new biker and forum user from London

[kolu]

Hi all,
first of all sorry for introducing myself long after my first post, can I just say I suck at introducing myself?

Anyway, I'm 32, live in London and work as a technician for a coffee roastery (a speciality coffee is a big part of my life for the last 8 years). I have some engineering degree under my hood (electronics engineering) and at the time I was doing my driving exams I took the bike (A2) course as well but haven't really ridden a bike since then.
Fast forward to March 2019 I've moved to London, my car (1999 Volvo V70 2.5, I miss it so much) got stolen so I decided to buy a bike instead to sort-of "fulfil my dreams". My bike lessons were on ER-5 and I liked it but just after that I have ridden Kawasaki Eliminator 125 for like an hour and I loved it - upright position cruiser, no bullshit. So I ended up buying Hyosung GV250 (because cheap of course) just to find out it's bloody uncomfortable on longer highway trips and neglected as hell. Up until the bloody lock-down I was commuting daily around 15 miles all through the winter and rain and I really like it. And also have replaced almost half of its price in spares already, meh...

I've done a few trips around (Bristol, Brighton, Margate, Stonehenge, ...) and I have to say that the UK is so beautiful! I love the sea and the hills here.

Anyway, there's a silly picture of my having a breakfast in front of my work:

Cheers,
Luke

[Polarbear]

That's a 125? Bloody hell that looks huge.

Oh, and welcome.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[A100man]

[linuxyeti]

Nice looking cruiser, I have it's bigger brother, the ST7. I know spares for them can be expensive, with some you have to get from South Korea. I have found mine to be very reliable, so, hopefully, once you've fixed what needs fixing so will yours be.
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Beware what photos you upload, or link to on here, especially if you have family members on them

[Easy-X]

Shop around for an aftermarket seat. My old Superlight was comfy for about 20mins and then super annoying.
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[hellkat]

Coffee, eh?
Do you do the serious gourmet shit?
https://media.giphy.com/media/pjPlJc0uRzFqyTrWYb/giphy.gif
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[kolu]

[c_dug]

I've never really got on with cruiser riding position and I've always really struggled to understand the whole "all day comfort" reputation they have! Far too upright, sore coccyx, weird leg position, arms too high, too much wind, it's just unnatural and uncomfortable in every way. In my humble opinion of course.

From personal experience they're honestly the least comfortable style of bike I can claim to have spent a whole day on.

Anyway, another London commuter here, there's a few of us on the forum, I'll be sure to wave if I ever see you
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Easy-X]

[Evil Hans]

[hellkat]

Yeah my Snarley isn't the most comfortable of things, either, but then I usually only ride it from here to Chelsea and back. Round the north circ at a push. Wouldn't go out of town on it. I think I've been to St Albans on it once, that was "okay" I guess, and it was nice to cane it around the M25 to loosen up its cobwebs

But it was only once I started riding it that I started to have a problem with my hip. Hmmm not rocket science.

Although its not too much of a hassle to filter with, but then, its only a diddy little Sportster so although I occasionally have a problem with getting the handlebars through gaps that I used to be able to fit the GPZ500 straight through, its not too difficult to handle around town.

Then again ... its LOUD. So when people hear me rollin', they parting like a whore's knees, bruv.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[A100man]

[hellkat]

Nah mate.
He needs to get the flavour of the forum early on.



I save my charm for more worthy causes.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[TravisBickle]

Welcome. Don't be put off by the trolls and stay active
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2024 BMW M1000XR
2021 Honda CMX500 Rebel S
2016 Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport