Brokers' English

[Chiara’s slave]

You are Mr Boring.

Everyone who knows anything about bikes, Italian or not, knows that the correct number to own is n+1

Indeed. I am at my lowest number since I was 22. I ought to buy another.

 

[Biggles Wader]

Just a good excuse. Ducatis do have a rep for being finicky, I had a 250 Desmo and can vouch for the truth of that. But both my Aprilias are rock solid. I have a 750 as well as the baby ‘stroker. My Laverdas likewise gave no trouble, apart from an early CDI unit getting wet and self destructing.

I had a 250 Desmo too. Not quite as fast as the Yam/Kwak strokers of the time but much nicer to ride. It could almost literally ride rings round the Honda 250/360 efforts. The kickstart being on the wrong side was a quirk I found difficult for some reason.

 

[BobnLesley]

Indeed. I am at my lowest number since I was 22. I ought to buy another.

Provided that you are still under sixty-five.

I listened to a very cogent argument just last week, explaining why you shouldn't buy motorbikes once you've reached sixty-five. Even as a lifelong motorcyclist I agreed with the reasons, in fact I would go so far as to suggest that a cut-off of perhaps even be fifty-five is sensible.
Think about it, if you've already got fifty-five bikes, you're not going to have much time to spend on riding a fifty-sixth.

 

[BobnLesley]

Call me Mr Boring, but that sounds like a very good reason for not owning one Italian motorcycle.

Having owned a few (mostly Guzzis) I would commend the ownership of at least one Italian bike to anyone who has a serious intention of taking up sailing.
Over the years I've solved and repaired innumerable marine electrical issues on my own, but more often other people's yachts, using skills that I would never have gained had I stuck to Japanese bikes

 

[Frogmogman]

Just a good excuse. Ducatis do have a rep for being finicky, I had a 250 Desmo and can vouch for the truth of that. But both my Aprilias are rock solid. I have a 750 as well as the baby ‘stroker. My Laverdas likewise gave no trouble, apart from an early CDI unit getting wet and self destructing.

Exactly.

My Ducati 600SL Pantah, bought new in 1985 was my main transport for 3 years. During that time I did 50 000 km on it and it never let me down once.

In 1988 when I moved to France I sold it for £250 more than I paid for it new.

 

[newtothis]

I'm so old I remember when this website was about sailing.

 

[rotrax]

Having owned a few (mostly Guzzis) I would commend the ownership of at least one Italian bike to anyone who has a serious intention of taking up sailing.
Over the years I've solved and repaired innumerable marine electrical issues on my own, but more often other people's yachts, using skills that I would never have gained had I stuck to Japanese bikes

And there you have it!!!

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I had a V50, loved it. Especially the switchgear that looked like sweets. Skittles, are they, the coloured square ones. Laverda just bought denso switchgear. Boring, but functional.

 

[mrming]

Putting "Chantiers" in front of French yard names. Chantiers Jeanneau etc.