The friendly "dumb" bike questions thread
Discussion
Iamnotkloot said:
I'm on a roll - just put a deposit on a Kawa Z125 in Green - pick it up next Wednesday. Wish me luck!
Enjoy the first ride home! I learned on Sv 650 and now z650 (test next week... eek). I picked up my Honda CB125R and found due to strange horn placement I beeped a couple of times at the lights on way home. Generally I found cars to be really accommodating but I did excite a fiesta ST full of lads when beeping them when I tried to indicate left. That was a fun moment
vindaloo79 said:
Iamnotkloot said:
I'm on a roll - just put a deposit on a Kawa Z125 in Green - pick it up next Wednesday. Wish me luck!
Enjoy the first ride home! I learned on Sv 650 and now z650 (test next week... eek). I picked up my Honda CB125R and found due to strange horn placement I beeped a couple of times at the lights on way home. Generally I found cars to be really accommodating but I did excite a fiesta ST full of lads when beeping them when I tried to indicate left. That was a fun moment
I’m hopefully putting a deposit on a Moto Guzzi V7 today!
First road bike, passed my test in August, had never sat on a bike in July! (Well I did my CBT in June).
I’ve also got a KTM EXC-F for green laning, but I seem to spend half my time lying in the mud and it’s not something to do on your own, plus the bike is properly rubbish on the road.
First road bike, passed my test in August, had never sat on a bike in July! (Well I did my CBT in June).
I’ve also got a KTM EXC-F for green laning, but I seem to spend half my time lying in the mud and it’s not something to do on your own, plus the bike is properly rubbish on the road.
Ed. said:
I know it's not the most fun way to spend a weekend with the current weather but riding is doable?
It's nearly always doable.I used to do 250 miles each way on an RXS100 to college and back each term, and it would have never entered my head to delay or cancel the trip because of the weather.
I commuted daily from canary Wharf to Farnborough (Hampshire) on a bike, and still rode even when the M3 had several inches of snow on it.
Looking back, I can't remember why, but it was just my routine, get up, dress for the conditions, and go.
It was, though, an utter slog. Riding a bike that struggles to top 50mph if there's a headwind for hundreds of miles in the sleet just isn't enjoyable.
Lord.Vader said:
Krikkit said:
Congrats, sounds like fun, proper bit of kit for mooching about on a sunny day.
I think we should do a BB meet in spring, get some miles under our belts.
Is that a BB & Barge loser meet? Going to Duxford?I think we should do a BB meet in spring, get some miles under our belts.
Yes definitely, I’m hoping they will get back to me today anyway.
Seight_Returns said:
Ok - Another dumb question seeing as everyone was so polite with my last one.
My VFR800 has a pre load adjustor for the rear shock. How should I set up the pre-load and how will the bike feel if it's set too hard or too soft ?
you should measure the rear sag and set the preload to give you the desired amount of sagMy VFR800 has a pre load adjustor for the rear shock. How should I set up the pre-load and how will the bike feel if it's set too hard or too soft ?
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/advice/maintenance/...
Or just whack it up to 3/4 of max adjustment
Put a deposit down on my first bike this morning 
A KTM Duke 125 came up dirt cheap at a good little bike shop local to me. It went up over the weekend but they were closed so called up this morning with the intention of going over at lunch. They'd already had 1 person have a look & 2 guys going over in the afternoon, so I nipped down, had a look and left a deposit 
Bit rough round the edges but mechanically solid. 2012 with 4600 miles. New michelins and a service done 500 miles ago in March & pretty much 12 months MOT.
Going to pay the rest off today and either get it delivered or pick it up after my CBT on Saturday. Exciting times!
A KTM Duke 125 came up dirt cheap at a good little bike shop local to me. It went up over the weekend but they were closed so called up this morning with the intention of going over at lunch. They'd already had 1 person have a look & 2 guys going over in the afternoon, so I nipped down, had a look and left a deposit Bit rough round the edges but mechanically solid. 2012 with 4600 miles. New michelins and a service done 500 miles ago in March & pretty much 12 months MOT. Going to pay the rest off today and either get it delivered or pick it up after my CBT on Saturday. Exciting times!
Rod200SX said:
Put a deposit down on my first bike this morning A KTM Duke 125 came up dirt cheap at a good little bike shop local to me. It went up over the weekend but they were closed so called up this morning with the intention of going over at lunch. They'd already had 1 person have a look & 2 guys going over in the afternoon, so I nipped down, had a look and left a deposit Bit rough round the edges but mechanically solid. 2012 with 4600 miles. New michelins and a service done 500 miles ago in March & pretty much 12 months MOT.
Going to pay the rest off today and either get it delivered or pick it up after my CBT on Saturday. Exciting times!
Good luck! Pick mine up my 125 Wednesday so in the same boat. PS CBT is fine, you should enjoy it. A KTM Duke 125 came up dirt cheap at a good little bike shop local to me. It went up over the weekend but they were closed so called up this morning with the intention of going over at lunch. They'd already had 1 person have a look & 2 guys going over in the afternoon, so I nipped down, had a look and left a deposit Bit rough round the edges but mechanically solid. 2012 with 4600 miles. New michelins and a service done 500 miles ago in March & pretty much 12 months MOT. Going to pay the rest off today and either get it delivered or pick it up after my CBT on Saturday. Exciting times!
Iamnotkloot said:
Good luck! Pick mine up my 125 Wednesday so in the same boat. PS CBT is fine, you should enjoy it.
Nice one! I should be getting mine delivered on Saturday! On that note, any recommend insurers? Friendlier the better. MCE are competitive but a high excess (around £1050) along with wanting heaps of documents, photos etc. Doesn't bother me but would happily accept other ones that may not be on comparison sites?
Rod200SX said:
Iamnotkloot said:
Good luck! Pick mine up my 125 Wednesday so in the same boat. PS CBT is fine, you should enjoy it.
Nice one! I should be getting mine delivered on Saturday! On that note, any recommend insurers? Friendlier the better. MCE are competitive but a high excess (around £1050) along with wanting heaps of documents, photos etc. Doesn't bother me but would happily accept other ones that may not be on comparison sites?
One thing I found was putting my Dad on the insurance who has had a bike license for about 40 years and will never touch the bike knocked about £50 off the premium, so if you have any friends or family with full licenses may be worth having a play about to see if adding them saves you abit of cash.
Read the policy wording carefully I think MCN were cheapest for me, but then if you claim for writeoff or theft (possibly other scenarios) the policy ends. So even if annual seems like u lose the rest of years cover.
I used Bennett’s who didn’t seem as hardline. I think I get free recovery but haven’t checked on that - despite claiming to have read small print
Edit- I have some degree of breakdown cover, I really ought to save the number somewhere
I used Bennett’s who didn’t seem as hardline. I think I get free recovery but haven’t checked on that - despite claiming to have read small print
Edit- I have some degree of breakdown cover, I really ought to save the number somewhere
Edited by vindaloo79 on Tuesday 27th October 20:30
Edited by vindaloo79 on Tuesday 27th October 20:32
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