Ttaskmaster

Sort of normal... Most dealerships have demo bikes, but they're often shared between branches within one area, especially if they're uncommon or very new models. I remember everyone was after a test ride on the Honda DN01 at one stage. There were demo models around, but the dealers had to pre-book it and there was only one bike for the whole of Berkshire and surrounding.

Suzuki GS500. Was given an unmodded one for the DAS course I failed. I said from the very start that I was not comfy on it and could not reach to operate the controls properly. Ended up stalling several times at a roundabout entrance, the last of which bumped me across the white line and failed me the test.

Sounds like dirty connections inside the switch. I'd suggest taking the right control cluster apart, disassembling the switch as far as you are able/comfortable and making sure the contacts have no dirt or corrosion on them.

^ THIS is how we do forum replies in the YOC!!! Good work Noisy!

You don't *have* any HP...

It's generally reckoned to be a BAD idea, as the 2T will leave a massive amount of carbon deposits on your 4T internals and gum them up. There's a reason there are two separate oils. As one acquaintance put it - It's like having your accountant dig up a bone in your garden, while asking your dog to do your taxes.

Always hated when people try and be funny with phrases like that. "Yes, it is the current that actually kills you, but current doesn't exist without a voltage - Same as it's the bullets ripping through your skull that will actually kill you... yet I'll be the one charged with murder for shooting you with an assault rifle". Then again, I work around High Voltage signs a lot and so usually get some idiot using the 'current' argument at me at least once a week!!

Ya big girl's blouse!!!

That'll be a hernia, mate...

Sounds normal to me.

How much 'restricted movement'? A few inches, a couple of feet, or can you push it halfway down the road? How does it perform when the bike *is* started and you put it in gear with the clutch held in... or mostly in? Does it still creep forward?

- Bike engine running. - Bike in gear. - Clutch held in. - Increase in throttle. And the bike still moves forward? Check your clutch cable adjustment (fully detailed in your owners manual). It should not engage until you let the lever quite a way out... If you are doing the above, but NOT holding the clutch lever, then that is how a geared bike actually works!! If you mean all the above, but the bike is switched OFF - That *can* be normal. I've done this with some lightweight bikes in order to push-start them. You do need to put a fair bit of effort in to move it, though and it's not something I'd advise doing very often...

Actually, I *was* looking...twice, in fact. That's how I know how fast she was going! I was stopped, waiting for three oncoming to pass before turning. They were all emerging from a turn ahead-left and the car in front (halfway to pulling out, later transpired that they were cops, heh heh!) was letting them. First look was just a general eye-keeper. She was over 200yds back (outside Number 8, where the streetlight lit her roof, hence knowing her exact position). Second look was just before readying to pull way and as I was about to Lifesaver. Approximately 5 seconds later I hear the squeal of brakes and skidding of tyres. Less that one second later I'm cursing to hell and back as I'm separated from my bike. 6 seconds, 270yds, approximately 90mph, allowing for the 1 second deceleration to about 60mph (estimate from the tyre streak the cops measured). Had she been doing the 40mph limit, I'd have had 5 seconds before she arrived to make the manoeuvre, assuming she didn't even see me. >But why can some twit ride around in shorts and sandels and a brain cap Because that in itself is the actual *cause* of far less incidents than accidentally overcooking the throttle. >Everyone during thier learning will fall off Speak for yourself... I know plenty of riders who've never had an accident, most with decades of experience. >I've yet to see a 30 foot gap to jump on the road! or a 90' incline of mud to climb. So why the hell do we need dirt bike skills, then? Furthermore, the sort of bikes you ride off-road are VERY different animals to what we ride on-road. I don't care how experienced a dirt-biker you think you are, you will NOT keep a banked high-torque Pan-Euro up if you hit diesel mid-corner!! >As for reckless,dangerous,careless well that a matter of opinion Not at all. The situation I described offered three simple choices - Canon into the front of oncoming traffic, cannon into the back of the vehicle in front, or get rear-ended. There wasn't even a pavement to mount. As is, you'd have had just over a second to notice the approaching vehicle's speed and direction, anticipate the skid pattern as she applied her brakes and then go from stationary to sufficient speed to avoid her (with nowhere to actually go). Good luck... >It appears to me that some of you like the government telling you what is right for you, That may well be how it "appears"... However, there are some of us who understand our roads, understand the capabilities of motorcycles, understand the mentalities of both riders and other road users... and recognise one of the occasions when the government is actually correct. We also understand that a lot of these regulations have been developed in consultation with a number of very learned motorcyclists, including Police riders, advanced instructors and professional riders. >Soon you wont be able to buy parts and fix your own bike because your not a licenced mechanic. This is why we make friends with those who are... >And you shouldn't because you don't have the training! So it invalidates the warranty... big deal. Most bikes that can be fixed will be. Those that can't usually require plugging in to a computer, in which case see above remarks about licenced mechanics. Besides, my bikes are usually a good 15-20 past their warranties anyway, so I'm not so worried about that. >Dont bother with gear your hp laws will save you . Don't bother with gear, your massive attitude HP will always save you...

A decent engine with a bassy, growl that sounds like it actually means everything it's growling about does sound gorgeous... However: Harleys always sound ridiculous. Heard a load of different ones at the Kent Show this weekend, along with the Honda stand next door - I have to say that even the Honda Cruisers sounded better. The HDs just sounded like ranty, shouty children and most people were walking past with a look of disgust... as they made straight for the Honda stand!! Coming home at 3am, when everyone else is trying to sleep and there is nothing around but the utter hush of the countryside, suddenly shattering all that with the BLARING ROAR of your pipes makes you realise that loud pipes are quite possibly not a good thing. Given how no-one really cares if you're riding a big shouty-piped bike and will assume you're just another rich accountant, unless you're accompanied by twenty or so Backpatched fellow MC members, I'd much rather have a comparatively quiet bike that does the job without having to announce it to the world. TL:DR - Loud pipes occasionally may save a life... but you can (and I do) get the job done just as well with decent riding technique. I say this as a massive Drag Queen fan, incidentally, both of which have had VERY loud pipes at one time or another!!!

Then I'd counter-charge you with reckless driving, dangerous driving and speeding, based on how much HP you'd need to move from stationary, in order to escape a close vehicle approaching at 90mph on a 40mph road. Given the road layout at my incident, I'd further seek to charge you with attempted suicide, as you'd have ploughed yourself into a brick wall and/or charge you with attempted manslaughter, as you'd have ploughed into either the vehicle in front or the oncoming traffic. HP can save you in certain circumstances, but you have to give a learner something they can handle to start with. The fact that a Lambo is an unattainable starter car for almost every new driver out there makes you argument almost irrelevant, whereas anyone with £500 can get a bike capable of rocketing out of their control with only a touch too much throttle, is the factor here.

"If you start out with 40 hp you will be used to how the power comes on and work with it if you start with 12" You'll have far less margin for error though, which is what the 125 allows for. You're also more likely to rely on power to get out of situations instead of learning/being forced to plan ahead and avoid them completely. "HP does not have anything to do with how someone rides,the right wrist and the grey matter between your ears does." Then why aren't we all learning on 190hp bikes from the outset? "I have been involved in every form of racing" That's nice. How many of those races involved tracks with buildings, street lamps, phone boxes, kerbs, bridge pillars, pedestrians, cyclists and cunts in cars going both ways? "The point is that if you dont respect the HP then it will hurt you no matter if it 12 or 1000." Lower HP gives you a far larger margin for error. No point trying to sprint before you can walk. Most people who cannot do something well still respect the potential consequences of failure, but developing the skill to handle it generally requires starting off small. "To me it's the same as saying you can't give a kid a gun he will kill someone,thats just stupid,if you teach them saftey and the rules to operate it and they can understand them then no problem." So you'd give them a .30cal machine gun to start off with, right? That's also only about the indexfinger and the grey matter, right? "if little richie rich can go buy a lambo and drive it then why punish people who want to ride bikes." Cars have many protective measures. Bikes are naked missiles. Also, I can pass my test and go buy a Hayabusa if I want. Far cheaper than a Lambo... "Do you want the government telling you you have to buy another car with X hp so your son or daughter can learn how to drive?" But can the average car do 0-60 in under 5 seconds? I bet not!!

It took a while for me to cope with 40 after coming in as 12. After a few years, I was more than capable to handle 130, but those first few months of both the 12 and then the 40 were essential!

Meh... 'Great minds' and all that Besides, you stole my idea of running a 650 Drag without any oil in, if I recall, so I'd say that kinda makes us even...

Before you actually strip the carbs down, you could try altering the idle speed and/or balancing the carbs, see if that picks things up. The idle is easy enough. Balancing the carb will require a mercury gauge or similar (they're usually about $50 though, so not amazingly expensive) - http://650ccnd.com/sync.htm Just remember, this thing isn't a Harley. It should NOT be sat there going "Ka-chug... ka-chug... ka-chug...ka-chug...". The sound you want is closer to a tractor - sort of an even, deep-ish "Dugga-dugga-dugga-dugga-dugga"... and when you rev it up a bit, it should be a growly, but well-mannered roar... sort of a "YAAAAAAMMMMMMMA-HAAAAA" sound, in fact!! If this doesn't do the trick, then I'm afraid a strip-down and clean is the way... but take heart - It's fairly easy and you will learn a lot!

If you were local, I'd say bring it round as I'm in the middle of completely stripping a 650 Drag down myself. Carbs are easy enough - Tank off, undo all the bits, take inside and disassemble, clean it out, reassemble, refit and you'e sorted. The difficult part comes if any bolts have gone rusty. The brake caliper is even easier. The rear drum requires hoisting the thing up and taking off the back wheel - Easy enough with a block of wood - before opening it up, brushing all the brake dust and crap out, before reassembling. Plugs, oil and filters are easy peasy. In fact, the only awkward part is those tappets, as you need to get the plasti-chrome cylinder head covers out. Much gentle wiggling needed. Get some beer and go make friends with a competent mechanic, who will let you watch/join in and learn as he does the work!!

I'd be equally concerned about the number of high-roller nobs that get a licence and then hop on a 'Blade because they think riding like a cunt makes them proper well'ard bikers... got enough of them as is!!

And right there is problem number one... Petroleum (gasoline, for the Yanks) fuel breaks down after about six weeks... Your Dragstar (V-Star for the Yanks) has been sat for over six *months*!! Chuck it away and get some new fuel fresh from the pump. But before you go doing that, I recommend a top-to-tail service. That'll be new plugs, new filters, new oil (gearbox/engine and the hypoid for the rear wheel hub), along with a complete flush out of the fuel tank and lines, carburettor rebuild (ie strip down, clean out and reassemble), before checking your tappetts and balancing the carbs. Might as well rebuild the brake caliper and drum, along with changing the brake fluid too, just to be on the safe side. Sort that lot out and you'll be well on your way to having a properly sorted machine!!

I prefer commuting in my Dropship. Makes me feel all superior!!

Somewhat theoretical though and obviously skewed. Most drivers that come at me with their bullshit will rip holes in the argument

Most reviews say pretty much what I did - Looks like a Sportster, but performs far better in all areas. There's a guy round Reading with an all-black Bolt and a Stars & Stripes helmet. He certainly looks very happy!! Actually, that might even be X-Kid from here...