General chat thread... Links, pictures, banter etc

Richard tea

Thought I would get the summer out of my tyres but a crack in the thread on my rear is too bad. Ive ordered a set of Avons. €270 incl fitting. Does this sound reasonable ?

blu3r0ri0n

That's one way to get a Brazilian!

Cienciano

On the face of it, this sounds mental. What type of bike would you get for an ambulance, you need value for money and reliability. A harley!

http://www.thejournal.ie/harley-davidson-motorbikes-hse-1514903-Jun2014/

THE HEALTH SERVICE Executive (HSE) has spent over €66,000 on three Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
The top of the range motorbikes were purchased for the National Ambulance Service, however, they travel less than 100 kilometres per week.

prunudo

blu3r0ri0n wrote: »

That's one way to get a Brazilian!

Oh f@ck, that's going to hurt.

spiggotpaddy

I was happily thruming along on my B12 when a turbine smooth blackbird came whistling by and I thought, fcuking lovely.
A couple of clicks up the road I caught up with it wobbling around a few bends, I passed him and thought, how embarrassing.
The road straightend up to go into the next town, restricted to fifty kph, when blackbird man comes fizzing by at warp speed, and I thought, that guy could do with a lot more skill and a lot less horses.

BaronVon

Cienciano wrote: »

On the face of it, this sounds mental. What type of bike would you get for an ambulance, you need value for money and reliability. A harley!

http://www.thejournal.ie/harley-davidson-motorbikes-hse-1514903-Jun2014/

My understanding of this is that the HSE put this out to tender, and Harley were the only company to submit a tender. Therefore the HSE had to buy the Harleys. I think it's more of a story about the restrictions of government tenders, than it is about the HSE buying the wrong bikes.

Richard tea

What do you lads think of the look of this bike. Im 2+ years off changing my bike but I like the look of this bike. Fuel consumption is 65 mpg average which is a major deciding point for my future bike. What other bike can you recommend with a very good fuel consumption?

positron

Richard tea wrote: »

What do you lads think of the look of this bike. Im 2+ years off changing my bike but I like the look of this bike. Fuel consumption is 65 mpg average which is a major deciding point for my future bike. What other bike can you recommend with a very good fuel consumption?

NC, BMW F650, F800 etc are probably the most fuel efficient of large cc'd bikes. CBR 250R is also does very good mpg if you can live with 250 cc. Other main attraction with the NC is its 'not-tank' storage space, you can do away with unsightly top boxes, tank bags and backpacks etc. I am keen to try out the NC myself, but the rarer S version.

Richard tea

positron wrote: »

NC, BMW F650, F800 etc are probably the most fuel efficient of large cc'd bikes. CBR 250R is also does very good mpg if you can live with 250 cc. Other main attraction with the NC is its 'not-tank' storage space, you can do away with unsightly top boxes, tank bags and backpacks etc. I am keen to try out the NC myself, but the rarer S version.

Yeah it has massive storage, very handy.

Richard tea

I went with Adelaide insurance. CB400 fully comp for €219

Cienciano

Richard tea wrote: »

I went with Adelaide insurance. CB400 fully comp for €219

Jesus, I never heard of anyones insurance for anything down as low as €219!

Richard tea

Cienciano wrote: »

Jesus, I never heard of anyones insurance for anything down as low as €219!

That includes commuting. No bike assist though afaik. C&N wanted 249 for tpft

goodlad

Cienciano wrote: »

Jesus, I never heard of anyones insurance for anything down as low as €219!

You shouldhaggle a bit more dude.
Im paying 260 fully comp with Adelaide on my Sv1000.

Thats including full protected no claims and bike assist and an excess of 250.
It was an extra 12 quid for commuting onto it.

When MCE came into the market a few months ago and were giving out dirt cheap quotes but with massive excess, Adelaide were matching or in most cases beating the quotes but keeping the excess down.

Wonda-Boy

Cienciano wrote: »

Jesus, I never heard of anyones insurance for anything down as low as €219!

That is low, but then again I am €359 fully comp on an €7k bike and only riding 3 yrs so I cant complain. :P

Richard tea

Cienciano

More stuff stolen from Reddit, this is a Ask Me Anything with a former bike thief. Some good tips and interesting read. Obviously his experiences are in America, but still a good read.
http://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/t5shp/ex_thief_chopshop_operator_ama/
If you can't be arsed reading, he recommends a high quality chain through part of the frame, or if you have to do a wheel, do the back paired with a good quality disc lock, again on the back.
He doesn't steal bikes any more, and this is his current disc lock he personally uses:
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/38299/i/xena-xx-10-disc-lock-with-alarm?WT.ac=SLIsearch
He says alarms are good, but it all depends on the install, and most of the time a dealer doesn't bother doing a good job cos it's not his bike. He also says a lockable cover is a good idea and always use your steering lock.

Zascar

I've been on holidays for a week but I'm back. What did I miss?

Cienciano

Zascar wrote: »

I've been on holidays for a week but I'm back. What did I miss?

The best biking weather of the year, it's been great!

Zascar

Lets hope it lasts till next week for the meet!

Cienciano

According to met.ie we'll start to see rain again during next week.

Mr Sheen!

Cienciano wrote: »

According to met.ie we'll start to see rain again during next week.

It will prob be sunny so . . . Them lads don't have a clue

aaakev

Lucky boy!!
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/weird-news/cartwheeling-motorcyclist-safely-lands-feet-3738866

goodlad

SO the drive home today was fun..... While on the M9 i decided to give it some more throttle and the grip just spun around and i actually pulled it off the bar.... LOL...

The heat the last week wrecked the glue holding on my heated grip and it all just flaked off. I shoved the grip back on the bar and literally had to squeeze it as hard as i could to give it throttle.

I got home, cleaned off all the flaking clue and have some superglue on it now. Hopefully its enough...

Skill Magill

goodlad wrote: »

SO the drive home today was fun..... While on the M9 i decided to give it some more throttle and the grip just spun around and i actually pulled it off the bar.... LOL...

The heat the last week wrecked the glue holding on my heated grip and it all just flaked off. I shoved the grip back on the bar and literally had to squeeze it as hard as i could to give it throttle.

I got home, cleaned off all the flaking clue and have some superglue on it now. Hopefully its enough...

What I do,is get some wire, loop it around the throttle grip and then twist it tight with a pliers, before snipping off any excess to make it neat looking. It'll never come off then.

goodlad

Had this dope on the M7 earlier. I noticed he was behind me so i moved to the left of the left lane and waved him to pass me. But instead he pulls along side an starts jesturin at me and having a moan and then fookin goes slower than he previously was to catch up with me.

If you are the dude in the pic, you're a dope.
Perhaps he thought me gesturing at him was me moaning but i think we all know if another bike pulls to the left of a lane and waves a hand at you then its saying go on ahead.

blu3r0ri0n

goodlad wrote: »

Had this dope on the M7 earlier. I noticed he was behind me so i moved to the left of the left lane and waved him to pass me. But instead he pulls along side an starts jesturin at me and having a moan and then fookin goes slower than he previously was to catch up with me.

What kind of gesture are we talking about here :P

Cienciano

goodlad wrote: »

If you are the dude in the pic, you're a dope.

LOL! Most other bikers on the road are sound, but you do get some tools.

Wonda-Boy

goodlad wrote: »

Had this dope on the M7 earlier. I noticed he was behind me so i moved to the left of the left lane and waved him to pass me. But instead he pulls along side an starts jesturin at me and having a moan and then fookin goes slower than he previously was to catch up with me.

If you are the dude in the pic, you're a dope.
Perhaps he thought me gesturing at him was me moaning but i think we all know if another bike pulls to the left of a lane and waves a hand at you then its saying go on ahead.

Should have gave it a twist off the wrist and made a fool of him on his (looks like it) Bandit 600, thats the best thing to do.....then slow down and when he catches up do it again and again.

goodlad

Ah i left him to it. Once we hit the M9 turn off he blast it to easily over 200 kmh and started undertaking like a dope at that speed. Twas grand when I just passed by him at the top of the offramp at the next exit as he got slowed down by cars going right so i nipped up the left as that's where I was going.

Perhaps he has anger issues and lacks the common sense that would of told him I moved to let him pass. Oh well!

Skill Magill

That was me, I was trying to show you how to tighten a piece of wire around your throttle cable to stop it slipping. I don't know, you try to help people and you get called a dope!

Cienciano

Skill Magill

^^^^^
Still wouldn't mind a go on a Harley, or a Goldwing with all the accessories, and I'd be the first to recommend other bikes if you're going to spend that amount of money. (I'm talkin Honda Goldwing GL1800 and not the ones that go up for 2000)
Or a trike, love to have a go on one of them

goodlad

Lads, any first hand opinions out there of the 2010 model V-Strom DL1000?

I really didn't give them a look in but sat on one today and the seating position was extremely comfortable. Another good point for me is the fact that its a V-Twin and the same engine as my SV, just different mapping.

Main reason this is important to me is i absolutely love how my SV drives so goin with another V-Twin is a plus for me.

There is 14,000 Km on it and it comes with full Suzuki luggage and heated grips.
List price on it is 8250 and the offer on my SV is 2750 trade in.

Any thoughts lads?

Wonda-Boy

goodlad wrote: »

Lads, any first hand opinions out there of the 2010 model V-Strom DL1000?

I really didn't give them a look in but sat on one today and the seating position was extremely comfortable. Another good point for me is the fact that its a V-Twin and the same engine as my SV, just different mapping.

Main reason this is important to me is i absolutely love how my SV drives so goin with another V-Twin is a plus for me.

There is 14,000 Km on it and it comes with full Suzuki luggage and heated grips.
List price on it is 8250 and the offer on my SV is 2750 trade in.

Any thoughts lads?

Give Lookbehindyou a buzz he has one, I drove it many times and its a superb all rounder. Loads of torque and pulls in every gear, as you already know very comfortable and very reliable. It would not be as fast as the SV1000 top end but you would not be disappointed Gary.

Drove home from the NW200 last year in absolute pissings of rain and it was as sure footed at 100+ mph motorway all the way home. Only thing is that they are not the best looking machines but if that does not bother you then go for it.

goodlad

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Give Lookbehindyou a buzz he has one, I drove it many times and its a superb all rounder. Loads of torque and pulls in every gear, as you already know very comfortable and very reliable. It would not be as fast as the SV1000 top end but you would not be disappointed Gary.

Drove home from the NW200 last year in absolute pissings of rain and it was as sure footed at 100+ mph motorway all the way home. Only thing is that they are not the best looking machines but if that does not bother you then go for it.

I had dropped a front sprocket off my SV which killed the top end speed for me anyway. Even if the top end loss does bother me on the V-Strom thats only a remap to change.

Yeah the looks is what put me off initially to be honest. But i'm trying to be more practical about my bike choice. After sitting on the bike my view on it completely changed as it was so comfortable.

I can give it a test drive on Saturday morning if im available, not sure if i will be yet. If it drives well an i can see myself still having good craic on it then it will more or less tick all the boxes of what im after.

I had been looking at the Sprint like your own and micks but its out of my budget. The price on the V-Strom is fairly reasonable for a 2010 and its from my local place who i bought my SV from originally an he is always great to deal with which is another positive for me.

For me its going to come down to the test drive i guess.

blu3r0ri0n

Zascar wrote: »

Look what I found thanks to reddit! The track is the contidrom, Continental tire's testing track.

Zascar

Lads some of the guys from the Motors forum are having a meet in the phoenix park on Wednesday 9th of July at 7pm: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057227521
Anyone want to go along?

Wonda-Boy

Zascar wrote: »

Lads some of the guys from the Motors forum are having a meet in the phoenix park on Wednesday 9th of July at 7pm: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057227521
Anyone want to go along?

Blasphemy!!!

arybvtcw0eolkf

Zascar wrote: »

Anyone want to go along?

I'll go, get you to wheelie that 'blade :P

Richard tea

BrokenArrows

Richard tea wrote: »

Lol. I wonder what happened before that.

Wonda-Boy

Prolly bought the boots he had on in his shop and they would not change them for being too tight!!!!

Zascar

One of the lads on the spin at the weekend told us about clutchless gear changing. I had heard about it before but I had never tried it. So I gave it a bash and it works a treat - it's dead simple! It only works UP the gearbox, just tuck your toe under the lever, roll off the throttle for a fraction of a second and pop it up into the next gear. Actually a smoother gearchange. Can change one handed now even

BrokenArrows

Got back to London today from my tour. I had a helmet camera on a bit during the trip. Below is the video of the euro tunnel for anyone who's interested in what its like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUgSh5GNzds

Skill Magill

Christ, I was thinkin thats gonna take you all day drivin like that, forgot its a jaysusin train

arybvtcw0eolkf

Zascar wrote: »

One of the lads on the spin at the weekend told us about clutchless gear changing. I had heard about it before but I had never tried it. So I gave it a bash and it works a treat - it's dead simple! It only works UP the gearbox, just tuck your toe under the lever, roll off the throttle for a fraction of a second and pop it up into the next gear. Actually a smoother gearchange. Can change one handed now even

I'm always surprised at the amount of bikers who don't know this one, its much quicker and far more smoother.

Only bike I haven't done it on is my current BMW with its tractor gearbox, its just not that nice.

A trick for bikes with a broken cable clutch ~ emergency ride to repair ~ put the bike into first, turn it over and it'll jump forward into a start and go up one or two gears.. At the lights brake and the bike with come to a juddering halt and stall, knock it back into first and begin the process again when the lights turn green.

Its a handy tip for Vespa riders who'd regularly brake clutch cables.

goodlad

Have to give this a bash too. I never knew it was possible.

blu3r0ri0n

goodlad wrote: »

Have to give this a bash too. I never knew it was possible.

I'm surprised you didn't notice it on the previous Sunday spins.

goodlad

blu3r0ri0n wrote: »

I'm surprised you didn't notice it on the previous Sunday spins.

Its not something i watch for

I was hoping to get out next Sunday but there is a fooking wedding fair on that ive been "Asked" to go to instead.... lol

Wonda-Boy

goodlad wrote: »

Its not something i watch for

I was hoping to get out next Sunday but there is a fooking wedding fair on that ive been "Asked" to go to instead.... lol

"Asked" is a question with 2 possible answers. I know which one I would give