Swinging by to say Hola....

[Tommytuck]

Hi comrades.....
The name is Tuck, Northern Irish, biking mad & busting me guts to collect My newly acquired V Raptor.
Been around the biking scene for as long as I care to remember.
Love my touring, rallies & general piss ups of course.
Me & my "current" steed BMW R1200GS (not a pipe & slippers job lol) have shared many miles together:
All Ireland & UK, West coast of Scotland/John O'Groats 4 years in a row, numerous bike rallies & parties the entire length of UK
mainland & Ireland, France/ Spain tour via Pyrenees, Le Mans 24hr Moto races France & heading off Sept 2012 to tour 5 European cities
including France (again), Germany, Austria & a few more.
Previous bikes owned include:
2 x 1200 Bandits, 2 x TDM 850's, VTR 1000 SP1, TL1000R, ZX12R, VMax full power, Buell X1 Lightning, 1150 BMW Rockster
& BMW R1200GS up to present....That's the ones I can remember
Anyway, been window shopping for quite a while now for a companion for the Beemer, the Raptor called & I answered...
The Suzuki TL engine did it for me!
Take delivery of bike Mon 9th July 2012, bought off Ebay recently from Mendlesham (Red 2001 model).....any history or local knowledge of said bike then please put me out of my misery now lol?
Stumbled across this site & have to say it has geared me up for the obvious "common fault" attributes that accompany most bikes.
Superb source of information on the Raptor, impressed !!!!!!!!
Pints of the Emerald Isle black stuff are on me folks , looking forward to sharing some tech info & pics with y'all
So, cheers for listening to my inane drabble, a good day to you all
Tuck

[snapdragon]

A Good Day to you too TommyTuck, welcome in

hope your new purchase pleases you as much as mine has pleased me

[weirdo]

Hello Tommytuck, welcome!!

Good choice with the Raptor mate, hope you're not wishing you'd bought a boat instead after seeing today's news

[shedmonkey]

Hello mr Tuck quite fancy a 1200gs myself but not enough funds and too many bikes already . You will love the power delivery .

[shebee]

Welcome to the Asylum enjoy your new bike and Im pleased you like the site

I'll have pint of the black stuff too please !

[Crap Tartan]

did someone mention guiness????

me, me, me, me etc. et al

oh and welcome in, whats the craic ?

[Red Mist]

Hi Tuck. I had to wait a few weeks between seeing my Rap to actually getting to ride the thing home. I had taken some photos that I looked at every night in the meantime. Glad to say that it has fully lived up to expectations.

Pint of Magners please!

[Tommytuck]

Big thanks for the welcome peeps, much appreciated.....
Copious amounts of Guinness all round.
Just waiting on a call from J&S couriers this week to arrange collection of V Raptor
from Mendlesham. If all goes to plan I should have it in Belfast/Larne docks by next Monday at the latest whoop whoop.
Good timing as heading to Blackpool with the other half this weekend for a session!

Will be doing a bit of work on the Rap starting off with a Hagon rear shock, as with most stock bikes
inferior suspension "not fit for purpose" usually.....

Pity no-one closer to home supplies carbon fibre bodywork, by the looks of this forum & internet research.
Will be on the look out for full body kit eventually (carbon fibre), if anyone selling.

Will post a pic or two of some of my old machinery....

This one was taken back in 2008 coming down off the French/Spanish border on the Pyrenees....
Just had to go back up & down it a few times, too good an opportunity to miss!

[snapdragon]

wooo I'm glad no-one stands about waiting to take pics of me - I'd be sure to go the wrong way, or fall off

[Tommytuck]

Lol @ snapdragon......
Always grab an opportunity, you never know if you'll get to do it again!
We spent over an hour scratchin up & down the Spanish side of the mountain.
This pic shows just how high up we were, even looking over the barrier at the side of the road
was enough to bring on a serious case of vertigo lol.

Second pic is a bit of mountain off roading near Salou, Spain.....
Don't think the Raptor will be cut out for this behaviour