gogs01

Many thanks for the full and complete explanation. I thought it was magic !

OK, I’ll bite - what is a “360”. ?

At the age of 73 and having been diagnosed with a terminal sarcoma (a form of cancer), I am being forced to give up motorcycling. Over the last 50+ years I have bought lots of riding kit and accessories and I'm looking for a way to have a clear out. My current bike and riding gear is good enough to sell, and I will get around to advertising it in due course. However, I also have a couple of riding jackets, leather and textile, some trousers, leather and textile and some waterproof gear too. These are in decent nick and I would like to see them go to someone trying to get started on a budget. I'm not looking for money for these - they can be collected for free or pay for postage and packing, which would be expensive. The same would apply to an old but working paddock stand and a collection of pannier liners which are mostly as good as new. So, my question is - can I advertise this stuff on this forum and, if so, where ?. My location is Dundee and I don't know how many forum members we have in Scotland and I don't know how many of those are within an hour or two of Dundee. I may be able to post some pics if there is any interest .....

Tell us about both of these interesting things .....

I have Michelin Road5 tyres on my bike. I like them. My previous bike had Michelin PR4 tyres and they were excellent too. When PR3 tyres came out, I had a couple of sets of them and, not only were they grippy wet or dry, they lasted longer than any other tyre I had used. If I could get PR3s I would go for them, or PR4 or Road5, but if I couldn’t get them in the original sizes I would get a pair of tyres recommended by the tyre manufacturer for my bike. Of course it’s your bike so, if you want to try a pair of oversize tyres, please do so and please let us know how it works out. Good luck.

Stick with the original sizes, front and rear. Bigger tyres will fit, but tend to be worse rather than better. If you like the make of your front tyre, look for a rear from the same manufacturer, the latest “sport touring” tyre if you’re not worried about budget. If you really want a Michelin, fit a matched pair - probably Pilot Street ?

I've used Brembo sintered in the past and didn't find them any better than EBC sintered. Just a bit more expensive.

Modern BMWs are ready for E15. …..

I tried googling bmw650r1981 - nothing. A fuller description, along with pictures, would help identify what you have bought. lf it is a 1981 R65, there are a few variations, but it will look like a smaller version of the modern R series BMW, with a “boxer” engine - a cylinder sticking out each side. There is a forum for owners of these bikes where you may get help - try bmbikes .org.uk But you will need much more detail. …..

I have a F900XR TE and a Cardo Freecom 1. I have a Navigator V and a Samsung A71 phone. The Cardo is paired with the Nav and the phone is paired with the Nav too. This allows me to follow satnav directions and take / make telephone calls on the go. I don't want to listen to music while riding, but I believe I have this option either from the Cardo (FM radio ?) or from the Nav V (if I had any loaded). If I remember correctly, the only issue I had with setting this up was that the instructions from Cardo wanted me to pair my phone with the Cardo, which then didn't work with the Nav V. I realise you may not have a Navigator, in which case none of this will help - sorry !

Looks like a "soft" link - much better than a split link on anything more powerful than a moped.

I'm looking for advice on choosing auxilliary lights for my BMW F900XR. I want LEDs for the lower power consumption and longer life, but most of the auxilliary LED lights I see advertised are described as fog lights. I don't want fog lights because, as I understand the law in UK, they can only be used in adverse weather. I want lights to add conspicuity in daylight hours and to help me see where I'm going after dark (driving lights ?), so I would be looking to have them live whenever the engine is running. I also note that some of the cheap auxilliary lights anufactured and sold from the far East come with "modes" - including a strobe mode. I would be looking for full power and off only. So, can anyone recommend a supplier (preferably in UK) of a suitable pair of auxilliary LED (driving ?) lights ? Any helpful advice will be much appreciated.

I had a '99 Trophy 1200 many years ago, with Triumph panniers and top box. Maximum speed with or without pillion ? = 130mph (speedo reading). Never a hint of a wobble. Great bike.

Have you tried getting an insurance quote and projected servicing costs for each ? They may influence your decision .....

That's a beautiful bike. My brother had a blue T500 back in the day. I had a ride and loved it.

NO motorcycle experience, and looking to buy a bike "around 850cc". There's no reason why you can't do that of course, it just sounds very specific. I suggest you keep a much more open mind until you get what different bikes feel like - there are many more things than the capacity of the engine that can make you love (or hate) a bike. Anyway, good luck with the training. I hope you enjoy it and get a bike you love.

Those prices look really good (compared to what I'm paying Virgin !). I'll check out the links and hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to sign up and get connected. Many thanks.

As per title, I want to be able to watch all the MotoGP and WSBK races live, and I'd like to be able to record them for later viewing too if possible. I can actually do all that at the moment because I'm paying a small fortune to Virgin - a ridiculous amount of money ! If I switch, I can get cheaper broadband from Vodafone and the only thing I would miss would be access to BT Sport (motoGP) and Eurosport (WSBK). Being over 70 and unfamiliar with the world of apps etc, I wonder if I can get access to all the bike racing via the internet rather than my Virgin box (and how ?) and, if so, how much would that cost ? . I have an iPad, MacBook Air and a smart TV, so I think I have suitable hardware. Any constructive advice / help much appreciated.

My bike has only done 450 miles so far, so I don't know. I'm hoping that Spring or Summer 2021 will allow the opportunity to fill panniers and topbox for a European trip. Based on what I have seen so far, I think it will be perfectly fine.

I fitted a new side stand to my bike today. When I rode the dealer's demonstrator, I remember thinking that the side stand seemed very short, allowing the bike to lean a long way over when it was deployed. Then, when I ordered a bike with the lowered suspension, I thought that would see the bike leaning less far on the side stand (I made the assumption that the side stand would be the same length on both versions). However, this was not the case. My bike also leant over a long way. To clear up any doubt, I measured both bikes. My bike was 20mm closer to the deck, and the side stand was also shorter, maybe 20mm. I went to the dealer's parts department, confirmed there were two lengths of side stand, and ordered the longer one. I collected it today, removed mine and placed them side by side - mine was shorter. With the new one fitted, the bike still has plenty of lean when on the side stand, in fact I fitted a "Kickstand Side Stand Extension Plate Pad" which raises it a little further just for good measure. The bike is now easier to mount / dismount and pick up off the side stand, while still being secure when the bike is parked on anything approaching level ground. I haven't seen anyone else complain about the side stand on a 2020 BMW F900XR - am I the only one ?

Have you compared the price of a Benelli versus the Triumph ? That would be one clue - performance costs money. Then try buying the engine for a Moto2 bike (also 765cc). It will rev higher, make more power and probably be lighter again. But you'd get a shock at what they cost. You only need to worry about the numbers if you need something light, high-revving and powerful - AND you can afford it. Otherwise, buy what you can afford, and be happy.

Why do the French only have one egg at a time ?? Because one egg is un oeuf ......

I had a 2001 Fazer 600. I wired up the second dipped beam to come on with the sidelight (through a relay). This meant I could have one dipped beam, two dipped beam or two dipped beam with main beam. I found that pretty good, and it could always have been improved with upgraded bulbs.

If you ride on the road, you're probably one of the 95% of riders on one of 95% of bikes who should be running 36psi front / 42psi rear. If the handbook for your bike advises something different then you are probably ok going for what it says, but I would advise contacting the tyre manufacturer before going for them, especially if your bike is more than 20 years old - tyre technology changes. If you're riding a Suzuki Hayabusa or BMW K1600 you probably know that both tyres should be at 42psi (and there are others .....) Dave Moss's advice can only apply to track riding because it depends on being able to set the pressures cold, do a few laps, then check the pressures hot. This will allow you to arrive at an optimum pressure for maximum grip for that rider, that track and that ambient + track temperature. Bit of a faff for a track day, totally impractical for road riding. I've ridden on a rear tyre with too low a pressure and taking a bend fast felt like the frame had a hinge in the middle - not recommended !

I much prefer lenses to my varifocal glasses when riding. I need +5.00 for reading and +2.75 for distance. One lens for each, with the distance lens in my dominant eye. This was recommended by my optician and has worked for me for years. An Azeri optician I visited in Baku was horrified - she would have given me two distance lenses and a pair of reading glasses. Not handy on a bike ! The varifocal lenses I tried were no better and cost twice as much .....