Coming to the dark side...

Coming to the dark side...

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Discussion

RemaL

24,967 posts

233 months

Thursday 12th October 2017
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horsemeatscandal said:
P.S. The other half isn't best pleased.
Many have answered your question., but what go me what the last bit?

Are you married, and or have kids with the other half? if yes then I agree you need to take into the consideration of the other half

if they are just you other half, who cares? it's your life, live it.
My wife does not like me riding But understands that when I was married and had 2 kids why I wanted to learn and ride. My dad died about 2/3 months before I was born due to a motorcycle accident. My mum was not best happy but understands why I ride.

it's not a dig but it does get my back up when people say the other half is not pleased when they are just going out with you.

Just a way of trying in the best way to get my views across as well. But hay it's just a internet forum so not worth anyone getting their skirt in a mess wink

But congrats on the pass

horsemeatscandal

Original Poster:

1,171 posts

103 months

Saturday 21st October 2017
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So I bought some gear today. Pleased with it but got a question....

The sticker on the helmet said it had an internal sun visor. However it doesn't, which is something I failed to notice when trying it on. Looking online none of the same helmets seem to have the visor inside. Replacements are £30 online, which I'm happy to pay, but is it something that I should definitely buy right now and I'll always use it or is it a 'nice to have', and I could do without one initially?

Also, it's true that bike gear sizes are weird. I tried a pair of large gloves on that were very small, then a pair of small which almost fit perfectly.

Bungleaio

6,324 posts

201 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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Sounds like you are enjoying the path to 2 wheels even though you haven't even ridden a bike yet. It's great, I've recently done the same.

What helmet did you buy? If it says it should come with an internal visor then it should have one. I find the one in my helmet really useful.

horsemeatscandal

Original Poster:

1,171 posts

103 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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Bungleaio said:
Sounds like you are enjoying the path to 2 wheels even though you haven't even ridden a bike yet. It's great, I've recently done the same.

What helmet did you buy? If it says it should come with an internal visor then it should have one. I find the one in my helmet really useful.
I'm very excited, will talk about it to anyone who'll listen. Very annoying I'd imagine.

I got a Shark S800 Prime. Can't seem to find the exact helmet online so no idea if I got a good deal or not, seems to be well reviewed on forums though. I rang the shop and turns out it doesn't come with one; the sticker on the front is just a generic one from the manufacturer. Which makes sense as it has a section for the dealer to write in the model name. Seems you can buy different visors online so I will if I feel I need to.

My jacket and gloves were both Richa, Falcon and Stealth I think were the names, respectively.

H100S

1,436 posts

172 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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Some great advice given above.

Helmet with visor is something i have and wish i had bought one years ago. So nice to have the ability to react to the conditions especially this time of year with low sun.

Personally i find choosing a bike is very difficult at 1st. Simple reason is you dont know what you like. The variety is quite incredible. You will quickly realise its adictive and you need a three bike garage to satisfy your mood!

My advice would be respect white lines and drain covers in wet. Look much further ahead and plan ahead. Dont loose your cool while riding and relax.
Get a good long ride under your belt early on. I find i ride better after a couple of hour on bike. Its like you become one with the machine.

Things you dont realise until you ride. Even normal bikes feel bloody quick and you can feel the road. Its a really analouge experience. Fast bikes are mindbendingly fast. Wind chill can soon have your hands cold and naked bikes are often quite windy at even 60 mph. Maybe a bit controversial but ive yet to find a biker who has not become a better safer car driver. You become spacially aware, anticipate better and since you can get your kicks on two wheels often become less rushed.

You seem a sensible guy. Get it done, its one of the best things you will do in your life. Best of luck.


wjb

5,100 posts

130 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
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Great thread. Some decent advice and stories smile

I sold my car yesterday, still got the family bus but going to get myself a bike soon.

I started the journey many years ago, passed theory and mod 1 but didn't do mod 2 (failed mod 1 first time around which messed up my bookings)

Life got in the way (house move and wedding) and I just pootled around on my 125 without ever taking mod 2 so it all ran out.

Anyway I rang my local instructors today and asked if they had a CBT available, turns out they have a space this Saturday so I booked it.

Will have a chat to them about das too.


horsemeatscandal

Original Poster:

1,171 posts

103 months

Saturday 11th November 2017
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Completed my CBT today, loved it. Did it on a Suzuki VanVan, with my first driving instructor it turned out. There was one other guy on with me who unfortunately didn't progress to the road riding part, but made it better for me I suppose.

The instructor let me have a quick blast on the Suzuki Gladius in the yard afterwards as he knew I was wanting to progress to the Direct Access. Bloody quick in comparison but so much more comfortable and easy to ride so I don't find the prospect so daunting now.

Next job is get some boots and pants, get a couple of hours booked in for some practise on the 650 then get Mod 1 booked.

SVS

3,824 posts

270 months

Saturday 11th November 2017
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H100S said:
My advice would be respect white lines and drain covers in wet. Look much further ahead and plan ahead. Dont loose your cool while riding and relax.
+1 and book a BikeSafe day as soon as you can thumbup

H100S said:
Helmet with visor is something i have and wish i had bought one years ago. So nice to have the ability to react to the conditions especially this time of year with low sun.
+1 for a helmet with a visor, but a visor sunstrip is also a big help against low sun that we get in winter.




Edited by SVS on Sunday 12th November 10:38

wjb

5,100 posts

130 months

Sunday 12th November 2017
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wjb said:
Anyway I rang my local instructors today and asked if they had a CBT available, turns out they have a space this Saturday so I booked it.

Will have a chat to them about das too.
Well I did my CBT, did fine on the car park stuff and manoeuvres but had a couple of problems out on the road, kept forgetting to cancel my indicators and a lack of confidence in the bends, my instructor gave me a few pointers after the first hour and I was much better on the second hour ride.

I was already eyeing up a used Yamaha R125 that was local to me so picked that up a few days later.

I've been commuting every day for a couple of weeks now. Gonna do an oil service on the bike today too, funny how I had no interest in doing services on my cars...

Booked my theory for the first week of December, gonna get some lessons done if the weather isn't too bad this winter then do my tests.

matthias73

2,883 posts

149 months

Sunday 12th November 2017
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I got my license last week.

I bought a triumph Daytona 600 off a friend during a heavy drinking session for 999 pounds. A welded rear set, bit of fettling and an MOT later I had a bike that was roadworthy but no license.

I did the theory and CBT in the summer, costing 175 together.

Mod 1 and 2 were 600 pounds.

Jeans were 50, jacket 100, helmet 50, gloves 20. All found in various sales and decent quality stuff.

Overall I spent 2400 (ish) including insurance and just spent another 50 on a lock and cover.


The bike itself is worth that much so I could sell it and recoup everything I spent, but I got lucky there.

You should get a good bike and excellent kit with your budget. I did lots of shopping around and got incredible discounts and found a good instructor.

horsemeatscandal

Original Poster:

1,171 posts

103 months

Monday 13th November 2017
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Mod 1 booked for the 27th of December. No Boxing Day drinking for me....

Chicken Chaser

7,744 posts

223 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
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Well done so far OP. Enjoy your course. inside my licence 15 years ago now at 21 and back then I really struggled with the big bike. Bought myself a cheap GS500 which I did drop off the side stand a couple of times. After reading about, counter steering was something I needed to learn and once I did it was much better. Following that, a twist of the wrist by Keith Code helps and if you can do a bikewise day with local cops or retired cops, you will learn a huge amount about roadcraft.

Enjoy the journey and don't rush into buying your first bike. If you're not necessarily tied into buying a sports bike, I would definitely look at something upright with wide bars. So much easier to ride and hustle than something with clip ons, which is perfect for starting out.

horsemeatscandal

Original Poster:

1,171 posts

103 months

Wednesday 29th November 2017
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The latest step in my journey to two wheels.... bought some pants and boots from SportsBikeShop, had a decent sale on over the weekend. Richa Colorado and TCX Rush. So that's just about all the basics now.

Anyone on here got experience of the Suzuki SV650, specifically the newer models? Quite liking the look of them. Less power than the CB but lighter with a smidge more torque, both a bit lower in the range too. Cheaper to buy and insure, also. Do prefer the looks of the CB though.....

dave_s13

13,813 posts

268 months

Wednesday 29th November 2017
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As said deffo book a bikeSafe course with your local plod once you have a bike and are comfortable on it. They are really good.

I jacked in biking 8 years ago now as I just couldn't shake the feeling of impending death every time I rode it. Having kids totally changed my attitude toward it all. So have fun while you can!

Jazoli

9,086 posts

249 months

Wednesday 29th November 2017
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Nothing wrong with SV650's, they are a great all rounder.

And Dave, we are all still here, not dead hehe

Huffy

346 posts

219 months

Wednesday 29th November 2017
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I had an SV650 as a loan bike this summer and it was good fun. I normally ride a Triumph Daytonna 955i which is hardly an armchair but I found the seat on the SV really really hard. Talking to the guy when I returned it he reckoned that that was a common complaint - after 20 minutes the discomfort was unbearable, after 30 minutes I was pleased to have got where I need to be.

dave_s13

13,813 posts

268 months

Wednesday 29th November 2017
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Jazoli said:
Nothing wrong with SV650's, they are a great all rounder.

And Dave, we are all still here, not dead hehe
And long may it continue thumbup

SVS

3,824 posts

270 months

Wednesday 29th November 2017
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dave_s13 said:
As said deffo book a bikeSafe course with your local plod once you have a bike and are comfortable on it. They are really good.
Chicken Chaser said:
you can do a bikesafe day with local cops or retired cops, you will learn a huge amount about roadcraft.
+ another vote for BikeSafe - well worth doing and good fun too thumbup


horsemeatscandal

Original Poster:

1,171 posts

103 months

Thursday 21st December 2017
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So had about six or seven hours practising Mod 1 now with a couple of hours on the road too. All has went well apart from dropping the bike on my second ever attempt at a U-turn, managed to get out of the way of it which was preferable. Also, one of my first emergency stops got a bit dodgy but managed to not bin it.

Hopefully get a pass on Wednesday. More nervous for this than I think I will be for Mod 2.
Friday 22nd December 2017
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dave_s13 said:
As said deffo book a bikeSafe course with your local plod once you have a bike and are comfortable on it. They are really good.

I jacked in biking 8 years ago now as I just couldn't shake the feeling of impending death every time I rode it. Having kids totally changed my attitude toward it all. So have fun while you can!
No offense, but that sounds more like something to do with your noggin rather than anything to do with biking rofl

I got into bikes after having a car for six years, so I was into my cars, but now, life seems too short to be in a car!

I find I can't shake the feeling of living life to the fullest when I'm riding!

Edited by Triumph Street Triple hooligan on Friday 22 December 22:18