After about four years of retirement I got bored and went back to work as a motorcycle trainer. After a year or so of that I saw an opportunity back in the industry I’d worked previously… I’m going back to work.
I’ve used that as a justification (to myself) for buying this:
From left to right; 1999 R1100RT, 2012 R1200RT and 2024 R1250RT. 25 years of evolution!
I’ve owned the oldest one for about 9 years and don’t think I’m likely to get rid of it soon. I bought the 1200 about three years ago and I’ve done around 20k miles on it. It’s now been sold and I’m just waiting for it to be collected shame really but I wouldn’t find the time to ride it.
I decided to get back into motorcycling last year after a 28 year break from it (kids & family took over priorities!) Have decided to ease myself back into things this time last year with a new Triumph Trident 660. It has been a wonderful bike to ride for daily commutes. However, i’m seeing my local Triumph dealer next week to see about upgrading to a (fully loaded) 2024/2025 Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro or Rally Pro.
It’ll be my first time of looking at an adventure bike, not really my style of bike to be honest but i’m planning to do some touring around the UK some time next year. Also with a pillion onboard. This bike will need to be comfy. I’m 5ft 10ins with a slim build, the Tiger 900 appears to be a nice size for my height & weight although i haven’t actually sat on one yet.
Needless to say after 28 years i was rather excited to pick this baby up. Great for one’s mental health motorcycling. I’m so pleased i’ve gotten back into motorbikes. Highly recommended!
Wouldn’t suit me. I like light, flickable bikes with engines that rev. CBR600s were my favourites but age has caught me out and my right leg can’t take the knee bend from the high footpegs and I lose feeling in it after riding for an hour. My modern steed is a Yamaha 07 Tracer which is more mellow but still stirs the soul. I sometimes miss the scream as the World goes into fast forward…
Some of the Japanese 400s and 250s from the late 80s/mid 90s were very well engineered.
I think after 5 years in Japan you need to replace all braking components (or at least did in the 90s) this drove an export business which may continue with cars but seems to have died out with motorbikes.
I used to go to a warehouse in Bristol and regularly inspect them[1], test rode a few of them but eventually wasn’t convinced the high rev riding was for me; so got a ZXR750. The 250s and 400s were beautiful little bikes though.
[1] The warehouse was later converted into flats. A couple of years ago my son bought one. Pretty sure I’d taken him there when it was a bike shop but he doesn’t remember it.
What does the future in the UK look like for motorcycling?
Will there really be no brand new ICE motorcycles for sale after 2030?
The existing motorcycles (purchased before this legislation becomes law) will continue to be legal on the roads (as with cars) but will this deadline cause a rush to buy up ICE motorcycles before buying new becomes unavailable in the UK?
Mopeds (50cc/4.5kW?) and A11 (125cc/11kW) are due to ban new ICE from I think 2030. Bigger bikes I think is 2035.
Problem with bikes is having the space for a battery really, or at least one to give a decent range. I’ve got a little Zero S that has a range of about 120 miles, some newer ones might get above 150. The BMW at the start of this thread will get about 300. It’s the same issue as with ICE/BEV cars but a bit more critical due to the size.
I like my Zero but at the moment it’s only fit for using as a cheap to run runabout. I don’t know what we end up with longer term.
Seems illogical banning (4-stroke) 125cc bikes, far more practical around the town than a car, perfect commuter, and a superb learner bike, as if someone is deliberately trying to stop a younger generation from taking up motorbiking.
Apparently the motorcycle market is rapidly declining as the young are finding alternative ways of getting mobile, and the motorbike test procedure has become complicated and expensive too.
The average age of a UK motorcyclist is now 54 years old.
I’ve been considering a motorcycle ever since retiring over 11 years ago, but the issue is not really needing one and merely an itch to scratch, and as stated in medical journals; if motorcycle genes start riding up and down your double helix the wanting to ride feeling will never go away…
I guess the argument is that a learner bike doesn’t need a big battery since it won’t go very far. With a smaller battery, the battery won’t weigh a lot so it can be taken off the bike to charge.
SuperSoco seems adequate, I think Maeving is similar?
I think I can see the arguments but sadly it’s mostly pushing people towards Chinese machines (although Maeving is British I think it’s pricey).
Love my RT’s. Have had 4: 1150, 2x1200, and now a 1250, but only ever one at a time! Great bike. Resisting the thought of a 1300RT… it would have to really do something to attract me now I think!
RTs are great touring bikes. I haven’t reached the age where the big fared bikes are appealing for ownership. Still prefer my 1250R HP. The 1300 looks interesting. I wonder how long before we see it in the R, RT, RS bikes.
A couple of months and the 1300 engine’s in the RT. They’re pushing the existing inventory with special offers plus low finance rates to clear the showrooms of the 1250s.
I sat on the 13GS at the dealer, it feels less bulky and a little lighter than the 12.5. I still prefer my KTM for dual sporting though. The GS is great for touring and improved dirt roads though.
The new 1300 RT was in nearly complete trim (with the movable parts on the motor fairing, the automatic gearing system, the new design headlight,…) seen and photographed during the testdrives last june and july. Launch could be start of 2025.
