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Lagoon to Lake
Posted by Nigel B on July 21, 2024, 5:50 pm
New bike day for me on Thursday - changed my Lagoon Blue Classic 500 for a Lake Blue Himalayan 411.
I enjoyed the Classic for over 3 years & 6200 miles (2900 of those since 1st May this year), but the riding position was causing me problems. From the waist upwards it was fine - probably the best handlebar shape & fit for comfort I have experienced since having an airhead R100RT. But from the waist down the relationship between the seat & the footpegs was increasingly problematic, with the resultant acute leg angle aggrevating my wearing-out left hip.
The Himalayan footpegs are lower & further back, giving a more "open" hip angle and (so far) less discomfort. Early days yet, with 70 miles covered (slowly - 40mph max for the first 300 miles !) Thursday & another 150 Friday, so only 80 or so to do before first service on Wednesday morning.
Not a particularly straightforward change this time - the dealer who supplied my Interceptor & Mrs B's Scram was (at best) off hand and offered a derisory P/X. Another local dealer had the colour I wanted in stock & I got the deal I had in mind - effectively getting £1100 more P/x than the first dealer offered. I did the deal Monday and, as the bike was in stock, was able to take delivery Thursday (Mrs B had to wait over a fortnight for her in-stock Scram to take it's turn through the other workshop due to a staff shortage).
Insurance was another headache. Mrs B added the Scram to her policy as an extra bike for around £80 including the £30 "broker fee", so I was expecting much the same. Wrong assumption ! Carole Nash wanted £665 + £35 "broker fee" to change the Classic 500 to the Himalayan for the 8 1/2 months remaining on the policy (more then double the initial premium for the year ! ). So I ended up taking out a new 3 bike policy for a year with Bikesure, cancelled the CN policy and saved over £300 on CN's change price. At least the nice lady who handled the cancellation at CN waived the £40 "cancellation fee" as the reason for the cancellation lay with their inability to be competitive. CN are increasinly difficult to deal with & seem determined to price themselves out of business - I am glad to be away from them. Pity Peter James have never been competitive for me.
Pictures might follow at some point, but I guess most will know what a 411 Himalayan looks like by now.
Nigel B.
Re: Lagoon to Lake
Posted by Andy C on July 21, 2024, 7:39 pm, in reply to "Lagoon to Lake"
Sorry to hear of your CN issues.
They were very good to me when I called to remove 2 bikes (865 Speedmaster and 660 trident) and replace with the 1200 Speedmaster, and leave the Him on the policy.
The person I spoke to explained that as my policy was in the "renewal window" the change would cost me nothing.
Good job I was sat down !! Anyway within minutes the updated paperwork arrived so I had the proof that I was insured on the 1200.
It gets better, the renewal premium is very good, less than last year as you would expect, so will be sticking with them this time around.
KH is on a classic policy with a company called Grove an Dean - read their reviews it was a mistake they have a very poor reputation, but when I was looking for quotes they gave me what I wanted, this year it is looking like Bennets for the KH renewal in Sept.Who needs a signature anyway......
Re: Lagoon to Lake
Posted by Sparrow on July 22, 2024, 7:14 pm, in reply to "Re: Lagoon to Lake"
The best fully comp insurance I had was with Brandaris. Head office Amsterdam. They were dirt cheap but never paid out. Was I bovered - nah. Believe the main man’s name was Savundra. Anyone remember him.
Re: Lagoon to Lake
Posted by Beezabryan on July 22, 2024, 7:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Lagoon to Lake"
Known to his family as EmilBeezaBryan
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: Lagoon to Lake
Posted by Sparrow on July 23, 2024, 8:26 am, in reply to "Re: Lagoon to Lake"
And to others, err, a sharp operator.
Re: Lagoon to Lake
Posted by Beezabryan on July 23, 2024, 11:30 am, in reply to "Re: Lagoon to Lake"
or some such expletiveBeezaBryan
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)