Middle age crisis - motorcycle

[Wallace]

Mate turned up at my house on a new FJ1200. He'd just bought it and was terrified. Last time he'd rode a bike was in 1974 and then only a 250 that he took his test on before swiftly moving to a Reliant !

Paul H

Ask him if he would like to relive his terror as I have two FJ1200's here for spares or repair!

 

[Splatterer]

Consider this, as a prior post said
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gSProR4hoSA/Tee9LdGi2WI/AAAAAAAAC3w/XyBtVne2DjI/s1600/dragstar125_1.jpg

My 18 year old has one, I contributed on the grounds that it was really heavy and therefore slowy and showy.
But you know what?
I really like it, tons of character, rides like a big bike apart from being a bit sluggish compared to my normal fare.
I was chamfering my boots on the way back from the dealers, so it ticks the big grin boxes as well as being docile and predictable.
There's just a character about twins, but you will have to bust your budget to get one.

Think of it as nearly free motoring, as although expensive, depreciation is very low as they are really pretty good.

BTW, are the FJ 12s going cheap?

 

[bigegg]

Consider this, as a prior post said
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gSProR4hoSA/Tee9LdGi2WI/AAAAAAAAC3w/XyBtVne2DjI/s1600/dragstar125_1.jpg

me likey. :thumbsup:

Looking at the mpg tho - 60mpg, and after hearing too many stories about people getting killed [1],
I might just buy a 1.1 diesel ford fester.
plus I can practice my mig welding on it.

[1] I was knocked off my pushbike three times in two years
The last time, some twonk clipped my handlebar with his wing mirror as I overtook a car - "he didn't see me".
I ended up forward rolling across the road onto my feet, and stepped onto pavement (on the opposite side) just as a bus screeched to a halt where I *would* have been laid on the road.
Gotta love 20years of Judo practice

 

[hareng]

First bike one of these when 14 brand new http://www.wheelsofitaly.com/wiki/images/0/02/Gilera_4_001.jpg

Then had one of these brand new at 16 lasted 4 months seized twice and bust my collar bone in three places http://p1.bikepics.com/2008/10/11/bikepics-1445465-800.jpg

Couple of Brum made British Rivals 77 and 78 http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n563/Jonhareng/MX Days/BRITISHRIVAL1977Pose.jpg

Favourite one of these in 78 http://georgiaoffroad.com/images/dirtbikes/kawasaki/kx/1138558650_78kx125.jpg

A KX250A5 in 79 http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n563/Jonhareng/MX Days/Picture_zps6df85b90.jpg
KX125A6 first of the Unitrak I 80 and the last of the air cooled in 81 with the A7. http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums...A250amp750Experts81atKnighton_zpsc4c2b8d4.jpg

 

[Splatterer]

me likey. :thumbsup:

Looking at the mpg tho - 60mpg, and after hearing too many stories about people getting killed [1],
I might just buy a 1.1 diesel ford fester.
plus I can practice my mig welding on it.

Well ,there's only you that can make that decision, and don't let anyone try and make it for you.
But... for a few hundred quid, why not have a larf, take some lessons with a hired machine. Maybe, if you're over 24, try a direct access machine with an instructor in radio contact for the hell of it.
Coz short of stepping into a dragster, 40bhp is a wayheeeyyy, for a try out.
And with an instructor, you'll be as safe as it's possible to be on a bike.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Angusdog]

Well ,there's only you that can make that decision, and don't let anyone try and make it for you.<snip>

Hey, come on - don't spoil the party! This thread is good for another couple of pages at least.

FWIW, most fun bike I ever had was an old Yamaha TT250. The least fun was a CBR600 (It was a rocketship, I'm no astronaut. I can't ride like there's no tomorrow since I'm a dad of 3). Least reliable: RD400C (Collectors' item now but put me off two strokes for ever).

XR600 & DR650 pretty fun to ride but nowhere near as much low down grunt as you're lead to believe.

I now ride a Suzuki M50 (poss. called a VZ800 in the UK). Big, fat and slow cruiser but I now get pulled by the rozzers for looking like a biker / gang member. On the plus side, people give way to me a lot more...

 

[bigegg]

Well ,there's only you that can make that decision, and don't let anyone try and make it for you.
But... for a few hundred quid, why not have a larf, take some lessons with a hired machine. Maybe, if you're over 24, try a direct access machine with an instructor in radio contact for the hell of it.
Coz short of stepping into a dragster, 40bhp is a wayheeeyyy, for a try out.
And with an instructor, you'll be as safe as it's possible to be on a bike.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

:thumbsup:

I'm waaaayyyy over 24

Gonna have a think about it. Cos I just remembered (today when I saw one) I always fancied myself driving a Honda Goldwing

Bit reticent about taking advice on risking riding a motorbike from a bloke called "Splatterer" tho

 

[outofthefire]

I always fancied myself driving a Honda Goldwing

Generally speaking you ride a motorbike and drive a car but you got it about right with the goldwing

 

[bigegg]

Generally speaking you ride a motorbike and drive a car but you got it about right with the goldwing

It's almost as if I spent ten minutes considering which word to use

 

[chunkolini]

Big egg. I can reccomend a Honda Transalp, the old 600's are indestructible, not powerful and will manage some offroading. Also dead cheap.
Three on the bay of fleas around the £1k mark http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-HOND...1452151?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item2ecad4fef7
Alternatively if you are after a 125 the Varadero by Honda makes a decent fist of being a real bike.
My mate Richie B rides one at fairly advanced years and it keeps up. Kind of. We did a 150 mileish ride out the other day and he kept in touch mst of the time. Looks funny hunched up behind the fairing.

 

[bigegg]

So much choice...
Cars are easy by comparison.
RWD. 3L+ engine. Not German. <1.5K. = Vauxhall Omega, or Lexus

Do like both of those Chunkolini

 

[chunkolini]

See Vespas post.

 

[bigegg]

just did :thumbsup:

If I was gonna go with a "rocketship" motorbike, it'd be Bert Munro's, not a Vespa.

 

[chunkolini]

Wonderful film/story.
I would love to go to Bonneville one day.

 

[Wallace]

BTW, are the FJ 12s going cheap?

Some photos in a previous post here.

 

[norlander]

I've been motorcycling for 40+ years.
Sub 1K budget -you will almost certainly have to up that and look at Enfields if you want retro styling and pootling down the odd farm track.
Older bikes are now classics and very pricey-even in bits in a box.
Search the net for clubs and forums if you are still serious, as winter is upon us, now is the time to plan and search for a bike as they often come on to the market around January/Febuary as people clear their garages as they realise they are not going to be riding as much as they thought they were.
Most motorcyclists today are primarily car drivers and have a car drivers mentality-forget motorways when touring-get on the B roads and don't set unrealistic distance targets-its all about taking your time and stopping and exploring.
Remember you have to budget for helmet, gloves, boots and waterproofs.
You can of course find a sold as seen project on ebay and do it up,4 stroke single or twin engined motor preferable for your intial thoughts on taking some farm tracks.
http://www.royal-enfield.com/new-motorcycles/royal-enfield/bullet-battle-green-and-desert-storm

 

[ajlelectronics]

It does seem that the "Down Under" authorities live on a different planet rather than continent! I am forced by 'indoors' choices to endure some fly on the wall TV documentary every evening, dealing with the Australian Border Force and Customs etc. It doesn't make me want to rush out and buy a ticket to visit!

I also see that New Zealand have passed a law requiring visitors to disclose personal access codes to any electronic devices they are carrying. So, another potential destination off the list. ;-)

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Wow! Major resurrection thread

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Wow! Major resurrection thread

Didn’t even notice the post dates until I saw norlanders post and thought to myself “haven’t seen him in a. While!!”

 

[rtbcomp]

...

I also see that New Zealand have passed a law requiring visitors to disclose personal access codes to any electronic devices they are carrying. So, another potential destination off the list. ;-)

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/10/01/nz_border_customs/