Lovely day out on the bike...

Magic_x_uk · 26 May 2012 at 18:11

Hope some of you fellow bikers have managed to get out in the last few days for a ride.

Today, I managed to go from Chesterfield to Burton on Trent (boring A38) to see family, then went back to Derby and headed towards Buxton, passing Ashbourne.

Then down Winnats Pass towards Castleton (such a beautiful area) stopped to see some friends in Hathersage.

Then left, headed towards Sheffield and then dropped back into Chesterfield.

Was gorgeous out. A lovely ride out, to me, this is what biking is all about. Freedom, a glorious day and open roads.

Now excuse me whilst I go remove several million insects from my leathers and helmet.

Ride safe guys.

daisycutter · 27 May 2012 at 07:04

Depends what bike your riding

Ive had enough of riding my GSXR on the road, too uncomfortable on long journeys and far too easy to go mental. A nice naked bike would be great on these sunny days.

Ghosteh · 27 May 2012 at 09:53

Any bike is good enough to enjoy days like these!

In 7 days time, I'll be back on the road, and I can't bloody wait! 7 months with no riding has been somewhat depressing. And even before then I only had time to get in rides every few weeks. However, this summer, I'll be smashing the miles on

.

4T5 · 27 May 2012 at 09:53

daisycutter said:
Depends what bike your riding

Ive had enough of riding my GSXR on the road, too uncomfortable on long journeys and far too easy to go mental. A nice naked bike would be great on these sunny days.

I know how you feel as I think I'v bought the wrong bike for what I want to do, I've done 750 miles or so but just can't get comfortable enough for long journeys & like you say before you know it you are speeding.
I want a bike I can ride for hours & one that won't lose me my license. The ZX7R is a great bike but being 6ft 5 it's like wrapping myself around a lamp post.

Ghosteh · 27 May 2012 at 10:03

daisycutter said:
Depends what bike your riding

Ive had enough of riding my GSXR on the road, too uncomfortable on long journeys and far too easy to go mental. A nice naked bike would be great on these sunny days.

4T5 said:
I know how you feel as I think I'v bought the wrong bike for what I want to do, I've done 750 miles or so but just can't get comfortable enough for long journeys & like you say before you know it you are speeding.
I want a bike I can ride for hours & one that won't lose me my license. The ZX7R is a great bike but being 6ft 5 it's like wrapping myself around a lamp post.

Have either of you thought about getting adjustable rear-sets, see if you can find a set that you can adjust to give you more leg room?

4T5 · 27 May 2012 at 10:16

Ghosteh.
Think it's more than that mate,I watched every vid on posture & do keep my weight off my wrists/arms but even so you still take a pounding when braking. On top of that I don't want to fly everywhere head first like a nutter I want to be able to ride anywhere at anytime & get off at the other end feeling Ok.
I just think I bought the wrong bike for what I want to do on it.

ElliorR · 27 May 2012 at 10:21

Then cut your losses and get something more suited for you. Undoubtedly sports bikes are cool but I wouldn't have one unless I was rich and had multiple bikes.

4T5 · 27 May 2012 at 10:22

That's the plan mate, I've been offered a KLE500 which I think will be ideal for me. 05 plate with 9k up it.
Any thoughts ?

ElliorR · 27 May 2012 at 10:29

4T5 said:
That's the plan mate, I've been offered a KLE500 which I think will be ideal for me. 05 plate with 9k up it.
Any thoughts ?

I do love that style of bike, all the bikes I rode in the 80s/90s were enduro/off road style. Also Kawasaki is my favourite make of bike, maybe because the first bike I ever rode, AR80, and the first bike I ever bought, KMX125, were both Kawasaki. I will have something like that in the future.

Ghosteh · 27 May 2012 at 10:29

Fair one. I suppose I have the advantage of being 5' 9" ish, so my high is perfectly suited to riding sports bikes. I've had a lot more fun on my GSX-R 750 than I had on my Bandit(although I did love my Bandit) even though it was a much bigger machine. And now I just can't wait for the S1000RR, as it just feels so amazing to ride.

ElliorR · 27 May 2012 at 10:35

As for the OPs question...

I tested my TomTom Urban Rider yesterday and I set a route with Google Maps and the converted it/uploaded it to my GPS.

I went out and blindly followed the woman nattering in my ear and it seemed to have an eppy in Leighton Buzzard and it kept sending me round in circles

Most likely I made an error on Google Maps but it twas a lovely day to be "lost".

4T5 · 27 May 2012 at 11:17

ElliorR said:
I do love that style of bike.

Well I've given it a fair bit of thought after making my previous mistake so I want to get something suitable for me. I used to have DT's & ER's back in the day so I know I like the riding position & will be comfortable. The KLE will sit at 70-80 all day long & is quite old fashioned so maintenance will be a breeze. I'm thinking of getting an extra set of rims so that I can keep some knobblys handy & then I can go do all the Off road routes I used to do in my Jeep.

I read some really good write ups from owners in SA & around the Globe & some Dudes have ridden there KLE's across land for up to 9 hours, slept & did the same the next day.
I plan on doing loads of miles & want a better riding position & easier/cheaper maintenance/running costs.
I'll save 60 quid on insurance & will get 20+ extra miles to the gallon & my tyres & bits & bobs will be cheaper.
All in all I think it's a good move.

Apologies to OP for thread theft.

Bike in Question.

Needs the swinging arm tidying up but apart from that it looks straight to me. Topbox looks nobby but I'll keep it in my shed till I need it.

pugheaven · 27 May 2012 at 20:04

That's a well nice bike that actually. Know what you mean... I did 130 miles on the CBR600 on Friday and my hands were a little numb, it's the thumb, not sure if it's grip or not... better wort itself out as next July, it's Europe and 4000 miles over 14-16 days... lol.

So, you decided then, getting shut of the bike for this type then?

Hope everyone had a good/safe weekends blast... weekends like this don't come around often guys... need to use them.

Magic_x_uk · 27 May 2012 at 20:25

yes I have a Fazer FZS600, had it 3 years now, only been riding for 3 years and only when nice days.

But I love the fazer, granted I have no other knowledge of other bikes. But it has plenty of instant speed as far as I am concerned when I need it. I love it, just love being out on it, freedom it brings for me.

I do fancy a Triumph speed/street triple though. They look lovely. We shall see.

I am just curious to try other bikes, to see what they bring to the table.

Brackish · 28 May 2012 at 05:02

What about the Kawasaki ER6-n?

I have been doing my training on a 12 plate one and its all run in nicely. Its got tons of poke and it feels so agile. I did start training on a GS500 which was nice but the ER is just 1000x better.

Ok ok I might be a learner but coming off a roundabout onto a dual carriage way and getting upto speed in next to no time is great, even better when a Focus ST tries to keep up

The twisties are just grin making fun and the bike makes you want more more but not at silly speeds.

4T5, would you look at the triumph Tiger 800? Bit more of a bike then the KLE if you have doubts about the KLE feeling too much of a performance drop. Or the Suzuki Storm 650.

daisycutter · 28 May 2012 at 06:14

My GSXR has adjustable standard rearsets, well 3 different positions. I do love cruising round on lush days, but its so much nicer when your not hunched over a tank.
My mates street triple R is a great bike, so easy too ride and very capable.

MADMAN69UK · 28 May 2012 at 12:20

+1 for a Speed/Street Triple. I can ride around on one all day. Spent 10 hours on the road this Saturday

I really couldn't get on with my old GSX-R750. Great to ride, for about 30 mins. Then my legs and wrists were just suffering, and I'm only 5'4"...

Sagalout · 31 May 2012 at 13:47

4T5 said:
Well I've given it a fair bit of thought after making my previous mistake so I want to get something suitable for me. I used to have DT's & ER's back in the day so I know I like the riding position & will be comfortable. The KLE will sit at 70-80 all day long & is quite old fashioned so maintenance will be a breeze. I'm thinking of getting an extra set of rims so that I can keep some knobblys handy & then I can go do all the Off road routes I used to do in my Jeep.

Not sure what your budget is, but have a ride on a Kawasaki Versys 650. Fantastic bikes - all day comfy, 200 miles to a tank with handling like a supermoto. Took me all over europe, but was just as good for a quick sunday afternoon blast.

Definitely one of the best bikes I've owned, and if I'm honest I wish I'd just kept it rather than being lured back to sportsbikes but at the time I had a ZX12R itch that I had to scratch!