Bikers of the smb

Here is a photo of me at Croft on the right hander before the hairpin that leads onto the straight.

I am demonstrating how to get your knee down without leaning the bike over at all!!

Absolutely pathetic effort. The photo is not great and I can’t find the ones the pro photographer took.

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@yamar1
Cheers, All good fun Jeff. Still on my bucket list a track day.
 


Here is a photo of me at Croft on the right hander before the hairpin that leads onto the straight.

I am demonstrating how to get your knee down without leaning the bike over at all!!

Absolutely pathetic effort. The photo is not great and I can’t find the ones the pro photographer took.

Logon or register to see this image


@yamar1
I was tearing round doing about 40 mph !!
 
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A big tall heavy scooter ,love my big trailies but cant see me going past a 700 these days if i get one again
maybe a Norden 901
tony likes the africa twin
There's no way on earth I'd take my Gen 3 Tiger 1200 XCa off road and it's meant to be made for it. Even at 5'10" a little bit of uneven ground gets my heart rate going with it being so top heavy.

The new Tiger is meant to have addressed it but not keen on the crank changes. Why make it more like a twin? I love the induction roar of the triple!
 
There's no way on earth I'd take my Gen 3 Tiger 1200 XCa off road and it's meant to be made for it. Even at 5'10" a little bit of uneven ground gets my heart rate going with it being so top heavy.

The new Tiger is meant to have addressed it but not keen on the crank changes. Why make it more like a twin? I love the induction roar of the triple!
He hoys it about like a 125 on that video, amazing control. They're absolutely huge as you'll know about it having a tiger
 
There's no way on earth I'd take my Gen 3 Tiger 1200 XCa off road and it's meant to be made for it. Even at 5'10" a little bit of uneven ground gets my heart rate going with it being so top heavy.

The new Tiger is meant to have addressed it but not keen on the crank changes. Why make it more like a twin? I love the induction roar of the triple!
Ditto with my GSA as just a right heavy lump. I’m 6ft and had set of lowering springs fitted on it so can get more than my tip toes on the floor 😂😂
Can't find any for sale like that,could be a custom colour maybes?
Aye could be a custom job and looks great.
The new Suzuki V-Strom 1050 do a nice grey colour one.
A big tall heavy scooter ,love my big trailies but cant see me going past a 700 these days if i get one again
maybe a Norden 901
tony likes the africa twin
Doesn’t half hoy that about 😂👌🏼
 
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This debate brings a subject up I have always gone on about.

Buying bigger capacity bikes than you really need.

I have ridden litre plus sports bikes and cruisers but I think my most satisfying times were on 600s.

Yeah I know if you are twos up the extra grunt is great but a well ridden 600 is a quick bike and more often than not a lighter more agile bike.

I have never ridden off road so can’t comment on that other than to say some of these adventure bikes look absolutely enormous.
 
Got a 1200 GSA for touring and the extra grunt is great especially if pillion on as you ain’t working up and down the box for most bends or twistys.
And yeah they’re a big lump.
 
Adventure (tallrounders) bikes, never got them myself. The original BMW R80gs was a proper adventure bike and would still run rings around todays bikes because it was (relatively) light and you could get both feet on the ground at a standstill. Todays Tallrounders are just too tall and too heavy, I've seen at least 4 in the past 2 years fall over at a standstill because the rider didn't get his correct foot down in time.
 
Adventure (tallrounders) bikes, never got them myself. The original BMW R80gs was a proper adventure bike and would still run rings around todays bikes because it was (relatively) light and you could get both feet on the ground at a standstill. Todays Tallrounders are just too tall and too heavy, I've seen at least 4 in the past 2 years fall over at a standstill because the rider didn't get his correct foot down in time.
The R80 was actually 6 kilos heavier than my Tenere, saying that, modern GS's are about 50-60 kilos heavier. They're not for short riders like and once they start to go over, there's no getting them back -however, you'd be surprised how nimble they are in the twisties.
 
Yes that's my point, great in the twisties but useless offroad, unlike the originals.
I've had loads of big trailies over the years, DR600's, XT550, XR600's, CCM640 and they've all been good on or off road. Had rides on mates GS's, Tiger's etc. and they're just not off road bikes which I believe a true Adventure bike needs to be.
 
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Adventure (tallrounders) bikes, never got them myself. The original BMW R80gs was a proper adventure bike and would still run rings around todays bikes because it was (relatively) light and you could get both feet on the ground at a standstill. Todays Tallrounders are just too tall and too heavy, I've seen at least 4 in the past 2 years fall over at a standstill because the rider didn't get his correct foot down in time.
The newer ones have adjustable electric suspension due to height issue with them.
Most gsa owners will never go off road with them and most they’ll see is a dusty farm track or a back road in Europe that ain’t got tarmac.
Think the up right riding position is one big factor as a lot of the older sports bike riders have been pulled away from them and bought adventure bikes.
 
Yes that's my point, great in the twisties but useless offroad, unlike the originals.
I've had loads of big trailies over the years, DR600's, XT550, XR600's, CCM640 and they've all been good on or off road. Had rides on mates GS's, Tiger's etc. and they're just not off road bikes which I believe a true Adventure bike needs to be.
The problem with those bikes was they lacked the power to get you to the trails. Manufacturers are trying to create the unicorn bike- something with enough power 70-90 bhp for the road and touring, but also not too heavy for the off-road stuff. Yamaha, thought they'd done it, but it's still a 200kg tall bike. I've done a few trails on mine, Rudland Rigg, around Dalby, Slaley and Broxa forest. I've seen more experienced riders use it on more challenging stuff- I haven't the skills for that. ideally, I'd also have a CRF 300l or a KTM EXC in the garage for the green lanes (and a van to get them there) but that would probably lead to a divorce.
The newer ones have adjustable electric suspension due to height issue with them.
Most gsa owners will never go off road with them and most they’ll see is a dusty farm track or a back road in Europe that ain’t got tarmac.
Think the up right riding position is one big factor as a lot of the older sports bike riders have been pulled away from them and bought adventure bikes.
Have to say, I'm enjoying the relaxed, taller ADV bike more than the GSXR I used to have. I used to be crippled after a couple of hours on the Gixer.
 
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Did an awesome 200 miles round Northumberland and the borders on Sunday, then washed, checked over and put away ready fo this Fridays trip to the western isles, or so I thought. Got in early from work yesterday so decided to run down to Proto on westgate road to pick up some gloves I’d seen that he was doing a good deal on, decided at last minute to take the bike, big mistake. Pulled up a couple of doors along from shop, steering lock on, went in, tried gloves (I was the only customer), paid for them and left, 3 or 4 minutes tops, bike was gone. Devastated. Was found after a tip off to police about 90 minutes later less than a mile away, ignition striped, foot peg ripped off where it had been over on right side and a few other bumps and grazes but nothing major. Seat has been peeled back by hand to to get underneath it and is a bit out of shape, steering lock also broken. Looks like Fridays trip is off.
 
Did an awesome 200 miles round Northumberland and the borders on Sunday, then washed, checked over and put away ready fo this Fridays trip to the western isles, or so I thought. Got in early from work yesterday so decided to run down to Proto on westgate road to pick up some gloves I’d seen that he was doing a good deal on, decided at last minute to take the bike, big mistake. Pulled up a couple of doors along from shop, steering lock on, went in, tried gloves (I was the only customer), paid for them and left, 3 or 4 minutes tops, bike was gone. Devastated. Was found after a tip off to police about 90 minutes later less than a mile away, ignition striped, foot peg ripped off where it had been over on right side and a few other bumps and grazes but nothing major. Seat has been peeled back by hand to to get underneath it and is a bit out of shape, steering lock also broken. Looks like Fridays trip is off.
Bad luck that, sounds like kids, a pro you wouldn’t have seen it again. What bike was it? I’ve never had any bothe on the hill leaving a bike but Proto is a bit out the way, the darker side.
The problem with those bikes was they lacked the power to get you to the trails. Manufacturers are trying to create the unicorn bike- something with enough power 70-90 bhp for the road and touring, but also not too heavy for the off-road stuff. Yamaha, thought they'd done it, but it's still a 200kg tall bike. I've done a few trails on mine, Rudland Rigg, around Dalby, Slaley and Broxa forest. I've seen more experienced riders use it on more challenging stuff- I haven't the skills for that. ideally, I'd also have a CRF 300l or a KTM EXC in the garage for the green lanes (and a van to get them there) but that would probably lead to a divorce.

Have to say, I'm enjoying the relaxed, taller ADV bike more than the GSXR I used to have. I used to be crippled after a couple of hours on the Gixer.
Think il be getting an Africa twin next when I get tired of mine.
 

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