london

[c4aok]

Meldrew riding a bicycle is a betrayal even during national bike week. With the evenings getting darker london is plagued by large numbers of cyclists riding without lights and dark clothing. With the increased popularity of cycling the problem is growing. Adds extra stress to london journeys.

[Deleted User 796]

It's par for the course mate, when has any Muppets topic not strayed off subject and I doubt very much if anyone is getting wound up, least of all me.

I'm going out on me 2 leg power push bike to have a mooch round York Food Festival, then later I'll bake some bread with one of the 4 types of organic flour I bought at the Watermill at Little Salkeld in Cumbria at the weekend. The Silver Wing is due a MOT too so I'll have to organise that, retirement is great!

I enjoy the banter, I hope noone is genuinely angry with this thread. After all we're all just a bunch of opinionated saddos on a scooter forum winding each other up

And c4aok, if it wasn't for all the tossers in cars, the cyclists and bikers wouldn't have to fight through the queues!

[Globs]

Big fast scooters are boring as hell and more dangerous than small ones, as well as noisier and more thirsty. And expensive.

A 125 is plenty - if you can go faster than lorries that's all you need. Remember this is Britain, the absurd claims that motorway traffic runs at about 85mph is just so much tosh and makes we wonder if anyone actually bothers looking at their speedo or has GPS at all. Certainly on the M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M10, M11, M20, M25, A14, A1M, M62 a speed of over 60mph is perfectly safe and out of the lorry zone, and at 70 you will be overtaking most people (but not all).

If you want to overtake everyone, any time you should join the traffic division of the police force or become a pilot. If you accept that somewhere, someone will be going faster than you then use the rear view mirrors and use any bike/scooter than will top 60mph.

As long as you keep from getting too tired, keep observing and allow for everyone being pushy in London you'll be fine. Be patient too. The biggest risk in London in my experience is pizza delivery guys filtering past you at speed as they are experienced and fearless on tiny bikes with a mission - so stay aware of your surroundings. Generally free parking in all car parks - even London Wall which actually is a really nice one next to the excellent London Museum (free with cafe and loos!).

[Gerard C]

Always someone has to spoil things. if common sense and logic are being allowed on this forum then we are doomed I tell you doomed. Have whatever opinion on Solo you want to hold, but by Gum the Lad creates interesting threads. Be a dull place without the likes of him and Meldrew.

[c4aok]

I detest small scooters and cyclists and never found them fun. If I am riding in london they are the ones who ride/cycle as if they have a death wish. They generally have no training or experience.

I also hate tossers in mercedes, bmws etc who drive at warp speed. I drive or ride at appropriate speed to the conditions. I will do 90mph in car on an empty road in good conditions but in bad weather I slow down drastically. Most drivers do not!

I bought the gp800 because I wanted something fast and fun not because I wanted to ride it like a lunatic. I do participate in the traffic light drag but rarely ride above 70 on any road. The stalling problem on the gp has dented my enthusiasm somewhat and the hassle and running costs do not benchmark well.

[Globs]

I detest small scooters

Have you ridden a decent modern (2010 on) 125cc scooter? What was it, when and where did you go?
They are rather good.

Hell, the original C90 is a hoot to ride too, and commonly used for huge tours around the world.
No need for expensive lardy tanks, every extra kg robbing the fun.

[frankiej1949]

c4oak you have been away from the north for to o long we don't have chips on our shoulders anymore, we go for the healthy option "Potato Wedges"!!!

[c4aok]

I hate the volvo with a passion but outvoted by rest of family and I rarely drive it but safe as a tank.

I get that the modern 125s are smooth and fuel efficient and they are fine in london but they have no presence or turn of speed on the open road and people associate them with hated pizza boys. They crash through pot holes with little wheels and I hate the lightness.

I started most of my serious riding on an mp3 which has so much weight that anything after it feels lightweight and flimsy. The mp3 is a hugely underrated piece of kit alhough mine has remained unloved with a flat battery since I discovered the addictive but so far unreliable gp800. The power of the gp800 is hugely addictive. It is like an M3 or M5 ..... Completely over the top for what you need but great fun when it all works.

[Globs]

So if you haven't ridden a modern 125 I can't see how you can detest them TBH.
Also don't mistake small wheels for crap suspension, however the SH125 and SYM HD125 have 16" wheels.

120mpg isn't such a bad thing either TBH.

As for the looks, I'm not worried about looking like a pizza boy on any scooter but if you bring up image - a 3 wheeled scooter is something I can never buy for purely aesthetic reasons - I can't stand to look at them. Shame as I suspect they are rather practical!

I understand the GP800 has wonderful power yes, the fun of a small scooter is different - not the rush of adrenaline and fear, no competing with cars etc, it's just a type of grin inducing fun for being on something so light and responsive - and the runnings costs are a constant source of fun too!

You may notice that my current ride is a rather large 330cc scooter, it's a magnificently competent machine but ultimately it's a little too good for what I want from a scooter so it confirms my original hypothesis: the lighter and smaller the more fun a bike/scooter is.

[ALY]

I take it you mean the BMW M3 and M5 cars, classic penis substitutes for insecure middle aged men with tiny cocks.[/quote]


What colour is your BMW then?