Been -2 to -3 here as well. Not much short of snow or sheet ice stops me from getting to work though. I made sure heated grips had been fitted to my bike before I picked it up.
I bought a new GoPro Hero 2018 (full size with better longer lasting battery that can be swapped out) to replace my GoPro Session. I also moved the camera from a side mount to a chin mount. Better footage and no wind drag. Made a setup like some of the moto vlogers so it sits reasonably flush. I have mounted the old Session to the rear of the bike as a backwards facing cam. It gets a good view along with what my rear wheel is doing and my indicators. Very happy with the new setup. The GoPro session clicks out of its mount very easily so the mount just stays on the bike and I put the camera in my pocket.
Just something to note I am 5ft4 and my head isn't very big so this helmet is an XXS with a small shell size so it makes the camera look even bigger. I make my 400 look so big sat on it
https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/1055/6f72f03f-5d3a-453c-b5ab-2844459fe564/chincam resize.jpg
https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/1055/0946306e-22b6-4407-86d4-0dc5d9c1bc3c/rearcam resize.jpg
Just a quick clip so you can see the views you get. I was going to upload two separate full size clips for each camera but I was in the process of placing a black box over the number plate on rear cam and decided to just stick the front camera there instead. This did have sound but the place I uploaded it too removed it. The front camera is a mixture of wind and a little engine but the rear camera is out of the wind and near the exhaust so you get a nice clear exhaust note from it.
https://giant.gfycat.com/LightheartedAggravatingDuck.webm
I occasionally mount a camera as far back on the rear rack facing forward and hanging out slightly to one side (doesn't stick out past the exhaust though so I don't clobber it)
Gets some pretty neat shots:
https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/57957/ed6188fc-93f8-4a47-9bee-68d4bf192569/bike2.jpg
https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/57957/cf9859eb-5c29-489e-b0e5-bbd7630b0645/bike.jpg
Haven't been riding much lately, not that the cold stops me that much. I've got some cheap Chinese grip heaters that work wonders, if you're ready to wire I would recommend them, mostly because they're so cheap they can only be worth it, but they also do work.
I haven't been riding because my bike tipped over on New Year's Eve. Heavy wind, it was sitting in the parking lot with a cover over it. Me and my friend were worried it was too windy so we went to check on our bikes and of course mine had fallen on the left side. That's a new mirror, clutch lever and turn signal. It also broke the front fairing, no idea how I'd get a replacement for that, maybe I just won't ever. And then it broke the fairing stay, where the mirror screws in. So it's been sitting without fairing. I ordered new parts except for the fairing. Haven't gotten the fairing stay yet. Got the other stuff, but the turn signals aren't much use since they sit in the front fairing, which because of the slightly bent fairing stay, can't sit on the bike. Riding without turn signals isn't that fun so I haven't really been doing it. The fairing stay should show up soon and then I'll at least be able to ride with a broken fairing.
Was a nice and sunny 2 degrees today....but didn't stop a friend and I doing a 110 mile round trip because we were itching for a ride
https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/110137/32fcae29-b079-473c-8399-8007da999cb3/image.png
A work colleague of mine has a Ducati 999 and the stand is so short on the bike he carries a piece of wood around with him to place on the ground so the bike doesn't just fall over. Even with the wood keeping the bike a bit further up it still looks like it's going to tip over.
Looking at 2nd hand CB500's found a nice one not too far from home, hopefully soon I'll be bringing that home as my first bike.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz5Jbalm8TA
My bike is a stupid pedestrian magnet. Holy fuck
wtf who in their right mind just walks off like that without leaving any form of id or number behind? (atleast it looked like that from the vid)
Legally she doesn't have to which is dumb, she was late for her job interview apparently
You certainly aren't the luckiest of people. I hope that's all your fall for 2019.
On another note I too had a fun encounter today. Started to rain sleet minutes before leaving work. Exiting roundabout as normal and someone felt like making this day that bit more memorable. A good reminder to do better shoulder checks in future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjPTj8cwVKE&feature=youtu.be
Registered for bike license starting this march. Pretty hype.
Mate riding in London is something else I tell you. Might be moving Glasgow soon so at least I won't be dealing with as many cunts I hope
You'll be lucky, they're everywhere.
Sleet is the worst, I hate the way it sticks to your visor.
Representing FP with fantastic gymnastics
https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/205317/5b8d5cda-6184-4779-8212-a16f7e0157e8/20190123_125522.mp4
"ohohoho you barely fit"
I'm sorry. I let out an immature giggle.
nice stunts though
Is a Yamaha FZ-07 too torque-y for a first bike? I don't have a lot of riding experience but I have good throttle control and I've ridden an R6 and Suzuki Bandit 600. ( Ridden 3 times each )
I love naked bikes and just want something that has power to shit-n-git but without propelling me like a rocket.
You can get them restricted, however I'm not sure if that is an option in the US, I know it is in Australia and Europe (Called MT07 over here) due to the LAMs or A2 licences.
Could always look at an FZ6, doesn't have that low down torque that'd kill you as a first bike.
Yeah I think I could probably just order or have someone I know make some Restrictor Plates for it. I mean, they do it in Nascar and it's just a piece of metal, how hard could it be?
Most modern bikes are restricted by the ECU rather than a restrictor plate, you can always try it but ehh if you're not fully confident on getting on something like the FZ-07 I'd get something else until you're more comfortable
Well I've watched a lot on the way people ride it, it seems within my skill level but I'll get my license and test ride one before I buy.
The FZ6R was my first choice but it's kinda a neutered R6 and I don't care for the styling, I like my bikes nude ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) and the FZ-09 scares the hell out of me, I'd buy the MT/FZ-10 before I bought the 09, merely because you can't power wheelie at all lmao.
Is the FZ6n sold in the US? That's what I've got, same engine as the FZ6R
Just ride it with respect and you'll be fine, don't bother with any of this restrictor nonsense, unless it makes your insurance cheaper you'll be fine. For context, the FZ-o7 has something like 50lbft torque, my first bike was a Bonneville T120 which makes more like 75lbft. I've never had a problem with it, but I started out carefully, got used to the handling and worked my way up to really chucking it about over the space of 2 years. I've done 15,000 happy miles in that time. I feel like this should be the way everyone learns to ride anyway.
The only reason not to do so is if the insurance is unaffordable or you are a bonehad with no self control.
So I have spent the past couple years riding in all 4 seasons in the same black textiles and decided I wanted something new for summer riding and track days. My old gear below.
https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/1055/77f5ccc6-d625-4789-80e3-3688d10f1d0f/textiles.jpg
Went with an RST set. RST Tractech Evo CE Waterproof Boots, RST Tractech Evo Race CE Glove, RST Tractech Evo 3 CE Leather Jeans and RST Tractech Evo 3 CE Leather Jacket. Had to be green to match the bike.
https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/1055/dcaf7079-3367-40d7-98c2-81b2275696f4/RST leathers.jpg
I just need some better weather now.
Oh yeah this thread is still here.
Well I guess I can post what I've been doing. Been replacing my fairing stay so I can put my upper fairing back on.
I don't think I need to point out which one is new.
Aside from that I've been trying to get some more storage space. Got a tankbag and then screw in some angle brackets for mounting stuff.
The brackets sit pretty well actually, not blocking anything. Sadly the bags sit kinda low and sometimes touch the exhaust, so I'm waiting for some cheap heatshields off of ebay. I tried a bunch of things to make them sit a little higher, but I think attaching heatshields is probably the easier solution.
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/499005532791767051/549232433917198336/JPEG_20190224_151313.jpg
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/238284986417938433/548857498627735552/JPEG_20190223_142315.jpg
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/499005532791767051/549276820688863255/JPEG_20190224_180918.jpg
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/499005532791767051/550377910318661636/IMG_20190227_185839.jpg
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/499005532791767051/550378008628822016/IMG_20190227_185554.jpg
You can barely see the crack in the fairing, so I probably won't end up replacing it. It's too much effort to find one that matches.
Hey I can finally join this thread now. I bought a 2015 Ninja 300 ABS about a month and a half ago as my first motorcycle; it has been great fun so far and is an excellent beginner bike. Pictured below you can see my little Ninja nestled up in its overnight parking spot, my apt. living room:
https://imgur.com/a/1En2jso
What you cannot see here is the battlescars on its right side from me lowsiding it twice. Since then I've replaced the damaged controls, have acquired more protective gear (all I need now to be fully decked out is a pair of riding pants), and have been doing lots of studying and practicing of proper riding technique.
I've mainly been commuting on it to work and around town, but yesterday I went on my first joyride in the twisties of the Texas Hill Country, 204 mi. round trip. Even though it's my first bike so I don't have much to compare it to, the Ninja 300 was totally in its element in the twisties, it is definitely designed for that shit.
Now I'm just cursing the weather all the time because I live in south Texas but it has been yucky damp weather almost every weekend for months now, wtf!
Also if you're street riding, ABS is totally worth it. It has already saved my bacon once or twice and I don't think I would ever want a non-track bike without it.
So I moved to Scotland, it's fucking cold riding that's for sure
It's nice having a garage to work on things though, what a different it makes being in a garage tightening the chain, cleaning it or doing other work on the bike
There were really strong winds over the weekend. My major concern after the winds stopped was my bike, worrying it may have tipped over as I park it outside in a car park.
Checking the bike revealed that the bike was fortunately still upright. However, my bike cover disappeared. Absolutely nowhere to be found.
Now I had to order bike cover because of Mother Nature.
Thanks nature.
I'm thankful every day that I have a garage to store my bike in and do maintenance. I would constantly be paranoid about the bike if I didn't have access to one regardless of trackers, chains and disc locks. That and as you say mother nature.
I'm glad you got a garage to store your bike in! I so wish I had a garage.
With my bike it's even worse than I initially described. Nearly constant anxiety. I live in a rented flat but I can't even park it anywhere near the building because it's allegedly "private property" of another flat owner.
So what that leaves me is to park it on a free motorcycle parking space, 3-4 minutes walk away from where I live... next to a main road...
My chain, disc lock, and bike cover are my only lines of defense against theft.
I really hate living around these parts, all cramped up with nowhere to put your vehicle. Imagine if I had a car, where would I hypothetically park that?
help
It's really shitty that us owners in the UK need so much security, I didn't even think about getting any other security back in aus, relied purely on the steering lock and knew it'd still be there when I got back. Sadly its never going to be a priority for the UK police
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