A question for ex-motorbikers...

[ayceejay]

In a confrontation between a motor bike and - well anything really - the motorbike comes second, is my reason.
Where I live (10 miles from the US border) we get our Sundays spoiled by 50 year old hooligans on Harley's heading off to some rally or other at 60mph, I find that noise so grating that when a reasonable bike flies past I kinda like it. There is a Ducati dealer in Montreal and I recognize that sound. We also get the Gold Wing crowd with the missus on the back and the radio blaring, I wonder what those people are like off the bike.

 

[stephec]

Yup, the buggers took all of my record collection. Whoever burgled me knew what they were after as I had inherited every record in the top 10 since 1962. My Aunt had collected them and handed them on to me and I carried on buying the records in the top 10 right up until I was burgled. I lost heart then.
The burglars took all my photos, which were conveniently in boxes marked 'photos' and the month/year. Hi-fi gone, all my cameras the lot. The charmers even drugged my dog. I thank my lucky stars they didn't kill him. They did poo on my bed though.

The bed thing is apparently quite common according to an ex copper, as the adrenalin's flowing it's the old fight or flight, don't know why they always seem to pick the bed though?

Would the photographs be of value to anyone else?

Could you not contact your old agency or photographers to see if they still have the negatives to do you somemore copies?

 

[Saluki]

The bed thing is apparently quite common according to an ex copper, as the adrenalin's flowing it's the old fight or flight, don't know why they always seem to pick the bed though?

Would the photographs be of value to anyone else?

Could you not contact your old agency or photographers to see if they still have the negatives to do you somemore copies?

I have thought of that. I'm not sure that the old agency is there any more. A lot of the photographers were spotty, sweaty teenagers drooling over the latest Gpz. I didn't ask their name, I just posed and pouted.
The photographs wouldn't be of any value to anyone but burglars will taken anything and worry about value later. I am convinced that one of my friends told someone else about my epic record collection. They were insured but replacing that lot was daunting.

I only got rid of my leathers 4 years ago, I had a right old collection. We saw a pair of scooters outside the supermarket today. Lovely stylish Italian looking things. I could be swayed by one of them.

 

[stephec]

I have thought of that. I'm not sure that the old agency is there any more. A lot of the photographers were spotty, sweaty teenagers drooling over ME. I didn't ask their name, I just posed and pouted.
The photographs wouldn't be of any value to anyone but burglars will taken anything and worry about value later. I am convinced that one of my friends told someone else about my epic record collection. They were insured but replacing that lot was daunting.

I only got rid of my leathers 4 years ago, I had a right old collection. We saw a pair of scooters outside the supermarket today. Lovely stylish Italian looking things. I could be swayed by one of them.

If you don't mind I've just corrected something for you.

 

[hopless500]

In a confrontation between a motor bike and - well anything really - the motorbike comes second, is my reason.
Where I live (10 miles from the US border) we get our Sundays spoiled by 50 year old hooligans on Harley's heading off to some rally or other at 60mph, I find that noise so grating that when a reasonable bike flies past I kinda like it. There is a Ducati dealer in Montreal and I recognize that sound. We also get the Gold Wing crowd with the missus on the back and the radio blaring, I wonder what those people are like off the bike.

I don't get the Gold Wing thing - buy a bloody car!

 

[MarkF]

When I stopped riding a m/bike regularly 2 years ago, I'd often stop in the Dales at a meet and be the youngest person there, at 50! Kids are not interested, and I wouldn't be either with so much expense and so many obstacles put in the way or acquiring a license. How are these companies going to sell m/bikes in 20 years? Hopefully everybody will be riding a Vespa.

 

[SteCenturion]

I wonder if I am the polar opposite here ??

I have a licence & went out & bought all the gear (good gear too) but along came one thing, then another & then my now nearly 3yr old girl.

All in, I think I have had all this kit for 5yrs now & still don't have a bike.
It's hard to see when I will, with lack of free time & limited £££ but I know I will at some point.

WSB, BSB & Moto GP got me into bikes.

So many hobbies - so little time.

Ah well.

 

[TissoT]

I wonder if I am the polar opposite here ??

I have a licence & went out & bought all the gear (good gear too) but along came one thing, then another & then my now nearly 3yr old girl.

All in, I think I have had all this kit for 5yrs now & still don't have a bike.
It's hard to see when I will, with lack of free time & limited £££ but I know I will at some point.

WSB, BSB & Moto GP got me into bikes.

So many hobbies - so little time.

Ah well.

Track Day ?

 

[yello]

I used to do track days. Good fun. I had a Hondra VFR400R specifically for the purpose. Only one mishap; some prat on a rental GXR at Brands came down inside me as I came into the first bend after the pits. It forced me to stand the bike up again and put it into the kitty litter. I was fine, but the session was black flagged and GXR twat was asked to leave (there was an organiser in that control tower building thing that saw the whole incident). A couple of people came up to me afterwards and said things like 'saw the whole thing mate, that guy was out of order', so that made me feel a touch better. As I said in the OP, you can look after yourself but you can't control what other planks are going to do.

 

[SteCenturion]

Track Day ?

Might be a better option.

Missus wouldn't think so though.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

The V50 MkII was an amazing bike. Mine got through bends far faster than my CBX550X and CB400F. It's weakness was the electrics - the merest sniff of salt and any exposed copper wiring turned to dust. I became an expert at continuity testing and electronic fault diagnostics. I still have a CB500 in the garage that does about 150 miles between MOTs.

I fancy a Morini 350 or another V50.

a nice low mileage V50 Monza has to be the way forward. And there are a few mini-Spada's in the UK now that have come over from Italy. And a number of military bikes with kickstarters!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I used to do track days. Good fun. I had a Hondra VFR400R specifically for the purpose. Only one mishap; some prat on a rental GXR at Brands came down inside me as I came into the first bend after the pits. It forced me to stand the bike up again and put it into the kitty litter. I was fine, but the session was black flagged and GXR twat was asked to leave (there was an organiser in that control tower building thing that saw the whole incident). A couple of people came up to me afterwards and said things like 'saw the whole thing mate, that guy was out of order', so that made me feel a touch better. As I said in the OP, you can look after yourself but you can't control what other planks are going to do.

I saw a pristine and recently restored 180 jota get written off at my one and only LOC track day in a similar incident. The owner of the wreck walked away in tears. And the nobber needed his mates to stop him from getting a thick ear.

 

[GrasB]

Might be a better option.

Missus wouldn't think so though.

It's a great option imo, especially if you go on a few with tuition first.

 

[Globalti]

I did 12 years on bikes and was doing 12,000 miles a year. Packed it in when I moved to Paris but shortly before that I got a ticket for 97.5 mph on the M11 so I sold the big bike and got a CB250RS for blatting around town.