Saul

Pissed down all morning here so cancelled the run up to Kitt Hill and ended up taking the Mrs to Bodmin for shopping.  That's the day ruined.   

Probably a more objective review.  

I don't know how he does it but the feckless twat certainly gets some nice loan bikes nowadays.    He is right though there is something about the new Nortons.     Too expensive and less than perfect in places but there is something about them.  Had a real close look at one yesterday. I like it a lot. 

2 minutes ago, Buckster said:

I can see you are in a dark place right now.  Go towards the light.  

1 minute ago, XTreme said:

With bad curries yes!

Come on you haven't lived until you have had curried cat bollocks 

Lovely pictures.   

13 minutes ago, XTreme said:

Didn't you test an Indian one?

After all, I thought the Indian subcontinent was the epicentre of engineering excellence!

Did an Indian hurt you by any chance? 

Finally gave up and bought a branded pump with a proper warranty.   No more shonky chinky chonky ones for me.   

11 minutes ago, XTreme said:

This place has dragged you down with it Saul!

What can I say Obie Wan you taught me all I know. 

15 minutes ago, XTreme said:

You haven't crashed the computer have you?

After all you've already managed it with the truck and the bike!

An oil seal went on the mouse, nothing that could be done 

@XTreme anybody you know Pete?

9 minutes ago, XTreme said:

You said it yourself......there's no comparison whatsoever between your Honda and that thing.

You get what you pay for springs to mind.

Yeah but my Honda is a first world product with double the horsepower, not a fair comparison with an A2 bike.   Also nobody gives a Hornet a second look whereas the BSA is a lovely looking thing that people bill and coo over.  If you want to pose that's important I suppose.  Not for me but there are plenty that buy into the 'Look At Me' thing and just want to potter around.    I don't think it's shit, just not what I want from a bike.  

1 hour ago, XTreme said:

Fucking Indian shed!

Negatron strikes again, at least you put in more effort than just typing POS this time I suppose 

25 minutes ago, XTreme said:

It's a John le Carre novel!

I finished the series and it's well worth watching!

I watched it ages ago when it first came out.  Bloody good. 

2 minutes ago, boboneleg said:

Colin sounds like a billy big bollox twat, why would you lead a ride out like that with people you don’t know.

Someone on the ride might have decided to take him on and then it could have got a bit dodgy 

Mate you have him sussed.  He would bully you if he could, total twat in my opinion.  I don't buy into it and will go to Thor whenever I like, but I have mates who won't go there.  In fact one mate won't go there unless I go with him   I get along with him up to a point but I would never buy a bike from him, I have seen how he treats people and what an awkward cunt he can be.  Shame really because Thor could be the best dealership around if it wasn't for him.  

11 minutes ago, Buckster said:

It’s quite a physically small bike as well don’t you think?

Yes I would agree, if I can flat foot it with a 29" inside leg it would suit a smaller gentleman.  

Still over 200kgs though , and you can feel it.  

While up at Thor this morning had a bit of a mooch around the showroom.   Lots of Indians, Morini’s and Benelli’s.   Plus Norton, BSA, CCM, Kove, Voge, Beta, Reiju Mash, and who knows what else.   Certainly no lack of choice.   
@Buckster good price for a Black Mash

@Marcel le Moose Fondler suits you

I like this 

Has a close look at this Reiju 500, very nicely finished bike.   No price on it so probably expensive but looks really good.  
 

2 hours ago, boboneleg said:

I will probably end up on a scooter , I like the Honda ADV scoots

I must admit to looking at them with interest.   Not for a few years yet I hope.  

Well I am on leave this weekend.  Went for a BSA test ride this morning, not doing much for the rest of the day, maybe venture out and do some gardening.  Kitt Hill bike meet tomorrow and down west singing in the evening.  

Well I got up bright and early to take the test ride and got to Thor Motorcycles around 8:45 as the ride was booked for 9:00 am.  All still unpacking when I got there so I sat down and had a cuppa whilst they got their shit together, no problem.  Anyway I got out for a lead ride, which was not advertised, at 9:30.  The youngest was disappointed as no pillions on test rides apparently, bit short sighted I would say as any bike I get I would want to ride with a pillion given that I rarely ride alone nowadays.   I bribed her with a cheeseburger and Fanta for her breakfast from the burger wagon, which also was not free as advertised.    Don't really care about that but I can see someone will moan and it pays to do as you say in the long run IMHO.    Anyway back to the ride out, the owner of Thor came out on his BSA and lead me out through the lanes to Cardinham then out on the A30 for a blast down to Innis Downs junction.  Off there through Bugle to Roche then out to Victoria Interchange and the old A30 to Lanivet and back to Thor.   A good 45 minute ride were the owner of Thor (Colin) rode like a fuck wit the whole way, weaving all over the shop to keep his tyres warm (Twat),  blasting through speed limits and riding really aggressively around motorists.   Certainly didn't endear himself to several cars he was tailgating.    Anyway to the BSA, pleasant enough to ride, but couldn't get away from the fact it felt flat.  To be fair it only had 100 miles on it so must have been tight and did loosen up as it warmed up and the ride went on.  Around the back lanes across Bodmin Moor it felt great with plenty of torque and a nice positive gearbox, never going past 50mph.   Gauges were small and hard to read but good enough and did look pretty.  Ergonomically, nice sit up riding position, comfy seat and I could flat foot it easily.   Once we were out on the A30, a fast dual carriageway, the BSA sat at 70mph quite comfortably, a few vibes crept in at 75 but went again at 80, never ventured past 85 as the bike just did not really want to.   Colin was off in the distance so must have travelling a fair bit quicker.   I guess his 22 plate bike was well run in.   No wind protection was really noticeable at 70 plus and would get tiring quickly, or would for me.    Passing cars on the A30 was  a bit risky as the mirrors were blurred and the right hand side one had vibrated out or adjustment and was pointing skyward.    I corrected it but it soon moved again. I got the impression that the bike would sit at 70mph all day if you wanted to but that is not where you would necessarily want to ride it for comfort.  Now to be fair to Colin he took me on a good route of varying conditions which did highlight the bikes strengths.  He went much further and faster than I would have done on my own so appreciate being lead.  

Would I buy one, definitely not.  I can see it would be nice to bimble around on, round the lanes on a sunny Sunday afternoon but just didn't feel like serious transport to me, I certainly wouldn't consider commuting or travelling on it.  Although of course it could do both these things but there are bikes much better suited to those tasks out there.   The BSA looked lovely to my eye and did seem quite well finished.  I think I liked looking at it more than I did riding it.  For £6k I think it is probably good value if you want what it does well.  Not for me even as a second bike.  

On a side note riding the BSA, made me appreciate how much I like my Hornet.  

4 hours ago, Buckster said:

Wrong section. 

What section would you like it in?    Looks pretty funny to me.   

Got nagged into taking the youngest up to Damerells bike night.   All in all bit shit really, loads of dickheads and not many bikes.    Couple nice Busas I haven’t seen before and a few Randoms but not much really. I suppose the sausage sandwich was pretty good.    
There is a rival bike night on a Thursday over Newquay that we might check out next week weather depending.   
 

5 hours ago, boboneleg said:

Nice one @Saul. 
I don’t think I’ve ever been to a bike night , I’ve thought about it but I’d rather go and ride a few lanes.

I understand what you're saying Bob but it was a 93 mile round trip along allsorts of A and B roads to get to Bude and back.   I find half the thing with a bike now is having a destination to aim for and if it has a friendly cafe and some bikes to look at all the better.    Plus it was good to be out with my mates and youngest.  

6 hours ago, boboneleg said:

I found your new bike Pete  

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315207152888?itmmeta=01HWV2FXMJGFAJ5WNYAKK8KY11&hash=item4963cf74f8:g:kqIAAOSwq31lxe9Y

That's a bit spendy for one of them.  Certainly fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.  Bit like the Beamer K1 but even uglier and more practical.