Ben SV650 beaten by chav

[bigjohn]

They reviewed a diesel powered motorbike on Top Gear years ago (when it was actually an informative programme about motor vehicles, rather than being a televised lad-mag), IIRC it was made in Inidia and the motorbike reviewer had to gently persuaded, with the aid of a boxing glove on the end of a stick, to get on the thing and try it out. He even said that it had some good points.

Not india, the US. They still feel the need for motorcycles, plus NATO moved to a "single fuel policy" some years ago - about the time "they" started not having bikes - the single fuel ? yes, you've guessed it, diesel.

It was my understanding that when the modification company had got the model sorted (a modded kwaka 650 if I remember correctly) for military buyers, it was going to be made available for general sale.

Ha ha, VOSA/old bill will be pulling bikes in and one of those nasty buggers from HMRC will be asking you to open your tank to "check for red"!

regards

John

[shifty_ben]

Far better to decrease it, perhaps then I could get back to the point where I can afford to live! Currently the various taxes make up most of my earnings, it's a sad state to be in.

Call me cynical if you will, but tax raises on Road Tax and Petrol have never been about saving the environment, it's just a convenient excuse.

[bigjohn]

Far better to decrease it, perhaps then I could get back to the point where I can afford to live! Currently the various taxes make up most of my earnings, it's a sad state to be in.

Call me cynical if you will, but tax raises on Road Tax and Petrol have never been about saving the environment, it's just a convenient excuse.

Careful there Ben, you're starting to sound like an "old Labour Socialist" (up the workers commrade)

regards

John

[wyliecoyoteuk]

I think that from the guff above, unless you have a moped that does 120MPG, the bike is an environmentally unsafe decision.
A bike that does 35-40 MPG is the equivalent of a car that does 10-25 MPG, in other words, a Chavmobile, or an SUV.
If I can move nearly 3 tons of car, 5 adults, and a load of luggage using 34MPG, a bike that moves 1 person and 350lb of bike @35MPG is seriously un-eco freindly.

(I would like to add that my previous car, a Citroen C5 2.2 diesel, averaged 38 MPG in the same situation)

[shifty_ben]

If I can move nearly 3 tons of car, 5 adults, and a load of luggage using 34MPG, a bike that moves 1 person and 350lb of bike @35MPG is seriously un-eco freindly.

I have to say I would agree with you, but how often do you actually move 3 tons, 5 adults and luggage and acheive that 34 Mpg? I have been keeping track of my mileage recently (trying to decide if commuting was such a good choice) and I am achieving nearly 60 MPG, given that my bike is restricted and so less economical than it should be, I think it is a far more environmentally safe decision for me. I only need to transport me and one other, and never need to transport more luggage than panniers can hold.

How environmentally sane the decision is is based on personal circumstances, and whichever way it tilts having a bike is just so much more fun!!! I find driving a car too boring, but then practicality is not an issue at the moment.

[wyliecoyoteuk]

60 MPG sounds much more like it.

[1slipperyfish]

Re: shifty_ben's sig. Are these chav drivers binary only, or open source? How would I get a chav working with Linux?

there is a fellow who uses the pcplus forums called rob who is an expert
have you seen the maiden yet shifty?
paul

[shifty_ben]

No unfortunately I didn't pay for the hotel in advance so when it came t the date I was too skint to pay for it. I did consider roughing it, but in the centre of Newcastle? Probably best not.

Incidentally don't forget MPG is affected by the speeds you do

[1slipperyfish]

definitely best not to rough it in the center of newcastle, sorry to hear you missed it though
paul

[wyliecoyoteuk]

Thing is.
if you are driving a bike and doing less than 50 MPG, you are an SUV type Chav.
When even a midrange car easily averages 40+ mpg on petrol, more on diesel, a similar bike must be doing 40+

[shifty_ben]

Part of it is speed dependant, much as I hate to generalise, I would say that in good weather most bikers ride faster than they should most of the time, this eats extra fuel. I guess that goes for cars too.

Don't forget a lot of the bikes on the road are now 'performance bikes' such as your CBR, ZX, YZF. When thinking about MPG you need to be comparing them to a car in a similar performance band. A 911 for example is likely to be far less economical.

[wyliecoyoteuk]

Part of it is speed dependant, much as I hate to generalise, I would say that in good weather most bikers ride faster than they should most of the time, this eats extra fuel. I guess that goes for cars too.

Don't forget a lot of the bikes on the road are now 'performance bikes' such as your CBR, ZX, YZF. When thinking about MPG you need to be comparing them to a car in a similar performance band. A 911 for example is likely to be far less economical.

In other words SUV types, speeding, wasting fuel, risking their lives and those of others.....Mind you, I haven't seen a biker with a mobile phone in one hand while driving yet, (although I was once nearly knocked over by a cyclist riding one-handed on a pavement in Tokyo).

[shifty_ben]

In other words SUV types, speeding, wasting fuel, risking their lives and those of others.....

Some are certainly, but I know of people who own sports bikes (in this case a CBR600 and a GSXR) who drive perfectly sedately on the road. In fact he has been accused of driving like a grandad, however he regularly does track days. Not everyone who owns a fast bike rides it fast, some guzzle, some don't.

I daresay at some point the environmental footprint brakes even though.

[MikeHarvey]

How would I get a chav working with Linux?

Is it possible to get a chav working, period?

[SootynSweep]

In other words SUV types, speeding, wasting fuel, risking their lives and those of others.....Mind you, I haven't seen a biker with a mobile phone in one hand while driving yet, (although I was once nearly knocked over by a cyclist riding one-handed on a pavement in Tokyo).

Well I have, a while back I saw someone zigzaging thru heavy (fast) traffic on a bike, and using his mobile at the same time. Couldn't believe it!