Nick the wanderer

Breakdown cover and a credit card

Hi welcome, a lot depends on how you want to ride it for me. If you push on and like a bit of scratching go for all you can afford. For a basic fork refresh, seals and oil, shouldn't be that expensive. I think you may be surprised what a difference that would make. Depending on your weight you could use a slightly heavier oil, or not. Your weight varies greatly day to day. I go for an average weight with kit on. Don't overthink it. I'd start there if I was you.

Crikey, l feel for the poor old shop assistant that has to deal with you. Plus l guess you really didn't need anything, or you would have had to go somewhere else to get it. Personally I'd do anything to keep my shopping experience as brief as possible.

I was going to say it must be easy enough to see if the wiper blades are genuine or not, for instance..

Ha, that Nissan thing has really got to you. Do you think a rant will solve it l don't think so, something needs doing!

Aesthetically the standard mirrors for me. But I'd go for the ones that work the best, no point looking good if all you can see is your elbows.

Had a 400/4 when l was 18 then moved onto a cb900. I liked both those bikes and the 900 was very stylish l thought. It got nicked. Never had a Honda since.

I don't know why but l can't see me ever having a Guzzi. Engine configuration, cx500s who can tell..

Hi, yeah that is almost the complete opposite to the Honda, quite the beast. The weight is huge compared, ok when you are on the move but cumbersome getting it in and out the garage/shed. Sounds like you are taking it one step at a time though so good for you.

Yeah agree, well on the Yamaha it is stored in the clocks, thought most were.

I like the way the exhaust note changes as the revs increase, especially when you hit the power band, the tones alter to an almost shouting out. I hate too loud exhausts and don't believe loud pipes save lives, they are just obnoxious. But get it right and no greater sound.

Only way to get the word out is to post on as many sites as you can. Good luck to you. If l was up there I'd pop along for a blether.

I blame the milk snatcher..

Once upon a time people would get a winter hack and save their best bike for when the salt was washed off the road.

Ha haar.. now the old cynic in me does not believe a word of that story. More likely he tried it on and got laughed at.

Absolutely no idea but ever an excuse was needed to get down your local motorcycle dealer/accessories store for a chat this is it?

The thread has dog in the title, you are gonna get dog stories. I was bitten by my nanna's poodle when I was a kid so we got a labrador so I could get used to dogs. People in the estate I grew up on just used to put their dogs out and they roamed in packs, can't remember any maulings. We have a lovely Jack Russel and a cat. If the dog gets a sniff of a rabbit he's gone, the cat is a too good a hunter for the wildlife in the garden. My neighbour has 2 collie type dogs who he never walks and they bark all day, he's a w**ker 1st class. An awful lot of what goes on with dogs is down to the owners not having a clue. I'm pretty sure once upon a time you had to have a dog license. It was 7 and 6 from the post office my wife just informed me. (whatever 7 n 6 is)....

Morning, since the bike has done around 1k miles and the first service should have been done at 600 miles, the oil should only have done around 400 odd miles. You could argue it would be wasteful not to reuse it.

I don't use the paying bit on my phone l like to keep some things separate. Can't you just switch off notifications though?

Yay, I'm pleased about that, not just because I have the same engine but the damage was obviously not wear and tear. Good to see Yamaha doing the right thing.