Definitely better off with a car

[Peter Halfpenny]

Just in from work... coming for a moan.
I have two cars a van and the Bird.
2009 Punto
1995 Metro (my project)
2014 Transit
I bought the Rover as it costs £160 a year fully comp whereas the Punto is £68 a month with a telematics box, the Bird is about the same and you could say the van gets paid for by the taxman every April...
Want rid of the Punto soon as the Rover has MoT but unfortunately it failed on the rear brakes (not enough power) It had new discs, pads, shoes, drums and cylinders (were all seized) so it seems logical to look at the bias valve being at fault. Unfortunately it would appear that since Rovers demise, they’re now rarer than hens teeth and not listed by the usual car parts places... gonna try a few breakers and failing that, I’ve seen a manual one supposedly for race cars on Fleabay. They’re all listed by businesses in China so I’m a little dubious and reluctant to try.

Anyway I’ve come to a BIKE forum to moan about a BIKE. Walked in the kitchen and there’s a fresh stain on the front wheel. Brake fluid coming from the front link thing.
It’s been stood for two weeks so don’t understand how this could happen all of a sudden. Mrs said sell it and buy a new bike but then she doesn’t understand either...

 

[andyBeaker]

Should have listened to me in the first place.....

 

[Stammo]

Maybe, just maybe you got a duff un.
Cut your losses and buy something decent. You don't have to spend a fortune.
Same with the car. Keep the reliable one and ditch the duffer... Life's too short...

 

[Cougar377]

Should have listened to me in the first place.....

Don't be silly.

 

[Jaws]

Errrrr... Are you sure its brake fluid ?

 

[Centaur]

Like the Irish mother said to her daughter on getting the news......" Are you sure it's yours"?

 

[Peter Halfpenny]

Cut my losses??? I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life.

Life is needs and wants. The van is needed and I’d do fine with just that. (6 seater crewcab)
The Punto is sensible and at least twice as economical. I don’t want it though.
The old Rover is a want. It’s immaculate inside but obviously needs work.
I never intended on owning the Bird though. I swapped it on Facebook for a mechanically sound enduro that I was bored of. Stands me at £1600 and I’ve ended up with a bit of a lemon but I want to keep it. Suppose where money’s concerned I’ll have to keep it as I’ll never get that back with 97k on clock

 

[Stammo]

Wow £1600 spondies... Bloody hell, that's a lot of dollar in some ways. Just try and keep your spend as tight as poss...

 

[Peter Halfpenny]

Wow £1600 spondies... Bloody hell, that's a lot of dollar in some ways. Just try and keep your spend as tight as poss...

£1600 was what the KTM450EXC stood me at. It was an impulse buy (by my inner scallywag) when I was actually saving for a GSX1400. I only rode it a handful of times before advertising it for swap. Only wants on my ad were +1000cc and MoT
Was reluctant before a I read up on them but they seem to be a mile muncher and aside from the few issues, the engine itself runs perfect all the way up to 148mph... my balls haven’t grown enough for the rest of the clock yet

 

[Centaur]

The Blackbird is not like most bikes. You have to be committed to the concept and willing to accept that she is an elderly lady with teeth who has to be handled with respect. More modern bikes can be stuck in a garage and ignored then pulled out in any weather and put back again after use. The Bbird is prolly best suited to long range courier riding. Tootling around in heavy traffic is best suited to smaller bikes. The lady has a few vulnerabilities such as charging and comfort and lighting. All of these can be overcome but newer bikes have these issues dealt with from new. Riding a Blackbird is going first class. You have to make the effort but few will be riding with you. Not many could keep up. I realised that for certain when riding a 918 Fireblade in a rideout in Norfolk. I was moving on in a very forthright manner, well into three figures and a Blackbird going past made me look like a novice. Agreed a certain Suzuki could have done the same but without the refinement of an elderly lady flashing her baggy knickers on the way past. If you don't love a Blackbird with all her failings then send her to a better home , not an old people's one, and stick to four wheels. Nothing personal Peter. If I were younger I'd have another Blackbird in a flash. Just not a black one. As I said before, black is soooo yesterday.

 

[Peter Halfpenny]

I like a challenge and I’ll not be letting the bird go anytime soon.

May get some stick for this but don’t you think that the certain Suzuki mentioned is just plain ugly?

I’m not a quick rider, 6 years since I did direct access but I’m still lacking the skill and confidence to ride anything to its full potential. The 148 quoted was in a straight line kids mean little time to ride.

I have got plans for the bird. Black and gold at the minute and I don’t think the rear end looks all that bad. It’s the front that needs a facelift. Was thinking about flat bars but after actually riding it, I think the bars need to be lower if anything. Looking at the hydraulic lines though it didn’t look like there was much room for movement anyhow

 

[andyBeaker]

Er, the front is good, the back is terrible.

Hyabusa better looking all round.

57 Chevy 2 door beats any bike on looks all day every day, twice on Sunday.

 

[Centaur]

Er, the front is good, the back is terrible.

Hyabusa better looking all round.

57 Chevy 2 door beats any bike on looks all day every day, twice on Sunday.

The Hyabusa looks just plain ugly from whatever angle it is viewed from. It reminds me of that poor kid from duelling banjos. The kid that not even a mother could love. It does what it does with brute force. As beautiful as a Sumo wrestler without the grace! Don't tell me a sumo wrestler has no grace. I know; and neither does the Hyabusa. Cobbled together with a brute of an engine just to steal the blackbird's speed crown. Whilst a lover of American cars, having had 11 outside my villa at one time, none of them was a graceful as most Ferraris, not even my immaculate Dodge Charger. Sadly, Andy, while you have many qualities, an appreciation of mechanical beauty seems to have eluded you.

 

[Stammo]

In tbe eye of the beholder chap.
Not good for us all to be the same!

 

[sr71caspar]

There's a reason why the Hayabusa is known as the Eye-abuser.


Two wheels or four, the only people who are impressed by cubic capacity over agility and looks, are those who have inadequacies and whom have a false sense of superiority.

Like Americans.













And ex bankers.

 

[Peter Halfpenny]

One you can’t argue with though is the GSX1400 is better looking than most.

I’ve wanted one since riding my friends a few years back.

Great looks and like a magic carpet....with a rocket up it’s arse

 

[Peter Halfpenny]

I think my Birds arse end is quite tidy too.
Gold trim around the custom seat matches the paint too

 

[Stammo]

GSX14, smooth big old lump, but thin paint and flimsy build. In my opinion.

 

[andyBeaker]

The Hyabusa looks just plain ugly from whatever angle it is viewed from. It reminds me of that poor kid from duelling banjos. The kid that not even a mother could love. It does what it does with brute force. As beautiful as a Sumo wrestler without the grace! Don't tell me a sumo wrestler has no grace. I know; and neither does the Hyabusa. Cobbled together with a brute of an engine just to steal the blackbird's speed crown. Whilst a lover of American cars, having had 11 outside my villa at one time, none of them was a graceful as most Ferraris, not even my immaculate Dodge Charger. Sadly, Andy, while you have many qualities, an appreciation of mechanical beauty seems to have eluded you.

The Hyabusa is a better looking bike, especially in the brown paint finish.

Never said anything about 'graceful'. You are making it up as you go along. Comparing a Ferrari to American muscle is like comparing a apple to an pear.

 

[Stammo]

You can"t beat a nice pair AB