Thank you.

The figures are at the side of an old airfield. More here

Friday the 13th - Video Dailymotion

I no longer commute (they made me have a company car again), so the features that make the NC a really good every day bike make it about as interesting as a dishwasher when you get 5 days to prep it and less than 2 to ride it.

Following the trend for relaunching far eastern brands under old British names I have decided on a re-brand as Hurley-Pugh. This also may give me an excuse to take the **** out of a few chaps who take it all too seriously. I think a clothing line is a great idea. Watch this space https://sites.google.com/site/hrpvindaloomotorcycles/ As a true classic bike fan you will of course need a direct link to the tech specs https://sites.google.com/site/hrpvin...specifications

Bad luck on the Ducati. I'd be going loopy without a ride for a month!

Ted, I wish I had your self control!

Andy

No worries, I've still got my trusty Suzuki DR650. Still going strong at 60K mi.
The DR650 isn't worth much so no point selling it.

I'm hopeful the shop Monkeys will do the Duc up right and it will go a bit longer.
Most all the important bits are being re-newed ... so a lease on life for this
20K mile Ducati. (new front piston, cams, bearings, valve gear, new front cylinder
and all new pulleys, bearings and belts. Now just need to upgrade clutch to 2016 one, then all good. (until something else goes bust! )

This is why I ride a Beemer.
I'm 36K miles into it and I've changed chain/sprockets (three times) and oil cooler. That's it.

Do you really believe your BMW is more reliable than the Suzuki DR650?
You're so proud of your BMW you didn't even tell us WHAT MODEL BMW it is.

Three sets of chain & sprockets in just 36,000 miles? You must use crappy chains ... probably the crap ones BMW dealer sell? Or you don't know how to look after a chain?

I got 24K miles on my last chain (DID 525 VM-2 X ring) I do change front sprockets every 8K miles ... a 10 minute job on DR650.

How does that compare with ease of access on your BMW? I've tested F800GS and ridden F650 and XChallenge quite a bit.

Tried to work on a friend's F650 Dakar once. Pain in the Ass to get to anything to do just basic maintenance.

I can do a valve check in 1/2 hour on the DR650... valves rarely go out of spec. At least not in the last 60k miles.

Simplicity is good when far from home. On the DR650 no ABS, CANBus or F.I. gremlins to haunt you 10,000 miles from home ... not to mention the repeated failure of water pumps, head gaskets, wheel bearings and bum electrics on many F650's and some F800's.

No water pump, coolant hoses or radiators to fail on a DR650. Simple is good.

My DR650 (3rd one) is on original wheel and Hubb bearings, original top end. At 60K miles only routine maintenance items and one CCT gasket.

NO failures, NO oil use and you can't overheat the DR650 even plowing through deep sand in 118F in Death Valley. I've done it.

You can buy BMW's all day but no chain drive BMW's hold a candle to the DR650 in the Work Horse, long term reliability dept. I love that the DR is owner serviceable and that it crashes really well. No plastics and expensive clocks to get destroyed. Basic ... but NOT cheap.

YES! the BMW's are pretty bikes: Nice clocks, dash and switches. Nice plastics too! Very nice to look at and FUN to ride too! Good bikes if you look closely after them, but delicate compared to a DR650.

My Suzuki has never been in a shop. Ever.

As a former fanboy (guess which brand ) I can predict disapointment if that is your only plan. On the other hand, if you learn how to do what's required it also follows you can use anything.

My Enfield has never been back to the dealers (It'd never make it that far ) . Seriously, as I know the things that's my answer to an easy life. Others may struggle and I know guys who'd pick a Ural.

Andy