Hamilton off to the Reds

[madeeasy]

"Hamilton off to Ferrari by the looks of it in 2025. Bit like the clash, should he stay or should he go?"

[Bungo]

Willtell 8:21 Mon Feb 5 Was Pete Graves riding at the time you were involved? It was a while back but I know he had some link with Foggy through one team. Known him for approx 40+ years now.

[chim chim cha boo]

"Cheers for the replies chaps but I don't ever think that I have seen a VFR without an off duty copper riding it. I'm sure they are lovely to ride and as coppers always say 'what more do you need'? I think your 1000RR answers that question but I would probably want to sit on its more comfortable brother, the fairing-less 1000R before choosing. I may as well throw my unblemished licence away if I had an RR. Still, good to talk about our passion (beyond West Ham of course) without point scoring or name calling. Although your pal with a Rocket 3R is a bit of a girl - I don't find it difficult to ride at all until it comes to cambers on London roads where I have to get off and muscle a three point turn out of it!"

[Willtell]

"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news zeb but I just checked and in MCN this week there's two later 800's for sale. A 2003 VFR800 with only 32,000miles asking £2,500. Another later 2016 VFR800 with 72000 miles for £3,500. The 750 version ran from 1986 up to around 1998 iirc so is a lot less desirable although having had several I reckon they were better than the later 800 versions which were increasingly strangled by stronger emissions rules from the EU. Seized brakes and probably carbs and other electrical problems on a bike that's not ran for donkey's means it's only worth scrapping sorry to say."

[zebthecat]

"Willtell 12:17 Tue Feb 6 Thanks for that. Shame but scrap it is, Could do with the room."

[Willtell]

"I’ve had a quite a few VFRs of 750 and 800 and they are brilliant and well made machines. But their values are low. I'm not sure why that is but unless yours is low mileage and in very good condition, the older 750s are scrap values only I’m afraid. I bought mine 10+ years ago for £1700 iirc. It’s still immaculate and very low kilometres. Probably worth £2000…"

[zebthecat]

Willtell 11:11 Mon Feb 5 I have a knackered VFR 750 in my garage (I inherited by accident). It wasn't broken last time it was ridden but that was more than a decade ago. The brakes were seised so had to get the callipers off to wheel it in. The only obvious injury is a small dent in the tank. Would it still be worth anything or just scrap.

[Willtell]

"chin No I’m not a boxer twin fan although most of my mates have them. I was put off of them back in 90’s when I tested one around Thruxton and couldn’t stop it wobbling badly when using engine braking while banked over. A couple of months ago I sold my BMW S1000R which was comparable to the Tuono. Lovely with lots of power (173bhp) and lightweight (180kilos iirc?) but uncomfortable after an half an hour in saddle. I went to last years Jerez Moto GP on it and was so saddle sore…it had to go. I have 2 classics - 1988 Honda VFR 750 of 1988 vintage because there are rallies for up to 1988 bikes. It’s period but still immaculate. It has 105bhp is quite light and low mileage at 38,000kms even though I have had it for 10 years or more. I have Another classic Honda CB900FA from 1980 and use that for some classic events. It’s also just under 50,000kms immaculate and very comfy but quite heavy. My third bike I use to go into town on and longer distances like the first BSB at Navarra in Spain this coming April. That one I bought fairly locally to replace the S1000R is a 12 years old Yamaha FZ8S with 106bhp and a half fairing but immaculate and under 50,000kms (30,000 miles). I’m better off with less power these days! One of my BMW RS1250 owner mates has a Rocket3 he bought in America for a route 66 tour then imported it back to UK but he hardly ever uses it. We’re all still into fast tourers rather than cruisers. Another one of my mates does have a Ducati Pikes Peak Multistrada and used to have Tuono V2 a few years back before Covid. Anyway nice to chat to you and enjoy some safe cruising when the weather gets better…"

[chim chim cha boo]

"Willtell 8:23 Mon Feb 5 I never mind someone calling me my chum! Fuck DNFing at the Cathedral of speed! Sounds horrible, especially as they still had pretty basic leathers and armour back then - no airbags or giant Ray leather. So, what bikes have you got then? I bet I can guess one of them - a BMW GS1250? After my cycling accident 3 years ago that old boys in their 50s don't bounce back very well from I just had to admit I couldn't ride a sportsbike any more so very reluctantly sold my beautiful Aprilia Tuono V4R. After that I was a bit lost. I sat on some tourers like the BMW GS1600 but I couldn't buy something so ugly (shit, I hope you don't have one of them!), I'd ridden a couple of Harleys so absolutely no way would I entertain one of them, I sat on a BMW GS1250 and a Ducati V4 Multistrada but actually found them a bit uncomfortable (for me - I know they are meant to be very comfortable bikes, Chip Shop Charlie is riding around in this shitty British weather on his. Then I found one that fits like a glove and can easily ride all day, a Triumph Rocket 3R in Phantom black, a bit of a lump to throw around and obviously no wind protection but fuck me, do I love it! I had it derestricted and tuned on a race dyno and with its Werkes pipe, baffles out it makes 178BHP at the rear wheel. Baffles in (and they ARE in) 173BHP. 221NMs torque too! I can't wait until the weather warms up a bit and the road salt is gone as I'm itching to ride it. Ride safe."

[marty feldman]

Another sport . Like boxing tennis cricket snooker nowadays That's chugging along compared to what it was in the 1980s . Compare it now until then . Lauda senna prost mansell piquet all proper household names . How many nowadays only driver Id recognise. Walking along the street is Hamilton

[Willtell]

Bloody hell done it again chim!!!

[Willtell]

Sorry chum - auto correct not noticed

[Willtell]

"chum chum cha boo Yes I put in money for several years. We were in the 600cc Supersport class with a Yamaha. I was part of a team of 4 businessmen chucking in wedge and having long weekends all around Europe. Great days and my best memory was in front of 120,000 fans at Brands in Foggie’s days. Our rider came second after a thrilling dice with a young 17 year old Toseland and Championship winner that year Stephan Chambon iirc. We had support from Yamaha (and free Avon tyres) too with work on our engine. We had to pay for that at cost price though. The fastest mod was the 3 “ignition” choices which were standard but somehow allowed it to rev to 16,000rpm at some circuits and produce power lower down the scale where needed at others. Unfortunately towards the end of the rider’s career, he crashed badly at Assen while in 6th place and trying to beat 2 riders on the last lap chicane trying to hang on to his 3rd in the championship. This was in late 90’s. He broke many bones and retired after that one and weirdly, he’s visiting us tomorrow for the first time in over 20 years because he’s in our area."

[El Scorchio]

Yup. Absolutely slimy weaselly two faced cսnt of a man.

[Lee Trundle]

Christian Horner under Red Bull investigation over ‘inappropriate behaviour’. Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke.

[bobbymoore]

"Ineos, Daimler and Toto all own a 3rd of the F1 Team"

[PwoperNaughtyButNot]

So Mercedes doesn’t provide money that in turn pays hamiltons wage?

[zebthecat]

"PwoperNaughtyButNot 10:36 Sun Feb 4 Although Mercedes might own the F1 team they are throroughly Britiish; no nazis involved. The car started out as Surtess in Brackley and has stayed there ever since in its guises as BAR, Honda, Brawn and now Mercedes. The engines started out as Ilmor at Brixworth (they are still there too) in the 80s."

[Come On You Irons]

"Just popping into this thread to state that Moncurs Putting Iron is a snidey, cowardly cսnt. MPI = cowardly cսnt."

[Eerie Descent]

"Those are his principles. And if you don't like them... Well, he has others."

[PwoperNaughtyButNot]

He is a big voice in the social justice culture wars - which makes it odd that he makes his current wealth from a company that built its fortune on slave labour and is now choosing to move a company founded by a member of the National Fascist Party.

[chim chim cha boo]

"I struggle to think of a single thing I could afford to buy that goes on a WSBK bike. I assume you are talking about the days of Crafar, Foggy and Bayliss? A fucking expensive sport and always has been."

[chim chim cha boo]

"I struggle to think of a single thing I could afford to buy that goes on a WSBK bike. I assume you are talking about the days of Crafar, Foggy and Bayliss? A fucking expensive sport and always has been."

[chim chim cha boo]

"'supported a few pals racing for several years in BSB and WSB' Really? You supported someone in World Superbikes? I hope you mean it like I support West Ham, in as much as I buy a season ticket every year? Actually and more interestingly, what bikes have you got? An honest question."

[Willtell]

"I don't understand what all the fuss about F1 is but whenever I very occasionally watch I look to see how he's doing. However, it is a bit of a comedy sport that fools lots of people. Overtaking is almost impossible between similar performance cars and some of the circuits are so unsuitable to race cars of that performance on. I do love watching WSBK, BSB and Moto GP's in that order because there is often a lot of overtakes. I used to race back in the 80's and supported a few pals racing for several years in BSB and WSB up until 2000. I still ride on the road (I have 3 bikes) and go to at least one or two events every year but car racing is just so dull..."

[madeeasy]

"hammer205 3:06 Fri Feb 2 Hahah no I wasn't, shame as that would have been great!"