Nogin

My winter jacket cost me £20 second hand off ebay and is only just coming to the end of its life after being used every day for 5 years. I appreciate some people will call me a tight git, but I simply do not have the money to spend £100's on kit. The jacket is coming to the end of its life so I'm not sure should I repair or replace.

Never heard of a optimate knackering a battery, I have mine on all the time and ride daily never had a problem, to be fair I know I don't really need an optimate on all the time as I do ride daily but during the winter on a frosty night I want all the power I can get from the little battery!

Ill second this, been running Pilot Road 2's for a few years now and really like them, they wear well and grip even better.

I have kept out of this ones as its totally pointless... but Ill say my bit now. 1) we already have an A2 test set up for this. 2) speed and manner of driving is down to the rider not the power out put of the bike and this is something that you cannot restrict. 3) you can kill your self on a 50cc scooter so perhaps we should restrict everything to walking pace. 4) another nanny state idea.

Tis very sad, RIP March Simoncelli.

No riding is fine, just remember when putting it on over all your kit try not do what i did tor my shoulder muscle, been hurting for a year now. How I did it??? still not sure, I just loosen it fully to put it on and tighten it up once it on.

I don't doubt there are 1000's of happy customers who read the small print. However i think its really dodgey, sending a bike to someone saying on a A4 bit of paper its easy to put together! Bit nuts if you ask me.

Yes, true true. Sorry i forgot!

This vid is brilliant, for all newbies its really worth watching. People oftern say where should I position my bike! Well here is your answer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z_8sw7h ... rofilepage

I would say most people will say Yey! However in reality not everyone will used one. I have one built into my textiles so do the kids, but not my leathers. will get one next year when i get a new jacket.

I ride all year around and heated grips are a must! I rode in -9 last year and I had to turn my oxford grips down as they were too hot! The only problem was it was so cold my clutch cable froze!!!!

Nothing wrong with spending as much on gear as possible. My instructor told me all thoes years ago "spend as much as you can on good bike gear and as little on your firs bike!" There is good logic in that.

What model was it? Hartford HD125 S 2005 When did you buy it and how much did it cost? 2007 and it cost £800 Good points? Great riding position, totally reliable never let me down, really good build quality did not rust or rot. I was getting 120 mpg and £15 year to tax. Bad points? No bad points that I recall, I wish I had never sold it thats the bad bit!!!! Would you get another? Yes Any other comments? It really was a cracking starter bike, rode well with out fault, ideal for your test. Parst are easily available. I sold it 18 months later for £800, for a 2005 Suzuki GS500 that just rotted and kept breaking down. Don't be put off by a bike that is not one of the big 4 jap makes.

Was planning to go but had to work....

Good review, I have oftern wondered if its worth getting a GSR600. but I really do worry about the build quality of new Suzukis.

Now I cannot really remember £160 I think.

I purchased this 4 years ago, wanted a flip lid as i wear glasses and this had a drop down sun visor so it was my top choice. It fits well and the flip front is easy to use and access, its also easy to access the flip down sun visor. The ventilation is good, and I hardly ever steam up. Its easy to take apart and clean and really comes completely to bits so everything can be scrubbed. The only problem after 4 years is the visor seal has split and it cannot be replaced so I need a new lid. Also as a flip lid its noisy but as I wear ear plugs it not bothered.

What model was it? 600 2000 Wreg When did you buy it and how much did it cost? Purchased in 2008 for £1200 Good points? Handling was brilliant, very comfy riding position, clear dials, totally reliable engine never missed a beat always started on the dot. Loads of second hand spares and MODS available on ebay, cheap to run and insure and a good bike for restriction. Bad points? None that I can think of, just the usual no fuel gauge. It was a bit tatty when I got it but thats whay I paid £1200 with full MOT. Would you get another? YES when I get rid of the CBR ill probably go for another Hornet. Any other comments Great starter bike, brilliant handling and reliable.

What model was it? 2005 Suzuki GS500 When did you buy it and how much did it cost? 2008 £2000 Good points? Its a reasonable introduction to big bikes. Cheap to run good MPG Bad points? Where do I start??? Firstly it Rusted badly, after 2004 the GS500 was built in spain my mate had a 96 one and it had less rust on it than mine!!!!! Secondly in the cold I had real problem with it. One evening it took me 1 hour to do 5 miles ended up running on one cylinder and I could not start the bloody thing for 2 days!!! It handled like a dustbin lorry, it really did not like corners compared to any other bike I have ridden, even my 125 was better than this. The other thing to look for is the front engine mount tends to brake off on the engine block, my mate has had to replace his engine twice because of this! Would you get another? NO! Any other comments? Avoid like the plague!

What model was it? CBR600FY 2000 W reg When did you buy it and how much did it cost? January 2011 £2000 Good points? Its been brilliant, the aluminium frame is a bonus so there is no rust and its easy to clean same goes with the swing arm. She handles really well and I think for someone like me who has only been riding 5 years she is ideal as she is very forgiving and in reality her ability to take corners out weighs my ability to ride her. The other great thing about this model is there is a tonne of spares on ebay so a broken mirror can be replaces easily and cheaply. Dials are clear and easy to read and headlamp is good. Brakes are sharp and as good as you'll ever need for a £2K bike. Bad points? I really wish she had a fuel gauge, but that the only thing that annoys me about her. Would you get another? Yes if I wanted a sports bike, however I'm getting old so want something a bit more upright next time. Any other comments, She comes with Honda reliability and build quality!

Big end bearing!

And he still holds the record today!

No the question everyone is did Burt Munro run a modified Indian Scout like this one? I found it in a local bike museum here in Czech... http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/312526_10150368361311000_620220999_10867975_182554_n.jpg

Never used a chain doc I would be interested to see if people have and what they think.

Oh no, got me looking for one on ebay now!