French Run - The Story So Far

I saw an item on the news the other day about these, and it got me to
thinking: if the government are having to take all these measures,
isn't it also their duty to look into /why/ so many quite possibly
otherwise law-abiding people are starting to break the law in this
area?

I don't just mean people nicking/cloning plates, but also including
people removing or obscuring their own plates to avoid being caught by
speed cameras.

If a large percentage of the population of a country feel that they're
morally/financially/etc. motivated to break a given law, isn't this
evidence that the law itself is unjust?

CF. the poll tax protest.

 

The Older Gentleman wrote

Not fucked up so much as unused and it ain't the Gummint, it is the
pigs.

Now I live in sunny essex and if my plate were cloned it would appear in
all sorts of places I don't go but probably not including sunny essex.
Plod has the information, in the form of camera detection, to pinpoint
the thief/fraudster almost to the parking bay she is not paying for. Do
plod use this information which is actually in their possession and
actually do something about it? Do they buggery. Mind you having said
that I should add that if you feel you are not getting the service you
should expect from the pigs then you should change your lodge.

 

Can't you arrange to have your insurance renewal date delayed for a
month or so? Pay for a 13/14 month policy this year. Otherwise it will
happen next year, just when you don't need it.

 

Apparently they have made a note on my file to forward the documents to
me early next year - but I'll be giving them a call just to make sure!
If I don't get the docs by a certain specified date, then I'll cancel
the policy and renew with e-bike or similar.

And no, still nothing in the post. And the DVLA database still tells
me I'm uninsured (

--
Lesley
CBR600FW
SBS#11 (with oak-leaf cluster)
BOTAFOT#101A UKRMHRC#12
BONY#54P BOB#18
Real burds don't take hormones, they rage naturally

 

DoetNietComputeren scribbled:

Errr, its the Italian version, with the rolling 'R'

 

It's not the tyres - it's the bike.

Check out this month's Ride - page 96 has a 'Buyers guide' on Stroms -
it's generally postive, but they list all the issues I've had on mine
as being common.

One of those is the high speed wobble - apparently dropping/raising (I
forget) the forks can fix it by putting a lot more weight on the front
end (quickens the steering too).

Alternatively, accept it's NOT a bike that's going to do 115mph+
comfortably - rather it's one that will do 0-100 very well indeed.

 

Dropping the yokes (raising the forks) will load the front end and
sharpen the steering.

 

Then that's the one.

Sounds a lot of bother to me though for a problem that won't show
itself except on trips to France (and can be sort of worked
around/tolerated for short bursts like the 130 indicated I did chasing
you lot).

If I do keep it (looking likely) i'll probabaly save up for things to
make it better at lower speeds - Power commander, new cans (decent
ones), possibly a sprocket change (think this would be rather fun
considering the torque the engine's got) and that's about it.

Think I will also give serious thought to a cheap second hand 600/750
in due course for the other 'fun factor' from 30 minute blats. Champ's
1000 probably would have done but no money at the moment.

 

I can second this.

 

dwb scribbled:

That'll do me then. I have been following Bears advice, problems at the
front, look at the rear, and I know the rear shock isn't great on the
'Stroms, after a cursory search I can't find decent replacements though.

I shall lower the yoke 5mm and see what it does, after the tyres go on,

Noooo!!

Thats the one thing I really miss about the 9R, from 130mph it *still*
accelerates as if you're doing 70.

Mind you, to do that the 'Strom will need shed loads more power. A
Powercommander and replacement cans will be a start, but I think
something more drastic will be needed. <wonders if its possible to
transplant a 9R engine...>

 

Eh? The issue is with the stability of the bike, it's aerodynamics and
what happens when those aerodynamics go a bit mental at high speed (or
in side winds) - I could be wrong, but I don't think it's got anything
to do with the shock.

That said, if you've got money to burn I think Ohlins do one that fits.

But that's a 1000c Sportsbike - with the aerodynamics, engine output
and characteristics along with the weight balance to do it.

The top whack of the Strom is 130mph but the rest of the bike doesn't
seem to have been designed to do that - and that's not just the engine,
but the frame, the fairing (and in particular the aerodynamics), the
brakes etc.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think you might have the wrong
bike. Sounds like you're going to spend loads of money trying to make
it the bike you want, whereas I think you might have better luck
looking at modifying a 'Busa or ZZR to get a more suitable riding
position.

My new plan is to keep the Strom for touring and if funds allow get a
cheap slightly tatty litre bike (or not quite so tatty 600) for when I
just fancy playing the fool.

 

^^^^

you seem to be implying that you have some choice in the matter,
whereas the evidence would appear to be to the contrary.

 

That isn't playing, that's just being a fool.

 

dwb? He'z just ziz guy, you know?

Look at a Bandit 12. Do they have excellent aerodynamics? With me on
one? And they do 130 no problem.

Honestly, looking at some of the barges out there, the problem isn't
the fairing, the fairing excaberates the problem, but it isn't the root
cause of it IMO. Could be chassis, headstock design, I don't know, but
if dropping the yokes works I'll try it.

I wish, exactly the opposite ATM. I'm pretending to be an ostrich.

Oh I'm not denying that, but no harm in trying a few little things to
try and improve matters.

I see you missed the obligatory invisible smiley after the "ludicrous
engine transplant that no one in their right mind would do" comment.

I'll turn up the contrast for you... --------> ""

 

Well, with me on board any aerodynamics are fucked and my GPS showed
140mph (on a private road, officer) the other evening.

Fuel consumption was a bit steep though ;-)
--

Cheers!
Fr Jack

B12S POTENTIAL LICENCE SHREDDER - AT GRIN FACTOR 10!

FRJACKUKRM AT GMAIL DOT COM

 

And? They are different motorcycles, with a different fairing. They
don't have an upper fairing the size of a small house with odd mirrors,
dodgy screen etc.

For me, the stability problems are much worse in strong winds. That
would imply something with the way it cuts through the wind.

I'm sure it's lots of things - but the one thing that can't be changed
easily are the aerodynamics (or lack of) of the bike

Ah - well okay, but it wasn't just based on the engine comment.

Anyway, whatever Having read the reviews of the ZZR1400 in Bike I
am still considering selling my kidneys or something equally
non-essential.

 

I must admit to paying more attention to the "how much for my
Blackbird" thread than is healthy.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..80264../..21661.../..31308.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR'06 Points: 75 Miles: 317

 

Shall we get one to share?

 

dwb scribbled:

Will a 3 way timeshare work?

How much would 3 kidneys, 2 V-Stroms and a Blackbird raise?

 

dwb scribbled:

Heh. I have got myself an MRA screen like yours now. Haven't tried it
yet mind, unable to ride at the mo.

Know what you mean about the mirrors, been pondering getting some
aftermarket mirrors that fit onto the fairing that are quite a bit
smaller (but not as small at the flea makeup mirrors that Pip had on
his Bandit when he first got it)

I haven't found a guaranteed set of conditions that cause it yet.
Sometimes its at 100, sometimes 120, sometimes with no sidewind,
headwind, buffeting wind, various road surfaces.

Could take the fairing off completely as an experiment

No worries. I know I'm more than a bit curious as to whats causing it,
and I find it interesting seeing what happens as i do stuff to the bike
that I'd normally do anyway (new tyres, change screen, etc), along with
maybe changing the fairing shape with the aid of cardboard and duct
tape on bored weekends.

Oh yes, agree there. When my compo comes through I think one of those
might just be aquired and the pegs tweeked.