Hi All,

Selling the GSXR on ebay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293311402149

It just lives at work now and I ride it to the occasional meeting since it got nicked out of the back garden at home - so basically useless to me now.

Bike isn't the tidiest cosmetically as you'll see from the pics and she's got a few scuffs and scrapes but would make a great winter hack or a track day weapon! Really hasn't wanted for anything mechanically during my ownership. Just had fork seals done and serviced in May for trip away in July then not used since really.

On the bay for £1800 but it can belong to one of you lovely ninjas for £1500 (£100 less than I'm willing to take from eBay).

My work bought me a day at the KTM Motox experience and I can safely say it was one of the most difficult and uncomfortable events of my life!

The day was well run and the bikes were fantastic. They had new Enduro bikes, motox bikes including 250cc, 350cc and 450cc 4 strokes and a 125cc 2 stroke (albeit they didn't get the 2 stroke out as there weren't enough deemed worthy of riding it).

The runner of the experience (Barry Johnson) had the charm of a kick in the spuds initially but that was nothing unexpected from a bloke who's whole job is hanging out with motocrossers and shouting at 'dweebs'.... it was basically how he introduced himself with the promise that you'd get used to him! His son, Ryan, and their mate Tom, also ran the day and where good fun, especially out of earshot of sarcastic Barry. 

I liked all of them, and once they warmed up to each of the personalities and abilities there, they were genuinely supportive and a good laugh. Initially it was a lot of shouting and assuming everyone was a bellend..... regardless of who you were or how you were getting on really.

The actual Motox riding was great and set up as well as you could want for an intro to MX......but Christ, it's completely beyond me. It's one of the most physically demanding things I've ever done, it's terrifying, technically difficult and painful. I've genuinely never known something that requires such a leap of confidence to even take your first step.

As soon as I got knackered and binned it a couple of times I lost my confidence with it and just couldn't get beyond the stage where the bike was handling like shit. I knew that the answer was to be more confident and wind it on, but that just resulted in bigger, more painful and frequent crashes. Can't remember the last time anything sporting or exercise wise completely overwhelmed me. I'd normally rate myself at being able to pick something up from fresh and make a good account of myself but ended the day worst of the bunch and desperate to go home tbh..... kept my mood up and giving it a go but just really couldn't get to grips with it. Finished with a broken helmet and a sore neck and head from my highest scoring nose-dive!

Full respect to people that do motox to any sort of standard, even those that have manged to get beyond the initial phase of it. What a brutal old game!

Despite all the above, would definitely recommend the day if you've never done any motox and fancied a go. It was the perfect way to give it a go in controlled conditions.

Looking at swapping out the 2003 GSXR 600 that's been my workhorse and fun-bike for the last 3 years.

I was looking at getting another 600, want it to at least be 07/08 or newer and ideally less than 20,000 miles on the clock. Budget somewhere between £3,500 and £5,000 depending on how long i can bare to wait / how disciplined I can be. 

I was expecting to go for a super sports but open to suggestions. Will use the bike for some commuting, some track days and a trip to the IOM and to southern Europe this year.

I have thought about going for a Fireblade as that age of bike you seem to get a lot for your money.... but I'm 9st and have never felt the need for more power than a 600 gives me. I'm not concerned about having a litre bike if that's the best deal, just never felt like I needed one before!

Thoughts?

See you on the other side! Laters gaylords!

Hello,

the brakes on the GSXR are really poor. I've been told by my mechanic (without telling him that the brakes are shocking) that the brake pads I have in are rubbish. So my first port of call is to get some new brake pads in and give the system a bleed.

I want the brakes good and proper for a Euro trip through the alps next month but I also use the bike to commute. I want something that will stand up well to track use and hard general use but also pads that will work first time on a cold Manc morning.

Any recommendations? The bike is an K3 GSXR600 K3. If that doesn't work I'll get the mechanic to have a go at cleaning up / servicing the callipers, which I assume would be the next port of call.

Cheers G

Any of you lot have any preferred places to go lid shopping in Manchester? I'm in the market as it were and the only place I know in town is J&S but never been blown away by the range of lids they do in there.

I have a free afternoon so I don't mind riding out a bit to go to a decent place.

all suggestions welcome (apart from look online.... I need to try on some lids).

Cheers, G

Anybody got any experience of taking a motorbike into Amsterdam. I'm on holiday on the bike in Europe at the end of August but the last weekend I've got a stag do in Amsterdam and I haven't got time to come all the way home to fly back out.

We are staying in the red light district. It's looking like parking on the street with a chain is unlikely to result in my bike being where I left it by the time I get back to it? There doesn't seem to be a lot of secure carparks in the city (I guess underground parking is not something the dutch go mad for given the watertable?). Bit stuck for ideas.

My plan was to ride into the Dam, park up the bike for a couple of nights then catch the Sunday night overnight ferry from Rotterdam to Hull. Ride back to Manchester from Hull on the Monday. Ferry back is looking like £250 or there abouts. Open to better suggestions.

Had a pedestrian run head down between two rows of stopped traffic on the Chester Road Roundabout at the bottom of Deansgate this morning.... and straight into my GSXR600. Managed to stay on the bike albeit via bouncing off another car. How are people so dopey!!

Anyway, he's ruined my front fairing which there don't seem to be any replacements for. The fairing is all still there it's just split into a few pieces (doesn't go over any stickers).

Can anyone recommend the best way to fix such damage and anyone that can do it for me? The bike is a little minter so I'm looking for the tidiest job I can get away with. I think if it was glued (or similar) with a bit of a sand and a touch up that might do the trick.

As a back up, if anyone sees a nice front cowl for a 2003 GSXR 600 K2 in blue and white (blue would do I expect) then do give me a shout!

possibly the most inane question I have ever asked!

The GSXR600 K3 has an aftermarket tail unit which I can't remove the twin brake light covers from (waiting for the screwdriver I need to arrive from ebay!) but in the meantime I'd like to order some tail lamps for it. Is there any way of knowing the likely lamps that are in there.... or, for the sake of a couple of quid to guess and have them here tomorrow, which ones would you be ordering?

Cheers

Got back home late last night and put my pushbike away only to notice that my mates Ducati isn't parked where it normally is. Quick check of facebook tells me that he's still on holiday, quick check of his chain tells me its been snipped!

I've asked him for the reg plate so I can report it to the police which, at 1.30 this morning I finally completed. Unfortunately for him (on top of the unfortunateness of the whole thing) is that he thinks I am winding him up and playing a prank, he's convinced of it.... so it's going to be a horrible shock when he gets back.

Thieving scumbags have taken it in broad daylight from the middle of a residential area overlooked by loads of apartments. Shameless c*nts! I felt guilty leaving my bike around this morning so I've ridden in instead of pedalling!

for what good it'll do, it is a matt black Ducati 848 - HX10 HLC. keep your eyes peeled.

Got a flat tyre this morning. Anyone know of a good mobile repair / tyre swap service in or around Manc that they could recommend please?

Decided that I've had my fun in the 350z and putting too many miles on it so getting rid before I bin it or it's worthless. Plan was to get a sensible car.... which I will, honest!

But I see no good reason why I shouldn't have a motorbike for the summer. It needs to be fairly cheep so it's a plausible winter bike for someone to buy at the end of the summer. I think I've settled on this..... thoughts?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUZUKI-SV-650-2003-K3-VGC-ONLY-23K-FINANCE-FULL-MOT-PX-99-UK-DELIVERY-/201349368680?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2ee15b8b68

Looking to buy a trackday voucher for a chap at work who's leaving. He tends to ride Oulton a bit but I think he's fairly happy to travel.

Any providers you'd recommend / avoid. I know many on here have had poor experiences with various providers so just looking for your experience really.

Cheers,

Gilb

We're looking at buying a superbike school session for a mate for his Birthday. Ideally we are looking at getting something flexible / voucher based as he's a pretty busy chap and trying to pin down a weekend / day for him to do it without giving the surprise away is tricky. He's naturally a fairly nippy rider and pretty confident.

Have any of you guys got any experience / reviews / recommendations of any good superbike schools or similar / locations / deals etc? Would be keen to hear what type of thing you think we should go for. He is London based but will probably come up to Outlon without too much hassle.

Also does anyone know if we can do vouchers? I am happy to just google it - which I will inevitably do - but if anyone has actually done the same then that'd be useful to know about.

Cheers

Gilb

Just purchased a Kuota Kalbur, full carbon bike (frame size medium) to part out for the wheels. The wheels aren't exactly what I was looking for so will sell them if I get the right price. The rest will go on ebay unless you 'orrible lot want any of the bits - time for some winter upgrades.

The wheels are 808 zipp tubs (nearly new gator skin tubs). There is carbon profile design bars, Durace all round except brakes which are ultegra, carbon arm supports/cups, carbon bottle cage ,Tri specific saddle with titanium rails,cat eye computer, carbon look pedals, aero drinks bottle.

Parts are in Cheltenham but can post or NF. I'm going away for a couple of weeks so the ebay auctions / sales won't start for a bit.

Ninja Prices as follows:

Kuota Kalibur Carbon / Kevlar Frame and Forks: £550
Zipp 808 carbon tubs £1000
Carbon Profile Design Bars, Brake levers and Shifters £200

Dura Ace chainset £120
Dura-Ace front mech £25
Dura-Ace rear Mech £50
Dura-Ace Cassette 9sp £35

Look Carbon Pedals £40
San Marco Titanium Rail Saddle £75
Ultegra Brakes - £50

Aero Bottle - £10
Carbon Bottle Cage - £10
Cat Eye Computer - £10

If you're quick, and you want the whole bike you can have the lot for £1900 before I start parting her out. 

Let me know if any of that is of interest.

Just won a triathlon bike in South Kilworth. Not in a massive hurry to get it picked up but could do with saving myself the trip up to get it (and the arse ache of borrowing a vehicle that it will fit in!!). Anyone passing that way anytime soon?

Hello,

We're off on a trip to France at the end of May and we want to transport 3 sports bikes down to the alps / pyrenese. We have a camper to tow with and we have looked at hiring trailers. Unfortunately we can only find places that do 2 bike trailers (most o the 3 bike trailers only carry 3 enduros).

Any wise ideas? Or anyone know of places that hire a 3 sports bike trailer?

We have a flatbed trailer which is for a mini-digger which we have looked at strapping the bikes down to using a variety of scaffolding poles etc but we're a little dubious about whether it'll all work out. 

Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated.

G

I'm looking at buying a new bonnet for the car after mine met a sticky end in an altercation with some road works!

The two I am looking at are either in Maidstone or Castleford. Are there any ninjas in those areas with space to keep a bonnet until such time as it can be ninja forced or collected in person? I promise do solemnly promise not to burden said ninja for any significant time.

What do you reckon?

Bouncing off another thread that talked about whether super-sports bikes are for the road (and following the sale of the Daytona) I have been getting seriously itchy about not having a bike.

Problem is my debt clearance is going pretty well and I can't afford to pile back into a shed load of debt to have the bike I really want (the Daytona I just sold). I have previously had an SV650 which I absolutely loved. The smiles for miles was great.

I was thinking about getting something around £1500-£3000 mark where I can get a sorted, middle of the road bike with low miles that I can just have fun on. Needs to be quick enough, handle well enough and not be stone faced ugly. I'd look at another SV650 but I can't find one like I had and the ones on sale all seem hideous (can't stand the S version) and have clip on bars, which, for the SV turns it from a fun bike into a bore!

What do you reckon? 

A friend of mine is a bike part dealer and he has stumbled across these wheels that he just can't figure out whet they go on! He assumed that they're single sided so likely Ducati but they don't fit any Ducati models.

You're a clever lot.... what do you reckon they're from?