What have you done on your bike today?

Why not start the bikes up regularly and warm them through - do much more good than just keeping the battery topped up.
When I had my back op I couldn’t ride for a year. I used to regularly start up my SP2 thinking I was doing it good, as well as raising my spirits.
When I eventually could ride again the clutch plates had rusted together, you wouldn’t believe the moisture inside the casings.
I’ve never used that method since, put on optimate and leave it alone.
 
When I had my back op I couldn’t ride for a year. I used to regularly start up my SP2 thinking I was doing it good, as well as raising my spirits.
When I eventually could ride again the clutch plates had rusted together, you wouldn’t believe the moisture inside the casings.
I’ve never used that method since, put on optimate and leave it alone.
Years ago I used to commute to work all year round on an old CB 750. Work was only 5 miles away and the engine barely got properly warm in winter. The amount of emulsified oil that built up was horrendous. Never happened in summer. If you're going to run a bike, run it properly and work the gearbox, heat the oil and warm the clutch.
 
I generally leave mine; swapping the Optimate from bike to bike every few days. I have 5 Optimates & used to have them all plugged in at once, but don’t think it necessary. Once or twice in the winter, I sometimes bring them out one at a time & run them really hot, whilst having a few reds 🍷; much to the annoyance of my neighbour. :devilish:
 
Nowt. Had hoped to get a ride out on the Rocket today. Got out on it yesterday and had a cracking arm-wrenching romp through Weardale and Hexhamshire, finishing up with a nice coffee on the steps of the war memorial in Corbridge, where small boys and old men wandered round the bike scratching their heads at the 2500cc moniker on the cam cover and asked the usual questions. As is customary, one old boy took the trouble to inform me that he used to own a Triumph Trophy back in 1959.
It rained overnight and the roads were shitty this morning. I suspect it will soon be time to remove the battery from the Triumph and add it to the KTM and Ducati queue for the Optimiser at home.
 
Nowt. Had hoped to get a ride out on the Rocket today. Got out on it yesterday and had a cracking arm-wrenching romp through Weardale and Hexhamshire, finishing up with a nice coffee on the steps of the war memorial in Corbridge, where small boys and old men wandered round the bike scratching their heads at the 2500cc moniker on the cam cover and asked the usual questions. As is customary, one old boy took the trouble to inform me that he used to own a Triumph Trophy back in 1959.
Yes and he learnt to ride on his uncles AJS350. Dont know how many times I have heard that story!
 
Yes and he learnt to ride on his uncles AJS350. Dont know how many times I have heard that story!
It surprises me the number of old boys who tell me all about their bikes and then ask how many cylinders the Rocket has. They seem to assume it has six. I don't know why, they're easy enough to count: three inlet manifolds on one side, three header pipes on the other..

But I don't mind the oldies asking daft questions and telling me about their bikes back in the day. That'll be me one day, and it's nice when strangers come up and have a chat, even if you have heard the same story a hundred times before.
 
It surprises me the number of old boys who tell me all about their bikes and then ask how many cylinders the Rocket has. They seem to assume it has six. I don't know why, they're easy enough to count: three inlet manifolds on one side, three header pipes on the other..

But I don't mind the oldies asking daft questions and telling me about their bikes back in the day. That'll be me one day, and it's nice when strangers come up and have a chat, even if you have heard the same story a hundred times before.

Plus, you can always tell them to fuck off if you’ve had enough 🤣
 
I am gonna be the curmudgeon who walks up, engages them politely, and then proceed to tell them how shit their bikes are compared to the old "british whitworth" days.
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I am gonna be the curmudgeon who walks up, engages them politely, and then proceed to tell them how shit their bikes are compared to the old "british whitworth" days.
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When I was unpacking my gear off my first Supersport outside the hotel in the square in Riva del Garda…a guy like that with a Brummie accent came over taking to me, and said “nice, but I prefer the Panigale”. I said “did you bring yours on the coach?” That he’d just got off with about 50 others. There was not another word passed between us.
 
When I was unpacking my gear off my first Supersport outside the hotel in the square in Riva del Garda…a guy like that with a Brummie accent came over taking to me, and said “nice, but I prefer the Panigale”. I said “did you bring yours on the coach?” That he’d just got off with about 50 others. There was not another word passed between us.
'Scuse me sport, I couldn't help notice…..
 
Plus, you can always tell them to fuck off if you’ve had enough 🤣
I'm too polite for that. It is a bit jarring though when someone waits til I've got my ear plugs in and helmet on before they come over and try and start a conversation, just when I'm about to fire up and set off and can't hear a bloody word they're saying. That happens quite a lot.

There was an old boy a few years ago who used to hang around the bikes at West Bay in Dorset, reliving his youth to anyone who'd listen. He was quite interesting because he'd been an engineer and knew his engines, but he did go on a bit.
He was rabbiting on to me one day and I was about to look for the exit when he became a bit upset. It turned out he'd met his wife at West Bay in the '60's, they'd spent their honeymoon there and she'd recently died and he was feeling that life wasn't worth living anymore. He'd been coming to the bike meet to relive old memories but also he just wanted company to distract himself. I knew a lot of the regulars down there well and rode with a lot of them, so I pointed this old fella out, told them the back story and they rallied round and drew him into the group. The guy who ran the tea hut even extended his biker's discount to him and whenever he showed up everyone made a point of including him. By the time I'd sold up and was about to move north they were trying to persuade him to buy a modern Bonneville and get back into biking. I hope he's still around and maybe back on a bike.
Sometimes not walking away when someone wants to talk can make the world of difference.
 
I'm too polite for that. It is a bit jarring though when someone waits til I've got my ear plugs in and helmet on before they come over and try and start a conversation, just when I'm about to fire up and set off and can't hear a bloody word they're saying. That happens quite a lot.

There was an old boy a few years ago who used to hang around the bikes at West Bay in Dorset, reliving his youth to anyone who'd listen. He was quite interesting because he'd been an engineer and knew his engines, but he did go on a bit.
He was rabbiting on to me one day and I was about to look for the exit when he became a bit upset. It turned out he'd met his wife at West Bay in the '60's, they'd spent their honeymoon there and she'd recently died and he was feeling that life wasn't worth living anymore. He'd been coming to the bike meet to relive old memories but also he just wanted company to distract himself. I knew a lot of the regulars down there well and rode with a lot of them, so I pointed this old fella out, told them the back story and they rallied round and drew him into the group. The guy who ran the tea hut even extended his biker's discount to him and whenever he showed up everyone made a point of including him. By the time I'd sold up and was about to move north they were trying to persuade him to buy a modern Bonneville and get back into biking. I hope he's still around and maybe back on a bike.
Sometimes not walking away when someone wants to talk can make the world of difference.

Good man 👍
 
Yesterday morning I had breakfast here Disco-licious
Its a farm shop/cafe amongst several units on what was a working farm. It`s also a livery yard where The Trouble keeps her horse so ride up quietly if you visit so as not to scare the ponies.
They employ some special needs staff there so it pays to be extra polite and patient. My breakfast was delicious and I sat outside looking across the fields in gorgeous sunshine.

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Got a puncture on the rear tyre so I thought whilst it was off I’d refurbish the wheel as it’s a bit furry in places.
Dropped it off at the paint shop only to be told they wouldn’t do it without the paint code. It’s a 1997 900ss with silver wheels
Does anyone know what the paint code is?
 
I rode here for breakfast yesterday and had a cheesy steak ciabatta. Nice pub, I was tempted by the Avocado Surprise but didn`t want to incur the wrath of @West Cork Paul .

Something is going on with the bike I rode, a 2011 1200 Multi S. I just put a slightly lower saddle on it and combined with a very short screen it is now just right with no buffeting and hardly any wind noise but I have also noticed on the last couple of rides with the temperature at around 12 degrees that the engine is performing superbly, noticeably better than during the summer. It may be super yummy petrol but has anyone else noticed the temperature affect how their engine runs ?
 
I rode here for breakfast yesterday and had a cheesy steak ciabatta. Nice pub, I was tempted by the Avocado Surprise but didn`t want to incur the wrath of @West Cork Paul .

Something is going on with the bike I rode, a 2011 1200 Multi S. I just put a slightly lower saddle on it and combined with a very short screen it is now just right with no buffeting and hardly any wind noise but I have also noticed on the last couple of rides with the temperature at around 12 degrees that the engine is performing superbly, noticeably better than during the summer. It may be super yummy petrol but has anyone else noticed the temperature affect how their engine runs ?
The theory I had came up with - which is stupid & wrong - is that part of better performance of ICEs in cooler air is that the air is slightly denser than warm air, giving a better burn. It's a stupid theory but I like it and choose to believe in it.
 
The theory I had came up with - which is stupid & wrong - is that part of better performance of ICEs in cooler air is that the air is slightly denser than warm air, giving a better burn. It's a stupid theory but I like it and choose to believe in it.
Is this the only stupid and wrong theory that you believe in.

Edit, it seems you may be correct so my post should perhaps ask if this is the only correct theory you believe in ?
 
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The theory I had came up with - which is stupid & wrong - is that part of better performance of ICEs in cooler air is that the air is slightly denser than warm air, giving a better burn. It's a stupid theory but I like it and choose to believe in it.
You're wrong but you were right, stupid 🤪
 
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