Saul Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 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. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckster Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 It’s quite a physically small bike as well don’t you think? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 41 minutes ago, Saul said: riding the BSA, made me appreciate how much I like my Hornet. Fucking Indian shed! 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saul Posted May 4 Author Share Posted May 4 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 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 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saul Posted May 4 Author Share Posted May 4 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. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckster Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 39 minutes ago, XTreme said: Fucking Indian shed! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 6 minutes ago, Buckster said: You'd have confidence in a bike built by people in a country who have to live this? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckster Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 2 minutes ago, XTreme said: You'd have confidence in a bike built by people in a country who have to live this? You would be amazed how good their engineering is. Why are you posting pictures of Birmingham? 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saul Posted May 4 Author Share Posted May 4 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 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 12 minutes ago, Saul said: Negatron strikes again, at least you put in more effort than just typing POS this time I suppose You said it yourself......there's no comparison whatsoever between your Honda and that thing. You get what you pay for springs to mind. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saul Posted May 4 Author Share Posted May 4 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six30 Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 1 hour ago, XTreme said: You'd have confidence in a bike built by people in a country who have to live this? thats Bradford you twat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 7 minutes ago, Six30 said: thats Bradford you twat Stupid boy, this is Bradford. I’ve been there today 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 20 minutes ago, Six30 said: thats Bradford you twat Not the Brexit you voted for then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzzak Posted May 5 Share Posted May 5 13 hours ago, XTreme said: Fucking Indian shed! Feather and Dot. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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