OldEssexMan

Are you sure it's an ST50? I had one in the early 70s and it was an ST70.

Completely contary to the comments from some posters I always keep my helmet indoors above a radiator so that it is warm when I set out. This reduces the liklihood of misting up, after all, misting occurs when water vapour condenses on a cold surface so having the visor warm will help reduce this. Also, a Pinlock works extremely well at reducing fogging, specially in the wet. Again contary to another post, my main problem with fogging is my spectacles, not my visor. I use Fogtech DX on my glasses and this works well to prevent misting. If it's not actually raining, having the visor open a tiny bit will prevent fogging.

OK, here's my two pennorth. I have used Gerbing heated gloves for some years. They are great but there is a bit of a faff with the wires. I have recently discovered that gloves incorporating Outlast are just as good as heated gloves if you have heated grips. The Outlast puts the heat from the grips all round the glove and, except for VERY cold conditions (below maybe 2 degrees) or very long rides, they are a great alternative to wired gloves. OK, Outlast gloves are pricey but, for me, they are worth it. I have had Rukka and Held Outlast gloves and they are both good.

I know this thread has got a bit removed from the "great, a gang of thieves using motorcycles in their crimes has been caught" but here's my two penn'th about capital punishment. There is little or no evidence that says capital punishment acts as a deterent. An example from history: in the 1700s picking pockets was a capital offence. Where were most pickpockets caught? In the crowds at the public executions of pickpockets!

Hmmm. That's a bit like saying all beer is the same, just different ingredients. I only buy from stations run by oil companies. I buy fuel from companies who are expert at refining and chemistry and avoid supermarket fuel where the only purchasing criterion is price. A few years agoTesco had a problem with their fuel that resulted in customers having to have engines re-built or written-off, This only reinforced my policy of avoiding them.

Since 1991 I have had 3 bikes, a Yam XJ900F and two 1300 Pan Europeans. The Yam I owned for 14 years and 100,000 miles - all routine maintenence carried out but never changed the fork oil. The first Pan I had for four years adding 100,000 miles to the 40k already on it when I bought it. All routine maintenence carried out but never changed the fork oil. The second Pan bought new in 2009 went in 2017 with 180k on the clock and, again, the fork oil was never changed. The moral of this tale? Don't sweat about changing fork oil, only do it when you have to.

To answer the OP's question; 60 months warranty is VERY good for a new 125. Yes, the company may try to wriggle out of liability when things go wrong but that is true for all companies in the automotive sector. Over the past few years WK have had very good reviews and appear to be a stable outfit, i.e. they won't suddenly disappear from the face of the earth leaving you high and dry. Keep on top of the regular maintenance, keep it clean and tidy and you should be OK. Try to build up a relationship with the dealer and they will see you as a valuable customer and, maybe, not mess you about.

I had read that DKW stood for Das Kline Wunder

As far as I am concerned there is no contest between chain and shaft drive, shaft wins hands down! Since 1991 I have ridden 380,000 miles, exclusively on shaft drive bikes (Yamaha XJ900F and two 1300 Pan Europeans) and in that time I have had to carry out NO maintenence on the final drive. All I have done is change the final drive oil at the specified intervals. I wonder how many times I would have had to check and adjust chain final-drive over that milage not to mention how many replacement chains and sprockets would have been needed? What is surprising is that the motorcycling fraternity puts up with this antiquated drive system! Yes, there is a need for middle-weight shaft-driven bikes and now even the Deauville has gone out of pruduction!