Bikers!?

[George S]

The Skwal is just terrible. I bought one and the road noise is crap!

Before you go and buy what the salesman tells you is a top line helmet go to SHARP - THE HELMET SAFETY SCHEME and check out the helmets. i was surprised to find a lot of the helmets i thought were trash were better than some top brands. it pays to do a little research!

I have had a couple of Helmets, and the Shark before i bought the Shoei was the Best Helmet i have had.

Friend bought the Riddle and she is very happy with it. Was looking btween that and the Airoh Valor as it was her first Helmet. Airoh just didn't fit right.

 

[R4C3]

Bike Burn 10-12 May gents who is going? Like Afrika Burn for Bikes . Alfie Cox will be there to teach the okes how to ride plastics...... If you own one.

 

[ovisser1]

Since I sold the other two. New toy:
Already removed the panniers and the carry rack.
Now just need proper lever protectors.

 

[Sub-lime]

Have a look at the Caberg Duke from DMD racing. It's 2.8k but 5 star safety rating with Sharp.

It gets a far higher rating that the Shoei GT for less than half the price.

 

[Flex]

There is an 8 hour endurance race later this year on 150s. Brothers friends has one, so we decided we are going to do it!
So rode it for the first time and got some practice in. Great fun! Feels very strange at first though.

 

[H31Nk]

There is an 8 hour endurance race later this year on 150s. Brothers friends has one, so we decided we are going to do it!
So rode it for the first time and got some practice in. Great fun! Feels very strange at first though.

Hey dude, where can I get more info?

 

[Mikel89]

Hey dude, where can I get more info?

Wil jy nog 'n fiets opdonder?

 

[Flex]

Hey dude, where can I get more info?

9 hour Honda 150 endurance race at Vereeniging on 30 November. 3 or 4 riders per team

 

[Flex]

Was a fun race. A prang or 20, but no extremely serious injuries

 

[iamgigglz]

Haha! What a pic!

 

[Sub-lime]

looks good!

 

[shavenmotley]

First bike recommendations and where to look please (preferably dealerships - financing)?

Dream bike - has been the RE Classic 500 but it's purely the aesthetic.

 

[Eraser]

First bike recommendations and where to look please (preferably dealerships - financing)?

Dream bike - has been the RE Classic 500 but it's purely the aesthetic.

My and only my opinion. Also depending how mature you are.
I would say a 600 Supersport.
And yes 100 ppl are going to say it's too much and to fast and blah blah blah.
Reason being if you not a child you comfortably run it under the power band which starts at like 8 to 9k rpm. Before the power band it's a very calm bike.
Then as you get comfortable after 2 or 3 months you can start moving up in the rev range.
I learned on a 600 and I'm still around just be sensibly.
Everyone that says buy a 300 to me is silly because after 3 months you going to want something faster.

My 2 cents.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[Flex]

My and only my opinion. Also depending how mature you are.
I would say a 600 Supersport.
And yes 100 ppl are going to say it's too much and to fast and blah blah blah.
Reason being if you not a child you comfortably run it under the power band which starts at like 8 to 9k rpm. Before the power band it's a very calm bike.
Then as you get comfortable after 2 or 3 months you can start moving up in the rev range.
I learned on a 600 and I'm still around just be sensibly.
Everyone that says buy a 300 to me is silly because after 3 months you going to want something faster.

My 2 cents.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

Would rather say a NC700 or similar. Most people can't even handle a 600cc superbike.
So something like the NC is perfect to learn on, and can still ride for years after that

 

[Spectaitor]

@shavenmotley Coming from someone who hasn't ridden since 15 years ago but who is getting his first motorcycle later this year. I have done way too much reading and been to dealerships to sit on bikes and feel how they sit.

Have a look at the different bike ergonomics, you can then make an informed decision from then. Next consider how you will be riding, a sport bike wont be anywhere near as friendly to commute on as almost any other bike type. Power is a big for most. Many people are split on the 300 vs 600cc starter - you must choose how you wanna ride, a quote that got me "It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than fast bike slow".

There's a bunch of other stuff but I'm a fan of adv or touring bikes, @Flex 's suggestion is a great one for an everyday commuter bike or one where you favour your butt, seems like a tame beginner too. @Eraser 's suggestion of the sport is great if you aren't going to pile a bunch of hours on the bike very quickly coz your body won't like it - if you think you'd want to ride really fast then a sport would be great too.

In the end I'm left on two choices for myself. The Kawa Ninja 400 and the Kawa Z400. One is a naked bike and the other a sport.

 

[shavenmotley]

Thanks @Spectaitor @Flex @Eraser. I have heard (YouTube videos) that it is good to go to the dealerships and sit on the bikes and feel. Bike will be primarily for commute purposes. With the two recommendations - Supersport and NC700 - I think I may be too small. 😅 I'm 1.7m so I do need a lower seat height. I rode a friend's XR 125 L - liked it but a little uncomfortable. I like the idea of a dual purpose or naked. Someone actually recommended a Yamaha MT as well - I really need to go sit on these things and gauge. I'm in Pretoria - any recommendations on dealers to go to (here and JHB)?

 

[Flex]

Thanks @Spectaitor @Flex @Eraser. I have heard (YouTube videos) that it is good to go to the dealerships and sit on the bikes and feel. Bike will be primarily for commute purposes. With the two recommendations - Supersport and NC700 - I think I may be too small. 😅 I'm 1.7m so I do need a lower seat height. I rode a friend's XR 125 L - liked it but a little uncomfortable. I like the idea of a dual purpose or naked. Someone actually recommended a Yamaha MT as well - I really need to go sit on these things and gauge. I'm in Pretoria - any recommendations on dealers to go to (here and JHB)?

You will easily be able to sit on most road bikes. Adventure bikes might be a different story. an XR125 has a very narrow seat.
Dealer will depend on which kind of bike you are looking for. Head over to CIT, they usually have lots of bikes new and second hand.

 

[D3TTOL]

I have the perfect bike for you.
KTM 1290 Superduke R.
Very tame when at idle. Won't flip you over at all if traction control is disabled.

On a serious note. I wouldn't go superbike in your position. There are plenty of other better options in my opinion. The NC 700/750 would be one of the bikes I would suggest as someone else has previously done so.
Suzuki Sv650 is a good beginner bike, MT07 is also a good bike, comes in a faired version as well.
Kawasaki comes with the 650ninja which is in the same power class.
Ducati 696 etc are in the same power range as well.

They are good bikes to get in grips of power and get used to how a bike handles.

 

[Oj0]

Some blind twat just about took me to the ground now. He starts drifting into my lane and slowing down hard. My back wheel locks up and the rear starts swinging around. I let go of the back brake but I'm too hard on the front brake for the wheel to get traction again, and I can't let off the front brake or I'll go straight into him. I don't understand the physics that kept me upright with the angles I hit - I can only think that practising emergency stops on a weekly basis on empty roads saved my bacon now. 15 minutes have passed and I'm still feeling shaken.

 

[Flex]

Some blind twat just about took me to the ground now. He starts drifting into my lane and slowing down hard. My back wheel locks up and the rear starts swinging around. I let go of the back brake but I'm too hard on the front brake for the wheel to get traction again, and I can't let off the front brake or I'll go straight into him. I don't understand the physics that kept me upright with the angles I hit - I can only think that practising emergency stops on a weekly basis on empty roads saved my bacon now. 15 minutes have passed and I'm still feeling shaken.

Glad you are okay!
Had similar thing happen to me last week. Approached a green light and slacked down as I saw the bakkie that wanted to turn right (oncoming) was pulling forward slowly even though the arrow turning was red for him. As I got to the intersection he decided to gas it, hopped onto the brakes, back sliding around. Had to swing out and hop over a curb. When I got the him and asked wtf he was doing, he calmly said, red means choice....

 

[Flex]

I have the perfect bike for you.
KTM 1290 Superduke R.
Very tame when at idle. Won't flip you over at all if traction control is disabled.

This! best advice thus far.

My Grandma starting learning how to ride 2 months back. We got a a 1290 Superduke R to learn on

 

[Flex]

Some more pics of this weekends racing

 

[shavenmotley]

I have the perfect bike for you.
KTM 1290 Superduke R.
Very tame when at idle. Won't flip you over at all if traction control is disabled.

On a serious note. I wouldn't go superbike in your position. There are plenty of other better options in my opinion. The NC 700/750 would be one of the bikes I would suggest as someone else has previously done so.
Suzuki Sv650 is a good beginner bike, MT07 is also a good bike, comes in a faired version as well.
Kawasaki comes with the 650ninja which is in the same power class.
Ducati 696 etc are in the same power range as well.

They are good bikes to get in grips of power and get used to how a bike handles.

Been looking at the SV650. Suzuki Toy Store in Centurion is running a special currently for R89k. Am slightly confused tho - unsure what the difference between the SV650A and SV650AL is. 🤔 Apparently in Australia there is a learner tuned version where the power is dropped slightly - so am slightly paranoid. Waiting for a response from them.

 

[D3TTOL]

Been looking at the SV650. Suzuki Toy Store in Centurion is running a special currently for R89k. Am slightly confused tho - unsure what the difference between the SV650A and SV650AL is. 🤔 Apparently in Australia there is a learner tuned version where the power is dropped slightly - so am slightly paranoid. Waiting for a response from them.

Pretty much, I didn't know that Australia did it, I know the UK does it. In the UK you can get a learners on a 1000cc superbike as long as it doesn't produce more than 40hp .some rich kids ride superbikes in the UK when they get their learners.

Get the SV650A. if it's a 2019 model they have a nice white and blue one or a black and red one.
I had a older gen SV650S and It was one of if not the best bike I have ever had.

It's also cheap as chips to maintain

 

[sixshotkatana]

What was your first bike? A Honda CBR 125

What is your current bike? A 1971 Honda cb500 , I wouldn't call it a bike yet still needs a lot of work 😅

What bike would you buy if money were no
object? Hmmm idk probably a really nice Truimph Bonneville or a cb750 cafe

 

[kfc4unme]

Been looking at the SV650. Suzuki Toy Store in Centurion is running a special currently for R89k. Am slightly confused tho - unsure what the difference between the SV650A and SV650AL is. [emoji848] Apparently in Australia there is a learner tuned version where the power is dropped slightly - so am slightly paranoid. Waiting for a response from them.

As I was reading the posts above I was planning on recommending the SV650.
(Don't go for a power reduced version. Do they actually have that model in SA?).

Definitely don't go for a supersport if you plan on using it for commuting.

Sent from my POT-LX1AF using Tapatalk

 

[Phence]

Some more pics of this weekends racing

Are they mating?

 

[Flex]

Are they mating?

Yea, that is how Groms are created

 

[Flex]

Wow, just insane

 

[Flex]

Some great razing at iDube in KZN!