In praise of old tiddlers

You could do both?

 

The Older Gentleman posted:

To be honest I'm seriously considering acquiring a small bike for
commuting, the MPG alone is a major factor, but you've got to have the
spare cash in the first place. I don't.

 

That's what a credit card is for. Or buy a new one on finance with a £99
deposit then £60 a month.

You'd get that monthly payment back in fuel/tyre/service savings alone
http://www.yamahapaymentcalculator.co.uk/125/ybr125.html

Fitzgerald has just got one of these
http://www.yamahapaymentcalculator.co.uk/xjseries/xj6abs.html
His last one lasted him 15 years commuting in London.

Ask darsy nicely and he'll tell you how to set up a spreadsheet to work out
if it is economically viable.

 

They don't when you've a shedful of non-runners

Paul.

 

My FJ1200 went to Blackfriars many times. Too wide for London traffic,
too shite to care ..

Yea, but some fleets you wouldn't be envious of.

Still, my MT500 passed the MOT today.

Next, it's getting the FJ1200 through the same ..

Paul.

 

Well, that makes a refreshing change. I can't remember the last time you
mentioned using your bikes. In idle moments I've sometimes wondered if
you still use them.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, "TOG@Toil"

Damn! I should have patented that. It's been working for me for *years*.

 

A lot depends on riding style. The GS500 manages around 70mpg at my
usual relaxed bimble. Winding up the revs and enthusiasm brings it
down to 50-ish but I am very seldom in that much of a hurry.
The clue to economy is to ride smoothly, keep the revs down and only
go down the box when you actually need acceleration.

 

not sure I still have that one.

 

I always found just giving it a good portion of beans in 1st gear was
enough to pop the bars up a bit to get over van mirrors.

Of course, then the panniers collided with them instead.

I commuted from Enfield round the North Circular to Sky for about 4-5
months on mine, but it really wasn't that suitable - the same journey
was much much quicker once I'd bought the R30.

 

But you're time-rich at the moment, yes?

 

as-if.

 

And....

It's better than the Street Trip in one respect in that it's a damn
sight narrower so goes through gaps the Trip wouldn't. Steering lock
is about the same. Heavyish controls, missionary riding position,
second gear is as high as you get, most times. And t does seem to get
a bit hot in stalled traffic. Yer right: sod that for a daily
commuter.

 

8 actually; I'd put 60k miles on it when it went.

 

And his old bike is nothing like his new one in any way shape or form.
They share the basic design brief of having two wheels, and that's
where the similarity ends.

 

you mean it's not a parts bin special with a silly name targeted at the old
farts' market?

 

And his new bike is faster, nimbler, lighter and thirstier (some new
fangled fuel injection and a pussy cat apparently) but he's a very happy
bunny!

 

Good luck.

 

I'd not looked closely enough at a Versys to realise it was a parts
bin special.

 

ER6 frame, basic engine, exhaust and wheels, the rest is pretty much
Versys specific. When people say parts bin special it's bit like just
about every Kawasaki or Suzuki made really, even the ZX10R and Gixer
thou. With my bike only being 5399 OTR with ABS and Givi panniers I
couldn't realistically expect Bimota exclusivity.