hmm undecided about what to do with the TBS at the moment... currently space is more of an issue rather than the money, so if I can find somewhere to stash it till the shed gets extended, then I'll put it away till the Ducati blows-up!
Keep the T'bird. With the Duke it's not a case of will it break down, It's more of a case of "how long will it be before it breaks down again" coupled with "will I be able to get the parts" with a well rounded finisher of "how much!"
jaguartvr: f a case of "how long will it be before it breaks down again" coupled with "will I be able to get the parts" with a well rounded finisher of "how much!"
thats what I've been sayign to my Ducati ownign mate fo ryears, guess its my turn now!
Fitted the 'chopped' rear mudguard that I recently aquired from our very own JaguarTVR holes all drilled so that can go off to the painters... hope they're not as busy as the bloke who's doing my Ducati..
using the same tyep of rear light again.. only trouble with them is that they come equiped for festoon type bulbs, which I'm not keep on... so with the help of my faithful dremmel we went from this..
jaguartvr: Keep the T'bird. With the Duke it's not a case of will it break down, It's more of a case of "how long will it be before it breaks down again" coupled with "will I be able to get the parts" with a well rounded finisher of "how much!"
I know I am going to regret saying this, buy my Duke has not broken down under my ownership (coming up to 3 years) nor did it break down during my mate's 13 year ownership http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/ro...
Scratched clutch case, broken headlight bracket, front mudguard, silencer(couldn't repair that) broken indicator, trashed bar end plug, seriously bent handlebars, scratched switch cluster on left hand bar, scratched fly screen, small nay tiny mark on tank. Top box plate scratched and shifted on the rack.
Footpeg, gear lever, clutch lever survived!
So I sanded and painted both mudguards satin black to match. Replaced the headlight brackets with nice bendable steel Bonnie ones. Fitted Renthal low bars unbraced that I had from my old S3. Matt Blacked the flyscreen (since added the 67 race numbers to it) Polished out the scratches on the fly screen bracket. Replaced the indicators at the front with cheapy plastic ones for now. Cannibalised some spare switchclusters I had lying around to get rid of the very scratched plastic ones. Stripped the laquer off the clutch case and polished the worst of the scratches out with emery paper then brushed em with scotchbright pads for brushed alloy look. Whilst I was at it I stripped the cam cover and painted it matt black with high temp paint. Polished out worst of scratches on the levers and fitted another bar end I had lying around. Polished out the worst of the scratches on the silencer but it has a few dings n marks still. Cleaned up the Top box plate and remounted it. Finaly I fitted R&G crash bungs as the clutch cover wont survive another slide without holeing. And thats it so far. The end result is clean tidy and servicable.
jaguartvr: Keep the T'bird. With the Duke it's not a case of will it break down, It's more of a case of "how long will it be before it breaks down again" coupled with "will I be able to get the parts" with a well rounded finisher of "how much!"
I know I am going to regret saying this, buy my Duke has not broken down under my ownership (coming up to 3 years) nor did it break down during my mate's 13 year ownership http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/ro...
Thruxton alloy given a good polish
Damn your duke looks good Rob - for me, the early bikes were the best looking.
Good excuse though. Not such a bummer. Apart from the R&G bungs I fixed it for the price of some polish some paint and the grand total of £24 for the indicator parts (on order)
started to clean the corroded alloy wheels on my Bonnie SE after riding during Jan/feb ( dry weather only) when I noticed that some salt must have found its way on to the wheels. I thought riding in the dry -after rain- would have washed road salt away - obviously more persistent than I thought!! Just love solvol autosol and elbow grease
spent ages trying to dremmel off the head of a siezed bolt in the battery box rather than remove the captive nut... only to have the captive nut break off anyway when I got to the final stage.. feckin' thing.. oh well will see what mayhem ensues when I change the shock tomorrow!
Started the old bus up this afternoon... it took ages and then ran roughly for 10 minutes..... the fuel was over 6 months old tho so probably not up to much... going to top it up and give the old girl a clean tomorrow
Tigeralorange: As we've said elsewhere they aren't really designed to be used, well not in this country anyway! They are toys.
Nonsense! Sorry but it is. Bikes now are more corrosion resistant than 60s stuff as they've changed from the old positive earth system that used to help the corrosion take real hold. The only thing that preserved them back then were the oil leaks! Now all you have to do is simulate the oil leaks by using something else to protect the bike and clean it once a week. The only time you can't ride is when its icey, snowy or theres a hurricane force wind. Yeah salt will attack unprotected metal and yeah if you use a bike some things will go rusty but by taking a bit of care you can keep it looking good. Things only get nasty if you leave them. s!$% my car has rusty wheel arches and god knows what corrosion where you cant see it I'm sure. Does that make it a toy?
OK truth be told things like pure sports bikes are toys really, because for most things they are totaly impractical. At road speeds they are uncomfortable, they are flimsy and lightly built out of rot quick or damage easily, materials. They can't carry anything easily (including most average sized riders ) They are the equivalent of having a supercar as your daily runaround. But Most dual sports, tourers, and yes bonnies and cruisers etc can easily be used most of the year round and with care will stay looking good for a long time. infact a few knocks or signs of use improve them. i think my bike is far from being a corroded mess yet it gets used all year round and crashed But it equaly gets cleaned and maintained and covered in grease and oil and FS365 type stuff which protects it.
If they are designed as a means of transport to be used all year round then why do you have to go to such lengths to protect it! That chap on another thread has got corrosion problems with his Bonnie wheels through using it in the winter but on dry roads when he thought it would be OK!
Bikes may be more corrosion resistant than they used to be but in those days they were mainly used as a means of transport as many couldn't afford cars and if they suffered from the weather then it was tough and people generally accepted that, as they do with cars now, except for those that have a nice sports car (read toy ) for summer use only. Cars can be used all year round without any special protection, yes they go rusty underneath etc., but as it can't be seen most people don't care.
The majority of people who drive cars aren't enthusiasts, it is just the most convenient, dry and warm method of getting around.
Most who own bikes are enthusiasts and as such want to look after them as best as they can. If that means only using them for part of the year then that's what they do. Some who commute to work buy a winter hack to do it on, so what does that tell you!
Most who own bikes have a car which for most of the time is the better means of transport. They don't need a bike, so what have they got it for? Because it's for fun, it's for leisure, it's for polishing, IT'S A TOY!!!
Tosh? In a City is the car a better means of transport? Expensive parking, expensive road tax. Less fuel efficient. Your standing still half the time! So longer journey times. Most cars have one person in them. Personally the motorbike is a much better means of transport for me. I get places quicker. I save a fortune in parking. I can carry medium loads using a top box. I use less fuel and I enjoy every journey! The only time I use the car is if I have to lug lots of stuff about or the dog. Or if the weather is very bad thought TBH I've lived without a car and even a bit of care can see the bike through everything but deep snow. The rest of the time the motorbike beats the car hands down. Corrosion.? The only difference is on the car you cant see it! arguably as you can get to the bike parts easier the bike will clean up better if you make some effort, and actualy last longer! The only argument might be what you wear but even then you can easily dress smartly under most motorcycle clothing and take a change of shoes with you. Kit is so good nowadays it will keep you warm and dry. I realy fail to see how paying £4-00 a day for parking. Having to get up an hour earlier to get to work sitting in endless traffic cues etc etc is realy a more convenient way to travel!
Come on Nick, if there was a poll you'd lose hands down!
As to whether a car or bike is the better means of transport the figures speak for themselves! Your bike is a better means of transport for you but not the masses, a car is a better means of transport for me, my bikes are a hobby and touring etc.
Small capacity bikes may be an efficient means of transport but not a big bike. Road tax is more expensive than some cars, fuel consumption can be worse, car parking would go up if more used bikes. The advantages you state are for you in town. I don't work in town. If I used the bike to get to work it would take me longer with including getting the gear on!
As I use for car for commuting I enjoy my bikes more.
And in any case, some people are crappy enough on four wheels, nevermind two!
who said it was a poll? I was speaking personally.
TBH its the groaning about corrosion thing that gets me more than the toy thing. I get that for some people the car is the better default option (I was just being devils advocate really) But I've ridden bikes for years and years. (I've only actualy ever owned three cars myself. All old s!$%ters! ) Experience has taught me the corrosion thing has more to do with how you care for the bike than when you ride it. I suppose for some any corrosion is horrible. But me I just accept that if you use a bike it will happen. And yeah salt will work its magic if you don't think about it and get it off the bike or make a barrier between it and the bike before you put it away. However nothing ever needs to get too bad if you clean it. I must admit i'm a tad obesessive on that. Blame my Dad. He taught me that the best maintainance I could ever do was keep a bike greased and cleaned. I'd save money by not having to constantly replace parts, I'd make maintainance easier and cheaper, and generaly I'd spot faults way before they got to be a huge problem. And he was dead right to drum that into me. Thanks Dad I'm not surprised that bikes get rotten though. So many people come to biking from car ownership and driving and expect to treat a bike like a car. i.e give it a wash with soap and water once in a while and it will be fine! s!$% I have freinds who do that. Me? I take care I take time to clean and lubricate the bike and so I get to ride it more often and still keep a nice looking bike. Yeah smug, yeah maybe a bit arrogent? A bit intolerant of people complaing about corrosion? What I do know is I ride a lot and none of my bikes have ever ended up a s!$% encrusted corroded mess at my hands even when ridden in the salt. Apologies if I caused offence. But I just know that the crusty Bonnie wheels need not happen and even if they do, a spot of effort with wire wool autosol etc and a protecting smear of grease for the winter will have them looking fine which is exactly what Conan is planning by the sounds of it.
The Old ones they are toys. One is very valuable and acetelyne lights aint that practical! The other is a bit small and gutless to put real miles on it. The Thruxton is as much my transport as my old banger of a car and does the job realy well.
And finaly if this can pass an MOT and still work ok (It did by the way) what does corrosion matter?
By the way I have no problem that you use the bikes as toys. I happen to think you miss out on the benefits of riding more(even a biggish bike can be cheaper and more convenient than a car for a city rider) But if thats what you wanna do thats fine. Doesnt make your way wrong or my way right. But to boldly state bikes are merely toys full stop is a bit wrong. I'm sure your bikes stay mint. Me I just am too much of an enthusiast to leave mine in the garage for long periods.
It is the corrosion part I was really getting at as well and unlike on a car it is important as it can be seen.
If it was really designed as an every day means of transport it would be designed as such and not have to be given special protection and washed every week. No way am I washing a bike every week in the winter. The car gets washed about once a month if it's lucky and comes up a treat and I look after my car.
No doubt Triumph could produce a bike that could withstand the rigours of winter as there are materials and finishes that can withstand harsh conditions but they won't because it will make them more expensive and uncompetitive. Triumph, along with other manufacturers know that 98% of owners use their bikes like I do.
In countries like India, yes most bikes are used as an everyday means of transport, but not over here.
I don't miss out on riding my bikes more. This time of year I admit I do start to have withdrawal symptons but I use the winter for doing other things.
I never said your way was wrong and my way was right. I just started off by disagreeing with your view that Triumph manufactured bikes as a means of transport and that yes as a basic statement that is obviously true but as an everyday means of transport no, because for most of us they are not.
Ah sod it we'll have to disagree then Nevermind. Nothing like a good old fashioned debate.
Its not just India. In London, and most European countries bikes of all sizes and shapes are everyday transport for lots of people. One of the reasons we get a generaly better reception accross the channel than we do here I think. as Fuel prices increase I expect small scooters and bikes will get more popular here too. My mate who runs a rider training school can barely keep up with the demand for CBTS its way higher than for driving lessons.
To me the Motorcycle will always be a very good means of transport with some disadvantages but plenty of advantages too.
Of course I am unembered/blessed depending on your view, with family so my transport needs focus on me myself and I for 90% of the time. I'm using the car today though as I'm carting a BCC computer to my next office (moving me about every five minutes) and I'm not going to risk that on the bike. Its a s!$% computer but its not mine!
But on the upside it looks good now. A bit different but good. 
feckin' thing.. oh well will see what mayhem ensues when I change the shock tomorrow!
