First blood has been shed...

21-06-2010, 08:58 PM

First blood has recently been shed by a soldering iron and some aerosols of paint, so I suppose it's about time to raise my hand and tread forward from the comfortable shadows of lurking - apologies for the stench of molten plastic - that was me!

Bike-less
About a year and a half ago, I sold my Monster-dised 1989 Honda Hawk GT/BROS (see below) when I moved to London (CR4), intimidated by traffic mostly. It wasn't safe and in this British metropolis, public transport was fantastic anyway, so I wouldn't need it.

Ha. Ha.

Alfred
Having resisted the urge for as long as I did, last April I finally gave in and bought myself a beautiful S2R 800. I've always wanted a Monster and I can't explain in words how good it feels to finally own one. The first week it felt really weird, staring at it in disbelief of the fact I 1. actually owned a bike again and 2. it was a Monster.

The first month I was rather reserved in actually riding it - I took it out for spins and managed to put nearly 2K on the clocks in two months, but I wasn't a hundred percent comfortable on it yet. Even now, confidence is still growing and every time I go out for a ride, I'm amazed by how planted it feels, whilst being enormously agile and quick off the line. Over the last few weeks, I find myself opening up the throttle more and more and attacking corners more ~~aggressively~~ confident every time - it's a relationship between me and the bike that is steadily becoming more solid per mile. It's even got a name - Alfred!

Sorry
I promised myself to keep it short, so I suppose I need to apologise already - nobody likes a wall of text. In any case, I'm happy to join the UKMOC - over the last two months I've been following the threads religiously and I've found it to be a fountain of wisdom and a generally very mellow audience, which can't be said about all fora.

So thank you in advance, for your patience and knowledge!

Here are a couple of photos of Alfred and his predecessor - for more information feel free to check out the mini-blog (http://thingymadoodle.com/monster/) I created to keep all the inevitable changes and mods that will be, documented.

1989 Honda Hawk GT - Fireblade front end, radial brake mc, ABM triple + bars, Acewell clocks, custom paint, Ducati Monster seat and rear light...

Alfred. Yes, I've painted the covers...

...and the headlight. Lot more mods to come...

I've also started a to-do list, to keep things manageable.

Anyhoosle, time for me to shut up - thanks for reading this far. Any questions, remarks, insults or compliments may now be dumped below.

Cheers,
Ferdi.

21-06-2010, 09:03 PM

I didn't read your post because I'm lazy but both bikes look sweeeeeeeeeeet!

21-06-2010, 09:05 PM

I appreciate the honesty and compliment.

...

You're still a turd for not reading though.

Liz · 21-06-2010, 09:26 PM

I love the supermarket trolley in the background of that last photo - it looks so scared!!

I also have an S2R800 in black with a tangerine stripe. It's a great bike demanding much more respect in contrast to my '95 M600 - I just hope Louigi Moto can find it's intermittent immobiliser fault!

21-06-2010, 10:08 PM

I read it now

Welcome!

21-06-2010, 10:24 PM

Ta rac3r, appreciated!

@Liz_62 - Haha, had exactly the same thought when I looked down my viewfinder, loved his bent 'paws'.

gary tompkins · 21-06-2010, 10:43 PM

The 1st shot of the S2R in the carpark would make a great calander shot

Welcome to the clan

22-06-2010, 09:05 AM

Great shots man, nice processing!

Welcome to the forum and be sure to come on the next London tunnel run!

22-06-2010, 10:01 AM

Tunnel run? Sounds intriguing! Tell me more, pretty plx?

Are there any regular meets organised around London anyway? I was thinking of heading up to the Ace on Friday, since there seems to be some Ducati-esque event happening.

22-06-2010, 10:13 AM

The tunnel run is pretty funny.

Imagine the apocalyptic sound of a score of monsters with exhaust systems of questionable legality cruising through all of the major tunnels in central London.

I am not sure when the next one is, hopefully soon!

There are plenty of meets and ride outs around London but I keep missing them unfortunately. I am sure someone will be along to fill you in!

James

gary tompkins · 22-06-2010, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mintyhit

The tunnel run is pretty funny.

Imagine the sound of apocalyptic sound of a score of monsters with exhaust systems of questionable legality cruising through all of the major tunnels in central London.

I am not sure when the next one is, hopefully soon!

There are plenty of meets and ride outs around London but I keep missing them unfortunately. I am sure someone will be along to fill you in!

James

You tunnel addicts need to get yourselfs to Europe

We rode an 90kph section of A road in the alps, which was in and out of tunnels for 30 miles. Also used the Frejus tunnel to cross the Alps and that was 8 miles long... Bwaaahhh.. Bwaaah... Bwaaahh!

22-06-2010, 10:36 AM

welcome welcome. nice bike!

Funkatronic · 22-06-2010, 04:03 PM

welcome and glad your enjoying that lovely bike,

reminds me of mine although mines been looking a little more abused of late

Nice list of things to do, no much to add there apart from maybe:
Upgrade Rear Shock (and thats probabbly excessive tbh)

Im looking for some engine paint too, LittleJimmy reccomended R&S paints will let yu know how i get on

there is a regular meet 1st sat of every month at fatboys diner in docklands (although the last couple have been missed by many due to various other events) and many of us take rides out into the shires whenever we can (although this year has been fairly quiet on that front or maybe ive not been noticing). Keep an eye out for posts.
The Tunnel runs are totally gratuitous but very entertaining,

theres also a track day a bunch of us are doing at cadwell park on Aug 9th which will be great

hope to see you around

ali

22-06-2010, 01:04 PM

Ah, tunnel run. It all makes sense now... *evil grin*

Yeah, def up for that - I'll keep my eyes on the Event threads.
& cheers Gary, Diego for the compliment!

22-06-2010, 01:39 PM

Nice bike, welcome to the club!

21-06-2010, 08:58 PM	#1
Gunsoku Guest Posts: n/a	First blood has been shed... First blood has recently been shed by a soldering iron and some aerosols of paint, so I suppose it's about time to raise my hand and tread forward from the comfortable shadows of lurking - apologies for the stench of molten plastic - that was me! Bike-less About a year and a half ago, I sold my Monster-dised 1989 Honda Hawk GT/BROS (see below) when I moved to London (CR4), intimidated by traffic mostly. It wasn't safe and in this British metropolis, public transport was fantastic anyway, so I wouldn't need it. Ha. Ha. Alfred Having resisted the urge for as long as I did, last April I finally gave in and bought myself a beautiful S2R 800. I've always wanted a Monster and I can't explain in words how good it feels to finally own one. The first week it felt really weird, staring at it in disbelief of the fact I 1. actually owned a bike again and 2. it was a Monster. The first month I was rather reserved in actually riding it - I took it out for spins and managed to put nearly 2K on the clocks in two months, but I wasn't a hundred percent comfortable on it yet. Even now, confidence is still growing and every time I go out for a ride, I'm amazed by how planted it feels, whilst being enormously agile and quick off the line. Over the last few weeks, I find myself opening up the throttle more and more and attacking corners more ~~aggressively~~ confident every time - it's a relationship between me and the bike that is steadily becoming more solid per mile. It's even got a name - Alfred! Sorry I promised myself to keep it short, so I suppose I need to apologise already - nobody likes a wall of text. In any case, I'm happy to join the UKMOC - over the last two months I've been following the threads religiously and I've found it to be a fountain of wisdom and a generally very mellow audience, which can't be said about all fora. So thank you in advance, for your patience and knowledge! Here are a couple of photos of Alfred and his predecessor - for more information feel free to check out the mini-blog (http://thingymadoodle.com/monster/) I created to keep all the inevitable changes and mods that will be, documented. 1989 Honda Hawk GT - Fireblade front end, radial brake mc, ABM triple + bars, Acewell clocks, custom paint, Ducati Monster seat and rear light... Alfred. Yes, I've painted the covers... ...and the headlight. Lot more mods to come... I've also started a to-do list, to keep things manageable. Anyhoosle, time for me to shut up - thanks for reading this far. Any questions, remarks, insults or compliments may now be dumped below. Cheers, Ferdi.

21-06-2010, 09:26 PM	#4
Liz Co-ordination Join Date: May 2009 Location: Calne Bike: S2r Posts: 1,361	I love the supermarket trolley in the background of that last photo - it looks so scared!! I also have an S2R800 in black with a tangerine stripe. It's a great bike demanding much more respect in contrast to my '95 M600 - I just hope Louigi Moto can find it's intermittent immobiliser fault! __________________ Never give up, never surrender!

21-06-2010, 10:43 PM	#7
gary tompkins 1/2 man - 1/2 pogo-stick Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Dartford, Kent Bike: M900ie Posts: 7,241	The 1st shot of the S2R in the carpark would make a great calander shot Welcome to the clan __________________ GT Fully paid up member of the S.A.S. (Scottoiler Appreciation Society) 27,000 miles on original chain - and still going strong!

22-06-2010, 10:13 AM	#10
mintyhit Guest Posts: n/a	The tunnel run is pretty funny. Imagine the apocalyptic sound of a score of monsters with exhaust systems of questionable legality cruising through all of the major tunnels in central London. I am not sure when the next one is, hopefully soon! There are plenty of meets and ride outs around London but I keep missing them unfortunately. I am sure someone will be along to fill you in! James Last edited by mintyhit; 22-06-2010 at 12:23 PM..

21-06-2010, 09:03 PM	#2
rac3r Guest Posts: n/a	I didn't read your post because I'm lazy but both bikes look sweeeeeeeeeeet!

21-06-2010, 09:05 PM	#3
Gunsoku Guest Posts: n/a	I appreciate the honesty and compliment. ... You're still a turd for not reading though.

21-06-2010, 10:08 PM	#5
rac3r Guest Posts: n/a	I read it now Welcome!

21-06-2010, 10:24 PM	#6
Gunsoku Guest Posts: n/a	Ta rac3r, appreciated! @Liz_62 - Haha, had exactly the same thought when I looked down my viewfinder, loved his bent 'paws'.

22-06-2010, 09:05 AM	#8
mintyhit Guest Posts: n/a	Great shots man, nice processing! Welcome to the forum and be sure to come on the next London tunnel run!

22-06-2010, 10:01 AM	#9
Gunsoku Guest Posts: n/a	Tunnel run? Sounds intriguing! Tell me more, pretty plx? Are there any regular meets organised around London anyway? I was thinking of heading up to the Ace on Friday, since there seems to be some Ducati-esque event happening.

22-06-2010, 10:36 AM	#12
Diego Guest Posts: n/a	welcome welcome. nice bike!

22-06-2010, 04:03 PM	#13
Funkatronic another year another bike Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: London Bike: S2r 1000 Posts: 1,597	welcome and glad your enjoying that lovely bike, reminds me of mine although mines been looking a little more abused of late Nice list of things to do, no much to add there apart from maybe: Upgrade Rear Shock (and thats probabbly excessive tbh) Im looking for some engine paint too, LittleJimmy reccomended R&S paints will let yu know how i get on there is a regular meet 1st sat of every month at fatboys diner in docklands (although the last couple have been missed by many due to various other events) and many of us take rides out into the shires whenever we can (although this year has been fairly quiet on that front or maybe ive not been noticing). Keep an eye out for posts. The Tunnel runs are totally gratuitous but very entertaining, theres also a track day a bunch of us are doing at cadwell park on Aug 9th which will be great hope to see you around ali

22-06-2010, 01:04 PM	#14
Gunsoku Guest Posts: n/a	Ah, tunnel run. It all makes sense now... evil grin Yeah, def up for that - I'll keep my eyes on the Event threads. & cheers Gary, Diego for the compliment!

22-06-2010, 01:39 PM	#15
Pomp1 Guest Posts: n/a	Nice bike, welcome to the club!