Motorbikes!

Post by **plastic_orange** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:00 am

You'd better hurry up and do the test as things are changeing this year - will be harder - and less test centres to do them.

Pete

Post by **paulhumphries** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:22 am

toomorecol wrote:Only one choice a Honda 400/4 of 1970's, price from £800 to £2000, plenty of spares from "Dave Silver spares" like a moggy spares dealer, stocks everything. The 400/4 keep their price like a moggy, so no depreciation. Easy to ride, low sadle height, can do a ton if so inclined, and good looking. Tax is £45 a year, insurance was for me £95 including recovery through any clasisc bike insurance company, ie Carol Nash or Bennets. I ride a 400/4, run a moggy traveller and ride a push bike when its too wet to take out my cherished posessions.
Colin

I've a CB400A Hondamatic.

A 400 twin but with autobox.
It's the pre Superdream engine so has no balancer shaft and "thumps" / vibrates like an old British bike at low rpm.
I'd have had a 400/4 in a shot if they made an auto as far smoother.

Paul Humphries

Post by **Kevin** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:30 am

Nearly bought a nice little Honda the other day but it was left hand drive. Shame.

Nearly confused me there (I know its not difficult) but on second reading I realised you meant a car not a bike

Post by **mrbenn** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:17 am

Kevin wrote:
Nearly bought a nice little Honda the other day but it was left hand drive. Shame.
Nearly confused me there (I know its not difficult) but on second reading I realised you meant a car not a bike

Nope, I did mean a bike, someone got me with that joke the other day too

Post by **alex_holden** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:18 pm

I thought you were talking about left hand throttle or something (not knowing much about bikes)...

Post by **mrbenn** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:21 pm

Yeah, so did I when I first heard it! Glad I wasn't the only one

Post by **Pyoor_Kate** » Wed May 07, 2008 9:43 am

If you're after a 125 to do a year on after CBTing then a CB125's nice (if you like four strokes). The old CG125 had a drum brake which was *awful* and the CG also has the most puny engine of anything I've ever ridden. Granted it was a CBT machine which'd spent it's life being hurt by new riders, but then the other 4 stroke 125 I've ridden was a training centre's yammy, and that was fine...

The CG struggled to hit 55 on the flat, which would have been embaressing, 'cept the whole line of us CBTers was struggling to get to 55, so the shame was spread amongst us.

The 125cc 4stroke MZ is meant to be *lovely* (certainly looks nice), but I've never ridden one... The yamaha 125 was nice, but felt gutless next to my 2-stroke MZ.

I love my 'zeds; incredibly simple and hardy machines - I've now owned 3.5 (still got 2 of them). The 125's are enormous fun, the 250's are nice tourers - but only if you like the 2 stroke engine. The Rotax 4 stroke is very sought after in MZ circles - it's meant to be a fantastic combination of a light bike and a fairly powerful engine.

If you're after something more interesting dnepr's can be fitted with a BMW R/80 engine which'll give you reliability with the quirky russian styling; if you're after something a bit more sane, the ER-5's a nice mid-size bike. But really, best plan, go and get your test (personally I recommend the CBT -> 33bhp route; because you're less likely to come visit me at work) and then ride some around, and sit on some, and whatever. Find what fits you.

I love the Transalp, but am too short for it ;-)

I also love the F-650GS, but am too poor for it ;)

Post by **Judge** » Wed May 07, 2008 10:10 am

Pyoor_Kate wrote:......, but felt gutless next to my 2-stroke MZ.

I used to love mine, and in the end rode it more than the beemer.