The Bikeshite Thread

[808 Estate]

On 2/28/2020 at 8:15 PM, Aston Martin said:

Fuck me, a Vultus for sale.

 

 

 

[LostnotFound]

Made the most of the weather today and went on my first 'ride out' today. The local bike store gets a local club to do one a month through spring to autumn. 

Wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it before hand but it was good fun. Drilled home how poor my riding is. Given the large numbers I was also pleasantly surprised by the overall lack of knob heads.

I really just haven't ridden enough since getting my licence a couple of years ago so this year's aim is just to clock up as many miles as possible on decent roads not just taking the quicker dual carriageway / motorway options.

[MrDuke]

2 hours ago, martc said:

Why does it look like it does? It was made to appeal to fans of anime, manga and Japanese sci-fi. The young design team say they were heavily influenced by the image in the 1988 poster for cult classic film 'Akira'

Is that seriously true? I mean, I adored the bikes in Akira, but I can't really see much resemblance in the Vultus. The Akira bikes were more like track bikes crossed with drag racers.

[martc]

33 minutes ago, MrDuke said:

Is that seriously true? I mean, I adored the bikes in Akira, but I can't really see much resemblance in the Vultus. The Akira bikes were more like track bikes crossed with drag racers.

According to this it's true  - https://newatlas.com/honda-vultus-nm4-motorcycle/31522/

Also contains bonus info about the NC (and NM!) range's engine - a technical tour d'force which really should be better known than it is.

[LostnotFound]

22 hours ago, LostnotFound said:

Made the most of the weather today and went on my first 'ride out' today. The local bike store gets a local club to do one a month through spring to autumn. 

 

 

Contrary to what it looks like, Rossi wasn't actually in Stevenage High Street making the most of time off now he has a few weekends spare. 

 

 

I'm sure this is the photo the bike industry will choose when it does it's next campaign to project a cool image and get new young riders on two wheels.... In case anyone is wondering that is the closest I've got to getting my knee down as well.

[MrDuke]

Bike Stop? That's my 'local' - I live about half a mile away.

[somewhatfoolish]

That Honda thing is a Vincent Black Knight/Prince for the 21st century; odd looking and hardly anyone bought them either.

[LostnotFound]

8 hours ago, MrDuke said:

Bike Stop? That's my 'local' - I live about half a mile away.

It is indeed, I'm about the same distance away. My leathers and lid came from there as well. It really is a top shop imo, and the best coffee shop in the old town to boot. 

Have you booked your CBT? If not I massively recommend prt of operate out of the Honda dealership in Letchworth.

http://www.prtnortonway.co.uk/

They managed to get me through a cbt safely first time and pass both mods first time so they must be good!

[xtriple]

I've got my knee down loads of times. sadly always closely followed by my arse.   

[strangeangel]

On 3/1/2020 at 6:03 PM, nigel bickle said:

That is nice.  
 

Whilst I think an mot is a good idea, I don’t believe you need to have one to register an exempt vehicle.

 

My recent experience with the CT90 says you definitely don't ?

 

[strangeangel]

On 3/1/2020 at 7:05 PM, martc said:

...see also the even more extreme DN-01

 

 

Maybe it's because I've been riding a DN-01 these past few years and I'm used to it's looks, but I would have said that the Vultus is way, way, way more Out There than the DN?

 

[MrDuke]

10 hours ago, LostnotFound said:

Have you booked your CBT? If not I massively recommend prt of operate out of the Honda dealership in Letchworth.

http://www.prtnortonway.co.uk/

They managed to get me through a cbt safely first time and pass both mods first time so they must be good!

I haven't yet, so thanks for the recommendation!

[martc]

1 hour ago, strangeangel said:

 

Maybe it's because I've been riding a DN-01 these past few years and I'm used to it's looks, but I would have said that the Vultus is way, way, way more Out There than the DN?

 

I agree the Vultus may be a bit more Batman than the DN-01 but the DN beats it into a hat when it comes to extreme mechanicals...

[strangeangel]

8 minutes ago, martc said:

I agree the Vultus may be a bit more Batman than the DN-01 but the DN beats it into a hat when it comes to extreme mechanicals...

 

Oh, the HFT... yeah, that's probably guilty as charged!

 

[andyberg]

Well my new toy arrived this week. Ex ultrawomble CB250. it is a joy to ride,  not quick but very able for the commute. The buying experience was a joy, he is a top bloke. 

I have plans, came supplied with spares including a new tank and disc for the front, so will replace those in the good weather.  For an almost 30 year old bike it is in remarkable condition, it has obviously been cared for along with the Honda build quality. She is a keeper, roll on a good summer. 

[strangeangel]

7 hours ago, andyberg said:

Well my new toy arrived this week. Ex ultrawomble CB250. it is a joy to ride,  not quick but very able for the commute. The buying experience was a joy, he is a top bloke. 

I have plans, came supplied with spares including a new tank and disc for the front, so will replace those in the good weather.  For an almost 30 year old bike it is in remarkable condition, it has obviously been cared for along with the Honda build quality. She is a keeper, roll on a good summer. 

 

 

New Honda joining the fleet, eh? Must be the day for it! Check out this beauty:

 

 

 

Fuck Northern Rail - if I can't avoid them using an electric Aixam then this redoubtable commuting/pizza warrior will surely prevail.

 

More soon!

 

[Jerzy Woking]

Bloke coming round to collect a top box from me. Checked out his feedback and see he has this for sale at £2,495.

1000cc Kawasaki engine. Road registered. WCPGW?

If I wasnt moving, I'd be offering the topbox in part exchange.

[Aston Martin]

2 hours ago, strangeangel said:

 

New Honda joining the fleet, eh? Must be the day for it! Check out this beauty:

 

 

 

Fuck Northern Rail - if I can't avoid them using an electric Aixam then this redoubtable commuting/pizza warrior will surely prevail.

 

More soon!

 

 

How many times has it been stolen and recovered?

[strangeangel]

49 minutes ago, Aston Martin said:

 

How many times has it been stolen and recovered?

 

The Honda SH is the 2-wheeled equivalent of the Hilux pickup - it cannot be stopped ?

 

[warch]

My bike finally got it's second run out of the year, which should take place entirely in daylight, riding at night is out now because of the state of the roads. I was reminded me how much more well equipped my Triumph is than my previous two bikes. I got onto a nice dry well surfaced (i.e. Welsh) A road and opened her up, resulting in that delightful big triple roar, followed about thirty seconds later by a big warning light coming on in the corner of the dash. I nursed the old girl into work thinking, shit! oil level, oil pressure? Nope my bike has a fuel light, phew! 

[LostnotFound]

19 hours ago, Jerzy Woking said:

Bloke coming round to collect a top box from me. Checked out his feedback and see he has this for sale at £2,495.

1000cc Kawasaki engine. Road registered. WCPGW?

If I wasnt moving, I'd be offering the topbox in part exchange.

That is spectacular, but I imagine the 2.5k doesn't include anyone mad enough to get on it with you.

[Jerzy Woking]

^^^ Had a long chat with the seller when he came to collect his ebay item. Told me the bike cost about £11,000 to build and that the engine rebuild cost a large part of that. Had a William's chassis I think he said. Whatever, it was originally put together by people who knew what they were doing.

Andy Bates was one of the builders of this. He owns AB Performance which makes the Arion S2 cars, powered by bike engines. Andyven got backing from Jones and Bannatyne on Dragons Den

The seller told me it wasn't his outfit, as he was selling it on behalf of a friend. Only made £2,495 which I consider cheap as chips. If I wasn't moving I would have had it.

Buyer is from North Walsham in Norfolk. It isn't you, is it @wuuvum?

[busmansholiday]

6 hours ago, Jerzy Woking said:

Buyer is from North Walsham in Norfolk. It isn't you, is it @wuuvum?

I hope so, the collection thread will be spectacular, just imagine how many sets of underware you can put (and need) in the passenger space!

[hairnet]

On 3/5/2020 at 5:18 PM, Jerzy Woking said:

Bloke coming round to collect a top box from me. Checked out his feedback and see he has this for sale at £2,495.

1000cc Kawasaki engine. Road registered. WCPGW?

If I wasnt moving, I'd be offering the topbox in part exchange.

might be going isle of man end of may - race ya

[Tepper]

Hi bikeshiters, seeing as I made it out for a quite glorious ride yesterday I figured I may as well weigh in on this thread.

This is my ex-police Pan Euro knocking on 90k. Now that the weather might be getting better the prospect of this as a means of transport is looking more appealing. It's taken me on one European trip already which was great, I'd love to do another this summer depending on Brexit/Coronavirus/collapse of society as we know it. I think next time I'll head east, I went south last time.

Anyone else been out enjoying the sunshine?

[cort1977]

Do like a Pan, presumably it is quite similar to the contemporary R1150RT?  With a less clunky shift?  I really liked the BMW I had but could be tempted with a Honda.

[Tepper]

I have no idea, this is both my first touring bike and my first litre+ bike but it certainly looks like a similar concept. I like this bike though for what it's worth, once you get used to the weight of it it's surprisingly capable.

[Jazoli]

They are similar but quite different to ride, the Honda is very smooth and just turbines along,  the bmw is a little more agricultural plus has the worlds most stupid switchgear.

[MrDuke]

I CAN HAZ CBT

Amazingly, the instructor said I wasn't remotely close to the worst rider he'd had, and wasn't even the worst rider he'd given a ticket to. I'm just immensely grateful that the roads were semi-deserted. I have no idea how the hell people do it in cities.

Hilarious* habits I still have include: Trying to pull away with my foot on the brake. Smashing down through the gears and snatching at the clutch, but not at the same time. Forgetting how violent engine-braking can be, and lurching back and forth at low speeds like a pleb. And stalling, a l l  t h e  t i m e.

[Cavcraft]

250/350LCs, X7s and FS1Es aren't getting any cheaper, are they?