Mid-Life-Crisis (Motorbike purchase)

I have my eye on a couple of these, the only riding on the road will be to-from green lanes..

BITD I owned a TL125, and did local trials with it.. then upgraded to a TY175 (which I didn’t like so sold it)

Big bikes may be easier to pootle around on but very hard to learn to ride properly as everything happens at such speed.

The fun comes in thrashing a bike – much easier to do on something smaller.

Mmmm. Bultaco Sherpa. I had the 250 version. And a TL125, as it happens. Both classics now.

@flange I am building a sort of track daytona from a Street Triple 765RS. I ran it in on the road and now its in bits in my garage 🙂

I with the race exhaust and mapping I am hoping for 130bhp at the rear and 750cc torque. Should make it a little nicer to ride than a 600.

Fairings turn up tomorrow 🙂 Installed the Down blipper and Power Commander last night.

@Flange ….
TBH, not compared to other offerings …. BMW XR ( which I hated ), GS 1250 will be 16k when kitted out
Ducati Multi – 15K
Panigale – 19k?
KTM 1260 ADV – 14k plus …

But yes, it is an expensive retirement present to myself. But I haven’t retired. And I got 900 quid off list ….

There was a time when bikes were cheap … they seemed to be 7K for many years for 1000 sports bikes
Ducati pushed that with the 916
And lately everything seems to be north of 15k …
And secondhand seems to have gone exponential …..

BTW, I did look at a Royal Enfield.

Have a look at this

https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/offers/rookietorider.html?cid=pm_rtr_loc_se_gl_sea_7mis7_7mis7&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrcPP69Cb4wIVGLLtCh04Rg3pEAAYASAAEgLG3_D_BwE

Just bought one of these
https://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/motorcycles/classic/bonneville-scrambler-1200/scrambler-1200-xe

Lucky sod, I have the Street Scrambler and I’m waaay too small to fit onto one of those, as much as I would like to 🙁

@bazzer that sounds mint! Exactly what I’d be after and wanted to do myself but i sadly just don’t have the time. Would love to see some pics when it’s done. I did have a look at what people are doing with the cBR650 which looks cool, but base bikes are still dear to buy and bits aren’t exactly readily available.

@mrmoofo sorry chap, was just shocked when I saw the price. I’m still in that mindset that a new litre bike can be bought for £7k when In fact a you’d be looking to get anything sub £11k. And don’t get me started on second hand prices – there is literally nothing (worth having) below £2k these days, it’s mental!

I’d managed to miss this thread originally, I’ve spent the latter part of this week catching up.

I’m in a similar position, after 15 years of ‘no way, not even a 50cc’ from SWMBO, I was given clearance to get a crappy 125 scooter for commuting. Did my CBT on a Vanvan 3 weeks ago and picked up a little Yamaha for £500 the day after.

I’m loving the extra time I’m saving on my commute, also not having to cram into a packed train.

I can’t get that Vanvan out of my head though. My scooter has only got 10″ wheels and at 45+ it’s a bit lively.

Mrs P is still saying no ‘bikes’ but I’m hoping over the next few months/years she’ll accept something a bit more sensible.

In the meantime, I’m going to crack on and do my DAS so I don’t have to keep faffing with CBTs

@flange

That is really interesting I am currently riding a CBR650f Ex European Junior cup bike on track 🙂

I would post some pics, but I don’t think I can link to google hosted pictures here.

Or at least its never worked for me.

@mrmoofo

What did you not like about the XR, I have one of those as well 🙂

Its not really got a heap of character but its excellent at actually going places and having a blast when you get there 🙂

Turns out is does work 🙂

There are some lovely bikes here 🙂

I’m working from home today and looking out at my MT-07 parked on the drive….I want to ride my bike now!

But it will have to wait until later….booo.

@bazzer

Ooof, that’s awesome! If you ever fancy selling it, let me know! I’d love one for the track and I might actually feel like I could use more than 20% of the power!

If anyone wants a 1200 bandit I know where there’s one for cheapness- my mums neighbour is selling his. Seems in good nick, just hasn’t been used for ages. 20k miles, 2 owners. All original parts plus can, lower fairings and so on. I think you’d bag it for £1.5k

@flange Yes I will let you know, I have learnt so much riding the little bike. I was on an RSV4 before and its all a bit serious. Also I now know how a really sorted bike feels like on track and the confidence it gives. I said I was going to sell it when the Triumph was ready, but I really like it. I am tempted to leave it out in Almeria so I can pop out when I like 🙂

I am also worried I won’t have as much fun on the Triumph and will regret getting rid of it.

If It do sell it though will give you a shout.

New bike day today 😃 colleague was selling a Street Triple and it was too good to pass up. Just done a handful of miles but it’s impressive so far. Seems to pick up from anywhere. Hopefully a longer ride tomorrow and a couple of longer rides again next week.

I bet it’s fun YoKaiser

couple of longer rides again next week.

I’m just sat here printing my route off for Monday and Tuesday. Have a few hols left so I’m off to Galloway and then back via Kielder on the 2nd day, with a B&B in Newton Stewart overnight Monday.

Looking fwd to it as I have hardly ridden the bloody thing this year due to a knackered shoulder. 🙁

Yay, I fancy a Street Triple also – will probably buy one next year. Triples seem to offer the best of both worlds – the smoothness of a 4 but with the low-end grunt of a twin.

Weather looks fine tomorrow so I will be heading out for an afternoon blast somewhere in North Yorkshire.

@Vortexracing Enjoy your trip 🙂

Mot’d and taxed my Tuono today, as I’m selling my car it’ll be used as transport for a while.

First proper ride on it for over 2 years, forgotten how much it pulls and doesn’t like sitting at 30mph 😁

Vortexracing, that’s probably where I’ll be too. Favourite route when between school runs is Ayr to New Galloway, Clatteringshaws for a cuppa, on to Newton Stewart and then up to Girvan and the coast road home. The road form Newton Stewart to Girvan is sublime on a bike!

Cheers, I’ll make sure I ride some of those. Clatteringshaws is already on the list. I am adding a couple of the gravel/forest roads as well.

I rode to Tyndrum for an ice cream this afternoon, then back to Glencoe. That’s a hard route to beat when the sun is out and gaps between the cars are big 😀

Tis a fantastic bit of road, alas every time I’ve been on it this year it’s chockablock. Quite like the Dalmally road if it’s the weekend and expecting traffic.

Looking forward to a sunny weekend, big tour of the dales is on the cards Hawes, Sedbergh and Devil’s Bridge tomorrow I reckon.

The Glencoe-Oban road is almost always a lot quieter than the A82. Oban has three fish and chip shops.

Looking forward to a sunny weekend, big tour of the dales is on the cards Hawes, Sedbergh and Devil’s Bridge tomorrow I reckon.

Sounds great, I’ll be out and about also – enjoy the Dales!

New bike day today 😃 colleague was selling a Street Triple and it was too good to pass up. Just done a handful of miles but it’s impressive so far. Seems to pick up from anywhere. Hopefully a longer ride tomorrow and a couple of longer rides again next week.

Love my Street Triple,I’ll be out road cycling in the morning & out on the STR in the afternoon.
Here’s one of it loaded up,in touring mode from the Classic TT week recently.

Looking forward to a sunny weekend, big tour of the dales is on the cards Hawes, Sedbergh and Devil’s Bridge tomorrow I reckon.

Sounds great, I’ll be out and about also – enjoy the Dales

Will do and you, on a black Guzzi griso if you see it and want to say hi

Street Triples are indeed magnificent bikes. I’ve got 2, an ‘08 675 that was my 1st bike bought used at 3,800 miles and still worth more than I paid, the Mrs tends to ride that these days and a 765RS which I got last year and is superb, perfect evolution of a bike, everything is just a step up from the original but retaining the feel of the 1st one.

Just back from 1400 miles in the Black Forest and Voseges mountains on it in 6 days. Loaded up with 50l of Kriega bags it still handled sublimely, however might look at a sports tourer or something in the future too as my knees are aching a bit now!

Will do and you, on a black Guzzi griso if you see it and want to say hi

Will do and nice bike!

Yamaha MT-07 here 🙂

I’m still enjoying the bike, although it’s still really just a commuting device – I haven’t had a good chance to put any serious miles on it.

One thing that has come up is that I reckon the stock handlebars are just a bit too narrow. I’ve got extraordinarily broad shoulders, and so I find the heel of my hand naturally overlapping the end of the grips. I also struggle to get the mirrors exactly where I need them – I tend to have to shift my body about to actually see behind me.

Any thoughts on extending the bars without replacing them? And extra inch each side should do it.

And while I’m here – anyone with the same bike found any good combinations for luggage? I’m not doing any touring, but I’d like to find a way to carry a few essentials, and have somewhere to lock my helmet when I’ve stopped for tea.

I really wanted a Street triple when I swapped my Tiger 800 last Summer – I’d had 7 Triumphs on the trot, do a bit of a Triumph fan you might say. However, because I take Mrs Engineer on the back sometimes, I ended up with a BMW F800R, the Teutonic equivalent. Not quite an equivalent, the engine can’t match the lovely Triumph triple, but the handling’s as good (IMHO). A much underrated bike, I think.

First long ride on the ST, loving it so far. Quite a good bit different from the Honda I have, both have their plus points but the Triumph is a lot of fun.

Always liked the F800, for whatever reason they seem cheap (to purchase). Really like the styling too, big fan of the K12/1300’s and they always look like a mini version.

The latest version (like mine) doesn’t have the weird different sized headlights, though. It does have radial Brembos and all the electronic gizmos like TC, ABS, riding modes and electronic rear shock adjustment. It sounded really strange (all the tests comment on it) but now much better with an aftermarket can.

How do you avoid the photobucket logo?

By using imgur

My 765RS track bike build is finished now and its on its way to Spain 🙂

Wow, that Triumph! In Spain too – the best of both worlds.
I shouldn’t be looking at this thread, as I’ve made numerous promises to various people I will not buy a new motorbike..but buying Yahama Tshirts off ebay doesn’t really scratch the itch.

No but i bet a nice MT-10 would 🙂