Just thought I’d take the time to quickly introduce myself following two recent trips down to the borough on a wednesday night…I have spoken to some of you, while others may have seen me checking out their bikes (not an uncommon sight!).
Been riding a silver CBF600N for a few years -not the worlds sexist bike but for everyday transport/london practicality-who would steal a CBF (?) and I got it off ebay (!) at a price/milage/ownership that looking back now, appeared to be too good to be true!. I had hoped to upgrade at the end of last year / this year to a sports tourer TBC (decent pillion space a must and being 6 ft 3+ and the right side of 15st I like an element of comfort and would rather spend my money on bikes than chiropractics!!!), but the recession has kindly put paid to that for the moment…
I have loved bikes since I was little but as always with life, it is often the case that outside matters take over and our dreams from childhood often get lost in the real world (aged 6ish I longed to be a motorcycle stunt man since watching the opening scene of a burt reynolds / jan michael vincent movie (HOOPER I think it was called?) that started with burt on a dirt bike getting knocked off while trying to go under a truck or similar that hooked me (anyone else put a playing card and a clothes peg on their raleigh boxer/grifter to make it sound like a motorcycle? showing my age apologies). Aged 6ish my life was planned out…or so I thought!!
Anyway, I ride all year round (only snow/ice really stops me) enjoy rideouts and regularly have my head in a copy of BIKE so have a font of useless bike information stored in my head…
What I like about the wednesday night meets are the variety of machines & relevant conversations (something that I feel lacks at the ACE on an ordinary evening after 7pm -I live ten minutes away!). Being an interior architect by trade (currently I design superyachts) I appreciate the aesthestic, the practicality and purpose of all bikes (where form follows function and sometimes function follows form), aswell as, ofcourse the performance…
I intend to try to keep up the wednesday nights on a regular basis so hope to meet more of you (last night I met 3 or 4 guys who all had purchased bikes all within the last month or so-I take that as a sign that SUMMER HAS ARRIVED!!!
trust me I am the last person to knock the CBF-its been a great bike, fits me well and with honda reliability, build and finish, etc its done me proud when I know other bikes would have put me through a wall/articulate lorry, etc… and if I could, I wouldnt want to get rid of it, just add it to my biker garage…
originally I preferred the naked CBF, though in fairness now I wish I had got a faired one…for motorway riding and all weather, it just makes more sense…what do u ride now( a hornet ?)
As for the next bike question (being realistic about budget ofcourse) , I like sports bikes ofcourse but being my size, etc i like comfort so it would have to be really good ergonomics-KTMRC8, and then I like a happy long term pillion (now I am stuck)-so i keep ending up back at the CBR600F (why ever did honda stop making this all rounder?), though I hear they drink alot re touring, age a bit of an issue, etc but I get drawn towards the more practical, newer, BMWF800s/st (especially as it beats the VFR800VTEC hands down as the better allrounder), german engineering, original, clever design features (underseat tank, etc)…however at the next level,I find a soft spot for blackbirds (why ever did honda stop making this all rounder?) /kwak zzr1400 and of late the BMWk1200/1300S or R…I like the fit more of a hyper tourer…(hope your still reading!) and then as reality and the insurance group top ends hits my financies, I find myself being realistic and saying why not have 100BHP or there abouts and use all of it…so I find myself drooling over the BMW 800GS (1200 no good for commuting due to width and exposed cylinder heads?) and last night I fell inlove with the KTM 950 ADVENTURE (again)… I spent xmas in cape town and spend hours in the bush on quads and loved the freedom/option of green laning and the like plus its had such good reviews…ofcourse in reality I’d love an original Africa Twin (not the 750 though) but that was killed off by the valderado-soon to be replaced by the 1000cc grand transalp I believe…do you see my problem?
Hi, welcome
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