So... What oiled your gears today?

[yen_powell]

I have what I think is a 1980/90s Peugeot mountain bike, bought it off my mate for £30 when I had my stroke in 2005 and was not allowed to drive for about a month. Thought it would provide alternative transport and useful as a bit of exercise.

After I had scraped myself against the pedals in the garage for the hundredth time when working on my motorbike I took it to work and stored it there instead. After all, I occasionally build cycle facilities, what better way to try them out.

After it sat for so long unused that FM chopped the lock to dispose of it, I brought it home just in time for Lockdown, it's been ridden more in the last year than since 2005 when I got it.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[Nobby the Bastard]

A 1990 Gary Fisher Joshua X1 that I got for £30 off ebay nearly 6 years ago.

It came with the original receipt (£1,000) and aside from fixing the occasional puncture all I've done is repaced the back brake pads.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[Polarbear]

[Ste]

Today was excellent because going kayaking for a few hours this morning.

It was made more excellent as I'm getting back into coaching again and am being asked to help run groups.

I'm really enjoying it.

[recman]

[Diggs]

Taking middle pubert to University this afternoon. Proud as punch!
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Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[chickenstrip]

[Fisty]

First decent ride in 6 months.
New amazing roads
No cars in my way
New discs are amazing
Brit win at the tennis
McLaren 1-2 at the F1
Sir LuLu crying like a little bitch
Lamb in the oven
Cider in my hand
Won a watch on ebay that should turn a good profit

Good day is good.
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Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[Diggs]

[Easy-X]

[hellkat]

Spoke to my mother
That will do for now.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[to v or not to v]

[chickenstrip]

[hellkat]

I've been away for the weekend but had to come home early due to a monster head cold (disappointingly, as I had looked forward to this weekend for AGES through all that petsitting malarkey).

But within minutes of me slumping onto the sofa in a snuffly heap with a fluffy blanket, Dennis the cat turned up and proceeded to sit on my chest/shoulder whilst I dozed under a blanket all afternoon.

She's lately been doing funny simple little things like stretching her arm out to touch me with her paw, with really make me realise that although she's a bolshy mare most of the time, she really is a most affectionate little thing.
She deserves better than me.
But I'm what there is, so she makes the most of it.

Bless her, funny little tripod.

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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[thx1138]

a geeky joke I put on a Skyrim sub-reddit got a thousand likes :

[RhynoCZ]

I had a ride on my mate's Jawa 350/354. The bike is freshly restored. Well, the engine still needs some attention, especially the primary chain and clutch, carburetion is also something that needs a bit fidling with, the original ignition switch is not working yet, but despite of that the bike is fully rideable as is right now. It takes a different aproach to ride such bike comfortably, but once I got a hand of it it was quite smooth ride, comfortably holding 55-60mph, smoothly going through the town at 30mph and the suspension system and brakes are just adequate to what the engine can deliver. It was also after a very long time that I used the rear brake as my primary means of slowing down. Due to the frame geometry, the rear brake feels like 70% of your stopping power + the brake light switch is only on the rear brake pedal.

That being said, it was a lovely experience.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/jawa01.jpg
https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/pxl_20210914_154719774.jpg
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Polarbear]

[RhynoCZ]

[Ste]

Three hours of kayaking this morning helping to run two different groups.

Much fun was had by all. I'll have to go back again tomorrow. And on Monday. And Tuesday. And then on Wednesday there's a group to run. Thursday should be a good day for it as well. I should and will go on Friday. Then it'll be Saturday again with two groups.

[recman]

Today I straddled the new Harley Pan America 1250.
A bloke at work switched from a Transalp which he didn't really get on with.
I have to say, it wasn't an unpleasant experience. It doesn't shout Harley both on or off the bike to be honest.
The tech is pretty extensive and fairly impressive and the riding position for me was a mix of obviously upright and slightly sportier footpeg position than I'd associated with the brand.
Like I said, not unpleasant.

[yen_powell]

Today Mr Lampkin stopped when he saw a little girl waving at him.
https://www.motorcycleriders.net/uploads/monthly_2021_09/20210919_114435.jpg.2811abd4b90da7c7c8908bdf31def191.jpg
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[hellkat]

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

I picked the right day weatherwise (yesterday) to attend Duxford’s Battle of Britain airshow. The display was excellent as always, this time including helicopters (yes I know they weren’t in the battle…). I live fairly local so it’s almost possible to become blasé about airworthy Spitfires, but 11 in a formation with 4 Hawker Hurricanes is impressive, and the Spitfire solos were outstanding. There were WW1 biplanes too, chasing each other around and then landing directly into wind totally regardless of the runway. No long gaps in the display, there was always something going on.

I got chatting with one of the stall-holders who said he’d just traded in a Moto Guzzi for an Enfield. I keep finding myself on sub-B roads thinking I’m on the wrong (sports)bike for this, and Enfields look like such good value I keep being tempted by chance conversations, etc. There’s a dealership in the next town too…

On entry to the museum/airfield I was asked for evidence of my Covid status so I showed my vaccination card. Unusually this year, parking for bikes was in the main car park instead of on-site beside a hangar, and the bike bays were full so there were bikes in amongst the car parking bays. I felt less special.

The ride home was spoiled somewhat by car drivers on the dual carriageway who’ve never heard of ‘Keep Left.’ I’m not averse to under-taking now and then but the BMW SUV driver in particular seemed keen to let me hear his drainpipe exhaust with the occasional burst of speed, so I knew I was in the presence of an idiot, and with it being fairly busy (and being on the 600 not the 1000) I decided not to rile him (might have been a her).

Incidentally, in the last couple of years (lockdown permitting) I’ve used the 2003 R1 more but this year I chose to use the 1999 ZX6R. At first it felt flat and hard work in comparison, but once I’d recalibrated to 600cc (use the gears and wring it) it’s been an absolute hoot. Where the R1 feels like an electric missile the 600 feels like an animal; the noise! I wouldn’t be without either bike but the interesting thing is how you have to adapt.

https://i.postimg.cc/MGY3L59T/22384BC4-F5F8-4087-9B0B-B2C4E49BF32D.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/3NrT6WjM/230AA8E9-B5AB-4FEC-A2FA-E96A8DA07019.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/dVrx2wdG/23E8C009-F752-4E21-81BE-D9C3C869863F.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/vZVp0WRg/38B3B70C-58F4-440A-AEB0-A377A1873691.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/K83yC6TY/405E88EA-F715-4B2B-AB26-8F5FA7F66343.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/vBH2wnKv/4B4C8AA6-B245-4FEE-A685-CB4867B12BE5.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/s2MnKWMQ/E5620552-E434-4666-ABE6-8792E85BF209.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/bvPFLWHW/85595B36-9334-4932-A54F-884A6945544A.jpg

Edit: should have been on the “Where have you been on your bike” thread. Ah, well…

[hellkat]

Fabulous air show.
Been to it once before with the big bad ex (who is a complete and utter plane spotter) - about 8 years ago now, loved it. I used to go to things like that when I was a kid.

I was heading up to St Albans on the M11, and I saw there were signs for the air show, but I was determined to get to the NCC show in Newport Pagnell (which didn't happen how we expected in the end :o ) and I really wished I had the time to go to Duxford.

Another year, hopefully
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Easy-X]

It's hard to wrap one's head around so many Spitfires and Hurricanes being aloft not to mention sourcing the pilots
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter