kully
Happy Snapper
RichC said:
Woohoo, I thought I was the only Guzzi person in the UK (I think I've seen two other riders)
I got into bikes when I was 18 and too poor to afford a car, ManGo speaks extreme wisdom. If you're buying leathers in installments buy good gloves first.
But be careful, super careful - people down South drive like complete monkeys. I was banned by my mum and g/f from riding when I went head-on with an overtaking car - the metal in me is an excellent weather forecaster. I'd still have a bike if it wasn't for them or living in the country.
Do you have a garage? Working on your garage in the winter is a pain in the bum.
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
I knew there was a link between RFF members and motorbikes! just look at the responses, you're all a bunch of nutters! ......and I'm about to join you!
glchua
Established
I ride a BMW R1100R, year round, rain or shine (the only 2 weather condition in Singapore). It is the only vehicle I own. Have been riding for more than 14 years (after Suzuki GN125, Suzuki Intruder 400).
Someone mentioned that we should only ride what we can pick up. I don't think that is necessary a "rule". In riding school here, I had seen small ladies pick up a 200kg 650cc bike quite easily and push it round a figure of 8 (test requirement). It is the skill that counts. With the correct technique, muscle power is not important.
Someone mentioned that we should only ride what we can pick up. I don't think that is necessary a "rule". In riding school here, I had seen small ladies pick up a 200kg 650cc bike quite easily and push it round a figure of 8 (test requirement). It is the skill that counts. With the correct technique, muscle power is not important.
Jon Perry
Established
'00 Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster Custom (for summer)
'82 Moto Guzzi V50 Mk.III (for winter)
It's the only way to travel. Life's too short not to.
Jon
'82 Moto Guzzi V50 Mk.III (for winter)
It's the only way to travel. Life's too short not to.
Jon
jmilkins
Digited User
Transalp! Just fitted a stainless MADAZ pipe (v loud!)- She rocks!
For some reason my wife argues against a set of personalised plates - she thinks "TRANNIE" is asking for trouble at a rally
Here's my "girlfriend" near the Snowy River - the scar on the tree is a canoe scar I think - carved with great skill out of the trunk by the original indigenous inhabitants.
taken with an Oly XA4. and of course I had the Bessa L and cv 15 and 25 along.
For some reason my wife argues against a set of personalised plates - she thinks "TRANNIE" is asking for trouble at a rally
Here's my "girlfriend" near the Snowy River - the scar on the tree is a canoe scar I think - carved with great skill out of the trunk by the original indigenous inhabitants.
taken with an Oly XA4. and of course I had the Bessa L and cv 15 and 25 along.
Attachments
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RichC
Well-known
Ergonomics, security and affordable insurance
Ergonomics, security and affordable insurance
What's more important is that you fit the bike. For example, you shouldn't have to stretch uncomfortably to reach the handlebars or controls, and the seat should be neither too high nor too wide to prevent you putting the balls of your feet down.
The controls should be adjusted for fit (e.g. lever positions and span), and preference (e.g. throttle and clutch pull made lighter - though (a) modern bikes usually have light controls (unlike Guzzis!) and are fine and (b) you'll need a mechanic).
And buy a decent lock and always use it, pref. locked to something unmovable - never assume it'll be fine unlocked for 5 minutes. If you leave it unlocked, sooner or later it will be stolen!
Insurance companies often insist on alarms, but numerous tests have proved that no one takes a blind bit of notice of alarms! (A few years ago, a UK bike mag tried a test: would anyone confront someone pushing a bike into a van with its alarm sounding? The answer was "no", even in a busy high street or in front of a police station!)
As has been mentioned, if parked on the street for any length of time, use a bike cover (pref. a tatty, nondescript one). Also, try not to park it in the same place(s).
Insurance (in the UK) can be ferociously expensive. Consider getting an older (but mechanically sound!) bike, say 10 years old. As it's not worth much and thieves are less interested, you can get it insured for hundreds of pounds less. Also, there's no point getting comprehensive insurance for such a bike, just third party, fire and theft (or just third party if it's really not worth much).
One you get a full licence, you can get classic insurance for a bikes older than 25 years - again, significantly cheaper than for a modern bike (I only pay £150 fully comprehensive!). There are plenty of older bikes that meet the following, so you shouldn't be disadvantaged compared with a modern bike: good performance (power, handling, braking), reliability and easily available spares. Plus there are advantages: cheap and simple to maintain, more "personality".
Ergonomics, security and affordable insurance
Agree - my Guzzi is very heavy, and if it fell over, I'm not sure I'd be able to pick it up.glchua said:
What's more important is that you fit the bike. For example, you shouldn't have to stretch uncomfortably to reach the handlebars or controls, and the seat should be neither too high nor too wide to prevent you putting the balls of your feet down.
The controls should be adjusted for fit (e.g. lever positions and span), and preference (e.g. throttle and clutch pull made lighter - though (a) modern bikes usually have light controls (unlike Guzzis!) and are fine and (b) you'll need a mechanic).
And buy a decent lock and always use it, pref. locked to something unmovable - never assume it'll be fine unlocked for 5 minutes. If you leave it unlocked, sooner or later it will be stolen!
Insurance companies often insist on alarms, but numerous tests have proved that no one takes a blind bit of notice of alarms! (A few years ago, a UK bike mag tried a test: would anyone confront someone pushing a bike into a van with its alarm sounding? The answer was "no", even in a busy high street or in front of a police station!)
As has been mentioned, if parked on the street for any length of time, use a bike cover (pref. a tatty, nondescript one). Also, try not to park it in the same place(s).
Insurance (in the UK) can be ferociously expensive. Consider getting an older (but mechanically sound!) bike, say 10 years old. As it's not worth much and thieves are less interested, you can get it insured for hundreds of pounds less. Also, there's no point getting comprehensive insurance for such a bike, just third party, fire and theft (or just third party if it's really not worth much).
One you get a full licence, you can get classic insurance for a bikes older than 25 years - again, significantly cheaper than for a modern bike (I only pay £150 fully comprehensive!). There are plenty of older bikes that meet the following, so you shouldn't be disadvantaged compared with a modern bike: good performance (power, handling, braking), reliability and easily available spares. Plus there are advantages: cheap and simple to maintain, more "personality".
sebastel
coarse art umbrascriptor
confession:
i'm an ex-sportster and (almost) ex-guzzi rider.
about to give up riding cuz sth else got more important, and i just don't use the guzzi as often as "she" deserves - still i'll always be a rider at heart.
pictures on my homepage:
http://www.sebastel.de/motard.htm
cheers
sebastian
i'm an ex-sportster and (almost) ex-guzzi rider.
about to give up riding cuz sth else got more important, and i just don't use the guzzi as often as "she" deserves - still i'll always be a rider at heart.
pictures on my homepage:
http://www.sebastel.de/motard.htm
cheers
sebastian
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
So I should be looking at anything from the 80's and 90's in good/excellent condition? Any names I should look out for? Any bikes I should avoid? I'm sure that's all pretty obvious when looking, ie avoid write-offs
I'm not sure about anything older, will it really be worth going for something whose age matches my camera collection??
I'm not sure about anything older, will it really be worth going for something whose age matches my camera collection??
sebastel
coarse art umbrascriptor
hard to tell.
old bikes can need quite a lot of hands to keep them running, but there are some very reliable ones - and as far as my experience goes, the harleys are quite reliable ....
(as long as newer as 1986).
beside this, japanese motorcycles have a good name for this, even though there might be some examples showing the opposite.
best idea is to grab an experienced rider (repairman) and check the local ads for used bikes.
;-)
cheers, sebastian
old bikes can need quite a lot of hands to keep them running, but there are some very reliable ones - and as far as my experience goes, the harleys are quite reliable ....
(as long as newer as 1986).
beside this, japanese motorcycles have a good name for this, even though there might be some examples showing the opposite.
best idea is to grab an experienced rider (repairman) and check the local ads for used bikes.
;-)
cheers, sebastian
kully
Happy Snapper
If it's your first bike, and you're broke and you want a cruiser-a-like the SR125 might be worth a look into. It's tough, cheap (I got offered one for £300 this time last year) and comfortable.
That's if you want to go the 125 route - otherwise it's a matter of deciding what type of bike you want (anything over 125 is going to be mighty expensive for a 19 year old).
Unless you like mechanics I'd stay away from older, exotic bikes like the Moto Guzzi. They're beasts, but I almost set fire to my garage with their 'electrics' and had to dismantle a clogged up carb at the side of the road (I used to carry a pretty complete toolkit in an pannier).
Them Vespa's look nice too (but expensive).
That's if you want to go the 125 route - otherwise it's a matter of deciding what type of bike you want (anything over 125 is going to be mighty expensive for a 19 year old).
Unless you like mechanics I'd stay away from older, exotic bikes like the Moto Guzzi. They're beasts, but I almost set fire to my garage with their 'electrics' and had to dismantle a clogged up carb at the side of the road (I used to carry a pretty complete toolkit in an pannier).
Them Vespa's look nice too (but expensive).
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
Just as I read the "grab an experienced rider" I saw Fred (tony) reading this thread.. and I had to grin.
I'm not keen on Vespa's. I can get to grips with mechanics, it takes a little while to sink in however
I'm not keen on Vespa's. I can get to grips with mechanics, it takes a little while to sink in however
Fred
Feline Great
Err... I confess, I use a Suzy 650 V. After a theft induced 16 yeear sabbatical off middleweights I bought it new this year in March. Done over 9000 social miles in that time and loved most of em (the ones I didn't enjoy was riding home fllowing the death of a freind who was folloing me)
Mango's advice is sound. I tought part ime motorcycling for 8 years prior to the theft, sounds like Manny would be a good teacher.
Go for the direct access route. The SV650s are a good first middleweight that you can really learn on, as are the Bandit 600s. Both are simple engines and used ones don't cost the earth to buy or maintain. The Honda Hornets are good also. Beware older bikes as the may cost more in the long run with problems.
I'll post some photos I took of mine with the Bessa R when I get home from working in Germany next week.
Mango's advice is sound. I tought part ime motorcycling for 8 years prior to the theft, sounds like Manny would be a good teacher.
Go for the direct access route. The SV650s are a good first middleweight that you can really learn on, as are the Bandit 600s. Both are simple engines and used ones don't cost the earth to buy or maintain. The Honda Hornets are good also. Beware older bikes as the may cost more in the long run with problems.
I'll post some photos I took of mine with the Bessa R when I get home from working in Germany next week.
Fred
Feline Great
Ash said:
.Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
I found a used bike place in swindon that I may check out, and my next door neighbour is well into his maintenance. Add Tony on top and I should hopefully be a bit more clued up before I get the cash to afford all this
Thanks for the help, and it looks like a lot of you have some very nice bikes!
Thanks for the help, and it looks like a lot of you have some very nice bikes!
RichC
Well-known
Best bet would be a 90s Japanese bike for reliability. Doesn't really matter which model - some are better than others, but all are pretty well built and designed.Ash said:
What's more important is to ensure it's mechanically sound: consider buying from a dealer - more expensive, but a decent dealer will have fixed any problems and serviced the bike, and may offer a guarantee.
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
Sounds like a plan. Once I have an income sorted and I can afford it, (or maybe sooner) I'll make my way to the dealer I found in swindon to check out what they think.
Jon Perry
Established
Most dealers do the minimum amount of work they can possibly get away with when it comes to servicing 2nd hand bikes they are going to sell on, especially the 'budget range'. You might be better off buying privately. Just take somebody who knows what's what, with you. You will probably get a much better value bike for much less money.RichC said:
Jon
N
Nick R.
Guest
In cool climates at least, I've found that the best time to buy used is in the spring when guys are looking for quick cash for new rides. In the autumn and winter, sellers have no motivation to lower their prices since they're not riding anyway.
Mauro
Mauro
motorbike
motorbike
Dear Ash,
I am a happy owner of a Royal Enfield Bullet 350!
What a great way of riding around...feeling the fresh air on your face, and that low sound coming from the old fashioned engine.
Mauro
motorbike
Dear Ash,
I am a happy owner of a Royal Enfield Bullet 350!
What a great way of riding around...feeling the fresh air on your face, and that low sound coming from the old fashioned engine.
Mauro
kully
Happy Snapper
Mauro said:
Bloody hell - they sell those in Italy? I learnt to ride on one of those (and a Vespa clone - Bajaj) in India. I agree with you on that thumping mumble it makes - gorgeous.