Devon TRF Group Forum

Buddha wrote:

---

Kev, you have to much time money and toys 

---

I wish.... Squeeze my time in around my business, kids and the wife. Off on a quote today, bike makes financial sense of course  

Bleddy hell kev you make me feel old - 1997 Classic ??????

My harley is 98 and I consider that quite a new bike!

My Speedtwin is a 59 and that I would term a classic..........

FFS 1997 classic

My 1997 Sprint is a classic..... carburettors and chain drive and made in England !

apparently you can even get classic japanese bikes!

How dose it work....?

pre 1901 pioneer

1902 ~1914 veteran

1915~ 1925 vintage

1926~1936 pre war

1937~1945 WD

1946~ 1967 classic

1967~ 1977 post classic

1977~ 1987 ........................ etc

nominations  / corrections please

Classic?

The Triumph T595 was only made for one year, it was Triumphs first fuel injected bike, and it was hand built in the UK. It will become a true classic as they are becoming fewer and fewer. 

Not all bikes make it to classic status especially if they are mass produced. 

My bike is a 14 year old bike with 14,000 on the clock, she is an unrestricted experiment in modern engineering. On paper it was a Fireblade beater but on the track it never did and it cost quite a bit more. The fuel injected triple is lumpy around town, but takes off and sounds like a jet fighter with the slightest crack of the throttle. The triple character is pure magic. In comparison (although faster) the Fireblade is a boring ride. (I have owned two blades). 

As I get older I realise I love bikes with that have character, they have to make me smile, not because they are fast, or even handle as well as some, but as a true petrol head the roar they produce and the "participation" they demand makes me feel alive, and not board to death sitting on a smooth dull flat four that turns where you look.  

I love this bike as it is great on rural roads, the 60mph limit is challenging to achieve around most rural corners, it rides like its on rails when the power is dialled in correctly, and the sound is incredible. On a dual carriage way or a motorway its boring unless you like risking the license. Give me rural twisties and a triple any day of the week. 

nickpdo wrote:

---

 losing one mate was enough. But if you ride a Blade like it was made to be ridden then the inevitable will happen.

---

I have lost several mates through motorcycling, and yep 2 were on blades when they died.  

However the answer is ride them on rural roads where the handling skills outweigh the speed - for example the road between Bickleigh and Crediton will demand a high ratio of cornering skill and if you can get to the speed limit inside most of the corners your a better man than me. Just reign in the straight line speed and you'll have a great day. If it's a 60mph limit I try to ride at 60mph as much as I can. 

I did a few track days and got some proper tuition and now knowing what grip a sports bike has and how to "push" it through a corner can give you some amazing legal thrills on challenging roads, and the great thing is most of this type of road are avoided by the majority because they are "technical" and more difficult to ride / drive.  Also the speed is relatively slower so if the worst happens you will probably survive. 

I know this is why I love trail riding too, because it challenges me. Its not "high risk" if Im realistic about it and apply some common sense. 

Living in Crediton, I too am a fan of the Bickleigh to Crediton road on my KTM 690 Duke. It's generally my route home from Exeter but remember, when Mel Stride, the local MP comes calling, bend his ear about the number of bl..dy manhole covers on the road. We need to press him to get them changed to non slip ones. 

Bob Adams wrote:

---

Living in Crediton, I too am a fan of the Bickleigh to Crediton road on my KTM 690 Duke. It's generally my route home from Exeter but remember, when Mel Stride, the local MP comes calling, bend his ear about the number of bl..dy manhole covers on the road. We need to press him to get them changed to non slip ones. 

---

I was at a MAG meeting the other week and it seems that Devon CC have decided to fit the new non slip covers as they need replacing, apparently its the utilities companies that are being persuaded to adopt them at the moment. They are cheaper than the standard covers and require less maintenance so now DCC has adopted them we should see some change hopefully. 

Yeh the amount of Manholes on that road is riduculas. The tarmac is always cracking off around them and being repaired etc. Surely would of been cheaper and safer to just Tarmac over the lot and dig the road up if they wanted to inspect!

This vids shows the amount of them 

delvey91 wrote:

---

Yeh the amount of Manholes on that road is riduculas. The tarmac is always cracking off around them and being repaired etc. Surely would of been cheaper and safer to just Tarmac over the lot and dig the road up if they wanted to inspect!

 

This vids shows the amount of them 

 

---

 Nice vid.  You need a faster bike though 

Apparently the metal manhole covers move and the tarmac breaks around the edges of it. 

The new grip ones flex internally so the tarmac is not disturbed. Its gonna take time to replace them all though. 

Bob Adams wrote:

---

Maybe we should start a campaign. If we all write MDDC and complain about the danger of metal manhole covers on that Road perhaps we can speed up the process

---

Mag Did and DCC have agreed, It was called "get a grip"  

Classic my arm.

This is a classic:-

Or this one:-

Or even this one:-

And dare I say this one (Limited Edtion):-

kevinred wrote:

---

nickpdo wrote:

---

 losing one mate was enough. But if you ride a Blade like it was made to be ridden then the inevitable will happen.

---

 

I have lost several mates through motorcycling, and yep 2 were on blades when they died.  

 

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

30 years motorcycling , 2 accidents , first in 97 on a blade, knocked of and bike written off, secound on 2006 blade in 07 , nearly killed me, bike really dead, are fireblades jinxed, inbetween these to had an R1  for 7 years and all ok, in reallity got knocked of twice and other driver prosicuted both times, miss having a road bike, but the roads are to dangerous and i ride too fast, but on sunny days like today, i wish! , oh and yes, my fav was my RGV250 SUCH FUN

Kevin, the BSA wicker top box is in reality a very early example of a mobile phone.

Originally it was used to keep homing pigeons in.

When a message was to be sent, like "broken down on A375 6 miles north of Sidbury" off flew the pigeon.

Cheaper (cheeper) than Orange, but expensive on seed feed!

Martyn

Cubber wrote:

---

Kevin, the BSA wicker top box is in reality a very early example of a mobile phone.

Originally it was used to keep homing pigeons in.

When a message was to be sent, like "broken down on A375 6 miles north of Sidbury" off flew the pigeon.

Cheaper (cheeper) than Orange, but expensive on seed feed!

Martyn

---

 Class 

Just thought I would post a pic of my toys !!!

I'm new to laning and thought the KLX 250 would be a good bike for newcomers (wish it had an electric start), I have had the bike for about six weeks now and overall I'm happy with it, I'm still on the novice ride outs at the moment but its all about trying something new, meeting some great people and having some fun.

As for the Ducati, it's a 1997 916 Bip, I've owned it for six years now and surprise, surprise it only comes out on the dry days, I was about 16yrs old when Foggy was reigning supreme, that's when I fell in love with the 916 and wanted one ever since.

Gripper wrote:

---

 I fell in love with the 916 and wanted one ever since.

---

Nice bikes !!!  (especially the 916...lusting now!!!) 

I used to have a mate that was loaded several years ago and he had the Daytona T595 and thats why I ended up lusting over its lines. 

My Blade at the time, was quicker but it didn't look or sound like the Triumph. 

There is nothing like a green lane or the open road for fun and you have a great selection of tools to achieve both and I'm sure, like me it's smiles for miles. 

chrisoncbr wrote:

---

Lots of roads to choose from up thataway.  Examples: Whiddon Down to North Tawton.  South Molton to Torrington.  Hatherleigh to Holsworthy.  All are great.

---

 I used to live in Paignton, and found the roads either congested or speed limited (you know 40 when it should be a 60mph etc) and riding got a bit tedious, I love South Devon and Cornwall but it gets so busy in the summer. I then moved to Tiverton and over the last four years I have discovered some cracking roads up this way. So if you want some cracking roads may I humbly suggest having a good look around the Mid/North Devon area. 

All the roads chrisoncbr mentioned are cracking but there are quite a few more up here.