Greetings from the UK

Currently run a Yamaha Diversion 600 but, subject to the weather improving, I will be collecting a nice shiny 2008 Silverwing next Friday

Probably not the best time to buy a scooter but the dealer has offered oodles of £££'s for my part exchange, so why not

Welcome to this fine forum! I am not familiar with the Diversion, but I'm sure you'll like the Silverwing as much as those on this forum do. I'm a fairly recent convert, but long time two wheel enthusiast. My Swing has renewed my enthusiasm for riding and even for life in general.

Hello and welcome.

Welcome mate, Im in sunny manchester, great weather were having eh, I might try and organise a s/wing ride out for north-west owners early in the new year ,if your up for it?? ( when the weather improves).

Riding over here's good as many car drivers started young on scooters so are more aware and considerate although everyone drives a bit closer than in the UK.

A belayed welcome from me, (a southern softie)!! Tis a mere minus 4 C right now. No snow though.

Not Wing riding weather at all, the roads are very slippery at the moment. I actually chickened out at the last minute tonight when I looked at the forecast temps overnight. So I drove into work - wimp!

"over the pennines" no problem, we could head over to Settle/kirby longsdale.

sounds good to me , keep in touch.

Welcome to the forum - enjoy the ride.

Hello Been out and about over the last few days and missed this log in by another UK rider

Great to see a 'tuther ern find us!!!! You will find this bunch (on both sides of the Atlantic) more than helpful. Not much that isn't known about the bikes here to help you cover every aspect of riding, modification and maintenance, plus a bit of banter in between.

I'm Skippy. Based in Exeter, originally from Lancashire, so I supposed that gives me the offical location title of 'confused' LOL.

Anyway, as I said - great to see you logging in and hope to see you out on the road some day!

Hey Paul,

I lived in Leeds for 8 years as a kid and then moved on, only to return to East Yorks 20 years later with the Army........

Thinking of adding a top box?? I'd give yourself a while first before doing that, most of the lads (and lasses) on here seem to have them, but I personally think they add a bit of a top heavy feel to the bike, esp with a pillion and as their is enough room to store to lids under the seats most of the time they seem to me to be a bit of an extraneous accessory. Id much rather have the rack space across the rear of the pillion, esp now I've got a back rest fitted.

BTW if you do want a back rest - Scooter Luggage World sold me mine for £44-50, my local Givi dealers quoted me nearly seventy quid! The item you want is 'Givi TB19'. The same fitting goes on all bikes. You need to drill a couple of holes in the rack plate, having removed it from the bike, but thats dead easy too! Only four bolts. The Givi instructions aren't up to much cop but its pretty much obvious what you need to do!

Dennis has also posted some fine ideas/designs for SatNav mounts on here - the biggest problem will probably be getting hold of the plastic beads, but I'm going to try my local chandlers first!

Skippy

I already have the Givi box so as and when I need it I can get a mount for it. I also have a couple of soft Oxford side panniers that I could utilise. I do fancy one of those bags that go into the footwell, all in good time eh?

With regard to the satnav I usually plan a route in my head, then put it into the satnav, then that goes into my pocket, when things get tricky I usually stop and refer to it then

I will look at the back rest as no doubt "the boss" will want to nip to Skipton for a coffee pretty soon

Another mod that has really enhanced the riding on the 'Wing' is the Givi Airflow wind shield, (Givi AF214). Gives reduced noise around the head and also a moderate amount of protection for the hands too.

Full advice on fitting on this site, way better than Givi's attempt at appeasing all major countries.

Regards the UK, I hailed originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, moved south when I joined the navy in 67 and as per, married a southern lass and settled. Have to say with the current weather, I'm pretty glad I never settled back up there. Still home is home is home. Never forgot my roots but living here on Fraggle Rock, thats Portland has its advantages over the north. Unpolluted air for a kick off. Disadvantages are crap roads and holiday makers clogging them up on good riding days.

Heres hoping you get your Silver Wing on Friday.

Oh, afor I forget, the ignition key, give it a wipe with duck oil or similar, you will find engaging it in the various locks easier.

Also, think about removing the lamp in the luggage space in case of inadvertent non closure of the seat. (I was dubious of this one but after it happened to me once the lamp was removed.)

I can deffo vouch for the 'remove bulb from the boot', esp with the recent fun I've had with a non-locking seat!

Thanks for all the advice chaps, I just have to remember them all. Just had the dealer on checking that all is OK for Friday

Doug, regarding the air quality, its fine here in the Yorkshire Dales, except when I light my wood stove

Very lucky where i am, minutes from the metropolis and seconds from the open roads.

When the SW arrives I am sure it will be seeking out every nook and cranny

But I still have to contend with the superbike fraternity, and some and repeat SOME think that it is their right to own the roads.....

Thats one of the few things that has always stopped me from moving over to Dorset Doug - the 'communication routes' are awful. I have friends who live in Dorchester and Weymouth and getting over there is a real drag...

Years ago I was stationed at Worthy Down, just outside Winchester and decided one Friday afternoon to drive over to see my girlfriend (now wife) here in Exeter. Usually, I would take the A30 over Salisbury plain, past Stone Henge, through the Black Down Hills etc. But having found that trip boring and tedious on a Friday evening I decided to try the coastal route - BIG Mistake....... It took me twice as long, and nearly twice as much fuel (I was in a car). This is mainly why I ride a bike, esp here in the UK.

As I said, I've always like the county of Dorset and the people, I like Poole and the coastal areas esp, but just couldn't face the hassel of getting out of the place

Skippy, you get no arguments from me on communication links.

It is seriously bad right now with pre Olympic road works in progress, (Weymouth). Most of the major roundabouts are being morphed into 'intelligent' light prioritised junctions. All baring one of the main arterial roads have serious works in progress on them. To travel around the immediate area is manic. Even Dorchester is suffering to a minor degree.

Still post 2012 it will be over and we local will enjoy the debris left behind.

My lad was based down there before he went into Iraq in 2003, he didn't have a problem getting about... In his tank