And in a nutshell you have explained why I am thinking of getting a scooter to put in the motorhome garage. It will enable us to get around and see more of the sights. Nothing to do with the thrills, just the practicality.
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You could line yourself up for a few presentations at custom car club meets I'm sure you would be very popular. Your sort of skill set is a sort after commodity with young people interested in motors.Again I feel compelled to agree Buttons
In the very early 70's I was right in to Swedish chops.. For those not in to that sort of thing, great big long forks and really an art form.. In the UK it was I think inspired by the film Easy Rider
By 1974 I had moved on to cars..
Whilst myself and a few other local lads were well in to the severely modified stuff ( massive engines, roof chops, whole front / rear end remodeling etc ) there were far more doing purely bolt on cosmetic stuff..
It is that second type that seems to have just died away completely
I was privy to a conversation that went on for at least 20 minutes between 5 lads who were discussing upgrades to their motors..
About the WILDEST thing that came out of the meet was that one of them was 'thinking' about changing his aerial for a bee sting and another had ordered some special mats
When I put forward a few suggestions they were amazed at what could be done.. even more amazed to find out they could do the stuff them selves and without spending an arm and a leg..
Two of the lads have already started.. And one ( Mr Sensible ) got a full list off his insurance company of all the things they consider modifications that need to be declared ( quite a list but as he discovered it left plenty of scope to allow him to make his car stand out from others without incurring the wrath of said insurers )
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That's something I would have never have thought I would read in my life
There were very many highly tuned 105E's in the day, raced, rallied, autocrossed. None were as hot as our 105 van with a V4 Corsair engine in it thoughThat's something I would have never have thought I would read in my life
Didn't do anything to the brakes or suspension though, corner? Naa, didn't do corners 
If you say so John....
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Now own up Jaws....cars are much more fun than bikes.At one time I has a proper 'sleeper' angle box.
Built it to go hot rod racing then changed jobs and a lot in my life altered
No point in going through all the specs but lets just say it was bloody quick.
I ended up refitting the windows and slung a couple of bucket seats in it and putting it on the road for a regular commute from Norfolk to Dagenham
It was still that horrible alpine green, had standard 520 wheels on and the end of the original 'zorst poking out the rear valance .. The real exhaust exited on the other side and was more like a drainpipe !
In fact it was complete with the ubiquitous bit of chrome trim hanging off one side
It did not have any heater, no mats, no radio or any other comfort related stuff in it.. So while it looked normal it was a bare shell with a 1720 over bored over cam'ed over carbed over the top lump in it attached to a 5 speed crash box and driving a mkiii zodiac diff
I would travel the A11/M11 either late at night or very early mornings.. Every now and then some oik in a sports car would overtake me and I would just ignore them as usual.. But occasionally you would get the ones who slowed down, gave a look of disdain before cogging down and roaring off..
THEY were mine.. Loved em..
Would drop a couple of gears and just keep beside them changing back up to top asap so I could bimble along keeping pace..
Back in the day most so called sports cars were good for about 110 tops..
I would wait until they were flat out and, giving the clutch a dip and the motor a good rev, drop a cog.
Once I knew I had their attention I would repeat, go down to third and floor it..
Leave them for dead and then slow down and let them sail past .. Totally deflated !!
Had a mk 1 transit with a bored out german block V6 in it that I would do the same sort of thing with
Got stopped on a motorway by plod at almost twice the legal limit.. But that is a story for another time
Dont tell me you are a biker too J10......A joke, Buttons.
If you havent experienced it, it's hard to explain.
It becomes a drug from most folks' youth which often rears its head when we have time and brass for a decent machine in later life.
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Now own up Jaws....cars are much more fun than bikes.
A mate of mine built his own car, it was a single seater based on an F3 car, he fitted a Kawazaki 750 Turbo motor in it, went like the clappers. The build used a home made tubular chassis so when it came to getting it registered he had to give it his own manufacturers name. When he sold it on for a small fortune the new owner fitted a Hyabusa engine, now called a Hainsworth F1 and worth even more. The point is if you like cars or bikes this was the answer, just not great for shopping though!Now own up Jaws....cars are much more fun than bikes.
Dont tell me you are a biker too J10......
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And that is the very best strategy and attitude any rider can have
Last time in the US I had the use of my sons Nissan GT-R for a couple of weeks frighten the life out of me but soon got the hang of it and loved every minuet of driving it. Not as fast as some bikes I'll grant you but no slouch either. I was sorry to leave it behind when we came home. You cant compair that sort of pleasure rush with a bike surely.Nahh.. canna do that.. One of the main reasons is that as long as I have a hole up my bum I will never be able to afford to buy or run a car that comes even half way close to the performance of the bikes I ride.. And performance for me means fun !
Thinking further.. Even if I could afford one I honestly do not think I would get much satisfaction from it.. Modern cars cannot be fettled at home !
There is also the fact that anyone can drive a car fast ( maybe not quickly mind, just fast ) but the skill set required to ride a quick bike is a bit bigger
Which kinda leads to the root of it all.. Mechanical involvement !
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I thinks most men in the States have a mid life crisis like that. Our son-in-law in NJ just went out and bought himself an immaculate little Mazda MX5. Looking forward to going out in it when I am over there at Christmas. Doubt that I would be allowed to drive it though.Last time in the US I had the use of my sons Nissan GT-R for a couple of weeks frighten the life out of me but soon got the hang of it and loved every minuet of driving it. Not as fast as some bikes I'll grant you but no slouch either. I was sorry to leave it behind when we came home. You cant compair that sort of pleasure rush with a bike surely.
Last time in the US I had the use of my sons Nissan GT-R for a couple of weeks frighten the life out of me but soon got the hang of it and loved every minuet of driving it. Not as fast as some bikes I'll grant you but no slouch either. I was sorry to leave it behind when we came home. You cant compair that sort of pleasure rush with a bike surely.
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Bikes are not dangerous.
I'm still new enough to it to be able to scare the s**t out of myself without the help of others so I'm quite happy to potter around within my own limits. I've been up to 72 mph on it (straight bit of dry road, no side turnings and no other cars around) and that was fast enough, although it feels like I'm standing still when I do the same speed in my Focus.And that is the very best strategy and attitude any rider can have
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Number 22 explains it all!!!.
Last time in the US I had the use of my sons Nissan GT-R for a couple of weeks frighten the life out of me but soon got the hang of it and loved every minuet of driving it. Not as fast as some bikes I'll grant you but no slouch either. I was sorry to leave it behind when we came home. You cant compair that sort of pleasure rush with a bike surely.
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I've had my partner on the back of a holiday bike once, she was absolutely terrified even before we started off but put her in the passenger seat of a car and she is anybodies, she doesn't drive herself but we do the rally thing sometimes and she cant go fast enough, she loves it. In the states I had her screaming with delight a few times so perhaps the Marmite thing applies to women as well.Nice motor !! Bloody quick too ...
But tax and insurance alone would make it a non starter for me !!
I spend £88 a year on tax and insurance this year was £135
That bike clocks out at a tad over 180mph ( genuine, not speedo which dreams on further and stops at about 205 ! )
And, if I behave myself and lay off the right hand, an average of 48 to 50 MPG is the norm
I cannot begin to guess at what it would cost to insure a car with that sort of performance,, and doubt very much I would see better than maybe 20 MPG ?
Obviously speed and power ( 0 - 60 in 2.8 seconds ) is not everyones idea of transport, but it is an aspect of biking I really enjoy !
I am just waiting for someone to ask why the hell I bought a goldwing then LOL !!!
The answer is..... No bloody idea !
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