Car (or bike) Chat!

[Pigmy Pony]

never understood the speed being the b all.. i prefer safety first, comfort second, speed third

I suppose it's to do with a "thrill-seeking personality", hence white knuckle rides, base jumping, etc. Some folk like things the way they are, some are always going to want more.

[Marco]

For me, three letters sum it up: F-U-N!

Plus, if you *really* enjoy driving nice (fun/sporty) cars, then taking them to their limits, in terms of handling and speed, is a natural desire

Marco.

[struth]

I suppose it's to do with a "thrill-seeking personality", hence white knuckle rides, base jumping, etc. Some folk like things the way they are, some are always going to want more.

when young these risks are maybe an idea as your invincible, and when very old thrills are great as youve little to lose...in between its a wise man who reins in that destructive side, especially if you have family

[Marco]

What about when you're a 54-year old [but look 10 years younger] Italian/Scottish daftee, with the mental age of 25 and an insatiable penchant for stupidness?

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

What about when you're a 54-year old [but look 10 years younger] Italian/Scottish daftee, with the mental age of 25 and an insatiable penchant for stupidness?

Marco.

Only one "course" of treatment comes to mind, it's called Nurburgring. That should knock it out of you, even if you don't end up binning the Brabster Unless you've already done it in which case there's no cure. Has anybody on here been on it, and how did you go on?

I remember a "Top Gear" programme a few years ago, where Clarkson was well chuffed that he got a sub-eleven minute lap in a jag, till Sabine Schmidt told him "I could do that in a van!" And she did.

[struth]

What about when you're a 54-year old [but look 10 years younger] Italian/Scottish daftee, with the mental age of a 25-year old, and an insatiable penchant for stupidness?

Marco.

You've no kids so it's more acceptable to take risks if you want, and your a lot safer in a merc than a bike doing high speeds.
I like driving fast too but generally don't now as I've responsibilities, or had.. Now I just can't be arsed

[InThe Sticks]

Long post alert!

Thing is, the power to weight ratio of jon's bike would make any Ferrari look agricultural, but the problem is (a) that all that power is trying to get to the tarmac via one patch of rubber no bigger than a beer mat, and (b) trying to keep the front end from going airborne. Apart from that, there's no car this side of a dragster or F1 which would have a chance

True, but..
With the bike in sports mode with the traction control on, it’s impossible to loop it as it reins it in whilst still giving near on max power. Turning the TC off and trying to launch the thing is a whole new ball game, and quite an arse clenching experience.
It’ll either wheel spin or try to flip over backwards or wheel spin and try to flip over backwards at the same time.
Fun as fuck though
I am now converted when it comes rider aids on a bike.

Have you burned off any Ferraris at the lights yet?
Marco.

I can honestly say that i really don’t know why car drivers try to race bikes, it’s just pointless unless it’s something exotic and outrageously expensive/fast.
That said, last week some prat in a wrapped bright orange M4 was about an inch from my rear wheel on an A road and clearly wanted to prove something, so as usual i just slowed down and gave him the finger so hopefully he’d back off.
He didn’t, so i pulled over and he gave it full beans past me, then the red mist descended and after a few seconds he was a spec in my mirrors.
I then slowed down to turn off and he didn’t even look at me as he passed. That was very satisfying.
Like i said, it’s just pointless.

Anyhoo..

Went to J&S bike store to collect my new skid lid and there were 2 KTM’s parked outside, and a minute after taking this pic another 2 rolled up.
I thought i’d bought quite an exclusive bike, but it turns out they’re as common as muck..




All in all i did 150 miles today in supreme comfort (i couldn’t do that on my ZX10R or RGV250) and was pleasantly surprised at the MPG..
When i say supreme comfort, that was after i’d relocated my arms back into their sockets.



And finally fitted some crash bobbins and gave the thing a proper clean.
Today was a fun day



The old wash house behind the bike is being converted into a mini garage/workshop for my bikes and will have a proper bike lift installed and a mini bar if i’ve got the room.

never understood the speed being the b all.. i prefer safety first, comfort second, speed third

I’ve always lived my driving/riding/racing life as per these James Hunt quotes..

“The closer you are to death the more alive you feel”

“My first priority is to finish above rather than beneath the ground”

Famous last words, but it’s done me no harm so far

[Marco]

Only one "course" of treatment comes to mind, it's called Nurburgring. That should knock it out of you, even if you don't end up binning the Brabster Unless you've already done it in which case there's no cure. Has anybody on here been on it, and how did you go on?

I remember a "Top Gear" programme a few years ago, where Clarkson was well chuffed that he got a sub-eleven minute lap in a jag, till Sabine Schmidt told him "I could do that in a van!" And she did.

No I've not been, but I'd love to try it. TBH, I'm pretty fearless behind a wheel, so nothing really phases me, therefore I'll give anything a go!

Clarkson's not a fast driver - he might *think* he is, but he's a pussy, and a past-it one at that! Sabine, however, is the real deal and has nerves of steel... Well, after all, she's German!

Marco.

[Marco]

You've no kids so it's more acceptable to take risks if you want, and your a lot safer in a merc than a bike doing high speeds.
I like driving fast too but generally don't now as I've responsibilities, or had.. Now I just can't be arsed

Lol... Don't get me wrong, I'll only take very calculated risks, and only in the right conditions.

I have a golden rule (especially when I have passengers in the car) when doing something potentially risky/making a manoeuvre at high speed, and it's that I need to be 100% sure I'll make it to safety [using carefully judged risk-taking assessment criteria] - ANYTHING less, even 99%, and I won't do it, simples!

If I drive fast, then I'll do so as SAFELY as possible - I ain't no maniac! And as you say, a Merc's pretty safe at speed, especially the Brabster, as everything about it, from the tyres, brakes and suspension up, has been designed to match the power of the engine, and I *know* the car's capabilities, and most importantly its.limitations

Marco.

[InThe Sticks]

No I've not been, but I'd love to try it. TBH, I'm pretty fearless behind a wheel, so nothing really phases me, therefore I'll give anything a go!

Clarkson's not a fast driver - he might *think* he is, but he's a pussy, and a past-it one at that! Sabine, however, is the real deal and has nerves of steel... Well, after all, she's German!

Marco.

Thats what i thought when i visited the “green hell”.
It’s fair to say that i’m a reasonably competent driver/rider having had top tier tuition and have done more laps of various tracks than i can remember, but..

the “Ring”was an assault on the senses for sure.
Try taking the Carousel at speed when you’ve got bikers knee down either side of you.
It’s not so easy to be fearless in that situation. And to be honest i was probably the worst driver/rider on that toll road at the time. Basically it scared the shit out of me.
And Marco, i’m going to pull you up on the Clarkson comment.
Back in the early 2000’s i was at Milbrook proving ground with Audi testing the A/S8 and the competitors models and Clarkson was titting around on the alpine circuit, and trust me, he can drive, and very very well indeed.
As for Sabine, a few of us were having a beer after a few laps of the ring and sew people getting out of her “ring taxi” and looking as white as a ghost.
I’ll tell you what, if you can get round the ring in less than 10 minutes in your oil burner, i’ll sign over everything i own to you