Tank Slap - Motorcycle Forum

Nice write up Cookie. I can imagine the 7500 rpm rev ceiling is strange to get used to coming from sportsbikes as Jane has.

You obviously have to ride this type of bike differently and that's not for everyone.

Duke makes good suggestions and the supersport in particular sounds a great option. Hope you can test rides and write up a review.

Make her buy it!! That will be the perfect bike for me to borrow after my lunchtime sleep ins when I come to visit

Looking forward to seeing what she settles on, there is not the gap in performance between the sporties and this group as there used to be, but you pick up a fair bit of usability and comfort.

kiwikrasher wrote:Make her buy it!! That will be the perfect bike for me to borrow after my lunchtime sleep ins when I come to visit

Looking forward to seeing what she settles on, there is not the gap in performance between the sporties and this group as there used to be, but you pick up a fair bit of usability and comfort.

I would suggest the gap is wider than ever imo and its the increased performance of a modern sportsbike that makes these bikes appeal to so many. Not many people want the performance of a Pani V4 or S1000RR these days. Sportsbikes is an extremely niche market these days.

kiwikrasher wrote:Make her buy it!! That will be the perfect bike for me to borrow after my lunchtime sleep ins when I come to visit

Looking forward to seeing what she settles on, there is not the gap in performance between the sporties and this group as there used to be, but you pick up a fair bit of usability and comfort.

It takes a while for decisions to soak in with Mrs C. I'd be happy with one as it's easy to ride and makes a nice noise.

Tbh out here it would still outrun most sportsbikes in the right hands.

This may take a while, but I'm taking her to a city based dealer of many brands next week so she can have a play on a few more

Considered selling it.

How come? Because you're not using it?

If you ever want to get out just shout

Kwacky wrote:How come? Because you're not using it?

Partly that, partly down to a possible change in my work situation.

Basically, I'm coming up to the end of my 5 year tour at Cosford. I've asked to extend it, so that I can do the last 2 years of my career here.
The powers that be have said no, so I'm left with the options of...
A) a regular posting anywhere in the UK
This would be standard procedure

B) a posting to an Army base an hour away
This is what's been offered to me. I really do not want this.

C) a posting to Brize Norton
This is what I've asked for, on the understanding that a few sections there run a 4 on, 4 off shift pattern.

And this is where the contemplation comes in.

Brize is just over 100 miles away. That's a two hour trip, plenty of motorway, bit boring really.
Tolerable in the summer, but it's going to wear pretty thin in the winter or the rain.
100 miles every 4 days doesn't sound much, its only just under 10,000 miles a year. But I know how crappy a 2 hour trip is in low temperatures. Can I handle that for several months of the year?

So I'm tempted to sell up and get a car for the trip. And then I'm torn between a mile-munching diesel for great mpg and no fun or something that I could still have a little fun in and take one of the kids out in, like an MX-5.

I'm still waiting on the final word, so I can't make a decision until then.

Maybe I just need to man the **** up. (And get some decent winter kit!)

If you ever want to get out just shout

Cheers mate, I really appreciate the offer. I should've got out more over the last month or two, just haven't the drive.

Brize is a decent jaunt when it's cold and wet. Good kit makes the world of difference but you'll still want 4 wheels when it's wintery.

That's what I thought.

I'm sure if I do make the trade it'll only be temporary. I'll have 2 years there and then that's my time in the RAF done, and I'm sure there'll be a nice bike waiting for my bonus.

Itchy wrote:
Partly that, partly down to a possible change in my work situation.

Basically, I'm coming up to the end of my 5 year tour at Cosford..

I know I've been off the radar for a bit but sorry mate, I forgot you were just down the road

It's all good mate, it's my own fault.
It'd be a nice day and I'd come up with a rubbish excuse as to why I shouldn't go out on it.

I don't know, maybe I just lost my mojo a bit and this new work situation has compounded matters.

Hopefully the move won't come until November, by which time I can apply to keep my housing here because my daughter will have started her GCSE years. So I'll still be around.

It's a shame you can't stay where you are for just 2 more years.

Just a thought, you won't enjoy the MX5 in winter at all. They're a cold, noisy and uncomfortable car if you don't fit right. My brother-in-law has a Mk2 (used to have a Mk1) and his has the luxury heated leather seats. It's still frigging cold in that thing. Also, I'm only 5'9" and my head touches the roof support bar. My brother in law has to recline the seat right back as he's 5'11". I couldn't drive that thing for more than half hour, it's frustrating though as the car is otherwise quite fun although you have to rev it out to get the fun out of it.

What about selling the current bike and replacing with a cheaper bike and car. Best of both worlds. Nice 100 mile commute on the bike and the car if the wether is bad.

Yeah. Buy my versys

Package it in with a car and he might do a swap

My wife has got an old Nissan note. She won't notice of it goes missing.

Sounds like a deal

Blade wrote:What about selling the current bike and replacing with a cheaper bike and car. Best of both worlds. Nice 100 mile commute on the bike and the car if the wether is bad.

I'd have to sell the bike to allow the funds for a car. If I split that fund between a car AND a bike I'm not sure I'd have a decent model of either.

Cav wrote:It's a shame you can't stay where you are for just 2 more years.

You're not wrong mate. I desperately wanted it, me and my management team have tried to protest, but to no avail.

Cav wrote: Just a thought, you won't enjoy the MX5 in winter at all. They're a cold, noisy and uncomfortable car if you don't fit right. My brother-in-law has a Mk2 (used to have a Mk1) and his has the luxury heated leather seats. It's still frigging cold in that thing. Also, I'm only 5'9" and my head touches the roof support bar. My brother in law has to recline the seat right back as he's 5'11". I couldn't drive that thing for more than half hour, it's frustrating though as the car is otherwise quite fun although you have to rev it out to get the fun out of it.

I appreciate the heads up, it'll definitely be something to bear in mind.

By the looks of the thread though, it seems I'll be driving Mrs Kwacky's car without her knowledge when I'm not riding a Versys.
Presumably on some kind of extortionate payment plan!

Have you considered hiring a car or even a short term lease?

How much would your bike sale raise ?

Some cracking cheap cars and bikes about. Your budget might go further than you think if you shop wisely.