Today my bike had a good washdown before being tucked up tight against the garage wall for winter with the optimate connected.
I last rode it 2 weeks ago on a group ride where the leader felt he had to find roads covered in crapp and a late return home that day meant it was still filthy.
Roll on March when I will:
remember why I love my bike!
get my finger out and re-do my Rospa test
get the bike serviced just before the end of its Kawasaki extended warranty
get the TP sensors replaced under warranty - already agreed by K
get the rear brake re-call mod done
plan an alpine trip for summer
P
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XhKrQib1bJU/UKeeIXgOcNI/AAAAAAAAAo8/StjHm2KjqBA/s512/20121117_131745.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bl8aCpxlS_8/UKed7yMs9XI/AAAAAAAAAo0/daXJxZXoDb8/s512/20121117_131806.jpg)
Its far too early to be putting the bike away. :mfr_lol: Plenty of good riding days yet, surely?
I'd usually agree with you but I've hardly used the bike this year (accident in springtime and 12 weeks to get it fixed, 2 house moves and a bereavement) so spare time now has to be getting new house in some semblence of order before Christmas.
Cold weather/winter riding isn't for everyone to be fair :wink: and at the moment I'm really feeling the cold, probably cos I'm a skinny git now. :embarrassed:
But I do keep my bike available right through winter, taxed and insured and ready to rumble.
I have considered, for the first time ever, buying a winter hack bike, and have looked at the Versys 650, but TBH I'm not well enough yet to consider even shoving an empty wheelbarrow down the road :mfr_lol: so I'll wait and see how things progress. :popcorn:
Quote from: olde coney on November 18, 2012, 08:22:54 AM
Cold weather/winter riding isn't for everyone to be fair :wink: and at the moment I'm really feeling the cold, probably cos I'm a skinny git now. :embarrassed:
But I do keep my bike available right through winter, taxed and insured and ready to rumble.
I have considered, for the first time ever, buying a winter hack bike, and have looked at the Versys 650, but TBH I'm not well enough yet to consider even shoving an empty wheelbarrow down the road :mfr_lol: so I'll wait and see how things progress. :popcorn:
Always the same at this time of year, thoughts turn to what the bike will look like if it's used all winter..... Still trying to get my head around the idea that it's a means of transport..... same as the car...and I wouldn't lay the car up over the winter :grin:
As far as a winter hack is concerned... the cost to buy/run will surely be more than the depreciation of the GTR when run through winter....and if you make an effort to clean it regularly it should come out the other end looking pretty much how it went in :yes:
At least I've got the (relative) luxury of a 28 mile round commute, for only 3 days a week, with the car sitting there if I decide I need it :cool:
I have to ride through the winter in my commuting mode but have recently been leaving the bike at work .. massive underground warm garage complex .... after "Days", leave it there for "Nights", then get an early train up for my next "Early/Day" ... that way I don't have a cold 65 mile ride home after a long set of shifts or an early ride in and I save a bit of fuel too ..... I have the ACF50 to hand !! :laugh: oh ... and I can clean the bike at work too ...so it's always looking good !! :mfr_lol:
Quote from: Rusty on November 18, 2012, 02:49:39 PM
"Nights",
I remember them...nowadays I consider I'm working a late shift if I'm not finished by 4pm :whistling:
Never put the bikes away in winter, having said that it would be stupid to ride in very cold weather, so the bikes would stay in the garage until an above + 5C day came along.
Did our first Toy Run of the year today, only a short one ,10miles, Never got out of 2nd gear.We have 4 more to do before xmas, the next 4 sundays, its worth every inch just to see the kids faces.
zedmeister, totally agree, I intend to do a local one in December.
My GTR is in garage but not tucked up. Got my Tiger back on road yesterday so did commute back to work (175miles) on that for first time since July. Still a lovely comfy bike but I miss my big screen, stonking power and fuel economy.
My hands get colder on the tiger even with those hand guards than on the unguarded GTR's. The mirrors must do a good job of moving airflow. Come to think of it, they don't get that wet either!
Yea .....Thanks for that really useful input Bryn !! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Its really strange, I'm now properly commuting (110miles per day) on my 2010 and I find if you stick to the motorway (+10%) :-). The mirrors really do make such a big difference compared to the mk1.
I know there was lots of discussions when it first came out with adjusted mirrors, but they are really fantastic.
Neil
Quote from: Rusty on November 18, 2012, 07:43:38 PM
Yea .....Thanks for that really useful input Bryn !! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
You're very welcome :kiss: