125s

don't laugh, but I'm semi-seriously considering buying a Yamaha
DT125X, and start commuting by bike again.

Stock power is rated at 15bhp - not a lot - is it feasible to tune
these things by much?

 

The old RD125LC which this engine basically still is produced 21bhp when
de-restricted and I think the Dt was the same or thereabouts. Depends on
how they are doing the restriction now. The old LC was literally a washer
in the exhaust and a carb tweak IIRC.

 

actually, **** that:

http://www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/article.asp?id=646

I'll have a DR-Z400SM on £1 deposit/0% APR instead.

 

You are better at making business decisions than biking ones aren't you?

 

Business decisions are easy. I've fancied a DR-Z400SM for a while, but
thought I couldn't afford to buy one as well as a Z1000. But I could
afford a DT125X as well as a Z1000/Tuono/Whatever roadster I
eventually decide on, hence this (fairly useless) thread.

But after posting, I saw the special offer on Suzuki's website, and
since I can easily afford 125 quid a month, I'll have the DR-Z after
all.

 

on which note, anyone anything good or bad to say about Colin Collins?
The sell Suzuki and Kwaks, so could kill two birds with one stone.

 

Which branch? Harrow were in my experience varying degrees of rubbish.

Servicing was appalling (I still have less than fond memories of coming
back to my bike to find the gear lever pointing at the floor), costs
were high and generally they displayed a general "don't give a toss"
attitude.

Sales wise - about the same as everywhere else I think, though again a
pervading feeling of "we don't actually care".

I'm not wholly against them, but I have had better experiences since.

 

hmm. Well, does anyone have any /positive/ recommendations for a
Suzuki dealer in North London/Herts/Essex?

For the Kwak, I'm happy to deal with Lloyd Cooper.

 

Watford, probably - but I'm sure there's not a lot of difference
between branches - crapness is usually institutional.

they sound like wankers.

I'm not bothered about sales - I know what I want (shut it!) so I
don't need to be sold to.

I'm only looking for Sales - the only reason I'm interested is that
potentially I could buy a DR-Z400SM and a Z1000 from the same
dealership, possibly trying to wring some sort of discount based on a
2-bike sale.

 

A bit further afield, but Mission Motorcycles in Milton Keynes are a
decent enough bunch, IME.

 

I really can't be doing with heading up north.

Suzuki reckon my nearest dealers are:

Double R, Metropolis, Colin Collins and Johns of Romford. Strangely
Metropolis don't mention Suzuki on their website.

 

My scooter mechanic did something on a Honda SH150. Added a Malossi 180
cylinder, holoquoi? exhaust plus some gadgets and according to him it
was good for wheeling.

But there are enough 250cc scooters out there in the 20-22bhp range,
before experimenting. According to the aforementioned guy, the Piaggio
some-model is the one that handles closer to a bike.

 

If you're just buying, they will be fine (though it's the same service
monkeys who will put your bike together).

How would you get the two bikes home?

 

This was done in another thread. The restriction is electronic now and
acts on the power valve.

 

He could ride them both at the same time - and pick up a few quid from
Champ on the side.

 

that's a very good point - I'd probably want the PDI done by someone
clueful.

I'd have them delivered.

 

in theory, no.

I'll bear it in mind, but for the Z1000, I need/want to trade in the
'blade[1], so I need to physically go to the dealer.

[1] unless someone wants to make me a reasonable offer for it: '01
Y-reg CBR929RR1, blue/white/yellow, VGC, 11,900 miles (but had 12K
service including recent exup-cable replacement)...

 

I think you could predict my response to that.

 

actually, Parkers has £3815 for a "private good" - I'd take £3500
from a ukrm-er.

 

Intriguing. I'm wondering what to do about the CCM, if I get a Speed
Triple. There's a fair bit of motorcycling-use-case-overlap, IMO (namely
hooning around town)

A DRZ400 just for commuting seems a little bit OTT, IYAM, but if the price
is right I guess you might as well. Are they easily convert-able back to
off-road use by swapping the wheels, or have they done something silly to
the suspension?