Riff Raff Alert - beware bike shops

[Riff Raff]

Ok people, first up, there were no Monster 620 or 800s for me to try at Haldanes so I thought I'd have a play on the 400 for a laugh. It was a bit of fun - but I had four cages try to take me out while riding it! The salesman at Haldanes told me I was welcome to take any bike in the shop for a test ride, so I thought tomorrow I would have a go on an MV1000 Tamburini!!!!!
I tried the naked SV650 and that was a lot of fun - the only problem I had was the wind buffeting at speeds a little ish (ahem ) over 100kph. So I need to try an SV650S.

a ride is being set up for saturday, you are welcome to have a blat on the R6..will let you know the details.
F/F

That would be great, except for the fact that I'm working. How about when I finish my shift???

[Two Smoker]

Actually it will be the new machine!!
Will make just as much noise!!

Yeah too bad it will have no go....

[Two Smoker]

THATS NOT FAIR!!!
You cant compare an SV650 to a M400!!!
They are no where near each other in terms of performance!!
MATE!...
You just wait till i wheelie past you on MY DUCATI in F3!!!! You wont know what hit ya!!

But the M620 is no where near either... it is down 3 hp and shitloads of torque compared to the SV650. AND the SV650 is shit loads cheaper....

[LB]

I rather fancy a Ducati T-shirt. What do they cost? Who do I order them from?



Is that the colour scheme with the white go-fast stripe down the middle, Thruxton 900 style?

It's gorgeous.

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(and also to Sniper CBR)
Haldanes will sell Ducati caps and t-shirts. The T-shirts are around $90 upwards...they are very good quality. Caps around $40.

Yes, the colour scheme is a bit like the Thruxton - it is absolutely stunning.

Hamish has put a white go-fast stripe on my front guard and screen (too hard to put one on the tank cos of the shape) on the M1000 (to make it easier for me to tell them apart) (just kidding, of course I can tell them apart - I'm their mother).
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[jrandom]

The T-shirts are around $90 upwards...

$90 for a T-shirt? Didn't know *they* came in bloody carbon fibre...

[White trash]

$90 for a T-shirt? Didn't know *they* came in bloody carbon fibre...

Shit! That reminds me............

Sorted. Sorry mate.

[Sparky Bills]

But the M620 is no where near either... it is down 3 hp and shitloads of torque compared to the SV650. AND the SV650 is shit loads cheaper....

Your still not comparing apple with apples!
They are made for completly different purposes.

RR..
I think you would enjoy a monster 800!
Make sure you ride one!
And dont listen to TS, he's doesnt understand to european quality!!

But like i said before!...
RIDE EVERYTHING!!!!

[Sparky Bills]

$90 for a T-shirt? Didn't know *they* came in bloody carbon fibre...

We are talking Genuine Ducati products here!

[Riff Raff]

RR..
I think you would enjoy a monster 800! Make sure you ride one!
And dont listen to TS, he's doesnt understand to european quality!!

Don't worry I plan to ride a M800. I just know that I can't afford one this year. And as for TS.... I'm trying to edumificate him, but it's very hard to get past the GSX-R-brain barrier!!! I'll keep working on it!!!

[ajturbo]

hey matey..

it's only money ... go for the dream!!!!

[ajturbo]

Don't worry I plan to ride a M800. I just know that I can't afford one this year. And as for TS.... I'm trying to edumificate him, but it's very hard to get past the GSX-R-brain barrier!!! I'll keep working on it!!!

"pound" it into/out of..into/out of.......him

[Two Smoker]

Don't worry I plan to ride a M800. I just know that I can't afford one this year. And as for TS.... I'm trying to edumificate him, but it's very hard to get past the GSX-R-brain barrier!!! I'll keep working on it!!!

Nothing will have the razor sharp handling of a GSX-R, or the immense power of a GSX-R, or the wicked induction noise of a GSX-R, or the amazing braking power of the GSX-R.... Do i have to carry on??? I can.... possibly even write a book about it...

[vifferman]

Nothing will have the razor sharp handling of a GSX-R, or the immense power of a GSX-R, or the wicked induction noise of a GSX-R, or the amazing braking power of the GSX-R.... Do i have to carry on??? I can.... possibly even write a book about it...

YAAAAwWWWnnn....

But not everybody wants a repli-racer.
Some of us want something with a bit of style, and/or class, and/or character.
And we're not all wannabe racers that bleat on about how slow we are.

Go on - write your book. I'm sure it will sell in its...... ummm.... well, I'm sure there must be some racer boys who can read.....

OK - put plenty of pix in it of wheelies, stoppies, gruesome crashes, and GSXR porn, and your wannabe racers will be sure to buy a few copies.

[Stroker Girl]

Don't go fast! And make sure you check your mirrors regularly for instructions on whether to turn or to pull over and stop.

I was lucky, I had a really nice testing officer. He's looking at getting back into motorbikes at the mo after a break of 10 years, so we had a really good natter. So anyone in Auckland about to do your test - think about going to Pukekohe!

Great news RR and glad to hear your test went well. Those roundabouts in Puke can be a dodgem course sometimes! I sat my full a few months ago at the same place and with the same officer ( I think). Made a nice comparison to the absolute plonker that took me for my restricted at VTNZ Pukekohe.

Good luck in finding your next beastie and have fun with all those test rides. I went the opposite and didn't even test ride my VFR400. I bought it on a whim while I still had my restricted but I just knew it was the bike for me. By the way, I've only heard great things about the SV650 but I reckon like you said, the faired version is the way to go. (sorry Duc lovers )

[Riff Raff]

Hmm... decided to check out the bike shops in Hamilton today. Now yesterday I had fantastic service from the shops I went into in Auckland - for Haldanes and Holeshot who let me test ride bikes.
So anyway went to Hamilton today - first shop I went into had a bike I was interested in and would have liked to have test ridden, but unfortunately the salesman just wouldn't take the hint, and then halfway through our conversation we were interrupted by another staff member with a client who had a question, so the salesman walked off to help that customer. So I walked out. Next shop I went to I wandered round for a while, stood next to the bikes I was interested in, made eye contact with a salesman who then turned his back on me and walked into his office, and all other staff ignored me totally. Walked out of there in disgust muttering (loudly) about how they had just lost a sale.
Went and had lunch with Quasi and Mrs Quasi - thanks guys - then decided I couldn't be bothered checking out any other bike shops in Hamilton, and returned to Auckland. Very disappointed in these bike shops - ah well, their loss, but pissed off that I wasted my last day off when I could have been test riding bikes in Auckland.