Thinking about going back to two wheels

[Ian Warren]

I have noticed a decline with bikes, regular spots 'parkups' gone tho I rode all weather back in the ole days and still saw many groups out and about even bike shops don't seem to have that much custom anymore.

[Fozzer]

I have noticed a decline with bikes, regular spots 'parkups' gone tho I rode all weather back in the ole days and still saw many groups out and about even bike shops don't seem to have that much custom anymore.

Funny you should mention that, Ian!

It reminded my that at one time from the 1940's to early 1980's we had loads of Bike shops in my town, and surrounding towns...

Now there is nothing left, not a shop to be seen, nowhere to buy a Bike from, and only one single, struggling, repair shop!

I recently took a trip from Hereford to Leeds, to visit family, and back again, a 450 mile all-round trip, and I made a point of noticing that I never saw a single Motorcycle for the whole of the trip!
Bloody Depressing!

Maybe everyone has got Motor Cars now!.... ...apart from me.... ...!

We'll have to see what the coming warm weather brings...(Summer in England)... more bikes on the road?

I hope so!

Paul... ...!

P.S...Marty has suddenly gone very quiet lately.....I reckon he has now got a Bike, and he is already on a round-the-world trip on it!... ...!

[Ian Warren]

I have noticed a decline with bikes, regular spots 'parkups' gone tho I rode all weather back in the ole days and still saw many groups out and about even bike shops don't seem to have that much custom anymore.

Funny you should mention that, Ian!

It reminded my that at one time from the 1940's to early 1980's we had loads of Bike shops in my town, and surrounding towns...

Now there is nothing left, not a shop to be seen, nowhere to buy a Bike from, and only one single, struggling, repair shop!

I recently took a trip from Hereford to Leeds, to visit family, and back again, a 450 mile all-round trip, and I made a point of noticing that I never saw a single Motorcycle for the whole of the trip!
Bloody Depressing!

Maybe everyone has got Motor Cars now!.... ...apart from me.... ...!

I think its the education today, I have witnessed two horrific accidents one directly in front off me .. a driver decides to overtake on a almost blind corner coming directly towards us.. the bike rider had no place to go - cut him in half by a lamp post dodging the van and the other was even more gruesome .

You then get the other end off the stick with the ones who pass there own limitations and I had a mate who really pushed the limits and how survived is beyond me then another mate who wanted to join us, keep up but simply had no riding skills, had Bruce in the mirror checking on him regular to prove he was Ok after a couple snake turns disappeared .. flashed the lead bike down .. we started looking .. couple off us thought he went home, nope he could not handle a corner .. he did live but was in hospital for weeks.

Rather be with the in-crowd straight away , simply go riding and learn your abilities and don't ride fast , learn that on a track if possible .... now that is serious fun , have another who has been clocked at 285 km at Rupunua .. outside Christchurch .. I like speed but that is .... its impressive to watch.

[Fozzer]

I never liked having to chase the bikers in the group in an effort to keep up with them.
I always prefer to ride on my own, at my own pace, for pleasure and safety reasons!

I notice on the various "You Tube" ride outs, the only bikers who seem to really enjoy themselves, together with their Wives and Girlfriends, are the Harley Davidson crowd, who always seem to tour quietly round the countryside, admiring the scenery as they go!
Spread well apart, and not chasing each other too close!

Scary crowd, but loads of fun!... ...>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpxLNe8POdk

...and some wonderful USA scenery...as usual!

There is not much fun in constantly trying to keep up with the Bloke's number plate in front!

Some closer-to-home Ozzy riders!...>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktfCFDNkRvo

Paul.....Route 66!..... ...!

I like taking my 7" Tablet with me to bed each night and watching all those Harley Davidson riders touring the American West and Mid West amongst some breath-taking scenery!
(...not much else to do in bed at nights!)... ...!

[Ian Warren]

I guess you have that movie the "Wild Hogs" on your shelf then .. even looking at the short clip I me head off

[Fozzer]

I guess you have that movie the "Wild Hogs" on your shelf then .. even looking at the short clip I me head off

Nah...Missed that one Ian...

..but it looks like loadsa fun...>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSvwmgWCJ2s

Yee-Haaa.... ...!

Paul.... ...!

[Ian Warren]

That's the one Paul, even if repeated I still what it again .... It is Sooooo funny

[cowpatz]

I notice on the various "You Tube" ride outs, the only bikers who seem to really enjoy themselves, together with their Wives and Girlfriends, are the Harley Davidson crowd, who always seem to tour quietly round the countryside, admiring the scenery as they go!

I don't know Fozzer. This legend is having a ball:

[Ian Warren]

Crikey 300 clicks and one is on the back wheel .. that happened in front of me ... when the CBR600s first come out , heading to Akaroa cruising at 140km .. this little pocket rocket took off on one wheel .. it took me 180km even before I started catching this guy .. I was seriously impressed , the power to weight ratio

[Splitpin]

Wow .... i didn't think a boring little post would generate so much conversation
Anyway , i think i will go with the Royal Enfield thing . I was talking to the man today , and it seems they have a few 2nd hand machines .... a Bullet , and another.
But , in the meantime .... the beam needs an airbag reset , and one of the corollas needs 3 (meaning 4) new tires for a wof, and its due ...... a week ago.
May just flick the cars and be done with it ..... Im so confused

[Ian Warren]

Marty .. a GHOSTRIDER! faster than a 303 Enfield be the one for you

[Fozzer]

I must admit that that sort of Motorcycle riding on public roads gives the rest of us a very bad name amongst other road users!

Personally, I've got no time for them.... ...!

The race track is the place for racing...only themselves to kill then!

I'm very proud of the fact that I have kept by Driving licences (and me) intact for the past 65 years of daily Bilking and Driving... ...!

(I have an overwhelming fear of Death!)

I get on extremely well with other road users...courtesy!

My Honda CBR 600 FM was capable of 150 MPH. My CB 500RR is capable of 125 MPH. My Yamaha RX-S 100 is capable of 70 MPH.
Max speed limit in the UK = 70 MPH Motorway, 60 MPH other roads.

Paul....In no particular hurry to get anywhere!... ...!

Off for a 15/20/30 MPH max, shopping ride into Town in a minute... ...!

[Ian Warren]

I must admit that that sort of Motorcycle riding on public roads gives the rest of us a very bad name amongst other road users!

That is exactly what race tracks are for but in saying that Ive ripped along roads at high speed but they were empty, you get the traffic that person was doing then its traffic filled is nuts but check the speed ... 300 km p/h and was going for more a media thing.

[Fozzer]

Marty...

A Girl...a Bullet...and India.... ...!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FDnZfxFfi4

Paul.... ...!

The lovely thing about Motorbikes is that they mostly fly through the annual Ministry of Transport test...no rotting bodywork!
Home maintenance!

[emfrat]

I have always made a point of testing any newly acquired vehicle in extreme conditions - essentially a full emergency stop from max speed, so I know how it will behave under stress.
I have a few favourite bits of road where visibility, traffic levels and so on make that illegal activity 'safe'. Our open-road speed limit is generally 100kmh, with 110 (70mph) allowed in some areas and on some dual highways.
A few years back I had a Holden (General Motors) Zafira which I found would hold 170kmh on the level, and pull up nice and straight from that speed, on a second-class road. Very handy to know that.
I have never had so much as a parking ticket.

[Ian Warren]

Mike - A new class off bike .. just from Paul to Marty .. a GBI ... now that sounds pretty smooth

[Fozzer]

Mike - A new class off bike .. just from Paul to Marty .. a GBI ... now that sounds pretty smooth

I'll tell you what....

..these Royal Enfields are certainly becoming very popular over here...again!

All modern stuff now, electric start, electronic ignition.12v lighting, reliability, etc.... ...>>>

http://www.royalenfield.me/

My first one in 1950 was a new 1948 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet, silver and chrome tank, up-swept exhaust, twin shocks, 75 MPH joy!



Makes a pleasant change from Japanese, etc, pocket-rockets!

A fantastic, relaxed, tourer,...and sound nice!

A Bullet a day keeps the Ducati's away... ...!

Paul..... ...!

[Ian Warren]

Just for looks I'll stick with Japanese pocket rockets .. those look to hard to keep clean

[Fozzer]

Just for looks I'll stick with Japanese pocket rockets .. those look to hard to keep clean

The trouble with the Jap pocket rockets, Ian, is that all that full-fairing hides all the rust, corrosion, rot, etc, going on underneath, that you don't notice!

On the naked bikes, a quick spray all over the bike with warm soapy water washes all the nasties away...everywhere....super-quick!

My little Yammy gets a quick wash all over after each shopping trip....

..then I do the same thing to nest-door's Missus, while Hubby is at work... ...!

All nice and clean...

Paul.... ... ...!

[Ian Warren]

Just for looks I'll stick with Japanese pocket rockets .. those look to hard to keep clean

The trouble with the Jap pocket rockets, Ian, is that all that full-fairing hides all the rust, corrosion, rot, etc, going on underneath, that you don't notice!
On the naked bikes, a quick spray all over the bike with warm soapy water washes all the nasties away...everywhere....super-quick!

One thing I could say and the reason a hi performance bike will last as long as the 900 did was constantly keeping it clean ... keeping it clean you always see what needs to be maintained ... but here for you Paul a blast from the past, have quite a few more different adverts and different bikes, this from a 1963 Royal Airforce flying review magazine.