And today's commuting highlight is...

[jaja4421]

Minus 3. A34 passing Wilmslow. Bit parky.

[Bailey93]

First proper frost of the year for me this morning, watching a naked defrost and steaming is always satisfying. Could tell it was colder the bike park at work was empty....

[Dakkon]

All I will say is Brrrrrr this morning

[CAPP0]

Bailey93 said:

First proper frost of the year for me this morning, watching a naked defrost and steaming is always satisfying. Could tell it was colder the bike park at work was empty....

Dakkon said:

All I will say is Brrrrrr this morning

Did you not just turn your heated seats on?

[E36GUY]

Definately enjoyed my heated grips this morning. Gorgeous day though.

Would like to tip my hat to the very committed gentleman that commutes on his yellow Cagiva Mito who I see pretty much every day on the A1.

[308mate]

CAPP0 said:

Did you not just turn your heated seats on?

[lindrup119]

First day using the new heated grips (Koso Apollos), found that they turn down by themselves when they get too hot and then turn back up.

They helped, but definitely not a full solution. Now looking into some bar end hand guards, maybe these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MORTCH-Motorcycle-Handgua...

[The_Gza]

lindrup119 said:

First day using the new heated grips (Koso Apollos), found that they turn down by themselves when they get too hot and then turn back up.

They helped, but definitely not a full solution. [/url]

I had my eye on those instead of the Oxfords - any good? Where did you get them from?

[kiethton]

kiethton said:

So less than 24 hours after the attempted theft damage was fixed the bike is now back at the garage after a woman misjudged a turn and decided to run over my front wheel :/

Don't think handlebars are meant to point 10* to the left when riding straight!

Think I need to man up, take the test and get something with more presence (and a loud can), despite revving as much as I could when sat there with her coming at me she didn't even react! - my little CBR125R must be invisible!

Edited by kiethton on Wednesday 2nd November 07:30

And MH think its a write off:

Forks,
Wheel
Disc
Frame relaignment
+ cosmetic scuffs

a bit too much for a '63' CBR125R with 15k miles....

Fair value ~£2k in my book (full history, already Cat-D)?

[lindrup119]

The_Gza said:

lindrup119 said:

First day using the new heated grips (Koso Apollos), found that they turn down by themselves when they get too hot and then turn back up.

They helped, but definitely not a full solution. [/url]

I had my eye on those instead of the Oxfords - any good? Where did you get them from?

Good so far, although the cooling thing is a tad annoying. I haven't tried Oxfords so can't directly compare unfortunately, but I wanted grips with an integrated controller and annoyingly I couldn't find anyone selling the Datatool ones anymore. My mechanic did comment that they weren't the hottest he'd ever felt though, but didn't offer up a top 3 or anything.

They look fancy with the different colour lights on the left grip for the different heat settings and I like the design and thickness of them, but I'm hoping by adding some hand guards I'll have sussed winter without resorting to bar muffs which I think look gashtronomic.


ETA: sorry, got them from motoblouz.co.uk a French company. They were listed as Tecno Globe Gold grips on there.

Edited by lindrup119 on Wednesday 2nd November 12:25

Edited by lindrup119 on Wednesday 2nd November 12:26

[Sea Demon]

My highlight this morning was follwing a young lady on a Ninja through Lee, Old Kent road up to Westminster - lovely eyes

[308mate]

kiethton said:

Think I need to man up, take the test and get something with more presence (and a loud can), despite revving as much as I could when sat there with her coming at me she didn't even react! - my little CBR125R must be invisible!

Loud pipes save li.....oh.

[E36GUY]

lindrup119 said:

First day using the new heated grips (Koso Apollos), found that they turn down by themselves when they get too hot and then turn back up.

They helped, but definitely not a full solution. Now looking into some bar end hand guards, maybe these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MORTCH-Motorcycle-Handgua...

Good shout. Been thinking about some of those. For £17 to keep the wind off they're worth a punt. Ordered.

[lindrup119]

E36GUY said:

lindrup119 said:

First day using the new heated grips (Koso Apollos), found that they turn down by themselves when they get too hot and then turn back up.

They helped, but definitely not a full solution. Now looking into some bar end hand guards, maybe these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MORTCH-Motorcycle-Handgua...

Good shout. Been thinking about some of those. For £17 to keep the wind off they're worth a punt. Ordered.

Not sure they'll fit mine as the internal diameter on my bars is 13mm instead of the usual 18mm I think (or the other way around can't remember), but have ordered them anyway and will try and get them over the existing bar ends. What you putting them on?

[CAPP0]

E36GUY said:

Good shout. Been thinking about some of those. For £17 to keep the wind off they're worth a punt. Ordered.

TBH I had something like that on a bike with heated grips and they make no difference at all. They don't keep much wind off the hands, and they don't stop the levers going cryogenic.

I think the only ways to maintain working fingers in the winter are full muffs (STOP it...) or heated gloves, which is what I've just bought to try this year.

[E36GUY]

CAPP0 said:

TBH I had something like that on a bike with heated grips and they make no difference at all. They don't keep much wind off the hands, and they don't stop the levers going cryogenic.

I think the only ways to maintain working fingers in the winter are full muffs (STOP it...) or heated gloves, which is what I've just bought to try this year.

Well I'll give it a go. Have the Muffs still from years ago but not desperately keen on them to be honest. Have reqeuested some Richa Cold Protect gloves for Christmas as well.

[CAPP0]

E36GUY said:

Well I'll give it a go. Have the Muffs still from years ago but not desperately keen on them to be honest. Have reqeuested some Richa Cold Protect gloves for Christmas as well.

I bought Richa Cold Killers (goretex) last winter. They're quite nice gloves, very comfortable, easy to put on, but they still don't keep the worst of the cold out, hence just taken delivery of the Alpinestars Celsius. Haven't tried them yet.

Today's "highlight" was the exceptionally high number of drivers who wanted to shut the gap on filtering bikers for whatever reason.

[tjlazer]

It was cold this morning but bloody hell I find adjusting to the night conditions harder, you sometimes have to guess what sort of vehicle is lying ahead of you such is the ridiculous brightness of car headlights. Popped up the visor and squinted for a better view without much effect. Now dreaming of my new leathers and track days in warmer times.

[Andy XRV]

CAPP0 said:

Andy XRV said:

...The surprising - getting a friendly nod and a smile from a bike cop on the Lee High Road in Lewisham.

A few months back I was filtering from the tunnel up to Kidbrooke, in the bit where it's 30mph currently, and caught up a bike cop. Discretion being the greater part and all that, I decided that 33 mph wasn't going to get me past any more cars so I slotted in alongside the cop, who turned to me with a big grin and waved me on enthusiastically. Maybe the same chap.

On the other hand, another night I followed (on my R1200RT) 4 police R1200RTs along to Horn Park. We all stopped at the lights, so I looked over to one of them and said, jokingly, "wow, nice bike!". "Eh? Oh…..er….yeah" was the slightly grumpy response.

It must be the same guy as surely there can't be two friendly coppers in London

[Tribal Chestnut]

A few of points:

1. Regarding riding along/up/over/around road furniture. I'd never do it, but can understand fully and sympathise with those that do. I've seen it done in front of coppers, both over traffic islands and the 'wrong' way around traffic islands, without an eye-lid being batted. I know one of the riders and he didn't receive any subsequent nasties in the post.

2. It was cold today, but my FZ1, w/heated grips, is misfiring, so I'm having to use the R1 with normal grips and, whilst slightly uncomfortable, my hands were fine.

3. Had to get from SW1, across London and up to Enfield in the rush hour this evening. I don't know the route at all so was always nursing the unpleasant uncertainty as to where to position myself, but have absolutely no gripes about any of the other road users that I came across, which is pleasing.