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They_all_do_that_sir

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Posts posted by They_all_do_that_sir

  1. Yup, I've sent the lad with the Volvo a message just to clarify what the status is - it's possible that he's recently MOT'd it six weeks early, and as a result it now has an MOT running to the start of April 2023.
    Which would be handy, if so.
    I had a look through its previous MOTs over in England (originally a Birmingham car?), and other than an advisory for sill corrosion, it all seems not too bad - fails on stupid stuff like tyres and bulbs, with a few issues around suspension bushes and the like.
    I'd thought about doing some jiggery-pokery with SORN and whatnot, but the loss of the rest of the month's tax in the refund (plus having to re-tax from the start of February) might not make much difference to add two weeks or so to the current span.
    I'm leaning towards moving the Subaru on sooner rather than later...
    Corrosion unusual on these as they are part galvanised.

    Probably the sweet spot for the D5 before it gained omg Euro whatever complications. Should be bomb proof. Between myself and my colleague (you met him collecting the small scooter!) we've owned a fair few in estate and saloon guise.

    This being the pre facelift it will have Renault electrics, post facelift gained a ford can-bus system which was much better - the Renault stuff can suffer from complete instrument cluster failure, but I *think* it was only the very early P2 cars that suffered. Certainly one of mine went and I had to have the cluster sent away and reworked.

    I think my S60 D5 thread is still floating around here somewhere - I had some issues with a lift pump amongst other things. Ultimately everything on them is easily worked with and sensibly thought out. Possibly the last true Volvo.

    Oh - turning circle is comically bad.

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  2. Cheers chaps, and a very comprehensive reply there LBF.

    I'm also in the "keep the bike original" camp, but in this instance the plate is likely worth more than the bike if it can be taken off.

    It's the plate the bike had from new, I've asked re the logbook situation - they *might* only have the old green style logbook, which will likely fart things up.

    First step then is to get a new V5 for the bike and see what it says on it......

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  3. Usually you get an age related plate back. Sometimes they make that plate not transferable. 
    Cheers. I don't think they are too bothered by the plate they get given, more the ability to sell the current original plate

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  4. Someone I know has a classic bike. 1950s era. It has the original plate, which is six digits and contains "911"

     

    Given it's probably worth something to Porsche sniffers, can you sell the original plate and get a different age related plate issued for a vehicle, or is this a no-no?

     

    I know some would be aghast at removing some of the vehicles original identity but the owner isn't bothered and it's not the best example anyway.. ..

     

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  5. I'm a snob when it comes to cruisers.  Got to be V twin and either shaft or belt drive hence why I won't touch one of these or the newer Vulcan 650.  I can't have another bike until I sell the Divvy, which is in need of repair.
    I understand that, there is something a wee bit wrong about a parallel twin in a cruiser chassis.

    My wife likes Harleys. But she's short and in the process of doing her big test so not very experienced beyond her 125.

    The CMX on paper has similar performance as a Sportster 883, but is waaaay lighter and has a really low seat (did I mention she's a short arse).

    It's A2 compliant so won't set the world on fire but it handles better than you'd expect, has Honda build quality and only really feels lacking when you try pushing it on a bit. It will do the ton if you really want it to but is much happier cruising.

    The engine is the CBR500R lump but tuned for more low down torque. It doesn't really have much top end as a result, but feels reasonably torquey from low rpms


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  6. Well....after consideration I felt the Enfield would be something she would grow out of fairly quickly. As a second bike just for me I'm sure it would be grand, but I'd probably wish I'd bought a second hand bullet for a more authentic experience.

    So I've went and bought a bike we both like, but she doesn't know yet.

    It's a bike I fancied when it was launched, but wouldn't have bought just for me. It has a low seat height and she loves the looks.

    All will be revealed next week when I collect it....



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    Dawned on me I never did update this post on here, so without further ado:

    83eef06780d34be50eb358aabbf19b76.jpg

    e511b33541aba8dac68b4ea82a9ce6b7.jpg

    I've been putting some miles on it since I collected it, and have to say it's bloody good fun.

    If it was down to me I'd have a louder pipe and a smaller plate pronto. But Mrs thinks it sounds fine as is. Shame as that OEM exhaust isn't pretty.....

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  7. Thanks to [mention=20091]timolloyd[/mention] for the head's up, but following it's appearance at the Late Brake Show live on Saturday, the Base gets a mention in today's Smith and Sniff podcast from around 37mins:
    https://shows.acast.com/smithandsniff/episodes/the-morning-after-the-live-show-before
    DSCF9958.thumb.JPG.ddc36dd7fc62363ba2d60635fa7e9366.JPG
    I've exchanged a couple of Tweets with Mr Porter/Smith this afternoon who (rightly from a distance) thought it was a GLX because wheel trims.
    tweet.JPG.6860234d82b4ac8582a9debdc93395e9.JPG
    I maintain this car because I like it, not because I want to be famous on Twitter, but mustard mitt stuff like that does make it more worthwhile.
    I am a regular listener of S&S, when I heard it mentioned I knew there was only one Mondeo they could mean!

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  8. The parts have now landed at RatDat HQ. He's also getting some decent tyres fitted for me today, so it looks like I will soon be reunited with my Aussie steed, thanks to some amazing friends in Aus and Lincolnshire. It was about 24 hours from having a moment, to my pal in Victoria yanking a halfshaft out of a scrapper. Small world sometimes.
    Mental, it can take a week for me to get bits posted from 100 miles down the road

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  9. So you're expected to drive/ride everywhere as if the entire road network is soaked in diesel fuel and offers next-to-no grip?  That's unrealistic at best.
    It's the truth though. I've had a fair few moments on the bike where you've went from perfectly good tarmac to "Jesus I'm on ice!" With absolutely no warning whatsoever so you learn to expect the unexpected - crap surface, spilt diesel, loose chippings. All things in a car might give you a subtle twitch but can stick a biker in hospital.

    A local lad hit a railway sleeper that fell off a lorry on a dual carriageway here at the start of summer. He's not long out of hospital and his bike was written off. Had he been in the car? Yes the car might be a wreck but he wouldn't

    If you have local knowledge you can mitigate - for example there is a roundabout near me that's notorious for diesel spills. I have a once lovely pair of spendy RST boots that are scuffed to buggery as a result of almost having a massive off. I lost the front end and just managed to stay upright using my boots as additional contact points. Not intentionally either, my feet were off the pegs and dragging the road as a result of being in the middle of an accident.

    It's more noticeable on a bike given how much more direct feel you are experiencing from the tyres compared to a car.

    On a bike the biggest factor in having an off or not (beyond how you are riding) is 110% tyres. Especially in wet weather. Bikes do expect a bit more from a tyre than a car granted.

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  10. Potentially just a few niggles after being laid up then put back into regular use again.

    If it wasn't for MOT fun and games I'd be tempted to decat it and map it. There is a guy in Carrick who seems well respected in Evo circles, and has mapped three of my friends cars.

    Having said that I imagine there is already more than ample performance as is.....

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  11. Well....after consideration I felt the Enfield would be something she would grow out of fairly quickly. As a second bike just for me I'm sure it would be grand, but I'd probably wish I'd bought a second hand bullet for a more authentic experience.

    So I've went and bought a bike we both like, but she doesn't know yet.

    It's a bike I fancied when it was launched, but wouldn't have bought just for me. It has a low seat height and she loves the looks.

    All will be revealed next week when I collect it....



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  12. if they made a normal naked one of those id have bought one already
    himalayan (hai) might work?
    lightly used ones 3500 new one 4100
     
     
    Himalayan too tall. She's a short arse

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  13. Bandit sold within four hours of advertising it. Made a nice return on it too. Prices are mental at the minute. Same story selling the wife's 125 last week.

    She wants to do her full test rather than repeat CBT every two years. She doesn't really want a big bike, just a "faster 125" in her words.

    It would be a bike she would use occasionally, and an excuse for me to have a second bike I wouldn't necessarily pick for myself.

    Top of the tree at the minute is the new Enfield Meteor 350

    49380e21ac1db7addee0ae72fc235dbb.jpg

    Her favourite is the base model in Yellow. It's got a low seat, really cheap for a new bike at £3499 and sort of fits what she's after.

    I love the looks and would happily have one in the garage as a second bike, but I worry that she would quickly grow out of 20bhp and 27nm of torque. Having said that all the reviews seem very positive......and she only wants a bit more oomph for getting out of junctions. She's not a fast rider by any stretch.



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  14. Simply because they don't have differentials between the wheels on side and the wheels on the other, so when you turn the wheels are all forced to still continue all at exactly the same speed. It's not a problem off road as the lower grip means the wheels just scrub in turns. On tarmac however with it's higher level of adhesion the tyres can't scrub. So the transmission winds itself up into knots effectively and shortly after you hear expensive breaking sounds.
    The Oshkosh MTVR I believe uses switchable differentials. I'm sure it would be possible to re-engineer the Stalwart to take advantage of something similar.

    I mean it would be horrifically expensive to engineer properly, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was a market in the middle east for a resto modded Stalwart, although I'm not sure what it's USP would be - those lads probably already own an OshKosh or three, and a few of those six wheeler G wagon jobs.

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  15. How did you have a 2 yr covid mot extension ? 
    It was only 6 months
     
    Honestly every time I went online to book an MOT They'd moved my due date. It's the same with the wife's car, it doesn't expire until January 2022 now!!

    Don't forget the MOT is done in government test centres over here. There's a massive backlog, you generally need to book a month in advance for some centres.


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  16. So this month I have

    a) met Hairnet, he exists

    1895db094ea0a3ec683087b38d9364a9.jpg

    B) sold the wife's 125 for massive* profit. Her CBT is up and she's debating either doing her full test or not bothering at all. She was a confident enough rider on the 125, but just wasn't doing the miles.

    823919fef704f899c26c463dd86fcf6b.jpg

    c) Today the Bandit 600 passed its MOT. It's been on a covid extension now for the best part of two years. All I had to do was fit a headlight bulb

    801e8107105db0c310c0c19a202e7cdd.jpg

    I'm probably going to move it on - I bought it off a mate for my dad to use but he's done maybe 20 miles on it in a year. I got it cheap, I've tidied it up and would probably see a small profit here too.

    I was in the Honda main dealer earlier admiring CMX500 rebels. Was quite impressed - it would fit the bill rightly as a second bike for me that the Mrs could take on if she does her big test. It's the sort of style of bike she likes, we looked at Sportsters (883s) but they seem heavy for what they are, and a lot of that weight is up high. The Honda is much lighter in comparison, better made and the performance seems comparable. Less torque but much less weight balances that out.

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