Pete

Alan's having you on Scott. Us Welsh guys have got our women trained like the Stepford Wives! :roll:

The ZZR600 would be a good option for you too Amanda. Very low seat height and very comfortable. Bloody rapid too.

He's not saying do 30 around bends, he's basically saying treat a bend like it's the first time you've been round it....rather than presuming the road is clear.

You never know, weather permitting, I may be out and about.

We're in the same boat Alan....getting used to a different style of bike. It's a bit strange really when I analyse the XT. The negatives: It's not fast. It's not attractive. It's not particularly comfortable due to the hard seat. It's not particularly smooth cos I'm used to IL4's. It doesn't stop that quickly, but it's OK for the performance it has. The positives: It's FUN....and so easy, relaxing, and liberating to ride! Makes no sense when you analyse it....but how can you quantify a feeling?

So Beckham's taken over Peter Kay's role in the John Smith's adverts then? HAVE IT!

That'll be another whoosh for most of the board then! 8)

I've got a theory that at least 50% of Bikers today are riding the bike that they think they should be seen on....rather than the bike that suits them. Examples: People riding bikes that are too tall for them to touch the floor properly. People riding bikes that are too heavy for them to manoevre at low speed. A combination of both....very dangerous IMO. Loads of heavier built, very tall people hunched up on sportsbikes with their beerguts flopping on the tank and their knees nearly under their chins. Seems to me that as it's fashionable to be seen on a sportsbike, common sense and practicality seems to go out of the window. So what about you....are you riding the bike that's right for you? Or....are you riding the bike that you think you should be seen on?

[ ] There's no excuse for Suzuki ownership! [ ] Bon was The Man! [ ] You want a nice Thumper you do! [ ] Warning! Internet Riding God bullshitting in progress! [ ] PM Mozzy! [ ] Just say NO to Mullets! [x] We didn't bother with that any of that shit in my day! [ ] That's a girl's bike! 8) 8) 8)

It's no skin off my nose Yammie! 8)

Mozzy did some good DT125 roadtests though Alan.

RU talking about knob placement or road preference? 8)

[ ] There's no excuse for Suzuki ownership! [ ] Bon was The Man! [ ] You want a nice Thumper you do! [ ] Warning! Internet Riding God bullshitting in progress! [ ] PM Mozzy! [x] Just say NO to Mullets! [x] We didn't bother with that any of that shit in my day! [ ] That's a girl's bike! 8) 8) 8)

It depends which side your knob is resting, cos that can re-centre your balance point.

I see you're on my wavelength Yammie! 8)

That's a good idea Alan! Now let me start by discussing oil burning 2nd Gen Bandit 12's!

I was in David Jones's this afternoon. Is that your old CB1300 in the showroom? Looks a bloody heavy thing like my Divvy 9 was. Very liberating when you've got a light, user friendly bike instead isn't it? What sort of time RU going there tomorrow?

Saw a load going through Llandod today. Really bizarre to see a huge group of enduro machines bombing up the road. Whereabouts are they going to be tomorrow Alan?

Don't know about you Alan, but I suspect you'll agree, I was really sorry to see the demise of the 750 class. 8) Remember when that class was the target we were all working towards? Nowadays it's pass DAS, buy R1. :roll:

[ ] There's no excuse for Suzuki ownership! [ ] Bon was The Man! [ ] You want a nice Thumper you do! [ ] Warning! Internet Riding God bullshitting in progress! [ ] PM Mozzy! [ ] Just say NO to Mullets! [x] We didn't bother with that any of that shit in my day! [ ] That's a girl's bike! 8) 8) 8)

OK....here's the answer in Tony Carter's exact words: When you first approached the bend(s) an assessment of the correct speed was made on what you could see. When the subsequent runs have been made at the higher speeds the assessment was made now using local knowledge. The first time you went through the bend you could not see where the road went, you didn't know whether there were parked cars on the exit side or whether there were potholes or gravel or whatever, so the speed selected was based on that lack of knowledge. Once you have been through the bend you know how severe the bend is, you know the state of the road surface, you know whether there are parked vehicles or whatever so automaticaly you are using that knowledge to up your speed, but every bend should be treated as if you are riding it for the first time regardless of how often you use that section of road. So the correct answer to the original question is 30 MPH Dispute it if you like....but that's the bottom line...cos Tony Carter said so! 8)

XT Alan is absolutely right in what he's saying. But to reinforce a point that Tony Carter is trying to make, he's given you a number of speed options to choose. I'll give you Tony's answer very soon, but remember that you can dispute it, or argue the point as much as you like. But the bottom line is that his knowledge, experience, and qualifications far outweigh anybody elses. He's the only guy that I will take direction from, and as you know I've been around a long time and don't listen to anything that the likes of the IAM and ROSPA say. Well meaning amateurs in my book...the vast majority of whom can talk the talk, but can't walk the walk. Tony Carter is a pro...and he can really walk the walk. I'll have to get him to tell you the time he went bike testing with all the Riding God journalists who you see wheelying in the mags, but on real roads in North Wales. They were ALL owned by Tony...and in a big way!

For all the confused people, look up "surrealism" in the dictionary. You'll find it somewhere between "subhuman" and "Suzuki-owner". 8)

I've just got one for the XT...£9 each...but I only have to buy one. 8) Details here: http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/products/cars...1420&country=US I'll give you a report on them when I get the chance to go for a ride...if it ever stops raining! In the meantime, anybody used them?