Big Ross

Why is everyone assuming it wouldn't be fun to ride? The size of the "body" (very appropriate in this case) makes virtually no difference to the handling of an outfit. Everything depends on the position of the wheels and their angles relative to each other. And if you've never ridden with a sidecar, you've missed one of the great motorcycling experiences!

Hi Guys. Been away a while. Been riding this: and this: but just bought this: Gee life is dull!

I think I must be lucky. I already own a dream set of Yamahas: RD350LC-the ultimate round town bike. XT500-the perfect dual purpose bike. SR500-best looking bike of all time XJ900-a wonderfully practical balance of all things good in motorcycling. If I had more money and a bigger shed (and more time to ride) I'd add a V-Max-the silliest bike ever-and maybe buy back my old FJ1200, but then, what would I do with the Goldwing?!

When I first got the Goldwing with its huge top hamper, I found it very difficult to get on board. I sort of crawled on very slowly like a drunken and poorly coordinated octopus sliding over a strangely shaped rock. However, I can now get on with considerable panache, even though in my sixties and well overweight. It's not easy to explain the move, but I'll try. Stand beside the bike, facing forward. Left hand on left grip, then turn the body towards from the bike. You should now be standing there, left hand on grip, and facing across the bike. At this point you swing your right leg out and up, at the same time drawing your right knee up towards your body and pivoting on the ball of your foot. As your right foot passes over the seat you begin to straighten that leg out until suddenly, as if by magic, you are sitting on the bike, comfortably settled and looking smug! To boost your confidence, try doing it on a bike without panniers. As for getting off, it's pretty mauch the same backwards, but I aklways put the sidestand down first and hang on to the left grip. That way the bike can't possibly fall over.

My father never rode a motorcycle, but he said to me (about 45 years ago) "Treat everyone else on the road as a homicidal maniac determined to kill you." I wish he'd lived long enough for me to say thank you, because I honestly believe that his advice has kept me alive until now.

I remember seeing one of those at the Easter Show in Sydney about fifty years ago. There was also the "Wall of Death" at Luna Park, where guys rode round the walls of a very cramped wooden cylinder, coming to within inches of the top and doing complicated crossovers. The interesting thing was that this was in about 1955 and they were riding Indians! Unfortunately I was too young to recognise the model, but they were definitely Indians.

Years ago I lived in a house which had front and rear access for burglars. After one got in and stole my wife's handbag while we were watching TV in the next room (!) I decided that a family pet was needed. Before acquiring "Bert" (75% Blue Heeler, 25% Rotty) we had six real or attempted break-ins in one year. For the fourteen and a half years that the great hearted fella lived, we had NONE. In fact, burglars would cross the road just in case the gate didn't hold. Several left the district. We didn't even bother to lock the door. Despite that, he was loved by all who knew him, gentle and kind with children, funny and obedient, but with that streak of psychopathic violence against non-pack members just below the surface. What a great dog he was! However, my youngest son now has a Rhodesian Ridgeback. I suddenly realise that Bert was a pathetic wuss with the deterrent effect of an elderly Pekinese with asthma!

I just bought this: Am I allowed to stay in the Yamaha club?

168mph on this bike and dressed like that! I think you have to admit Mr Fernihough was pretty gutsy.

A mate of mine had to give up biking because he had arthritis of the groin (True but bloody funny!). A few years back (At the age of 53) he bought a Majesty and he is so happy with it. Rides everywhere now, and that's on the 250 version. I've ridden it but must say it didn't do much for me. I assume the Tmax would be similar but of course more powerful. The Majesty my mate has is certainly a very convenient and economical means of transport and has been ultra reliable-just not my cup of tea.

If you are interested in the sort of cojones people had in those days, look up a chap called Eric Fernihough.

Russell Wright of New Zealand, riding a Vincent, set a world record of 185.15mp/h (297.97km/h) on July 2, 1955. I think that a shade under 300kph is still pretty fast.

I'm sorry. I know it goes like the clappers, but like so many modern bikes, it looks to me like an angry insect. It just doesn't look balanced. IMHO, this looks fast:

I have been told that it is a multi-purpose, removeable, adjustable device which can be used as a snow shovel, snow plough, entrenching tool, kiddies' slippery dip, aircraft escape slide, or emergency sugar scoop. However, I personally believe that it was a desperate attempt by the designers to convince the world that Germans DO have a sense of humour.

Someone will buy it for sure. I just sold an R5 (in very sad condition) for $AU580 on Ebay and the guy drove 700km that weekend to pick it up! He was delighted with the deal, as he needed the parts to finish his own restoration job. Even if your bike is not worth restoring, it is a goldmine of spare parts to somebody else!

Another very important thing to remember when riding one of those things is that you really must resist the almost overwhelming temptation to invade Poland.

Bad luck! Hope your injuries heal quickly. One thing for sure, dropping a bike is much more expensive than it once was! In the "good old days" you'd just kick the pegs straight and think about getting the tank resprayed black.

Welcome Dave. Good choice! That Suzuki looks very clean indeed. Be sure to post some pics of the Seca when it's in the same condition!

Gee whiz-snow! I saw a picture of that once. Eighty eight degrees Fahrenheit and sunny all day tomorrow.

Ave! Do you ride a TRX? I love those bikes, but just can't handle the riding position. Are there a lot of us "mature" riders who are influenced by the bars/pegs relationship? I find my XJ900 is really good in that regard, although not even remotely comparable to my XT500.

Hi Yamahead. Don't mean to hijack this thread, but I'm fine (Well, pretty good for my age) and I must confess, I have been having a lot of fun with the rednecks on 2strokers! There have been times when I've been pretty unpopular on Alek's site too! Removing the centrestand might make sense on shaft drives, but trying to maintain a chain with only a sidestand is a real pain, and you tend to neglect the job. Well, I do anyway.

Another old dodge is to flex the spring, and as the coils open up, insert washers or thin coins between them. Do this on alternate sides, and the spring should be long enough to fit in the retracted position. You then just cycle the stand once and the coins drop out! I used to use that on bikes that had rear wheel stands! Anyone remember them?

Well, if it looks like that, just relax, because that pipe on my bike has looked like that for about 20 years! Just be aware that no amount of polishing will change the appearance (which I must say I find quite attractive.)

From what I can see in your photo it just looks like normal heat discolouration, and nothing to worry about. Exhaust pipes have a tendency to turn purple and look as if they've been case hardened. This photo of my XT500 shows three causes of exhaust discolouration. Up near the head we have "bluing" due to heat (I think this is what you have.) At the pipe/muffler join there is carbon staining due to leaking gas, and on the megaphone there are stains where I've melted bits of my boots into the surface!

I was just over on the V-Max Owners Association. They have a really dignified section where they say farewell to riders who have died, either on the road or of natural causes. My own club (Ulysses) has a segment in the magazine called "Ridden On" where we pay tribute to those who have gone before. I notice that some of our members ride on too. This is a pretty rough and tough site, no prisoners taken (I'm as guilty as anyone) but wouldn't it be nice if we had a corner to remember absent friends? Anybody else think this might be a worthwhile addition? I'm going to post this question elsewhere, so please don't be negative about my idea.