NBT: I've just bought my forever bike!

[Taipan]

Have you sold it yet?

Not yet, but I did consider it recently. Not because my opinion of it has changed, it's because i've nearly dropped it a few times on my uneven garden and by fook is it a heavy bike to try and hold! But there's nothing else to fit the bill, so it stays!

I've lost track of which bike this is, but if it's still the Africa Twin, surely it's built to take a fall? It'd be safer for you to let it fall, then pick it back up properly, rather than straining something trying to hold it up.

Yes the Africa Twin. I haven't owned anything else for months now! I'm worried about not being able to get out of the way and it landing on either of my metal knees!

[the_priest]

Just let the crash bars do their job. Roll it back up or get friends, a crane and some sky jib to haul it back up. I had that with the FJ1200. I could rock it on the engine bars and get it up quickly from it lying flat on the tar, and it was a lot heavier than the Africa Twin.

[ChrisW]

Tall bikes can be easier to push around at an angle, cranked over a bit, also less likely to fall on you should they decide to topple.

[Taipan]

I remember going from an 1100GS to a 1150GS and thinking it was a backward move in terms of agility. I don't what, if any, weight difference there actually was, but it felt bigger and heavier?

The Africa Twin felt like a mistake when I first got it. So big, heavy and wide compared to anything i'd had for years and as I've always said, it'll be that which causes its departure when the time comes. That said I can chuck it about at slow speeds like one of those Jap cops around the speed cones. Also being big and wide it deflects cold air away from you and even in the recent cold snap i just had waterproof trousers over jeans and didn't turn to lined bike trousers to keep warm.

Also, once i'm moving I now like the feel of it, and the hindrance of the wide bars, surprisingly, doesn't bother me in traffic, although that's probably down to the convenience of the DCT in traffic which is such a winner for me. Its the love of the DCT that now limits my bike buying. The only option compared to the AT are the NC750X but i've had a few of them and whilst they are a superb commuter, they'd feel really dumbed down after the AT. The bike i really want, despite having the same engine and power as the NC750, is the X-ADV but I think they are too desirable to thieves to bother with, so the AT stays.

[Skub]

Heavy bikes suck donkeys.

Once that,'if this goes off balance' thing is in my head,that's it for me,I don't want it.

Lighter bikes are where it's at maan.

[Noggin]

I essentially learnt to ride on a big fat heavy bike that I could get both feet down (or even one foot without sliding off the seat!) and no way could I ever pick it up!

Now I have a spazzy arm, I suspect that there are virtually no bikes I could 'save' (except maybe a 390 ) so I'll just keep going and hope nothing lands on my legs - one metal joint is enough for now, so I'm hoping to avoid the inevitable metal knee as long as possible!!

[Count Steer]

[MrLongbeard]

C'mon, ain't no bike heavy enough that couldn't be picked up by an average joe

[Taipan]

Oh I can pick it up okay, its the stopping it falling and being trapped underneath it thats worrying me!

[Taipan]

Heavy bikes suck donkeys.

Once that,'if this goes off balance' thing is in my head,that's it for me,I don't want it.

Lighter bikes are where it's at maan.

Well I had a bit of a wobble today. I contacted a dealer about a p/x price on my CB1000R against their X-ADV. I thought I could run the AT and the X-ADV back to back and see which one suited me best. Fortunately, the p/x price was too low so I declined. I rode the AT in today and thought WTF are you thinking you idiot! I do really like this bike!

[Supermofo]

Plus how long before the X-Adv gets lifted. Sad that's a consideration but it'd write it off for me.

[Bustaspoke]

If the local scum are going to target a X-ADV then either avoid buying one or park it somewhere more secure.
If you've not got peace of mind parking a vehicle,any vehicle then it's not worth owning.Stick with the current bike .

[G.P]

I had another look recently because I really like the look of them, but no matter how many times I pop into the shop the bikes aren't getting any smaller and I'm not getting any taller

I did get a sit on someone's GS that had been properly lowered by BMW and that was surprisingly accessible to me - but it felt blinking heavy, if that went over on it's side I'd be buggered.

Try an R nine T Urban GS or scrambler for size. The Urban GS is very dable and the Scrambler even lower, but with the right riding position and more suspension travel than a normal naked. No good for proper off-roading but more pothole and shitty road surface resistant.

[Noggin]

Heavy bikes suck donkeys.

Once that,'if this goes off balance' thing is in my head,that's it for me,I don't want it.

Lighter bikes are where it's at maan.

Well I had a bit of a wobble today. I contacted a dealer about a p/x price on my CB1000R against their X-ADV. I thought I could run the AT and the X-ADV back to back and see which one suited me best. Fortunately, the p/x price was too low so I declined. I rode the AT in today and thought WTF are you thinking you idiot! I do really like this bike!

TFFT - Please please don't sell it!!!!!!!

[KungFooBob]

FryPan earlier...

[Taipan]

FryPan earlier...

I've been doing DIY and bought ne furniture. So I'm golden. I could easily walk another bike in with no consequence! Typically, I dont effin want one! D'oh! I have been secretly thinking about selling the Rangey and getting a Ferrari California though...

[KungFooBob]

FryPan earlier...

I've been doing DIY and bought ne furniture. So I'm golden. I could easily walk another bike in with no consequence! Typically, I dont effin want one! D'oh! I have been secretly thinking about selling the Rangey and getting a Ferrari California though...

For the first time in history, I'm actually quite happy with the three bikes I have. I even think I have the prefect car for my use case.

I have been looking at chopping the wife's SL in for an M4 convertible

[KungFooBob]

Also...

There's only three Ferrari's to aspire to own...

F40 (No chance without a Euro Lotto win)
Testarossa (in white with only one wing mirror)
308GTS, almost affordable, but you need to budget for some Hawaiian shirts.

[Rockburner]

Oh I can pick it up okay, its the stopping it falling and being trapped underneath it thats worrying me!

You just need to practise Horse's jump method.

[Taipan]

Also...

There's only three Ferrari's to aspire to own...

F40 (No chance without a Euro Lotto win)
Testarossa (in white with only one wing mirror)
308GTS, almost affordable, but you need to budget for some Hawaiian shirts.