And today's commuting highlight is...

[kiethton]

Jazoli said:

mckeann said:

Lots of bad bikers on this thread giving the rest of us a bad name. Badly adjust lights blinding drivers, brake testing little old ladies in micra's, no wonder people don't like bikers

I think having to commute everyday would probably make me a bit bitter and do daft things, it just makes 'us bikers' as bad as most of the other dheads on the road, I do commute on the bike regularly and if I've not made anyone react to my riding I've done well as its very easy to turn into 'vigilante biker' and scream/shout/give people the finger/brake test/kick a mirror.

My rule of thumb in the car is that if a bike has high beam on I'll close the gap, tttish I know but satisfying nonetheless (and yes that makes me a c*nt too )

Yeah know what you're saying (likely my bike re. High beam), yes it is far too high, I can see it lighting up oncoming people or peoples mirrors but:

I position to avoid this
It passed the MOT as is without issue or advisory
The adjustment screw is broken - it does nothing or if it does change the beam it returns to where it was within a day or so
The bike is not worth enough to bother fixing (assuming it's a headlight it needs to fix this issue)
If people do start flashing me I just flash them back....

When it fails the MOT I may then look at what I need to do, far more pressing needs for my time ATM.

[black-k1]

kiethton said:

Yeah know what you're saying (likely my bike re. High beam), yes it is far too high, I can see it lighting up oncoming people or peoples mirrors but:

I position to avoid this
It passed the MOT as is without issue or advisory
The adjustment screw is broken - it does nothing or if it does change the beam it returns to where it was within a day or so
The bike is not worth enough to bother fixing (assuming it's a headlight it needs to fix this issue)
If people do start flashing me I just flash them back....

When it fails the MOT I may then look at what I need to do, far more pressing needs for my time ATM.

I passed a Triumph Adventure bike (800 I think) this morning. He then caught me up when I got caught at a red light. His twin headlights were dipped but the added LEDs, one either side of his headlights, were so bright and set so high that they made looking in my mirrors extremely uncomfortable. It also made it difficult for me to see ahead as my mirrors, unlike most sports bikes, are set so that I can see behind me when riding normally. In a rare moment of frustration, after the lights changed to green, I let him pass me then followed him for about a quarter of a mile with full beam on before passing him and leaving him. I hope he got the message.

Bright add-on lights and high beam in traffic are only for those brainless, selfish, inconsiderate bds who deserve to get knocked off their bike by one of the drivers they dazzle.

[Cbull]

black-k1 said:

Bright add-on lights and high beam in traffic are only for those brainless, selfish, inconsiderate bds who deserve to get knocked off their bike by one of the drivers they dazzle.

A tad over dramatic because has installed LED side lights. Maybe they just wanted newer brighter side lights and thats the result, no reason to be knocking them off.

Question. MCE was due to be paid on Friday, it didn't go through as I'd recently recieved a new bank card. The payment isn't a direct debit but is a continues payment (or something along them lines). I phone up to pay this morning and to update card details. They wanted to charge me £30 for the miss payment, I said no chance and they say well it's in the TCs and that its responsibility. TBH I didn't really give it much thought as I believed it was direct debit setup. My monthly paymeny is only £23. She eventually got back saying they can only offer a £15 discount of which I still refused.

Can they really chanrge me that much? OK I should have let them know but usually companys just say yeah thats no problem I'll update it now and thanks for the payment. I've put a comlaint in with the hope they just sort it out but she also threatened if 14 days passes they'll cancel the insurance. Should I just friggin pay?

[kiethton]

Cbull said:

black-k1 said:

Bright add-on lights and high beam in traffic are only for those brainless, selfish, inconsiderate bds who deserve to get knocked off their bike by one of the drivers they dazzle.

A tad over dramatic because has installed LED side lights. Maybe they just wanted newer brighter side lights and thats the result, no reason to be knocking them off.

Question. MCE was due to be paid on Friday, it didn't go through as I'd recently recieved a new bank card. The payment isn't a direct debit but is a continues payment (or something along them lines). I phone up to pay this morning and to update card details. They wanted to charge me £30 for the miss payment, I said no chance and they say well it's in the TCs and that its responsibility. TBH I didn't really give it much thought as I believed it was direct debit setup. My monthly paymeny is only £23. She eventually got back saying they can only offer a £15 discount of which I still refused.

Can they really chanrge me that much? OK I should have let them know but usually companys just say yeah thats no problem I'll update it now and thanks for the payment. I've put a comlaint in with the hope they just sort it out but she also threatened if 14 days passes they'll cancel the insurance. Should I just friggin pay?

I'd tell them to swivel, taking out a new insurance policy elsewhere if they play shiesters

[Cbull]

kiethton said:

I'd tell them to swivel, taking out a new insurance policy elsewhere if they play shiesters

Would love to. I fear that would only end up with me being in debt with them and them chasing me for money for the next umpteen years.

[kiethton]

Cbull said:

kiethton said:

I'd tell them to swivel, taking out a new insurance policy elsewhere if they play shiesters

Would love to. I fear that would only end up with me being in debt with them and them chasing me for money for the next umpteen years.

I'd wager that for £30 a few threatening letters is all that it'd come to, rationally speaking they'd never make the risk/reward stack up to take you to court for £30....

[black-k1]

Cbull said:

black-k1 said:

Bright add-on lights and high beam in traffic are only for those brainless, selfish, inconsiderate bds who deserve to get knocked off their bike by one of the drivers they dazzle.

A tad over dramatic because has installed LED side lights. Maybe they just wanted newer brighter side lights and thats the result, no reason to be knocking them off.

I've no problem with most LED side lights but these, like a few others, were REALLY bright, to the point of making it difficult/dangerous for me to ride safely while these lights were in my mirrors.

[Pothole]

kiethton said:

Jazoli said:

mckeann said:

Lots of bad bikers on this thread giving the rest of us a bad name. Badly adjust lights blinding drivers, brake testing little old ladies in micra's, no wonder people don't like bikers

I think having to commute everyday would probably make me a bit bitter and do daft things, it just makes 'us bikers' as bad as most of the other dheads on the road, I do commute on the bike regularly and if I've not made anyone react to my riding I've done well as its very easy to turn into 'vigilante biker' and scream/shout/give people the finger/brake test/kick a mirror.

My rule of thumb in the car is that if a bike has high beam on I'll close the gap, tttish I know but satisfying nonetheless (and yes that makes me a c*nt too )

Yeah know what you're saying (likely my bike re. High beam), yes it is far too high, I can see it lighting up oncoming people or peoples mirrors but:

I position to avoid this
It passed the MOT as is without issue or advisory
The adjustment screw is broken - it does nothing or if it does change the beam it returns to where it was within a day or so
The bike is not worth enough to bother fixing (assuming it's a headlight it needs to fix this issue)
If people do start flashing me I just flash them back....

When it fails the MOT I may then look at what I need to do, far more pressing needs for my time ATM.

Just fix it, you inconsiderate so and so.

[Pothole]

kiethton said:

Cbull said:

black-k1 said:

Bright add-on lights and high beam in traffic are only for those brainless, selfish, inconsiderate bds who deserve to get knocked off their bike by one of the drivers they dazzle.

A tad over dramatic because has installed LED side lights. Maybe they just wanted newer brighter side lights and thats the result, no reason to be knocking them off.

Question. MCE was due to be paid on Friday, it didn't go through as I'd recently recieved a new bank card. The payment isn't a direct debit but is a continues payment (or something along them lines). I phone up to pay this morning and to update card details. They wanted to charge me £30 for the miss payment, I said no chance and they say well it's in the TCs and that its responsibility. TBH I didn't really give it much thought as I believed it was direct debit setup. My monthly paymeny is only £23. She eventually got back saying they can only offer a £15 discount of which I still refused.

Can they really chanrge me that much? OK I should have let them know but usually companys just say yeah thats no problem I'll update it now and thanks for the payment. I've put a comlaint in with the hope they just sort it out but she also threatened if 14 days passes they'll cancel the insurance. Should I just friggin pay?

I'd tell them to swivel, taking out a new insurance policy elsewhere if they play shiesters

remembering to declare he's had a policy cancelled...just pay the £15. It's hardly going to bankupt you, is it?

[kiethton]

Pothole said:

Just fix it, you inconsiderate so and so.

I have tried, needs a specialist garage to do so as it's beyond my limits.

Other financial drains have limited my ability to afford to do so - short of sticking some tape across the bottom of the headlight to stop it reflecting up its not happening this side of Xmas/bonus season.

After fixing the (major) oil leak on the bike last week I twigged a new rear tyre is a far more important investment given the time of year and will take more cash than I need it to - think I'm on a little more than 1.2-1.5 mm left on the thing.

[Cbull]

Pothole said:

kiethton said:

Cbull said:

black-k1 said:

Bright add-on lights and high beam in traffic are only for those brainless, selfish, inconsiderate bds who deserve to get knocked off their bike by one of the drivers they dazzle.

A tad over dramatic because has installed LED side lights. Maybe they just wanted newer brighter side lights and thats the result, no reason to be knocking them off.

Question. MCE was due to be paid on Friday, it didn't go through as I'd recently recieved a new bank card. The payment isn't a direct debit but is a continues payment (or something along them lines). I phone up to pay this morning and to update card details. They wanted to charge me £30 for the miss payment, I said no chance and they say well it's in the TCs and that its responsibility. TBH I didn't really give it much thought as I believed it was direct debit setup. My monthly paymeny is only £23. She eventually got back saying they can only offer a £15 discount of which I still refused.

Can they really chanrge me that much? OK I should have let them know but usually companys just say yeah thats no problem I'll update it now and thanks for the payment. I've put a comlaint in with the hope they just sort it out but she also threatened if 14 days passes they'll cancel the insurance. Should I just friggin pay?

I'd tell them to swivel, taking out a new insurance policy elsewhere if they play shiesters

remembering to declare he's had a policy cancelled...just pay the £15. It's hardly going to bankupt you, is it?

Standing my ground worked. Just had a call from the complaints team. The charge that couldn't be reduced any further, just got removed. New card details in the system, they keep a customer and everyones happy. Simples.

[Pothole]

Cbull said:

Pothole said:

kiethton said:

Cbull said:

black-k1 said:

Bright add-on lights and high beam in traffic are only for those brainless, selfish, inconsiderate bds who deserve to get knocked off their bike by one of the drivers they dazzle.

A tad over dramatic because has installed LED side lights. Maybe they just wanted newer brighter side lights and thats the result, no reason to be knocking them off.

Question. MCE was due to be paid on Friday, it didn't go through as I'd recently recieved a new bank card. The payment isn't a direct debit but is a continues payment (or something along them lines). I phone up to pay this morning and to update card details. They wanted to charge me £30 for the miss payment, I said no chance and they say well it's in the TCs and that its responsibility. TBH I didn't really give it much thought as I believed it was direct debit setup. My monthly paymeny is only £23. She eventually got back saying they can only offer a £15 discount of which I still refused.

Can they really chanrge me that much? OK I should have let them know but usually companys just say yeah thats no problem I'll update it now and thanks for the payment. I've put a comlaint in with the hope they just sort it out but she also threatened if 14 days passes they'll cancel the insurance. Should I just friggin pay?

I'd tell them to swivel, taking out a new insurance policy elsewhere if they play shiesters

remembering to declare he's had a policy cancelled...just pay the £15. It's hardly going to bankupt you, is it?

Standing my ground worked. Just had a call from the complaints team. The charge that couldn't be reduced any further, just got removed. New card details in the system, they keep a customer and everyones happy. Simples.

Good outcome all round.

[Pothole]

kiethton said:

Pothole said:

Just fix it, you inconsiderate so and so.

I have tried, needs a specialist garage to do so as it's beyond my limits.

Other financial drains have limited my ability to afford to do so - short of sticking some tape across the bottom of the headlight to stop it reflecting up its not happening this side of Xmas/bonus season.

After fixing the (major) oil leak on the bike last week I twigged a new rear tyre is a far more important investment given the time of year and will take more cash than I need it to - think I'm on a little more than 1.2-1.5 mm left on the thing.

So you're happy to dazzle other road users in the meantime? Lovely.

Presumably you'll be putting some cash aside each month for future "unuexpected" expenses like these, won't you?

[kiethton]

Pothole said:

kiethton said:

Pothole said:

Just fix it, you inconsiderate so and so.

I have tried, needs a specialist garage to do so as it's beyond my limits.

Other financial drains have limited my ability to afford to do so - short of sticking some tape across the bottom of the headlight to stop it reflecting up its not happening this side of Xmas/bonus season.

After fixing the (major) oil leak on the bike last week I twigged a new rear tyre is a far more important investment given the time of year and will take more cash than I need it to - think I'm on a little more than 1.2-1.5 mm left on the thing.

So you're happy to dazzle other road users in the meantime? Lovely.

Presumably you'll be putting some cash aside each month for future "unuexpected" expenses like these, won't you?

Indeed, the issue comes when the bike needs downpipes (£280) to satisfy a rectification notice, an MOT (it passed as is) (£50), Brake Pads (£80), a service (£80) and a new gasket to fix an oil leak (£30) all in the space of a couple of months....not including the £100+ tyre it currently needs

With current demands on my cashflow, the need to replace the bike next year (sadiq) and a bonus not coming until Feb I'm prioritising other things currently, most importantly debt reduction....

[Lee_sec]

Commuted in to London yesterday for a weekend shift and using all of the great advice a few pages back it was bliss, especially when along the highway a very nice CBR6000rr came alongside, which was much more used to filtering / london traffic than I was so made a great person to follow... Journey home was dry and although heavy traffic along embankment people seemed to notice I was there and moved across / made a bit of space to get through..

One day i'll be brave enough for a Mon-Fri commute LOL

[CAPP0]

kiethton said:

Indeed, the issue comes when the bike needs downpipes (£280) to satisfy a rectification notice, an MOT (it passed as is) (£50), Brake Pads (£80), a service (£80) and a new gasket to fix an oil leak (£30) all in the space of a couple of months....not including the £100+ tyre it currently needs

With current demands on my cashflow, the need to replace the bike next year (sadiq) and a bonus not coming until Feb I'm prioritising other things currently, most importantly debt reduction....

You really need to bin that PoS, there's not a couple of days goes past without there's something else significant wrong with it. I bet you've spent more patching it up over the past 12 months than what you could have spent on changing it, not to mention the inconvenience, unreliability and the fact that you're having to run it on the edge of safety as a result.

Just a friendly observation!

[kiethton]

CAPP0 said:

kiethton said:

Indeed, the issue comes when the bike needs downpipes (£280) to satisfy a rectification notice, an MOT (it passed as is) (£50), Brake Pads (£80), a service (£80) and a new gasket to fix an oil leak (£30) all in the space of a couple of months....not including the £100+ tyre it currently needs

With current demands on my cashflow, the need to replace the bike next year (sadiq) and a bonus not coming until Feb I'm prioritising other things currently, most importantly debt reduction....

You really need to bin that PoS, there's not a couple of days goes past without there's something else significant wrong with it. I bet you've spent more patching it up over the past 12 months than what you could have spent on changing it, not to mention the inconvenience, unreliability and the fact that you're having to run it on the edge of safety as a result.

Just a friendly observation!

Indeed, that is the plan - Insurance policy runs to January where I'll then have 1 years NCB again.

Only block for me is trying to find something decent that:

Meets the 2007 cut-off for London emissions charging planned
Costs <£1.5k
Is insurable (my CBR600f is £800 TPO)
Can be left on the road all day at work in the city without being stolen

In likelihood I'll continue running this on an extreme budget until it fails it's MOT irrecoverably or Sadiq's charges are introduced

Edited by kiethton on Monday 2nd October 13:11

[Dakkon]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Honestly not sure, but around 30mph?

[Pothole]

kiethton said:

Pothole said:

kiethton said:

Pothole said:

Just fix it, you inconsiderate so and so.

I have tried, needs a specialist garage to do so as it's beyond my limits.

Other financial drains have limited my ability to afford to do so - short of sticking some tape across the bottom of the headlight to stop it reflecting up its not happening this side of Xmas/bonus season.

After fixing the (major) oil leak on the bike last week I twigged a new rear tyre is a far more important investment given the time of year and will take more cash than I need it to - think I'm on a little more than 1.2-1.5 mm left on the thing.

So you're happy to dazzle other road users in the meantime? Lovely.

Presumably you'll be putting some cash aside each month for future "unuexpected" expenses like these, won't you?

Indeed, the issue comes when the bike needs downpipes (£280) to satisfy a rectification notice, an MOT (it passed as is) (£50), Brake Pads (£80), a service (£80) and a new gasket to fix an oil leak (£30) all in the space of a couple of months....not including the £100+ tyre it currently needs

With current demands on my cashflow, the need to replace the bike next year (sadiq) and a bonus not coming until Feb I'm prioritising other things currently, most importantly debt reduction....

Hard work keeping a machine going on a budget, I know. MOT should never cost more than £30 though

[E91 Gaz]

Following an mt07 after letting him passed, had to pull back as his constant reving up to any car that didn't make a noticeable movement out his way.
He could have fitted through all the gaps suffiecently,

Maybe he just wanted to show off his new akro (did sound nice however) I slowed back so as not to be tarred with the same brush as him.

About as exciting as it got, my new RST blade 2 textile trousers kept me much warmer than summer leathers as well, lovely !