My Kickr has been good, though I do use it with a powermeter as the built in power measurement of the Mk1 is not entirely accurate.

But in terms of use and feel its great.

You can get cells that can provide 30C (30 x Ah capacity) instantaneously now.

However I agree a lot of the claims are exaggerated.

Truth is though you probably only need 200A and I have seen tests where the packs can manage that.

I have one of these as battery failed on my motorbike the other day.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NOCO-GB40-UltraSafe-Lithium-Starter/dp/B015TKUPIC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1513601375&sr=8-2&keywords=noco+GB40

Its the Noco GB40 I bought it on a Black Friday deal. I have used it to start my track bike and it had no problem at all.

C ? You want it compliled and efficient. Its the obvious choice I would think.

Thanks for the input guys.

Discovered one of my mates has a large so will have a go on that.

Currently I have an Iron Horse Sunday, Cove Hustler and a Cotic Soda.

Plan is to get rid of the Sunday and the Hustler and replace with the Capra or something like it. I rode everything from the South Down to Whistler on my old Patriot so thinking that something lighter and more modern with similar geometry would be just the ticket and allow me to have less bikes in the garage again.

Will keep the Soda though as its a fantastic bike and always makes me smile.

Cheers

I am around QE park if anyone local has one I can sit on.

https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/archive/2012/patriot/

https://www.yt-industries.com/en/detail/index/sArticle/1258/sCategory/77

The medium looks VERY similar to my old medium Patriot.

I currently ride a 17.5″ Cove Hustler and a 17.5″ Cotic Soda. I had a large Scott Genius years ago and hated it. So I am slightly worried about getting a bike that;s too big.

Cheers can you elaborate a bit ?

Its pretty simple isn’t it, if you want to give up then give it up. If you can’t give it up get some help.

If you’re doing something you don’t want to do and you can’t stop it you have a problem.

I love a beer, however I have realised its a time stealer so make it the exception rather than the norm these days.

How much hassle is the customs/border crossing ?

Ahhh I want to go, if my contract does not get renewed in two weeks I might just go 🙂

You lot are a right bunch of tight gits. His friend is taking him on a what I assume is a very expensive all expenses paid holiday and you lot are penny pinching.

As for only spending that sort of money on someone you know well. I know my Dad pretty well but always have to ask my sister what to buy him for Xmas !!!

Isn’t the obvious answer to call the old bill? Basically someone has sold you something they didn’t own and now you want your money back.

Isn’t the obvious answer to call the old bill? Basically someone has sold you something they didn’t own and now you want your money back.

Well for 3 years I had a BMW 135i and a Renault Trafic van. I no longer have a BMW 135i but still have a trafic van.

I find it quite comfy and low stress on long drives. I do have a panel van though so its not as noisy as it has a bulk head.

It has aircon, DAB radio. TomTom Satnav, auto lights, auto wipers as well as reversing camera/sensors.

Its no more stress than driving a car. However its brilliant for the bikes and also good when I do trackdays with my motorbike.

I have to admit I have never slept in it though.

@fifeandy One reason for saying hydration was it was a very hot and humid day and even if you came off the bike hydrated, it would not take long to lose fluid. Its also harder to drink on the run without throwing a cup of water all over yourself.

Also were you doing anything to keep cool ? Did you throw a load of water over yourself at the aid stations ?

No I didn’t do it but was supporting a friend. I did Malorca 70.3 and Ironman Austria this year. Having bit of a break now after 3 years of it.

I actually want to get out and have some fun on my bikes instead of staring at a power meter.

Its practice with the gels and also finding ones that agree with you. Though 10hrs into a race I am not convinced any of them agree with you 🙂

Most people who struggle on the run think they need to run more. However if there is a big difference between your standalone time, its probably nutrition or you need to do more work on your bike.

Was it the Cotswold Classic yesterday ?

If you have done the hours training then its almost definitely. Nutrition and hydration.

It makes your legs feel heavy and generally like your not fit enough.

How much did you eat on the bike ? I generally aim for a gel every 20mins on the bike.

I use a power meter with my Mk1 Kickr. The internal power meter has not been great on mine. Quite a way off my Rotor cranks and seems to be inconsistent.

Other than that I love it. Had it nearly 3 years.

Would definitely say Lanzarote over Mallorca that time of year.

I have been to Lanza the last couple of years in Jan for a cycling trip. Its been great.

If you wanted anything a bit more structured and obviously more then a weekend, I have been with these guys.

https://www.tritopiatriathloncamps.com/lanzarote-camps

They wouldn’t force you to do the swimming and the running if you didnt want too 🙂

Cheers

Bazzer

I toured for a couple of yeas on a Aprilia Tuono V4 APRC. I love that bike so much. The aprilia extended screen and threw some Kreiga packs on it and off I went. Did a couple of 3000mile trips on it.

However the one big issue with it is tank range. It only did 80miles and the fuel light would come on. This is OK in the mountains where 80miles can take a while. Trying to get anywhere on major roads is a real ball ache. Its never let me down in the 4 years I have had it.

Also I would not be that keen to sit on the back of the thing 🙂

I now have a S1000XR like allthegear has, the nearly 200mile range is amazing and takes a huge amount of fuel anxiety off me. It also has solid panniers and a top box, so its hugely practical. It fast and handles well. Though it did let me down in Spain last year on its first trip when the ignition switch failed and it would not switch off.

However it does not have the X factor the Tuono has. You really feel you are riding something special when riding an Aprilia V4. If it had a bigger tank or drank a lot less a new Tuono Factory would be in my garage.

Z1000SX is about that money now and the sportier side of tourey.

Suspension is very firm on them though, too firm for some.

@thecaptain

I didn’t mean its difficult to park. More that if you live in a terrace house with busy on street parking etc, trying to find a space long enough becomes harder. A SWB can pretty much be parked where a car can fit (almost)

If its going to be a daily driver (my trafic is) Think about where you are going to park it. SWB is pretty much the same length as a big estate. A LWB can be a problem.

That said if your going to convert to a camper LWB is the way to go.

I think your biggest issue will be building regs rather than permission and I think it might fall foul of not having combustible material within a certain distance of the main dwelling.

Only reason I vaguely remember this is it was an issue when I built my garage next to my house.

@allthegear

I did another Ardennes trip on my XR a few weeks back. I am really starting to warm to it now. I was almost deffo going to try the KTM 1290 GT as a replacement as there were a few things bugging me on the XR.

A foot on the sidestand so I can park it without risk of it falling over and a few more miles (about 8K now) and I am loving it. Initially I thought it was a bit characterless and it let me down in Zaragoza on a tour last year.

However now I am now feeling the love of it. Its so easy to ride as the power delivery is a lot less ferocious than the Aprilia’s.

I have fitted some clearwater lights to it so even riding in the dark is fine now.

Think I will extend the warranty in December and at least keep it for another year.

Nice bit of kit.

I am a huge Aprilia fan I have 2013 Tuono APRC and a 2015 RSV4 Factory.

Love them 🙂

Would love an RS250 too !!!

It won’t disappoint, I loved mine.

Have fun 🙂

Fair enough on the Street Triple front. Shame as they really are a great bike. Would deffo show the other options you mention a clean pair of heels. I did euro tours and trackdays on mine it was great.

Do you mean uncomfortable small or just felt a bit small ?

I loved the fact it feels like a push bike with an engine, just feels like a toy but in a good way 🙂

I am 5ft11 and I was fine on it. I sold mine to my mate and he is 6ft4 and gets on fine with it.

Street Triple is a brilliant bike. Great for beginners and experienced bikers alike 🙂

I still miss mine !!

Yes it can, I picked up my 4th motorbike at the weekend 😉

Buy it ride it for fun, get sensible bike for commuting. N+1 applies to motorbikes too 🙂

Saw the show last year and really enjoyed it.

Currently got a

2015 BMW S1000XR
2015 RSV4 Factory in the lovely Matt Black colour.
2013 Tuono V4 APRC (which I love but really should sell)
2016 European Junion Cup CBR650f track bike that I pick up tomorrow.

Has a couple of Daytona 675’s as track bikes and been using the Tuono and RSV4 on Euro trackdays recently. Looking forward to the CBR though so I to work it harder (only 80bhp instead of 180bhp)

I do a bit of touring on the BMW however I really fancy having a look a the KTM 1290 GT and maybe swapping it for one of those.

I think it depends on where you live and drive.

I live in a pretty rural area and I try to avoid city centres.

I have a Traffic Sport 140Dci and I love it. I had a BMW 135i and I never drove it, so I sold it last month.

If I had to find a parking space outside a terraced house in a busy city, I might think differently. However for me it works brilliantly. I don’t sleep in it (panel van) but for carting around push bikes and motorbikes its brilliant.

I wish I had bought one years ago.

When I bought it I was not sure I could live with it every day. Turns out I can 🙂

Hmm interesting what people say on here.

Twist of the Wrist is really aimed at track riding and even then there is a lot of conjecture as to if some of it is really applicable to modern bikes with modern suspension. If you want to look at some of the alternative views on this have a read of Simon Crafars Motovudu.

tjagain, if you don’t use your back brake then you are probably losing a metre of stopping distance. In the initial stages of braking before the weight is transferred to the front, it can be very effective. It also can be trailed into a corner, particularly down hill corners.

I really like the look of the V7 Racer, only thing that put me off is the polished look tank is actually plastic. I know it should not matter but it kind of did for me 🙂

My advice is take care build up slowly and most of all enjoy it 🙂

3 companies I have insured my van with have asked for it.

Edited to add, its my company van if that makes any difference.

Also why when I am insuring a motorbike or van do they want scans of my license but not when I insure a car!