Tuesday, 21 June 2011

1,000 miles overlooking the English Channel

And so, the 1,000 mile mark is reached, good run too, along the English Channel through Folkestone and Hythe.
999 miles...
...1,000

Not quite two months on the road and...

Monday, 6 June 2011

Heading for the 1,000-mile mark on the new VT750... just one complaint


Now with 800 miles on the clock, pictured here at Dover overlooking the cruise terminal. Nothing to report really, she runs right and is good fun, my only complaint is the catalytic converter in the pipe which gets so hot anything that touches it melts.

Sunday, 15 May 2011

It's Tha Heist, a 250cc US bobber kit from the Cleveland Cycle Werks which moves into the Kikker 5150 market in the UK

Cleveland Cycle Werks 250cc Heist which is moving in where the Hardknock Kikker left off
according to some in the business, certainly worth a look (pic http://www.clevelandcyclewerks.com ) 
 For those of you at the BMF show this weekend, you will have seen the UK debut of the Cleveland Cycle Works bobber 'Tha Heist'.

It's a familiar format now, thanks to the pioneering work of the builders of the Hardknock Kikker 5150.

The latest little machine comes with a Chinese Lifan single cylinder motor, based on a Honda lump and built under licence then planted into an all US-built hardtail frame.

Saturday, 14 May 2011

Fork gaiters for the Honda VT750S and VT750RS


Honda has done a decent retro styling job with the latest VT750S but I wanted to fit fork gaiters for the complete Sixties look and as a big plus, they protect the stanchions from pitting.

Monday, 9 May 2011

Road Test and Review: First 500 miles on the Honda VT750S 2011

Castle Gate, Arundel, West Sussex
Castle Gate at Arundel in West Sussex

It doesn't matter who Honda claims the VT750S is likely to buy the the bike, you'll either love it or hate it.

If Harley still made the Sportster XL883, with the spoked wheels that it turned out through the nineties and early 2000s, then the VT750S would sell far fewer. Harley doesn't, so that's Honda's gain.

Five hundred miles after picking the machine up I felt it was time to give to write the review that I've had a couple of emails requesting.

Friday, 6 May 2011

Honda VT750S 2011 Specifications

Honda VT750S 2011

Top speed I reckon is going to be about 100mph on the clock (which is 2mph out at 60mph according to sat-nav) and on the five tanks of fuel so far I've average 65mpg plus over the 500 miles, (that's 54mpg in USA).
It's still running in though but today I notched up 50 more miles and cruised for a while on the motorway at an indicated 85 with only half throttle.
She's booked in for first service on Friday (due at 600 miles), so I have to clock up a few hundred this weekend.
Tyre pressures are 29psi front AND rear. But 36 at the back if you have a passenger, according to the handbook.
(updated May 11 2011)
Full specification of the VT750S below:

Thursday, 5 May 2011

May Day Run Hastings 2011

Parked in the centre of town. Great day, bike still running in and on the road just four days... 160 miles total on the clock.
It's parked with my lady's CBR600F 1993 we picked up a month ago which has just 20,000 miles on it.

Wednesday, 4 May 2011

Video of Honda VT750S with 200 miles on the clock

Review Honda VT750S Tricolour 2011 (or VT750RS Tricolor in the USA)

My new VT750S Tricolour, first day, it even has the original dealer numberplate fitted
 Picked this up on Royal Wedding Day... 200 miles over the first weekend.

Sold my 2000 Fireblade to purchase this after purely because I liked the paintjob.

It was easy using Honda's zero per cent finance from those very nice people in Hastings at J S Gedge and Salesman Neil was still prepared to do a deal as well.