Yamaha MT-01 – Bent Rim Blues II
Ok.
Today I went to the garage thinking I would leave the MT there whilst they had a look and got back to me, but I waited and to cut a long story short,
The garage still deny that the alloy was bent when the bike was sold to me. I am still 100% sure that I haven’t hit anything that would do this kind of damage. But in the end we both agreed to get the wheel sent off to a company called Hagon, who manufacture shocks and custom wheels, but they also repair cast wheels.
£75 to get it fixed, and the garage would take care of the labour and postage costs etc etc.
We then headed up to Dundee, leaving the MT at the garage. We went to see Robin Hood and it was ok. After the film had finished Em and I both went to the toilet, and as I entered the Gents I looked over to my right to see 2 blokes standing at the urinals, one of them turned round to look at me, and I went straight ahead in to a cubicle.
Shortly after one of the blokes left, the door shut and that was that. But then this 2nd bloke went in to the cubicle beside me, no biggie I thought, blowing his nose or whatever.
Finished up, sorted my belt and as I turned around to open the cubicle door and I suddenly was aware that some bare feet were sticking under the door. A bit puzzled as to why there would be bare feet in the gents of a cinema, but then to my absolute horror, a face appeared. Under the door. Looking at me.
And this wasn’t a childs face. This was a mans face. Looking at me, on their hands and knees, under the cubicle door.
I quickly opened the door by which point this bloke had stood up and was now staring directly at me. I said “alright?” in a nervous, weirded out kind of way and he turned and started washing his hands. I quickly washed my hands and this guy had progressed on to the hand driers so I just left, but as I passed him, he took off his right shoe.
Now after I left the toilet there was no sign of Em, so I just wandered over to the main area, still completely puzzled why a grown man (albeit say late 20′s) would go down on his hands and knees and look under a toilet cubicle. A toilet cubicle with nobody in it but the two of us.
Emma surfaced from the ladies and I said “You’ll never guess what happened to me” and told her about this guy looking under the door. She thought it was weird but then we both walked outside where it was hailstones. We ran to the car and I sat for a minute to let my thoughts catch up.
It was then it dawned on both of us.
This guy turned and looked at me as I entered. The other guy left leaving only 2 of us in this toilet. He then went in to the cubicle beside me, and whilst I thought he was blowing his nose, there was not a lot of sound, only rustling. He must have stood on the toilet and was looking over the top of the cubicle. He then got on his hands and knees and looked under the cubicle door.
Now, the questions are a plenty, but the main ones are, why. And Why? And WHY?
Emma got quite angry at me as we drove down the dual carriageway away from the cinema and suddenly we both came to the same conclusion. This guy must have been a pedophile, or a pervert, one of the two.
Why else would he wait till the other bloke was away and then look at me taking a piss?
In a startling realisation of this conclusion, I pulled over at the side of a slip road and we frantically searched for the direct dial for the cinema, using our mobile phones and the WAP internet to find the number, I mean we needed to let them know there was this weirdo loitering about in the gents.
Our fears were that a small boy is sent in by his Dad, and this fucking lunatic approaches him. We, I, couldn’t live with myself if I had done nothing.
After many a dead end from 118 247 and cineworld ticket hotline, I phoned head customer services and got the Dundee branches number.
A quick phone call to alert them to my discovery and the lady on the other end of the phone couldn’t get away quick enough to find him.
We sat for a moment after the phone call and I was really shaken up.
It’s truly frightening turning round in what you think to be a “safe space” in a toilet cubicle, in an empty toilet, to see a face looking at you under the door. Really disconcerting, frightening, weird and very very very infuriating…at least, 10 minutes afterwards when you realise you should have kicked him in the face, or at least went and found somebody straight away, and not left the cinema.
Anyway, I have to try and put my mind at rest in some way, but that’s the first and hopefully last time I come face to face with such a weirdo.
Getting back home again I did some filing with the new box files we picked up at Staples (Emma’s in house sale tidy mode), and then set about looking through my plethora of photographs that I always take of my new bikes. I wanted to try and locate the point in time that the wheel was dented, so that I could try and remember the incident. I knew it wasn’t me that did the damage, but I wanted to rule it out. I guess I was feeling a bit paranoid after the pervert run-in.
I got the first photograph I ever took out, a photograph that I took on the 2nd of May, the day after I bought the MT.
This photograph looks like this (Beware, it’s a full size photograph at 4mb)
If you don’t want to click that, then click this zoomed in one:
Look at the bottom left hand spoke, to the left of the air valve. Then look at the rim directly “below” it. See the join between rim and tyre. Trace it round and then study.
A different angle (Again 4MB so dont click unless you have fast internet):
Zoomed in for you:
I’ve kind of highlighted the area in question with a colour mask (Picasa is shite for marking your photos, and I don;t have my big computer/photoshop)
Now.
This was taken the day after I bought the bike. I took the bike to show Blair, was so very careful with regards to bumps etc as it was only an hour old (to me).
So the day after I got it, there’s evidence of the rim being bent.
Now if I am going by the theory that I wanted to see when the rim could have been dented, and there’s evidence of the rim being dented the day after I get my hands on it, then the only time it could have occurred was the day I bought it.
And I, as with everyone else on the planet, remember the day when something great happens. I remember it with crystal clear clarity. And I can say now, for absolute certainty, that I did not dent this rim.
If I had found a photo that showed the dent in week 3 and no dent in week 1 then fair enough, I must have dented it at some point.
If I had a photo that showed a dent in week 3, yet no photo showing the rear rim before that point, then I would have to assume that it was possibly me.
But I have evidence showing that the day after I picked up my bike, the rim was dented. The time scale is so small, and that it was the first day I had it, means that this dent was done before I had the bike.
The bloke at the garage today did squeeze in that the guy who sold the MT to the garage was in “the other day” and said that he had never dented it. Well, why would he?
So there you go.
I don’t know what will come of this new evidence. I’ve emailed the garage again with an open ended email, showing the photographs and asking for their thoughts.
It will be interesting considering that I have the proof that the rim was dented the day after I bought it. I do have a photograph of the day I test rode it, but as with anything in critical times of need, the section of rim in question is behind the swingarm.
If that photo showed evidence of the dented rim, it would be absolute. But I think the proof I’ve got is just as good.
Updates as things unfold.
I am away to lie down, this has been an eventful day for me.
YY
YamYam Installs an Alpha-Dot.
So the second of this fantastic double header is me installing an Alpha-Dot marking thing on my beloved MT-01.
I go by the theory that if someone wants your motorcycle enough, they’ll just take it. There’s nothing you can do about it, they’ll just get a transit, drive up to your bike and two heavies will lift your bike in to the van and be off. 20 seconds if that.
Obviously the MT is extremely heavy, so maybe 3-4 heavies would do it.
So what then? Well unfortunately I also go by the theory that if your bike is nicked, that’s the last you’ll see of it, especially if it’s of the MT standard (and by that I mean not a rusted knockabout…something similar to the GSR then)
But in a bid to make the possible breakdown and sale of my once loved motorcycle more difficult, I like to get a wee Alpha-Dot system in there. Just in case. As a possible deterrant.
It goes something like this:
You get the package through the post, it was £15….wow. I just checked the website and the price has went up to £24.99. Nice one!
Anyway, you get a wee credit card type thing with a registration code, 2 Alpha-Dot stickers and a tube that looks like this:
Inside this tube you can see lots of little black dots. These black dots are the Alpha-Dots. On each and every dot is the code that corresponds with the code tied to your bike. The theory is that when your bike gets nicked, broken down and tried to be sold, the police can shine a black-light on the parts and these wee discs glow, thus showing it to be a stolen part and the “perp” get’s a “cap in their ass”, or in Scotland they get a smacked bum.
Now, I like you, thought “aye, these dots are just black. I cannae see the code.”
Well today, with the help of my Da’s uber cam, I did a wee macro and wow:
See the codes yet?
No?
Well, how about now?
!!!!!
So these tiny dots of code are immersed in a PVA type adhesive with black-light reactiveness shit (technical term) embedded in. You then blob these all over your bike as thus:
The trick is to try and mark as many bits as possible on your bike with this stuff, thus making sure that if your bike does get broken down, there’s little that isn’t marked.
As you can see, there’s a lot to paint. It took me about 25 minutes going around the bike and I still had a lot of wee dots left in the tube should I want to continue or if I get aftermarket parts.
The blue liquid dries clear leaving a varnished like area with the dots molded within. Not sure of the durability or indeed the tamper proofing of these areas but its more of a peace of mind thing.
Lots of bits to paint.
As a wee testament to the minute size of these dots, here is one on the bar end weight….and here it is magnified:
So there you go.
When I entered these “secure markings” in to the insurance quote, it certainly did a bit to reduce the premium, so even if it doesn’t save my bike from being nicked, at least I am saving some money…
Brilliant.
Thanks for visiting all. I will update you with the results from the bent alloy issue when things develop. It’s late and I’m going to bed.
Night all
YY
Yamaha MT-01 – Bent Rim Blues
Hello all. A double header tonight….actually it’s now the morning.
First up is today’s big development. After getting the bike back from SB motos yesterday I decided today that a thorough cleaning was in order, I mean eat your dinner off it clean.
Did the first pass(!) and the bike was pretty clean, got all of that rusty water/gunk off the nooks and crannies and the bike was looking good. Only the rear wheel to clean, but I decided today to give the chain a good clean as well first, and then clean the wheel and finish by a second pass. Intensive aye. Sad, definitely.
My paddock stand has never been the same ever since someone sat on my MT-03 whilst it was up on the stand. It was all bent and has chewed my GSR swingarm with a nice arc of scrape. So I obviously didn’t want to get the MT-01 on the stand only to rip a big arc through the gorgeous blue metallic swingarm.
I modified the paddock stand (Oxford for those interested) and made sure that the brackets stayed well away from the swingarm.
Finally I could get the rear wheel properly cleaned, so I gave it a wee spin….then another, and another…because I noticed something that was both baffling and indeed horrifying:
Well I never.
I’ve never seen a motorcycle wheel like it. It’s funny (in a really un-funny way) because Blair’s car wheels had an issue just last week where he went to the garage to get a knocking sound fixed (unrelated) and found his front left tyre flat. Found out that his alloy was dented and thus wasn’t holding the seal with the rim letting all the air out of the tyre.
This is the same thing, but the added risk is that when you lean in to a corner the tyre deforms around the rim area, you see it in motogp on the camera mounted to the bottom fairing. I may not be getting motogp lean angles on the MT but in general that’s what happens.
So knowing that the only thing keeping the air in the tyre is the seal made between tyre and rim, it certainly doesn’t fill me with confidence with a nice big flat dent on it.
But in saying that, I’ve ridden for 4 weeks with this issue (because I never dented it, it was one of the previous 2 owners that did this unforgivable act) and Ive never felt anything. I’ve ridden it enough now to feel comfortable leaning it well over and there’s never been any indication of a serious flat spot on the rim.
Well, I’ve emailed the garage asking for their thoughts as I really dont know what to do. Checking the OEM online parts place states that a Yamaha MT-01 rear wheel, without anything on it, just the plain jane alloy, is €850, that’s £718 at xe.com’s exchange rate.
And by anyone’s standards, that’s a LOT of banger for a bit of metal.
I don’t know enough about warranty’s and rights as a buyer to comment enough on it. I will investigate it more and await the garage’s thoughts. Very interesting indeed.
Summer Holiday Decisions…
I go on holiday tomorrow for 2 weeks, and it seems like I may have picked a winner!
The first week of our holidays will be going round houses in the first part, and preparing for the exhibition for my motorcycle artworks. But the second week, oh the second week.
Perhaps:
View Larger Map
Well now.
Its not quite the mammoth trip we did 2 years ago (pretty much to the day actually!!?) but we now luckily know the best roads and places to stay so we can go directly there!
I’m waiting on conformation from the place we stayed last time in a tiny place called Durnamuck. Hopefully all will be well.
The added bonus this time around of course will be the fact that the MT will be our steed, and not the GSR!
Its pretty much the same as our last Scotland trip except we are cutting out the north east leg. I am already EXTREMELY excited about the chance of going back there again, it’s unbelievably beautiful.
Updates soon,
YY
p.s.
This is the place to go if you want the best road in the world…
View Larger Map
I Love My MT-01
My journey started off as it does every night, taking the MT back to my Dad’s garage to swap it for the GSR, only to go back up there in the morning if it’s nice to pick the MT up again. Unfortunately this is the routine at the moment due to my paranoia with leaving the MT outside our flat. But it’s worth it as I get some delight before heading home for the night.
It has been glorious weather the past couple of days here and taking the MT to it’s bed has been great. Tonight was no exception. Em was away to her grans so I had a few hours to kill. I decided to take a spin round the various houses we have been looking at for our recent house moving decision. The first one was a non-starter due to the sandbags propped against the patio doors…flooding is an issue then…cross off the list. The next was just up the road, and the good thing about it was getting from A to B meant starting up the MT every time, and poodling along at really low revs. Low revs + small towns = big noise.
The next house was better but still something not quite right about it. The key sitting on the window ledge was a bit weird, could have been for the flat, could have been for something else. I then slowly thumped out of town and looked for a nice place to take some photos; it was such a nice night why the hell not!? It was also a good opportunity to get another video of the MT seeing as how the first attempt was too long for youtube and thus was deleted without even a preview. I will have to slice it up and upload it in 2 or 3 parts, because it’s still a funny video.
Anyway, took many a photo and then headed to Mums….funny…Mum’s House, Dad’s garage. Got to Mum’s about 8pm so had a wee while to chat and show Mum the houses we were looking at. Dad watched Band of Brothers on BluRay, looked amazing. Got quite late so decided to head home as I had my dark visor on, and couldn’t be bothered swapping it for the clear visor in my rucksack. Lazy.
Spun home and watched the new video and it’s rather funny as well. It’s uploading right this very second so will add it to the post once it’s done…funny, I said that before. This one’s only 2 mins long, but I shot it on Dad’s camera, which is 720p so is 400MB. The other vid was over 10 minutes long and was 300MB.
HD footage is annoyingly big files.
Pictures below.
I love my MT. I love the fact that my feelings when I first started riding are coming back to me. The excitement, the thrill. The joy of being on a motorcycle, with no other reason to be happy than being on a motorcycle. It’s only been 2 weeks since getting the MT but already I feel I know it inside out.
(Best Watched in HD)
MT-01 Head Bearing Blues.
I had spoke to the MTOC members for a wee while really before plumping up the banger for my MT-01. I asked them what problems they envisaged and what I was to be aware of. Some mentioned rubbing on the tank from the seat, other mentioned tyres etc, but the most widely recognised problem was the head bearings prematurely disintegrating.
No-one is safe it seems, as after a brisk ride home from work this evening I got off to find this staring me in the face:
Its a bit gruesome to look at really, but the theory is this; inside the headstock you obviously have 2 sets of bearings. One set is at the top, another set is at the bottom and these allow the steering to be smooth and cope with the weight on the front end.
However Yamaha seem to have been a bit lax when it comes to deciding what quality of bearings to fit in there because some of the MTOC members have an issue with premature head bearing failure. It’s not a one or two person issue, it seems to be a recurring theme throughout the MT community.
So what are the choices then? Well the first port of call is to speak to the place I got it, Sandy Bloy motorcycles in Perth, and see if this will be fixed under the limited 3 month/3000 mile warranty. It should be as this was an issue since getting the bike (albeit not near as visibly bad as this) and even on the day of arriving home I could see a wee spattering of brown gunk. It was raining and I wasn’t pushing the bike like I was tonight.
As you can see, it goes everywhere.
So I’ve emailed SB Motos. That’s the first choice.
If they come back with a no for warranty fix, then it’s a case of either getting them to replace them at my dollar with stock OEM bearings, or go down the route of many on the MTOC of getting some better, more up to the job tapered bearings (instead of the ball type).
…
Update Ive to take the bike in for them to have a look. We’ll see how it goes then I suppose.
What winter does to your motorcycle…
What does riding your motorcycle in winter do? Well if like me you don’t have a garage or a hose, this:
(click the image for a full whacker)
Unless you are intimate with a GSR’s engine casing, the black shiny bit should sit up against the lip of that bolt you see there. But the road salt has eaten away at it so much, that you can actually see the shaft of the bolt. Now bear in mind, this is about 2 weeks worth of salt sitting on the bolt areas, and this is the damage.
Its pretty crazy to think that 2 weeks worth of shit they put on the road can do this sort of damage but there you go. This is the second casing on this side of the bike, I’ve had 2 on the other as well.
I guess I should have known it would happen but, not this quickly.
Anyway, I thought I would share what the consequences are of leaving salt on your bike. I think I will have to replace these casings and get busy with the FS365 from Scottoiler.
Bums.
Just goes to show how crappy the materials are that Suzuki use on their lower end bikes.
50,000 miles and counting
On Sunday the 2nd May I crested the 30,000 mile mark on the GSR, just over 2 years after buying it. It was a weird feeling really, I was excited about it, enough to show Emma whilst we headed down the motorway sliproad (“Aye, very good” she said)
But at the same time as being excited about crossing another milestone I couldn’t help but remember what 30,000 miles has done to the GSR’s health. Anyway,
Since Jan 2007 I have covered over 50,000 miles on 6 different motorcycles: Yamaha MT-03, Buell Xb12Ss Lightning, Kawasaki ER-6N, Suzuki GSR600 and my latest Yamaha MT-01. It’s a good feeling knowing that I am beginning to get in to territory that relatively few bikers (in the UK anyway) reach, and I’ve only been riding for 3 and a half years.
It’s funny how I’ve come full circle from first getting my MT-03, and then swearing never to return to Yamaha after the way they treated the “incident”. But I am so glad I did, because my excitement for motorcycles and love of being a biker has been reignited, and it’s raging out of control. I had become complacent and the daily drudge in to work on my bike resulted in it being just another day whenever I sat on it.
I am also glad that I chose the MT as my new steed. It’s crazy how many people have gone out of their way to comment on it since I got it 2 weeks ago. I’ve never had anyone come up to me like that since owning the Buell 2 years ago. I think it’s something to do with the V-Twin roar, or the oddball looks but whatever it is, people warm to it.
So I shall continue on and on, sitting upon 2 wheels every day as my A to B.
I must say a little word about the tragic death of a biker just down the road from me. Saturday was a glorious day to be out on the bike, and we were out as well. It seems that no matter how nice the weather there are still people dying on their bikes. I always feel sad for these unfortunate people, but always always sceptical. I don’t know why really, but whenever I hear of a biker dying, I always think of the biker doing something wrong or riding beyond theirs or the conditions limit. Sometimes its just a freak coming together in the middle of nowhere.
My scepticism isn’t helped much after witnessing a bunch of high-vis clad bikers wobbling all over the road on Saturday, one of which left his indicator on for 10 minutes. I want to stop these bikers and slap their dishes. Get a grip. Ride safer. But then why should I?
Take care out there please, and keep your head screwed on.
Onward.
YY
#003 Troy Bayliss – Xerox Ducati
Hi all,
As mentioned several times in the most recent posts, every spare minute has been consumed by artworks. I am now suddenly free as a bird, because today I finished my 3rd artwork. The legend that is Troy Bayliss:
(Click Image to head to the site)
It’s looking glorious and my best so far. Head on over to the Artwork website for more information.
All 3 of my artworks will be exhibited at the Perth Art Festival 2010, on the 29th and 30th May.
Details are:
Perth Art Festival – Art on the River
29-30th May 2010,
Tay Street
Perth
Map:
Hope any of you can make it.
Thanks
How not to fill up your tank…
Hi folks,
Tonight I had a bit of a scare, in Tesco Petrol station of all places.
GSR was my steed today (until the warmer/dryer weather kicks in) and on the way home from work I stopped in at the station beside the FRB to top up the tank.
Of course the only pump available was the far left one, so the bike was leaning away from the pump. Not usually an issue. So as it’s a “pay-at-pump” place I got my card out, put my pin in and waited for the “please lift nozzle…” etc.
Got the pump nozzle, made sure the pipe was over the seat and went round to the left side of the bike (as the bike is leaning this way, it’s easier to get the nozzle in the petrol hole than try and flip it over)
The petrol cap kept flapping shut, meaning I couldn’t see what I was doing, and as I fill the tank by propping the nozzle on the very lip of the inlet as to get the most in the tank without it clicking off all the time, it was important that I saw what I was doing. Well of course what happened next?
Mid-fill, with the trigger fully depressed, the nozzle slipped out of the hole. And not just “oops, in we go again” I mean the force of the petrol coming out of the nozzle coupled with the snap slip of the nozzle leaving the lip meant the whole “gun” of the petrol pump was suddenly airborne and spraying petrol everywhere. It was up the petrol pump, it was all over my bike (think a thin film of liquid coating the whole tank, seat and quickly running south).
It’s not like I stood there with the petrol spewing everywhere, it was a “slip-oh shit-trigger off” quick thing, but in that split second it took to shut the petrol off, it was everywhere. The petrol spews out at some lick, I tell you.
I stood for a moment waiting in horror for the petrol to hit either the engine or the headers or indeed the underseat exhaust box and engulf me and my bike. 3-4 seconds later I had ran round the bike, slotted the gun back in to the pump, ran to the place with the towels etc and grabbed a handful to try and stem the liquid from going further south.
Luckily nothing combusted except my heart rate.
I finished filling, got myself ready with my now petrol soaked gloves and took the bike away from the pump to give it a once over.
In doing so I noticed that the engine covers, the ones that had corroded before, were seriously corroded again. I mean seriously, to the point that it’s like a hill with a bolt sticking out the top.
Something I will have to address when I get the bike in the garage in prep for winter. Very worrying and it seems like the only thing that isn’t cheap rubbish on the GSR is the petrol I put in it.
Anyway,
That’s the first and last time I’ll do that, because if that was the MT, that petrol would have instantly hit the header pipes and both the MT and me would have been up in flames…in the Tesco petrol station.
Ducati Monster 796. Wow.
(From Ducati.com)
Just seen the new Ducati Monster. Oh my word its nice. There are a lot of colour schemes, some amazing (as above), some bogging.
Its a single seater from what I can see here and looks like it could be a great bike.
Shame I’ve just went and bought a bike that’s a complete ripper.
I can tell you one thing though, Blair will go wild for it.
Stop going fast around corners you…you…
A guy was telling me today at work that he was out on his Ducati Multistrada at the weekend and noticed the rozzers in his mirrors.
Carrying on as normal he suddenly found himself being blue-lighted and pulled over. He said that the cops suspected he either stole the bike or was drunk, so he got the breathaliser and then told,
“You are going to fast in the corners. Stop it.”
I burst out laughing.
They gave him a caution and sent him on his way.
Brilliant.
Yamaha MT-01 Review – YamYam is BACK!
The last post on YamYam finished like this:
I am going to have a wee test ride on one to see if all the reviews are correct. From there it’s either buying one, or looking elsewhere, but something tells me I will be rumbling home once more.
Well I did go for a test ride, and here’s what happened.
Friday (23rd April) I decided to head up to Sandy Bloy Motorcycles, Perth, after emailing Gary regarding the MT-01 they had in their shop. Gary said come up Friday.
Arriving on the GSR with the rain in full swing, I wondered what it would feel like to sit on an MT-01 after all these years of wanting one. Well it seems like I wouldn’t get the chance, because when I entered the shop the MT was sitting there, looking amazing…with “SOLD” suckered on the light.
Gary emerged after a lengthy wait and I introduced myself and said “well, it seems like I won’t get to test ride it” and pointed to the beast sitting unavailable.
“We’ll…” Gary started, “It is…and it isn’t.”
Oh? I said, feeling a small glimmer of light appear at the very end of a long tunnel.
“Yeah, the guy who was in has since said he can’t get finance, and I have told him that if someone else comes along, then I won’t be waiting for him to get his act together. So as far as I am concerned, the bike is still for sale.”
Well then, lets get a test ride! I filled in the standard “if you deck the bike you’ll pay for it” form and round the bike came, sounding amazing as it did so. This was the first time I had seen or heard one up close, so everything was a new sensation.
By now the rain was getting quite heavy, so Gary said take it easy, handed me a £5 note and said put some gas in it. Off I went, and immediately I could feel the power that this thing had in store. Burbling up the first junction I had a bit of a time getting the old clutch-in action smooth, and indeed the fantastic twin engine braking was quite harsh on the MT.
Anyway I toodled about and after a whizz around Perth I got back to SB’s and in I went. Gary was there to greet me and I said how I loved twins and to cut a long story short, he was chuffed to have someone ride it who knew what it was about and I wanted it. I said that I had the finances ready (The loan form was sent and I was waiting back for the approval) so took a gamble on them being successful and put a deposit of £100 down, after haggling a bit with the price.
He showed me a dent in the exhaust headers from where someone has laid the bike down at rest, and a chip on the tank.
So I left it at that, said I would be back up the next day with Emma and w0uld keep him updated as far as the finances go.
Parting test ride thoughts: Well the MT looks absolutely gorgeous. It sounds absolutely gorgeous. It feels absolutely gorgeous. It’s just a shame I didn’t get to test the instant thundering torque and fantastic brakes that everyone raves about. Fingers crossed the finances come through because it’s rare to have an MT come up for sale in Scotland, and I would be pretty sad if I didn’t manage to realise my 4 year want.
——————
Well. The finances did come through. And I went up on Saturday 1st of May to pick her up.
What. A. Beast.
Of course, Saturday was raining as well, which was great. I was hoping to get some full throttle’s going but anyway, we headed up sharp as I wanted to get a good day of riding on it before we headed out to see the Doves in Glasgow at night.
Got all the paper work sorted, paid the remaining balance (£5400) and that was that! Emma had never heard an MT-01 so when I fired it up and the bike sat and shook, Emma just burst out laughing. She was even more excited than me.
On the way home I gave it some licks and it sounded so good I burst out laughing, shouting “THIS IS AMAZING”.
But. Twice on the way, in 2nd gear and giving licks, the rear spun up in a controlled wheelspin. The rev’s rose to a constant hum and the rear stepped out. Giving it a bit more throttle the rev’s rose more and the rear straightened up, leaving me feeling even better. It did make it perfectly clear however, that there’s enough power being transmitted to the rear tyre to make it dangerous, should one forget and open the taps whilst leaning over.
I took it out on Saturday for a while, fitted the new tax disc on (with the ridiculously complicate 8 bolt tax disc holder) and then rode home to pick Em up to let her experience the MT first hand. She was slightly worried that the pegs would be too high or she wouldn’t feel comfortable, but after getting on it and riding down to Blairs (to surprise him) she felt fine.
I explain the surprise for Blair in the video at the end, but basically I said that after I got to Sandy Bloys and saw it was sold, it was actually sold and that was it.
We got to Blair’s street but went round the back street and I revved the MT up knowing that he would hear it, and he did. By the time we got round to the front window he was standing there waiting to see what it was. You could see the cogs turning as he stood there open mouthed in amazement!
Well as I thought, he absolutely loved it and I took him out for a spin during which he felt the full beast unleashed and although there was 2 fatties on it, it still shifted like nothing else I have ever felt. He was astounded at the instant power, the gorgeous v-twin sound and the gobsmacking strength of the brakes.
What a beast.
The bike is in fantastic condition, with the above mentioned scuffs on the exhaust, the bike is pretty much mint. After cleaning it today I did notice that there’s a few more scuffs, on on the front rim and a few other wee bits, but nothing that is noticeable.
So there you go. I finally have an MT-01, after 4 years of wanting it. The good thing about this is though, that the MT will be a Summer/nice weather bike, a bike I can keep looking gorgeous and get the enjoyment of it, but then put it away in the Winter.
I can then use the GSR as a Winter hack and a learning tool for changing the oil and other servicey things.
YamYam is now a 2 bike outfit, and I am so very excited about it. I will be posting up my experiences with the MT regularly and I am suddenly really excited about being on 2 wheels again. Staying on 1 bike for so many miles really does take the fun and enjoyment out of it, but now I have the beast to go to when I am feeling down, I can see things being different.
More pictures and the video review, including some derogatory comments and some funny voices. Oh dear. Thanks for visiting and look for the MT related posts, of which there will be many. I’ll be doing a bit of maintenance on the site, weeding out the lesser viewed stuff and re-arranging some bits and bobs to make posting a bit swifter.
As a wee testament to the quality poured in the MT-01, the dials as seen above are adjustable for light intensity. But not just as a whole, you can adjust the tach, the main bit at the bottom AND the needle for brightness! The needle! Makes my day, that does.
What a ripper. I just LOVE the MT styling. Always have, always will.
Video below.
(Will add here once it’s finished uploading.)
