Simmers that love Bikes or cars.

[jaydee]

Hi all I have been a Bike man since 1976. (I was 13). Since then, I have used a Bike to Live. Everyday to work, shopping etc. When I broke my leg (in a bike accident(with a car)),I got my bike fixed up and Tied a String to the Plastercast above my Knee so I could Pull the Gearlever up.(With the Cast, I  could easily  use my heel to push down. But my cast was too big to fit Under the gearlever)..... Except I stopped at Lights one day and Landed on the wrong Foot...I fell over and the bike fell over on top of me. Coz I was tied to the gearlever, my thigh got Roasted......My best Mate got off his Bike and started Rolling around Laughing whilst I was screaming.

I came from a small town in Ireland....So when the ambulance finally came for me , it was the same two  Ambos that had  picked me up and brought me to hospital in my first accident.....They were roaring  laughing too !

My Mam said "You need to Stay Away from Motorbikes" !...That was 35 years ago. ...Sorry Mam but I didn't listen.

So I recently went to buy a car (coz I need to carry my shopping home).

It must be a Car that feels like a Motorbike. I just want a Car that I can use when the Weather is Terrible and I have to Ride 50ks to work...I don't need a Practical Car. My daughter is all grown up and I don't need a Tonka Truck either.

So this Is what I bought. That's why I haven't been Flying much....

Simmers, I thought I was purely a Bike Man. (maybe I'm getting old). ...but I like this Car !

J~S~

 

 

[DD_Arthur]

I bought this last summer as it was just too good a bargain to pass on - first bike in around eight years.....

 

 

I'm just about to put it up for sale now Spring is here as I've realised that I'm just too much of an old fart to ride this thing.  After twenty minutes the riding position makes my back ache - unless I'm doing over ninety per hour.

 

Then it all makes sense!

[Gambit21]

Well you'll probably stay alive now - that's a good thing.

I did all my riding in the dirt - YZ250. No cars, go as fast as I feel like.

 

Thought about an R6 for a minute back in the day, but would have been just for the track.

That didn't quite pencil out.

 

I was always too sensible to ride on the street - saw too many accidents and almost killed a few bikers myself that I didn't see.

[Guest deleted@30725]

Nice car - it matches the bike.

 

I have a two seater - It's a transit connect camper van though

Edited March 25, 2017 by deleted@30725

[jaydee]

I bought this last summer as it was just too good a bargain to pass on - first bike in around eight years.....

 

 

I'm just about to put it up for sale now Spring is here as I've realised that I'm just too much of an old fart to ride this thing.  After twenty minutes the riding position makes my back ache - unless I'm doing over ninety per hour.

 

Then it all makes sense!

 

Hi DD. I remember when the first Gixer came out. My mate Bought one. My other Mate had the First FZ 750 Imported to Ireland. My other Mate had a RG 500. (RIP). I just bought a Honda VF 500 F2. I got a ride on the Gixer and thought "Motorbikes" have just changed Forever. OMFG  !.. And they had !

Down through  all my motorbike years of my Life, people have asked me " Do you Ride a Harley ?".... My Answer is "Why Would I ?". ... One of my other Mates had a Harley Softail/ hardtail  with Bling, Bling..I really cant remember exactly.

The First time I rode it "I thought .. This thing Is a Tractor ! it should be on a Farm ! It doesn't go around tight corners, the brakes are crap and it weighs 2 tons !...

DD Hang on to your Gixer. When you get 20 mins to ride it, it will be worth it....

Then jump into a FW or 109 !

Same feeling ~S~

[BeastyBaiter]

I've been riding bikes for about 9 years now. I traded in my old Kawasaki Vulcan 500 for a new 2016 Versys 650 LT last Friday. The Versys was heavily discounted given it's a model year down, not that anything changed between 2016 and 2017 (just a sticker I think). I don't own a car and haven't in about 6-7 years, but I have always had access to one on the rare occasion I actually need one (almost always for cargo reasons). A couple pics below:

 

Old bike:

 

New bike:

 

I plan to add a top box, center stand, taller windshield and a few other choice items. So far it's a really nice bike, very comfortable for at least an hour of city driving.

[JG5_Schuck]

Just something to pop down the shops on!!

[=TBAS=Sshadow14]

Here is my pride n joy

1999 Subaru WRX Impreza (GF8 Wagon)
Almost fully stock (but 3" exhaust)

Drives like a dream, Im never going back to Front or Rear wheel drive cars.
(This AWD with exactly 25% power per wheel is Phenomenal



It was looked after sooo well by old lady who had it.
200,000KM and 96% Compression on pistons :D

[Gambit21]

I would have killed myself by now if I'd had a bike; pretty sure of it. I used to do daft enough things on a pedal-bike, a proper bike would just have got messy.

 

And now I'm too just old and 'sensible'.

 

Yeah - no such thing as a fender bender on a bike.

I've been rear ended a few times with no harm coming to myself, and each time I thought of what condition I'd have been in had I been on a motorcycle.

The guys who'd say "well I rode a motorcycle, and I died" are not here to lend that insight for obvious reasons.

 

Not that you cant' get hurt on a dirtbike, but the most dangerous thing by far is the cars/other motorists and you don't have those on the trail.

Just trees, rocks (and the occasional drop off next to you) and the freedom to manage your own risk level.

 

The place I used to ride at had one death in 30 years or so...I'm talking a busy, large, OHV park with cliffs, canyons, hill climbs, easy to extremely gnarly terrain.

He rode off a cliff.

[Goanna1]

Great car John,

I recently thought of getting a Mazda sportscar as well! They have a good write up in motoring journals (Poor mans Porsche Boxter-- but better in some areas).

 

I rode bikes for years and years both on road and bush trails--(the greatest fun ever).

 

I never had a bike accident but usually had a scary moment on every commute ride home from Melbourne city centre for trip of 25 km to home-- by some driver either not bike-aware, not looking in mirrors or other reasons--you get used to it.

 

Then one evening on riding home from work through city and tootling down the centre of the road at about 30km, as traffic in the lanes were basically stationary going in the direction out of town....

 

I remember a flash like when Star-ship Enterprise goes into hype space..

then next thing I'm in an ambulance ..look down and see bike boots and leather pants and think Bloody Fook!!

..I wait abit then decide to wiggle toes.. Yay!!  they work and more importantly I feel them, then same process with hands.

I go to sit up and feel a small pain in clavicle (shoulder blade), I look at Paramedic and say  "I'm Ok just a broken shoulder blade ..it'll match the other one I broke years ago, that hangs down abit!

He says lie back mate you've been unconscious on the road for 45 mins.

 Whoops I realise apart from the fall I could have been run over by oncoming vehicles in the other oncoming lane.

 

Every family member and girlfriend said.. "Take it as a warning/reminder from your Guardian Angel that it's time to just use your car for transport"

I thought hard and sold bike, but have always wanted to get on 2 wheels again-for weekend rides now.

I still want to rebuild a classic bike --Triumph or Norton come to mind as Ducatis are great but their riding position stuffs my knees and back.

 

I should also mention that at 18 I had a nasty major car accident which broke everything on my right side from clavicle to hip/pelvis...But the worst long term 'injury' was the MRSA infection I received from the hospital operating theatre causing me to have invasive surgery on 7 later occasions over a period of years till it was eradicated when I was 40 and by then they had removed 4 ribs, both 'latisimus dorsai' muscles for implant in areas of my chest that were cut out from being heavily infected with MRSA over 20years.

Sorry about the rave but the moral of my story and other motorcyclists who have accidents is that they get major injuries by what they come into contact with after the initial crash (notably trees or being subsequently run over) or infections received in hospitals.

Regards Paul

[MineFewer]

Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?

 

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

1986 BMW R65 with 20kw. My First, tried out bigger, more Powerful ones, but 250kph on these don't create the same kind of smile 25 do on my old Gummikuh. She's run hard and Maintained well. 

2004 Piaggio Ape 50. Haven't really gotten around to getting her Running yet. 

2007 Opel Combo 1.3 CDTi. Just an amazing Machine. Holds 5 People and a Shitton of Luggage  in comfort and Pull a DG-500 Trailer with ease. 

Handling is Surprisingly Good, the little Diesel is Torquey and Fun, but Short Legged, a bit like an excited Corgy. 

My First Car and I ain't gonna give it away until I find something better, preferably a FIAT 127 Fiorino Diesel. 

[Hoots]

Rode for years, bandits, cbr6s and lastly a gsxr750. Such a wonderful bike but decided to sell it as I couldn't justify flying and motorbikes. Like most bikers I've been knocked off, twice in my case, never fallen off though

Every time I see a bike go past I really, really want another...

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

[Trooper117]

This is my original 92 Fireblade... Had her for many years

 

Edited February 22, 2023 by Trooper117

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

At the Rursee in the Eifel, South of Aachen. A whole Network of Awesome Roads up there. 

 

[MineFewer]

For the guy whose wife won't let him have a bike.

 

[CanadaOne]

I had a bunch of Hondas. 50cc scooter, 200XL, 350XL, 500XL, 1982 750K, and a beauty 1972 CB750.

 

Work injury has kept me from riding for several years. Now I just ride chainsaws.

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

 

 

Now I just ride chainsaws

0:18

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

But anyways. Just an amazing Machine. A real Money Sink as well though. (Got deep into the Mud that Day, had to Shovel out the Footwell)

 

Edited May 30, 2017 by 6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann

[Major_Issue]

Nice thread!

 

Here's a pic of my trusty CBF 600 PC 38 right before I lifted off for bavaria:

 

Bought her two years ago as my first "big" bike after spending quite some time with problematic bikes. One is a CB 125 K from '75 with annoying carburators that I'm currently trying to restore.
Other was a Suzuki GSX 550ES that had to be throttled down due to licence regulations.

Since then I spent mostly happy 13 000 km with her. Two tours from northern to southern germany and fooling around up here. Learned a lot and the 78 HP are more than enough to  tease some supersport biker. Since the CBF is often known as "most boring yet reliable" bike it's super satisfying to show people what she's capable of. 

[Guest deleted@30725]

But anyways. Just an amazing Machine. A real Money Sink as well though. (Got deep into the Mud that Day, had to Shovel out the Footwell)

 

 

One 'careful' owner.

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

One 'careful' owner.

Well,  it is basicially a Truck based on a Supermini. It's a 1.3 Diesel so it's cheap on Fuel and Taxes, it's 75 Turbo Horsepower, so 170Nm of Torque and a Long Geared 5 Speed so it's still really good at Pulling Trailers. I regularly have to Pull those 11m Long, 1.2 ton Glider Trailers and it LOOOVES it. It Cruises at 130-150kph comfortably for 5 with amazing Leg and Headroom. And I mean amazing, even 2m People have no Trouble and Sit without their Knees even touching the Front Seats and can Still Stretch their Arms and just barely touch the Ceiling, even when the Front Seats are fully Back. And the Boot is stilll Bigger than any other Car. 

 

You can Fold the Rear Seats and Get 1.9m of Flat, Diagonal Cargo Space almost 1.3m high, so there is very little that won't fit. 

And all that in what legally Runs as a Small City Car. 

 

The Engine is Italian and a Diesel, Engine of the Year 2005 I think. DOHC Heads, Multipoint Injection etc. The Cool thing is that the Throttle Response feels Mechanical and is absolutely Linear, the Turbo is Predictable with noticable Lag and a 1600RPM Threshhold, but it also makes a Lot of Fun Noises and Pulls like an excited Corgy, not like most Eco Cars where you get nothing for 80% of the Throttle Movement and then Everything Happens very muffled. 

 

The Clutch is also Motorcycle Like, very Clear, Light and Linear. Same for the Brakes. It all just feels intuitive and Great. 

It has Electronic Power Steering but it's underpowered Enough not be a Hassle. The Steering is very Quick Ratioed so in Traffic you rarely need to Really Turn the Wheel at all, it's almost Thought Controlled and once again, intuitive. 

Chassis is well balanced and you barely notice how Top Heavy it really is. It feels like a Small Car. 

 

When I bought it it had Nothing. It's a 2007 with Wind Up Windows, little Mirror Knobs in the Door, NO CENTRAL LOCKING, no Radio, no Climate Control but a Heater, no ESP or ASR, no Assistance at all Except ABS. All it had was the Trailer Hitch. 

We Retroffited the Radio but the Lack of other Electronics means that pretty much nothing goes Wrong. It is basic and Light. 

My Mother has one as well with all of these Comforts, but it weighs almost 200kg more and the Bigger Generator and more Belt Drives means it's not nearly as quirky as mine. 

 

So overall I bought a Mid-80s Car from 2007 with the Comforts of a Horse Drawn Carriage and the Character of a Corgy. 

It's Run Hard and receives all the Care it needs. I don't beat it when Cold, properly Drive it Cold, Oil Changes on a Yearly Basis (only Castrol 0W40), it's on the Third Transmission Fluid and Second Engine (First one threw the Timing Chain)

I sank a LOT of Money into it and I don't regret a single Cent I did. 

 

However, if somone could set me up with a Fiat 127 Fiorino Window Van 5-Seater (Pre-1989) and the 1.3 or 1.4 Diesel I would happily Switch.

Edited June 4, 2017 by 6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann

[DD_Arthur]

 and Second Engine (First one threw the Timing Chain)

 

Lol Klaus.   It all sounded so rosy until you got to this bit

Edited June 1, 2017 by DD_Arthur

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

Lol Klaus.   It all sounded so rosy until you got to this bit

It's Italian, what do you expect?

[DD_Arthur]

It's Italian, what do you expect?

 

Ahh.....I once had a Ducati 900SD Darmah.  It really was a lovely bike.  Then a circlip in the gearbox - worth £0.20 - failed,  which required a full engine strip costing more than I'd paid for the original bike

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

The Timing Chain Tensioners like to fail, a 20 Cent Spring. 

[DD_Arthur]

For your amusement Klaus;

 

The car that my mate built a few years ago based on the engine and running gear from a crashed 2.0 DOHC Fiat Super Mirofiori .

 

 

 

Road legal too

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

It looks insane. Insanely FUN. 

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

 I like cars, bikes have not really been my thing for some reason. Current car I drive around in is a 2002 E39 BMW M5. Exterior is coal black(carbonschwartz), but looks blueish or black depending on lighting. Interior is black/Imola red leather. The sound of that S62 V8 is just amazing and even more so with the Hartge exhaust it has. Plans are to get Supersprint headers, but their hefty price needs some planning though This is my second M5, had a 1993 E34 M5 earlier with the bigger 3.8 litre straight six engine. It really liked to go thru paces, miss that car. It was blue with black leather interior. Is the M5 economical? Heck no, upkeep and fuel expenses are high. But again I drive it only a couple of months per year, during our short summer. But oh boy is that car a lot of fun and sheer driving pleasure. Oh yes it is, sir!

 

 For winter I have an Italian stud, Fiat Bravo with a whopping 1.2 litre 4-cylinder engine. What a beast, ascendant of the Toro Rosso But darn cheap to keep and fuel consumption very low. Perfect for driving to work and back.

[Guest deleted@30725]

I've been working on this for the last 8 months. I say I, by which I mean it's been sitting in a Welsh garage for 8 months. 

 

It's a 1.9tdci 2005 ford transit connect long wheel base, but hidden inside is a bed, storage area, stove and sink. It's registered as a camper van too.

 

There was only problem 8 months ago... it was a lemon. It was fubar and fit for a parts bin.

 

I managed to limp it home after paying cash and being stuck with this thing, dreams dying about to loose my job in three months (contract) and my main cars engine blew up so I only had this pos.

 

Here is what problems it had (notation of some fixes too):

 

Cracked block

Leaking head

Overpressure in engine

Burning coolant

Gearbox not going into reverse / jumping out - initially wiring loom wrapped around linkage, then discovered gear linkage bent and bolts missing

Gearbox felt like coal and all metallic - new gearbox helped a lot.

full power in first alarming shaking of cab and steering - turned out to be knackered drive shafts

exhaust with hole

cooling fans - not working (it made it 200 miles like this without obvious overheating)

oil sump bent and leaking

major oil leak (like, a puddle overnight) - had to have the engine pulled out as behind engine (twice!)

turbo leaking oil

turbo partially seized

turbo on the way out - i.e making a bit of noise

smell of diesel inside cab

loads of black mold in crevices inside cab and a sticky mat in cup holders turned out to be congealed 'something'

diesel powered heater with jerry can inside cab and internal heater just not working (At back under bed) - now removed and cab does not smell.

bald spare tire

loads of sealant under the engine (now removed)

ball joint worn out

missing bolts from engine

All plastics have been painted with a brush - you can see the brush strokes when you look close and I'd bet they were not prepped so its starting to peel.

RHS rear end cap loose and started falling off - this Sunday I discovered it was held on by glue and the mounts were broken so have ordered another. Just glad it did not fall off on the motorway!

Brakes especially spongy, now bled.

Rear metal bumper suffering from some rust.

 

---- It passed an MOT the second day I had it....

 

Ohh well.... it's only money....

 

 

 

 

 

 

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

In all honesty, I never quite got the Point of Sportscars. There are plenty of used Bikes below 3000€ which Run just fine, less than 50 000km on the Clock and they WILL do 0-200kph in less than 10 Seconds, are small light and nimble enough so you don't get stuck in Traffic or behind anything really. 

 

In a Car you are at 100 000€+ for anything near that that isn't a Nissan GT-R. And most GT-Rs below 50 000€, well you shouldn't toucht them really. If you want a Stock Car that does 0-200 in under 10 Seconds the cheapest is a Porsche 911 (991) Turbo S and even used they start at 100 000€. 

And they are quite useless and waaaay to valuable to be Daily Drivers. How can you have Fun in a Car where you have to careful at every Speedbump because every Scratch looses you a couple thousand Euros? 

And these modern Race/Sport Chassis are both Uncomfortable and Unchallenged at normal Road Speeds. So you HAVE to go to a Race Track in Order to really get to the Limit without Risking Innocent Lives unnecessarily. 

 

 

I could imagine building something like this, but with a Carbon/Aramid Fibre Chassis, a GRP Skin and the Engine from this, Turbo-Supercharged. But that would fall more into the Go-Kart Class, rather than a real Sportscar. 

 

Edited June 5, 2017 by 6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann

[Trooper117]

Out with the old... My old 92 Fireblade, sad to see her go.

 

 

 

In with the new... just bought my new Triumph this week.

 

[Hoots]

Out with the old... My old 92 Fireblade, sad to see her go.

 

 

 

In with the new... just bought my new Triumph this week.

 

That is a change in riding styles there Trooper both lovely bikes though

[Trooper117]

That is a change in riding styles there Trooper both lovely bikes though

 

Certainly is mate... I have been riding all kinds of bikes since I was 17, most of them high performance sports types.

However, I have always wanted a 1940's bike since a friend of mine rode into barracks on a WWII Harley.

When Triumph released this bike I knew that I had to have one... a 1940 style bike but with todays modern technology and safety built in.

I can't afford to run two bikes, so I'm afraid the Blade has to go

[Trooper117]

Well, in that picture, the Blade had just been fitted with new tyres, so...

[klauswoolhouse]

I can understand wanting something more practical for carrying groceries and commuting in bad weather.
Your new car looks awesome, and it's cool that you found something that feels like a bike but with the added convenience of a car. I hope you have a blast driving it!
If you're interested in learning more about your Nissan Silvia, you might want to check out this nissan silvia buying guide I found. It could be helpful if you're looking to customize or upgrade your car. JDM carts are always one of the best. And thanks for sharing your story and happy driving!

[Wardog5711]

Wow. You really had to go digging to find that thread.

5 years has got to be the new record.

 

[Rei-sen]

That's a bot, lol

[LeLv30_Redwing-]

It's a good find nevertheless, if there's threads where you can show pics of your wife, kids and parrots...why not one for your machines?