And today's commuting highlight is...
Discussion
Tall_Paul said:
You soon realise just how dangerous 125s are on open NSL roads, no power to make safe, quick overtakes, and every 3rd driver assumes you'll be dog slow and can only do 40mph...
Yeah I'm aware, it's fine apart from on a short bit of nsl like you say, where I'm a sitting duck for overtakes, maybe a mile max.I won't be on L's long, cut a long story short I did my DAS years back on a cb500 failed my mod1, then passed on 2nd attempt but had to rebook mod2. New job and house move meant it never happened and my theory/mod1 ran out and I gave up biking.
Back on it now and passed the theory (again) last month so gonna do DAS as soon as my work days off/weather/test dates.
Didn't ride this morning but for opposite reasons to the rest of you lot. Despite it having rained all night and morning it was already in the mid 20s and climbing at 8am and it was bulls
t humid, so got the train sicne there's no point putting on waterproofs only to be just as wet from being a one-man mobile sauna. Train then took an extra 20+min due to lightning strikes, cancelled trains because Sydney Trains are fking dipsts and having to wait at one station for a replacement driver.
Good start to the day.
t humid, so got the train sicne there's no point putting on waterproofs only to be just as wet from being a one-man mobile sauna. Train then took an extra 20+min due to lightning strikes, cancelled trains because Sydney Trains are fking dipsts and having to wait at one station for a replacement driver.Good start to the day.
Edited by 2ndclasscitizen on Tuesday 9th January 04:16
Hopefully lesson learnt then 
Not a bad ride in this morning. Had to ride with the visor up when possible though because I just couldn't get that salt off. Also, I overtaken a car this morning, he flashed vigorously and beeped at me. A few hand signals between us later I just got off. No idea what I'd done wrong. Plenty of space to overtake, indicated, wasn't speeding etc etc. Had this a few times though but not just on the bike either, no idea why.
Not a bad ride in this morning. Had to ride with the visor up when possible though because I just couldn't get that salt off. Also, I overtaken a car this morning, he flashed vigorously and beeped at me. A few hand signals between us later I just got off. No idea what I'd done wrong. Plenty of space to overtake, indicated, wasn't speeding etc etc. Had this a few times though but not just on the bike either, no idea why.
Cbull said:
Hopefully lesson learnt then
Lesson definitely learnt on the way home: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-09/sydney-train...Had an awful ride home yesterday, 2 incidents.
Had my 3rd bump in my first year of riding. Filtering through on a very busy road in Manchester (Princess Road). Slowly filtering and revving as I got towards the end of vehicles I couldn't see over so I was certainly riding quite cautiously. Suddenly I had to hit the brakes as a guy on mountain bike was crossing, manged to barely touch him but my bike was too heavy to keep up so that went on its side and I went stumbled away from it on my arse. We had a little argument as he was trying to get away, told him to stay there as you can't be leaving etc etc, went to lift my bike with another bloke and he scooted off as quick as he could. The damage was a scratched mirror, fairing, new indicator light gone and a scratch/dent on the engine casing. Gutted
. Phoned 101 and reported just in-case. Wouldn't mind but I let a another nutter delivery driver go past me and he shot through, I remember thinking to myself he's going to hit someone riding like that.
Second was a guy on a roundabout. He suddenly shoved up my right side and forced me over to the left lane cutting up a lorry. I beeped and he gave me the finger. Followed him around the roundabout and a police car pulled me up for giving him the birdy and threatened to arrest me lol. Had a word and he said he'll check CCTV.
That's now 3 very low speed filtering accidents I've had. I don't believe I'm a bad rider (as we all don't) and I don't believe I was at fault for any of them, all just a case serious bad timing but it definitely gets me down when something like this happens.
No dramas this morning though.
Had my 3rd bump in my first year of riding. Filtering through on a very busy road in Manchester (Princess Road). Slowly filtering and revving as I got towards the end of vehicles I couldn't see over so I was certainly riding quite cautiously. Suddenly I had to hit the brakes as a guy on mountain bike was crossing, manged to barely touch him but my bike was too heavy to keep up so that went on its side and I went stumbled away from it on my arse. We had a little argument as he was trying to get away, told him to stay there as you can't be leaving etc etc, went to lift my bike with another bloke and he scooted off as quick as he could. The damage was a scratched mirror, fairing, new indicator light gone and a scratch/dent on the engine casing. Gutted
. Phoned 101 and reported just in-case. Wouldn't mind but I let a another nutter delivery driver go past me and he shot through, I remember thinking to myself he's going to hit someone riding like that.Second was a guy on a roundabout. He suddenly shoved up my right side and forced me over to the left lane cutting up a lorry. I beeped and he gave me the finger. Followed him around the roundabout and a police car pulled me up for giving him the birdy and threatened to arrest me lol. Had a word and he said he'll check CCTV.
That's now 3 very low speed filtering accidents I've had. I don't believe I'm a bad rider (as we all don't) and I don't believe I was at fault for any of them, all just a case serious bad timing but it definitely gets me down when something like this happens.
No dramas this morning though.
Spangleweed said:
I'm sure it is fitted with some kind of system that sucks light in and actually projects darkness in front of the bike.
I think you'll need more than just a replacement bulb - the trouble is often the design of the light fitting/reflector itself. If you do find some sort of bolt-on flood light(s), please only use on high beam, so as not to dazzle others a-la-BMW GS style.
So there I was this morning thinking;
Blimey this rain is heavy.
Blimey this spray is bad.
Blimey it’s misty.
Blimey there’s loads of traffic.
But I’m warm and dry…and then it happened; a sudden cold sensation at the front of my waist, ‘oh bugger’ I thought. As I feel a slow trickle of cold water working its way towards my nuts.
Blimey this rain is heavy.
Blimey this spray is bad.
Blimey it’s misty.
Blimey there’s loads of traffic.
But I’m warm and dry…and then it happened; a sudden cold sensation at the front of my waist, ‘oh bugger’ I thought. As I feel a slow trickle of cold water working its way towards my nuts.
Spangleweed said:
First commute in the dark on this bike, and boy is the headlight useless. In fact I'm sure it is fitted with some kind of system that sucks light in and actually projects darkness in front of the bike.
Researching bulb upgrades tonight!
www.hids4u.co.uk. Bought a plug and play system from them as my headlights were like candles. Just make sure you get lamp holder adaptors if required.Researching bulb upgrades tonight!
E36GUY said:
Spangleweed said:
First commute in the dark on this bike, and boy is the headlight useless. In fact I'm sure it is fitted with some kind of system that sucks light in and actually projects darkness in front of the bike.
Researching bulb upgrades tonight!
www.hids4u.co.uk. Bought a plug and play system from them as my headlights were like candles. Just make sure you get lamp holder adaptors if required.Researching bulb upgrades tonight!
Cbull said:
Had an awful ride home yesterday, 2 incidents.
Had my 3rd bump in my first year of riding. Filtering through on a very busy road in Manchester (Princess Road). Slowly filtering and revving as I got towards the end of vehicles I couldn't see over so I was certainly riding quite cautiously. Suddenly I had to hit the brakes as a guy on mountain bike was crossing, manged to barely touch him but my bike was too heavy to keep up so that went on its side and I went stumbled away from it on my arse. We had a little argument as he was trying to get away, told him to stay there as you can't be leaving etc etc, went to lift my bike with another bloke and he scooted off as quick as he could. The damage was a scratched mirror, fairing, new indicator light gone and a scratch/dent on the engine casing. Gutted. Phoned 101 and reported just in-case. Wouldn't mind but I let a another nutter delivery driver go past me and he shot through, I remember thinking to myself he's going to hit someone riding like that.
Second was a guy on a roundabout. He suddenly shoved up my right side and forced me over to the left lane cutting up a lorry. I beeped and he gave me the finger. Followed him around the roundabout and a police car pulled me up for giving him the birdy and threatened to arrest me lol. Had a word and he said he'll check CCTV.
That's now 3 very low speed filtering accidents I've had. I don't believe I'm a bad rider (as we all don't) and I don't believe I was at fault for any of them, all just a case serious bad timing but it definitely gets me down when something like this happens.
No dramas this morning though.
Filtering can be a minefield of trouble, Had my 3rd bump in my first year of riding. Filtering through on a very busy road in Manchester (Princess Road). Slowly filtering and revving as I got towards the end of vehicles I couldn't see over so I was certainly riding quite cautiously. Suddenly I had to hit the brakes as a guy on mountain bike was crossing, manged to barely touch him but my bike was too heavy to keep up so that went on its side and I went stumbled away from it on my arse. We had a little argument as he was trying to get away, told him to stay there as you can't be leaving etc etc, went to lift my bike with another bloke and he scooted off as quick as he could. The damage was a scratched mirror, fairing, new indicator light gone and a scratch/dent on the engine casing. Gutted
. Phoned 101 and reported just in-case. Wouldn't mind but I let a another nutter delivery driver go past me and he shot through, I remember thinking to myself he's going to hit someone riding like that.Second was a guy on a roundabout. He suddenly shoved up my right side and forced me over to the left lane cutting up a lorry. I beeped and he gave me the finger. Followed him around the roundabout and a police car pulled me up for giving him the birdy and threatened to arrest me lol. Had a word and he said he'll check CCTV.
That's now 3 very low speed filtering accidents I've had. I don't believe I'm a bad rider (as we all don't) and I don't believe I was at fault for any of them, all just a case serious bad timing but it definitely gets me down when something like this happens.
No dramas this morning though.
Do you cover the brake when you filter?
How much do you weave left and right across the line or are you mainly upright?
Filtering at more the +20mph compared to the surrounding traffic could be seen as dangerous riding by the police, do you filter quickly?
I would be very wary getting into an argument with the police, they don't like being told they are wrong.
black-k1 said:
Cheaper option - same effect, is to pick up a cheap HID car kit from eBay. Have fitted HID units to my last 4 bikes. The difference is "night and day" (Pun intended!)
Hopefully these lenses are all projector units rather than simple reflectors? HIDs are designed to operate in projector lenses which have a defined light scatter and cut off, whereas sticking an HID bulb in a reflector lens throws the light everywhere:
Which to oncoming drivers looks more like this:
Please don't be that guy.
Dakkon said:
Filtering can be a minefield of trouble,
Do you cover the brake when you filter?
No, have tried it but I find it quite uncomfortable. Suppose I should keep at it.
How much do you weave left and right across the line or are you mainly upright?
Usually go through as straight as possible. I'm on a ZX6R which is (or feels) quite narrow and good for filtering, although it's obviously not upright.
Filtering at more the +20mph compared to the surrounding traffic could be seen as dangerous riding by the police, do you filter quickly?
It is dangerous. I generally go at a slow plodding speed past the traffic, adjust as per. My last one was at low speed also, so this time around I was even more cautious (or so I felt).
I would be very wary getting into an argument with the police, they don't like being told they are wrong.
Turns out you're spot on with this one. This particular police man (really I'd say he more of a police boy) was actually understanding in the end.
Do you cover the brake when you filter?
No, have tried it but I find it quite uncomfortable. Suppose I should keep at it.
How much do you weave left and right across the line or are you mainly upright?
Usually go through as straight as possible. I'm on a ZX6R which is (or feels) quite narrow and good for filtering, although it's obviously not upright.
Filtering at more the +20mph compared to the surrounding traffic could be seen as dangerous riding by the police, do you filter quickly?
It is dangerous. I generally go at a slow plodding speed past the traffic, adjust as per. My last one was at low speed also, so this time around I was even more cautious (or so I felt).
I would be very wary getting into an argument with the police, they don't like being told they are wrong.
Turns out you're spot on with this one. This particular police man (really I'd say he more of a police boy) was actually understanding in the end.
A good week of runs so far, all things considered.
Was out with friends for a pizza after work, is it me or are Bus drivers even more wkerish then normal the later it gets, had 3 different bus drives assume an indicator negates giving way to traffic, slicing up both myself and cars, before I'd even got to New Cross
Was out with friends for a pizza after work, is it me or are Bus drivers even more w
kerish then normal the later it gets, had 3 different bus drives assume an indicator negates giving way to traffic, slicing up both myself and cars, before I'd even got to New CrossMac. said:
black-k1 said:
Cheaper option - same effect, is to pick up a cheap HID car kit from eBay. Have fitted HID units to my last 4 bikes. The difference is "night and day" (Pun intended!)
Hopefully these lenses are all projector units rather than simple reflectors? HIDs are designed to operate in projector lenses which have a defined light scatter and cut off, whereas sticking an HID bulb in a reflector lens throws the light everywhere:Which to oncoming drivers looks more like this:
Please don't be that guy.
Mac. said:
black-k1 said:
Cheaper option - same effect, is to pick up a cheap HID car kit from eBay. Have fitted HID units to my last 4 bikes. The difference is "night and day" (Pun intended!)
Hopefully these lenses are all projector units rather than simple reflectors? HIDs are designed to operate in projector lenses which have a defined light scatter and cut off, whereas sticking an HID bulb in a reflector lens throws the light everywhere:Which to oncoming drivers looks more like this:
Please don't be that guy.
king hate people who bang retrofit HID kits in Halogen surrounds which then throw blinding light all over the shop!As annoying as people driving with fog lights on because they think it looks cool.
black-k1 said:
Mac. said:
black-k1 said:
Cheaper option - same effect, is to pick up a cheap HID car kit from eBay. Have fitted HID units to my last 4 bikes. The difference is "night and day" (Pun intended!)
Hopefully these lenses are all projector units rather than simple reflectors? HIDs are designed to operate in projector lenses which have a defined light scatter and cut off, whereas sticking an HID bulb in a reflector lens throws the light everywhere:Which to oncoming drivers looks more like this:
Please don't be that guy.
supercommuter said:
Mac. said:
black-k1 said:
Cheaper option - same effect, is to pick up a cheap HID car kit from eBay. Have fitted HID units to my last 4 bikes. The difference is "night and day" (Pun intended!)
Hopefully these lenses are all projector units rather than simple reflectors? HIDs are designed to operate in projector lenses which have a defined light scatter and cut off, whereas sticking an HID bulb in a reflector lens throws the light everywhere:Which to oncoming drivers looks more like this:
Please don't be that guy.
king hate people who bang retrofit HID kits in Halogen surrounds which then throw blinding light all over the shop!As annoying as people driving with fog lights on because they think it looks cool.
Life would be so much easier!!
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