There is an element both percieved and real on here that says you need off road performance. Having gone the route of saying I don't need a 21-inch front wheel or 2m high plank seat, I won't comment on where you could get a Pan, but I'm betting it wouldn't be good if you dropped it. Hence, not so many owners. I bet our Pan owners wave too

My "fake" BTW might have been real. Yesterday up near the Leeds festival I saw the usual groups of West Yorkshire's finest (they go about in three's, I won't suggest why people think they do this on a family board!). One of a group of three was either an F650/800 or R1200GS in with a pair of new R1200PD's. They've run half a dozen old Suzuki trail bikes in the parks for years to catch up with yoofs on field bikes, do first aid on walkers/mugging victims and they bring them onto the streets when it snows. I'm wondering if they've decided the GS could do both jobs and are trying them? Still thought the bloke on the M-62 needs to read the book.

Andy

I've been to few places that have surprised even me on the Pan and been well impressed with it. There have been times when I've been wrestling more than I would like though, and I once hurt myself fighting not to drop it. It is actually well protected against falling over, but a longer drop could be painfully uncheap. Most of my riding is medium to long distance commuting (I work on contract so I go where the work is - it's not always local) and my travelling tends to be in places with at least adequate roads so the Pan suits my needs perfectly. As the children are now grown up I can take longer breaks and I'm starting to think of getting a bit further off the beaten track. I'll keep the Pan but I hope to get something to keep it company soon. I've no intention of starting a controversy, but the Wee Strom looks right for me. Whatever I get will be mid range* as the likes of the GS strike me as too tall and too heavy.

*Not much before my time big bikes were about 500cc and they were for real men. Anything bigger than that was for pulling a sidecar yet I've just called a 650 "mid range".

PS: No offence taken Craig.

North Wales calling in here, many riders nod or wave, though on a sunny weekend you can get neck fatigue, I started riding in the early 70s when it was considered very bad form indeed to ride past a stopped rider, I normally stop or do the thumbs up/down thing, in winter the waving/nodding seems to increase a little, perhaps due to there being more "serious" riders about in the cold/wet weather. Headlight flashing is less common now that many bikes use daytime lights, and as a previous poster pointed out a flash can have other meanings.
As we seem to be attracting a little flak in this thread I will point out at this juncture that I am a BMW GS rider, I will always wave or nod, in my big alloy panniers (that seem to annoy some folks for some reason) there are a first aid kit, tools, a puncture kit, a compressor and usually the means to make us both a cup of tea if I cant help in any other way

Stewart

When i used to have a KLR250, with knobblies on and usually wearing my alpine star off road boots, occasionally a "road" bike would nod, not very often though.

When i then got a CBR600.... every bugger waved/nodded....

It must be the muddy thing!

I'm from OZ and find most riders wave or nod. The exception being Harley riders, I think they must have a clause in there rego papers that states they will immediately be struck down by a lightening bolt, if they dare acknowledge another brand of bike !!!!

Cheers
Paul

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My Africa Twin decided to undo the + Terminal on the battery yesterday and after push/bump starting it and then stalling it I stood by the side of the road trying to catch my breath watching every biker just ride straight past !

There must have been 20 plus 'bikers' ride past before a couple of lads in a pickup jumped out and gave me a push ........

Are you a Biker or a Motorcyclist ?

I am the later ..... I think that there is a difference nowdays....
I am 37 and have ridden motorbikes off road since I was 7 but I have only been on the road for 5 years.... My only reason to get on the road was to travel .... Slowly...... so I can see the places that I ride thru ?!!

I am not a fan of Sports / Superbikes... well not the bikes exactly ( they just pop out of a mould in a factory and get a Honaha or Kawazuki sticker stuck on them ) but the way they are ridden in this country by the majority not minority ....

When people go on about the North Wales issue here in the UK ( North Wales Police targeting 'Bikers' ) I have no sympathy ..... when you ride in an area of outstanding natural beauty at ridiculous speeds thus making the roads unsafe for other users you are gonna get whats coming ........ I dont want to be associated with this kind of biking ...
'Bikers' have tarnished Motorcycling ...

I am choosy about who I wave to and maybe thats a bit harsh ... But if anyone waves to me I will wave back....

I will stop for anyone who is in need of help.... Biker, Motorcyclist, Car Driver and even ........... Trike riders ... ( or is that Drivers ? )