newbie Intro from Motolorax

Hi All,
A quick intro from me as suggested by Phil24-7. Basically I'm here to be rescued from a dirty little fettish I have for old BMW boxers. But first some context: I'm Welsh, from Pontypool (the Tatooine of earth- check Taff Wars out on YT if you're intreagued), but give or take a decade of planet wandering I settled in NZ in 2001, were I quickly realized I was in motorbike heaven. Having spent a few years hooning around swales on an AR125 and other assorted horrors as a teen I knew I had to return to biking so quickly found myself with 87 CBX750 Bol D'Or, which I wobbled around the south island on for a few years, visiting lots of rallies, BBQs and other Antipodean delights including eventually: track days!!!

So obviously things had to change. I moved to a new house in 2006 which had amongst other assets, a powered garage door and a side room perfect for a bike! So with some savings burning a hole in my pocket I bought a 2002 red VTR firestorm complete with seat hump, dreadful fuel economy and crappy front end. Instantly loved the twin power which hid my riding inadequacies beautifully. Desperately chased my friends around Otago for a year or two and terrified myself at quite a few track days until I fell in love with a mint 1999 red, black and white R1. I can't even begin to explain how much I miss this bike and how it's sublime power and handling characteristics kept me safe at some fairly terminal speeds. It couldn't be ridden without a big grin. I was in my own personal Nirvanah, police free, long sweeping roads, annual comp insurance for about 60GBP, surfing before work, job of my dreams, lots of time in the hills, great mates and lots of great stuff to keep me busy and lots of Kendo, another passion of mine.

However I'm cursed and blessed with an obsession for shaking things up. For various reasons I decided to return to UK for a year or so a few months back so sold my house and all my possessions and took a job in London for a year. On arrival I quickly remembered why I left in 2001 but had a few missions to complete before returning to the south. But I needed transport, and this is were the boxer fettish raises its head. I've always had a thing about them, a bit like otherwise unattractive middleaged women with amazing sexual confidence I was intreagued, that's allowed! So I've found myself looking at old 100rs on ebay etc. for the past few months but they keep selling for silly money, sv650s money! I know an old boxer is nothing but a bad idea in all respects except for my slight obsession with Rommel (I'm not a Fascist btw, but then neither was Rommel for the record) I've had a wee squirt on an SV many yrs back and remember being suprized by the handling and underwhelmed by the power, and pleased by the slightly (hope I'm not offending anyone) ugly form and function design. Perfect for the traffic and camera clogged Blighty roads. And hopefully swift and economical enough to see me on a few European excursions (have Morocco and Norway in my sights for 09) and maybe even a trackday or two. I've spotted one in London for 1800odd pounds with 26k on it and then on looking here there are a few more for sale for fairly reasonable sums but I plan to keep costs down so will probably go for an oldie - especially as they seem good for 40k,unless this forum knows otherwise.

I like frogs and lizards, curry and farty old real ale, being a militant tree hugger and a total hypocrit. Currently flatting in Sandy Bedford when I'm not on a train to london (hopefully soon to be an SV).

So that's me minus lots of stuff. Anybody fancying a ride out in the Bedford or SWales areas drop me a line, I'm always up for a curry and come the summer, a bit of racing. Also have dreams of getting over to the TT if I can manage it. And any cheap SV650s in the Bedford region, drop me a line.

cheers!

[maviczap]

Hi & welcome, its a bit far for me to come for a ride to your place, if I lived any further East I'd need fins & gills.

Maybe you'll get to the AR09, I'm hoping to

best intro i've read in ages.

Thanks mate! about the only advantage of my advancing years - some perspective at last. cheers, so any other tree hugging kendoka on here?

Hello, excellent read. Welcome

Rai

Cheers Rai! Nice bike there!

V nice intro Welcome

Doesn't seem to be any major long term headaches with reliability, 40K should be easy, I've got a vague recollection that there's at least a couple of 100K examples around these parts. The infamous Suzy build quality seems to mostly show it's ugly head in the form of furring, corrosion and cosmetic bits and pieces, mechanically they all seem pretty sorted with the usual caveat of giving it a bit of love, attention and fresh oil.

I had an AR125 too Great little bikes, you learn all about conservation of momentum and aerodynamics on them (you have to if you want to see 80 on the clock )

Oh, and I've been known to hug the odd tree...

Originally Posted by Motolorax

Cheers Rai! Nice bike there!

Thanks, wish it was mine mine is a little bent and battered at the moment

same here as has been said, nice to have a good intro to read! welcome mate.

as for the sv being good for 40k, im pretty sure ive read a few regulars on here say they have over 100k if its looked after, although i cant vouch for this yet as im on about 35k.(edit - mini matt beat me to it!)

your time spent in nz sounds awesome, but plenty of good riding to be had in wales, only been on one ride out with the org so far and that was thru wales and i was impressed with the scenery and roads (and of course the people). (twas cold tho, was late last year!)

Wow, when I suggested you introduce yourself I thought it was just gonna be. Hi, my name is *, I live in * and I'm looking at getting an sv. Then the usual gumph about ride-outs. I now know more about you than most of my cousins!!!

Cheers for the good read and welcome again to the forum. We hops you stay around for a while, even when you move back down to NZ (they do have this here interweb thing down there, don't they??)!