Don't you now have to know how to programme a satnav in the car? Or is that just follow the route instructions given from satnav?
I do not need to bother with any Highway Code crap. It's not a test, but just an assessment to check that I can handle a car ok. Anyway, I am not that bothered because if I get any sh1t then that just ups my claim amount. I am not going to stress over it Also, if nobody can give me a direct answer about my motorbike entitlement then I'll just start again on the route of getting only a motorbike license and fook the driving. I've got a Lydney driving instructor booked now. He's going to meet me at Gloucester station and he will drop me off at Lydney station when we finish. We may well have the time to do a bit of Forest of Dean as we have an hour and a half. The train ride to Gloucester is really scenic as it goes along the Severn in some parts. I am just going to enjoy it, especially in the knowledge that Hastings Insurance will end up picking up the tab! Anyway, I'll do some driving with this chap and see what he says. If he says that I am crap then I'll just book more lessons and do as much as I can before the assessment centre give me a date. I also have another Lydney driving instructor who wanted the work. So, it turns out that although I was told that everyone's busy catching up after the lockdown, but Lydney doesn't seem to be so stressed. I just did my walk (I can't make it to the Salutation Inn and now I have a target!) and I thought about how stupid I am. People come here for holidays and I was thinking about moving to another place where people go for holidays! That was stupid. Tomorrow, there will be none of this crap! Back to where I was and seeing how much standing up I can do to sort out my motorbikes. Tomorrow is my bandage change day. Hopefully, they can be dispensed with now!
And although I thought that I had decided upon a KTM Duke, the Aprilia RS660 and Ducati Supersport S still interest me! But the Ducati is easier to discard as it costs too much. The Aprilia is more difficult as it is cheaper than the KTM and has a full fairing. The swinging arm is mad big though and the exhaust looks crap. I could change the exhaust but I don't need the hassle. Whatever I buy then I will not change the exhaust!
And I woke up this morning in a state. What about my employer! I haven't done any work for weeks! And then I remembered. I don't work for anybody!
I slept well last night! Walking towards the Salutation Inn really added to my tiredness, but that is all good. Nice weather and getting warmer!
Keep it up Perry, you seem to be on a mission now to get fitter and resolve your driving licence issues. You have been dealing with all this for a longtime and its not easy to remain so motivated. Consider you back slapped sir! I've never done this myself, but I do remember reading tales on the forum about mechanics stools/ chairs which might allow you to spend more time getting your bikes back running? Obviously you need to have the bikes raised but also I think you have mentioned a bike lift in past posts? PS. With some luck there will be a well priced KTM with the exhaust already switched by a previous owner when it come time to buy one!
Thanks. I am on a mission - to get to the pub! I remember when Jap bikes in the 80's and 90's had crap exhausts that wouldn't last one Winter - so, the trend was always to change them. Now, at least the European manufacturers seem to make them out of stainless and so they do last. Also, the extra power you can get from dumping the cat is hardly noticeable on the road. And being annoyed by the local kids in their 1100 fart boxes, makes it a bit hypocritical of me to want a loud exhaust. And Mr Hypocrite here, has Termis on his ST3 and I am not going to bother change them! So, I already have one loud bike and I don't intend to change it, so the last thing that I need is another load one - but if I do buy used and the previous owner has put on a quality exhaust, then I won't bother change it!
I’ve left my standard, the factory can sounds sweet enough has a nice rasp to it and noise when you’re quickshifting is a nice bonus. A lot of the after market cans don’t look that nice particularly the Akra can, about the best looking is the Leo Vince twin pipes.
Not having one of the RS660 KTMs my knowledge of whats available is limited. I am fairly convinced that the major gains from changing an exhaust to Akra etc are cosmetic/sound with a slight increase in power (2.4bhp in this case) as a bonus. Personally neither of those would be likely to get £1500 out of my wallet, especially since thats about 20% of the bikes maximum value. If I did ever own one, I'd probably have a Leo Vince used exhaust alert on eBay though, they look great.
Gets expensive these days, if you go full system/de-cat you loose low down torque which requires a re map on a 790. I’d assume the same across all manufacturers, I can’t justify spending over £1500 these days on that kind of farkle.
Its the Emperors new clothes scam rehashed again. Akra press release for the 660 states 2.4 bhp gain, 3.6nm torque and perhaps 2kgs weight saving for £1499.00. Never going to happen in my life, thats for the fairies. https://blog.motorcycle.com/2021/01...carbon-exhaust-system-for-the-aprilia-rs-660/ PS. I forgot to mention Akra throw in "pure racing sound" free. Bwwwwaaaaaaahahahaha.
I’ve fallen for it in the past I’ll admit but not any longer, marginal placebo gains for too much outlay. I’d rather ‘invest’ in suspension gains that a loud pipe.
Its bound to vary from bike to bike, but from what I've seen there's a whole lot more noise than performance. To get me to spend £1000 on an exhaust, I'd want weight gains, high quality finish, downloadable remap and at least 10bhp. Otherwise forget it.
