Leslie

I enjoyed reading that-brought back a few shameful memories!

Les

Rob Day

iTrader: (78)

Well I went for a short spin today just to keep my hand in and keep the bike running through winter prior to its strip down as my winter project

I've also ordered a Dan Moto can as the original is large, heavy, and unsightly with a small dent in it. The plan is to completely refresh the bike over the next few months using the time to get to grips with the bike to learn and understand how everything works.

Anyway back to my run out today. I decided to wind her back on a lengthy stretch to see how the power band is delivered, and I have to say it was quite calm until 5'000 then it opened up, then at around 8-9'000 all hell broke loose, quite a nice surprise really.

Well I went to Motorcycle Live yesterday at the NEC, and have arranged to go on a advanced riding course with the local Police, im looking forward to that

Rob

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

You obviously have never been on a horse at full chat around a cross country course, takes exhilaration to a whole new level.

Rob, first let me congratulate you on passing your test, well done mate.

I'll also tell you that i quite like you, so please don't take this the wrong way.

So where to start, some of your replies are typical of a person that has no idea what they are getting them self into, just because your good or to quote "better than the average jo" in a car means jack poo on a bike.

People that get into biking late are by far the most likely to end badly on the road, which is backed up by the statistics.

I don't want to poo on your strawberries, but myself along with many others on this thread have been into bikes for a long time and have seen the results up close, which is the reason the more seasoned of us are being such old women.

So thats the excersize EXTREEM caution part over.

I would have and do advise the off road dirt bike route, because once you learn to handle a dirt bike well, there is not much that will phase you on the road, that horse has bolted now but there are companies that you can go to for a dirt bike day, and i recommend you seek one out and do it, you'll learn so much more about control and breaking in a day than you will in a year on the road.

While the police course is a good sensible idea, i think your wasting your money at this early stage, because your just not ready for that level of riding which is confirmed by your all hell broke lose last post, i'd see if you can move the date to july/august next year.

Now i know your a bright lad, despite all the evidence to the contrary

I would echo the track day recommendations as well, this time of year is really good for them, cheap and crappy conditions, you will learn loads about control, braking, counter steering, lean angles,cornering speeds, apexing the list goes on and on, also some tuition is a great thing, having someone ride behind you and tell you whats what is invaluable.

Some pieces of advice.

Don't follow your more experienced mates, especially when overtaking and going round bends, if your the last one to the pub, at least you made it.

Don't speed up to junctions, crossroads, bends , crests ect, all sounds like common sense but soooooo many get wiped out doing this.

Get yourself a 50 mile country route with lots of bends on it and ride it ALONE over and over again.

Car drivers WILL look you in the eye and then pull out, For Sure.

Ride defensively, this has saved me sooooo many times, other road users will do the most stupid thing imaginable.

And above all go steady and enjoy, once you learn to get it clattering about like a wild beast underneath you, there is no machine quite like a motorbike.

I love em.

^Qwerty^

Or they will sit at a junction waiting to turn right, they sit there, waiting and waiting as you approach, there is no traffic in front of you, so they MUST have seen you and they MUST be waiting for you to pass

SMASH........

Oh, maybe they weren't looking at me afterall

Never did get an answer to that one from the driver other than the, "sorry mate, I didn't see you"

Rob Day

iTrader: (78)

Cheers guys, I'm not naive not in the slightest. All I was saying in one of my previous posts is I know I think we'll ahead of most average joes on the road, this I know by means of many courses via work. Now I'm not blowing my own trumpet as I know that can mean jack diddly on a bike, but it at least means I have the ability to think well ahead and react where most other drivers/riders may not.

As for being late getting into bikes, that's just life for me as I haven't had the ability or time in the past 6 years to do anything about it, previous to that was the fact I had no interest in biking for ALL the reasons pointed out above.

Track days will happen for sure, and I'm sure there will be some scrapes along the way, but as long as I remain sensible and have my wits about me I'm sure ill live to relate back to this in years to come.

When I went out yesterday for a spin, I was surprised at the way the power was delivered, thus "all hell breaking loose". I was on a straight stretch and gearing was 2nd only for the short blast so it wasn't "dangerous" for my lack of ability, experience and alertness.

I know it all comes across as doom and gloom above and I take it all on board, in fact I take it as constructive so please keep it coming. The last thing my family needs is a loss.

Rob

toneh

iTrader: (1)

One thing that is handy rob is learning how to set you're suspension
( for you )
Pre load ( sag ) compression , rebound damping
It's surprising how many guys don't touch there suspension
But a well set up bike is crucial and makes the world of difference

c_maguire

Good job he hasn't taken up horseriding, now that really is dangerous.
I doubt he'd be getting all the negativity though.

toneh

iTrader: (1)

I agree horse riding can be dangerous , and accidents do happen , but nowhere near on the same scale as bikes

And btw I have ridden horses , they are funny and dont handle well , my mate tried to palm me off with one , no way , I don't have to feed a bike and clean its s**t up on a daily basis

^Qwerty^

I had a horse once......

Well I had more than one, but one is more famous than the others

Great things horses, but expensive to run.

Ste RB5138

Sorry to revive this thread again, but what is the rough cost of getting to and passing your MOD 2 test from a complete bike novice? I have had a car licence for 16 years.

Rob Day

iTrader: (78)

From memory for me:

CBT £100
Theory £31
DAS mod 1 and 2 £550

Hope that helps
Rob

AndyBaker

Hi Rob please be careful, as others have said ride defensively, even in a car you often meet the odd tw8t but on a bike you are much more vulnerable than on four wheels. I absolutely love bikes but at 50 I have lost many mates due to bikes and thanked God when my own son who is now 22 expressed no interest in bikes, besides I have Kas's old S202 and let me tell you it has the ability to thrill as much as any bike - I have the underpants to prove it!!!

Rob Day

iTrader: (78)

Cheers Andy, Im only managing a the odd blast every now and again due to the weather to keep my hand in. Other than that I wont be going anywhere in a hurry on it, and I intend on not expiring in a hurry

Ref the S202, what a beautiful machine. Ive had my fair share of impreza's, and Im not done yet, but Im having a break from them for a short while as they were taking over my life and I wasnt getting anything done for spending time working on it, driving it, or researching and/or buying and selling parts online (doh). The plan for the next will be a track toy/weekend car for sure unless something I cant refuse is pushed under my nose (again).

Rob

Ste RB5138

Cheers for that, that is my aim for this year then

Rob Day

iTrader: (78)

You can take your CBT at any point, and you have two years in whch to take and pass the DAS or the CBT has to be taken. So I would just get this out of the way first for what it costs.

From my experience the CBT is more difficult than the MOD 1, and thats just becuase the bike is less powerfull, and more liable to stall as well as quite light which in terms of a mountain bike it good, but on a motorcycle as a novice is quite twitchy.

Theory must be done prior to your DAS, so get whatever it is you need to revise, and like me you wont have done theory test for the car, so it is quite unusual when the questions are asked, especially as your a car person, so you are thinking illogical to how you would on a bike. Take your time as it is relatively straight forward, most is just common sense, but some (the part that matters most) is technical, and thats the part I only just passed on.

So Mod 1 is a series of manouvers within some controlled grounds, it looks daunting at first, or at least it did for me, but actually when your doing in there its quite easy. You just need to remember everything you have been taught by the instructor, and that you are under scrutiny from the moment you put your helmet and gloves on.

The Mod 2 is a little more like it in terms of getting out and about and enjoying the ride. Mine was great, the instuctors were spot on, and made me feel comfortable as well as giving me a bollocking every now and again to remind me that they are the boss, which is fine! After I would say 20 hours on the big bike, It was time for the test. I failed first time, and I think (although I would) the instructor was having a bad day, and I took the brunt of it by minor marking me. The 2nd time round was a doddle

Rob

ps - the Mod 2 first testers brand new BMW bike had aquired a water pump issue, thus he was in a mood I later found out and actually failed quite a few on the day, and passed a guy who blatently shouldnt have