Hello! Northeast Newbie

[vxmatt]

Hi Everyone!

Thought I should post in here now that I'm one of you!

Last year just before my 30th birthday I decided that it was about time that I did my CBT. I'd never ridden a motorbike before then and realised straight away that I loved it (even though the CG was slow and a bit crap). Just before Christmas I passed Mod 2 on the first attempt and in June I picked up my first bike, a 2005 FZ6 Fazer.


Since then I've been slowliy building up my skills (although I'm under no illusion that I'm still very much a beginner). A couple of weeks ago disaster struck - I fell off it while coming to a stop! Thankfully there was no damage to me and only minor damage to some of the clips on the upper fairing bit which was easily fixed with a bit of fibreglass and the end snapped off the clutch lever.

I've been thinking I need to get a set of crash bungs for it so that if i balls it up again the bike will be protected, I've seen the R&G bungs and also cheap versions, is it worth spending the money on the R&G's or would cheap ones work just as well, anyone got any recommendations?

The other question is for all you Northeast people. Does anyone know any good shops for getting gear from, I already know about J&S at Metrocentre, is there anywhere else that people would recommend?

Cheers

Matt

[LiamB]

Welcome.

Seems most are northerners on here, must be the air up there or something

[Loyly]

Proto at the top of the hill on Westgate Road, opposite the junction to Elswick Road, is very good. Little independent business with great stock, and they offer good discounts too, particularly if you're getting a few things at once.

The new bike looks good. Enjoy it!

[vxmatt]

Nice one Loyly, looks like a trip to Newcastle is necessary then, especially as google maps says there's a few shops near to each other.

[MrsMiggins]

GetGeared has a shop in Leeds. SAS Tom on here is full of useful info on what's good and he works @ GG I think.

[wildone63]

If you go to Proto be aware that some of his stock that he sells on ebay is at a much lower price than in the shop.
I recently bought some denim bike jeans inside the shop which he advertised on ebay for 30 odd quid,the in shop price was nearer to £80,but when I pointed out the price difference he let me have them at the lower price,but I think he was secretly not suited

[Biker's Nemesis]

Ian Bell Motorcycles Bedlington for gear

[Biker's Nemesis]

What part of the NE are you from?

I hope it isn't Sunderland.

[vxmatt]

Biker's Nemesis said:

What part of the NE are you from?

I hope it isn't Sunderland.

I am, I don't like football though, am I still welcome on here?


I've discovered a new issue with the bike, I was out on it the other day and my headlight went off, at the same time the indicators came on permanently with the telltale lights lit (the indicators still flashed when in use) the main beam telltale light came on as well although the light itself wasn't. It was intermittent and the headlight did keep coming back on and everything turned to normal.

I've replaced the dipped beam bulb and that now appears to work. I've changed the main beam as well but its still not working. The telltale wont come on when the bulb is plugged in, if I unplug the bulb the telltale works, plugging the multimeter in shows there's 10v getting to the bulb plug on idle rising to 12v when revved (the telltale works when the multimeter is plugged in, this seems low to me but I'm used to cars rather than bikes.

I've tried a couple of bulbs but they're all the same, there's nothing visibly wrong with the filaments.

Does anyone have any ideas what the cause might be?

Cheers
Matt

[Loyly]

Are all the fuses working? I had a few electrical issues with a CG125 a few years ago that I spent ages trying to sort out, turned out a fuse on the positive lead of the battery had blown and that was the cause of all of it.

[pessimal]

Biker's Nemesis said:

What part of the NE are you from?

I hope it isn't Sunderland.

What's wrong with sunderland?!

Just means having to go into Newcastle every day

[Chicken Chaser]

Go south Matt, a decent range at either of these two

http://www.100bikes.co.uk/motorbikes-for-sale/

http://www.teasdale-motorcycles.co.uk

Still a real shame that Hein Gericke pulled retail operations, as it was a great place to get gear.

[vxmatt]

Loyly said:

Are all the fuses working? I had a few electrical issues with a CG125 a few years ago that I spent ages trying to sort out, turned out a fuse on the positive lead of the battery had blown and that was the cause of all of it.

The fuses are OK, although I havent checked the main fuse as its under the tank.

I've posted on Bike Chat Forums as well, someone on there suggested that it might be a bad earth so I guess I'll have to try running a new earth as well and see how that goes.

Chicken Chaser said:

Go south Matt, a decent range at either of these two

http://www.100bikes.co.uk/motorbikes-for-sale/

http://www.teasdale-motorcycles.co.uk

Still a real shame that Hein Gericke pulled retail operations, as it was a great place to get gear.

Cheers mate, good to know there's some options other than Newcastle. It's difficult going anywhere at the moment thought seeing as the bike doesn't have all its lights and the car has developed a massive coolant leak.

[Biker's Nemesis]

vxmatt said:

I am, I don't like football though, am I still welcome on here?

Of course you are, especially if you don't like football.