Ttaskmaster

Was fine and frost-free wheeling the bike out the garage... It's actually the same temperature inside the house, as we don't have the heating on yet.

Covering it is good. Chaining it to something immovable, with the high quality chain off the ground is indeed the best bet. Xena do nice alarmed disclocks. You can also fit an alarm yourself (or have it done by someone professional). Immobs just stop people from keying it. Alarms let YOU know someone is messing so you can get out there (weapon optional). End of the day, as you say, if they REALLY want it, they will have it... but that is what your insurance is for.

Nope. Should just be a couple of screws on the back. Make sure you pay a little attention to the alignment when you're reattaching it, though. IIRC, your wing mirror is also attached to this, so be sure it's not twisted too far round the bar, if that makes sense? There may even be a little hole in the bar, that a stud on the cluster fits into.

Give the switch a good few squirts of WD40 and press it lots in between. That usually helps clean these things up. If you're feeling handy, take the control cluster assembly apart and give it a proper scrub out.

VROOM? Whatever that is, I like it!!

We all do the false Neutral thing occasionally, even those of us who have been riding a good while. Really confusing when it's ben so long you forget what the sound means, ha ha!!

I've had mine past 140 and it was comfy as hell!! Seriously, do watch it, especially around 75-100mph. It's very easy to slip into that bracket on free-rolling motorways. I reckon they'll attempt to fix it, but find it's not economical and give it the Cat-C kiss. I'll then buy the wreck back and probably have it for spares, as I don't know if I could trust the frame still...

No no no... We are 4 times more likely to have an accident, BECAUSE we drive 8 times as much. In other words, women crash far less, because they're hardly ever out there!! It was to show how quoting one statistic out of context of the others totally skews everything, which many papers do on purpose.

Doc didn't even look at the neck, really. Was more concerned about my wrists, which have now been x-rayed...

IT'S A HIRE BIKE!!!!! I did actually enquire whether they had *any* Yamahas at all, even a 600, but apparently these guys get all their bikes in an exclusive Suzi package deal... They "try to do a like for like replacement", which basically means just matching engine size. When they said I was getting "a 1250", my entire SOUL was praying that it would not be a Ewan & Charley special from BMW!! Beemer or Suzi... Even if it does feel like something from IKEA, I can live with the latter on a temporary basis, at least!

When I shift up fast, I apply upward pressure to preload the shift lever, just as you would with the clutchless method. However, my biting point is right out at the natural extent of my fingers, which is happily about a half-inch in from the lever at rest. Makes great feathering, too. So, when I shift, I have only to bring the clutch in a touch and immediately release, usually with a slight throttle reduction at the same time and it is smooth as anthing. Works very nicely under most loads. Was taught it on DAS.

Not on my own bike, no, but three of the bikes at work have them and they are giggle-inducingly DEAFENING!! They were actually on my shopping list, before I had my mishap with the sump seal failure.

Well... I have to say that, with all the HMG covering it and the mismatched parts, it really looks a hideous mess. But do not think this is neccesarily a bad thing - While I'd never put this on most bikes, I am still a massive fan of RatBikes and will welcome one whenevr I get around to having a Rat myself!!

It feels okay, but far less powerful that I expected. I'm partially just moaning because I really took to that FJ beast and I miss its solid feeling. Kinda like going from cuddling your German Shepherd to a scrawny little Greyhound. But hey, free bike and it's actually been very easy to ride, so far. Why,yes.. yes I did.... Bearing in mind we have icy roads and this is a new front tyre on a bike that's not mine, so I'm taking it very careful-like... What? Beat the FJ1200? The FJ1200, not the 1300FJR, right? Seriously? Are you trying to take advantage of a cripple here, sir? My body may be smashed, but my mind and my Google Fu are sharp as ever!! 2010 Bandit S 1250 Weight - 239kg HP - 97HP @7500 Power/weight rating 0.40 0-60 in 3.4 secs Top speed - 140mph 1/4 mile - 11.29 [email protected] Goes hummmmm and then BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz Is a Suzook-ee.... umm... yeah... 1992 FJ1200 3XW (non-ABS version) Weight - 266kg HP - 130HP @9000 Power/weight rating 0.48 0-60 in 2.8/2.95 secs (ABS apparently slows the bike down...) Top speed - 160mph 1/4 mile - 11.10 [email protected] Growls like it feckin' well means it! Is a YAMAHA, baby!!! Yeah, fair enough point on that, I suppose. Not really into the FJRs at all, myself. Only the FJs. Yeah, bloody brilliant, innit!! I kinda like the tank feeling, especially on older models where the faring is a touch loose and you get the ker-chunk-a-chunk going over speed bumps - Sounds like an actual tank! But then the FJ is what, 27kg heavier... It's disconcerting... I expected something more substantial. This feels like one of those gadgets made from a "new, innovative modern structure twice the strength of steel and half the weight of paper" sort of thing. No word yet. They're sending an engineer out at some point to have a gander and see if it's economical to repair. If they do write it off, I'll want to keep it, so I have spare parts for the new FJ if nothing else!!

Always check/fix the cheapest and easiest stuff first. 1/. Check your throttle cables are not twisted up or stretched/damaged. 2/. Check your throttle cables are properly lubed. If not, lube them up! Do the brake and clutch ones while you're at it. 3/. Strip the right control cluster down and make sure both the throttle slider and any areas it fits onto/into are clean and free of crap. 4/. Check your butterfly valves and associated components, where your throttle cables connect to. Make sure they are clean and working well. Something I once found once was when I applied the brake and pulled the clutch in, the engine remained revving. I was turning into an entrance, so had a good grip on the bars. I think it was cold and my muscles were slightly tensed up against this, as it turns out I was still holding the throttle open a bit while squeezing the brake, ha ha!!

No way - It is too small and thin and placid and exposed and electrical and unfaired and slow and... and... and it's a fecking SUZUKI!!!! Actually, because it's so quiet and gentle with no feel to the ride, it's pretty easy to suddenly find yourself doing 55 down a 40. It feels like a 400cc version of the Fireblade, but rides like a lower, more upright version of the 700 Deauville I once test-rode! I'd rather go back to my Cruiser!

Hire Bike: 2010 Suzuki Bandit 1250... Black. Looks like this: Looks like it's made out of LEGO!! It's bigger than expected, but smaller than it looks. It feels even smaller sat on it, especially as the mini-fairing is tiny and low down. Sat on it, this last part is more noticable, as there is a massive open space where a proper screen should be. It looks like I should be bent over the tank as there's a good foot of emptiness in front of me where the bars turn into. It's rather chilly! It has a rev counter, but the speedo and instrumentation is mostly digital. That kinda sucks. Even the mirrors are low down and wide apart, which doesn't seem right for the upright seating. It mainly looks bigger because the single exhaust can is comically ma-HOO-ssive!! Riding position is very upright, the pegs are upswept (presumably to bring your knees in tight against the tank, but my legs are a bit long for that), the bars are also upswept slightly. Were this my own bike, I'd be getting straight bars for it immediately. Engine hums quietly, but still has the Suzuki signature angry wasp scream when you rev it up. Handling is OK and it's noticably lighter than the FJ, although I haven't pushed is very much yet for reasons I'll mention shortly. It feels lighter and more nimble than other bikes I've ridden, but also feels a bit 'girly' and timid. Normal acceleration is very smooth and roll-on is respectable, but far more disciplined than expected. Not exactly gutless, but not raging either. I might have a little play with it after a few days and see if it can really do anything. However, first I must put some fuel in, as the fuel tap and choke are both automatic and the bike came with only 'one bar' on the meter - I don't even know how much that is and there's no manual, so if a tiny LCD icon flashing is supposed to be the equivalent of a big red warning light, I only hope I make it to the petrol station! But the real reason I'm being SOOOOO careful is that the hire guys left me outside my house at 7:30am, on a blatantly icy road, with a bike that has a BRAND NEW front tyre!!! Seriously, it's still got the little coloured lines and chalk marks on the flippin' thing... I've just had a motorcycle crash and you're giving me an unfamiliar bike on Wintery roads in this condition??!! Great... cheers... About the nicest thing about the bike is that the clock whizzes round when you key up the ignition! In the same way that being in a room where someone farted a lot in the past two hours is not the same as breathing the clean, fresh air of the Norwegian fjords area - The Bandit is acceptable, but it is NOT a Yamaha and nowhere near being an FJ1200!!

Oh... Do you not have a gaming PC then... or at least an XBox?

Well, I expect to win my insurance claim, so... hope you're up for sharing with the Ttaskmistress!! Not too sure you'll like my helmet, though. It's certainly been abused, of late!!

I got it wrong - It was actually Gizmo who explained it (sorry Giz, but it was 2 years ago!): Hope that helps!

Congrats!! And keep the tache - It suits you and looks great with that coat!

Make sure the wires are working and, if so, replace the faggotty little Dragstar horn with something more manly that lets car drivers KNOW they've been spoken to!!! These are nice: http://www.amazon.co.uk/12V-Snail-Air-Horn-Set/dp/B0042EWMFQ Most bike shops will sell something like this.

Men are statistically 4 times more likely to have an accident than women. Men also statistically drive something like 8 times further, 8 times more hours and 8 times more frequently than women. Men are also far more likely to be professional drivers than women. Statistics can skew things very badly. Kinda like how 60% of bikers do not pay annual road tax - They buy 6-monthly instead, but they ignored this part!

What on Earth brings you to Reading, Bippo?

Cheers guys! All advice duly rogered, especially the whiplash parts TBH, given that she was probably doing 50-60mph down that road, I'm surprised there isn't more catastrophic damage to the bike. Strangely, Police didn't breathalyse her or anything. Thought that was a standard requirement. No idea if they're prosecuting or anything, as I don't think I'll be privvy to that info. Will check out my own solicitors, although I may have to use whoever my insurance specifies. I almost had a moment, when the bike hire place said they could supply me if the third party insurance had already offered one (considered poaching business, apparently). However, I'm going through my guys on that, for reasons of sense... although I'm getting a Bandit 1250 as a replacement. They didn't have a single Yamaha