Not got one yet but determined

[Ribbit]

Hi.

Old git trying to get a Bros 650 (wish me luck).

Location: Centre of the Universe (ok, West Wales, UK, some of the best biking you could wish for).

Interests: Life, The Universe, and Everything.

Ty for a very nice site.

[DefTrap]

Plenty on fleBay at the moment. A good time to buy cheap I reckon, most decent 650s struggling to reach a grand.

Welcome!

[Ribbit]

Plenty on fleBay at the moment. A good time to buy cheap I reckon, most decent 650s struggling to reach a grand.

Welcome!

Yeah I'm kinda holding my breath on one at the moment. ETA: it does look more than a bit suspicious, pretty sure it's one made from several others, but as long as it runs well enough to get me home, I'll get stuck into it.

Thanks for the welcome.

How on earth do you cope round the Cambridge area? I ask because I was up there last year in February (bitter cold day) collecting an Aprilia Futura (not mine sadly, found a real gem for a friend), and the plague of cameras was unbelievable - even to the extent of having a 40 limit on the M11 (straight piece of road, no obstructions, no roadworks, just a SPEEDCAMERA point!). I couldn't believe how close everyone seemed to be to having attacks of road rage.

I don't think I could handle that much stress on the road for very long.

[DefTrap]

Well good luck. There's plenty about, I'd go for something as clean and standard as possible OR one with all the mods, nothing that looks like it's been couriered.

To be honest I like the speed cameras, as I know where they all are and with next to no traffic dibble on the roads these days I can speed with impunity.

If you do get a Bros there's ma planned rideout Wales way some time this Summer. Eric (skinnE on here) is sorting it out.

[SkinnE]

If you do get a Bros there's ma planned rideout Wales way some time this Summer. Eric (skinnE on here) is sorting it out.

That's me! I'll get off my butt anyday now and post something about plans for that rideout/meet. It's going to happen this summer, before school gets out. I've found some stellar b-roads between Ruthin/Bala/Penybontfawr, just looking for more to make some good loops. I agree, fantastic roads, particularly suited to the little bike. Can you suggest any in the area?

Welcome to the forum.

Where in West Wales are you? I'm in Chester (as my thingy on the left says), so unless you mean Pembroke, probably not too far away.

How on earth do you cope round the Cambridge area?

Haha, I used to live there, moved here last year as I couldn't stand Al, I mean Cambridge I know what you mean though, traffic there was pretty ridiculous, and nary a cop to actually police the bad drivers.

E

[Ribbit2]

I just spent about 2 hours compiling routes, scenic views, aerial photo's etc., and lost the lot (maybe because I been 'botted' lol! - same me, new ID, hehe).

Yes there's wonderful routes.

Some great places to eat and drink for very little money too.

Ron my pal with the Aprilia Futura (yes I'm green with envy) has been well in with the touring/rally scene for a very long time, and I'll try and get him kicked into gear if you have an idea of when and how long you would like things planned out?

There's likely a pile of biking things going on over the Summer (there usually is), so could be nice to try and fit it in with something else.

Have a look at this link, which will give you a taster:

http://www.bestbikingroads.com/show_routes_in_selected_province.php?code=670

though I think they have kept the best routes to themselves, ehehe (tending to be the areas with no balloons on them ).

Ok can edit now, got that lot up in case I got 'botted' again.

I live in the Teifi Valley not far from Llandysul. At present I am mainly down in Pembrokeshire looking after dad, as mum passed away last summer.

I suppose it would be fair to say that all of Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Gower, Brecon Beacons, etc., is all good biking territory.

Road surfaces aren't as good as they used to be, but as long as your tyres are good, it isn't too much of a problem.

My local (nr Llandysul) has great food at great prices (e.g. 7oz gammon, 2 eggs, chips, mushrooms, onion rings - £3.50; faggots, mash, mushy peas, onion gravy - £2.95), and at least 2 real ales on that are kept well (often 6X, Directors, that type of beer). Edit again: Wow they have a website http://www.gwarcefelarms.co.uk/ - menu there is the restaurant one, Bar Meals menu is good and not listed.

There's plenty of camping, B & B, etc., in the area. Could always talk a farmer into letting tents get put up if his palm is crossed with silver, I suppose (or just sneak into some forestry on the quiet and put a tent up - no fires, of course. *grins*).

Still without a Bros, one I was after turned out to be owned by an idiot (turned down what he was asking for it, FIVE TIMES! - 4 by me - and he has now broken it and can't sell the bits! lol!), but chasing a few others now.

[karen]

I'm from missouri, u.s.a. and I seem to be having trouble figuring out what y'all are talking about. what's a bot? and why do you call a hawk a Bros? is that a slang term or just a different version of the hawk?

[Ribbit2]

I'm from missouri, u.s.a. and I seem to be having trouble figuring out what y'all are talking about. what's a bot? and why do you call a hawk a Bros? is that a slang term or just a different version of the hawk?

The Hawk was called the Bros (in 400cc and 650cc variants) in Japan. We got lots of the Bros imported to the UK from the secondhand market in Japan (though a few Hawk GT's did make it into Europe too - 600 ish?).

The direct import equivalent at the time into the UK, was the Revere (initially 600cc, then made into a 650cc), which had a steel frame, and was shaft drive. This then became the NTV 650 (still steel framed and shaft drive), and then later the Deuville (still produced, 650cc variants and now 700cc - also steel framed, and shaft drive).

Hopefully that's covered it ok and haven't left anything too important out/got anything wrong?

Bots are those nasty automated software attacks that have been hitting the site lately (advertising cheap meds and such). They are a pain in the neck, and the site is rightly attacking them as best they can, which has ended up with a few of us having accounts closed, as we were wrongly guessed to be bots.

Mind if the wages and the hours are good, I will volunteer to be the official site bot. *grins*

[kiwi]

yep we have the Bros here in New Zealand as well (Grey Import)

[Ribbit2]

yep we have the Bros here in New Zealand as well (Grey Import)

Hiya kiwi.

My cousin just came back to the UK to look after my uncle. She used to farm just outside Marlborough.

I suppose she's a bit of a grey import too lol!

[Ribbit2]

Edit: Ugh! the double post.

[NT400]

Plenty on fleBay at the moment. A good time to buy cheap I reckon, most decent 650s struggling to reach a grand.

Welcome!

This may sound stupid but what is the flebay ???

[karen]

I've owned my hawk gt 650 for 12 years now, and I have never seen a Bros version. ones like mine are un-common enough. I'll bite too, what is a flebay? I assumed that was something like ebay? hard to believe it has hawks for under $1000, around here, for that kind of money, you are buying a "parts bike".

this is directed at "NT400", I saw your pics of your Bros in another post, very nice. I've got a magnetic tank bag too, those are great. I rolled my bike several years ago, the bag didn't move an inch. I like how easily removeable they are, I stick mine to a filing cabinet at the office when I ride it to work.

[Ribbit2]

Example of a Bros 400 on flebay (flea market/Ebay, I assume):

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDA-BROS-400-CC_W0QQitemZ130122271250QQihZ003QQcategoryZ9806QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

NTV 650:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1993-HONDA-RED_W0QQitemZ280122204533QQihZ018QQcategoryZ9806QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Deauville 650:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/honda-deauville-650-ntv-650_W0QQitemZ280121937418QQihZ018QQcategoryZ9806QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[kiwi]

yep we have the Bros here in New Zealand as well (Grey Import)

Hiya kiwi.

My cousin just came back to the UK to look after my uncle. She used to farm just outside Marlborough.

I suppose she's a bit of a grey import too lol!

at least theres something to go grey, I spend heaps on suntan lotion during summer, but save on hair cuts.