Do I carry on trail riding?

[SteveR]

At least I haven’t had to suffer the injuries - you have my sympathy.
If we had enough lanes, I wouldn’t mind the easy lane idea but we only really have enough for a couple of hours and that would soon get boring.

I like going out for a road ride on the little 400, and will pop in a couple of lanes en route, usually one I have known for donkeys years, but just a bit different from blatting about... I always used to have OS maps of the area covering the Border and Mid Wales, so iIcould just check what was in the area for when I am "not quite sure where the turn is", especially in bits of Wales.

The days when I would hack the poor old Varadero (and Rider!) down completely unsuitable tracks is long gone I can tell you... I could probably manage the track, but would be stuffed if it went down!! 250kg.... No thank you

[johnnyboxer]

Some interesting viewpoints written today
As we age, none of the posters are wrong and it’s something to consider

[DavidS]

I’m firmly of the opinion to give something up as a conscious decision, not be forced into it by injury or whatever. The end of anything doesn’t want to be a bad memory.

My memory will be (hopefully) of a lovely day out at my favourite horse trial, meeting people I know and watching, mostly, lovely young ladies riding horses round a cross country course.
Tea, cake etc all day.
Oh! And a little bit of riding round the course - 30 road miles there, maybe 20 miles at the event and another 30 road miles home…to a nice dinner and a shared bottle of wine.

But that isn’t swaying me. Three horse trials a year and maybe the same number of short trail bimbles around the same 6 lanes, mostly short, just isn’t justifiable.


I’m back to bike confusion though. My mate says a Ducati scrambler was too small for him at 5’8 so me a 6’3 is hopeless. Much as I fancy the idea of the Hypermotard, I need to ride one - it may be the seat is sufficiently distance limited that it will be ideal and be a modern version of my old beloved 950SM.

My wife is trying the pillion on the Norden tomorrow so that might concentrate the mind in a different 2nd bike direction if she doesn’t like the slight perch. Then I’ll be looking for a flat seat semi-classic….but that’s a whole new ballgame.

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

There is, of course, a new KTM 890 SM-T..but I'd understand you not wanting to put all your eggs in the KTM basket!

Did they sort your electrical issues with the 901?

[DavidS]

The SMT is too close to the Norden really Richard.
No worries about staying with KTM etc.

The Knock sensor was replaced under warranty on Thursday and all was well during the 45 mile ride home.
Weirdly, the light didn’t come on when I went up there, before it was done.

Ok, I’m picky, but I can’t believe there isn’t a (suitable for me and my dodgy criteria) 160kg ish non enduro bike out there. My mate said the Scrambler 800/1100 would be too physically small for me and, much as I love the looks of the Hypermotard, it is just a variation on the Norden so a bit big and weighty.

I have started pondering a £6k ish 690SMC /701 Supermoto but there isn’t much out there.
I’m guessing the later engines are a bit smoother than mine (2014 at 8500 miles) but I’m wondering whether to just put the road tyres on mine and give it a go. I’ve raised the gearing and lowered the suspension so it is much more road friendly now.

BIG EDIT
My wife has just pillioned the 50m down our drive and really felt way too perched. She said she would go on it if the had to but the seat must be at least 300mm above what she was used to.

Soooooooo…….it looks like a rethink of the ‘other’ bike is necessary. But it does need to be classic in style if not in age. Guzzi? Not a Triumph as I didn’t get on with the Street Twin or Bonneville.

[johnnyboxer]

The SMT is too close to the Norden really Richard.
No worries about staying with KTM etc.

The Knock sensor was replaced under warranty on Thursday and all was well during the 45 mile ride home.
Weirdly, the light didn’t come on when I went up there, before it was done.

Ok, I’m picky, but I can’t believe there isn’t a (suitable for me and my dodgy criteria) 160kg ish non enduro bike out there. My mate said the Scrambler 800/1100 would be too physically small for me and, much as I love the looks of the Hypermotard, it is just a variation on the Norden so a bit big and weighty.

I have started pondering a £6k ish 690SMC /701 Supermoto but there isn’t much out there.
I’m guessing the later engines are a bit smoother than mine (2014 at 8500 miles) but I’m wondering whether to just put the road tyres on mine and give it a go. I’ve raised the gearing and lowered the suspension so it is much more road friendly now.

BIG EDIT
My wife has just pillioned the 50m down our drive and really felt way too perched. She said she would go on it if the had to but the seat must be at least 300mm above what she was used to.

Soooooooo…….it looks like a rethink of the ‘other’ bike is necessary. But it does need to be classic in style if not in age. Guzzi? Not a Triumph as I didn’t get on with the Street Twin or Bonneville.

Guzzi V7 perhaps - the 850cc one

[DavidS]

Thanks.
i’ve moved onto option 685
I really can’t find anything thats meets my iffy criteria other than a 690SMC/701 Supermoto, and I almost have that anyway, albeit 10 years old now but only on 8500 miles.
The latest plan (this afternoon anyway) is to just put my road tyres on it at the end of July and see how I get on with it.
Any of the bikes I like are too similar to the Norden or too low in bhp, with the exception of the Ducati Hypermotard, which still niggles at me so will need investigating. There is the similar style Aprilia Duosodoro but I’m not convinced by the parts and dealer backup. They speak to me as a modern 950SM.

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

Kawasaki W800 whatever...genuinely recreates the horrible ride/handling of bikes of the 1970s, and really looks the part!

In all seriousness...just put some less aggressive tyres on your 690...I like the TCK70 Rocks on my KTM. Had Mitas EO7+ on it before, and they were OK too, but a b'stard to fit and balance. I got one of those looks from the tyre bloke when I collected the fitted wheels and got charged an extra fiver!

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

I rode a 750 Dusoduro and it was a real laugh...a bit like a Triumph Street Triple but with a V-twin sound-track. Bigger than a Ducati Monster so more comfortable for the taller of us. Later became a 900 and even a 1200...I may have that wrong. I suspect they may be rare for a reason on the used market...do a bit of research first: those that are for sale seem to be at strong money, so they can't be that bad.
I don't think they have been a current model for a while...there was also a slightly more 'touring' version with a fairing called the Shiver, and an automatic called the Mana!

[DavidS]

Kawasaki W800 whatever...genuinely recreates the horrible ride/handling of bikes of the 1970s, and really looks the part!

In all seriousness...just put some less aggressive tyres on your 690...I like the TCK70 Rocks on my KTM. Had Mitas EO7+ on it before, and they were OK too, but a b'stard to fit and balance. I got one of those looks from the tyre bloke when I collected the fitted wheels and got charged an extra fiver!

W800!!!! No thanks.

I had EO7s on my previous 690 and tried to use it as my only bike but the vibration finished off any days out.
I already have normal road tyres in the shed as the bike came with them fitted so will try them first. Still with the 21 and 18 wheels. Also with the higher gearing it should help.