Cant make my mind up....

Quite. SWMBO perched on top of the flattish bit with straps that joins
two Oxford Lifetime panniers all the way to Milan and back, but she had
a piece of foam wrapped inside a plastic carrier bag over it to
interpose between it and her.
--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Aprilia Shiver Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

That's why I mentioned Ventura racks (which they do for the Shiver).
Horse on seat, bag on rack.

 

They do a smaller (60 litre) 'race pack' which would be ok. Or get some
stick-on heat shield from somewhere like Demon Tweeks & stick it to any
vulnerable areas, with a few stitches to make sure it stays there.

 

So you didn't want a super comfy touring bike that accelerates and handles
like a Ducati sportsbike up to 150.
I thought that was exactly what you were looking for! I just don't tend to
suggest the older models as they are getting, well, old.

 

Have you tried a Bandit 1250S?

 

It's unlike you to sit on the fence

 

Not yet

 

That's exactly what I'd like but to stay comfy with my knackered neck
I've got to be sat rather upright, with decent wind protection.

The conversation tends to go a bit like this though

Gyp: (On realising that he needs a bike a lot closer to the touring end
of sports tourer than the sports end) I'm thinking of getting a new bike
and am looking at sitty uppy bikes capable of carrying two in comfort a
long way

Hog: (On realising that someone's thinking of buying something) You want
an ST4S, you do!

Gyp: (interested, and with open mind) Do I, why's that then?

Hog: (terrier stylee) They're fucking ace and are all things to all men,
look, there's one

Gyp: (on realising that the bike suggested, despite being lovely, isn't
sitty uppy enough for his needs) No, not quite what I'm after I'm going
to look at something more sitty uppy

Hog: (chastened that someone isn't going for the ST4S) Oh, so you never
wanted a sporty sports tourer of which the ST4S is the pinnacle of
development.

Gyp: (agreeing) Yes, that's right.

I'm sure if I wanted to buy a new toaster it would go a bit like


Gyp: (On realising that he needs a new toaster) I'm thinking of getting
a device for heating and browning two slices of bread simultaneously.

Hog: (On realising that someone's thinking of buying something) You want
an ST4S, you do!

Gyp: (distracted from the toaster buying activity by something shiny) Do
I, why's that then?

Hog: (terrier stylee) They're fucking ace and are all things to all men,
look, there's one

Gyp: (on realising that the bike suggested, despite being lovely, isn't
going to help him with breakfast) No, not quite what I'm after I'm going
to look at something a bit more toastery

Hog: (chastened that someone isn't going for the ST4S) Oh, so you never
wanted a sporty sports tourer of which the ST4S is the pinnacle of
development.

Gyp: (agreeing) Yes, that's right.

Tiger test drive today

 

Test *ride* shurely?

 

"Road test".
--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Aprilia Shiver Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

I'll do that too

 

Don't be silly, he's not going to buy a road. Anyway, didn't a very
wise man once say that buying a new bike in the first year of
production[1] is a guaranteed way to become intimate with your dealer?
If not, they probably should have.

[1] Or first several years if it's a BMW.

 

Hah! Worked for me with the Sprint ST.

 

I think it would suit you, you know. A bit prosaic, but has that
upright position, screen, luggage and a big old pillion pad. Not to
mention plenty cheapness.

 

Have you seen Gyp 'ride'?

 

I have, but only on the Harley, so he was probably too busy trying to
get his WAP[1] to connect to biggreasybumboys.com to concentrate.

[1] It was a few years ago.

 

*snort*
and
*lol*

I was just trying to save you some time and trouble you ****!

"stay comfy with my knackered neck
I've got to be sat rather upright, with decent wind protection"

I've been in that place for a long time and gone through lots of wrong
answers, including the Bindats. They don't handle well enough are are not
such a pleasure to own. Nor does the screen take high speed wind off the
head. I wouldn't have suggested the 4S if it wasn't upright enough and it
has the best fairing I've encountered. Certainly good enough to navigate the
entire M20 at 150per.

Like some others I find the K1100LT position too upright, I get pain in the
lower back and thighs. I expect WUN's GTR would do the same to me. Also like
Loz and others I find I can't use a full on sprotbike because tilting my
head back more than a smidge for any length of time causes pain and trouble.

My altered Gixxer thou riding position was perfect, but no amount of perspex
hacking could take the wind pressure off my neck. That's the other thing
that freezes it up after an hour of riding. Everything from a 9R to FJR
fell out in one direction or the other.

If you want to cruise at 70 or 80 then I suppose the wind pressure on head
isn't a problem and a lot of other options open up. I've never been able to
develop any such self control!

Nobody seems to make nice or resonably priced after market fairings any
more.

 

Heh.

For what its worth I thought my ST4s had a rather upright position and
decent wind protection. I'd probably have another if I wasn't poorer
than the proverbial poor church mouse at the moment.


What is the damage to your neck ?


Just got a report back from a chiropractor which included some neck
x-rays and they're recommending three sessions a week for a month to
stop me from tilting as I'm twisting slightly due to the damage to my
shoulder. Also got very bad posture which he claims will be corrected
with 3 to 6 months.

Can't be sure they're just a bunch of shysters as it took nearly 40
years to get this posture and I doubt if it can be corrected in six
months. Only really noticed it as I'm starting to lean to get
comfortable at my desk due to the left shoulder still giving me some
discomfort.

I could be tempted by a Triumph too.

 

It was. The later bike is even better and the fairing a big improvement.
Come and try it sometime. Bring your SO.

Didn't they offer to MRI scan you? I wouldn't have my neck/brain stem area
CT'd by choice.

I tried a Chiro last year. 6 sessions and decided "shysters". Again.
I once used a well known Osteo in Gourock (John Cleat) who worked wonders
but I've never found another whop could help.

I'm going back to a good Acupuncture practitioner (1), I know that relieves
pain and discomfort.

(1) by reference

 

As many will no doubt concur, I'm generally not that brisk, and if a
bike feels happiest at 70 to 80 then I'm happy to ride it at 70 to 80,
and won't feel the need to blat along at 100+ just because I can.

Of course if a bike doesn't feel happy until you're going faster then
I'll do that too, but it doesn't necessarily give me more pleasure.

Now, I did a fair mix of roads on the Tiger this afternoon and
thoroughly enjoyed it.

When I got back on the Busa I realised that whilst the Tiger made me
feel Ooooooooo, the Busa makes me feel Aaaaaaaaaagh! How convenient then
that there was a gentleman from the Gloucestershire Constabulary on hand
to point out to me that whilst Aaaaaaaaagh! is achievable, it is not
encouraged nor, apparently, legal...