Anyone BOTAFOT yesterday

In all fairness, they weren't riding lardy tourers with linked brakes
;-)

 

DEATH rides an RSV.

 

I quite like the linked brakes on the Guzzi, but I don't really know any
better and have never ridden a VFR800 so wibbleflip really.

Is braking into bends bad?

 

Not once you're used to it.

The first few times I tried it, I gave it too much on the 'rear' pedal
and the bike stood up, fucking up my line through an 2-bend.

I've since got used to it, and will quite confidently drag a touch of
rear into a bend to stabilise the bike.

 

dwb says...

Of course you didn't brake into any bends yesterday at all, now did
you Dan?

 

I love mine to bits. OK, it's a bit bland, but it's very well screwed
together, costs slightly less than ****-all to run (relative to most big
bikes), and is a comfy mile-muncher 2-up.

But yeah, I do miss the soul of the TRX. Even though it was a bit of a
heap of shite, it had something.

Maybe next summer I'll get round to getting a 2nd bike for fun. Old
FZR600 or something.

Heh. An old Guzzi would do the job for me, too. But they're a bit pricey
to have as a 2nd bike that will hardly see any use.

 

That disclaimer doesn't fool me ;-)

I thought I was going quite well yesterday, all things considered.

 

Not to mention the sullen bird behind the bar asking how "extra" was
spelt when Nosher and Pox placed their food orders!

Being a total cheapskate in such things, I opted for a pint of tap
water ... wouldn't have been at all surprised if theyd tried to charge
though. No1 Son did, however, manage to scam a bottle of fizzy mineral
water. Good lad!

I did persuade the aformentioned barbird to make No1 son a hot
chocolate or two the weekend before ... mebbe that's why it's not
working now, she couldn't cope with the stress of it all.

--

Elly - a cooler Pixie
Uzi - a CBR600F Sport
The Rat - FZ400
MRO#32 ibW#25 BoTAFOT#46 BoTAFOF #46 GP#1 UKRMRM#00 TWA#3
http://www.garagepixies.co.uk
"Angel in the kitchen ... "
elly at ukrm dot net

 

I'd be tempted by a Guzzi, definitely. But never as a main bike - I
_really_ wanted a V11 Sport when I was last looking for a bike, but that
would have been hell for 2-up touring.

For a 2nd 'fun' bike, I wouldn't want to spend much more than a grand -
want something I can afford to chuck down a track and not worry about it
too much.

 

It's piss easy on a bike with plenty of mass and big bars, even under
fairly hard braking... As I discovered when I recently *missed* a couple
of horses.

 

It's slightly less piss-easy when you have linked brakes.

Seems I managed to snip some context out up there.....

 

Taking a line as though I'm sat in a car's driving seat is something
I've always done and have to consciously think about not doing whenever
I get on 2 wheels. I *know* it's wrong and I *know* I'm incorrectly
positioned before I enter some bends.. It just feels very wrong to be so
close to the left. I wish I knew how the f*ck to fix it, but unless I
actively say to myself "Right hander, get to the left it's a
subconscious thing that I don't get far enough left.

Still, at least I don't ride a scooter.

 

My T3 is an ex-Spanish police bike, has done about 45K fairly hard miles
at my hands. The original speedo showed 48,000 KM. I reckon that's got
to be at least 130,000 miles on a 24 y/o machine.

Pretty sure it's still on the original pistons and barrels.

The finish is not bad, I have resprayed it, but the (Italian) chrome
mudguard stays are OK. The British silencers have rotted out *again* but
the headers and balance pipe are the original Italian jobbies. Not
exactly shiny but solid.

Elly took a really nice picture of the old bus at last weeks botafot.
http://www.garagepixies.co.uk/guzzi.htm

 

Have you thought of sharing this with porl?

 

Maybe, maybe not.

But it would spend more time being 'fettled', be less comfy (big vibes),
and certainly wouldn't munch the autoroute miles anywhere near as well.

And the weather protection looks a bit pants.

 

Heh. It was possible to scrape the panniers on a California. Allegedly.

 

*This* is what I can't understand - when people go on about; "Should I
do this?" or "Should I be here?" or "Should I throttle on here or back
off?"

And me, I just *ride*.

<baffled>

 

I seriously doubt a Spada would be able to hold an (indicated) 130mph
with pillion and luggage......

 

"Point" and "Made". I'll have to see about getting me to a bike shop
this week.

 

Now a car I don't have a problem with, although having not paid for
tyres, servicing (or until recently petrol) I've a habit of sliding them
into and out of roundabouts[1], which maybe I should get rid of... it
also doesn't translate well to bikes. )

[1] whilst maintaining lane dicipline.... mmm FWD understeer.