New Toy

[Mayfayre]

Those of you who were at Thundersprint may remember me dribbling over a certain motorcycle. Well, this one came up on Ebay a few weeks back and seemed like a bargain. It was also less than 1/2 mile from my parents' place snd the bloke selling it was wonderfully helpful, so it was fate... ;D



It's now sitting in my front garden awaiting a thorough service & hopefully having the suspension lowered a bit (so I can reach the ground more reliably!) and less flat bars fitted, then it'll be ready to go. Just in time for winter I think I know how I'm getting to Thundersprint next year ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Eclair]

Oh wow Mayfayre, thats a beauty...good on you

[Wyvern]

I like your new toy very much

[inky]

That's a lovely piece of machinery mf. You are a lucky girl ;D

[Vixen]

Blimey MF! You are one lucky gal!!

[lew]

Tart

Very, very nice, I'm not at all jealous, nothing like that what so ever, tart ;D has it a name yet ;D tart would be nice ;D

[Mayfayre]

So far all my bikes have ended up being called Rat. I'll have to see what it feels like when it's running properly...

[wildcathammondette]

Well you could even participate at the Thundersprint next year!

[Wyvern]

A song for your new toy

[Mayfayre]

Oct 8, 2008 13:34:17 GMT @wildcathammondette said:

Well you could even participate at the Thundersprint next year!

I did cross my mind for several seconds before being dismissed to the "I'd only be upset if I don't win, which I won't" bin! And I'd have to be up at the crack of sparrow-fart for the scrutineering. And not get too drunk the night before.

I think I'll just watch.

[Vixen]

Sparrow Fart.... *giggle*

[Mayfayre]

I've been using that expression since before you were born, Vix!

[maureen]

That is a very nice motorcycle, MF. My husband and son got me a Wii fit for my birthday. My son was more interested in it than I was yesterday, since I was too full from dinner to want to exercise. I told him if he can set it up, he can play it as much as he likes. I just wish I wasn't feeling like such a slug lately.

[Vixen]

Oct 8, 2008 16:51:29 GMT Mayfayre said:

I've been using that expression since before you were born, Vix!

Ano, it's the only old saying I use. I love it

[xjsarah]

Looking good, MF. Looking very good indeed! ;D

[maibee]

MF you could call it T'Rat - then it comprises your usual bike name, and flip it backwards and you have Lew's suggestion! ;D Just a thought! ;D

[Mayfayre]

That might just work! Lol

[dutchdiva]

Oh Really nice

[Mayfayre]

Oops, only just noticed the last 2 posts!

It is very lovely but was in severe need of some TLC. It's had some of that now and goes much better, but it's still not right yet and at the moment its tank is in the shed airing out so we can seal the inside to stop rust getting into the petrol. I've just ordered some bits for it off Ebay but I suspect it may be a little while before they get fitted. I shall have to see what my friend says when he gets back from France next week.

But in any cas, even running like a dog it was MUCH nicer to ride than the little Suzuki I had a couple of years back!

[Wyvern]

I wish my bike fear would GO AWAY! I'm all jealous and I want to play with bikes too, so I suppose that's a step in the right direction, but I'm scared of getting broken again But I'm very glad the Monster's getting better, even if it will take time and eBay to get it right. I look forward to hearing it growl ;D

[Mayfayre]

You'll be able to hear it growl next week. But it might still be a stationary one! (if that's spelt wrong, it's Boss's fault!)

[Mayfayre]

I finally got to go out for a ride this morning. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

When the sealing stuff was put into the tank, it formed a drip right where the lock on the flller cap wants to go, so that meant a friend had to make up a special tool (bent bit of metal with a sharpened end) to chip it off. Then, when I put the tank back on & started it up, it was revving far too high, but I was talked through using a screwdriver to poke the choke plunger back into position, as the spring on it doesn't seem to be strong enough.

Anyway, I decided just to go for a little ride around the block to keep it mobile & charge the battery up a bit. Ended up doing 17 miles. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

It's not 100% yet, still a bit lumpy at low revs, but once on the open(ish) road it's lovely. Bends are wonderful. Corners less so, because it has a huge turning circle and that's going to take some getting used to. The new bars make the riding position much more comfortable & reaching the controls easier - always a good thing!

Must remember to clean my visor next time though...

[Wyvern]

17 miles... never realised the block was that big

Glad the Monster's on the loose. Definitely sounds like it's getting there. Hopefully this means next time I come up I will hear it growling ;D

[Mayfayre]

The block I'd planned is about 5miles but I seem to have forgotten to turn left and start heading back...

Just make sure the next time you come up is before I take it down to Chepstow for the rest of its TLC!

[Mayfayre]

Although it's a bit sad that the Monster is still in hospital in Chepstow, I decided that the weather has been too good to not have a bike to play with, so I've bought Monster a little friend...



I've had a few of these before and this one's in pretty good condition for a 29 year old bike! The good thing is that I can probably do all the tweaking this one needs myself ;D

[Wyvern]

And that little friend isn't scary

[KMA]

oooooooooo - biker May girls, FAB! I did my CBT on Sunday (YAY!), a repeat from 13 years ago when I never upgraded to full licence...looking for first bike but as I know as much about bikes as I do about cars (our maintenence guy at work was shocked when I told them I was picking a bike based on its colour...but it worked for how I picked my car!) I'm floundering....I like the look of the Suzuki RV125, in particular this retro colouring which seemed to come out last year: cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUZUKI-RV125-RV-125-VANVAN-VAN-VAN-125-BRAND-NEW-09_W0QQitemZ370191596771QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycles?hash=item370191596771&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683

I really prefer the classic bike styles (I loooooooved Richard's Minsk, well at least until they painted it pink!) rather than racing or cruising...

Any thoughts, experience, or suggestions - the only two bikers I currently know live in Wakefield and Cardiff...not massively helpful given I live just north of Brighton! I plan on using it for commuting (8 miles each way) and occasional trip (off motorway with L plates of course) to Cardiff and Wakefield to see said biker boys so need something reliable, easy to ride for a learner but has staminer for long rides (hehe I sound like I should be putting an ad in the personals!!!!!)

Thanks in advance for any help and advice and bring on the summer!!!

[Mayfayre]

Now there's a coincidence - I test drove an RV125 on Saturday! It was a toss up between me getting one of those and the 250RS!

The RV is really easy to ride, it's stable and doesn't skip when it hits groves in the road (I deliberately rode all over some patches to test it!), goes round corners nicely. Once you remember to treat the throttle like a switch (all or nothing!) it will pull away quite fast, but it does run out of steam at around 50. I managed to get 65 out of it with my chin on the speedo, but there's no real accelleration at that end. At low speed they're tremendous fun.

They're supposed to be pretty reliable and apparently they're one of the best sellers in France, where they know a thing or two about little bikes.

The main reason I went for the 250 is because my commute is along a particularly nasty bit of motorway and without any acceleration at 50, I'd die! But for any learner I'd say get one, as new as you can afford. If we had the RV200 in this country I'd have got one of those instead.

PS Congrats on passing the CBT (again). They didn't have that in my day!

*clutches Zimmer Frame and hobbles off...*

[KMA]

that is a coincidence indeed! And I definately need something that is good over potholes, its worse than the bleedin moon round here at the moment!

running out of steam at 50mph is ok for me for the time being, although I've pillioned many a time, I'd forgotten how utterly terrifying even 40mph feels when you are the one up front! I guess I'll get used to it, I'm sure when I first started to drive I thought 40mph in the car was scary at first!

The RV125's seem to be holding their price as well so although I dont think I'll buy brand new, I will certainly consider 2007/2008 I think and hope they are still popular should I decide to sell once I've done my full licence...

Thanks Mayfayre, I'll let you know how I get on, although I think it will be after I get back from hols before I get to look now - its just sooo frustrating not having a bike to get out and practice on!!!

Enoy your new baby and thanks for the review!!!

;D

[Mayfayre]

No problem I'd noticed they were holding their price as well, which is another factor that made me decide on the 250 - it was about £1k cheaper and (ridiculously) so was the insurance, because it counts as a classic! But, as I said, I'd have bought an RV200 instantly, given the chance!

It might be worth finding one in a dealer that will let you test drive it. I went to West London Suzuki Centre, though I think there was one in Coulsdon and one in Tonbridge, which might be easier for you - check the ads on the Auto Trader website.

I just managed to get mine in before the hols ;D