The next saga of my biking journey

[billinom8s]

Steady.

[jer r1]

In the words of the great Roy Walker "say what you see".

[billinom8s]

But Esther Lee said

[billinom8s]

If you want to meet up in a carpark and settle your differences then that up to you.

On this forum we've always kept it light and fluffy when it's come to banter and name calling.
There have however been a couple of instances where we've had to wheel out the Moose and rap on the knuckles.
Can we all just play nice here please? When the Moose has been let loose it's not a pretty sight.

Thank-you.

[menzies3032]

Billinom8s thanks for the support.....

Feeling like I am on trial for some kind of persecution I would like to offer my own defence.

Jer R1
Really appreciate you calling me a "twat". I don't even know who you are but clearly I have somehow made an impression on you. Thanks for helping to make this forum a fun and happy place for like minding individuals I am sure your comments will really inspire others to want to comment on threads.... Not

Tractorwackyracer
1) We have not been on a ride together for years so where is this coming from?
2) I get £0 from You Tube and I am no where close to making any money. I make videos because I like to, its a hobby. What I post on here is biking related. Don't like it, don't click on it and don't watch it...easy
3) I didn't realise you were staff and we included in my selection and my responsibilities for this forum thanks for confirming

To both of you. Let me be clear.

- I can control my wrist......
- and yes you can do any speed on any bike
- I sold my 1000cc GSXR because the bike did not like doing 30mph around town when I wanted to
- I am looking to buy a bike that's more suited to the riding I want do...... Hence this thread
- Yes I understand you can have fun on a 125cc or a 390. I guess you can also have fun on a BMW 1290 GS or a 1000cc R1. I am looking for a bike that is right for me. That why i'm test riding them......
- Between driving cars and riding bikes I have done about 1,000,000 miles over the last 20 years and not once been involved in a crash. Further more my car has traction control, stability control and ABS and its great to know its there but never gets used. Doesn't mean I turn it off.
- On the road, riding bikes since 2010 I have never had an accident, My bikes have never had rider aids. But i am now in a financial position to purchase a new bike that does..... so why wouldn't I.[/list]

So come on guys back off. This is a friendly forum and I am not looking to get attacked just because I am discussing buying a new bike.

This thread is done in a spirit of good will and open discussion as I wanted others to talk about bike choices as it might help or be interesting for others now or in the future. Calling me a "dangerous" "twat" for wanting to buy a bike with less power and is more enjoyable at slower speeds is not really helping anybody.

Can we please move on............

[Ruffian]

Rob I am going to put my 2 cents in the pot.

Got no issues with you test riding bikes
Got no issues with you youtubing them
Got no issues with you self promoting *in moderation*

But this thread now is 10 pages.

It's like saying which race track is best.
Everyone knows they all have good and bad points.
It's just finding one that works for you.

Ie Simon hates donington, yet others love it.
I loved my old z750r and regret getting rid of it.
And only did to get the money together to help get Krystal her fireblade.


At times people are trying to be honest and at times subtle but if that's not taken in to consideration some times being blunt can be the better option.

Last ride with you me gee paul and found steve and Ady, I shut off because of the couple of close calls I saw.

[Tractorwackyracer]

So let’s not listen to any constructive criticism and please move on ffs
And just do what any normal person / member of SWB would do
post a picture of your new bike when you get it end of


I make no apologies for calling you or anyone else a twat for riding like twat we have ALL ridden like twa#ts

Happy to donate money To the air ambulance for the car park option

[ptolemyx]

Will you boys be racing round the car park at a zillion mph with your knees down

[jer r1]

Didn't call you a twat I said it makes no difference what bike is riden if the riders mindset is to ride like a twat then any bike will get you into trouble.

[Kata]

I've got a GSXR and most of the time I trundle along are reasonable speeds. It may seek hedges but I try to keep out of them.

I suppose it can feel a little frustrating to have a bike that.can push just past 70 on a good day in this increasingly 50mph limited world but it's something that's bearable.

Thought about getting somat different to make slower speeds more fun and ended up getting a CB1300 which was great at speed limits but was a liability due to its handling, breaking being lacking compared to a.sports bike.

This being the case I bought a Fireblade. I thought well let's get a.bike that has a large safety margin in it's performance. Corning ABS, traction control , handling. It all makes things safer in comparison at whatever speed/twat index I'm doing. Plus it's probably more reliable than a KTM

Plus it fits which is good for a shortish 5'8" ish guy that feels like a ballerina on a jack-hammer on an adventure bike style bike.

Just go out and have fun.

[bambam]

Back on track.....
The 20 plate z900 is basically the same as mine except:
Fancy pants tft dash
Full led lights
Strengthened frame around pivot point (long story)
Rider power modes
Better stock tyres but still not great

Also forgot: it has an app thingy for your phone but the general feedback on the owners forum is it’s shite.

[menzies3032]

Interesting Bambam looking forward to the test ride next week.

[menzies3032]

Ok continuing on this thread I got the chance this week to do the 4th of my 6 test rides. This time on the Yamaha MT09SP
Liked
- Riding position
- Front end look (transformers styling)
- Colour
- Quickshifter and feel of the gear change
- Stability at low speed / revs
- Electronic safety features (ABS, Traction control)
- Ohlins shock

Didn't like
- The way the rear squats and moves mid corner
- The number plate holder
- The dash
- No blipper for auto downshift
- The brakes
- Lack of change in the riding modes

For anybody who is interested and would like to see my full review you can watch it here https://youtu.be/6lO-smiSZZQ
If you don't want to....... then don't ..... and don't click the link.

[menzies3032]

Moving straight on, the same day I got to also ride the Kawasaki Z900 (5th test ride out of 6)

Shout out to BamBam and Ruffian who I know are big Kawasaki fans. I am really starting to understand why..... bar none this was without a shadow of a doubt the most fun bike that I have ridden so far. Got to say rolling on the power gliding from corner to corner through A road twisties this bike put a smile on my face more then any other bike. Also the thing I really loved (that up until now only the BMW has done) is when you are riding mid rev and gliding through the bends the bike feels most comfortable at about 60mph and doesn't have that torque curve that is always trying to get you to ride quicker. You feel like your at one with the bike rather then trying to fight it or hold it back. great fun

ok so things I liked
- The way it rides through the twisties
- The way it handles around town and at low revs
- Seating position
- Wind resistance
- Colour dash
- Safety features (ABS, Traction control)
- Rider modes change the way the engine delivers power ((B)Rain, (STD) Standard, (A)Full power)

Things I didn't like
- Brakes are shockingly bad !!!!!
- Front suspension is really soft and dives under any braking
- No Quick Shifter or Autoblipper
- Switch gear on the bars is small and found myself hitting the wrong button a few times.

For anybody who is interested and would like to see my full review you can watch it here https://youtu.be/VJ7rZMXEkvA
If you don't want to....... then don't ..... and don't click the link.

[bambam]

So you liked the zed9.
The front forks on my 17 plate were soft as hell and it used to dive like a bitch on the brakes.
The brakes are a bit of a common thread on the owners forum. Most complain about lack of bite and easy mod is to change to better ebc or such like pads. If the brakes were that bad it might be because the pads have been glazed.
Have a QS on mine and it does make it a bit more fun. As it is old school throttle cable an auto blipper is no go.