FEEDBACK
Here is the next installment of Feedback. This is what you have said to me! One of the really great things, for me, to have come out of doing this web-site is the fantastic response it has brought from all you readers out there! I really appreciate your emails, and it's great to be able to share your comments with other readers through this page.
The page runs from the first comments at the top, to the most recent ones at the bottom. So, as the year progresses you'll have to do a bit of scrolling to get to the latest entries. Sorry, but it kind of needs to work that way. But it doesn't take too much to get there.
You'll notice that, for convenience (it's easier for you to find where to scroll to!) I've divided the page into separate months. I've also split the year into two - one page covers January to June, while the other July to December.
For the previous feedback page, just click the button down the bottom of the page.
FEBRUARY 2018
Magnus wrote in response to a comment he read on the Feedback page. “I was just reading your feedback page where Possum stated that for CVT transmissions the belts should be changed at manufacturer's recommended intervals. My experience with my Sym Maxsym 400i is that it is still on its original belt at 55,000 km, despite the handbook saying it should be changed every 15,000. I queried the dealer who has serviced this bike from new, who told me that it is the heat from high speeds that kill the belts, and that for my 400, commuting on 100km/h freeways is not high speed. They have examined the belt at each major service and cleaned out some dust, but that's all.”
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Thanks for the email, Magnus. While I would be very reluctant to leave a belt in place for 55,000km that the book said to change every 15,000km, I get what they are saying. At freeway speeds the belt isn't working particularly hard; it's mostly just sitting in the same place on the “cones” and not running up and down (“through the gears” as we might say) as it would be in city commuting. So, much less wear-and-tear, and much less heat I guess. You can be guided by the dealer's advice on this - hopefully! Thanks for the comment anyway. 
Magnus also commented on the web-site not displaying properly on his mobile phone; adding that it is fine on his Windows PC. Yes, as I have mentioned before – and it’s worth mentioning again – the web-site is not compatible with small devices like phones and even small tablets. (It’s mostly okay on the larger size iPad, or a 10” tablet). There is a facility available through the host web-site company to make it compatible, but it is expensive, and would be especially so with the huge amount of content we have on the site now. So, sorry, you'll just have to go “old school” and use the computer. I know that can be inconvenient - I use my phone to access web-sites too, so I know it can be inconvenient - but there's not much that I can do about it at the moment. 

MARCH 2018
“There’s something about liking what you know and knowing what you like, isn’t there!” wrote Ivor. “I’ve been thinking about changing the Sprint for something smaller, and perhaps more mdern – doing the down-sizing thing. But rides on a couple of possible contenders, and thinking about a couple more, convinced me that I’d miss what I have. I’d miss the performance and the comfort and that, as I said, knowing what you like, and liking what you know. So the current one stays.”  “Knowing what you like, and liking what you know” – well put, Ivor! Especially the “liking what you know” part. What you wrote could almost be a summary of my recent thought process, although it was a thought process rather than a start-looking-around consideration. I mentioned this in my Blog late last year – thinking of what bikes I could live with if I was to downsize. There were some good comments on the issue of downsizing back then. (See under November in last year’s Blog). Anyway, as much as I would like a smaller bike, like you I’m sticking to what I know, because, as you put it, I like what I know. And, heavy though it may be, it works well for me really. It also reminds me of one of our readers (G'day, Aussie!), who has a 1981 Suzuki  that he has had since new; mostly because he hasn't found anything as good for what he wants in a bike. So, yes, sticking with what you know and like can be a good option. So keep on enjoying the Sprint, Ivor!  
Terry commented in reply to the item in my Blog at the end of last year on the RJays helmet that impressed me at MCAS.
He said, “Hmm, I always wonder about the quality of budget priced helmets. I've always worn Shoei helmets, and we know how pricey they are.”
Yes, Terry, my current helmet is a Shoei; and they certainly are expensive! As to the cheaper brands, the quality has to meet the Australian standards, so there is some reassurance in that. But I like the top brand names too. I wore Arai for a long time, and as I said, my current one is a Shoei. As expensive as they are, they're about the same price (okay, probably a bit more) as a year's registration. Which puts it in better perspective. I mean, we pay that every year!
Con raised the issue of speed-limits at road-works sites. “You know those speed limits they have at road-works – like 60 or 40 etc. Understandable when there’s blokes working there, but on weekends, which is when I’m riding, there’s no-one there, but the speed-limits are still in place. Why do they do that? It’s dangerous, because some people obey the signs and slow down to the speed limit, and others just assume it doesn’t apply because there’s no workers there and keep going at the same speed. I usually slow down, because I see it as a prime spot for a nasty copper to sit booking people, but the other day I had a car nearly run into the back of me when I slowed down. He pulled into the centre lane and shot past me. It’s dangerous I say!”
It is confusing isn’t it! I think there are two reasons for the speed-limits: one is the danger to workers, the other is that the road conditions have changed – narrowed, or one lane closed, or there are barriers close to the side of the road etc. On weekends one of those reasons isn’t in place (the workers), but the other one still is. So the speed-limit remains because of the road conditions. Oh yes, there is a third reason – they forget to cover the sign up! I generally find, like you, that some people slow down and others just ignore the sign and continue at the normal speed. I slow down – for the reasons you mention! – but usually to something above what the sign says. For example, if it is a 100kph road and there’s a 60kph zone for roadworks, I find some will keep going at 100, while others slow down, probably thinking, “Do we really need to do this?” and sit on about 80. I stay with them: if you go down to 60 you probably will get run over, but if you’re doing 80, while it is still over the limit, the highway patrol car sitting at the side of the road is going to go after the ones that flew past you still doing 100. At least that’s my theory – and probably the safest way, on a bike especially.    
Evan has written in a few times with regard to improvements / personalised additions to his Yamaha XJR1300. (That’s a photo from last year below).
It’s quite a list, and includes small items like rim decals ($15), and foam grips ($10), to bigger-ticket items like progressive-rate springs ($200), and modifications to the exhaust ($240). Some money was spent removing things – like the original tuning-fork logo and stripe on the duck-tail ($100). That was after the initial mods of front braided brake lines, K&N filter, centre-stand removal, black mirror heads, tank pad, and DELKEVIC slip-on can. He is very pleased with the result. “The XJR is the bike that I have searched for that ticks every box in what I need to be the perfect bike for me. I have enjoyed finding these accessories, and the form and function that they have provided is worth every cent. My bike feels like a real muscle bike, looks exceptional and whilst I could easily spend more on Kawasaki's new Z900RS ($19k), a Ducati Monster R ($22k), a Triumph Bonneville T120 ($19k) or Harley FatBob ($30k), I have a
fantastic bike with a tonne of extras for less than the more underpowered retro Bonneville T100.” Makes it great value really, doesn’t it! Most bikes have compromises of some sort, so if you can personalise your way around those compromises, to suit your own preferences, that’s a very practical thing to do; the “form and function” he mentioned. Other things are purely aesthetic; and if that makes you stand back and love the look of it, then it is, as he says, worth every cent!

APRIL 2018
Patrick wrote in response to the items in my Blog about my back trouble, and other things. He (jokingly) said, “I’ve got a feeling that the big bike makers might be really missing out on a lucrative niche market here; where they could introduce some nice kit with ergonomics designed for us ‘elderly’ riders by a specialist: comfy/squashy massaging saddles to nurse the important tender parts, a built in phone with big buttons and a red emergency call press to get straight back to Mum, a little custom rack to carry our pipe and slippers, as well as a hook or two for colostomy bags, or pizzas, or whatever. Of course there’d be a special holder, too, for our parking sticker!” Ha ha, I like the idea of someone producing soft cushy seats; but the phone with big buttons, and hooks for a colostomy bag … gee, we’re not that bad yet are we Patrick? Ha ha! 
Evan, who wrote about the customised items he has fitted to his Yamaha XJR1300 above, sent me this photo.
He wrote, “Owning your own business …. means having Tuesday off to ride your motorbike.”

Sounds good to me! I have every Wednesday off; for the same sort of reason, although, I don’t get out so often these days – always something else to do, or weather bad etc. But I still do get out occassionally on my day off. So I love this. Great picture, and a great philosophy! 
John wrote in response to the item in my Blog about feeling a bit more nervous, or aware of the potential dangers, since I haven'tg been riding as much. He writes, “I liked your comments re nerves and heightened state of risk. I ride most days in Sydney and surrounds for all messages, shopping etc; but do ask myself occasionally if I am crazy. But riding is fun and it helps cope with the traffic jams and parking is a breeze.” 
Con wrote about the issue of down-sizing. “All this talk about getting smaller bikes because the big bikes are too heavy doesn’t have to be. Buy a cruiser instead! Cruisers are still heavy, they’re usually heavier than sportsbikes, but all the weight is down low so they don’t feel heavy; as you have commented in some of your road tests.” That’s true, Con; and I mentioned in my test of the Indian Scout how easy it was to ride, and how the low weight and low riding-position gave confidence that a sports-bike or tourer etc would not have.
Ivor wrote asking about road-tests. “I know you’ve had troubles with your back, so I suppose that’s why we haven’t seen any new road-tests for a while. But when you get the chance, and you’re feeling up to it, I (and I’m sure your other readers), would enjoy seeing some road-tests again. Always enjoyed reading your tests. A lot of the write-ups in the mags read like they’re being paid by the manufacturers, but you always said it like you found it. And you write for us oldies!” Thanks Ivor. Yes, some of the road-tests are like that, for sure. But there are some very good journos out there who write good reports, and who are much more experienced than me! But there probably aren’t many that relate to our area of the motorcycling spectrum. That was one of the things that inspired me to start this web-site – the reports in the magazines etc all seemed to be aimed at the younger rider; there wasn’t much out there for “us oldies”. And you’re right about my back troubles keeping me off bikes – and especially test-bikes – but I reckon I could handle a short test-ride or two now, so I’ll see what I can do!

MAY 2018     
Dave, writing on Facebook, replied to my item on Honda discontinuing the VFR800. He wrote, “I think the Vtec engine was unnecessarily complex for a bike. I had an 800 and the first major services was $2400. Workshop manager told me it was because of the 8+ hours needed to adjust the valves. I think thats why you see a lot of them for sale with just under 24000kms on the clock. Mine was an almost perfect bike but it was so boring I hardly ever rode it - I always preferred my other bikes.” I think you're right, Dave, about the over-complexity of it being one reason they stopping production. That was a horrendously expensive service though! Even if it did take over 8 hours (which I doubt), it was still very expensive! Was it Ned Kelly Motorcycles?
Gary, writing about the same item, saw the reference to the Ducati ST3 and commented, “Love my ST3!” Yes, they were a good bike! 
David, writing on Facebook in response to the same item, wrote, “Honda have also discontinued the CTX range completely. Thank goodness I did buy one 4 years ago and still happy with it.”
Brad, writing on Facebook, replied to my item about hitting a bird. “You can feel it when they hit the helmet though. I got clipped by a seagull one night at Kiama Harbour. Typical birds were waiting till the last minute to scatter, one poor bird is struggling to get height due to wind and I’m ducking my head but we didn’t quite make it. I remember thinking at the time that you wouldn’t want to hit one at a decent speed!” They hit with a BANG, Brad, I can tell you!