Newbie question (but slightly unusual maybe?)

Greased Weasel · L Plate Warrior Joined: 27 May 2012 Karma :

Hi all,

Been lurking for a while and trying to absorb as much info as possible before posting a question, but I can't find the specific info I'm after... yet!

Me: Late 30s, never ridden a bike on the road in the UK, live near the beach, surf a lot (most days in winter and whenever there is surf in summer i.e. not as much)

My (perceived) bike need: Cheap, reliable, able to deal with sand, salty water, rain etc as best as possible, with a sturdy enough luggage rack to attach a surfboard rack and, potentially, a top box onto.

Performance is not really a priority, at least on the road, but I will be riding it on lanes and B-roads to get about for early-morning surfs, as well as on the beach when I get there.

Yamaha's TW125 looks like it may fill this particular need, but I woud rather not be stuck with a 125 after completing my CBT and Direct Access courses.....

Any alternatives to the TW come to mind for anyone? Or any easy mods to other standard models come to mind?

Thanks in advance,

Weasel.

Kwaks · I'm not a fast rider Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Karma :

cant see a way of carrying a surfboard without causing problems, would be an absolute nightmare in a crosswind. Would it not be better to use a quad for this? Also have you considered how cold the journey home will be?
____________________
Fallen Angel "Nae sniffing my seat now!!!!! "
www.cliqueycuntsmcc.co.uk
I AM NOT A FAST RIDER!!!!!!!!!

Greased Weasel · L Plate Warrior Joined: 27 May 2012 Karma :

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

Metal Motor-Vehicles DO NOT like salt-water and sand!

Many years ago, we had a CBX550, that had been owned by a chap in the midlands... less than two years old, when we cam to service it, couldn't get the brake pads out, couldn't undo air-box screws, and it ended up a battle or THOR with ever bigger hammers, pullers, drills and grinders.... Turned out that Midland's Lad has been a bludy Matlo.... it had been left parked in Southampton for ONE winter.... and THAT was enough to see it 'fcuked!'.

If you follow plan, expect to have to give the bike a pressure wash before you have that hot shower, and to be lubing the chain & greasing brake-pins etc frequently.
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

mentalboy · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 May 2012 Karma :

Get an old land rover with truckman cab, or ditch the board Smile

____________________
Make mine a Corona.

shereen · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Mar 2011 Karma :

My bro in law lived by the coast for 4 years with his r1, commuted 60 miles a day. The bike albeit a tad rusty never let him down, and he was never the best at mantaining his bikes. Thumbs Up

____________________
"The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn't understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had"

Greased Weasel · L Plate Warrior Joined: 27 May 2012 Karma :

Greased Weasel · L Plate Warrior Joined: 27 May 2012 Karma :

[quote="Teflon-Mike"]Metal Motor-Vehicles DO NOT like salt-water and sand!

[quote]

Yes, a mucoff and jetwash would be a regular task!

Greased Weasel · L Plate Warrior Joined: 27 May 2012 Karma :

KTM Duke is nice, but too new to fall into my 'well-loved' price range...

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

HJM · Crazy Courier Joined: 15 Apr 2012 Karma :

DRZ 400sm

____________________
"90% of all statistics are made up"

CBT-18/04/2013

mentalboy · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 May 2012 Karma :

Yep I know just how landies rust. Whatever you stick on a beach is going to fall apart ( so I suppose a hairdresser's suzuki jeep would be better cos they're cheap). But the shortie's got bags of character and you'd only need small stash space in the rear - from what I remember about surfies they tend to go for VDubs (???) Might as well go for a bit of proper countryside cred
Personally I've never transported anything longer than a pick axe handle on a bike and wouldn't want to.
OP- what about a pushbike, I've seen these in Newquay with little board trailers behind them. Get's you warmed up for the surf too.
____________________
Make mine a Corona.

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

VanVan's were designed for riding on sand I'm told, hence the giant rear tyre.

I know similar bikes are available with bigger engines, I think Yamaha do a TW250 which would fit the bill.

Skinny tyres and sand aren't really going to be a good combo IMO hence looking for a bike more fit for purpose.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

Greased Weasel · L Plate Warrior Joined: 27 May 2012 Karma :

Those Surly Pugsley pushbikes with the massive tyres could be fun, but they weigh a ton and are not really the option for quick-hit sessions.

I'm not bothered about image ir anything looking vaguely 'surfy'. In fact, some farmers will keep a special eye out for surfers and not in a particularly positive way... A bike can be tucked away a little more easily!

Greased Weasel · L Plate Warrior Joined: 27 May 2012 Karma :

mentalboy · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 May 2012 Karma :

did you find a bike?

This popped up on my fb page and doesn't look make the idea of transporting a board quite so silly
https://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r601/mentalboy1/557011_10151368883127741_1005995545_n1.jpg
____________________
Make mine a Corona.

Greased Weasel · L Plate Warrior Joined: 27 May 2012 Karma :

No bike just yet, I am afraid it may be on the back burner for a little while... At least I will have some more time to dig about for the right thing.

I believe that is a Deus ex bike - they do customs in Oz and the states, but it seems that the customs they also do in Bali are often set up to take boards in that way. Lovely bikes, some way off for me I think!