Completely Motorbikes

[Spriddler]

People use bikes differently.. I try and (in fact I do) use my bike all year, in winter it's trips to the shops, friends, even work once or twice. And the occasional few hours out with Aneta (she's a bike nut but likes longer trips). In summer we go camping a couple of times.

My mate only goes out on his once a year but it's for a week long trip, I went with him once and hated it, sat on a motorway in the pouring rain all the way to Germany never again

That mirrors my year exactly, and for the same reasons. I began riding in the mid 60's when it was a pleasure but I've never in all those years of motorcycling ridden so little - around 20% of my usual miles this year. Pre Covid both sons used to commute daily on their m/bikes to the centre of Brighton purely for the time-saving and economy where they had free parking (and car parking is £25 a day), but post Covid they have been working from home so perhaps other potential commuting bikers are in the same position.
The problem with puddles on roads with standing water is that they can be water-filled potholes of unseen depth, plus oncoming cars swerving at the last minute to avoid them. The heavy rain also washes lines of treacherous gravel and debris into the road. I may be getting paranoid but so many roundabouts seem to have filling stations at them and company van drivers brim their tanks then go round the roundabout leaving a slippery trail of spilled diesel. Most of my mileage this year has been in biker-friendly France and the Picos mountains, (on my 71 year old Matchless 350), thank goodness.

 

[bobnick]

We rode to Alicante in August.. Only from Benidorm though View attachment 964087

Special motorcycle parking at the castle

Been up there a time or dozen.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I wouldn't camp if I had a passenger, we've got a Hornet 750 each

 

[bobnick]

Done camping on bike two up a few times and on the continent. It’s a great adventure Bob.

Spent a few years going to bike rallies, Stormin the Castle, Farmyard, Kelso etc all camping. Fantastic weekends.
Also MCN weekends at Skeggy. By that is in apartments in the Butlins resort. Unfortunately it stopped a few years ago.

Nowadays though, touring in the bike is using hotels, like yourself.

Next one will be ferry to Santander then ride a long and twisty route back to Amsterdam and get the ferry home to Newcastle. Might do that next year but the bairn reckons will have to be 2026 as he has too much on next year.

The think thing is that my bike is 5 years old but only has 9000 miles on it and I just can’t justify replacing at the moment. Not until I get bored with it, which I am not at present.

I see them all the time on sites when we have stopped in the MH.
In good weather i think that must be great, but when they arrive and it's persisting down and they have to set up camp i@@ed wet through i think, erm maybe not.
I do love the touring bit though.

 

[bobnick]

MCN used to have a great forum until it got shut down. Anything went and usually did, not like on here where one dare not say boo.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[BikerGraham]

MCN used to have a great forum until it got shut down. Anything went and usually did, not like on here where one dare not say boo.

I remember, was on it for a while.
Met up with some interesting people

 

[Richard n Ann]

I see them all the time on sites when we have stopped in the MH.
In good weather i think that must be great, but when they arrive and it's persisting down and they have to set up camp i@@ed wet through i think, erm maybe not.
I do love the touring bit though.

That's why I like short trips, max 2 nights, if the forecast is wet we don't go

 

[bobnick]

I remember, was on it for a while.
Met up with some interesting people

Yes. I'm still in touch with a few.
I miss it.

 

[Dorset Diver]

That mirrors my year exactly, and for the same reasons. I began riding in the mid 60's when it was a pleasure but I've never in all those years of motorcycling ridden so little - around 20% of my usual miles this year. Pre Covid both sons used to commute daily on their m/bikes to the centre of Brighton purely for the time-saving and economy where they had free parking (and car parking is £25 a day), but post Covid they have been working from home so perhaps other potential commuting bikers are in the same position.
The problem with puddles on roads with standing water is that they can be water-filled potholes of unseen depth, plus oncoming cars swerving at the last minute to avoid them. The heavy rain also washes lines of treacherous gravel and debris into the road. I may be getting paranoid but so many roundabouts seem to have filling stations at them and company van drivers brim their tanks then go round the roundabout leaving a slippery trail of spilled diesel. Most of my mileage this year has been in biker-friendly France and the Picos mountains, (on my 71 year old Matchless 350), thank goodness.
View attachment 964089

Just spotted your bike Spriddler. If that's the G3LS 350cc without jam pots then it's the model I had in the 60's. I rebuilt mine from the ground up after a minor prang and refurbed it to as new condition. I still remember the number FEU 407. A lovely machine, I wish I still had it. And yours is parked just outside of my favourite town from where my favourite wine comes. When I worked in France I spent many happy times there...and tasted a lot of wines .

 

[David and Sally]

Most peoples savings had withered on the vine during14 years of near zero % savings rates.

I assume that was a political sideswipe.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Dorset Diver]

Deleted.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

I assume that was a political sideswipe.

Not dissimilar to yours, as I understood this area was MOTORHOME comments.As such non motorhome comments become open to equally valid contrary responses, your choice.

 

[Tigertom]

All of the moaning about cost of a new bike, bad weather , pot holes etc……..may be you’ve all just got old.
There’s never been such a choice of bikes, a lot of them very affordable, wet weather riding kit has never been better, tyres never been better, roads have always been shit……….stop moaning n get out riding, I do !

 

[Spriddler]

Just spotted your bike Spriddler. If that's the G3LS 350cc without jam pots then it's the model I had in the 60's. I rebuilt mine from the ground up after a minor prang and refurbed it to as new condition. I still remember the number FEU 407. A lovely machine, I wish I still had it.

My 1954 model does have the jampots but otherwise not much different from a 60's model except perhaps that mine was a long stroke engine and the later ones had coil ignition whereas mine had a magneto so no worries about it not running due to a flat battery. It was shipped new from the factory at Plumstead to the Rhodesian Police and I'm the third owner, having had it for nearly 35 years and 110,000 miles. In 2010 after a crash it was written off total loss 'must be destroyed' by an ignorant numbskull assessor but I fought the ins company. It took 18 months to get it reclassified and I rebuilt it. It held the memory and patina of too many wonderful adventures to go to the scrappy.

As when written off...........

The assessor said the frame was bent without even measuring anything. I knew it wasn't as I had checked it thoroughly and I had it certified O.K. in a jig by a specialist firm.

And yours is parked just outside of my favourite town from where my favourite wine comes. When I worked in France I spent many happy times there...and tasted a lot of wines .

It's been my favourite wine for many years which was the reason to get a bike 'selfie' there.

 

[David and Sally]

Not dissimilar to yours, as I understood this area was MOTORHOME comments.As such non motorhome comments become open to equally valid contrary responses, your choice.

Mine was as described to me by a motorcycle dealer. But it is about motorcycles. Maybe should be in the U s lounge?
But your point noted.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Yorick]

All of the moaning about cost of a new bike, bad weather , pot holes etc……..may be you’ve all just got old.
There’s never been such a choice of bikes, a lot of them very affordable, wet weather riding kit has never been better, tyres never been better, roads have always been shit……….stop moaning n get out riding, I do !

We had a great ride today. Went up into hills for some cooler weather.

 

[Dorset Diver]

My 1954 model does have the jampots but otherwise not much different from a 60's model except perhaps that mine was a long stroke engine and the later ones had coil ignition whereas mine had a magneto so no worries about it not running due to a flat battery. It was shipped new from the factory at Plumstead to the Rhodesian Police and I'm the third owner, having had it for nearly 35 years and 110,000 miles. In 2010 after a crash it was written off total loss 'must be destroyed' by an ignorant numbskull assessor but I fought the ins company. It took 18 months to get it reclassified and I rebuilt it. It held the memory and patina of too many wonderful adventures to go to the scrappy.

As when written off...........

View attachment 964265

The assessor said the frame was bent without even measuring anything. I knew it wasn't as I had checked it thoroughly and I had it certified O.K. in a jig by a specialist firm.

View attachment 964269


It's been my favourite wine for many years which was the reason to get a bike 'selfie' there.

Thanks for that. Mine was in fact a 1957 model. Also the long stroke and had a a magneto but also the later slimer rear springs / shocks.

 

[Spriddler]

I understood this area was MOTORHOME comments.

Is it? On my screen it seems to be in an appropriate forum........

• Forums
• On Two Wheels
• Motorcycles and Motorhomes

 

[PP Bear]

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Is it? On my screen it seems to be in an appropriate forum........

• Forums
• On Two Wheels
• Motorcycles and Motorhomes

View attachment 964300

My objection wasn't to the motorcycling element, it was the needless political end comment.I have been riding motorcycles for over 60 years starting on mopeds around the local gravel pits, and still enjoy the activity today, just don't need a biased political running commentary.
Mike.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[David and Sally]

My objection wasn't to the motorcycling element, it was the needless political end comment.I have been riding motorcycles for over 60 years starting on mopeds around the local gravel pits, and still enjoy the activity today, just don't need a biased political running commentary.
Mike.

The ‘political comment’ came from a motorcycle dealer caught up in a very sudden drop off in trade. Also highlighted by a piece on the radio this morning from BBC Hereford and Worcester from the local Business community who want less talking down of the economy. I was only passing it on.
Your post could hardly be described as unpolitical. However, I will henceforth desist on this thread and others not in the BL.
The failure of the Completely Group is a massive matter around here as they have been taking over local dealerships from owner/operators but I suspect their financing was very shaky and not able to overcome such a hefty drop off in business. Sad loss to our motorcycling community.

 

[herald_400rl]

For motorcycle shenanigans to reset this thread, please see attached my pillion passenger for the remainder of the month.

 

[David and Sally]

For motorcycle shenanigans to reset this thread, please see attached my pillion passenger for the remainder of the month.



View attachment 964331

Very dangerous. No crash helmet

 

[herald_400rl]

Very dangerous. No crash helmet

They'll feel the cold tomorrow on the way to ny500, too!

 

[Spriddler]

For motorcycle shenanigans to reset this thread, please see attached my pillion passenger for the remainder of the month.



View attachment 964331

She's probably just back from a 50 mile ride on a Royal Enfield.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}