SV-Wolf's Bike Blog

[sv-wolf]

DW and SV....we have plenty of good riding roads over here. British Airways can fly you out of Britain and you can ride Doc's Valkyrie... I'll have to work, so you can ride my Vulcan, too.

Those are kind offers, blues, but I'd feel scared shitless riding someone else's pride and joy up the wrong side of the road. What's the chance of hiring a bike over there without paying through the nose for it? (Preferably not a cruiser!)

[blues2cruise]

I didn't look at all the prices....but here's a page that shows what a person can rent. They also have scooters and bicycles.

http://www.cyclebc.ca/motorcycles

Here is one I clicked to link....

http://www.cyclebc.ca/motorcycles/suzuki-v-strom-650

The more expensive the bike the higer the rate.

[dr_bar]

Not my pride and joy, but the "Other" bike... LOL Heck, it's only about 725 lbs of muscle, don't knock it 'til you try it. That 1500cc's of flat six power can surprise you...

(Edit: had an interested person, seriously looking at the bike... It's a wait and see.)

[sv-wolf]

Thanks Doc

Truth is, my imagination is beginning to turn towards a little second-hand off roader, so that I can get off the main highways. An acquaintance of mine (Paddy Tyson - check out his book on Amazon) whose life is two-wheel, long-distance travel tells me that there is a great camping culture in Canada. Get off the beaten track, he says, and many small towns and villages cater for campers. That sounds more like my kind of thing than long miles on the main roads and cheap hotels. I'm thinking it would be cheaper to buy a small off roader there and then sell it back to a dealer at the end of the trip, than get one here and ship it over (and back). It would all depend on how easy it would be to sell, though, at the end of the journey.

Hmmm! Thoughts beginning to form.

[dr_bar]

Oh... Look at that, less than £3000, or is that 3000£ http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/m ... 68450.html or http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/nvn/m ... 98097.html or were you thinking more like http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/nvn/m ... 27703.html ??? )

[sv-wolf]

Hey thanks for the info guys. Hmmmm! Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Some definite thinks there! Will look into this.

I've just been going through my favourites and found this. Always liked it. I may even have posted it here before, but what the hell. I used to ride Snake pass pretty frequently visiting friends and family in Manchester and Sheffield, so it brings back good memories.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4IWpw15y9k

And while we're at it, there's also this (relax and lean and breathe the northern air):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0mA7NWl ... re=related

Riding a motorcycle is the nearest thing to flying without leaving the ground. Couple that with a brilliant day on Hartside and your heart sings.

And this very different fast ride up into Horsehshoe pass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x90U9qX3L8

[sv-wolf]

I'm having a great time this morning. I took the Daytona in for its service at Aston Clinton and was given this year's baby Tiger as courtesy bike for the afternoon. I've not ridden one before. And Wow! Is it fun! It's comfortable - perhaps almost too comfortable. It's remarkably poised but at the same time willing and very spirited. It handles like a dream.

To the Daytona, motorway speeds (legal ones at any rate) are an insult. To the Tiger they are perfectly mannerly which makes it a very relaxing but entertaining ride. And there is plenty in reserve if you need it. The only downside is that with its sit up and beg position, my head is in the slipstream. That's unfamiliar, and it makes my helmet about ten times as noisy as normal. I didn't take any ear plugs with me on the way to Aston this morning. I will certainly wear some when I take the Tiger back this afternoon.

I'm almost reluctant to take it back.

As for the Daytona, I've finally been able to afford a replacement for the cracked panel. They will be fitting it now as I write. I'm not a bike polisher - bikes are for riding and getting dirty - but having a big chunk of plastic and the front indicator held together with duct tape was getting me down. It will soon all be new(ish) and shiney(ish) looking again, and that has perked me up no end. She's still running well even though she now has close to 45,000 miles on the clock.

[jstark47]

And Wow! Is it fun! It's comfortable - perhaps almost too comfortable. It's remarkably poised but at the same time willing and very spirited. It handles like a dream.

If I was to buy a bike now, a baby Tiger would be on my short list. Been thinking a lot about it.

As for the Daytona, I've finally been able to afford a replacement for the cracked panel.

Remember that pristine yellow 955i at my local dealer I wrote about a while back? Darned if someone didn't buy it recently, and for the full price too. I think they were asking $8K or $9K for it.

[drumwrecker]

I quite like the idea of the 800 but I'm put off because it is a Triumph, there is something about them that puts me off and except for the faired models are so pig ugly.
I'll stick to my TDM 900.

[drumwrecker]

I should add that the Bonneville type i.e. vertical twins do look OK but the finish is pretty poor. We looked at some at Aston Clinton and the chrome on the wheels was pitted and the spokes were in poor condition and looked like they weren't standing up to the weather very well and so on. All very disappointing really.