What you been up to?

Ok, I'll start.. what you got in the workshop/garage, and what plans do you have for your bike/s during the approaching darker months - at least here in the northern hemisphere?

Hmmm, just noticed this.

Crash is demoralizing as to the collective intelligence on the planet. Why Bob bothers to wait for a Rossi article and then abuse them is mildly sadistic, but to each his own. I do miss his "insights", a little, which doesn't say much for me perhaps. I fear for him once Rossi retires but no doubt he will follow Vale as team owner.

Very nice and interesting collection. Keep the Firestorm vs the Triumph? I'd like to experience the liter 2-cyl, rather Bologna-ish. The Suzuki is/was a class act in 1980. If I remember my Cycle magazine reviews Suzuki had/has the habit of using bearing inserts for the cams rather than riding them directly on the casting itself, a la Honda. For some reason that stuck in my mind as a polite gesture to longer term owners.

Between my son and I we have a 2016 Triumph Bonnie 965cc, a Ducati 1995 748, a Honda 450CRF (forget the year), a 2016 Triumph 1200, and a Honda Trail 90 (forget the year) complete with gun "rack". I truly wish the 965cc was a 3-cyl. Weak on power. There's a UK firm that sells upgraded pieces and according to them a new airbox, pipes, mappings etc. mean sweet fck-all UNLESS you change the cam. Apparently detuned on purpose so as not to compete with the 1200, but valve and flow capacity all there. So, perhaps something I'll get to this winter. Been a while since I've been a surgeon.

Mutley medal to you Wosi for trying, are ya qualified to talk about 'human level'?!
Bob says he don’t like Nutters format but you type and upload comment on relevant thread, same as Crash – not sure what’s difficult. Benny & Sat’s are same old, flip out and bu99er off and then come back. You do the bovver boy, nazi act and ZF the liberal turn into dictator of Nostrograd if any comment goes against his belief……not my choice of atmosphere to hang around long but its been that way for donkeys, shame cos there's massive potential but never mind.

But anyways funny collection you’ve got there Wosi, need a ‘classic’ Yam, so get buying.

Me? Essential worker but still had more time off this year than normal through various reasons so ridden more miles than ever. A very rough trip on Royal Enfield Himalayan was great laugh, rough, rutted terrain and it worked fine, not the trick parts or tech of the bikes we were amongst but 28bhp of useable power was enough to keep up with 700 Tracer and ATwin…but they were miles better on the roads.

Got a 2015 MT-09 sat in garage and hardly use it, nowt wrong with it but spent a ton of time opting for a 2000 CB500S that I’ve had 10 years now. Accelerates quick enough for any road (only time track days at Donny it loses to litres down Starkey’s), handles brilliant, bulletproof engine, never goes wrong. Highly recommend if you can get a good one.

Haha nah she's sorted, a cool lass just like her mum. Bizarrely she's found a bloke who, on paper is a snowflake millenial of the 'entitled activist' variety, the type who get actively offended on behalf of those not offended!! nywas apart from spending more on avacado's than we did on our first mortgage they're great! Soon as is safe to go they're off on the bikes vlogging around the world. No youtube when we did it thank god.

Sounds a good trip Wosi Goa to Himalayas for ya. My trek around India/Himalayas back int day was on a 350 bullet (trials)brilliant but the wide bars held me back a thousand times in tight spots, a little RX100 would zip through every time.

I ended up that direction on a bit of a wildlife quest, tigers, lions, crocs, spectacular birds. Bandhavgart, Bharatpur and Rajastan are amazing

Interesting. Had a 2004 X3, 6 speed for the missus, but she had some back surgery and got a 2011 auto, now have a 2017 auto. She dearly misses the 6-speed but a decent one is hard to find here in the US! At least the 2017 is the straight 6 as the push to the 4-cyl seems to be afoot here. It's for around town and the all wheel is actually very effective in the snow. If I was to drive cross county however the VW Toureg, diesel, that my MIL had was more suitable.

For years I drove pre-1992 Volvo 240 5 speed wagons; the A/C in the summer was for sh!t but just couldn't get enough of them. Now I have a 2006 MB E350 with 160K miles and I've grown to love it. Parked outside so can't baby it. I've gone to the mountains (no snow) and use it around town. But, with lockdown I've been working from home so not so much driving.

Also have 1995 Subaru Outback, 5 speed AWD, but it's waiting for me to install a new engine, trans, interior and paint. Perhaps 2021.

First car back in 1970 was a 1962 Ford Falcon wagon, 3 on the tree, but had to hold it in 2nd, $50. Deflowered a young lass in the back so wouldn't mind another one. Had a collection of 1960s VW vans (bought a '62 in '72 for $325) which I could retire off of if I had them now. Many Bugs. Could adjust valves in 15 minutes.

Had a '64 Triumph Spitfire in '70 with the accursed Lucas wiring, but engine was strong. A '67 MG Midget in '71 that was fine when I worked in a gas station and touched it every day, but dutifully fell apart when I got a girlfriend that got my attentions instead.

Worked in an autobody shop when 18 and painted many BMWs, Porches, a couple of XKEs, and the like. Always liked cars. If I had a bigger garage or hopefully small warehouse one day I'd buy a few oldies and keep myself busy.

I don't like working on most bikes; I need something simple to take apart. Tore into a '73 Guzzi one time and a Ducati single. But don't think I'd ever try anything more than a twin.

Funny thing is, I'm having trouble deciding what I'd own for a cruise down the coast if I had my choice; definitely a manual. Always wanted to try an X120 Jag. The 3.8 Mk2 is classy. As is the '67 Alfa Duetto. Sigh.

Oddest car probably was a 1941 Chevrolet Coupe.  Vacuum assisted shift and windshield wipers.  Last pre-war so the steel was excellent.  Dents tapped right out.  6 cyl and the cylinder head (head gasket) was almost too heavy to lift out.

Nice eclectic mix there Wosi - how many bikes have you got ?  Have you still got the Firestorm ?  Had to give up riding at long last three fused discs in my neck and lower back plus arthritis in my thumbs. No longer safe.