EACH MONTH WE GIVE AWAY
A CABERG DUKE II HELMET AND A YEAR’S SUBSCRIPTION TO BIKE FOR THE MONTH’S STAR LETTER. ON YOUR MARKS
Golden years
I agree with Mr. Leigh’s observation that age doesn’t prohibit enjoying sportsbikes (Bike, Sept).
I bought my first sportsbike at the age of 60 – a GSX-R1000 (K9). I’ve had a BMW R1200RS, an SV650 and an MT-09 since then, but the Gixer is the keeper. I savour its light weight, quick steering and excellent brakes on the track, and the smooth torquey motor, comfortable seat and narrow bike width on local roads.
But if you want to keep riding well into pensionable age you have to put effort into maintaining some fitness. Then you have choice of the bike that you can enjoy…
Dan Dempsey, email
What a load of bull #1
I really enjoyed your September’s Cock and Bull Story. I know the riders were all male but still, the route was a little too masculine for my liking. Next time, please use mainly female riders. And a more female orientated route. May I suggest the next route begins at Minge Lane in Upton Upon Severn to restore balance to your otherwise excellent piece of one handed literature. Lesley Buckland (Mrs), email
What a load of bull #2
I have just read Cock and Bull Story. This kind of childish puerile nonsense is unbecoming of a group of experienced middle-aged journalists such as yourselves. Well done. Colin Winslett, email
Better the devil…
Like Paul Rose (September issue) I only have room for one bike in my garage – a 2017 Triumph Tiger Sport 1050. I’d been thinking about having a change; recently I went to Germany with two friends, I easily kept up and it was comfortable over distance. Good handling and fun in the mountains too.
The trip really highlighted how good my bike is. I’ve been riding for 52 years and never needed a quick shifter, auto blipper, connectivity or radar. So like Paul, I’ve decided to save the huge amount of money it would cost to change bikes and use the money for more trips. I’m off to Wales next month…
Dave Harris, email
Age brings wisdom
So the new 400 Triumphs (Bike, September) are aimed at younger riders, but I’m an old rider looking
forward to trying one. I want to see if Triumph have resisted the urge to put the footrests high up and far back; one reason the Enfields are selling so well is their relaxed riding position. There are plenty of us older riders who won’t be particularly price conscious as we’ve stopped saving up for our old age. You might ask, if you’re not price conscious why not buy an Africa Twin or an R1250GS? The answer is 230+ kg.
John Munday, email
Overlooked
Good to see the Z900 in Overlooked (Bike, September). I love my 2018 Z900 Performance (although fillings do get loosened by the suspension). The Z900 has been overlooked by Bike – it’s never included in comparable bike tests. MT-09S are ever present for some reason. Perhaps you could start performing comparable reviews on current models not just new motorcycles. Also can we have more secondhand bike reviews. Not all of us rush out and buy the latest new models, preferring instead to invest our hard-earned in excellent established models (new or secondhand). There’s a lot to be said for picking up established models that are a couple of years old which can provide great value for money.
Cheers for a good read each month. Richard Norris, email
Fit for purpose?
Just finished your article concerning the Ducati and BMW superbikes (Bike, August), which are always the last tests I read because their relevance to me are zero.
The conclusion appears to be they are wonderful but useless in today’s world, certainly on the roads I ride. A wealthy friend of mine bought an Aston Martin some years ago. It has hardly any miles on it as he admits he can’t use it on UK roads, can’t park it anywhere safely and even the slightest problems cost a fortune to fix.
Is this the direction of travel for motorbikes?
Jim Roberts, email
The great GS debate
The BMW R1250GS is a very good motorcycle. I’ve owned two. It’s also a very popular motorcycle but is that because it’s such an accomplished machine or because two actors rode them around the world? Or does everyone have one because everyone else has one? Fashion statement? I refuse to have one now and I suspect many others do too because of their popularity. By being motorcyclists aren’t we expressing our desire to stand out from the crowd, to prove that we can think for ourselves?
I owned a GS in the nineties, before the Mcgregor/boorman roadshow and was ridiculed for riding a ‘tractor’ by mates on sports tourers.
There is no perfect bike, hence we all need several in our dream garages to match our changing moods.
So has the GS become a victim of its own success, or is it a case of the emperor’s new clothes?
Bring on the backlash.
Martin Parkes, email