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Luggage

Posted by pete__s <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=pete__s' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 19, 2023, 11:50 am

Apparently a modern adventure bike has to be 1000cc and 125hp to be able to carry the luggage and folk complain they can feel a bit top heavy.

... but ...

Re: Luggage

Posted by Lannis <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Lannis' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 19, 2023, 2:00 pm, in reply to "Luggage"

Necessity is the Mother of Invention.

Incredible the things that folks in "developing countries" learn how to do with bikes. In Bermuda, I've had moms on Vespas pass me with one hand on the throttle, a bag of groceries in her other, a kid in each floorboard, and two more up behind her....

Lannis

At no time in history have the people forcing other people into compliance been the good guys.

Re: Luggage

Posted by geoff the bonnie <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=geoff+the+bonnie' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 19, 2023, 3:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Luggage"

Caribbean, it is common to see Honda step through bikes with a large tall gas bottle strapped across the bike making it 5 foot wide. Seen loads of people with 2 adults and 2 kids all piled on. Morocco main roads have loads of old pedal mopeds they use to ride about 30 miles to work. Many break down but the next one behind seem to always stop to get it going.
What i do see a lot of are 115cc 2 stroke bikes not sold in the uk

Re: Luggage

Posted by Tonupdave <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Tonupdave' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 19, 2023, 3:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Luggage"

Road test of three 125 bikes in MCN last week one a Honda one a Fantic and a Zontes..reading the tests all came out as very good Honda slightly better but performance wise better by far than the 350 Royal Enfield....

Tonupdave..T.U.D.

Re: Luggage

Posted by Beezabryan <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Beezabryan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 19, 2023, 4:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Luggage"

one time I did a test ride a 350 enfield at Watsonian, gutless pos.

BeezaBryan

He knows not where he's going, For the ocean will decide,
Its not the destination, It's the glory of the ride (Edward Monkton, Zen Dog)

Re: Luggage

Posted by Nigel B <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Nigel+B' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 20, 2023, 4:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Luggage"

Strange how different people see the same bikes, Brian. After a road test on a WS era 350 demonstrator I went out & bought one.

It wasn't so much the performance that sold it to me because there wasn't much - particularly as the demonstrator only had a couple of hundred miles on and was really tight. It was the handling - so light & precise compared to modern bikes & just a very different experience. It was the first "British" bike I had ridden, everything before had been Japanese, German, or Italian & nothing with the standard British-style "direct" top gear. I don't think I had experinced somthing with so little transmission backlash it top gear before, such a direct connection between twistgrip & rear wheel.

The bike I bought was an earlier Bavanar import, so "quality" was far below WS standards & it did need a bit of fettling. But it was fun & with a few miles on the clock to free it up and using the revs it could (mostly) hold it's own with A and B road traffic. Road tests of the time mentioned the 350 Bullet's capability to plonk at low revs but also run at higher revs, which mine was happy to do. I only sold it to make room in the garage for something completely different - a Ducati ST2.

It might not have been fast, but it remains the only bike I have ridden around the Nordschleife - probably the slowest lap of the day, but it actually raised a cheer from spectators that I could hear on the bike around one section !

I missed the Bullet enough to get another 4 speed RE later on - a Deluxe 500 that was really not very pleasant in comparison. Very harsh & vibey, it wasn't around long as it just wasn't as nice a bike as the 350.

I came across a picture of the 350 recently that had the reg number visible & was pleased to see that it has a continuous MoT history from when I sold it & that it continues to be used and, presumably, enjoyed.

Nigel B

Re: Luggage

I removed because some of it did not make sense & to change would have lost the pics
Too tired to redo

BeezaBryan

He knows not where he's going, For the ocean will decide,
Its not the destination, It's the glory of the ride (Edward Monkton, Zen Dog)

Re: Luggage

Posted by spriddler <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=spriddler' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 19, 2023, 6:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Luggage"

Pre-Covid I bought a new Honda CBF125 - 'The Grudge Special' to ride to Spain and back with my two sons, 3,400 miles. I had good reason to buy and adapt the Honda as I have only had use of my left arm and a wonky right leg since 2010). Although it 'quicker' than my 350 Matchless it's tedious to ride flat out at 65mph and 10,500 rpm, or it might have been 8,500 rpm, but in any case it needed all 5 gears and zillions of gear changes, even on the flat into a headwind and especially going over the Pyrenees. I sold it shortly afterwards as I missed the steady thump and torque of my 350 single.

Re: Luggage

Posted by 6TDen <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=6TDen' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 19, 2023, 7:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Luggage"

I really salute you Spriddler, I thought I was a motorcyclist but reading your posts and others on here I realise I'm just someone who likes motorcycles. Keep on enjoying your ventures.
Den

Re: Luggage

Posted by Will <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Will' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 19, 2023, 7:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Luggage"

I admire your successful efforts!

Perhaps in retrospect you should have got a KTM 390. Its almost exactly the same as their 125 except for the capacity of the engine. More power, same weight!

Re: Luggage

Well Den, I've been riding and fettling for 60 years except for a break in the 70's when the two sons came along and I sold my Matchless to raise funds to buy my wife a banger of a Mini, so giving up never really ocurred to me. I did a lot of falling off but only when stationary.
It's just a question of finding different ways to do things one-armed (changing a duvet cover was the most difficult!).

Hmm, the KTM looks interesting, especially remarkably it's the same weight as the Honda but I think all modern bikes rely on revs for power which necessitates a lot of gear changing. I chose the Honda as I can't do much roadside fettling and I reckoned I'd be able to get any faults sorted anywhere in Europe.

Oh! I'd edited my first post before reading Den's and Will's later posts as I felt a bit awkward later for wittering on posting the pics and my rambling memory of Spain and the Honda which was off-topic vis-a-vis luggage.

Re: Luggage

Posted by 6TDen <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=6TDen' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 20, 2023, 9:30 am, in reply to "Re: Luggage"

For my money you can carry on wittering as long as you like and I'll keep on enjoying it.
Den

Re: Luggage

Posted by jimmy <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=jimmy' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 20, 2023, 10:51 am, in reply to "Re: Luggage"

I agree with that sentiment Den

Re: Luggage

No such thing as "off topic" when one thing leads to another! Carry on....

Lannis

At no time in history have the people forcing other people into compliance been the good guys.

Re: Luggage

Thanks Den, Jimmy, Lannis. You're too kind,

I enjoy reading of positive outcomes after setbacks, be they mechanical, electrical (or medical) as biking should be a joyful hobby, but it does seem ironic that usually we first have to bear the frustration of something needing attention before we can bask in the pleasure and satisfaction of fixing it.

Re: Luggage

Posted by JERRY <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=JERRY' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on January 20, 2023, 2:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Luggage"

Spot on Sprid, but as we get older and the fixing it bug wears off it's so nice to be able to just put the key in the ignition push a button and go for a nice ride knowing your are going to get home. That's why my garage is now full of Jap bikes. I did enjoy the old days and so glad I grew up in the 60's.

The oldest rocker in town!

Re: Luggage

I am not grown up yet Jerry. Maybe in another 30 years