Gas up - Let's Go!

Here's a solution....... Buy yourself a Garmin Zumo 500/550. You get a digital speed readout (and accurate, not like the crap on the bike) and also a fuel gauge. The Zumo will even tell you when you're fuel is running low (obviously there is some setting up to do). You also get the added benefit of knowing where you are! and if you choose, you can use it to find places too...... But to be honest, I'd just use the trip and figure out how many miles you get on a tank, For a good digital speedo, that is very accurate (and still requires setting up ) then Trail Tech have some superb units that are very small here -> Trail Tech I have a trailtech unit in my TTR after the OE speedo fell apart...

I've a '05 model - No noises like that, even if it's stoop for a month. It does have a wheezing noise while turning over, but it's always done this from day one. Stops as soon as the bike fires.

Dunno - you could try it ? I deleted it though. Your on-line bake will never ask for information in this way. So you should just delete the mail. If you think the file is real, and actually from your bank, give them a call or check through your normal on-line access.

Chaps, There is a new E-Mail scam that is doing the rounds. It is a mail message from your bank (any bank realy, it might just look like your bank) that is claiming you have recieved a refund from HMRC (the Tax Man). Attached in the mail is a .HTM document (it looks like a web page) that will be the undoing of you, should you click on it... so don't Here's what the mail looks like: From: Service HSBC [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 15 September 2010 12:21 Subject: HSBC Notification : Incoming funds ! Dear Applicant: You have received a tax refund payment of 302.25GBP from HMRC (HM Revenue & Customs) into your Internet Banking Account. Please accept the tax refund request. The money will appear in your Internet Banking Account after 3-6 days. A refund can be delayed for a variety of reasons. For example submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline. Please submit the form attached to your email in order to accept your incoming funds Note: If you are using Internet Explorer please allow ActiveX for scripts to perform all data transfers securely . ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regards, HSBC Bank plc 2002 - 2010 Copyright 2010, HSBC Internet Banking U.K. All rights reserve

Can't argue with the weight, I could never fit it on the scales..... But it certainly doesn't feel heavy at all. It must be very well balanced as I can hold it at about 45 degrees to the ground without any trouble and stand it up again. You do see alot of women/girls riding smaller (as in 600ish) cc bikes, and I don't know why, other than there is a common belief that smaller cc bikes are lighter. I had a Varadero, now that's a heavy bike, and it feels heavy too. But the XJR1300 feels as light as anything, requires no effort to get it to turn and I can put it on the centre stand in my bare feet.

Probably the same rubbers as the XT then...

You are lining yourself up for some real obvious answers now....... A GPS Tracker taken around the coastal roads would be the obvious answer, handed from bike to bike like a relay batton.

My 16yr old daughter can ride my XJR1300, I wouldn't say it's a mans bike. It's the easiest bike to ride that I have. The XT, now that takes some balls to ride at speed, and the TTR with it Enduro Tyres on, you gotta have balls of steel to corner that on tarmac.....

Hot of the MapSource press........ JoG to Lands end and back to JoG Fastest possible time, using average speeds form real life (not the old, "I can do 120 up the M6" routeen) is 1679 miles in 26 hours... Bearing in mind that as time gets past the 18 or so mark you start to make daft mistakes, so you have no choice but to slow down. Shortest route, is 1672 miles in 27 hours.... Not much in it. I once rode 1600 miles in a day, stupidest thing I ever did (South of France to Portugal to Amsterdam). Between missing the wildlife in the early hours, and falling off the bike (yes, the comedy stop and forget to put your feet down thing) at the ferry port I said I'd never do it again. I suppose everyone has to find their limit though. Last year I rode from Skye, to JoG to home in a single day (from 06:00ish to 23:00ish) and it was hard work (about this time last year actually). About 700 miles in one day. I always thought a 'circumnavigation' was a bit more original, maybe a bike relay around the entire coast of the UK ??

Erm...... Have you ever ridden to JoG ? It is the biggest dissapointment know to man, a post and a few overprice tat-shops..... If you were to do this in the summen months, over say a week you might be able to make it interesting, but missing Motorways means negotiating the ubercrappy area around Leeds/Manchester/Blackpool for the trip north (and south), by ubercrappy I mean it's rubbish riding it - I've tried and to be honest I felt like ending it all at times! I think you are better off organising a weekend meet somewhere central, and maybe allow us modern guys to come along and show you what it's like in the 21st century

Before you drop down too far, in terms of power, take a look at the other Supermoto's out there. The WR is a fine bike, but I suspect you are going to find it a little uncomfortable after a while - Off course this depends on where you ride to! Have a look at the Dorsoduro, if you thought the WR was fun then you are going to have a sexual experience when you ride one of these. From all the bikes I'm tried, I think the Aprillia is the most fun, although I don't know about living with it. The XT660X will also give you lots of smils per mile, and has some comfort for long distance stuff. Be aware thoug that there are some fueling issues and you'd need to spend some more cash to deal with the 'surging' (PC-V & K&N/DNA filters) Alternativly, look at some of the trail bikes out there, just for a comparison. These are alot of fun at speed that won't see your licience gathering points like a cheap fruit machine. I always had fast bikes before I picked up my TTR, now I have the XT and it's the best fun. I'd sell the XJR but it's the only bike the wife will ride... No harm in taking a look around, even if you go for the WR in the end, at least you'll be sure it's the right bike.

You can insure a bike without taking your CBT (ask yourself this, if you couldn't, how would you be able to use your own bike to do the CBT?) You just need to tell the insurance company, then pass them the details when you have done it. The police don't prosecute you for this, the DVLA do. If you purchase your taxdisc on-line, they tell you you have you can ride/drive for upto 5 days while the disc comes through the post. It's a bit daft. And to sod it up even more, some insurance comapnies only send you the docs electronically. My local DVLA office won't accept 'own printer' certificates, and can't access the right systems to check on-line. Althoug if you tax on-line the DVLA can and do check. It's stupid. The post office down the road will allow 'own-printer' certificates, but the one over the other side of the town won't. They need to get their act together, one way or another! Technically, as soon as you have paid your money you are covered, with or without a certificate. The problem can be proving it,, especially if Mr Plod is having a bad day (read: bad plod). So, if you have the bike, insure it now. Tell the insurance that you are waiting to do your CBT. Then get it taxed. so you are ready to ride it away from the CBT testing place the day you are legal.

I posted this as the cush rubbers in the XT appear to be made from cheese (not even a nice chees like Stilton, Blacksticks or Brie). The MT03 has the same engine and power as the XT - I was looking for a modified part, or cross-bread part that maybe had more life in it.... Intersting one about the LC's cush rubbers...... I wonder if modern cush rubber is made out of 2nd generation recycled tyres or something.... It's a sod as it's softer than dairylea or even laughing cow....

I think I see where you are coming from now. So you see the 'pursue with extreme prejudice' option as failing to deal with the root cause, fair enough. Where this fails is in the courts, there just isn't the stomach or money to deal with these offenders as they need to be dealt with. A driving ban and a few hour litter picking isn't enough. If we had some real punishment, jail with nothing but sufficient food and water to survive, or the removal of a finger (Ok, the hand is a little extreme!) say for thieves would be more like it. Taking Pauls example, I would want hi shead removed, the thief would want to walk away, so a fair balance is to chop one of his fingers off. If we could trust the courts to deal with these people effectivly, then I would agree, it's better to catch and process them within the law. Where the courts cannot, or will not deal with these people then the simple answer is for them not to end up in court..... one way or another... Back to the sympathy issue, isn't this a caring emotional thing? I don't think you are saying is you have some sort of emotional feeling for this guy's death. Do you feel more that justice hasn't been done, according to the law ? Have I misunderstood what you are saying when you say you feel sympathy, I assumed it was for the thief, when what I think you mean is, it's for due proccess ? I think, when theives know the Police will not give chase, it makes the situation worse. Where the theif understands that he (or she) will be pursued without compasion, then I think this might have more of an impact of the kind of thief that is at the 'edge' of breaking the law. Such a person might be a child who is being peer-pressured, or someone who is desperate - when they think the punishment is litter picking it's never going to stop them, if they think they are getting a finger chopped of, then it should make them think - if not, after the 10th time it's not going to be a problem.

OK, here's a tip. When you carry out the slow manoeuvres (U-Turn between the lines, Figure-of-8) look at where you want to be, do not look at the cones, the road, the bike nothing. fix a point to look at in the distance, over your shoulder So, for the figure of 8. Look over your shoulder and move your eyes to the direction too. You will be surprised how tight you can turn the bike. For the U-Turn, set off look over your right shoulder, look right with your eyes and you'll turn well within the space available. Emergency stop - remember this, and repeat it to yourself "Front Break, Back Brake, Clutch, Don't Panic" never snatch the brake, apply diliberate controller pressure. Good luck.

Having been there a few times (Dublin, Cork, Galway, Oop Norf to Antrim )I would agree, the bikw will be perfect for your roads. Road bias enough to have fun with sufficient off-road ability to deal with the Irish roads. I have tried the Tiger 1050, and for all I'll get castigated for this, I didn't like it at all. I thought the finish was poor (considering the price tag), the engine is fine, but I don'y agree with those that think it's the best thing since the 4 stoke was invented.(yes, Mr Cynic, I know the 2 stoke is better!).... I think the big adventure bikes suit a twin configuration better (V or parallel, even the ancient boxer!). The triple is a great motor in a street bike, but that doesn't make it a good adventure tourer. This is all my opinion, which apparently is wrong when you talk to people who have had these bikes. My Tenere has covered 22,000 miles in the two years I've had it. It's been through every country in Europe, and covered over 800 miles off-road through Portugal this year, it still looks great (OK, it has picked up one or two 'reminders' of the trips) I looked at a Tiger with the same mileage and it looked bl00dy awfull. The paint/plastics had tarnished, the engine was as fury as a 3 year old Apple and the switchgear felt loose and worn. I don't like how you have to take the Tiger to a dealers at service to get the computer 'adjusted' either. I don't mind having to use a dealer for faults, but for general service, no thanks. There is another bike that is an absolute blast, I've only done 50 or so miles on it so I'm not sure on what it's like to live with -> It's the Aprillia Dorsoduruo, and it's mental!

I don't think that is a fair summing up. They didn't borrow the bike, they chose to violate your property and take it without your authority to do so. However, I'm interested in your opinion more than the others (sorry!), mainly because I'm trying to understand this point of view. Personally I agree with all the others, and I kinda expected the overwhelming response that has come forward. Interesting for me, I view theft as a violation, your post suggests that you don't see theft as such a bad thing. Where I see it as a personal attack, I assume you look at it more philosophically (it's only metal etc)? I certainly don't think minor (in the grand scheme of things) crimes should carry a death penalty, I do think the Middle East countries have the right idea in removing a hand when convicted of theft. I do agree with the death penalty for very serious stuff, such as Ian Huntly, Peter Sutcliffe etc, those who have no chance of ever walking free again. I also think the Human Rights Act is seriously flawed as it protects those than have chosen to move outside of the rules (breaking the law). I believe when you choose to break the law, and then evade the law, then you should not have the protection of the law. The same would be true for anyone who chose to break into your home, no protection from the law. The whole 'reasonable force' thing is a joke, as any rank and file office will tell you if you manage to get them to talk off-record. So, back to my lack of sympathy for a thief who died whilst riding a stolen motorcycle. I understand your viewpoint on the sanctity of life (it's easy to take life, but can you give it?)but I can't see why you would have sympathy for someone whose last act was to violate someone elses property, riding without consideration for the safety of themselves or others?

Chaps, As a fairly free thinking group, I'd like your opinion on this. Recently there was a report on the BBC news about a bike thief who died while riding, and crashing a stolen bike without a helmet on. On another forum I posted the link and made a comment that I had no sympathy for him, and also, in my opinion the police should persure these people with extreme prejudice. Now these comments caused one or two responses, mostly in agreement, along the lines of 'what goes around comes around', and 'thieving scum deserve all they get' However, one or two people found this post, and the comments 'obscene' I have tried to understand thier opinion, but so far have failed. So, without falling out, is there anyone out there who would have any sympathy for such a person ? Opinions vary, I just want to try to understand. ??

'kin 'ell !

I tried one out when they first came out. This one: It was aimed at the Adventure market, but to be honest it just doesn't manage to fit - to road bias. That said, as a road bike with 'some' light off tarmac (forest gravel roads, unsurfaced stuff etc) it's a cracking bike. It loves the twisty B and C roads and with the addition of the larger screen and some other bits will make a great one-up tourer. I like the bike alot, and today Honda are giving away luggage for it! so it's a good buy. The downside, like any Honda is that it has no character, or soul, but is as reliable as Taxes. I wouldn't comapre it against the GS, different class of bike alltogether. The Duke is another breed of machine again. I've ridden both the GS and the Duke and the Duke has far more Smiles-per-mile, but the old Ducatti reliability still niggles me a little.

and some of the Oldies too..... Welcome back Miss Whiplash, Good luck with the exam.... I know just how you feel - I've got some re-certification stuff at the end of the month (imagine having to resit your degree every 3 years!!!) been busy busy busy.....

Fantastic. I'l be riding that road in just over three weeks

I agree, there is alot of this about. However there are so many companies willing to take an order, and the payment but not being in a position to ship the goods - faults on both sides. I don't thinks it's unfair to assume when you order goods, and the comapny takes payment, that the goods are available for delivery within a few days. Many companies can help themselves by making buyers aware of the delivery times etc. As a buyer, you should always ask what the delivery time is going to be, if they fall outside that then they are fair game.

Here'sa my main ride...... and the dirty girl..

4 Weeks, it could be worse. Ive seen guys pay £thousands for kit and having to wait months. It's called Just In Time Manufacturing....... Just in time for what I'm not sure! If it was an oil filter, brake pads etc then I'd be unhappy, but a pipe isn't something they'll have off-the-shelf, unless it's a popular model, even then you'll be looking at maybe a couple of weeks.