Motorcycle Rant

  • Singularity 24 Mar 2005 14:58:22 3,282 posts
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    (Note: this is a rant from the point of view of a motorcyclist, not a rant about motorcyclists. With that in mind, rant commences...)

    Gah!

    I've got a Gilera Coguar and I love it. Sure it doesn't go very fast and it goes wrong, like, all the time, but I love it anyway.

    Just not the people that made it.

    After it conked out on me for the umpteenth time I got it to the garage, only to be told that the part it needs (a regulator) is no longer in production.

    They've stopped making a major part three years after first making the bike. And not only that, but they stopped making it a year ago!

    My efforts to get a second hand part seemed to be in vain because this is one of the recurring faults that pretty much every bike suffers from (and there are many), but I managed to get one after some unlucky bugger had a crash last week and wrote off his bike. So I'm effectively getting a donor part. It's like that terrible David Duchovney movie where some other chick gets his wife's heart. Sort of.

    I now feel a little better - even though I'm benefitting from someone else's misfortune, and coming off a bike is something I wouldn't wish on anybody - but the fact remains that those bastards over in Italy have sold a not inexpensive bike (for its class), and then buggered off once things started to go wrong.

    Grr.

    (This rant is now concluded. Carry on.)
  • Ginger 24 Mar 2005 15:01:28 7,256 posts
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    /hijack
    Hmm, I was thinking about getting a bike to commute to work - 20 miles across wiltshire country roads.

    What would I have to do assuming I've got no prior experience on a bike, and how long before I can get off a little put-put and onto something that goes more than 40 miles an hour.
  • ssuellid 24 Mar 2005 15:02:41 19,142 posts
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    My Gilera Runner was faultless - until I wrote it off. Except the carb heater but somehow the cable got cut on that.

    Did you check the Gilera forums? They are a lot for the Runner some selling bits and pieces.
  • Nemesis 24 Mar 2005 15:03:33 20,312 posts
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    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE




    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE


    E

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE


    EEEEEEEEEEEE

    Getting annoying right?

    Yeah. How about the cunt who drives a cunty 50cc moped around the streets in some strange circuit. Over and over and over and over and over again.

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    /pause

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    /pause

    Should I report it?
  • terminalterror 24 Mar 2005 15:04:16 18,932 posts
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    Ginger wrote:
    /hijack
    Hmm, I was thinking about getting a bike to commute to work - 20 miles across wiltshire country roads.

    What would I have to do assuming I've got no prior experience on a bike, and how long before I can get off a little put-put and onto something that goes more than 40 miles an hour.

    Thats the dodgy thing about bikes, not too long and for the price of a small car, you can buy a superbike and do 180mph and kill yourself.
  • ssuellid 24 Mar 2005 15:04:44 19,142 posts
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    Ginger you would need to do a CBT. Takes a day and costs around £120 - after that you can ride anything under 125 on a L plate for 2 years before having to take your test. Scooters cost from £800 to £2200 for a Gilera Runner 125 that will do 80mph and 0-60 in just over 6 seconds.

    Add in £200 for a cheap decent helmet and get some proper reinforced clothing. I had a crash at low speed and without the protective clothing would have ripped lots of skin off.

    Edited by ssuellid at 15:06:17 24-03-2005
  • Ginger 24 Mar 2005 15:06:36 7,256 posts
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    ssuellid wrote:
    Scooters cost from £800 to £2200 for a Gilera Runner 125 that will do 80mph and 0-60 in just over 6 seconds.
    Hmm, that'd be pretty much all I need. Now, where'd I put that leather jacket...

    Oh, and tt, I wasn't planning on jumping onto the back of some japanese monster sports bike. Just getting away from the eeeeeeeeeeeeee.
    eeeeeeee.
    e.
    eeeeeeeeeee.
    eeeeeee

    described earlier...

    Edited by Ginger at 15:07:51 24-03-2005
  • Singularity 24 Mar 2005 15:06:49 3,282 posts
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    Nemesis wrote:
    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    Run him over.

    You know what I said about not wishing an accident on anybody? Well, except those guys. Fortunately mine makes a pleasant low 'put-put-putting' sound.

    When it fucking runs.
  • Nemesis 24 Mar 2005 15:08:29 20,312 posts
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    In my mind I call that moped 'the ex wife' as it's a constant continual whine that never quite shuts up or goes away.
  • ssuellid 24 Mar 2005 15:08:33 19,142 posts
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    Ginger wrote:
    ssuellid wrote:
    Scooters cost from £800 to £2200 for a Gilera Runner 125 that will do 80mph and 0-60 in just over 6 seconds.
    Hmm, that'd be pretty much all I need. Now, where'd I put that leather jacket...

    You can pick up a silly low mileage Runner 125 for £1200 secondhand. Try autotrader.
  • bainbrge 24 Mar 2005 15:10:43 1,687 posts
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    Nemesis wrote:
    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE




    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE


    E

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE


    EEEEEEEEEEEE

    Getting annoying right?

    Yeah. How about the cunt who drives a cunty 50cc moped around the streets in some strange circuit. Over and over and over and over and over again.

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    /pause

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    /pause

    Should I report it?

    /looks upward

    yep, thats annoying. There was a lump headed fool round these parts who used to do that. THe best thing was, he was massive, with a proportionately huge head, and the bike was tiny, like a kids one. He also used to have a totally blank expression, and look to his left all the time.
  • mal 24 Mar 2005 15:11:14 29,326 posts
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    Nemesis wrote:
    Yeah. How about the cunt who drives a cunty 50cc moped around the streets in some strange circuit. Over and over and over and over and over again.
    I think we might have had him over our way a month or two back. For a few nights in a row at about midnight you'd hear a little buzzing noise at first.

    Then it'd get a bit louder and start to sound like a moped coming down the street.

    Then it'd get a bit louder and pretty annoying.

    Then it'd get a bit louder still.

    Still getting louder.

    Finally it starts coming down the street.

    Now it's almost unbearably loud.

    eeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE - OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

    And then reverse the process, except half a semitone lower.

    I swear I could still hear him in the distance ten minutes later. Heading off in the distance of essex/surrey, so I guess he's not your one.

    Still these days I catch him in the distance sometimes. Must be miles away.
  • Singularity 24 Mar 2005 15:11:49 3,282 posts
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    So anyway, how's about those bastards not producing spares just two years after they release the bike, eh?

    (; ))
  • Nemesis 24 Mar 2005 15:12:52 20,312 posts
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    Funniest thing I've seen in a *long* time was a courier came to our building and....


    ...here it comes...


    ..gets on his bike and it's seriously 1ft high. I was watching and he puts the feet on the pedals and he can't see for his own kneecaps.
  • Deleted user 24 March 2005 15:15:37
    Nemesis wrote:EEEEEEEEEEEE

    Getting annoying right?

    Yeah. How about the cunt who drives a cunty 50cc moped around the streets in some strange circuit. Over and over and over and over and over again.

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    /pause

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    /pause

    Should I report it?

    Report it? In the expectation of what happening exactly? Best to take direct action.

    Cheesewire between two lamp posts - prob sorted. And if you video it there's 250 big ones coming your way courtesy of You've Been Framed. Everyone's a winner.
  • mentat 24 Mar 2005 15:16:29 5,613 posts
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    Ooooh! May i be permitted a rant here too?
    Thanks.

    I want to learn to drive a bike. Have done for ages, but couldn't afford it. Why is it that any time i bring it up with anyone i always get the 'oh, they are really dangerous you'll kill yourself' line?

    Am i really that bad? I mean, i've been driving for 10+ years now, i think i'm starting to get the hang of it. I was a pillion passenger for many years, so i've seen the stupid things people do to a motorcycle.
    It really annoys me.

    /flippant mode

    I'm just as likly to die getting the train to work in the morning. I'd be really pissed if that's how i went. At least on a bike i'd be having fun...
  • Singularity 24 Mar 2005 15:18:48 3,282 posts
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    They may be dangerous, but they're cool.

    With logic like that, I think I should consider taking up smoking.

    Edited by Singularity at 17:02:51 24-03-2005
  • bainbrge 24 Mar 2005 15:20:40 1,687 posts
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    Nemesis wrote:
    Funniest thing I've seen in a *long* time was a courier came to our building and....


    ...here it comes...


    ..gets on his bike and it's seriously 1ft high. I was watching and he puts the feet on the pedals and he can't see for his own kneecaps.


    Nathan Barley?
  • Deleted user 24 March 2005 15:20:59
    Singularity wrote:
    They may be dangerous, but they're cool.

    With logic that that, I think I should consider taking up smoking.

    The advantage of smoking is that it's big and clever as well.
  • ssuellid 24 Mar 2005 15:21:08 19,142 posts
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    Having come off at around 30mph put me off. I managed to go through the first layer of protective clothing and went through to the foam on the helmet. What really put me off tho was I have no idea of why I crashed. Plus the wife wants me to get a car now.
  • Nemesis 24 Mar 2005 15:21:43 20,312 posts
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    bainbrge wrote:
    Nemesis wrote:
    Funniest thing I've seen in a *long* time was a courier came to our building and....


    ...here it comes...


    ..gets on his bike and it's seriously 1ft high. I was watching and he puts the feet on the pedals and he can't see for his own kneecaps.


    Nathan Barley?

    /doesn't watch so can't comment either way.
  • Singularity 24 Mar 2005 15:22:25 3,282 posts
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    ssuellid wrote:
    What really put me off tho was I have no idea of why I crashed.

    That is always worrying. My only crash was in the snow, and the reason was that I was being a stupid twat and trying to ride in the snow.

    Edited by Singularity at 15:22:48 24-03-2005
  • Salaman 24 Mar 2005 15:28:50 24,162 posts
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    That really pisses me off as well mentat.

    I had a 50cc bike when I was 16 (rode it until it got stolen 3 years later) and I really enjoyed that.

    My dad was adamant I was NOT to have a bike. My mom was like "Sure but I'm not buying you one."
    So I worked a summer and weekends to save up and got it (the benefits of divorced parents .. no way I'd had that bike if my parents were still together).


    Fast forward a few years and I have my (car) drivers license and been working for a while, so I have a bit of extra cash & so I figured I'll use the cash on getting my (bike) license. This way if I ever want to get a bike, I can be off with it right away and not in the situation of being able to get a bike but needing to invest time and money in a license.

    That 6 years ago and've yet to own a bike. ;_;
    Just hasn't worked out yet sofar.
    Yet when I mention to my girlfriend that I definitly want to get a motorbike when I can afford it she starts pouting, looks really sad and spouts one of these lines:

    "No, you can't. They're too dangerous."
    "But I don't want you to die."
    "I don't want anything to happen to you."
    etc.

    GGRRRRR

    Really annoys me.


    Edited by Salaman at 15:30:17 24-03-2005
  • Whizzo 24 Mar 2005 15:34:15 44,810 posts
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    Having heard what happens on a regular basis at the hospital I work at I think the only motorbike I'd really want to ride is a Lawmaster...
  • boo 24 Mar 2005 15:41:39 13,901 posts
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    I turned 38 last Sunday so my mid-life crisis must be just around the corner.

    /heads for Ducati website
  • ssuellid 24 Mar 2005 15:42:56 19,142 posts
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    34 onwards is male midlife crisis time.

    Seemed a bit young to me.
  • oneiros 24 Mar 2005 15:53:40 1,877 posts
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    mentat wrote:
    Why is it that any time i bring it up with anyone i always get the 'oh, they are really dangerous you'll kill yourself' line?
    Heh; any biker will claim that 'someone else will kill you...' I've been riding for about five years now (Suzuki GSF600N) and the number of times I've had to take evasive action when some tit in a tin box hasn't seen me is beyond belief.
  • mal 24 Mar 2005 16:05:30 29,326 posts
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    Post deleted
  • mentat 24 Mar 2005 16:13:41 5,613 posts
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    oneiros wrote:
    mentat wrote:
    Why is it that any time i bring it up with anyone i always get the 'oh, they are really dangerous you'll kill yourself' line?
    Heh; any biker will claim that 'someone else will kill you...' I've been riding for about five years now (Suzuki GSF600N) and the number of times I've had to take evasive action when some tit in a tin box hasn't seen me is beyond belief.
    Yeah, that's the thing though. As a motorcyclist you don't drive around with your eyes shut like most drivers do, because you will die. Is there a single motorcyclist alive that thinks it's the safest form of travel?

    Notice the use of the word alive there...
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