Mr Bignel

i've had much worse, usually i'm to blame lol.

thank you for sorting it out - hopefully things will be OK

unexpected backing up on exits happens here in the uk too now, part of the incident may be down to constrained vision available due to the concrete and tunnel effects but you'll be aware next time. we all get caught out occasionally so bad luck covers it i suppose although having had that happen it sharpens the old sixth sense so not all bad and no contact is something to be grateful for. hope you have a good Christmas and new year.

finding that the site, this site YOC, has been 'off the air' as it were the last few times i have attempted to visit.

you somewhere around leeds s/bite? i was a student there for four yrs in early 70's - over 50 yrs ago lol at the then polytechnic.

crumbs i'd better check my radiator. your valves shouldn't need doing again for another 27K I think it is. I've got a loose exup valve in the exhaust system, still works but makes a clicking sound at times, mainly when cold. Replacements are difficult to find in operational order. You can't get too excited riding in these parts around Oxford and the Cotswolds as it is relatively crowded, there's dual carriage ways and motorways but they are busy too. For quieter roads I need a whole day to leave the area and get over to the west towards Wales. Have you noticed how Thunderace prices are dropping in recent times? I guess if problems were to mount up one could realistically consider another similar bike if you could find one without without issues.

a lot of money to find but the equivalent here doesn't sound that bad at £714.65 UK have you hasd to pay out on the t/ace much s/bite? don't like to tempt fate but so far it has just been low level stuff for me like oil, filters, cables..

swingarm would be difficult as not possible to protect the wiring that well, as it is i can largely keep feeder wires out of harms way but yes that's something one might associate with a cruiser I suppose, low lights, hog style. My motivation is hearing about or seeing videos of bikers getting rear ended, so trying to attract attention or catch the eye might assist.

yep, bit on the marginal side but having put them on just flipping thewm back was easy and anything that may help..... bit obscured but Ok I think

amber/yellow flank led with red led facing rearward rear quarter view

re: Hey welcome back. Thanks Alex. I was off line for a bit, had problems with my thumb, now all good again, can ride and operate m/bike controls OK. Sorry to learn that you have had issues with the MT-09.

thanks s/bite, nice of you to trouble, i'd like it to go through it's mot so i'll order the amber type LEDs, thanks, much appreciated.

there's these on ebay, might consider swapping over... eBay UKUniversal Car Motorcycle Mini LED Turn Signal Tail Lights...(Fit for Cafe Racer Motorcycle（DIY mini led light). Light Color: Red 、Yellow （optional). Housing Color: Silver. We must protect your interest as promsied.

good point - just what i had at the time lol.

yes good point on the headlight situation - on the side lights i had a hairy incident where a lady motorist came out into a dual carriageway, i moved over as far as i could and got away with it, the guy behind me said that he saw her husband grab the steering wheel! Anything that promotes visibily, I'm getting distinctly paranoid about it now. Maybe west yorkshire is quieter but 40 miles from london is busy busy now with distracted and less than cautious motorists. If I can get further west, maybe herefordshire, things improve.

These are the running lights on my bike, two front, one either side and two at the back yet still i get peeps pulling out on me. changed the oil and filter today, book says oil change at 4K but i do 3K. next job is to wire in those spot lights you can just see down by the side lights, one each side. my thunderace is an early one 1997 with 50k miles, there's a later model on autotrader that i like: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/202509226529043?advertising-location=at_bikes but now isn't the time despite low prices.

oh dear

thanks amb, i see it is annotated 'custom' meaning americanised i think. i prefer the wire wheels that you have now.

i'm not that knowledgeable about bikes but this particular one strikes me as rather a mystery, on one hand the tall bars and tail bar make it look like a chopper but then if you imagine it without those and a minimal seat then it has the look of a scrambler, especially if it had a scrambler exhaust high up to the side. What would it have looked like originally I cannot help but wonder, are those handle bars original please?

well done perservering

the response that occurs to me is that, here in the uk anyway, one has to be a little bit careful not to upset motorists, road rage, things kicking off etc so i would think twice about hovering behind a car with full beam on as one wouldn't want to nuisance/irritate them. as preciously mentioned, led running lights or spotlights aren't quite so intrusive especially if set lower.

hmm.. that's a novel approach ha-ha.

somebody correct me but i don't believe we are alowed to travel about during the day on main headlight beam here in the UK, not withstanding adventure bike style high level spotlights have the same effect. I've installed a couple of led spotliughts for improved daytime visibiity but not connected then up as yet, something I've done on previous motorcycles, they do help with filtering as they attract the attention of motorists ahead going in the same direction.

i don't know alex, we know where we are going and look ahead for potential dangers anyway don't we? Best not to be in a hurry. Staying in control, owning the road - that is easier if there's space ahead so leaving a gap behind the car in front is surely good enough. So many vehicles are bulky with dark windows which doesn't help but nevertheless not sufficient reason to go for overtakes - I stay in line unless it gets really tedious. Eventually you get to clearer areas.

getting there 😊