Anyone got a recentish, lowish mileage, good 'un for sale ? Nick
There was one in Haslemere Motorcycles yesterday, 2003 1700 miles with a ticket price of £6999. I sort of wondered what they're like as bikes and how realistic the price is.
To answer the former, Mike Barnard (fireman and occasional denizen of this parish) went from a Thunderace to one of these, and a year or two later went back to a Thunderace. Having ridden his FJR I agree with him. Definitely the tourer end of sports-tourer.
They've got one of those there as well, I'd love a shot on one but I don't really see them as a usable bike. Mate of mine has had one for about 4 years now and just got onto his second tyre because he hardly uses the thing. I just, perhaps wrongly assume a Busa would cost to much to run and I'd end up losing my licence because I'd have to see how fast it was. I have to find a bike that's got reasonable pillion comfort, the Fazer failed there, decent lights are also a must. I am not sure being able to cart huge amounts of luggage is necessary, useful but not necessary. If it doesn't fit in the tankbag / a small rucksack or strapped on a rack then it can be left behind, or I need to take the car. Decent range, also a requirement, within reason I don't give a toss about consumption but I definitely want something that will manage 180+ between stops. You didn't sell it to Haslemere? Not sure the one I looked at is ABS or not. I am not currently in a position to test ride it or the Triumph Sprint which I was quite taken with - also SWMBO was less keen on that.
You seem to be looking for the same sort of thing as I do, you might want to consider the Honda Blackbird and The Kawasaki ZZR1200 as well. I had a test ride on a Sprint ST just last week, it was like a 'better VFR' (I have a VFR750F-T at the moment) but has a few little niggles and nothing much to excite. I think I prefer the Blackbird and the ZZR1200.
Possibilities, although I seem to recall that the blackbird has a lousy range, I am not sure about the ZZR, they're really ugly. I have to give some consideration to pillion comfort as well. I am waiting a demonstrator to come in, my broken bits to heal and the money for a new helmet etc. Probably be really winter by then so I may get away with a cheeky offer on something they've got SH.
You can, I could but for SWMBO. Each and every stop is a fag break which stretches into 20 minutes every time.
It wasn't the accelerating that caused the problems, it was the slowing down. Think he would have needed a 0bhp model to be "safe".
Not as far as I know but she can't usually manage more than 45 minutes without nicotine. The only time it happens is when she's asleep or on a plane.
Only because you can't just nip out for a fag, well not twice anyway. Even then I don't think she's done longer than a 5.5 hours flight since they stopped allowing smoking on planes.
