My last bike was an Aerial Square Four…… .

[MOHO Mike]

After four years off the bikes (Ducati) I was a bit wary of manoeuvring a bike around because of the weight and being closer to 70 than 60 etc, so I bought a trike. BMW R1100 RT with full luggage, irs and so on. It's easy to push around (no reverse gear) as long as you don't run yourself over when pushing it lol. However, it is so different to riding a bike and takes a lot of getting used to. The steering is also very heavy and I'm going to have to sort that out. However the wife has ridden pillion and enjoys it (she's never been on the back of any of my other bikes) and that's good for me. If you should consider a trike, see if you can have a test ride first.

 

[Mixyblob]

Thankyou all for your suggestions and comments folks, I've eventually come to a difficult decision not to buy a bike.
The main reason was the total lack of support and negativity from the Navigation, Catering and Soft Furnishings Manager. Along with the fact, that after the initial excitement of owning and riding it, it would probably spend the rest of the winter unused until the better weather arrived.
Even then, we'd be wanting to go away in the van and we couldn't take it with us (my ideal scenario) as we already carry a couple of ebikes.
Oh well, on to my next whim, anybody know anything about paramotoring?

 

[Spriddler]

mind you he is a short arse and couldnt get his foot down!

Sorted...........

 

[Mixyblob]

Sorted...........

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Must make gear changing a tad tricky.

 

[Orion]

Must make gear changing a tad tricky.

From the size of the rear tyre etc. it looks to be a ‘Twist N Go’.

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[Orion]

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Moto Guzzi's certainly do get under your skin.

Don’t they just!

 

[ashley 1340]

when I was in my early 20's.
Now, at the ripe old (but reasonably fit) age of 71, I'm concidering buying a Moto Guzzi V7.
Am I a bloody idiot with a death wish (as some family members think) or should I go for it?

At 71 I still ride my Harley as if I was a 20 year old rocker. If you don't do everything you want to in life you will face death with regrets. Buy the bike and enjoy it, those that think you are daft don't understand the enjoyment of a powerfull bike

 

[suitcase]

Spriddler, absolutely love it, he's not that short but his legs are, told him I thought a GS1250 would be too high, he's just traded it in for another (lower BM). Would it be cruel to send him the pic?

 

[Wh05apk]

From the size of the rear tyre etc. it looks to be a ‘Twist N Go’.

That looks like a Honda NC750x which possibly has dct full auto gearbox, just sold one, brilliant bike, still has a back brake pedal though.........

 

[jongood]

Rather than the Guzzi I have been looking at getting one of these, it won’t be the first Machine I have bought whilst sat around the pool on a Greek Island.
I quite like the quirky design & the engine will go on forever.

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a lot of bike for not much money but a bit clinical to ride.

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[Wh05apk]

Rather than the Guzzi I have been looking at getting one of these, it won’t be the first Machine I have bought whilst sat around the pool on a Greek Island.
I quite like the quirky design & the engine will go on forever.

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I was looking at one of those, was a nice 2012 r1200r with nose fairing, panniers etc, but I missed it, so ended with one of these:

 

[Johnthebike50]

Go for it, you only live once.

My good pal is 74 and still riding, Iam 68 and doing more miles now than for the last 10 years!
Go for it you will only moan when you cant!

 

[robnchris]

One of the guys in our club is in his 80’s, after we help him onto his machine he looks 25yrs younger.
I’m a young 71yrs & love every minute when out riding my bikes be it the NT700 or my 1978 CB550/4.
Any day on two wheels is a good day🏍

 

[Tony50]

I cringe when I see riders in shorts and tee shirts and the youngsters, girls as well, abroad on their mopeds and scooters. Bare skin doesn't fare well in contact with tarmac, at even 15mph.

For seven weeks I was in a hospital bed next to a 30 something biker who had nipped off a building site just in shorts and tee shirt to get a sandwich and been knocked off his bike in town traffic and partly run over by a passing car. He had been there 5 months with broken bones and his skin grafted and donor graft sites on both arms and a leg had failed several times due to infection and had to be redone. His distraught wife and two kids visited every day and were about to lose their flat as he had no income. He couldn't get out of bed without two nurses nor feed himself and was in severe and constant pain and in truth, damn near suicidal.


But all the same, dear boy, they were British rubbish. I doubt that many Japanese bikes will still be ridden when 60 or 70 years old.
There's an excellent read by the senior designer and board member who was at various times with the major Brit bike manufacturers in its heyday......

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Bikes like motorcars, were rubbish I was in dispair how bad the vehicle industry was take the triumph m/c oil leaks , Jap bikes dry . Ford cortina full of oil leaks , the cortina copy under the vehicle from suspension , engine,gear box ,and axle was the Datsun 120 Y, the Leyland truck can't ( remember the engine ) but was unreliable, Daf trucks made engine under licence for Daf trucks they improved the design that was then a good engine, after the main demise of British vehicle, it was a Brit that designed the very first Vauxhall Cavalier front wheel drive ,made where ? Abroad!! So sad

 

[Tony50]

Should have said the Datsun 120Y had not leaks , and was reliable

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[bobnick]

Well i did 200 miles ish on my bike yesterday, i didn't want to come home.

 

[Bramidan]

The point is I rode bikes into London on my commute, bloody wonderful
.
3 accidents later and the headstone would have read “ never his fault“

Do I miss the bike, oh yes but let’s face it, it is a dangerous occupation,

Human body against car, no contest.

 

[Crazy Grandad]

when I was in my early 20's.
Now, at the ripe old (but reasonably fit) age of 71, I'm concidering buying a Moto Guzzi V7.
Am I a bloody idiot with a death wish (as some family members think) or should I go for it?

I think you should go for it what is in an age if you are fit. I got my motorbike at the age of 70 and we both love every minute of it. But we are only fine weather bikers. All you got to remember is to treat all drivers as a possible Hazard on wheels and you won't go far wrong.
Happy biking.

 

[Scotch mist]

My friend who i said was 82 informs me he is only 78 , he stoped by today , he has now done 900 miles

 

[suitcase]

Tony50, I'd like to point out that the North Sea industry was built on the oil that leaked from British bikes.........

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[jongood]

Should have said the Datsun 120Y had not leaks , and was reliable

they didnt half rust though. I had one that you could even feel the rust under the vinyl roof at about 6/7 years old. I bet you haven't seen one lately

 

[Tony50]

they didnt half rust though. I had one that you could even feel the rust under the vinyl roof at about 6/7 years old. I bet you haven't seen one lately

That's true, not many original British cars can be seen unless they have had renovation

 

[Spriddler]

That's true, not many original British cars can be seen unless they have had renovation

My 1927 motorbike has never been renovated but just wiped with an oily rag.
They were made from proper steel in them days, not recycled baked bean tins.

 

[Two Owl Ones]

My 1927 motorbike has never been renovated but just wiped with an oily rag.
They were made from proper steel in them days, not recycled baked bean tins.

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that,s my idea of a piece of fine art

 

[Spriddler]

that,s my idea of a piece of fine art

Me too. Eye candy, and I'd have it in the front room if it didn't drip so much oil.

And acetylene gas lighting.....
(Once, in the days when an MOT was required the tester peered into the headlight and asked me if it was on or if it was just a fried egg inside there).

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[bobnick]

I see Matchless just won the Barry Sheene Memorial at Goodwood. Great race x2.

 

[Mixyblob]

Me too. Eye candy, and I'd have it in the front room if it didn't drip so much oil.

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And acetylene gas lighting.....
(Once, in the days when an MOT was required the tester peered into the headlight and asked me if it was on or if it was just a fried egg inside there).

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As bright as a candle with the flame blown out

 

[Two Owl Ones]

Me too. Eye candy, and I'd have it in the front room if it didn't drip so much oil.

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And acetylene gas lighting.....
(Once, in the days when an MOT was required the tester peered into the headlight and asked me if it was on or if it was just a fried egg inside there).

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for sure,i re built my r6 engine twice on the hand made beech dining table, and had it parked next to the tv since 2014 !

 

[Tony50]

My 1927 motorbike has never been renovated but just wiped with an oily rag.
They were made from proper steel in them days, not recycled baked bean tins.

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I stand corrected, but it's usually the Misses that correct me several times a week!!

 

[jongood]

I stand corrected, but it's usually the Misses that correct me several times a week!!

she's almost certainly right, they generally are - annoyingly.......

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