What makes you grin? Antidote to grumpy thread

[wuvvum]

Big '70s Jap bikes need larger knackers to ride properly than I can muster, sadly.  I once had a go on a 1973 CB750 - it felt like the frame had been sawn in half and then tied back together with string. 

[oman5]

Aren't Holdens basically Vauxhalls with stupidly large engines? All Vauxhalls are... what was it again?

 

I'd imagine resisting the urge to buy a Holden would be a full-time occupation...

No, one of these, Holden HQ. It's Holden's own design, no v*****ll content.

 

Engines are stupidly large though. 2.8 i6 up to 5.7 v8

[xtriple]

I loved all the 70's superbikes! Yes, they did handle 'oddly' but compared to the competition (British, european) had electrics that worked and engines that kept the fluids inside the cases and went well. Yes, all the Italian bikes handled better and had better brakes (mostly) and the British bikes were great fun to ride and then hand back...

 

My CB750 (K6) made a mate on the back so scared he got off at the first junction we arrived at which was many miles from where we started and refuse to get back on it as he reckoned the back was sliding on every corner. It wasn't (I don't think?) it just felt that way... Had a Z1R that used to weave like a bitch at above 100 unless you had a pillion... so nice skinny girlfriend acquired!

 

One of my last bikes was a 69 Bonnie. It was modded quite a bit and looked lovely, had Morgo 750 barrels/pistons and a full engine rebuild (and I mean FULL), had TT exhaust with reverse cone megas and everything on that bike was perfect/new/rebuilt/set up to perfection. I loved it with a passion and so did my wife (she even rode it once, but stalled it and couldn't re-start it so had to call me to come and rescue her!) but it used to vibrate like a jack hammer at 90plus, so badly that you could no longer read the clocks and the needles used to fall off the clocks regularly with the vibration and it used to break down/fail to proceed quite often. It never leaked oil though.... It was always stupid little things that would break, apart from the clutch which used to try my patience severly - even though it had 'the ultimate 7 plate clutch' it still used to slip sometimes. Mind you, parts were always available next day...

 

I could see why people loved British bikes (| still do) but if you wanted transport, then it had to be Japanese. The way we used to thrash the tits of all our 'Jap crap' no Brit bike would have lasted more than five minutes.

[Richard]

I'm told the procedure was buy parts with wages on Friday, fix bike on Saturday, ride on Sunday, work all week to fund spares on Friday. Repeat until you weaken and buy car or Jap bike. Not that the car experience was necessarily much different, just a bit drier.

[andy18s]

Big '70s Jap bikes need larger knackers to ride properly than I can muster, sadly. I once had a go on a 1973 CB750 - it felt like the frame had been sawn in half and then tied back together with string.

Must admit that the early Gsxr1100 prematurely aged me a few years.

Absolutely ballistic machine which just would not turn in...

[Bren]

Must admit that the early Gsxr1100 prematurely aged me a few years.

Absolutely ballistic machine which just would not turn in...

Jap bikes killed the british stuff of practically overnight - they were fast, reliable and looked good.

You did'nt have to spend days repairing them or running along side them.

[Honey Badger]

Due to being stuck in bed after having steroids injected into my lower back, via my arse crack no less, I've spent the day watching shit on tv, now watching a fascinating programme on the manufacture of the Lexus LFA, the engineering of everything from the carbon body tub to that screaming V10 engine is done with such precision and the engine sounds awesome.

 

Not all Japanese cars are shite.

[nigel bickle]

If I had only one vehicle ( unlikely!) it would be a bike. It's where my heart lives, even if my body can't cope right now.

 

I was lucky enough to buy a good few early Suzukis, from around 1962 (Colleda 250) through the toddlers to an early Kettle & Re5.Stopped when the 2 strokes ended, and have some real belters. I've a few Eyeties too, snd a couple Brits , mostly stuck in a distant barn.

 

Right now iIve my Honda Kinetic scooter ( for the bad times), an NVT 175,K100RS & a Blackbird at home. Last time I rode any of them?

 

Late autumn. Bah!

[michael1703]

If we're having bike love, how about some rotary burble?

 

[scruff]

Passed my friggin' class 2 HGV first time this morning!! Cowabunga!! 

 

Straight out in the lorry with a load on a hour after passing, loving it!

 

 

[MrDuke]

having steroids injected into my lower back, via my arse crack

 

My own sphincter is refusing to unclench itself after reading that.

[EssDeeWon]

BP expect the low oil price of $50/60 a barrel to remain for the next three years.

[dollywobbler]

BP expect the low oil price of $50/60 a barrel to remain for the next three years.

 

Which I should imagine means the government will go back to increasing fuel duty...

[Junkman]

Not if you vote for UKIP.

[MrDuke]

BP expect the low oil price of $50/60 a barrel to remain for the next three years.

 

According to the news, they've been voicing butthurt about the effect of the price dive on their operations, and having to lay off employees etc etc - I'm wondering whether their projected figures are just an attempt to scare the gov into some kind of intervention? I mean, I'd love the prices to stay low for a few years, but nothing good is ever that simple.

[DSdriver]

Went to my Aunt's funeral yesterday. The hearse when it rocked up at the cremmo was a Vauxhall thing with rusty door bottoms and one tyre half flat. I WANT that car for my funeral whenever it may be.

[cort1977]

According to the news, they've been voicing butthurt about the effect of the price dive on their operations, and having to lay off employees etc etc - I'm wondering whether their projected figures are just an attempt to scare the gov into some kind of intervention? I mean, I'd love the prices to stay low for a few years, but nothing good is ever that simple.

Apparently Nicola Sturgeon has written to Westminster asking for tax relief already so yes I would say they are trying to put some pressure on the govt.  

 

$60 is not actually that low historically.   When I first started working in the industry in 2001 the oil price was around $20, there was still work around.   It may be the end of an era for the North Sea though as the costs are rising there due to aging infrastructure.

 

On the whole the low price will probably benefit the UK economy overall.   I would agree with the BP prediction of $50-60 for a couple of years but as Mr. DW says, that gives the govt the perfect chance to un-freeze the fuel duty escalator.   Should I have put this in the grumpy thread?

[dollywobbler]

Not if you vote for UKIP.

 

I'll take more expensive fuel thanks.

[Cavcraft]

I'm told the procedure was buy parts with wages on Friday, fix bike on Saturday, ride on Sunday, work all week to fund spares on Friday.

 

 

To be fair, you could throw those remarks at a Suzuki (GT250) X7 or a Kawasaki KR1S and still be on the money.

[Cavcraft]

Let's not forget the people losing their jobs as a result of cheap oil, or at least BP (and others) blaming that reason.

[dollywobbler]

Isn't that why OPEC have kept the price low? Kill off the competition, and perhaps fracking while they're at it (which is perhaps not a bad thing).

[Alan_Green]

• My van off the road and have to do a 1,000 mile trip.

• Enterprise - £111 for 1 wk transit size hire inc CDW, insurance & unlimited miles!

How can they make a penny?

[dollywobbler]

 

• My van off the road and have to do a 1,000 mile trip.
• Enterprise - £111 for 1 wk transit size hire inc CDW, insurance & unlimited miles!
• How can they make a penny?

 

 

You'll find out if you so much as scratch it... 

[panhard65]

You'll find out if you so much as scratch it... 

Yeap there are a load of extras that go on top unless you are prepared to take the risk of the £1000 excess which they also charge if it breaks down which is a bit naughty as they are under warrenty anyway

[Timewaster]

By buying thousands of vehicles direct from the factory at knock down prices and selling them on after 6 months at a profit?

[skattrd]

Insurance excess cover is only a couple of quid a day if you want additional peace of mind. Just don't buy it from the hire company.

[Honey Badger]

My own sphincter is refusing to unclench itself after reading that.

My buttocks had that problem, at one point I swear they went to get a scissor jack to get some access.

 

The interesting part was watching the x-ray monitor and seeing the needle moving through your body.

[Richard]

By buying thousands of vehicles direct from the factory at knock down prices and selling them on after 6 months at a profit?

 

A few of our vans have been bought new from a hire company and registered to them until they are allowed to sell. I can imagine that arrangement going massively tits-up if either party didn't play the game.

[chaseracer]

Due to being stuck in bed after having steroids injected into my lower back, via my arse crack no less...

 

You are Kim Kardashian AICM£5.

[xtriple]

I supplied a few new Transits to local firms via that route. Registered to the hire co for six months then theirs. We got bargains and I was later told the price the hire co paid.... that was an eye opener!