What are you riding now and what’s been your best bike?

I only passed my test last June at 44 years old and have got a 2015 V-Strom 650. Would like a Yamaha XJR1300 (old shape) next.

I have a Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer. The best I had was a ST1300 Pan Eurupean, the one I had most fun on was a Suzuki GT750.

Currently a triumph speed triple r 1050. This is probably the best, and I’ve had a few in my biking life. Ducati 900ss was beautiful, as was my monster 1100. Multistrada 1100s was a great machine too and probably the most fun to ride.

Stay safe boys and girls and watch out for those potholes.

Pearcey wrote:What are you riding now and what’s been your best bike?

I only passed my test last June at 44 years old and have got a 2015 V-Strom 650. Would like a Yamaha XJR1300 (old shape) next.

Nice one....

I sat on a motorbike for the first time in my life when i did my cbt in November on 125cc. Next day i collected a brand new Honda CB125F and self learned on L plates. On Feb 20th i passed my mod 1 and mod 2 after three days on a yamaha MT07... The following day i bought a 6month old NC750S with 124 miles on the clock.

Im 59.

So you're neve too old to get going... I love my big bike and plan to tour Scotland in June before Europe next season..

Alas, I can’t ride any more due to a neck injury but I still have my first ever bike a BSA C15, a Suzuki GT 750A, a Suzuki GS750DB and a Mk1 Yamaha R1. My best tourer was a Triumph 1050ST Sprint, my best sports bike was an Aprilia RSV1000R and my favourite ever bike was a Suzuki GS1000S. I have to say I prefer cars these days but oh so glad I was a biker. Stay safe.

I have seen CBX750's bike photo on another thread and it looks cool, but a lot of motorbikes now look like the front of one bike and the back of another. I'm now a regular buyer of 'motorcycle magazine' to look at the pictures. I wish I'd taken up riding motorbikes but I get into enough thrills on a bicycle. I think one gets to an age where it's a step too far, or maybe it's just finance and space.

1953 Triumph Tiger, and a Gas Gas 125 for the forest trails.......


Up the Clarets..............

I also have a BSA c15 1960 only done 9,800 miles comes out in the summer. My other bike is a Honda deauville nt 700

Not me but my dad rides my Grandads restored 1956 Ariel Red Hunter!

Triumph Tiger 800 XCA. Last year it took me 11500 miles from Burnley to Bangkok. Brilliant machine.

lesxdp wrote:Triumph Tiger 800 XCA. Last year it took me 11500 miles from Burnley to Bangkok. Brilliant machine.

Wow! I’d love to do something like that! How long did it take?

Left Burnley 4th August and arrived in Bangkok 16th October.
Back in Thailand at the moment but the bike is in Burnley. Wish it was here 31%

Currently ride a BMW S1000R. Absolutely love the thing, definitely the best bike I have had, not great for 2 up but for scratching, touring and the odd track day its spot on. Had a few different bikes over the years, ZZR 14's, K13S, Z1000 and Speed triple or 2.

Been riding my small yamaha ybr125 for 4 years now -only a fair weather/ weekend rider. I would like to take mod 1 and mod 2 and ride a +650cc like turfytopper ( well done). Anyone recommend a good training school in E Lancs that's not run by condescending, know-it-all, ex police instructors who spend all training time telling you how good they are while telling you your riding habits sh-te?

If you're referring to valley bike school I found them to be totally opposite. Excellent training programme, well structured and I passed my direct access first time with nil points.

Thanks karatekid - was not implying any particular school in E Lancs. I may give them ago. Which centre do they use for mod 1 test?

I happen to work for one of the major bike manufacturers in this country. No clues but we are British !!, and the only ones-if anyone fancies test riding one of them, then subject to you having a full licence and meeting the dealer criteria for test ride qualification I can arrange through Youles Mototcycles . The downside is they are in Blackburn-the upside is the owner is a clarets fan and I have been to the Turf a few times with him

Go for it Atlantalad. You won’t regret it.

atlantalad wrote:Thanks karatekid - was not implying any particular school in E Lancs. I may give them ago. Which centre do they use for mod 1 test?

Blackburn test centre near the motorway services. I can highly recommend VBS.

I ride my 2002 Triumph Bonneville America 800. Best bike i have ever had, love riding it through Amish country here.

You’ll not find better than Valley Bike School.

And they’re big Clarets fans!

Born again biker and now ride a customised stripped back bobber style Harley Sotail slim (1690cc).

Joined the local chapter and ride all over UK and Europe with them. Great social life with like minded bikers and we do a lot of charity events. Surprisingly towns here in East Anglia are more than happy to have 300 bikes rolling into town to boost their events.

Living in the driest part of the UK, then it's ideal for motorcycling.

Im still on the lookout for a jap classic but the prices are through the roof and i doubt if i can afford one just yet, a Suzuki gs 1000 would look nice in my garage but as i said the cost to buy even a basket case would be out of my budget. The best, and most fun bikes i owned without doubt was a RD 350 LC, i smiled from ear to ear everytime i road it, i owned 3 more such was my liking for them, i also owned a Kawasaki 750 H2 triple, [The widow maker as they were better known] that was the scariest ride of my life but fantastic fun, i definitely had a few more grey hairs after every ride out, the good old days of two strokes i will never forget, ride safely out there guys.

I generally find that most "bikers" aren't big football fans.
Like some of the folk who've already posted on this thread I'm into bikes and football.
My motorcycle fleet is a bit depleted right now, I've only got three in my garage at the moment.
For warksclaret's information Triumph aren't the only British manufacturer of motorcycles, I have a CCM Gp450s....made in Bolton. Also, a Ducati 950 Multistrada and a Suzuki DRZ400e.
I sold my KTM 450 Rally bike a few months ago.....it's a busy couple of years for me so no racing.
I normally do a 2/3 week Eastern Euro trip, every year, with as much off-road/trails as possible. But too busy at the moment.
Although, if we qualify for Europe I may take the bike for a trip!
Anyone else fancy mixing Football and motorcycle riding to watch Burnley in Europe?

Great idea enduro, i will keep that in mind, mixing the two would indeed be something i would give a go, maybe i will have a bike again and a trip to Europe would be on the cards, hopefully somewhere nice and warm, ive always been a fair weather biker, utc

moanin'.......Good kit is the key to riding in bad weather.
The qualifying rounds are at a great time of year for riding motorcycles.

Just got myself a 2016 ktm 250 ex-f factory. First time i've ever had an enduro bike, or a 4 stroke, in fact never ridden one 'till i bought this. Done a bit of trials riding but this is soooo much better. Hopefully heading up back cowm in the next few weeks, bit of practice and then have a go at racing.
U.T.C.

For those of you that are considering it, youles is a good place to deal with.

Motorcycles and football. Unusual combination, but I’ve always loved both. In fact, once rode home from Germany to watch us against bastards.

As for distance work, rode from Bergen hohne in northern Germany to nice on the Côte d’Azur just to enjoy the brilliant route napoleon for a few days. Grenoble to nice was awesome. Not quite Thailand, but a fantastic adventure all the same.

Did 3 years in Germany myself and I regret not having a bike back then when I was young. A couple of the lads used to ride down to Sardinia from Bruggen when the Squadron went there on detachment. I must do a European tour soon.

Deleted

piston broke wrote:Deleted

Done.

My regular ride in Lagos, Portugal, where I am at present is a Yamaha MT-01, although I have a Buell Ulysses on UK plates. Needs registering here.

Most of the time now I am in Chiang Rai in northern Thailand, and I am debating between a Ducati Scrambler and a Suzuki SV650 for there, although I have considered just about every bike on the planet. So much choice now.

atlantalad wrote: Been riding my small yamaha ybr125 for 4 years now -only a fair weather/ weekend rider. I would like to take mod 1 and mod 2 and ride a +650cc like turfytopper ( well done). Anyone recommend a good training school in E Lancs that's not run by condescending, know-it-all, ex police instructors who spend all training time telling you how good they are while telling you your riding habits sh-te?

I never thought I'd get onto a motorbike....and on my CBT I'd have needed a road the width of Gatwick runway to do a U turn. My motivation was my brother in law whio has been really ill, and he always said when he retired he'd go in a major bike tour... I decided that if he was to do it, I'd have to go too.

I've enjoyed the experience way more than i thought and upgrading to a bigger bike was a lot easier than i thought. I feel more confident having a bike with a bit more road presence, its more responsive so I'm not constantly expectiing cars to be pushing me out of my driving line. The brakes give you greater confidence too, as they really can bring you to a halt.
I'd never consider going out for leisure drive in the car, but love getting out on the bike at any opportunity.

I cant recommend a training school in Lancashire as i live in Sussex..... But if you have ridden for 4 years i reckon you'd only need a couple of days and then a test day. The school i used had weekend access to the DVLA mod 1 testing area in Burgess Hill which was useful.

enduroclaret wrote:I generally find that most "bikers" aren't big football fans.
Anyone else fancy mixing Football and motorcycle riding to watch Burnley in Europe?

I think id be up for it... depends where of course....

Pearcey wrote:Done.

How did you manage that?
I deleted it because when I checked the link it didn't appear to have a "sign the petition" button.
if it was easy I'll post again.

https://www.change.org/p/make-roads-safer-for-bikes" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

please sign the petition.

I've owned a few bikes over the years, starting with a Suzuki AP50 (ha), then a Honda CB125. My two favourites were a Honda Super Sport 400-4 and a Harley Davidson V-Rod. Currently bikeless, but considering a Ducati Multistrada. UTC!

In the U.K. We tend to view motorcycling as a leisure activity, which of course it can be.
But it's also a very efficient form of personal transport on our over-loaded roads.
I have a 120 mile round trip commute twice a week from East Lancs to West Cheshire, I hate the journey in a van (The notorious M6 from 29 to 19) and I only use the van if I'm carrying bulky items. I'm guaranteed to spend at least 45 minutes either stationary or at walking pace. Typically the journey can be a miserable two hours.
If I use my motorbike my wheels never stop turning and I can safely filter between stationary traffic......which is quite satisfying and mildly enjoyable.
If I fancy sacking the motorway (not an option in the van because that would take 3 hours!) and using normal roads on a motorbike I can filter to the front of every traffic light, get up and away before cars have even moved. I can always negotiate static traffic and get through congestion easily, without breaking the speed limit.
The down side of all this motorcycling is that I'm pretty impatient when I'm on 4 wheels, when I'm driving my wife is sick of me saying......"If I was on my bike I'd be through this traffic and home by now"

piston broke wrote:How did you manage that?
I deleted it because when I checked the link it didn't appear to have a "sign the petition" button.
if it was easy I'll post again.

It worked for me.

Pearcey wrote:What are you riding now and what’s been your best bike?

Off the road at present but the best bike I ever had was an old Honda CG125 (Kick-start version). Totally bomb-proof and easy to work on. Probably still running, somewhere

My favourite was Honda shadow 1100cc I sold that !0 years ago then bought a Suziki Vstrom 650 (least favourite) Didnt ride for 6 years now
I've just bought another new Honda shadow 750. I'm looking forward to some nice road trips this summer.

vancouverclaret wrote:I'm looking forward to some nice road trips this summer.

I hear the Pacific Highway is worth a look