XT Alan

Yes Pete. I'm starting to think that these bikes are some kind of ultimate all rounder.

Just had the 600 mile service. Usual charges just for oil and filter. Unusual price £15. New clutch cover on the way. New grab handle (to rplace chipped one) fitted. Still waiting for carrier, bash plate and hand guards. It poured all the way to Newtown and back 80 miles. This is a very confidence inspiring bike and I rode at virtually dry road speeds with not a single twitch. So - this bike gets a few more Brownie Points.

Thanks for the info. It does seem too good to be true, when you read the hype the only thing it can't do is cook Christmas Dinner.

Are they perhaps saying "Wayne are you leaving"?

Greetings from the West to the East. XT Alan

Hi Folks, Has anyone used Ultra Seal in their tyres? If you have, does it work? I have discovered that although the XT uses tubes, the rims are tubeless types and to change a tyre needs a bead breaker. So fixing punctures/replacing tubes is not as straightforward as it might be. Alan

I don't like the look of the new Fazers at all. Unusual for Yamaha to make a bike that looks such a mismatch of design ideas. The oddball TDM is really funky and the puny performance challenged Bulldog at least looks good.

Sad really. Triumph were becoming a really good manufacturer. Things started to go pear shaped when they made the TT100, followed by the re-invented Bonny and now this! The old core of bikes:Trophys, Speed Triple, Thunderbird, Daytona 955 and Tiger was strong and distinctive. These new additions make the range a mess.

I agree that the Suzuki GS500 is pretty good looking with the Hayabusa type fairing. BUT and its a BIGBut. I had a GS500 about 5 years ago and it was THE worst bike I have ever owned. The handling was just horrible. Generally I like Suzukis a lot, but if the only Suzuki I had ever ridden was the GS500, I would be like Pete. Get a test ride is my advice or look for a Bandit 6, which is also cheapish and is a much better bike in my opinion.

I come home from a ride and put a wet piece of kitchen towel on the visor. Leave it for 10 minutes, then wipe it clean with the wet kitchen towel. Dry it with kitchen towel and polish with breath and a soft duster. Visors last for years this way. I replace my helmets every 2/3 years and have never had to replace a visor. I would say - NEVER use anything other than water to clean a visor.

Have any of you tried Armor All on your plastics? It works really well. I followed the instructions - wipe on (leave for 30minutes) - wipe on again (leave for another 30 minutes) - wipe on a third time (leave all night) - buff it up. I have always used Crystal GLO as my polish, but even though it is non abrasive (unlike Auto Glym) it isn't as effective. Crystal GLO is excellent on engine cases, exhausts, wheels and frame rails by the way. Another good move is to stick clear vinyl on vulnerable surfaces - forks, inside the swing arm etc. This will keep your pride and joy from chipping. Finally (How sad am I?) I paint "Protect and Ride" onto all the potental corrosion spots, fasteners etc. Once all this is done, you can ride all year knowing that your pride and joy will clean up like new.

Enjoy yourself :!: It'll be fun racing CB500s.

Good article. I clean my chain every 2000 miles or so. I lubricate as often as every 100 miles, depending on the conditions. I'll stick to Motul, as it has always worked for me. I used PJI until a couple of years ago, I can'tt remember why I stopped :?: but there was a reason :?

Got it! I think? Number 18 is Christian Saron. Only took my memory banks a week to kick in

It looks useful.

Don't get me wrong. I love the sound of noisey bikes - just not on the road. The best sound I ever heard was during a Motocross, Sound of Thunder race at Talsarn: 40 bikes accelerating up the 1 in 3 axhaust pipes pointing at the public at the bottom. The noise was awesome...........

Ah :!: Now I understand the reason for Titanium Cans

No. Just sensible.

This is a really boring answer. Loud cans are a pain and anti-social. I live in a small village just outside Aberystwyth. Summer days, morning to night: all you hear are bikes with loud cans having their nuts reved off by the children who ride them. I love bikes, but not everyone else in our society does. I am of the opinion that biking now attracts too many of the old XR3i brigade, who are only just one step up the food chain from Nova Boys. By putting two fingers up at the law I feel that this moronic culture that now prevails in biking will soon get us all penalised.

Derriboots were brilliant!! 100% waterproof and warm. Them and my lime green Motomod oversuit kept me dry through the 70s.

Yep. The Doctor is playing with them. He just followed Gibernau around and on the last lap - just blew him away. How good is he? I reckon he's brilliant. Only Biaggi can get near him, but the Camel Honda team have struggled since his spanner man died a few weeks back. All the great riders have had great spanner men.

I'm so old, I can't even remember being young :roll: Waxed Belstaff jackets, Premier Helmets, Dunstall Dominators, Tritons, Rickman Panniers and for the wheels Dunlop TT100s. 100mph was genuinely fast back then and wobbly. Our XTs would have been Speed Kings in the Olden Days. Pass me the Sanatogen quick :?

I'm so old, I can't even remember being young :roll: Waxed Belstaff jackets, Premier Helmets, Dunstall Dominators, Tritons, Rickman Panniers and for the wheels Dunlop TT100s. 100mph was genuinely fast back then and wobbly. Our XTs would have been Speed Kings in the Olden Days. Pass me the Sanatogen quick :?

Have no fear. You're all kids compared to me. I sometimes think that I am slowly turning into Victor Meldrew. :shock:

As they used to say "You meet the nicest people on a Honda".