Uk Motorcycle Industry On The Way To Implosion

[CrashedOutAndBurned]

CCM?

[ken_ichikawa]

I commute on a 900cc triple, British made. Works for me.

Except that most of the parts made to build triumphs come from overseas , the brakes are Japanese , so are some engine internals, the fueling system is French designed and made tyres unless you run dunlops are most definately foreign...

So how British made is it really?

[Freeholder]

Except that most of the parts made to build triumphs come from overseas , the brakes are Japanese , so are some engine internals, the fueling system is French designed and made tyres unless you run dunlops are most definately foreign...

So how British made is it really?

Most complex products source components from a variety of sources. Foolish not to. I will settle for designed and built in Britain. You seem to have some knowledge in this matter. What do you ride?

[ken_ichikawa]

bikers are a bunch of resource wasters. riding around aimlessly, burning precious fuels in the blink of an eye that took millions of years to form - then stopping for a burger and standing around looking like a right t*t in their stupid gear and going home to scrape dead flies off. confirmation that the human race is packed to the rafters with thickos.

Are you kidding?

If you are not...

bikers are a self cleaning genepool those who survive are smarter and have better reflexes and survival instinct , car drivers insultated from all this are much more dangerous......

Also the NEW CG125 replacement with FI CBR125 engine gives 112mpg , what does you car get ? ,

Also don't forget to include the 1900 extra kilos of steel that needed to be refined and processed to make a car compared to a CG125 (the new one) , and note I am comparing like for like a CG being equal to a ford escort , with bigger bikes being equivilant to much faster cars (my CBR600 with mods outguns every car under £150,000)

[TTID]

I ride a very noisy SV650. Commute the entire year. Winter prep involves stepping into an excellent OZEE microlight pilot's oversuit.

It isn't our lack of maturity that will cause motorcycle retail to wither. It's a recession. All retail will suffer. My local motorcycle dealer has economical commuter bikes for sale. They must be selling some, otherwise they wouldn't stock them.

During lean times, if they sell anything, it will be more of these. They won't fail from being full of unsold superbike stock, because all new bikes are there on sale or return anyway.

You almost never buy the new bike that's in the showroom. You order it from the distributor.

All manufacturing will be affected by a downturn.

People buy what they want and what they can afford. Up until now, we have wanted and afforded really lovely fast machines that are pure joy to see and ride.

Of course, there are onlookers who don't get it. What field of human endeavour is immune to that?

I don't ride for anyone else's approval. I ride for the personal experience. My choice of bike is between me and my cheque book. My next one won't be a Chinese commuter.

[heresjohnny]

bikers are a bunch of resource wasters. riding around aimlessly, burning precious fuels in the blink of an eye that took millions of years to form - then stopping for a burger and standing around looking like a right t*t in their stupid gear and going home to scrape dead flies off. confirmation that the human race is packed to the rafters with thickos.

I seem to remember "Street Hawk" made a positive impact on society in the 80's fighting crime and so on.

[Freeholder]

CCM?

I dont know what Alan Clews is up to at the moment but I bet its individual, stylish and probably losing money.

[ken_ichikawa]

Most complex products source components from a variety of sources. Foolish not to. I will settle for designed and built in Britain. You seem to have some knowledge in this matter. What do you ride?

Souless Honda Japanese bikes, an NTV650 , a CBR600 which is modified ,

Also I have a project XTZ750 super tenere , which I am considering sticking a TDM850 mated to a TDM900 gear box on it to cross Africa.

I also have a little project on the side attempting to stick a 135bhp CBR900 engine into a CBR400 frame,

[Freeholder]

Souless Honda Japanese bikes, an NTV650 , a CBR600 which is modified ,

Also I have a project XTZ750 super tenere , which I am considering sticking a TDM850 mated to a TDM900 gear box on it to cross Africa.

I also have a little project on the side attempting to stick a 135bhp CBR900 engine into a CBR400 frame,

Nothing souless about that last project. I'm a bit too arthritic and middle aged for that kind of lunacy but it certainly shows the right spirit. Tell us what its like to ride as soon as your hands have stopped shaking.

[Cold Snail]

I've been noticing that a lot more on/off road bikes are coming up for sale just in time for the winter, but I guess any excess toy is the first thing out the door when things are tight.

I'm probably guilty of owning the wrong road bike in these times, but a two stroke 350 twin is such a laugh (approx 20mpg and £13 worth of 2 stoke oil every 200 litres of fuel).

[Freeholder]

I've been noticing that a lot more on/off road bikes are coming up for sale just in time for the winter, but I guess any excess toy is the first thing out the door when things are tight.

I'm probably guilty of owning the wrong road bike in these times, but a two stroke 350 twin is such a laugh (approx 20mpg and £13 worth of 2 stoke oil every 200 litres of fuel).

A nice Yamaha 350YPVS would certainly be a temptation. What is this deliciously non pc motorcycle of yours?

[Lander]

If you're only using it for tooling around, that kind of money will get you a new chinese "scrambler", eg like this (no affiliation) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/XT3-Supermoto-125cc-...A1%7C240%3A1318

That actually looks like quite a decent bike for the money. A Honda or Kawasaki of equivalent spec would cost 3 times that

[Cold Snail]

A nice Yamaha 350YPVS would certainly be a temptation. What is this deliciously non pc motorcycle of yours?

Exactly that.

The plan is to paint it back to original spec over the winter, it was sold to me by a distressed seller back in the summer and is probably worth less than what it owes me, but every time I go into the garage I have to start it up.

[Chicken]

bikers are a bunch of resource wasters. riding around aimlessly, burning precious fuels in the blink of an eye that took millions of years to form - then stopping for a burger and standing around looking like a right t*t in their stupid gear and going home to scrape dead flies off. confirmation that the human race is packed to the rafters with thickos.

Thanks for showing me the light - I'm giving up biking because of this.

[Freeholder]

Exactly that.

The plan is to paint it back to original spec over the winter, it was sold to me by a distressed seller back in the summer and is probably worth less than what it owes me, but every time I go into the garage I have to start it up.

Dont paint that back to original. It looks great the way it is.

[yawnIHateSundays]

Exactly that.

The plan is to paint it back to original spec over the winter, it was sold to me by a distressed seller back in the summer and is probably worth less than what it owes me, but every time I go into the garage I have to start it up.

That looks interesting. My first bike was a Yamaha 125 when I was 17, followed by a 250. Both stripped down and rebuilt, used to know the engines inside out. Is it still easy to get parts for it?

[Cold Snail]

Dont paint that back to original. It looks great the way it is.

I'm not rushing, I've got some greenlaning to do over the winter on a XR400R.

That looks interesting. My first bike was a Yamaha 125 when I was 17, followed by a 250. Both stripped down and rebuilt, used to know the engines inside out. Is it still easy to get parts for it?

All the servicing items are cheap, a full gasket set is £20 compared to my Katana's £100+, pistons are £40 (or rings alone £18) , but there are some rare body/trim bits that can cost a small fortune.

I think I'll just keep on enjoying it before they ban two stroke oil.

[Privateer]

I seem to remember "Street Hawk" made a positive impact on society in the 80's fighting crime and so on.

Not as much as Airwolf. Pilots are where it's at, baby.

[Freeholder]

Not as much as Airwolf. Pilots are where it's at, baby.

Imagine the distress it would cause poor little Sirius if we all just rode around in aircraft. Stopping for a burger would be a bit tricky though.

[Privateer]

Hmmm. I'll get a few mates together to work on a solution to the aerial burger problem. Kites, maybe?

[jungllie jim]

Tried a Triumph Sprint ST 955I about 5 months ago, very disappointed by it. Felt un convinced and not to positive about catching the gear lever....was wearing Alpinestars SMX size 11 boots. Nice enough ride and enough to but would have been bored senseless after a few months.

Was riding a CBR1000F at the time, 13 years old, owned for 5 years and apart from wheel and steering race bearings nothing went wrong, over 50 MPG, £70 Fully Comp

E bayed it for £500 more than i paid for it on E bay in 2003

Any way i digress, sold it to buy a CBR1100XX Blackbird as a upgrade....but never got it in the end, rode 2, a S reg carb and a T reg Injectd.

Intend on rebuying in the Xmas.

[symo]

bikers are a bunch of resource wasters. riding around aimlessly, burning precious fuels in the blink of an eye that took millions of years to form - then stopping for a burger and standing around looking like a right t*t in their stupid gear and going home to scrape dead flies off. confirmation that the human race is packed to the rafters with thickos.

Sorry you're obviously jealous of us filtering past you every morning and evening whilst you sit alone in a metal box taking up space having your engine running at idle and going nowhere. Hein Gericke one piece waterproofs solve the rain issue.

Except that most of the parts made to build triumphs come from overseas , the brakes are Japanese , so are some engine internals, the fueling system is French designed and made tyres unless you run dunlops are most definately foreign...

So how British made is it really?

LOLZ, you need to read professional engineer, Triumph are always advertising for engineers of all disciplines. Originally they had a lot of the Kwak parts bin, but that is minimising. As for the brakes all high end bikes have bits from different manufacturers, kinda like brembos on your tin boxes.

Me triumph 1050 triple commutes/fun and chicks dig it. Had it from new the minute I saw it on a tour of the factory prior to release and have loved it every second I have owned it.

[VacantPossession]

Quite frankly most bikers will classify you as a Boring Old Fart who has absolutely no connection with the reasons for riding a motorbike,

I don't know what you point is, there are many many practical bikes, from scooters to commuters so why don't you buy one and shut the ****

up?

Oh dear. You seem to be representing exactly why many car drivers loathe and detest bikers. You make sweeping assumptions about "classifying" me having never met me and never seen me on a bike. This is precisely the kind of tribalism that has, almost exclusive to the UK, brought about the very conditions why bikers and the bike industry is ever more marginalised here. Your position is by default defensive. Because I have the honesty to say that, although I am a biker, I recognise that some, not all, of my biking colleagues are bloody irresponsible, you now make knee jerk judgements. It would be better if you took on board the enormous prejudice against bikers and bikes and worked out why it exists. Most bikers are car drivers too, but some of them appear to change personalities with the "us" and "them" bigotry that dominates both enthusiasts. I concede that, equally, some car drivers are a menace too.

You also misunderstand my points because you are so busy over-reacting to them that you are making assumptions which simply do not exist. I stand by my original point which was to explain why bike sales here are plummeting. It is partly because the biking lobby, while having every right to stand up for what is a very desirable, pleasurable and potentially economical form of transport, is stubbornly ignoring two things: 1) Bike marketing in the UK is dominated by very powerful machines which are not always practical and clearly put pressure on particularly younger riders to buy machines beyond their abilities. 2) Not recognising the small but significant section of bikers who get everyone else's backs up is exactly playing into the hands of those police chiefs and average punters who want as a matter of ambition all bikes to be banned from the roads.

And your reaction to this is the not very intelligent observation that therefore "I am a boring old fart". I'm happy to take this on board if only you were prepared to recognise that there really IS a problem about prejudice against the bike industry, and also recognise that such prejudice is not completely blind.

Now see if you can make a case, which I would respect if you could avoid descending into "shut the F**ck up" desperation. Thank you.

VP

Edited November 21, 2008 by VacantPossession

[ken_ichikawa]

The problem with triumph is not their business model per se as they have gone Niche , and thus big players won't bother to compete for their markets...

The big problem is that Triumph is part of a consortium of companies of Bloor Holdings , guess what Bloor does.... Bloor builds houses , if Wimpey can't survive you recon a small fish like Bloor can with 400million turn over compared to Wimpy?

[rogbog]

There do seem to be some spite filled pieces of small minded scum on here today. Tell me what you do Sirius so I can hate it for no coherant reason.

Nothing small minded about hating motorbike scum. Its the bikers that are small minded. Using roads as race tracks.