NBT: I've bought a Honda!

[Dodgy69]

The thing is...you could stop all this overnight. It's an absolute joke.

[Count Steer]

Shame there's no deterant.

They just dont care who is about, night or day.

Plus ça change really. Back in the 80s I was strolling through Soho in broad daylight (yes I worked not too far away etc) and 2 likely lads were cropping the chain on a scooter parked up on a busy street (about 20 yards off Shaftesbury Avenue, possibly Frith Street) . Big Maltese chap (most of the dodgy places were run by them at the time for some strange reason) pops out of his porno empire. 'Watcha doin'?' To which likely lad No 1 responds 'Stealin' it, what the **** does it look like we're doin'?' and they carry on stealin' it.

[Taipan]

I am gutted that I can't have an X-ADV as they tick every box for me and I just really like them. I'm hoping the Africa Twin will make the same impression on me, but that remains to be seen...

Back to the Honda, the bar risers arrived from their slow boat journey today, but of course they are now surplus to requirements. So I shall open the gateway to the loft-of-plenty and blindly lob them in there, for me to discover at a later date and wonder wtf they came from!

[Supermofo]

I am gutted that I can't have an X-ADV

Really sad indictment of our society that you can't have what you want as you know thieving tossers will nick it or damage it. Really boils my piss.

[Taipan]

I am gutted that I can't have an X-ADV

Really sad indictment of our society that you can't have what you want as you know thieving tossers will nick it or damage it. Really boils my piss.

Mine too. When I collected my stolen recovered one from the pound I was shocked at just how many stolen recovered bikes there was there. But what was worse was when I found out how easy bikes are to steal and you can by the immobiliser bypasses on eBAY!

[Taipan]

This mornings ride in on the Honda was probably the penultimate one so I kind of reflected on the bike. Its mainly been a very positive experience.

I'll start with the downsides. If I hadn't had comfort issues, I think the vibey buzziness of the bike would have seen it go eventually, but I'd have continued to try and sort it first. But at least 2 or 3 times on my hours' commute I'd find myself coasting with the clutch in to shake some feeling back into my right hand! Maybe a different map in the PC5 would have sorted it? Who knows? But it was getting old.

The clocks were awful. Hard to see cos of glare and the layout was crap too. I cant think of any bike i've had that has had clocks anywhere as useless as these.

Gear change was slightly odd. The box was smooth, but something about the linkage never felt right, It was noticeable enough that i pulled over to check it a couple of times? I'll accept it was probably how I'd adjusted it though?

So, the good sides, well most of it. I ended up really liking this bike and i'll actually be sorry to see it go. I don't know if it was because it had brilliant Bridgestones as opposed to the seemingly de rigour ponderous Pilots, but the steering was sublime. Perfect roll ins, quick but not twitchy. Lovely.

Vibes aside, engine and fuelling are lovely! Smooth, building, power with a hint of growing rush to it and I'm back in love with an IL4 exhaust note as the Scorpion can delivered a lovely one.

Such an easy bike to ride. Tame as anything but if you wanted it to go, it fecking went! Been many a year since i'd screamed an IL4 through its long gears and it was an enjoyable experience.

A few years ago, this would have been a keeper. Well, I'd probably have kept it for a year, okay 6 months, but definitely a longer period of time than most of my bikes.
8/10

[Supermofo]

Such an easy bike to ride. Tame as anything but if you wanted it to go, it fecking went! Been many a year since i'd screamed an IL4 through its long gears and it was an enjoyable experience.

That's what I had yesterday. In Harrow mine did all the dull commuter stuff like a CB500, then into Raddett/Shenley way it began to effortlessly stretch it's legs in a lolloping midrange before I hit the good stuff in 2nd and 3rd where it screamed through the high revs and popped on the de acceleration like a hooglian. Glorious. Dull IL4s my arse.

[Noggin]

In Harrow mine did all the dull commuter stuff like a CB500, then into Raddett/Shenley way it began to effortlessly stretch it's legs in a lolloping midrange before I hit the good stuff in 2nd and 3rd where it screamed through the high revs and popped on the de acceleration like a hooglian. Glorious. Dull IL4s my arse.

I've never understood why IL4's are thought to be dull. Ok, I did want something more exciting than a BB after 8 years, but that was almost all I'd ridden, so was less the lack of excitement and more wanting to try something different!

The Blackbird was a hoot - yes, a bit hot on slow summer commutes but I could keep up with most road riders in twisties when playing; total lunacy!!

The TLs was lunatic too - just different lunatic!!


Tis how you ride them and finding out without preconceived ideas I suppose! There are people who will ride something thinking it's boring, expecting it to be boring and so it will be. Pretty sure why people said the BB doesn't go around corners - the weight was an issue, but only if you'd never ridden anything heavy before. If it was almost the first bike you'd ridden and it just looked like a really fat sports bike, then you'd kinda think "why wouldn't it do the same as a slimmer sports bike" - which was me!!

[v8-powered]

I 'kind-of' get the boring IL4 bit but a bit like tarring them all with the same brush.

Had a GSX-R1000, a 750 and a 600 - all were great engines but other than the 600 their delivery was a bit boring, making going quick a bit effortless. Cue @Yorick now telling me I'm a fanny or summink

After the GSXR-1000, I purchased a 5VY R1 - totally different experience and I loved it. Peakier power delivery, had to ring it's neck and felt far more involved and rewarding to ride.

[weeksy]

I purchased a 5VY R1 - totally different experience and I loved it. Peakier power delivery, had to ring it's neck and felt far more involved and rewarding to ride.

See weirdly i had a 2001 and a 2005 R1 at the same time and whilst the 2005 was far prettier, the carb'd one i found far more enjoyable as a bike to ride, even though it was 'slower'

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I had a proper R1 (1998) it couldn't be described as peaky

[v8-powered]

I purchased a 5VY R1 - totally different experience and I loved it. Peakier power delivery, had to ring it's neck and felt far more involved and rewarding to ride.

See weirdly i had a 2001 and a 2005 R1 at the same time and whilst the 2005 was far prettier, the carb'd one i found far more enjoyable as a bike to ride, even though it was 'slower'

Enjoyable and rewarding totally different things though. I had a 929 'blade too - that was enjoyable as I'm sure an early R1 was, the 5VY R1 was mainly rode on TD's and a little bit of road - that felt rewarding.

I had a proper R1 (1998) it couldn't be described as peaky

As per ^^^^^ - I've never rode an early R1 but guess that is similar to the 929/954 'blade?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I purchased a 5VY R1 - totally different experience and I loved it. Peakier power delivery, had to ring it's neck and felt far more involved and rewarding to ride.

See weirdly i had a 2001 and a 2005 R1 at the same time and whilst the 2005 was far prettier, the carb'd one i found far more enjoyable as a bike to ride, even though it was 'slower'

Enjoyable and rewarding totally different things though. I had a 929 'blade too - that was enjoyable as I'm sure an early R1 was, the 5VY R1 was mainly rode on TD's and a little bit of road - that felt rewarding.

I had a proper R1 (1998) it couldn't be described as peaky

As per ^^^^^ - I've never rode an early R1 but guess that is similar to the 929/954 'blade?

I haven't ridden a Fireblade so I don't know, it was faster in a straight line than a 2000 Fireblade (or I had bigger balls at Snetterton)

[Taipan]

Cleaned it ready for selling. Lovely bike. Actually a bit gutted to let it go!

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

How much are you after for it and how many miles has it done?

[Bustaspoke]

Cleaned it ready for selling. Lovely bike. Actually a bit gutted to let it go!

I' can't remember when I last sold sold a bike!.I gave away a Kawasaki Z650 sometime in the 90's.
I get attatched to them (apart from that PITA Z650) & as a rule find bike buyer's irritating f*ckwits so I hang on to the bikes.First priority when I bought my current place was a bigger garage
Good luck dealing with the punters ...

[Taipan]

How much are you after for it and how many miles has it done?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115897036076

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Lovely looking bike, get it bought Cheesy

Nah, it's £4000 over priced

[Skub]

Listing by Taipans Emporium. Love it.

When are you holding a loft sale?

[Dodgy69]

Good feedback aswel.