Remember that buzz you got the first time you rode a bike?

[Usarka]

only losers have to use machines to enjoy life

real winners are on a natural high.


(oh wait, wasnt that the argument about drugs )

[Sully60]

only losers have to use machines to enjoy life

real winners are on a natural high.


(oh wait, wasnt that the argument about drugs )

You calling my wife a loser?

(oh wait, wasnt that the argument about my prowess ) [/SIZE]

[Macstar]

Why not the GSX

Though I have a few ideas.....

Ha! The GSX... It was comfortable for a taller guy and reliable. I'll keep the negatives to myself

[Oakie]

Yeah I remember that buzz from the first time out ... although to be honest it was more of a ringing in the ears which lasted for a couple of days. Damned 100cc two stoke with no baffles. Feck what a noise! The cop who gave me my first ticket 6 weeks later ('operating a noisy vehicle') certainly thought so. Reckoned he could hear it from 200 yards away with the windows in his car up.

[stify]

I am on such a motorbike-induced high at the mo I had to share it with you guys:

I've loved them all (except my GSX 250) but found myself with a slight addiction for acceleration / power. You know the buzz you get when you step up from a 250cc for the first time into a 400cc? or a 600 to a 1000cc? Winding back the throttle on a new beast for the first time and that mixed feeling of fear and excitement runs through you as your eyes frown but your mouth smiles...

Totally with you on this one

The first full throttle run when I got me vtr1000 was farkin cool(coming from a gsx250), mad laughter then more mad laughter and more full throttle etc(I only went round the block once but felt I'd been on it all day...was just pumped), and that was it I'm hooked, I use the full throttle therepy for most of todays ill's and aliments, a motard is on the next test ride list cause I'm gettin more addicted to those nice tight corner things each day

[Coyote]

Yep. Upgrading to a motard as soon as I can afford it.

What troubles did you have with the KTM? I'm pretty keen on the 525 or LC4 (probably the LC4 for being more reliable, going against my tendancy to choose the fastest).

[Macstar]

Yep. Upgrading to a motard as soon as I can afford it.

What troubles did you have with the KTM? I'm pretty keen on the 525 or LC4 (probably the LC4 for being more reliable, going against my tendancy to choose the fastest).

She'd been riden hard by previous owners and not well maintained, but I bought it for a steal. So I've had to do oil n filters, radiator flush, check cam chain, valve clearances, water pump seal, new clutch cover gasket, brakes bled, clean air filter, new carb needle and oring, indicators and mirrors fitted, new seat cover, engine tune, suspension adjusted, new battery, Wof n Rego, sport bike 17inch wheels, with new bearings and custom made axels and spacers, a digital speedo for Wof, clean out petrol tank and fuel filter, shorten chain, replace rear brake light bulb, new grips, different sproket set up, oversized front rotor and calliped bracket and spacers..............And a bloody good clean! and tlc.

Now I've bought quite a few tools so that I can do the regular maintenance myself such as oil changes every 5 or so hours, valve clearances every 20 hours, spark plug spose to be 30 hours, engine rebuild possibly 100 hours... etc etc.

I think the 525 isn't much more reliable / maintenance free than the 520 - may perform a bit better though. The LC4 from what I have read are significantly more reliable than the 520/525s.

Anyway, keep it as a second bike and budget $50 a week for maintenance and you should be sweet!

[Macstar]

Oh and as for power, Mike from Mt Eden Motorcycles let me ride his 2007 Aprilla SXV 550 motard today. It's a V-twin with around 70hp at the rear wheel apparently and weighs in at 120kg. He'd done a few mods including an exhaust system that had heads turning from 100m away.

Man this thing was ridiculous and I'm actually gutted I rode it cause it made my KTM seem like a GN 250 (After all that writing about how choice my bike was etc etc).

When I get a real job (still a uni student), I am getting myself one of those!

[deanohit]

VERY nice looking and sounding those Aprilias, love to have a go on one.

Meh, the katoom is still cool man and best of all, it's yours!

[Supermoto Junkie]

Man this thing was ridiculous and I'm actually gutted I rode it cause it made my KTM seem like a GN 250 (After all that writing about how choice my bike was etc etc).

When I get a real job (still a uni student), I am getting myself one of those!

Doesn't matter what you have in the shed, there is always someone with something better in theirs.

[Gremlin]

Now I've bought quite a few tools so that I can do the regular maintenance myself such as oil changes every 5 or so hours, valve clearances every 20 hours, spark plug spose to be 30 hours, engine rebuild possibly 100 hours... etc etc.

One of the only things scaring me off getting one... the real nice ones (read maniacs) require serious amounts of maintenance.

As for motard v sportbike... don't be so sure. Wide bars, far less weight, and a lack of vicious power makes it piss easy to throw around. Compare apples with apples tho, so good sportsbike and motard riders.

There is a hussy I have viewed, and it basically has my name written all over it (all test riders have been scared off it permanently) but I couldn't bear to part with my 10