Biker's Cafe Chatroom

[tom_e]

I'm currently eyeing up VFR800s, there's a couple at a dealer just down from work. Might pop in and wangle a test ride
Insurance is about £60 more for the year than the SV and it would probably cost me £1-1.5k to upgrade once I sold the SV.

 

[TallPaul_S]

I'm currently eyeing up VFR800s, there's a couple at a dealer just down from work. Might pop in and wangle a test ride
Insurance is about £60 more for the year than the SV and it would probably cost me £1-1.5k to upgrade once I sold the SV.

They're great bikes, especially for commuting. Very decent headlights, good weather protection (only my arms really get wet), they don't handle bad either and they sound great! And of course they're comfy - 500 miles in a day is no big issue.

You'll love the extra power over the SV, they don't really need to be revved as up to 5-6k they've got a bit of torque, however above 7k they take off sooo easy to look down and be doing a few mph over the 70mph limit

They are a bit heavy but you only notice that moving them about, they're well balanced - I came to an almost complete stop at a set of lights I knew was about to turn green tonight, was pretty much stationary for a good 2 seconds - I like to think the car behind was impressed

 

[The_Abyss]

I often sit at lights and lightly lift my feet off the ground to see how long I can balance for! Not more than a couple of seconds usually.

 

[Kreeeee]

They're great bikes, especially for commuting. Very decent headlights, good weather protection (only my arms really get wet), they don't handle bad either and they sound great! And of course they're comfy - 500 miles in a day is no big issue.

You'll love the extra power over the SV, they don't really need to be revved as up to 5-6k they've got a bit of torque, however above 7k they take off sooo easy to look down and be doing a few mph over the 70mph limit

They are a bit heavy but you only notice that moving them about, they're well balanced - I came to an almost complete stop at a set of lights I knew was about to turn green tonight, was pretty much stationary for a good 2 seconds - I like to think the car behind was impressed

Those sharp slow speed right handers are tricky though, eh?

 

[TallPaul_S]

Those sharp slow speed right handers are tricky though, eh?

Well, they are when you've got a large mass on the back and have to negotiate a large raised bar in the road

 

[tom_e]

Any advice on what to look out for Paul? I see an aftermarket r/r is pretty much a need but apart from that the Fi models look pretty bomb proof

 

[TallPaul_S]

Any advice on what to look out for Paul? I see an aftermarket r/r is pretty much a need but apart from that the Fi models look pretty bomb proof

Are you looking at a 5th gen (fi, pre vtec) model?

There's loads about, worry not about mileage - 30k is about run in for these.
Get a HISS model if you can, they changed some bits on the 5th gen in 2000, you get stainless headers with a CAT, HISS immobiliser, automatic choke and probably some other bits I've missed. If you get an earlier 98/99 one you'll have to make sure the header pipes have been replaced with a stainless set so it's easier just to get a later model. The cat shroud can made it look rusty but that's just the cover, the cat and pipes will be fine.

The brakes are linked so feel a bit wooden to start but they're solid - when you use the front it applied one piston from the rear, and when you use the rear there's a delay valve which then applied one piston on the front, so when you brake they 'squat' rather than dive.

I've had no issues with my r/r and even killed a batter stopping and starting the bike in the eurotunnel customs queue, the dashes sometimes have issues so make sure all of it works, have a google to see that issue.

TBH there's not really much else to check apart from the usual stuff, find a nice, unmolested one sold by the usual 'older' gentleman owner of thse privately for under £2k - I had a choice of 2, my one with 23k and in very decent nick, a 2000 model, or a earlier non HISS model with 35k but it absolutely mint condition, 1 owner. Both for £2k. If there's none about one week, wait a couple of weeks and there'll be a couple more for sale.

Oh and I hope you like red!! Seems like about 75% come in that colour. And of course if it doesn't have an exhaust get that before anything else The straight cut cam gear whine will be louder than anything else, you need a nice V4 burble to go along with it

 

[Kreeeee]

That last photo is great, dolomites?

 

[TallPaul_S]

That last photo is great, dolomites?

Yeah, that was the Giau pass - bloody stunning place.

 

[The_Abyss]

Photoshop out the cars and fence!

 

[tom_e]

Are you looking at a 5th gen (fi, pre vtec) model?

There's loads about, worry not about mileage - 30k is about run in for these.
Get a HISS model if you can, they changed some bits on the 5th gen in 2000, you get stainless headers with a CAT, HISS immobiliser, automatic choke and probably some other bits I've missed. If you get an earlier 98/99 one you'll have to make sure the header pipes have been replaced with a stainless set so it's easier just to get a later model. The cat shroud can made it look rusty but that's just the cover, the cat and pipes will be fine.

The brakes are linked so feel a bit wooden to start but they're solid - when you use the front it applied one piston from the rear, and when you use the rear there's a delay valve which then applied one piston on the front, so when you brake they 'squat' rather than dive.

I've had no issues with my r/r and even killed a batter stopping and starting the bike in the eurotunnel customs queue, the dashes sometimes have issues so make sure all of it works, have a google to see that issue.

TBH there's not really much else to check apart from the usual stuff, find a nice, unmolested one sold by the usual 'older' gentleman owner of thse privately for under £2k - I had a choice of 2, my one with 23k and in very decent nick, a 2000 model, or a earlier non HISS model with 35k but it absolutely mint condition, 1 owner. Both for £2k. If there's none about one week, wait a couple of weeks and there'll be a couple more for sale.

Oh and I hope you like red!! Seems like about 75% come in that colour. And of course if it doesn't have an exhaust get that before anything else The straight cut cam gear whine will be louder than anything else, you need a nice V4 burble to go along with it

Cheers mate.
Yeah looking at the non Vtech model, Vtech just seems like extra complication for not a lot really.

The post 2000 ones seem to be the way to go, but I did see a couple of really nice Vtech models in dark blue which looked brilliant but as you say for the most part they seem to be red, red with a hint of red and red red

 

[IC3]

Yeah, that was the Giau pass - bloody stunning place.

Hope you don't mind, I was curious to see how it would look.

 

[TallPaul_S]

Nah that's cool - nice job!! my Photoshop skills have been long lost....

 

[IC3]

Nah that's cool - nice job!! my Photoshop skills have been long lost....

Thanks.


I saw a biker down today, he was involved in hit and run... The police scouted the area to try and find the car, but I don't think they had any luck. The bike has mostly cosmetic damage, but looks like the engine took the hit. From the distance I saw it, it looks like a stator cover which you can replace. The biker himself was fine, he walked and talked.

 

[NooBish AbbZ]

So yesterday I took a 'spirited drive' around the new forest in the 340i as the weather was nice and the car kinda needed it. Saw a few bikes, maybe 5? and 3 of them were R1's One in a Milwaukee sort of race livery with a set of wonderful sounding exhausts; didn't manage to catch the brand but sounded lovely on the power

 

[Captain]

I was a bit gutted earlier, walked out my house at 1pm to see the sun shining, lovely temperature but no bike will have to sort it out quickly as I don’t want to waste much time while the weather starts to turn nice.

 

[Captain]

Found a really nice MT-09, looked on google maps, 350 miles away

 

[AndyCr15]

i rode to the KTM Center in Hemel in pretty horrible weather, bike having it's service. They lent me a 1090 Adventure, which is very comfortable to ride and actually has a little poke to it.

The ride back to collect (around 1pm) was much better, although a lot of my gear was still damp

It's probably the longest journey my bike has had in about 5 months. Roll on some sunshine!

 

[Lakeland]

Hope this is nice and cheap, I'm not much of a gamer but I'd like to do a few laps on this when it comes out.

 

[Freeman]

Does look really good!