Show us your motorbike thread

[Hornchurch]

'

I think it's best from my perspective "if" I include FOUR of the FIVE bikes (M/cycles) that I currently own.

Not that I'm showing-off or anything - Just that, over 42+ years in the hobby, I've bought a few & kept 'em.

I tend to buy bikes, get VERY attached to them (or, NOT, in the case of my GPz.900-R), hence I hang on to them, like, forever.

First off - Here's my dearly beloved Kawasaki Z.1000-J ( J3 ), which I bought brand-new, on 24th Jan' 1984 - (picked up on 27th Jan'84)

Originally wanted the GSX.1100-ES (the 'non-Katana' version), but the Z.1000-J was just heart-achingly handsome......

In June 1984, with it still being a 'brand new bike' (like a 'Sunday Best Suit'), we took it to Normandy, D-Day Invasion 40th Anniversary


Hornchurch's Kawasaki Z.1000-J at Utah-Beach, Normandy, June 1984 by Hornchurch_Aerodrome, on Flickr



I owned this beauty for 14-years & later, swapped it for a MINT (absolutely 'mint'), Ford 2.8 injection Capri - same 'Reg' - ('A'-Reg)

My Z.1000-J always shared the same garage as my other NEXT 'dearly beloved' - Like "inseparable twins" they were....

My 1978 Suzuki GS.1000-E , which had just 6,000 miles on the clock, from new

I bought it for the laughable price of £1,200 in April 1988, from another fellow Royal Mail driver, who wanted an 1100 Katana

I still have it to this day & intend to be 'buried with it' (laughs !) - Most comfortable bike I've EVER ridden, or owned.

Love this bike to pieces - Fast bike in it's day - Always draws a crowd - I often have to walk away (& come back later, once gone !)


Hornchurch's SUZUKI GS.1000-E - File0001 (3) by Hornchurch_Aerodrome, on Flickr



Took this shot (photo') in April 1988, not knowing it was about to become mine.... ("Gimme first refusal..")

It still had (non-stock), flat-bars on it (which I changed back to original), plus it's "Mel' Le Moto" rearsets - (so comfortable !)

Meantime, I bought another Suzuki 250cc, just to "Get to work" - 'W'-Reg X7 - sorry no pix - Plus a GPz.1100 Unitrack (A2 Calif' import)

When we moved up from London (to the countryside), I still had (& still kept) my GS.1000-E - Fancied something newer, too.

Wanted an R.1 (Yamaha), in Blue, but they'd only just come-out (1999), plus the insurance rates WERE exorbitant (despite FULL 'N.C.B')

Bought another bike then, which I'd ALWAYS fancied, but, being blunt, was a 'compromise' - (over the R.1 in Blue which I wanted.

So I bought this - don't laugh - And please, NO Tom Cruise "Top-Gun" gags, I've heard them before - "Maverick", I'm NOT



KAWASAKI GPz.900-A.8 by Hornchurch_Aerodrome, on Flickr


Loved it at first, BUT, over time, it angered me - Bike mags ALL said - "It's Comfortable" - Bollocks is it....

I usually spend about 8-9 hours "in the saddle" - Caffeine breaks & leg-stretch inclusive (of course).

Gave £1,400 quid for it, in spring 2005 - But after 35-45mins in the saddle, my hips were killing me - (hated it !)

My son would ask, "Dad, WHY are we stopping again" - Riding position like a F'kng GIBBON - (Knees up by tits, etc)

Tried changing the 'ergonomics' but it cost a ton, plus, they didn't "do" bar-risers for MY version - The "A.8" (here)

I still have it - went dormant when my 29-yr & 24-yr marriage broke-up - & life "imploded" (at that time)

BEFORE my quarter-century marriage "went titsup", I bought a much OLDER bike, to replace it, seen below....



IMAG1491 - Hornchurch's own CB.900-F at ANMER (full 2,500pixel) by Hornchurch_Aerodrome, on Flickr



Funny, as my Wife stood beside me, saying.... "Buy it - Buy it you muppet" - (which had ME roaring with laughter !!!!)

36 bids later (I'd only bid twice on it !) - It's mine - Drive over to Huntingdon to pick it up - Nearly fainted when Tim took cover-off

An early E-Bay purchase AFTER we'd moved, I gave just £900 for it in 2006. Exactly as you see it, there/here/Anmer

It's a 1979 built (Reg-Feb' 1980) Honda CB.900-F

An 'FZ' to be exact = 16th from last frame (before 'FA') and 25th from last engine-block (before the 'FA')

And yes, it's a U.K model, NOT an import - (As are ALL of my bikes / M/cycles seen here)

BTW ; Date on photograph is well-wrong - Photograph WAS taken during summer 2011 - Not 2005, as EXIF says (camera date)

Again, like the Suzuki GS.1000-E (& the 'unloved' GPz.900-R), I still have them - (spread over two houses - Mine & folks, too)

I did buy a 'dainty li'l Kawasaki ZR 550 Zephyr, as I've ALWAYS liked them - It has silly low-miles, 14,000 from new.

Sadly, It got smashed-up (vandals) & needs re-building - I've got pix somewhere - Cannot find them, as yet - (on USB stick)

Finally, we come to a bike which, many "newbs" to biking, pass their test, then exclaim, "It's CRAP" & espouse snobbery-factor

I like to think that I'm old-enough & 'grown-up' enough (am aged over 60 now), to overlook the "Are YOU embarrassed to own this?"

If you guys (or anyone) believed many of the (idiots) people who "slag this bike off" (model/type), you'd believe it was "Rubbish"

Comments like this "GEM" (3rd post), on here (forum link below)

"They are $hit". (followed up directly after, by more infinte-wisdom, such as....) "If you pay a grand for one you are a mug" (!)


(3rd Post Down) = https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=316521

Well then - Clearly "my name is MUG", because, flagrantly ignoring that cretin, in August 2020, I bought THIS, below.....


DSC_0616 by Hornchurch_Aerodrome, on Flickr



ok, It'll "never set the world alight", BUT, in these increasingly expensive times, I bought a "cheap runabout"

It's a Suzuki GS.500-E (K.2) - Very LAST of the Japanese built models, before prod' switched to Spain (& more hassle/prob's)

Gave just £995 for it - Only 9,000 (yes, 9,000) miles on the clock - barely run-in - Bog standard, not "F'kd with". All singing/dancing

Was up (at dealer in Suffolk), for £1,395 - But then, Coronavirus/Covid.19 "kicked-in" & shops went into "Lockdown"

April 2020 was £1,395 - By August 2020, it was suddenly (suicidally) dropped down to £995

Went to view it - Needed NOTHING doing to it - Had it delivered (van/house), w/Year's M.o.T - All in, just £995

But according to the idiot on the forum link above - "I'm a MUG" - Quite a happy "MUG" as it turns out

Cheap as Chips - Cheap as Chips to run & fuel & spares, etc, etc - Even a rubbish Chinese scooter IS more expensive.

Dispatch riders DON'T seem to have an issue with them., as they cover incredible amounts of "silly mileage" with minimal fettling

Like I said, will "Never Ignite The World" & ok, it's a "bit dull", but it's a good-looking example & £995, is just laughable.

My heart is CLEARLY still with those 1978-1984 Japanese "Litre Musclebikes" that I grew-up with - Hustling around, is FUN

Can't be ar$ed with the expense of a Ducati - To me, riding is about fun, sense, fun, convenience & lastly, FUN

And NOW I'm (finally) getting back into cycling, hence my arrival on here.... Cheers, "Hawny" - (aka "MUG"

.

 

[mdvineng]

Just found this in a drawer. Ex battle of the twins Moto Guzzi Le Mans mk1, that I put on the road. The La Franconi pipes were loud but tuneful. I later put on all the correct mk1 stuff before letting a friend buy it for not a lot

 

[dorset boy]

The first motorbike that started it all ! Suzuki AS 100,note the chequer tape to make it go faster

 

[mdvineng]

The first motorbike that started it all ! Suzuki AS 100,note the chequer tape to make it go faster View attachment 615491

They were good fun transport.

 

[dorset boy]

They were good fun transport.

I should think pretty rare to find one now.

 

[mdvineng]

I should think pretty rare to find one now.

A few on Ebay but none with chequer tape, that'll be extra.

 

[dorset boy]

My second bike,a brand new Yamaha DT175. Cost me £405 back in 1975 .

 

[3wheeler7]

AJS 500 works ISDT bike, one of three made for the 1964/5/6 ISDTs, BCG 978B (270) is mine.
First pic taken at the 1964 ISDT in East Germany, yes that is Steve McQueen in the background!


Second pic as it is now

Third pic is all three of them

 

[Markybeau]

For those unaware, to get a modern full motorbike 'A' licence now involves taking five tests

Sorry, but I need to correct this.

There are three tests and a CBT.

The process is the same for all 3 licence categories: A1, A2 and A.

The venue is the important factor:

At a Training School, ATB, Bike School, etc: it's training.

At a Driving or Theory Test Centre it's a test.

To obtain a UK licence you need:

A CBT - which is Compulsory Basic Training. Often mistakenly called a CBT Test. It's NOT a test. It's a training course normally completed in a day, but can take longer if the required standard of riding is not reached. A certificate is issued on completion by a DVSA approved Instructor at an Approved Training Body. A CBT is valid for two years, after which it will need to be taken again if all three of the following tests are not completed successfully. The CBT can be renewed if it expires during the rest of the rider's development and has a separate 'life' to the other documents.

Theory Test: Taken at a Theory Test Centre. Computer based combination of multiple choice questions and Hazard Perception CGI video clips. Some might argue there are two tests - Theory and Hazard Perception - but they can't be taken separately, so it's a two part single event test. There is a target score that must be achieved for both parts to pass. You may be required to complete a theory test prior to CBT if you are only in possession of a provisional licence. On passing the theory test you will then be allowed two years to complete the following two tests.

Module One Test: a machine control assessment conducted by a DVSA Examiner on a Motorcycle Manoeuvring Area (MMA) at a Multi-purpose Driving Test Centre. Successful completion of this test allows the candidate to progress to the final test. The life of the Module One pass certificate is governed by the life of the Theory Test pass. They expire on the same day. Module Two must be completed before they expire otherwise the candidate has to resit both tests. CBT runs on its own timeline.

Module Two Test: essentially a combination of all three of the above.This test is conducted on the road with a DVSA Examiner following on a bike, or sometimes in a car, giving radio instructions. Again this will be conducted from a Driving Test Centre.

If you're a complete beginner it can be challenging / hard. Most likely to come unstuck through a lack of machine familiarity / control and / or poor Highway Code knowledge.

An experienced rider shouldn't find it particularly difficult. Control is not normally a problem but Highway Code knowledge often is.

Most riders mistake experience for the time documents are held. E.g. 'I've had my CBT for 6 months'. This statement is meaningless. As is: ' I've got lots of experience as a pillion'.

Hours riding / miles ridden = experience. Nothing else. Variety is key. Repeating the same monotonous short journey doesn't count.

Sitting on the back of a bike ridden by someone else gives you no more experience than being a passenger on a plane gives you experience of flying it.

The cheapest resource available is the one thing that 99% of candidates will avoid and most likely will fail for - The Highway Code* - and yet they'll complain how expensive it is to take another test.

* As an app the Highway Code is free and yet so many feel they don't need it: 'but I've done my theory....'.

Quora post over...

 

[Nabeaquam]