The friendly "dumb" bike questions thread
Discussion
Seight_Returns said:
Ditto the suggestion about buying second hand gear on Ebay - people do indeed seem to get excited about biking, buy loads of new kit and them dump it at huge loss when they decide biking isn't for them.
Yeah, my Mrs paid under £100 for a leather 2 piece on e-bay, although I'd guess there better deals on women's kit than mens as blokes buy stuff for wives/girlfriends who aren't really interested 
Helmets are definitely one you want to go to a big shop for and try several on from different brands. Fit is very important and it's no use convincing yourself you want the latest replica helmet of your favorite racer if he wears an Arai and you've got a Shoei shaped head
RizzoTheRat said:
Yeah, my Mrs paid under £100 for a leather 2 piece on e-bay, although I'd guess there better deals on women's kit than mens as blokes buy stuff for wives/girlfriends who aren't really interested
Helmets are definitely one you want to go to a big shop for and try several on from different brands. Fit is very important and it's no use convincing yourself you want the latest replica helmet of your favorite racer if he wears an Arai and you've got a Shoei shaped head
And even then , when you think it fits ok , you find out half an hour into a ride it induces mind numbing pain.Helmets are definitely one you want to go to a big shop for and try several on from different brands. Fit is very important and it's no use convincing yourself you want the latest replica helmet of your favorite racer if he wears an Arai and you've got a Shoei shaped head
I guess it's why when you find a helmet that fits well for a long time , you're reticent then to change to another brand.
I won't buy a AGV again.
I need a new lid in the near future, it will almost certainly be a Schuberth for that exact reasonThis might be really dumb, but where does the term 'scratching' come from. E.g. this bike's really good for bla bla, scratching.
I used to think it was related to scraping knee sliders, but it feels like it's often used to mean 'any old random ride'.
I don't really get it, and i've been reading bike stuff for nearly 20 years
I used to think it was related to scraping knee sliders, but it feels like it's often used to mean 'any old random ride'.
I don't really get it, and i've been reading bike stuff for nearly 20 years
Rob_F said:
This might be really dumb, but where does the term 'scratching' come from. E.g. this bike's really good for bla bla, scratching.
I used to think it was related to scraping knee sliders, but it feels like it's often used to mean 'any old random ride'.
I don't really get it, and i've been reading bike stuff for nearly 20 years
Scratching footpegs I thinkI used to think it was related to scraping knee sliders, but it feels like it's often used to mean 'any old random ride'.
I don't really get it, and i've been reading bike stuff for nearly 20 years
Or could be "scratching an itch" - the itch being getting out on the bike
snagzie said:
Rob_F said:
This might be really dumb, but where does the term 'scratching' come from. E.g. this bike's really good for bla bla, scratching.
I used to think it was related to scraping knee sliders, but it feels like it's often used to mean 'any old random ride'.
I don't really get it, and i've been reading bike stuff for nearly 20 years
Scratching footpegs I thinkI used to think it was related to scraping knee sliders, but it feels like it's often used to mean 'any old random ride'.
I don't really get it, and i've been reading bike stuff for nearly 20 years
Rob_F said:
This might be really dumb, but where does the term 'scratching' come from. E.g. this bike's really good for bla bla, scratching.
I used to think it was related to scraping knee sliders, but it feels like it's often used to mean 'any old random ride'.
I don't really get it, and i've been reading bike stuff for nearly 20 years
Scratching/scratcher definitely pre-dates knee sliders. Back to the 1960s at least.I used to think it was related to scraping knee sliders, but it feels like it's often used to mean 'any old random ride'.
I don't really get it, and i've been reading bike stuff for nearly 20 years
I've always assumed that it derived from racers leaving scratch marks on the tarmac from footrests and exhausts.
EDIT. Although I suppose it could be related to handicap races at Brooklands. The most likely winner would "start from scratch" and every other rider would have a head start.
Edited by gareth_r on Friday 1st July 13:15
Amused2death said:
Would anyone be able to tell me what make of topbox would fit straight into the mount shown in the picture? It's a BMW F800ST
It's the best picture I've got at the moment...sorry about that.
I think you would need a bmw branded topbox, or you can attach an additional plate to the rack to take other brands. It's the best picture I've got at the moment...sorry about that.
I’d be looking on eBay for used bmw ones personally
A500leroy said:
50 thousand mile Ducati 900ss (2001) , Sensible buy? ( i know diddly squat about Ducatis)
What condition is it in? I have a 2000 st2 and after going through it (to modify) I didn’t find anything that I wouldn’t expect on any neglected 22 year old bike.
It’ll need belts every two (ish) years, easy enough to change yourself though. Body panels on the st2 seemed quite easy to damage so check it all fits together well.
It may be spectacularly uncomfortable depending on your shape and fitness level.
Basically does it look like a cared for bike or someone’s work hack?
black-k1 said:
A500leroy said:
50 thousand mile Ducati 900ss (2001) , Sensible buy? ( i know diddly squat about Ducatis)
At £20 - yes, assuming all the docs and paperwork tie up.At £200,000 no, not a sensible buy.
As before, I suggest a little more information might be needed.
TheInternet said:
During a long ride on a summer's day what do you do about all the bugmen accumulating on your visor? Just keep a damp rag tucked away somewhere?
Usually wipe off with wet hand towels when I stop for fuel. Let it soak for a bit while I have a break. I wear a bum bag so could carry spray and a towel but never do.TheInternet said:
During a long ride on a summer's day what do you do about all the bugmen accumulating on your visor? Just keep a damp rag tucked away somewhere?
Plus a small micro fibre cloth stashed in a glasses case under the seat. 
Edited by Speed addicted on Monday 4th July 15:45
black-k1 said:
A500leroy said:
50 thousand mile Ducati 900ss (2001) , Sensible buy? ( i know diddly squat about Ducatis)
At £20 - yes, assuming all the docs and paperwork tie up.At £200,000 no, not a sensible buy.
As before, I suggest a little more information might be needed.
A500leroy said:
No price, its going through an auction soon, no info on service history only that the last keeper has had it for 10 years, Everything looks shiny, but I know better than to get taken in by nice paint, and like I said I really dont anything about Ducatis or where it should be priced at, I thought at 50k miles it should be cheap though?
The 900ss would be ripe for ripping apart for cafe conversions, which may well crank the prices up in the same way that old BMWs are now worth small fortunes. St2s are still cheap, and pretty good.
(Even though I ripped mine apart for a cafe conversion)
Had a quick look on eBay, £3-4K seems pretty standard so maybe a bit less due to mileage.
Just buy a 2000 ish vfr800 and go enjoy biking. Comfortable, fast enough, makes a nice noise, looks good and about as mechanically tough as bikes get. Plus you can pick them up for £1500 upwards.
Edited by Speed addicted on Monday 4th July 16:07
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