gloves of a well known Italian brand on line whilst away at sea. Expensive and for me utterly useless. XL for a tribe of hobbits maybe but I couldn't even get my hands in. Also because I'd been away when they were delivered it was too late to return them.

Test ride several bikes and you'll find whether it's the right bike for you. Don't judge engine performance by numbers - the Triumph engines pull far more strongly than the bhp figures suggest. It's about how usable the power is rather than just what the max bhp may be produced at rpm you'd not want to be living with for long.

The Triumph is also not quite the same as other bikes - there is something about owning a Triumph that is either something essential to you or it's not. A Triumph is a Triumph and those who love them own them simply because that's what they are. If that applies to you then frankly comparing bikes doesn't quite work the same. If that doesn't matter to you then it won't make any difference.

What you say is true. However I test rode a Tiger and the Multistrada. For me there was no comparison, the Ducati won hands down. Its not the most powerful and it's not the fastest but it's all day comfortable and a hoot to ride. Go with what works for you and ignore the naysayers.

Go for it, but if your Honda is already feeling a bit naff test ride other bikes before committing to the Triumph

Good luck mate. Like you been driving all over Europe since the 80's and only once needed to show my driver's license. That was at a random traffic stop in Belgium in about 1995 so I'd not fret too much.

I can't help wondering , what's in it for the dealership ? They knock off £1000 and deliver the bike to you . Why ? How are they profiting by doing business this way ? How does it cost them a grand for you to turn up and ride it away ? I don't know the answers but I do know that they ain't doing this out of the goodness of their hearts .

I live in Gloucestershire. I bought my bike in London. I got a brand new bike for over £2000 less than list price. For the money I paid my local dealer could only offer me a used bike with 5k on the clock. For me it was a no-brainer. The reason I was told was to shift surplus stock. Turned out the dealer was going bust. I got a letter from Ducati about a month later telling me that all warranties etc would be honoured by any Ducati dealer. Bike has been serviced without any issues. My only regret was riding the bike home from London after picking it up having zero experience of riding in London. A little bit traumatic!

I just got PM'ed from someone who said that they want to send me their product for free so that I can review it. It sounds suspicious, but I can't see what the angle is. Stranger things have happened.

 

It is legit, I was invited and have one to review.

All they asked for was my email address so they could Paypal the funds to purchase the cover on Amazon, and by using amazon lockers for delivery I didn't have to give my address, so I had no reason for concern

So has anyone reviewed one yet? I was also asked but as I don't do PayPal could not proceed. I'd be interested to know how good or otherwise they are. My current cover - sold by Oxford - is crap. Less than a year old and all the tape off the seams have detached. Still more or less waterproof but looks not good.

Hull to Zebrugge expect you to tie your own bike down, they provide the straps, my mate asked ' is this so you're not liable" to which he got a nod

 

I have always noticed too that the straps are decent, clean and rolled up after use and ready for the next trip

 

I was torn between strapping it with the sidestand down or the centrestand but we reasoned the centrestand would allow for more 'twizzling' with only the front wheel rubber being used, to this day I don't know the answer

Most ferries recommend lashing with the side stand down from the offside to the near side. Always a worry though.

"He's been told by the salesman...."

Well at least there's another job Boris is cut out for when he loses his current one.

To be replaced by Jezza? A complete plonker methinks. God only knows what we have done to deserve such a shower of chancers.

Some of the new KTM's have side tanks. Much more than 2K tho.

Given your physique and your budget I fear you are going to be very restricted in what's available to you and is comfortable for you to ride. Sports tourers are not notably lower than pure sports bikes, if anything they tend to be larger.

Instead of doing pillion, why not be a guide for small groups, organise trips provide them with intercoms and give them a tour, research the places and tell them about the history and anything else interesting about the places you visit

Lot of well established competition there. Even supplying intercoms wouldn't be cheap. I think if it was practical it would already be a well known 'thing'.

Who was the cock?

Making a wild assed guess I don't think many sports bikes have a seat that low. Most low slung bikes you see in the road are cruisers or nakeds. Interesting to see what you come up with.

If they are behaving as terrorists treat them as terrorists and shoot the f@@@s. I'd be seriously disgruntled if this activity screwed up my flight

Good on you mate. Too many people screwing up others on the basis most won't make a fuss. Hang' em out to dry.

its easy to paint and is forgiving. always looks good. love it and use it when ever something looks awful. indian larry HD.

Fully agree. Used Hamerite (British paint type) in gloss black to paint my rusting after market centre stand and my own side stand. One month on no rust and looking good.

I like drinking in NYC, I also love waffles, crispy bacon, maple syrup and vanilla ice-cream for breakfast at 4am and that's a very easy thing to order in nyc

That's a fairly gross breakfast!

Bigger cc bikes are definitely easier to ride, same as having a larger capacity car they are better mile munchers but smaller capacity ones are more fun on the twisty stuff

 

Personally I find a nominal 950 cc and a 113 bhp about right. Big enough to go all day and not so much to be knackering.

 

A 950cc is termed a large capacity bike though isn't it?

I suppose so but compared to modern large bikes not so much and it's just so much damned fun to ride and no thrashing the tits off it either. Try one sometime.

Bigger cc bikes are definitely easier to ride, same as having a larger capacity car they are better mile munchers but smaller capacity ones are more fun on the twisty stuff

Personally I find a nominal 950 cc and a 113 bhp about right. Big enough to go all day and not so much to be knackering.