First bikes after passing full license??

[Robotstar5]

What sort of top speed does the xt350 have

Lets say it would go over 70 never liked pushing it as I had never ridden on the compromise (new idea at the time) tyres fitted before.

 

[gavuk]

Loved the xt500 and xt250 from 80's with the silver /grey tank and gold wheels,fetching more money than I want to spend on this bike

I was thinking theoretical top speed,on a private road,with the wind behind you ,down a hill ,and laying on the tank Stu

 

[zx9]

..........
zx9 you don't think a KLR600 is suitable?....had considered them too

...........

My KLR was a bit of an old nail, bought for winter commuting in London, nice and high so good for seeing over cars and easy to thread through traffic the bars are higher than normal car mirrors but ideal hight to take out a transit door mirror
Not fast, my 600 would struggle at 80 on motor ways two up, the first long run on it 100 plus miles the exhaust set fire to the soft panniers and side panel so I made a guard to hold the panniers off the exhaust. We did a few bike rallies on it and had some fun, unfortunately it was written off when a MK5 Cortina pulled out in front of me in Waterloo.
Would I have another? yes I think I might.
In reality if I were looking for a trail bike today it would be a Honda XL500S or a Suzuki SP400 for the 80's nostalgia (I passed my test on a XL125S back in 1985)

 

[Robotstar5]

Used play on the beach at Barmouth on the XT350, could only find a pic of my mate on another "toy"

 

[Shox Dr]

ANy of the Honda's would do, the XL/R's have almost bullet proof motors, and are well retro. I have to say Africa Twin as I have one, but there not many people pass me on the bends.

XT500 are like hens teeth, Kawasaki parts as mega money, Honda it is.

 

[gavuk]

I had an xl125 field bike was a great laugh

I need to look up the suzuki sp400,doesn't ring any bells.

Those 3 wheeled atc's were lethal weren't they ?.....owners kept running over themselves ?

 

[gavuk]

I have to say Africa Twin as I have one, but there not many people pass me on the bends.

I did go through Chunko's post where you recommended the Africa Twin,and that is a bike I would like to sit on/ride before I buy anything else

 

[Robotstar5]

I need to look up the suzuki sp400,doesn't ring any bells.

Those 3 wheeled atc's were lethal weren't they ?.....owners kept running over themselves ?

Some police forces use the SP370 for off road patrolling so would be a well maintained buy when they are sold?

The ATC we used was more likely to throw us off the back, it would then stop within a few feet and sit there, ticking over waiting for you
Being a solid rear axle, you had to lean the "wrong" way when cornering.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Some police forces use the SP370 for off road patrolling so would be a well maintained buy when they are sold?

The ATC we used was more likely to throw us off the back, it would then stop within a few feet and sit there, ticking over waiting for you
Being a solid rear axle, you had to lean the "wrong" way when cornering.

I thought they were outlawed about 10 years back because they were so dangerous

 

[Robotstar5]

I thought they were outlawed about 10 years back because they were so dangerous

Pic was taken about 1980 so still legal at the time

 

[Shox Dr]

I thought they were outlawed about 10 years back because they were so dangerous

I believe you cannot sell them if you are a trader. You can if you are joe bloggs, go figure

 

[Robotstar5]

I think it was because they started racing them in the States using tuned 750 motors and there was a few accidents?

 

[Wedg1e]

I have been riding bikes for 49 years this year and have the Honda ST1300 pan European. Until I retired I paid £144 approx. As soon as I reached 65 I was No longer insurable with the company I have been with for 10 years. I tried various companies and they started talking in telephone numbers. Finally found a company through Local bike shop with a company quoting £303.70. Took it, but next year bike might be for sale when first MOT due.

Another ST13 rider here
I was down in the £100 fully-comp region until I got knocked off when stopped at a pedestrian crossing. By the time the other guy and his lying 'witness' had finished I was the one at fault and my premiums almost tripled: luckily now I'm back down to about £120 f/comp. with Bennetts (the only insurer I found who disregard claims more than three years old; with most of them it's 5 years).
The one positive thing about the incident was that the insurers valued the bike at more than I'd paid for it so I ended up effectively getting three years' free biking and a newer, much-lower-mileage replacement Pan Euro

 

[gavuk]

Test now passed,and I'm going to look at an Aprrilia pegaso 650cc same as the bmw funduro f650gs tomorrow....

Its a 1998 so I believe its a rotax engine with a carb ,rather than the xt-engined later version.....anyone have any experience?...short mot and tax £800

Seems like a reasonable price compared to ebay offerings and i know the owner quite well , who's a short ass like me ...

Anyone ridden one?

 

[Robotstar5]

Congrats on passing the test

 

[Pete.]

Well done on passing your test, but at 21 yrs old you're stuck with A2-category bikes for 2 years. 35Kw or less, so figure that into your bike hunting. The Pegaso comes in at 36.4KW

 

[gavuk]

Thanks Stu ,....now to find a winter hack....

 

[gavuk]

Just turned 46 Pete so no restrictions ,other than my own common sense and fear of losing my license....

 

[Pete.]

Ahh, my bad. I mis-read your OP. Thought you said you were 21. Mind you, it would be worth 2 years of restricted riding to wind the clock back 25 yrs

 

[Robotstar5]

Mind you, it would be worth 2 years of restricted riding to wind the clock back 25 yrs

I wouldn't fancy going through all todays tests to get a licience though, I just had to do a few laps of the block in each direction, an emergency stop and answer a few questions