what you wouldn't do to your bike? [Archive] - SV650.org

muzikill

02-12-10, 09:58 PM

Was thinking about things i see on other bikes and think - no not for me..
Things i would consider unecessary / tat. No disrespect to those that have done these but just my personal taste!

Anodisation & wheel strips is pretty high up. Extra bright bulbs, helium in the tyres. Any sort of paint scheme that is 'unique' eg. go faster stripes, camouflage.

I like my bike pretty much standard tbh.

comments?

speedplay

02-12-10, 09:59 PM

Wouldnt take my road bike out in the snow...

muzikill

02-12-10, 10:02 PM

or my cage, some crazy people driving around just now.

orose

02-12-10, 10:13 PM

Anything that involved having my knees straighter than 90 degrees when riding - it doesn't feel right for some reason.

Dave20046

02-12-10, 10:15 PM

A horrible loud exhaust.
. Extra bright bulbs,

Nowt wrong with being seen!

Teejayexc

02-12-10, 10:24 PM

A horrible loud exhaust.

Nowt wrong with being seen!

Or heard !

Not sure if this fits the OP's post but, bike co-ordinated leathers, 'specially his n' hers

Bibio

02-12-10, 10:25 PM

anodising is nice unless its overdone and nothing matches. i like unique paint jobs but they have to be done well. i like to see unique bikes as it shows the person has personality or is just plain mad. i do not on the other hand like 'chavy' bikes. but each to their own and all that.

-Ralph-

03-12-10, 08:50 AM

neio79

03-12-10, 09:52 AM

Have Suzuki on the tank!!! :wink:

Davies

03-12-10, 10:22 AM

Nowt wrong with being seen!

That's probably the one thing that narks me about other bikers. It's really distracting when you've got someone behind/coming towards your with extra bright bulbs, especially in the rain (applies to many cars too). It may be ok for you but think of the other people you're blinding ;)

-Ralph-

03-12-10, 11:40 AM

That's probably the one thing that narks me about other bikers. It's really distracting when you've got someone behind/coming towards your with extra bright bulbs, especially in the rain (applies to many cars too). It may be ok for you but think of the other people you're blinding ;)

Had debates on this and on riding with high beam on the forum before and you'll never get folk to agree on it. Many would rather blind, see and be seen, than not see and be seen.

There's all sorts of arguments in both camps and I'm going to sit on the fence. I flick to high beam in certain circumstances and it depends on the situation you are faced with.

I'd also like a headlight upgrade on my XT600, because the standard headlight is too dim and is dangerous IMO (not much better than your average car sidelight), so it depends on the bike too.

AndyBrad

03-12-10, 11:44 AM

high beam! thats different to bright bulbs, you shouldnt be dazzling people as they might swerve into you. ?

what wouldnt i do? gold engine bolt kit

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ok who am i kidding of course i would.

-Ralph-

03-12-10, 12:11 PM

I once sat on an empty M74 alongside another SV with a headlight upgrade. His headlight upgrade illuminated the road ahead on dipped, better than my standard full beam.

Reeder

03-12-10, 12:15 PM

I would never dream of putting a screen on my naked. Ergh.

davepreston

03-12-10, 01:53 PM

my list is long and exhusative but to surmise
irksy's bike
rim tape
fake carbon fibre
that gezzer from down souths bike the gay one with sparkles ( josh's)
and finally spidermans ridicuals helmet shouldnt be near any bike

AndyBrad

03-12-10, 01:55 PM

yorkie_chris

03-12-10, 02:13 PM

Extra bright bulbs,

You don't like seeing in dark?

yorkie_chris

03-12-10, 02:15 PM

90's shell suit style paint schemes.

Carbon fibre bits for the sake of carbon fibre bits, ie: if the manufacturer puts them there, or if you buy an addition like a hugger and it's CF then fair enough, but to take perfectly good black plastic, or manufacturer painted bits off the bike, and replace them with CF is Chav.

Carbon fibre is good if it is replacement parts... when it is carbon stuck onto the top of the normal stuff THEN it is chav.

For example... carbon/kevlar tank, very cool. Carbon tape over standard tank... very chav.

Mighty Boosh

03-12-10, 02:18 PM

Sell it and buy a curvy.:p

rictus01

03-12-10, 02:20 PM

what I wouldn't do...............

leave it in the garage when I could be riding it.

pie_master

03-12-10, 04:24 PM

Ape Hangers...on scooters...

pie_master

03-12-10, 04:25 PM

And neons than shine onto the floor.

L3nny

03-12-10, 05:28 PM

I don't like the whole airbrush wolf howling at the moon skull and crossbones look. I can appriciate the artwork but I just think on a bike it looks tacky, especially when the paintjob costs more than the bike is worth.

lammypie

03-12-10, 06:22 PM

allow anyone near it who thinks "stick on ears" are good for a helmet

and over personalisation. respraying it a different colour is okay, so long as its tasteful. but for the love of god please dont make your bike have fur

oh.. another... stickers that just dont belong like bandit Type R's..

squirrel_hunter

03-12-10, 06:27 PM

Tank pads.

Dicky Ticker

04-12-10, 09:01 AM

dizzyblonde

04-12-10, 09:31 AM

A horrible loud exhaust.

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100618013855/shrek/images/6/65/Pinocchio.jpg

Since when did you have a quiet one!!

For me, washing them in washing up liquid, I may as well rinse it in grit off the road!

Dicky Ticker

04-12-10, 11:17 AM

I think one thing that is common place is that people fail to maintain their bikes to the recommended standards. Having the money to buy any vehicle,tax and insure it is the easy bit and maintenance is generally overlooked in the equation.Possibly why there are so many DIY mechanics,not that that is a bad thing providing it is properly executed,but on the other hand the reason why so many bikes are sold without maintenance records.
Point two being the Sunday morning cowboys who buy a bike,thrash it on a Sunday morning for 5000miles and expect top dollar on resale when a regularly used bike with full maintenance on 15.000 miles is possibly a better buy.
IMHO

squirrel_hunter

04-12-10, 12:18 PM

SQ--Why tank pads,do you mean the old type rubber ones,plastic knee grippers, or the clear protective film to stop scratching from zips and your knees?

Tank pads are the quickest way to ruin a bike.

The ones with a naked lady, or HRC, or carbon look, or the name of the bike are the worst. Followed closely by those massive rubber ones that stick out from the tank and have a random number of colors never seen on the bike that it is stuck to. The knee gripers I simply do not understand as my knees have never slipped off the tank. And as for the protective film that is normally seen on a bike thats done 17 miles a year, what is it being protected from, dust. Just leave the tank alone.

Now who wants this soapbox next?

-Ralph-

04-12-10, 12:31 PM

You obviously don't have a belly the size of mine and wear textile gear. Without a tank protector, that really is the quickest way to ruin a bike, one ride and the paintwork looks like a well used skating rink. Agree about silly colours or graphics though. Mine was black on a red bike.

yorkie_chris

04-12-10, 12:33 PM

..and insure it is the easy bit

Haven't been trying to insure a vee-hickle for an under 25 recently then!!

Robbing b*stards...

Dicky Ticker

04-12-10, 12:49 PM

Youth versus age-----believe me I would rather have youth,age isn't all it is cracked up to be.
Don't ever wish your life away because as you get older time seems to take on a different perspective and fly past

hongman

04-12-10, 02:37 PM

If you asked me a few weeks ago what I thought about neons on a bike (or car for that matter), I'd say, chav.

But a while ago I saw a bike coming in the opposite direction with neons, and I have to say it looked the mutts nuts! Very tastefully done, in the fairing gaps. Not overkill, very sutle.

On the note of snow, saw 2 or 3 bikers braving the snow and ice this last week. They are either incredibly brave, incredibly stupid or really MUST use their bike...!

fizzwheel

04-12-10, 02:47 PM

Coloured Screens, especially blue ones on white & blue GSXR's

Hideously contrasting rim tape, i.e, green rim tape on a red bike, looks nasty

Faux Carbon in any shape or form

Ape Hangers

Of course I bought a bike that came out of the factory with a blue chain and blue seats, so what the hell do I know about anything :D

hongman

04-12-10, 02:52 PM

Hideously contrasting rim tape, i.e, green rim tape on a red bike, looks nasty

Father Christmas' bike! :D

Milky Bar Kid

04-12-10, 02:59 PM

Firstly, can I ask wtf is an ape hanger??

Secondly, Steve, you are about to get a kicking...(it can wait til I am next in Lacock) as I have an HRC tankpad, PURELY because the other choice was the tacky mutli coloured ones and having a white tank, it marks MEGA easily, so there!

toxic

04-12-10, 03:07 PM

Firstly, can I ask wtf is an ape hanger??

it's either to do with the history of hartlepool, or thos really high chopper bars.

i don't like faux carbon, iridium screens or burberry paint jobs.

lammypie

04-12-10, 05:02 PM

Lammypie----You are about to cop the wrath of Lisa----"Fur on bikes"--wait till you see what she does:D

SQ--Why tank pads,do you mean the old type rubber ones,plastic knee grippers, or the clear protective film to stop scratching from zips and your knees?

*wince* let hope i get away with it. though a pre-emtive digging my way out. it is called what you wouldnt do to "YOUR" bike. i bet cleaning it is a nightmare. spose head n shoulders is the trick.

tank pads are a god send, i have one but my thoughts were entirely of.. not scratching/rubbing the paint off etc, and i went with the most blue one i could find and stuck it on, though i only over touch the tank when im really tucked in. also the clear plastic sheets are needed no matter how often you ride, youd be suprised at the bikes ive seen with a large amount of paintwork/metalwork rubbed down by peoples boots. little bits for that are useful. but going overboard is the weakness

lammypie

04-12-10, 05:04 PM

and ape hangers

http://www.deviantart.com/download/93126270/HUGE_ape_hangers_lol_by_Hanyuu_Furude.jpg

dizzyblonde

04-12-10, 05:12 PM

Has any of you lot ever tried riding a bike with ape hangers?

I have.....errrrrr its different!

Dave20046

04-12-10, 06:34 PM

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100618013855/shrek/images/6/65/Pinocchio.jpg

Since when did you have a quiet one!!

For me, washing them in washing up liquid, I may as well rinse it in grit off the road!

:mrgreen: 'twas a blatant joke - I have the fixed penalty notice to prove it!

Teejay's response was what I was after .

re. bright lights, if they're angled correctly they shouldn't be an issue. I've just uprated (slightly) the bulbs in mine but I wouldn't have a problem with HID kits (and they're amazingly bright). I think lights are really important on bikes, in the car I've missed bikes with poor headlights/sidelights on , on first look at a junction.

In response to the OP 'clean it.'

L3nny

04-12-10, 06:39 PM

and ape hangers

http://www.deviantart.com/download/93126270/HUGE_ape_hangers_lol_by_Hanyuu_Furude.jpg

Be a bit tricky to get your knee down on that!!

beabert

04-12-10, 06:49 PM

Tank pads are the quickest way to ruin a bike.

The ones with a naked lady, or HRC, or carbon look, or the name of the bike are the worst. Followed closely by those massive rubber ones that stick out from the tank and have a random number of colors never seen on the bike that it is stuck to. The knee gripers I simply do not understand as my knees have never slipped off the tank. And as for the protective film that is normally seen on a bike thats done 17 miles a year, what is it being protected from, dust. Just leave the tank alone.

Now who wants this soapbox next?

+ 1 on knee gripping pad things, they look bloody terrible; and no i have never hadany need for them either.

danf1234

04-12-10, 06:55 PM

+ 1 on knee gripping pad things, they look bloody terrible; and no i have never hadany need for them either.

+2 think they look sh!t.

Tank Pads I disagree. My Hein Gericke jacket scrathed fook out of my tank until I put one of these on!

04-12-10, 06:56 PM

I have a hate for...

Tank pads
Crash bungs
Stickers standard or aftermarket

Anything that ruins the lines of a bike.

I have red stripes on my Marchesini wheels... They are painted in though standard... I have a hate for badly fitted aftermarket ones, they probably fall under stickers though.

lammypie

04-12-10, 07:06 PM

think crash bungs fall under the same function>form as the tank pads do for most of us

Specialone

04-12-10, 07:10 PM

I put venture shield on my sprint tank cos it needed it badly as my leathers were scrathing fook out of it, but you cant see it when fitted anyway.
I did buy a real carbon triumph tank pad as well, which looked the nuts.

toxic

04-12-10, 07:18 PM

actually if it's not your bike you can do one far as i'm concerned.

asking people what they think 'bout certain bike accessories on a forum and then reading their responses is like asking your gran what she thinks of dark skinned people after she's had a whiskey or three.

Lozzo

04-12-10, 07:18 PM

+ 1 on knee gripping pad things, they look bloody terrible; and no i have never hadany need for them either.

I'll be fitting some to my CBR track/racebike soon, mainly because they help grip the tank when braking hard at track pace. They have their use, but not for the average road rider.

When choosing accessories or upgrades I think more of the practicality than I do the looks, hence my bike has worn a Baglux cover from the first week of ownership and some huge BMW handguards. Tbh, I dont give a flying f**k what anyone thinks to the looks of my bikes, as long as it does the job I ask of it.

Things like rim-tape, coloured anodised bolts and pointless add-ons and orange tinted screens are completely gash though.

Stonesie

04-12-10, 07:21 PM

Fake Carbon is a big no-no, I had some on the bike in the form of the rear indicators, coloured them in with a black marker pen and have now replaced them.

Tank pad.... Staying, Not got leathers yet and the textile jacket would make mincemeat of the paint
Crash bungs.... have already saved the bike from damage so Staying
Rim tape.... Neon yellow on a blue bike.... Going, toying with the idea of some blue reflective tape though
Exhaust.... Baffle has not fallen out yet but its looking wobbly ;)

I cant stand car's or bikes that have the headlamps shining at the treetops, theyre so easy to adjust.

Ive only met one biker riding on main beam coming the other way so far on the SV, mine were brighter than his and he turned them back to dip... I really hate that.

andrewsmith

04-12-10, 07:23 PM

The over kill of aftermarket CF looks S***e

The tank pad is function IMO, mines a fate CF one but the flat coloured ones looks crap!
The tank pad is there after i destroyed the paint on a YBR125 with me codura's.

my hates are:
- the branded Tank pads
- rim tape unless as G has said its factory finish
- Aftermarket and idiot stickers. Brand stickers are ok on a race bike but not a road bike
- Annodisation when it over kill, a black and gold R6 looks good as its discreet

toxic

04-12-10, 07:28 PM

my tank pad sez sv650, i have no other sv650 stickers on the bike though.

danf1234

04-12-10, 07:30 PM

WTF's the problem with tank pads? If you have a jacket like mine it scratches fook out of your tank without one?

yorkie_chris

04-12-10, 07:43 PM

I don't use one, mainly because you could wear chain mail on my bike and not worry about any extra scratches being noticeable

Specialone

04-12-10, 07:45 PM

End of the day, without sounding a knob, its my bike i couldnt give a rats ass wether anyone else likes things i add to it.
That said, i prefer subtle mods, dont like loud colours etc.

danf1234

04-12-10, 07:53 PM

End of the day, without sounding a knob, its my bike i couldnt give a rats ass wether anyone else likes things i add to it.
That said, i prefer subtle mods, dont like loud colours etc.

+1 on that.

My bike, my thing, my money my choice!

No excess stickers for me anymore - I learned my lession with SV touring decals hahaha:D

sinbad

04-12-10, 08:31 PM

I wouldn't paint it with a "metal-flake" paint which looks like it was used to paint dodgems.
I wouldn't spend so much on it that I resented it for owing me so much money whilst not being worth any more money :)
I wouldn't put fairing lowers on it.
I wouldn't tune the engine beyond simply keeping it working properly.
I wouldn't put smoked or coloured headlight covers on it.

Milky Bar Kid

04-12-10, 09:23 PM

The only things not standard on my bike are the HRC tankpad, which is plain and practical, scottoiler and R+G Crash Bungs which have already saved me from fortunes of damage when my bike fell over at work.

toxic

04-12-10, 09:26 PM

I wouldn't tune the engine beyond simply keeping it working properly.

boring! :p

barwel1992

04-12-10, 10:17 PM

i wouldn't leave it standard
i wouldn't not tune it
i wouldn't NOT put brand name of the parts im using on my bike specially if the company is British (GB moto for instance)
i wouldn't stick loads of cr&p plastic on it called fairings ;)
i wouldn't fit panniers
i wouldn't fit topb*x
i wouldn't fit chrome
i wouldn't leave a quite exhaust on it...

andrewsmith

04-12-10, 10:18 PM

the latter 2 can be changed

barwel1992

04-12-10, 10:19 PM

+2 think they look sh!t.

Tank Pads I disagree. My Hein Gericke jacket scrathed fook out of my tank until I put one of these on!

ever used stomp grips ?

bunch of tards if you dont think they work ..... ;)

Smudge

04-12-10, 10:48 PM

I don't use one, mainly because you could wear chain mail on my bike and not worry about any extra scratches being noticeable

You've already got a gorgeous bird some of us have to display still!!!!!!!!!!!

andrewsmith

04-12-10, 11:09 PM

i wouldn't leave it standard
i wouldn't not tune it
i wouldn't NOT put brand name of the parts im using on my bike specially if the company is British (GB moto for instance)
i wouldn't stick loads of cr&p plastic on it called fairings ;)
i wouldn't leave home without my panniers
i wouldn't leave home without my topbox
i wouldn't fit chrome
i wouldn't leave a quite exhaust on it...

Edited!

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/1c56af9e.jpg

Milky Bar Kid

04-12-10, 11:14 PM

Awesome! PMSL!

Smudge

04-12-10, 11:20 PM

Edited!

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/1c56af9e.jpg

luggage lighting a bit suspect lol but this is a class tourer!!!!!!!!!

Sally

04-12-10, 11:20 PM

Nice luggage lad! ;)

barwel1992

05-12-10, 12:31 AM

Edited!

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k164/DarrenStewartTait/1c56af9e.jpg

hahaha :D

knob ;)

danf1234

05-12-10, 08:46 AM

ever used stomp grips ?

bunch of tards if you dont think they work ..... ;)

Nope, I never said they don't work, i said I don't like the look of em. Unlike your new luggage which looks mint! ;)

yorkie_chris

05-12-10, 09:49 AM

I really like my stompgrips, when braking heavily (especially 2 up) they make it much easier to keep in right spot and move over when you need to.

Who cares what something looks like when it works.

Berlin

05-12-10, 10:10 AM

Any accessory with SV written on it, or etched into it, or laser cut out of it are mega naff.

Things like SV or SV650 cut into the rad cover, heel plates, bar ends etc. wouldn't go anywhere near my bike.

I don't mind if others want to use them though.

C

danf1234

05-12-10, 11:23 AM

I really like my stompgrips, when braking heavily (especially 2 up) they make it much easier to keep in right spot and move over when you need to.

Who cares what something looks like when it works.

Fair comment. I don't suppose I would know having never tried them.

danf1234

05-12-10, 11:25 AM

However you have given me a thought when riding with a load of luggage!

Hahahahah runs off to google where to buy stomp grips.

barwel1992

05-12-10, 11:57 AM

However you have given me a thought when riding with a load of luggage!

Hahahahah runs off to google where to buy stomp grips.

Lmao ! ps you can get clear ones, thats why i dont understand why people dont like them when you can hardly see them

i got black ones because i dont like silver and if you haven't noticed i have a silver nakedfightertourer :rolleyes: so wanted to cover as much of the silver up as possible lol

Dave20046

06-12-10, 09:51 AM

Thought of one - fake carbon fibre.
i.e black and silver tartan.

Smudge

06-12-10, 11:02 PM

Do stomp grips stop you moving around on your bike? as I move quite a lot when I'm cornering i.e. hang my ass out not just to stop the mess from hitting my bike lol but to carry more speed safely round.

yorkie_chris

06-12-10, 11:03 PM

No they don't stop you in the slightest, if anything they make it easier as you've got the friction there to use

Smudge

06-12-10, 11:05 PM

Thought of one - fake carbon fibre.
i.e black and silver tartan.

The only Triumph tank pad i can find for my S4 is that crappy carbon looking stuff :puker:

Smudge

06-12-10, 11:07 PM

No they don't stop you in the slightest, if anything they make it easier as you've got the friction there to use

set of clear stuff on order saves me getting the awful carbon look triumph pad.

06-12-10, 11:09 PM

Who cares what something looks like when it works.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Specialone

06-12-10, 11:56 PM

The only Triumph tank pad i can find for my S4 is that crappy carbon looking stuff :puker:
What about proper trumpet one from triumph, proper carbon fibre not fake stuff.
I got one on my sprint, i think it looks the nuts and serves a purpose, result.

Smudge

08-12-10, 05:13 AM

Thats probs the one I think is fake.

Lissa

08-12-10, 06:36 PM

but for the love of god please dont make your bike have fur

Lammypie----You are about to cop the wrath of Lisa----"Fur on bikes"--wait till you see what she does:D

Fur? What fur? :smt102

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/Lissasv650/furry.jpg

Dave20046

08-12-10, 07:42 PM

Purple wheels....

andrewsmith

08-12-10, 07:50 PM

Purple wheels....

+1

andrewsmith

08-12-10, 07:52 PM

Lissa

08-12-10, 08:19 PM

Purple wheels....

Humph! That's the last time I carry your booze back to Loch Ness!

+1

And what have I ever done to you? :smt022

andrewsmith

08-12-10, 08:26 PM

And what have I ever done to you? :smt022

Nothing Lissa, just have a thing against purple wheels as a mates look crap.

Yours don't tho.
:kiss: :grouphug:

Dave20046

08-12-10, 08:32 PM

Humph! That's the last time I carry your booze back to Loch Ness!

:mrgreen:

Lissa

08-12-10, 08:41 PM

Nothing Lissa, just have a thing against purple wheels as a mates look crap.

Yours don't tho.
:kiss: :grouphug:

Aw, thanks! :D

:mrgreen:

Just for you...purple wheels AND fur!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/Lissasv650/furrypurple.jpg

Dave20046

08-12-10, 08:47 PM

Aw, thanks! :D

Just for you...purple wheels AND fur!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/Lissasv650/furrypurple.jpg

Only the fastest buspass holders in the UK could pull that one off! :p

Merry xmas:santa:

Lissa

08-12-10, 08:49 PM

Only the fastest buspass holders in the UK could pull that one off! :p

Merry xmas:santa:

:D

Merry Xmas to you, too.

rowdy

08-12-10, 08:59 PM

Put diesel in it :lol:.

Lissa

08-12-10, 09:06 PM

Put diesel in it :lol:.

Especially not TWICE, eh? :rolleyes:

Senior citizen moments! :p

leebex

08-12-10, 09:06 PM

End of the day, without sounding a knob, its my bike i couldnt give a rats ass wether anyone else likes things i add to it.

I agree, although I wont be in a hurry to add a pointy rear light to another curvy, been too much friggin agro so far!!