Bike Show

yes, and are LHD.

I don't think the average bloke on the street things of Jeeps, or even
Chryslers these days, as a "yank" car, whereas when you see a
Corvette, Mustang or whatever, you instantly think - "oh, look at that
twat driving a big american car, probably has a tiny dick". ;-)

 

i certainly do. thing of them that is. some of them are even rather fun,
like the crossfire.

i think that's always been the case with american cars (and the word "big"
is usually redundant). now, however, it also applies to non-american but
american-styled vehicles like the mitsubishi wanker^Wwarrior.

 

In communiqué

Quite, and yet one won the NHCA open 1300 class this year and regularly
got in to the top ten run off, with just the assistance of trick tyres
(and a good rider).

My mate (a former 750 class champion himself) reckons it felt a tiny bit
unstable at high speed over the mountain in June, but otherwise he
really rates it. It might be just what you are looking for.

--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Hmph. Looks like the Germans have reinvented the XK150.

 

And so we come full circle:

http://www.sarahdonohue.com/gallery/press/p2.jpg

 

hmm - overpriced mind, and seem to be very poor reliability wise.

 

In communiqué
darsy <> cast forth these pearls of wisdom

[Of the KTM 950SM]

Not cheap agreed. He thought long and hard about spending so much on
one. Other than in the depths of winter he commutes on it. He works in
software (telecoms) testing and doesn't suffer unreliability gladly.
AFAIK he has only had two problems with it. A hairline crack in the oil
sight level tube which was weeping a smidgen during the TT and a battery
which gave up the ghost prematurely. We reckon the latter might be as a
result of heat cooking the gel type battery (BTDT with the Voxan)
given its location and a reputation for incredibly hot exhaust system
temperatures.

Being bred from a competition motor you might expect the LC8 to be a bit
fragile. I suspect it would certainly be unwise to skimp on oil quality
and changes, or thrash it when not properly warmed up.

He's not back from Spain yet. I will be interested to hear how he got
on.
--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Bear says...

That has so much Jaguar XK140 Roadster influence.

http://www.vintagecarsource.com/jag-frontlarge.jpg



--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE
Suzuki SV650 K3
Honda CBR600 F-W
Suzuki GSX-R750L
Yamaha SR250 SpazzTrakka

 

Bear says...

I wouldn't count the original MGB GT V8 in that, the ones properly put
together by Costello and subsequently copied by BL.

--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE
Suzuki SV650 K3
Honda CBR600 F-W
Suzuki GSX-R750L
Yamaha SR250 SpazzTrakka

 

It was a very minor troll. Sheesh.

 

You are both, like me, in excellent positions to undertake some career
change. It doesn't need to be utterly alien, something lateral or sideways
would do. It's very refreshing.

 

Fancy coming down with Pat tomorrow?

 

Well in a year I haven't bothered. I'm going because my 7 y/o son wants to
try Boarding.

 

I'm acutely aware that, having had several such SO's, it's me that's
wanting!

 

Well that's the only way I'd do it, so it's that or nowt.[/QUOTE]

Well we got there around 10 and were entertained until they threw us out.

I liked most of the major manufacturers being in a particular hall, there
was a lot of really nice bikes and Rob could bounce on most of them. Some
pretty sweet new BMW kit, KTM stuff caught my eye but I think all the
marques had something worthwhile. Honda had a little track with some 50cc
bikes for kids so my boy was delighted.
The second hall had Ducati and the 'Nash bikes and various other interesting
stuff. All the shit clothing stands etc were relegated to the third hall and
I was able to ignore them all and walk directly to the Gerbing and GLF
stands.

The day worked out financially. Autocom had a 50% off sale and I *finally*
bought a helmet to helmet system with satnav and phone connectivity. That
saved me a ton. The guy on the Gerbing stand remembered me from a previous
visit (and Blondie bought us waistcoats) and he wouldn't take money for new
gloves when I mentioned one of the existing pair had failed. That was
another ton+ saved. I actually didn't have time to find the other odds and
sods I wanted but I did organise for one of the new Gerbing cordura/CE
armour integrated heat jackets which arrive from 'Merika next month.

BMW's K1200GT finally offers a fairing on a par with the old 1100LT. 150bhp
too. A very serious piece of kit and I think I liked it more (to look over)
than the GTR1400 (apologies...). £12000 is silly money for a long distance
hack though, that's 3 decent 1996 K11's. The R1200HP2-S is pretty amazing
and 133bhp but at £14500 it is no 1098S.

I saw Bonners new toy on the KTM stand and it's obvious why he had to have
one and it was SO much neater than the bloaty 990. Their 1030 Road bike is
interesting too, I'd love to try one.

Star of the show is on the Suzuki stand. The Crescent GSXR1000 special (and
it's a sleeper from 50metres). Over £29,000 but it literally drips with
desirable stuff and has a tuned and blueprinted 202BHP engine. That's a big
fucking WAAAAAAAANT.

 

Welcome to my world [/QUOTE]

wanting ever more and varied poontang....

 

We might have done, but my shoulder's not properly knitted yet. We'll
take a rain cheque for a couple of months - then you're on.

 

If you absolutely *have* to have a TVR, FFS buy it from a decent dealer,
with warranty, coz as sure as eggs is eggs, you're going to need it.

Also bear in mind that the Sagaris and Tuscan 2 are (according to
everything I've read about them, though I confess I've not driven the
Sagaris) the only 2 that handle properly, and the Sagaris the only one
that handles well without trying to kill you every 5 mins.

I have to say though that, from what you've said about wanting noise,
lunacy and pantomime, that they could be right up your street. Just be
prepared for that fact you may have to burn the fucker out and claim on
the insurance if it all goes shit-shaped.

Oh, and the smell; new and nearly new TVRs pong something fierce (GRP
chemicals leeching out). It doesn't sound like much, but it doesn't
half make you feel queasy after a couple of hours. Fortunately, 2 hours
is usually the MTBF, so you get a nice rest and a walk [/QUOTE]

I have worked on TVR's for 3 yrs, body repairation. I have driven the
entire range and from my experience the 350t is the best of the bunch
(if you can get on with the canted seats). The Segaris is the same
animal in a different skin...

The biuld quality varies car to car. Yes they go quick, but the
handling is somewhat skitish, great on a race-track, but awful on the
road...

What you get with a TVR is an enthusiast's car. Quirky, with lots of,
um, character. Treat them with respect on a wet road or they will spin
out and spit you off. Great paint colours, look great in the summer
sunshine, very poseable but not an easy car to live with. Sound
supperb. Maybe a few too many unnescesary "trick" extra's...

But if you want a practable easy to live with car, go for a Boxster S.
It does everything it says on the tin. And despite the hairdresser's
image it is a really good car. Speaking of which, you could do a great
deal worse by not looking at the MX5 roadster (1800 engine?), a superb
car that does everything right. The newer version even accomodaates
6'er's, albeit snugly...

 

Kinell! No wonder they go bust every year or two!

911s are superb cars. But I *think* (ICBW) that it's not so much
performance you're after, as something a bit wired, lively and daft.
911s aren't daft and pantomime; in fact that's one of the things I like
about them; quiet competence, allied to great speed and feedback.

But you want noise, slides, smoke and silliness. And, though they can't
build cars for toffees, TVR do do that very well. You have to love a
company who, when asked by Clarkson why their cars didn't have ABS, when
the EU had started stipulating that all high-performance new cars should
have ABS, replied "Seriously? Wow. Er ... I don't think we got that
memo" [/QUOTE]

They do slides in spadefull's, I know...

I think the standard Griffith is prolly the munter of the bunch. By
modern TVR standard's not the one to go for...

S'fact...

And check underneath, rust in the chassis and subframes is a serious
issue.

if you need them checking out or bodywork, check out
www.tvrbodyrepairs.com , they'll put you straight...

 

Willingly, yes, happily, no.

Would I be willing to repeat such an endurance test ? ....

"Only if I had to"

P.