Author Topic: An Oldy but a Newbie  (Read 1321 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Artaroos

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Aug 2019
  • Posts: 11
  • Bike: DL650 K6
  • Location: Southampton
An Oldy but a Newbie
« on: August 23, 2019, 16:20:19 »
Hello All,
   Nice to 'meet' you - so I need to introduce myself (as is only proper) and the message from Admin said I need try and find something funny to say (no pressure), so let's see how I go:
My name is Richard (which my Mum used to call me) - I answer to Rick, Art or whatever your conscience feels comfortable with; I live in Southampton.

I've been on two wheels since I was 16 - which now totals 31 years riding.

My bike history includes:
Multiple Scooters including the 'good old' Cub (C50 & C90!) and a Vivacity 100 (great fun around town)
Yamaha DT125
Yamaha Diversion XJ600
Suzuki Bandit 1200
BMW RT1150
Kawasaki ZZR1200 (02) - Silver (the fastest colour)
Kawasaki ZZR1200 (05) - Blue (the prettiest colour) which was my bike for the last 9 years - > 80K miles on the saddle

My riding history includes:
Daily city /motorway commutes (unless it's snowing/icy - I'm on the bike!)
Tours (with the Wife):
England (Kind of a given!?)
France
Belgium (roads are awful)
Germany
Switzerland
Austria
Italy
Luxembourg (really trying now)
Spain (just me - the hardest ride of my life - it' a long way away! ( made it in 2 days on the ZZR))

So what brings me here?
I had an 'off' on the ZZR, which believe it or not was caused by cooking oil!
It seems that an oil collection lorry had spilled its load on a roundabout.. The subsequent accident (<20 mph) cracked the engine block on the Zed, beyond economical yadda yadda, and less importantly, left me with multiple busted ribs (but not much more - thankfully).
You are taught to look out for wet weather, mud, loose gravel, diesel, piano wire across the road etc, but cooking oil on a dry sunny day of 23C - not so much..

The plus side!
Honestly, I'd started to lose my love of 'enjoying' riding, I rode to commute (hate being stuck in traffic), but hadn't gone out for 'fun', for over 2 years `now.
When given the option to get a new bike, after much consideration and research I opted for a DL650 for a number of reasons, most of which are obvious to you lot.. Knowing what I was going to use it for and the punishment I'd be giving it - I opted for a 2006 model, with 23K.

Well, they are bloody brilliant aren't they!

Obviously it's very different to my Zed, but my god what a lot of fun - really enjoying riding her - the fun of riding has been reinvigorated for me!

Well that's it - I promise this will be the longest post you'll ever see from me - and I look forward to getting to know some of you more and maybe even meeting up.

Have fun.

Art

Offline TLPower

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 6100
  • Bike: ThunderBastard (KTM 1190 ADV)
  • Location: Doncaster
Re: An Oldy but a Newbie
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2019, 16:52:22 »
 :bow-blue: what an introduction. :)

 :welcome: from  :traitor:
To be happy, I don't need private helicopters,a Florida house or a yacht. I'm fine with my motorcycle,a trip to a forest in Bavaria and some lunch money.

Walter Rohrl.

Offline MartinW

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 12741
  • Bike: DL650 K4 Blue
  • Location: Swindon
Re: An Oldy but a Newbie
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2019, 18:49:33 »
Hello Richard/Rick/Art (no Dick? Chortle)

Brilliant intro. Thanks for that.

I can also confirm that the 2004-2006 DL650 is the best bike ever made.
Tall, Dark and Handsome (In 1987) - Just tall now !!

Chief Stasi


Offline Tinky

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Oct 2017
  • Posts: 22
  • Bike: suzuki v strom 1000 xt
  • Location: Bolton
Re: An Oldy but a Newbie
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2019, 19:08:06 »
 :welcome2:

Offline Ridaz

  • Site Donator
  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Aug 2013
  • Posts: 2468
  • Bike: Africa Twin 2017, TTR 250 2004, VF 750F-D Interceptor 1983
  • Location: York
Re: An Oldy but a Newbie
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2019, 19:15:18 »
 :welcome:

Offline wurzel

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Jul 2015
  • Posts: 2534
  • Bike: DL1000 L4
  • Location: Maldon, Essex
Re: An Oldy but a Newbie
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2019, 19:16:18 »
 :welcome2: to you Art, some intro! :thumb:
The 650 is an easy bike to live with, may you have a lot of fun on it,and joining here.

Offline UK_Vstrom650

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Jun 2012
  • Posts: 6580
  • Bike: DL650A L2
Re: An Oldy but a Newbie
« Reply #6 on: August 23, 2019, 19:47:42 »
 :welcome:

Offline Asmith61

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Sep 2015
  • Posts: 4684
  • Bike: DL1000 K7, 2011 B-King 1300 , 1999 Triumph 1200 Trophy 2023 Harley Nightster 975
  • Location: Essex
Re: An Oldy but a Newbie
« Reply #7 on: August 23, 2019, 19:54:24 »
Hello Art  :welcome: great intro  :clap: great bike you have chosen there enjoy  :thumb:

Offline tallpaul

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Dec 2013
  • Posts: 10386
  • Tastier than the Barrow-in-Furness bus depot...
  • Bike: 2016 Yamaha XT1200ZE
  • Location: Whitworth, Lancashire
Re: An Oldy but a Newbie
« Reply #8 on: August 23, 2019, 20:55:20 »
 :welcome:
Old enough to know better, but still too young to care...

Offline kwackboy

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 6828
  • Bike: BMW F800GS Adventure, Honda CB500s
  • Location: Saaaafff London.
Re: An Oldy but a Newbie
« Reply #9 on: August 23, 2019, 21:03:52 »
 :welcome:
Chief trouble maker 🙂

Offline Brockett

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Nov 2011
  • Posts: 8349
  • Bike: 2022 Moto Guzzi 850 V7 special in blue, 2022 850 V7 Stone in darkest black, 1998 XJ600n in red
  • Location: Tendring in the Far North East (of Essex)
Re: An Oldy but a Newbie
« Reply #10 on: August 23, 2019, 23:19:13 »
Hello and  :welcome2:
This doesn't last forever, so do it while you can.

Offline Gert

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Sep 2015
  • Posts: 2195
  • Bike: DL650 K5 Blue, DL650 K6 Red
  • Location: South Africa
Re: An Oldy but a Newbie
« Reply #11 on: August 24, 2019, 07:00:54 »
 :welcome:

Offline Artaroos

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Aug 2019
  • Posts: 11
  • Bike: DL650 K6
  • Location: Southampton
Re: An Oldy but a Newbie
« Reply #12 on: August 24, 2019, 12:23:29 »
 :ty: Everyone for the welcome!

Love the Site, great info (manuals etc) and it seems busy and friendly!

Enjoy the long weekend!  :thumb: