Bikers of the smb

Having a shite bike year so far and doesn’t look to be getting any better. Bikes been in storage, first time I went to check on it the battery was dead. It’s an old one so put a new battery on and it went no bother. I’m off to Scotland in 2 weeks so popped over to drop the oil and filter today, guess what? Battery totally dead again. I’m hoping it’s just the stator and can get fixed quick otherwise I’ll not be chancing going to the highlands on an iffy bike. I’ll be gutted.
 


5underland said:
Having a shite bike year so far and doesn’t look to be getting any better. Bikes been in storage, first time I went to check on it the battery was dead. It’s an old one so put a new battery on and it went no bother. I’m off to Scotland in 2 weeks so popped over to drop the oil and filter today, guess what? Battery totally dead again. I’m hoping it’s just the stator and can get fixed quick otherwise I’ll not be chancing going to the highlands on an iffy bike. I’ll be gutted.
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Hope you get it sorted mate 🤞
 
I'm thinking of pulling the pin on buying a new bike for touring. I immediately looked at the BMW R1200/1250RT, which are reassuringly expensive, and I have test ride organised on one this weekend. However, I'd be interested to hear other people's recommendations on what other models I should consider.
 
David M said:
I'm thinking of pulling the pin on buying a new bike for touring. I immediately looked at the BMW R1200/1250RT, which are reassuringly expensive, and I have test ride organised on one this weekend. However, I'd be interested to hear other people's recommendations on what other models I should consider.
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Have you considered the 1200- 1250GS. Best bikes in the world so they reckon. Also reassuringly expensive.
I like the look of new Yamaha Tracer 900 GT cracking motor on them.
 
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David M said:
I'm thinking of pulling the pin on buying a new bike for touring. I immediately looked at the BMW R1200/1250RT, which are reassuringly expensive, and I have test ride organised on one this weekend. However, I'd be interested to hear other people's recommendations on what other models I should consider.
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never fancied a harley? the road king and the street glide especially are great tourers.
 
humbug said:
never fancied a harley? the road king and the street glide especially are great tourers.
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I’ve had a Harley. I only used to keep bikes 1 season and get a new one but the Harley was hard to live with- the torque was great but brakes/gearbox/vibration were something else after modern Japanese large capacity capacity 4 strokes.

I spent a fortune adding stupid Custom Chrome bits and got a custom paint job on a brand new bike - sold it to a lad from London and lost about 2 and a half grand in 8 months. Replaced it with a Blade -wonderful!!!!
 
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That reminds me of the bloke next door, retired Royal Navy Diver. Doesn't drink or smoke but spends all his money on bikes, every bike he has he has a different set of clothes to match. When he had his Harley he had the cut off jacket, open face helmet and ankle boots. I could tell which bike he was going to use by the clothes he wore, one day Power Ranger out on his Blade, next day Charlie Boorman out on his BMW Tallrounder, next day Wild Hog, next day leather jacket and denim jeans on his Z900RS. Today he has a Triumph Tiger and a Royal Enfield Himalayan, when he's on the Enfield he dresses like the Purple Helmets display team.
 
Tuono said:
That reminds me of the bloke next door, retired Royal Navy Diver. Doesn't drink or smoke but spends all his money on bikes, every bike he has he has a different set of clothes to match. When he had his Harley he had the cut off jacket, open face helmet and ankle boots. I could tell which bike he was going to use by the clothes he wore, one day Power Ranger out on his Blade, next day Charlie Boorman out on his BMW Tallrounder, next day Wild Hog, next day leather jacket and denim jeans on his Z900RS. Today he has a Triumph Tiger and a Royal Enfield Himalayan, when he's on the Enfield he dresses like the Purple Helmets display team.
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To be fair, on an Enfield, that is the correct attire 👍

How stylish.!
 
5underland said:
Having a shite bike year so far and doesn’t look to be getting any better. Bikes been in storage, first time I went to check on it the battery was dead. It’s an old one so put a new battery on and it went no bother. I’m off to Scotland in 2 weeks so popped over to drop the oil and filter today, guess what? Battery totally dead again. I’m hoping it’s just the stator and can get fixed quick otherwise I’ll not be chancing going to the highlands on an iffy bike. I’ll be gutted.
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Thats exactly what happened to me, came back from yarm and next day wouldn't start, jumped it, quick nip to morpeth/rothbury,wouldn't start the next day, im booked and off to arran soon so its in the garage getting looked at, he's had it since Friday !!
 
johnna said:
Thats exactly what happened to me, came back from yarm and next day wouldn't start, jumped it, quick nip to morpeth/rothbury,wouldn't start the next day, im booked and off to arran soon so its in the garage getting looked at, he's had it since Friday !!
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Let us know what happens mate - what the issue was etc etc cheers
 
David M said:
I'm thinking of pulling the pin on buying a new bike for touring. I immediately looked at the BMW R1200/1250RT, which are reassuringly expensive, and I have test ride organised on one this weekend. However, I'd be interested to hear other people's recommendations on what other models I should consider.
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We had a catch up last weekend ,160 years riding between The 4 of us ,uk,europe,on off road
We all said Big bikes are just too big now . All the big GS bms etc ,well liked and ive had lots of bms (r80g/f,f800gs,r1100rt ,r1150gsa .)
John the Savage said:
Have you considered the 1200- 1250GS. Best bikes in the world so they reckon. Also reassuringly expensive.
I like the look of new Yamaha Tracer 900 GT cracking motor on them.
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Loaded with 50kg of luggage and even Geoff capes would struggle getting it out of the garage
 
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JAZZMANB said:
We had a catch up last weekend ,160 years riding between The 4 of us ,uk,europe,on off road
We all said Big bikes are just too big now . All the big GS bms etc ,well liked and ive had lots of bms (r80g/f,f800gs,r1100rt ,r1150gsa .)

Loaded with 50kg of luggage and even Geoff capes would struggle getting it out of the garage
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Imagine if you dropped it?
 
Big Jeff said:
I’ve had a Harley. I only used to keep bikes 1 season and get a new one but the Harley was hard to live with- the torque was great but brakes/gearbox/vibration were something else after modern Japanese large capacity capacity 4 strokes.

I spent a fortune adding stupid Custom Chrome bits and got a custom paint job on a brand new bike - sold it to a lad from London and lost about 2 and a half grand in 8 months. Replaced it with a Blade -wonderful!!!!
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Trick is to be the buyer of yours , mine has 128 miles on and stage 2 tuning ,worth the same as i paid 2 years on
 
JAZZMANB said:
Trick is to be the buyer of yours , mine has 128 miles on and stage 2 tuning ,worth the same as i paid 2 years on
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Mind I did get an amazing deal on the Harley when i bought it - a customer had ordered it, and paid for stage 2 dynojet tuning plus Screamin Eagle slash cut pipes and then the deal fell through. But i still lost money - i was glad to be shot of it. It wasnt for me but you don't know that till you try to live with them.
 
Big Jeff said:
Imagine if you dropped it?
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Very likely,the one that made my mind up was a 1150gsa ,im 6 foot and it just felt like it could go anytime as i shuffled it around my drive
Big Jeff said:
Mind I did get an amazing deal on the Harley when i bought it - a customer had ordered it, and paid for stage 2 dynojet tuning plus Screamin Eagle slash cut pipes and then the deal fell through. But i still lost money - i was glad to be shot of it. It wasnt for me but you don't know that till you try to live with them.
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I'm on my second with a 23 year gap ,never went for the fat blingy ones and silver eagles all owa .Prefer the grunt but useable .Sportglide now and it goes and stops at a good rate
quick release boxes and fairing .Heavy but weight is low
 
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JAZZMANB said:
We had a catch up last weekend ,160 years riding between The 4 of us ,uk,europe,on off road
We all said Big bikes are just too big now . All the big GS bms etc ,well liked and ive had lots of bms (r80g/f,f800gs,r1100rt ,r1150gsa .)

Loaded with 50kg of luggage and even Geoff capes would struggle getting it out of the garage
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I'm looking at these and the reviews all state that the boxer configuration really helps with balance. It probably works against you if you do somehow put it down on its side and need to get it back up. I remember Ewen mcGregor struggling nearly 20 years ago and they're a lot heavier now.
 

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