Hi from a newbie, plus the story of the squashed silver K3

Hi. I have been lurking here since last summer. I've found the forum informative and entertaining - keep it up! Finally found time to join and start writing myself.

First a bit about me. I am 45 and have been biking on and off since I was 17. I learnt to ride on a Yamaha RD 250 bought from a school friend. Not sure how I survived that as a novice, but after a year or so I moved on to a Honda Superdream 250N! I thought it was great ? mainly because it had electric start and a top box! Had that for a couple of years and then after a break from biking got hold of a 10 year old Honda CX500. That survived my commute for a while but was eventually replaced with a new Suzuki GS500E. Highlight of my time with the GS500 was 6 months spent working in Rome ? had a great drive to Italy and back and great fun on it while out there.

I then had a 12 year break from biking because I was working overseas. I came back to the UK late last summer and moved into the Bracknell area. I work in central London and quickly realised that despite my ?advancing years? commuting by train was a no-no. Started researching bikes on the internet and almost immediately came across SVS.org. Using the completely unbiased advice you all offered to whoever asked I decided that Honda Hornets and Yamaha Fazers were clearly complete rubbish!! So I started looking for a pointy SV650S. Immediately found silver K3 with 4,000 miles on the clock on Gumtree, saw it, tried it and bought it in within a few days in early September 2007. Loved it from the start and found it perfect for my commute of 30 miles each way.

Sadly this bike only survived 2 months in my care! It was knocked over and squashed by a truck while parked in a motorcycle parking bay in Westminster in November 2007. Insurance wrote it off and as the truck driver accepted full liability I got to ride round on a brand new Honda VFR 800 hire bike for almost a month. Nice bike but it?s not an SV!

So I was back to looking for an SV again in December. It took a while but eventually I found another K3, this time blue, and this time with only 2,200 on the clock. So bought that just before Christmas and have been using it for my daily commute since then. Already added 5,000 trouble free miles and love every minute on the bike come rain or shine. For the winter I protected it with ACF-50 which seems to have worked pretty well. I?m on the original Dunlops which have been OK. The back has now squared off and will need replacing soon. Think I will go for a pair of Avon?s and it will be interesting to see how those feel in comparison to the Dunlops.

A few final thoughts. I managed to buy some decent kit this time round (I went for textiles). It does wonders for your confidence and it has been great to arrive at work dry despite regular downpours! The advice re needing a fenda extenda on the forum is dead right. It rained really heavily one day during the second week I had the silver SV and it immediately started misfiring on my commute into London. Ordered the fenda extenda that evening and fitted it as soon as it arrived! My current SV also came without a fenda extenda because the previous owner had never been out in the wet. So Pyramid Plastics like me. Oh, and bl**dy hell isn?t petrol expensive?! But at least I only have to go in to refuel when I have done 180 miles or so

Two things I need to do. Clean my bike more ? I?m lazy! And second, try to escape the family and get out for a ride or two with some of you guys during the weekends this summer.........

Over and out!

Hank

Welcome to the .org (...at last!) Sorry to hear about your first K3!

Alex

Wow, what a nice history of an org user and how it has helped you over the years! Well Bracknell is damn near DanAbnormal and StreetHawk, and you are more than welcome to come and join us in the Thames Valley section for our meets and ride-outs. See you soon maybe!

Hey I'm also a newbie around here! Sounds like a varied bike history, a couple of questions:

1) What's a fenda extender and where do I get one? I plan on riding rain or shine and if this misfiring is a problem I guess this is something I need to research
2) what's acf-50? I may end up winter riding this year and any advice on weather protection would be great.

Originally Posted by Toby

Hey I'm also a newbie around here! Sounds like a varied bike history, a couple of questions:

1) What's a fenda extender and where do I get one? I plan on riding rain or shine and if this misfiring is a problem I guess this is something I need to research
2) what's acf-50? I may end up winter riding this year and any advice on weather protection would be great.

Linky:

Fenda extender: http://www.pyramid-plastics.co.uk/ca...cPath=1_95_155
ACF-50: http://www.busters-accessories.co.uk...1733&kw=ACF-50

Alex

[yorkie_chris]

Fender extender is an extension to the front mudguard to keep water away from the front HT lead and plug cap. High voltage and water not being a very good mix and all...

ACF50 is a pink blancmange type stuff that you spray onto parts of the bike, it does an excellent job preventing corrosion.

cheers for the links and explanation guys! Glad this forum is newbie friendly (or seems to be so far anyhow)

[tonyk]

Hello buddy welcome to the org.
As you are priviliged to be in the thames valley area you will be subjected to taunts, insults, sarcastic replies and unwanted inuendos.
Or you could join us for a ride and all will be forgiven.
Next tuesday then 27th of may is our next meeting at the waterhole called the shire horse in maidenhead.
Si aka Bigape buys the newbies a drink ( just dont mention my name )

Are you breaking your K3?

Originally Posted by svdemon

Are you breaking your K3?

Nope - sorry. I got a decent insurance payout and so the insurers will no doubt have disposed of it themselves. The frame was fine. The damage was to the tank, fairing, rear body work, headlight, and every other bit that sticks out on the left side! I'd had it serviced only two weeks before it was knocked over! If anyone has got hold of it they should by now have put it back together and have a great low mileage SV650S.