NBT: I’ve just bought my forever bike, part 2!

[Supermofo]

That's a pain, but sounds like you got off lightly from 2 vans hitting you! Just glad a broken handguard was the worst of it. Ride safe!

[Taipan]

2 vans in 1 morning. Impressive

Over a 2 week period actually.

Note to self; Try harder!

[Taipan]

Hadn't used the bike for a while and went to go out on it t'other day but the front wheel was seized. Turns out the road salt and got into the calipers and seized the pads on the pins. D'oh! Quickly sorted by my master spannering skills and it was noted new pads will be needed soon. One internet hunt later and I managed to track down some desired Ferodo eco frictions in the land of spaghetti and they are winging their way to me in their Ragu stained packaging as we speak. Hopefully my stereotyping arse will get them fitted this weekend.

[Scootabout]

I've only just found this thread. Good to hear how well you're getting on with the bike, white vans notwithstanding. Also good that it hasn't been nicked. I do fancy one of these, but my main fear is theft, and associated insurance cost.

[Taipan]

I've only just found this thread. Good to hear how well you're getting on with the bike, white vans notwithstanding. Also good that it hasn't been nicked. I do fancy one of these, but my main fear is theft, and associated insurance cost.

I haven't seen any stats but it feels like bike theft in the capital has gone down, at least i'm not seeing so many articles about it or video clips of bike thefts lately?

TBH if it got nicked i'd not get another, just a nc750x instead, as even though I love the funky looks off the XADV i'm pretty detached from bikes these days and they really are nothing more than a mode of transport. Also, the NCs aren't nicked as much and easier to do things like valve clearances on. A disadvantage of the XADV is its like a sports bike in as much as you have to remove lots of panels to get at anything.

I did even think about selling the XADV to get a NC as it'd be half the outlay devaluing on the drive, but CBA wit the faff of selling and buying bike anymore!

[asmethurst99]

Somebody undid the oil filler cap on mine so NC's aren't completely immune from scrotes
Discovered this morning after 5 mins of spirited riding (for me) on the A12 - oil dribble down the engine - it seems to have enough to get home

[Count Steer]

Somebody undid the oil filler cap on mine so NC's aren't completely immune from scrotes
Discovered this morning after 5 mins of spirited riding (for me) on the A12 - oil dribble down the engine - it seems to have enough to get home

Why would they do that? Hoping to pick up seized one on the A12 later?

(Unless it was to add something ).

[asmethurst99]

Beyond me- it was unscrewed to the last 2 turns - Hackney... go figure - this was in the car park with lots of footfall
Last time i touched it was last summer

[mangocrazy]

Beyond me- it was unscrewed to the last 2 turns - Hackney... go figure - this was in the car park with lots of footfall
Last time i touched it was last summer

I'd be tempted to give the bike an impromptu oil and filter change - won't hurt and could remove anything the scrote(s) dropped in there.

[asmethurst99]

good point

[Scootabout]

TBH if it got nicked i'd not get another, just a nc750x instead, as even though I love the funky looks off the XADV i'm pretty detached from bikes these days and they really are nothing more than a mode of transport. Also, the NCs aren't nicked as much and easier to do things like valve clearances on. A disadvantage of the XADV is its like a sports bike in as much as you have to remove lots of panels to get at anything.

Main plus over that NC, for me, would be the better suspension. I ride a lot of back roads with dodgy surfaces.
But the panel removal aspect, with consequent £££ at the dealer, would be a minus.

I think I'll stick with the V85TT for the foreseeable.

[Taipan]

Looks like its almost due a wash!

[Dixiethedog]

A year or so back, I was sitting in the beer garden (for want of a better word) in a pub in Newcastle, right by the roadside and some traffic lights. Two of these H*nda's pulled up at the light, with throw over panniers, top boxes and riders looking well kitted out for riding distances in the weathers that we get and it made me smile. Being an FJR1300 owner I looked that at the bikes in the seconds that they were there and thought how great it would be to go touring on something lighter in weight, more economical and dare I say, more fun than my touring bike. From memory they may have had Dutch number plates. I live not far from the Ncle to Holland ferry and when out and about see a lot of foreign bikes and cars kicking around. But your bike looks great. Even if it is a H*nda!! LOL

[Taipan]

They are a lot more popular in Europe than they are here. I've had a few traffic light conversations with bikers asking WTF is it! . They aren't lightweight by any stretch of the imagination. From memory i'm pretty sure it was heavier than my Africa TWin. If it was 50KGs lighter, and had 25BHP more and was shaft drive it'd probably be the perfect bike for me. As it stands now its just a very good, economical (72 mpg overall) commuter.

[Dixiethedog]

They are a lot more popular in Europe than they are here. I've had a few traffic light conversations with bikers asking WTF is it! . They aren't lightweight by any stretch of the imagination. From memory i'm pretty sure it was heavier than my Africa TWin. If it was 50KGs lighter, and had 25BHP more and was shaft drive it'd probably be the perfect bike for me. As it stands now its just a very good, economical (72 mpg overall) commuter.

I had a test ride on a new NC750X a couple of year ago, which I believe have the same engines. Reviews make the bikes sound boring, yet I had a hoot on the bike. Had the bike had a more comfy seat(s) I could have been tempted to buy one. The fuel MPG figures are amazing.

[Count Steer]

I had a test ride on a Suzuki Burgman 650 and after about 5 miles me and pillion got off and fell about laughing. It was a hoot. We even gave it a blat along the M25 after. Those big scoots and the crossovers make perfect sense for a lot of uses. Thought the Burgman was a bit pricey at the time though.

[Dixiethedog]

It was a hoot.

This is what motorcycle riding should be about. In 30 years time (God willing), if somebody asked you, "Do you remember the time you rode a Burgman?", hopefully if it was a laugh, you would say yes.

I was recently talking to somebody about bikes and one came up in the conversation, "Oh, I had one of those for about a year or so, but I don't have any memories of it, but I know I had one". And that was an 1100 Kawasaki. Bikes should make you grin and leave great memories.

A bloke who lives about a mile from me rides every year from coast to coast on his 1980's H*nda Melody. And then back. I bet he grins from ear to ear. When he is on his death bed, and somebody asks, "Do you recall the time we did the coast to coast...?" He will excitedly sit up with a new lust for live and tell how he did 28mph along the A69 on the downhill section and how his egg and tomato sandwiches nearly blow out of the front basket nearly leaving him with egg on his face.And then he will go out with a smile on his face. May he then RIP. I just hope that at his funeral party thing they have a better selection of sandwiches.

But bikes should be a hoot.

[Taipan]

We had a couple of students here doing an internship. They told us they used to put their bikes on the train and go to the south of france camping each year. They had now upped their game and was going 2 up on a 50cc Vespa (with camping gear). Sadly, I never did find out how they got on, but if I could have bottled their excitement...

[Taipan]

Been thinking about getting ring the bike lately. I keep seeing it as overkill as I don’t do anything with it other than commute on it and I can do that on another sh300. It’s a lovely bike and it’s a bit of a shame to see it ravaged by the salt and winter weather.

[Nordboy]

Been thinking about getting ring the bike lately. I keep seeing it as overkill as I don’t do anything with it other than commute on it and I can do that on another sh300. It’s a lovely bike and it’s a bit of a shame to see it ravaged by the salt and winter weather.

See now I keep thinking of going the other way, from my xmax 300 to an adv. Not that I really do anything that the 300 can't manage and it's a great bit of kit, but you know.....