revtothelimit - motorbike forum

inewham wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 2:04 pm I'm not actually suck in the 80's as such but since a 90s bike is faster than I am I might as well stick with what I've got.
I'd love a shiny new ZX10R but since lock down I seem to have only got slower so if I'm riding like an old woman so there doesn't seem much point

But,but...the point is you want one. That's always been good enough reason for me,thank the gods there isn't a 'fast' test.

demographic wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 1:43 pm I reckon bikes got to the point where they did most of what I wanted years ago. Went fast enough to entertain me and and I realised I was never going to be "fast" so I've not bothered with new stuff.
Eventually I might jump forward a few generations of tech and get a lecky bike but the modern bikes just seem like a wasted intermediate extra step to me.
I don't need a bike, my primary transport is a van and to be honest I'd like to avoid new infernal contraption engine vans as well, or at least as much as I can.

I'm all for new tech but couldnt give a toss about new for the sake of it being shiny, to me its got to be a significant improvement.

Oh and track days? Zero interest. Talk to someone else about that.

Bikes have always been about the space between my ears, not a way "To meet new friends".
All they have to do is please me and someone elses opinion of them was never a selling point to me.

Wow, I thought I was the only person on the forum that wasn't into track days!

I run a 2014 675R Street Triple & have a couple of 80's Yamaha's FZ750 & XT600. Both of the Yamaha's are currently non runners..
The Triumph is the best bike I've owned.I'm now in my late 50's & realise I've slowed down a lot,the Street Triple has as much performance as I need these days.I'm looking at one more ICE powered bike to add to the stable & it will be a middleweight twin to take on a big tour up to the Nord Kap,either a 650 V-Strom or a 500X Honda,I just want something that's easy going & fairly basic.
There was a time when the latest performance bike was my aim,but that was a long time ago.
I'm planning on a trip up to Scotland in Spring,me on the Street Triple,one mate on his 1200 Bandit that he's had for 20 years & the other mate on his 650 Enfield,his previous bikes were a Suzuki 1400,then he dowsized to a GSX 750,now the Enfield. Seems like all 3 of us have changed our wants / needs over the years.
One thing hasn't changed though,we all still love motorcycles!

Taipan wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 2:37 pm

demographic wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 1:43 pm Oh and track days? Zero interest. Talk to someone else about that.

Wow, I thought I was the only person on the forum that wasn't into track days!

Is three of us too many for a forum ban but not enough for a clique?

Horse wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 3:23 pm

Taipan wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 2:37 pm

demographic wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 1:43 pm Oh and track days? Zero interest. Talk to someone else about that.

Wow, I thought I was the only person on the forum that wasn't into track days!

Is three of us too many for a forum ban but not enough for a clique?

Think theres a few of us about who aren't bothered about em but being cantankerous antisocial old knackers we don't talk about it much.

Horse wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 3:23 pm

Taipan wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 2:37 pm

demographic wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 1:43 pm Oh and track days? Zero interest. Talk to someone else about that.

Wow, I thought I was the only person on the forum that wasn't into track days!

Is three of us too many for a forum ban but not enough for a clique?

Four with me, we ARE a clique!

It's weird as I used to go and watch racing, but never wanted to try it myself? On here it's plain to see what the Guys get out of it, yet still I'm not drawn to a track?

Taipan wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 4:25 pm It's weird as I used to go and watch racing, but never wanted to try it myself? On here it's plain to see what the Guys get out of it, yet still I'm not drawn to a track?

More or less the same here.
I used to go to Barbon Hillclimb and almost ignored the actual racing, instead focussing on looking the bikes over to see what bits people had fitted.
Masses of photos of odd little details and hardly any of the bikes in action.

I'm interested in racebikes, just not so much in racing myself.

Taipan wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 4:25 pm It's weird as I used to go and watch racing, but never wanted to try it myself? On here it's plain to see what the Guys get out of it, yet still I'm not drawn to a track?

You'd be too fast for us

Yorick wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 4:47 pm

Taipan wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 4:25 pm It's weird as I used to go and watch racing, but never wanted to try it myself? On here it's plain to see what the Guys get out of it, yet still I'm not drawn to a track?

You'd be too fast for us

The older I get, the faster I was...

I still think the 90's was a golden era for motorcycles.

The manufacturing and materials were as good as anything available today and they didn't have to comply with strict environmental rules.

The technology isn't what we have today, but then issues were a lot simpler to fix, no laptop required.

90's bikes look a lot cooler too.

KungFooBob wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 6:18 pm I still think the 90's was a golden era for motorcycles.

The manufacturing and materials were as good as anything available today and they didn't have to comply with strict environmental rules.

The technology isn't what we have today, but then issues were a lot simpler to fix, no laptop required.

90's bikes look a lot cooler too.

Some. Deffo not all

Imo a 99 R1 is hard to beat

I saw this on Friendface earlier, it is quite literally the most 90's motorcycling thing I have ever seen.



Whatever happened to Nankai and Kushitani, they were the crème de la crème of leathers back in the day?

KungFooBob wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 6:18 pm I still think the 90's was a golden era for motorcycles.

The manufacturing and materials were as good as anything available today and they didn't have to comply with strict environmental rules.

The technology isn't what we have today, but then issues were a lot simpler to fix, no laptop required.

90's bikes look a lot cooler too.

This. I love mechanical solutions, electronic gizmos etc. I don't care for much. Bikes or cars, I like to 'see' how they work and be able to physically fix/adjust/mend them. Fireblade, 916, last of the grey import 250 smokers etc. were simply awesome machines. I follow the butchered classics group on Facebook, there is plenty of Spondon porn and the likes on there.

For me, riding bikes has always been a freedom - got my first bike at 18 & didn't learn to drive until after I had kids at 24, was never into outright speed so only ever owned single cylinder trail bikes & italian vee twins, although I have enjoyed a few trips to Ron Haslams race school and their CBR600RR's. I guess I grew up in the eara of bike magazine Laverda Jotas in the late 70's & early 80's. Older brothers and dad had bikes, don't really like old bikes or new bikes, think I'm just a classic late adopter of technology, so always end up with a 10yr old bike

I enjoy riding a bike, I only want one bike at a time so it has to be a decent all-rounder; it has to be able to carry all my work shite during the week, my camping stuff when I need it to and still be able to put a smile on my face. I like functional,and capable rather than quirky and unreliable. I hate washing it, I don’t enjoy spannering on them any more. I just want to get it out of the garage, ride it and put it back when I’ve finished.

Even then, my mileage has dropped from a regular 20k per year to about 8k this year. Covid has had an impact but it’s been more than that tbh, there are times when I’ve taken the car just because I’d rather be in the car. Not sure why

Dickyboy wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 6:47 pm think I'm just a classic late adopter of technology, so always end up with a 10yr old bike

I end up with a 10 year old bike because I'm too poor to buy a new one.

I've never ridden a bike with all the electronic gizmos so I can't say that I don't need them but if I can't fully exploit a 10 year old bike then how would they improve my motorcycling experience. Bear in mind that my riding is mostly sunny Sunday morning rides of around 150-200 miles on single carriageway A and B roads where 180mph is just not going to happen.

I don't miss adjusting drum brakes, setting contact breaker gaps and balancing carbs on a regular basis though

I guess the looking back at older bikes reminds us of our yoof and growing up with those bikes. I can understand why Weeksy doesnt get it as he came to bikes later. As a kid i always wanted a bike, once i had one i always wanted another one.

The older bikes are about reminiscing but the modern ones make things a lot different. When i have CBT students all riding basic carbed 125's which they find difficult enough at the start and they ask about the Ducati and explain it has different electronic riding modes adjusting the suspension, power, traction control, ABS , anti wheelie and throttle response all while on the move you can see them just go WOW!!!!

I am really really trying to use the electronics more on the Multi and trusted them a lot more on track at Pembrey managing to activate the TC a couple of times onto the straight when hamfisted on the throttle and using the slipper clutch way more but 35 ish years of riding non electronic bikes takes a lot of new tricks for the old dog to learn but i am slowly getting there.

The adaptibility of the bike through all those easily adjustable settings have made it a joy to own and allowed me to use it for waaay more than i expected

I just have to remember when i get on the 600 Fazer its completely analogue with cock all rider aids

I don’t think my wants and needs have changed much as bikes have always been toys, I’m glad that despite riding for 46 years I can still get on a 25hp bike and have fun. I’ll still slid up to a set of lights sideways giggling to myself. I’ll still ride purely for fun. I’m always open to try different bikes but I do like riding them quick and I have no issue taking a bike out it’s comfort zone, the Africa twin was enormous fun at donington and the Enfield at Cadwell the highlight of this year. I don’t have a proper fast bike anymore but that’s not to say one won’t appear at some point too