Continuing - So what did you do to your bike today...?

[Tony Nitrous]

I usually ride Tuesday Thursday and a Saturday or Sunday sometimes both, With 3 bikes I mix it up.

I ride whenever, I can out of doing anything else.

Now my wife works from home I've changed my rides a bit.
We have weekends together, do Parkruns, eat out, shop etc,
I prefer riding on weekdays, gets me out of her way when she's working and she watches my idiot dog. Most of my rides are now weekdays when there's less traffic, tourists, cops etc.
If the weathers great I'll ride a few times a week, other weeks the bikes don't leave the shed. Being a weekday fair weather rider is suiting me just fine.

I do now have a few favorite coffee stops, cafes and bakeries. Nearest is about 50k's away, others are 100 to 150k's. Not good for my weight though!

I am a creature of habit, this is partly why I started taking pics of blue trees, Aussie Big things, RSL tanks and artillery, fire towers etc. it gets me away from my well worn routes.  DRZ means I'm now going places  that are new to me after 20 years here.

I got quite disheartened for a while, renovating, moving, renting, building, moving, bikes in storage, bad heart, hernia and other health problems. Lost a few friends, relatives and neighbours to various things, had a bit of a sulk at being 60 and beyond but now any day I'm out on a bike is a good day and I put it down as a win.

Riding is my big denial at my age and poor health.

[grog]

Today was just small ride, mainly getting used to new LS2, wind noise is fine, doesnt change 100-150 kph.Thats with ear plugs. Warm day, just on 30,nice couple of hours,enjoyed. Agree, after 70, i just want a ride, big or small.

[Mick_J]

FAO Tony Nitrous.  This has just come out, I've not read it but I thought you might be interested.

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/premium-content/the-big-test-suzuki-dr-4zs-vs-rivals/

[Tony Nitrous]

FAO Tony Nitrous.  This has just come out, I've not read it but I thought you might be interested.

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/premium-content/the-big-test-suzuki-dr-4zs-vs-rivals/

Interesting. I'm told the new DR-Z4S has better road manners than mine, and already they have a Yoshi full system, aftermarket cruise control etc on sale.

Most places like the UK and US don't get an Australian spec road legal old style DRZ400E in the showroom alongside the new version, so tests concentrate and new Suzuki v its modern rivals. The AU DRZ400E was sold as an unregistered bike in the US and wouldn't get near meeting the last few years UK compliance.  Mine is a bit of a dinosaur but that has advantages.

I did consider the new DR-Z4S but it was more money for more complicated tech, a lot less product back up and nothing much that I really wanted. 

I'm keen to read up anything I can (so thanks for the link) and I won't rule it out until they have been derestricted and folk have lived with them for a while.

[lurch]

The updated DRZ has me intrigued. After building (and destroying - RIP) a 701 up with all the gear and then some it may be a surprise to hear that I'd give a humble DRZ serious consideration.

Give me another 12 months recovery along with a decision from my wife as to whether she'll return to the dirt (I'll claim the DR650 100% if she doesn't) and my shed could be slightly less orange.


 

[MickyJB]

Is the owner on here ?

This GSX with white rims was parked up at Pickering Brook this morning, didn't get to see the rider before it was gone.

Took mine for a run, was a nice day for it.

[Hooli]

The white rims really work on those SE models, that fairing needs chucking in the sea though. From that pic it looks about 15ft long!

[MickyJB]

The white rims really work on those SE models , that fairing needs chucking in the sea though. From that pic it looks about 15ft long!

Not a fan of the white rims myself on the FE .. prefer the dark blue like I have. The white suits the predominantly Blue tanks IMO.   

[Tony Nitrous]

The updated DRZ has me intrigued.

Same. Mixed feelings about it, I'll go and try one soon.

After the B-King, H2 SX SE, Gen-3 having a new model / new tech doesn't appeal to me until it's had a year or two in the hands of the public, I know most of the DR-Z4S is based around an older DRZ-400 off the top of my head I can think of at least 11 recalls or issues on my last 3 new bikes.

For now the amount of spares, accessories and knowledge I'm seeing for the old and well proven 400E is very comforting.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

I like the white rims, but as said with the blue front fender and original B&W colours. The FE looks better with dark wheels imho.

There is a FE near me in Baldivis that I've seen regularly, could be the same person.

Not a fan of the plastic kettle over the headlight either, but each to their own I guess.

[Tony Nitrous]

The updated DRZ has me intrigued.

I guess you've seen this.



I have a couple of bikes going into the workshop early next year so I might have a chat with Bill.

[Hooli]

I took Snotbox for MOT and a new rear tyre this morning, then did 130 miles as it was sunny & a good excuse to scrub it in.

Got home  & as the MOT had an advisory for rear pads thought I'd put the spare pair that came with it in, they aren't that low but never mind... handy fact that as the spare pads are the wrong ones anyway!
The shop had helpfully* adjusted my chain when they did the tyre, so I reset it correctly rather than baggy as a whore's knicker elastic.
I'd ordered a clutch lever for it as the one on there felt a touch short & the clutch drags when hot, I'd put that down to the wrong lever lacking enough cable pull. Well the new one is identical, so I just put the old one back on.
I fitted the mirrors that came with my new 14 on Snotbox too, they're ugly on a 14 & identical to the ones Snotbox already had except for one small thing. The new pair don't have a twisted stem on the LH mirror so it's now possible to adjust it high enough to see more than a pillion's knee.

Anyway, have a few pics from today. The Honda 125 is, I'd assume, a Wasp as it's too small for a Hornet...

[Hooli]

I didn't feel like staying in today either, I absolutely hate this time of year so went out to avoid all the xmas stuff. It's the most depressing day of the year with all the fake happiness & jollity, utterly awful decorations & terrible music. I'll never understand how anyone can stand it, let alone appear to like it.

Anyway, I went south in the fog with no destination in mind. I ended up at Monyash for breakfast, Matlock Bath for a pint & home 5 hours later. That's another 150mile done for no good reason, Greta would hate me. On the bright side it was just murky down there rather than foggy all day.

[Pommeroy]

I didn't feel like staying in today either, I absolutely hate this time of year so went out to avoid all the xmas stuff. It's the most depressing day of the year with all the fake happiness & jollity, utterly awful decorations & terrible music. I'll never understand how anyone can stand it, let alone appear to like it.

Anyway, I went south in the fog with no destination in mind. I ended up at Monyash for breakfast, Matlock Bath for a pint & home 5 hours later. That's another 150mile done for no good reason, Greta would hate me. On the bright side it was just murky down there rather than foggy all day.

Good looking full English breakfast there...it's one thing cafes here rarely do well.

I have fond memories of riding to Matlock Bath, but it was usually not in late December! A ride there on my winter hack, a CB250N, would not have been enjoyable.

[Hooli]

It's not the cheapest cafe there but it's all local produce & damn good. Even the black pudding is local & you get lots of it for a change.

An ugly bike with an effective fairing makes it much nicer this time of year, along with a heated jacket. Think it got up to 6-7c today, was getting cool by the time I got home.