revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Took my baby bike to play with a big bike today!!



Damn it was fun, but a bloody hard ride for a 'newbie'

I'd forgotten how nadgery the road above Val d'Isère gets! Narrow and nadgery Every bump hurts a little in the bit of my arm that the physio thinks we can't solve




But, whilst I probably should have stopped at Val d'Isère I'm glad I went to the top After a 15 minute chill (horizontal wind, no cafe) we headed back down to stop at the pasty shop in Bourg.

It was a lovely ride higher up but in the valley, bloody hell the Monster chucks out some heat

Awesome views (KFB posted similar, I know. But I've only been up once on a bike before today and that was three years ago. So, repeats are here )





Didn't walk to that bit, but a big monument (maybe) surrounded by little cairns




Very basic map of route -

Noggin back on her bike - we're all Doomed!!!

Lutin wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 4:42 pm Noggin back on her bike - we're all Doomed!!!

Oh I don't know - I think nearly all of you (if not all) are far enough away that you're safe



And I'm wayyyyyyyy slower than I used to be - and on a much slower bike

Noggin wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 4:53 pm

Lutin wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 4:42 pm Noggin back on her bike - we're all Doomed!!!

Oh I don't know - I think nearly all of you (if not all) are far enough away that you're safe



And I'm wayyyyyyyy slower than I used to be - and on a much slower bike

Are you suggesting the TLs was dangerous?

slowsider wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 5:14 pm

Noggin wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 4:53 pm

Lutin wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 4:42 pm Noggin back on her bike - we're all Doomed!!!

Oh I don't know - I think nearly all of you (if not all) are far enough away that you're safe



And I'm wayyyyyyyy slower than I used to be - and on a much slower bike

Are you suggesting the TLs was dangerous?

Not in the slightest!!! But it was most definitely quicker!!


(I always thought the TLs was a bit of a pussycat, nothing like the widowmaker it was made out to be!!!)

Skub wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 11:32 am Managed to trip and fall down some concrete steps ffs.

I think I may have caught Noggin's fuck up fairy.

Cut a Tomato in half and rub it in

Noggin wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 5:29 pm I always thought the TLs was a bit of a pussycat, nothing like the widowmaker it was made out to be!!!

Did they not say the same shit about the RD LC's when they came out?

Felix wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 6:06 pm

Noggin wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 5:29 pm I always thought the TLs was a bit of a pussycat, nothing like the widowmaker it was made out to be!!!

Did they not say the same shit about the RD LC's when they came out?

Probably. And the 03/04 ZX10r. I've owned 2 'supposed' widowmakers and neither seemed to be an issue - maybe I just don't ride hard enough

Noggin wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 6:10 pm

Felix wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 6:06 pm

Noggin wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 5:29 pm I always thought the TLs was a bit of a pussycat, nothing like the widowmaker it was made out to be!!!

Did they not say the same shit about the RD LC's when they came out?

Probably. And the 03/04 ZX10r. I've owned 2 'supposed' widowmakers and neither seemed to be an issue - maybe I just don't ride hard enough

The 04/05 10R came with a rock hard rear shock and soft forks. This alone made the stock bike flighty. Even a decent rear shock was a massive improvement and totally made the bike.

Skub wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:29 pm

Noggin wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 6:10 pm

Felix wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 6:06 pm

Did they not say the same shit about the RD LC's when they came out?

Probably. And the 03/04 ZX10r. I've owned 2 'supposed' widowmakers and neither seemed to be an issue - maybe I just don't ride hard enough

The 04/05 10R came with a rock hard rear shock and soft forks. This alone made the stock bike flighty. Even a decent rear shock was a massive improvement and totally made the bike.

Cheers, I never did know why they were supposed to be so bad but whenever I told anyone I had a 2003 (might have been 04!) ZX10r, people made the same face as when I said I had a 1997 TLs!!

Never had any issues with either to be fair, but apparently they are dangerous!!

From what i remember the early TL had tank slapping issues but a steering damper was available i think. I had a shitty GSX750 Teapot that would tank slap almost every time i got onto a country road. I dont remember ever ending up in a hedge. The RD rep was probably down to how easy it was to get a licence and your hands on a bigger bike. OK my first big bike was only a GS550 but that was a large overnight jump from running around on 80-125cc trail bikes. I was shitting myself for the first few hours

Felix wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:47 pm From what i remember the early TL had tank slapping issues but a steering damper was available i think. I had a shitty GSX750 Teapot that would tank slap almost every time i got onto a country road. I dont remember ever ending up in a hedge. The RD rep was probably down to how easy it was to get a licence and your hands on a bigger bike. OK my first big bike was only a GS550 but that was a large overnight jump from running around on 80-125cc trail bikes. I was shitting myself for the first few hours

My Tls was the early one - 1997. I got fed up of taking the retro fitted steering damper off it when we were doing engine stuff and rode it without one one for a few years - did a few hill climbs and a couple of TDs without it!!

I suspect I just wasn't as aggressive as some on the throttle - not slow as such, but not aggressive

Noggin wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:49 pm I suspect I just wasn't as aggressive as some on the throttle - not slow as such, but not aggressive

I think my early days of riding after passing my test was best described as angry bastard. That throttle got a battering every time i went out Calmed down a lot now but still like to push to the limits now and then

Visited one of Spains top bodegas, but bought this fine wine in the Carrefour instead! Living my best life…

Taipan wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 8:11 pm Visited one of Spains top bodegas, but bought this fine wine in the Carrefour instead! Living my best life…

My box does six bottes

Noggin wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:49 pm
My Tls was the early one - 1997. I got fed up of taking the retro fitted steering damper off it when we were doing engine stuff and rode it without one one for a few years - did a few hill climbs and a couple of TDs without it!!

I suspect I just wasn't as aggressive as some on the throttle - not slow as such, but not aggressive

I had a 98 tls, no steering damper, couldn't see what the fuss was about.
I probably rode it like a Jessie or something.

Felix wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 8:04 pm

Noggin wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:49 pm I suspect I just wasn't as aggressive as some on the throttle - not slow as such, but not aggressive

I think my early days of riding after passing my test was best described as angry bastard. That throttle got a battering every time i went out Calmed down a lot now but still like to push to the limits now and then

I was described as aggressive by quite a few!! Especially when filtering

DefTrap wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 8:20 pm

Noggin wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:49 pm
My Tls was the early one - 1997. I got fed up of taking the retro fitted steering damper off it when we were doing engine stuff and rode it without one one for a few years - did a few hill climbs and a couple of TDs without it!!

I suspect I just wasn't as aggressive as some on the throttle - not slow as such, but not aggressive

I had a 98 tls, no steering damper, couldn't see what the fuss was about.
I probably rode it like a Jessie or something.

I came to the conclusion that it was because I was smooth on the throttle. I was definitely aggressive, but not in a way that got the front up or a tank slapper! I was taught to be really smooth and it was always a comment made by instructors (no idea how they could tell!!). So I reckon that's the answer??!!

Felix wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 8:18 pm

Taipan wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 8:11 pm Visited one of Spains top bodegas, but bought this fine wine in the Carrefour instead! Living my best life…

My box does six bottes

Check this beaut out!

Taipan wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 10:42 pm
Check this beaut out!

How much?

cheb wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 12:26 am

Taipan wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 10:42 pm
Check this beaut out!

How much?

5 litres.