I've got an open mind as to the make/model of outfit I'll go for. However, having had considerable experience with that Marque from Germany I'm biased against it and any clones thereof (factory in Berlin dismantled after WW2 and shipped to the then Soviet Union...).

Having said that I might consider something from the Germans built pre 1969, but am likely to go for a more modern and Japanese/English setup that I can ride in winter without worrying about salt on the roads etc de-shineying it.
I am definitely NOT a fettler either. I believe fettlers are people who need excuses to escape their other halves, so hide in the garage . I want an outfit so I can spend more time on a bike with her indoors and my son, rather than riding solo on 2 wheels.

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Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

I've been offered the opportunity to live in the garage while my build is going on .

It's a good day when Mr. Warthog agrees with me .

Salt and performance wise I of the opinion that it's what you know and how you use it, not what you buy. I'm a bit anti-BMW from my days of thinking the badge was the answer to knowing naff all, but now on my fourth outfit, fifth BMW, I think I buy on what I know and performance to match how I use it. Dealing with salt and crud is about stoping it getting in, or making sure it can get out. The Bonneville has been close to re-wired on that score, the R1100R probably needed the same.

The lowest power outfit I ever rode was an MZ, all of 20 HP with a Velorex chair. A real laugh on a Sunday afternoon but the owner turns back when it's too windy to ride the M-62 from Hull and it won't go over 45! My Ural was a POS ('99 650, nothing like the 750's) but with probably less than 30 HP on days when both cylinders were working (few) I could break it just by running at full tilt for four hours. The R1100R/Charnwood at 80 HP I should have persevered with and not bought toys like a car tyre for the front, but not knowing enough to keep an "electric" bike going at seven years old it had to go. The Bonneville/Ural I thought was perfect at 60 HP until we got the dog. Two adults and 20 KG of Collie-Alsation and camping gear and it was getting a thrashing, annoying me by having to stay with the trucks on some roads etc. Having learned a lot about FI and electrics in the last six years I hope at 90 HP the K-bike is finally right.

This to me brings us back to the TBS/Bandit/CB1000 type outfits to me, but that's how I use it.

Andy

Took the plunge today. Not a Triumph, but an antique Suzuki... These pics are from the for sale ad. So far I've only driven (I've been informed you drive an outfit...) it from the seller's house to mine (18 miles), but I made it. Along some pretty twisty country roads. Now I need to devote some time to learning to ride it properly.





I'm sure I won't have it too long. If I don't like driving outfits, it'll get sold. If I like it, it'll get sold and I'll buy something with more poke.

cheers
C

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Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

Nice outfit Chris, give it time and you will get the hang of driving it and find out just how much fun you can have on it, by the time the Ripley meet arrives you should be pretty good and if you want a passenger for some quick rides around Derby then I'm 'up for it'!!!

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'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'
Never confuse the map with the journey.

Hi Dave
Not sure if I'll be there on 2 wheels or 3. Hope you're keeping well.
cheers
Chris

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Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

Hi Chris
Welcome to the dark side,
I am sure that you will get your head around driving the outfit, you just need to remember the basics that we spoke about when you rode mine, and then just get the miles in, lots of miles, until it just happens.

Iain

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When I live the life I please, then I’ll be a free man

www.sidecar-vagabonds.blogspot.com

Hi Guys
I cam across your site and saw the old ladies outfit. The bike and sidecar are going well so is my Norton F1 we just back from the Isle of Mann :-Manx GP classic TT the kiddies are growing up since the picture was taken, the boy was 16 when over there so he signed up as a marshall and did the training all in a week. not bad we are proud of him. The outfit is a thunderbird sport 1998 with a Watsonian oxford the chair has a brake disc with grimeca calliper powered from rear brake, and 13in wheel upgrade from standard 10in, Hedenham from forks, upgrade rear gas shock on the bike, we have standard gearing and tyres but now looking to change rear tyre size to flatter profile 165 40 17.

Ride safe

Andy and Sal

When I look at sidecar rigs I think, yes, possibilities. But then I think, for less money I could get a convertible diesel car with a push button roof. does more mpg and goes faster, farther on a tankfull more comfy and just as much carrying capacity. Plus when it rains or I want to stop for a quick kip. just put the roof up and recline the seats....

OK so I am getting old.

but I means I can still tour and camp and take a passenger