Biker's Cafe Chatroom

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Two and a half years and my only off was on my 125 within 2 months of riding. Stupidly assumed drivers wouldn't attempt a right turn into a bus only road whilst filtering, lesson learned - don't trust anyone. ;)
 
The_Abyss said:
I used to own one - had a 2011 from new for a couple of years before trading up to my Aprilia Caponord. I did my first Euro trip on the Shiver. It was a fun bike but I soon found it to be underpowered - it doesn't feel like 95 bhp, rather like 80 - 85. I felt that the torque of the v twin really didn't make up for the slightly sluggish feel. Range is pretty pants if you're touring but on the plus side it is nice and stable to throw around with confidence. I scraped the pegs a couple of times and I've never done that on any other bike.

Switch gear is ok but there are no toys on this bike apart from some basic trip computers and engine mode mapping on the fly - the latter is irrelevant because you'll permanently have it in the most aggressive setting after a week.

They don't hold their value well, so you should be able to find one pretty cheap. However, speaking as a now two time Aprilia owner you need to be prepared for servicing costs (not quite on a Ducati level but not far off) and accept that should any part need replacing it normally needs to be ordered from the factory in Italy who have a very laid back approach to customer service. Parts can take weeks, if not months.
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I've been put off them now, heard one today with akro cans on, sounded like a wasp in a can:p
 
I've had 4 offs in total.

Wet drain emergency brake - (***** scooter (sold it a week later))
Over a car bonnet that pulled out in front of me - (TS50X)
Wet leaves turning into a junction right outside my house - (KH125)
Black ice on a bend - (GSX650F)

I'm not counting the time i feel over on the CBR400RR backing out of my parents driveway... damn gravel! Just lost an indicator and my pride.

gcaster said:
don't trust anyone. ;)
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True that!!
 
125 - No problem
SV650 - 1 crash, stupid new rider mistake
GSXR 750 - Roundabout front end slide, gravel road highside at 5mph....embarrassing!, then written off major accident (2009).
I was having a decent run since then... no problems on the Street Triple, until...
GSXR 1000 - slow speed crash on cobble stone ice Xmas 2013, then in March 2014 was when the woman turned in front of me and got my famous video :D

Been riding since I was 17, 29 now, bike has always been my commuter vehicle, I think I didn't ride for maybe 6 months after the 2009 accident, then had a second operation on my arm in 2010, didn't ride for 3 months then after my accident in 2014 thought I would give road riding a rest for a while... got bored quick and was back on the road by the end of summer 2014, but apart from that on the road all year round if I can :D
 
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125 was 2 drops on ice, 1 white van man pulling across me while filtering.
SV has been 1 drop on ice and 1 endo face plant, oh yeah and my mate reversing over me :rolleyes:

The lesson here is don't ride when it's cold!
 
Only time I "dropped" the bike is when I turned up for the first day of my DAS. Parked on some grass by the instructors house, he came out and was walking to me. As I got off, the kick stand sunk into the grass and the bike fell over onto me...

Not the best start or showcase of my biking ability :D
 
2 for me so far in around 25k miles, both identical - braking in slightly damp, greasy conditions, front locked up, down I went.

I still blame the bike partially, now I have my brakes sorted they're much better. No braking for the first 1-2" of lever travel means emergency braking was interesting!
 
When I went on a Ron Haslam track day, part of the training was bike control and they said you should always apply the brakes lightly to make the suspension compress and then after that phase, squeeze as hard as you safely can.
 
Yeah that's right, lightly braking at first to compress the suspension and increase the front tyre contact patch by, then more braking once the tyre has some load on it.

The issue with my bike was that there was zero braking at all for the first 2" of lever travel, so in an emergency braking situation I went to brake... nothing... braked more... still nothing... braked more... EVERYTHING. Front locked up and I was a passenger. :(
 
Haha, yeah at least you know your front brake works well!! :D Do you have ABS?

In this warm weather and with my brakes sorted (strip and clean every 1000 miles or so at the moment) I can almost 1 finger brake, it's lovely :D
 
Nope no ABS and to be honest I think any use of ABS or releasing and reapplying the front brake in this case would have meant me carrying on squarely into the back of the car with my wheel/nose rather than just glancing it with my screen and the very edge of the nose so it was a better outcome no twisted or bent forks for me and no cracked bumper for him.
 
How did you go about servicing your brakes? I'm off to the alps next week so if it's an easy job (I'd rather not bleed them) then I'll do that before I go as well.
 
To properly service the brakes you need to take the calipers off, clean up the pistons, replace the dust and piston seals then put them back on and fill with fresh fluid.

If you don't even fancy bleeding them then it may be best left to someone else.
 
What's wrong with it?

I've got my new lid arriving tomorrow just in time as my old one took a bump yesterday and I dropped it changing into my waterproofs last week so it's probably feeling a little abused.
 
Vent clip went lose, nearly lost it on last ride... the cheek pad is completely collapsed. I only wear this helmet on joy rides, whilst commuting or on short trips I use my shark the lock is just better and I'm not bothered if it gets damaged... The mounts for the cheek pad aren't lined up, I'm not sure though its hard to check that with this dodgy right cheek pad.

What lid did you get?
 
Ended up with the 2016 X lite X-802RR Ultra Carbon MotoGP, ordered last years discontinued one for a nice discount but they messed it up so they've given me an extra £150 worth of helmet for nothing :cool:
 
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