The Dark Wob

Few weeks back I bought myself first bike in over 20 years. Here in Sweden I feel that it is much safer to ride in comparison to UK.


It's a slightly customised and lowered XVS1100.

At first I thought that I should get something smaller, lighter and more upright to get used to riding again but than this apeared locally and for good money. I actually never rode a cruiser before.
I am really happy with it, it's comfortable, has a grunt and I think looks cool.
Next year my plan is to look for a shovel or panhead chopper. The midlife crisis has really got to me

Had a look at my mum's Virago 250 today. The garage that fixed* the charging issue by fitting a gel battery and selling her an optimate hadn't noticed the reg/rec is totally dead. There is no continunity across any of the diodes and the batt drops from 13.1v to 12.4v when the bike is running. You've got to love professionals haven't you?

£25 later and a new one is on the way from eBay. The design has been reused on lots of Chinese bikes so easy to source.

Hooli wrote: ↑Thu Sep 24, 2020 1:31 pm Had a look at my mum's Virago 250 today. The garage that fixed* the charging issue by fitting a gel battery and selling her an optimate hadn't noticed the reg/rec is totally dead. There is no continunity across any of the diodes and the batt drops from 13.1v to 12.4v when the bike is running. You've got to love professionals haven't you?

£25 later and a new one is on the way from eBay. The design has been reused on lots of Chinese bikes so easy to source.

Has mankind ever managed to make any motorcycle that doesn't have substandard electrics?

Tbh a charging issue on a 'W' reg bike doesn't seem that substandard to me.

Warren t claim wrote: ↑Thu Sep 24, 2020 8:35 pm Has mankind ever managed to make any motorcycle that doesn't have substandard electrics?

The Spanish manufacturer Ossa produced a range of trials bikes with the motoplat ignition system and no other electrics. They were pretty much devoid of non owner inspired electrical problems.

You'll all laugh & call me a poof (again), but just ordered a replacement pair of heated trousers & a heated jacket. I've got the heated vest & it's great, my arms & shoulders still got damn cold though & that made an old shoulder injury ache.

I've got some wiring bits to make a different fly lead for the trousers, the standard design breaks the wires when you sit on the bike! I'll make a fly lead from their lead to a right angle connector into the jacket to resolve that. This set might last more than five months, unlike last year's pair then.

£330 is a lot of cash, but still cheaper than decent textiles that are warm enough to not need heating.

Ya wee poof Hooli!

Eddie Honda wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2020 3:22 pm Ya wee poof Hooli!

Yup, but it's that or £600+ on posh textiles to stay warm in the same conditions.

You're in balmy Yorkshire, not Siberia.

This afternoon's weather here, 10°C, good enough for jeans.

Even in the depths of winter, it's just bung another jumper on. (27 miles each way)

All day out gets chilly though & I'd rather be warm & comfy that so wrapped up I can't move properly to ride.