Throttled

The gel seat and larger touring screen makes for comfortable riding. I think the biggest cons are a harsh ride even with suspension settings at soft and the snatchy throttle.

Blue lights from multiple ambulance and police around the Glasgow stretch of the M8 today, but nothing obvious as to why. Lots of bikers out.

Ride in the sun and in my armoured denims, that did not get worn last year at all, due to the crap weather.

I see a pretty universal £1000 off the list price of new and used bikes at my local dealers.

Which one would you buy back? Get the nearest equivalent to it.

I took everything off the bike that I am keeping for my next bike, gathered all relevant documents, deleted routes and places from the sat nav and touched up some rust. At least the decent paint I bought is the same colour as the new bike.

I did look at parts availability, both spares and accessories are presently on sale from Italy, which fits with Bologna being the HQ and design centre. I would hope that bikes that are now hitting the same prices as major opposition, such as the Honda Rebel in the case of the C1002V, that there is not a throw it away attitude. My impression of China has been make do and mend and what is cheap crap to us is all they can get. As they have rapidly developed over the past few decades, will they become a disposable nation like we are? I do not know. I also think there have been problems regarding parts, because Chinese bikes get imported to the UK by small, often start up companies, who then fall by the wayside, leaving no one to get parts for the bikes here. That Morbidelli is part of the Benelli, Keeway group and there is European management, I think we are entering a new phase of how the bikes are imported and supported.

I like that BBC2 feature an artist on a Saturday night, so presently listening to some Eric Clapton.

The Chinese and Indian built bikes at the motorbike show, all displayed vastly improved build quality from even 5 years ago, when they were synonymous of poor welding and flimsy plastics. With the way they are undercutting other makers and the impending price rises due to tariff trade wars, I expect to see a huge increase in Chinese and Indian bikes on our roads over the next few years.

The bike I am buying was made in China, Germany, Japan and Spain. It was designed in Italy and is put together in China. I suspect if you delve into how many manufacturers make their motorbikes, you will find that multinational involvement to one extent or another. Brembo brakes alone, make so many bikes a little bit Italian, but they also make the brakes and parts in the Czech Republic, USA, Mexico and Thailand.

I have tried every setting under the sun and the ride is harsher than I would like. Metzeler tyres with the recommended pressure. The bike is being sold and other than the ride I have been delighted with it. Enjot your new bike, I posted my suggestion without reading the whole thread.

That just confirms there is are some supply shortages across the board, affecting multiple companies. I would not expect a huge in the UK parts supply for a bike that is only just going on sale now. That the identical bike is being sold in China and the far east means there is likely a wait for some parts, but there will not be major supply issues.

I think if you wait, one will be along soon. The Versys 1000 has one of the smoothest, torquiest engine around. It will sit at 80 mph with ease, munching up the miles. My only criticism is the harsher than I would like ride, even with the suspension on its most bouncy settings. That applied to both the standard shocks and the uprated Nitron option.

Benelli have been on sale for a few years now and have had no such issues. Morbidelli is now a tie in with them. Find one and see just how well made they are. There is also going to be a lot of sharing of parts and parts that are not Chinese. If I need a new shock, it comes from Japan.

There is a reasonable range on eBay, from Italy, that appears to be from dismantled bikes. As for spares in general, ever since the pandemic there have been supply issues for lots of spares. There are long waits for parts for Hondas.

Black is the only option available at the moment, and I think it is the nicest of the limited colour range.

The conflict is between what you perceive as a safe gap and when to proceed and what your instructor does. Possibly, the best resolution is a switch of instructor. I change riding schools during my training, due to not getting on with an instructor's opinion and instructions, and then later, I became his boss at work! The look on his face when I appeared was priceless!

I have gone and ordered one of the Chinese bikes. In China it is the Gaokin Thor. Elsewhere in the east it is the Keeway C1002V, but by the time it gets to Europe it is the Morbidelli MBP C1002V, Morbidelli being a defunct Italian racing manufacturer. It is now part of the Benelli, Keeway group and it appears from prices and engine size, Morbidelli will sit at the top end. First Chinese bike to be sold in Europe with a 1 litre engine. There are quite a few reviews on YouTube and all are positive. I am not worried about parts as the bike sold as a Thor in China is identical to the one in Europe, including they both use Metzeler tyres. Gaokin make the engine, frame and panels, Japanese and European makers do the rest.

The table and shed pack flat and the grass just rolls up and fits in a dry bag.

My recent threads on Chinese bikes, no more camping and cruisers are significant clues!

Today I started the process to trade my Versys in and ordered my new bike. Fourteen years with four Kawasaki adventure tourers, is coming to an end.

Two dry bags on the pillion, the top box and two panniers.

I used to get lots of looks, as I rocked up on a motorbike and pitched a huge Vango Stelvio that the bike could fit inside, or an 8 man teepee tent, along with a table, full sized camp chair, a sleep mat like a mattress and all my cooking kit and awning.

We are the same height and I felt the Road King was a good fit. I have sat on lots of other cruisers and just like many bikes, if I have to lean forward, that plays havoc with my bike. I get to sit bolt upright with the Versys, so a cruiser has to be the same. The 650 Versys I used risers, the 1000 I did not. Parked next to other bikes and the Versys 1000 is one of the largest motorbikes you can buy. I will need a big cruiser. As for slow speed U-turns, I carried an 18 stone pillion on the Road King and felt fine. I have never tried to do U-turns without putting my feet down, I don't care if it makes me look like I am inexperienced or lacking in confidence!

I live near a straight that bikers use as a drag strip. I also prefer quieter exhausts.