First month of biking

[Krise]

So it’s been 4 weeks and almost 600 miles since I passed my test and picked up 790 Duke.

I haven’t managed to get out for a proper ride yet, and most of the miles have been some commuting and visiting friends.

In this time I have been hit once, the driver just shot of, no damage to me or bike as i managed to stay upright, the tt didn’t even stop to see what or who they had hit.

I’ve had someone try to nick the bike once outside a mates, I had barely been there 10 mins before 2 lads where on the drive, one of them on the bike and the other having a go at one of the three disc locks on the bike before we disturbed them and they shot of.

A couple of scrotes on scooters were following me and having a good look through London the other day, dressed as Deliveroo riders, but a quick change of lane and some not great riding on my part I managed to loose them, despite them circling back I managed to pull over between a couple of vans as they sped past a couple of times.

I also had a rather angry transit driver want to get out and have a go as I filtered past him, then he decided as I didn’t want to over take the car in front of me he was going to put me into the traffic cones on Wandsworth bridge, somehow I managed to skip through the cones, avoid the 2 foot hole and get back into the lane, ended up side by side with him at the lights and as he went to get out 4 friendly deliveroo / Uber eats riders that saw the whole thing made it clear if he was getting out then he’s going to have to deal with them as well, the fat c£&t decided it was best he left alone.

So you could say it’s been an eventful start to my biking life...and despite all of the above 2 wheels is awesome !

[duudiz]

Basically sod riding anything half decent in London.

[anonymous-user]

That does not sound fun at all.. all London based?

[KurtFlew]

Does London have any redeeming features? Sounds a awful place to live. There is also an unwritten rule that you have to do triple figures the day you get any new bike so I hope that was completed.

[Krise]

Yeah all London based riding, I have been trying to ride everyday to get the mileage for the running in service, going forward the bikes for a Fridays, nice days and holidays riding so won’t usually be dealing with the eejits on the roads that much anymore

[Krise]

KurtFlew said:

Does London have any redeeming features? Sounds a awful place to live. There is also an unwritten rule that you have to do triple figures the day you get any new bike so I hope that was completed.

The third day was the triple digit day

[Tribal Chestnut]

And there was me thinking of replacing my ‘safe’ FZ1 commuter with a Super Duke or similar. What a daft idea that was.

Good luck anyway, hope things improve for you.

[TT1138]

This can basically all be summed up in one word. London.

[wilbo83]

Thanks for the reminder of why I (and many others I'm sure) do not ride into London. You need to get yourself out of the city and enjoy some of the great roads in the surrounding counties

[horsemeatscandal]

Wow, that sounds an absolute nightmare. My first 2.5 years of biking have been pretty trouble free. I hope you get some better luck soon my friend. Hope the Duke is good too, seems like a great bike (in an ugly dress, sorry!)

[s1dew1nd3r]

London - what an absolute st hole.

[V8RX7]

In 4 weeks you haven't found 2 hours to ride a new bike outside of a city



I've got up early or gone to bed late many times this year so I can go and have a ride

[Harji]

Where abouts in London are you? There are some decent routes out. I live in London and , actually , don't mind riding it. I certainly improved commuting into EC1 fro West London, that was an eye opener but not any more. Sounds like you are South of the river , which is where seemingly lots more thefts happen according to my SM feeds.

I think having KTM is a magnet for thieves, it seems to get their attention.

[8IKERDAVE]

Get out and ride some good roads on it. Me and a mate have just had a long weekend in Somerset / Devon and he has the same bike as you. I was on a Speed Triple and we had a lot of fun on the twisties. His bike is a hoot and handled some fairly large distances too, in fact they were both quite evenyl matched on power with me gaining on him just a bit on the straights.

Your bike deserves good roads, keep riding in London and it will just put you off.

[Krise]

Hi Harji

Based in Battersea, I just haven’t had a whole day to myself to get out and find some good roads, I usually just head out to Walton in Thames and stop and have a coffee and return, this weekend I want to get out for the whole day on Saturday, so if you have any routes you can recommend it would be greatly appreciated

[Harji]

Krise said:

Hi Harji

Based in Battersea, I just haven’t had a whole day to myself to get out and find some good roads, I usually just head out to Walton in Thames and stop and have a coffee and return, this weekend I want to get out for the whole day on Saturday, so if you have any routes you can recommend it would be greatly appreciated

Head out to the M3-->A331--> A31 --> A32 and the best bit is A32 towards Loomies Moto cafe, you'll see the cafe easily. From there its 66 miles on the A272 (on exiting Loomies, at the traffic lights turn right ) via the A24 to Rykas Cafe/Box hill. The A272 is a wonderful road and what I described is a nice loop for you, as from Box Hill you can get in Wimbledon, South parts of London side quite easily. I found out by missing my turning , not knowing where I was and ending up riding back home to West London on a hot day in peak traffic in leathers. Not nice.

I don't use sat nav and have all this in my head, so my markers will be useless to you! Have fun.

[wilbo83]

Harji said:

Head out to the M3-->A331--> A31 --> A32 and the best bit is A32 towards Loomies Moto cafe, you'll see the cafe easily. From there its 66 miles on the A272 (on exiting Loomies, at the traffic lights turn right ) via the A24 to Rykas Cafe/Box hill. The A272 is a wonderful road and what I described is a nice loop for you, as from Box Hill you can get in Wimbledon, South parts of London side quite easily. I found out by missing my turning , not knowing where I was and ending up riding back home to West London on a hot day in peak traffic in leathers. Not nice.

I don't use sat nav and have all this in my head, so my markers will be useless to you! Have fun.

This would be an awesome ride. The A272 is a great road. Personally when you come to the end of the A331, I'd head west to Farnham and then take the A287 and A286 down to Easebourne and join the A272 there. The A287/286 route has some great bends and are usually pretty quiet.

If you travel east on the A272, just be sure to take the right turn as you come out of Petworth, otherwise you will end up on the A283 towards Guildford. It's not well sign posted and easily done.

[Bumblebee7]

I would recommend doing a Bike Safe course, it's a good day out and will teach you to look further ahead. I think in time you'll find you stop having near misses and arguments with drivers as you see their stupidity from a mile away and give them a wide berth. I commute over 30 miles a day through London and am in a state of zen whilst doing it, even in heavy traffic. Didn't start off that way though I can tell you!! I generally arrive at my destination pretty relaxed now.

Not sure where you store the bike but in London make sure you have a lot of security on something as nice as your 790, ideally kept under a cover. I ride an NC750X which seems to be invisible to scrotes but I have done my fair share of scaring them off when they were following another rider through London visibly looking for an opportunity.

[anonymous-user]

On a 790, this is what you want to go do:

https://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcycle-roads/u...

Great route! I'll also upload a Rykas to Loomies and back route which is fantastic.

Also MCN's Glorious goodwood route!

[Daniel T]

i been riding 12 years in london, not experianced any issues ( think i felt like i was being followed once)- some people just find trouble.

i ride a Husqvarna 401 vit- not expensive but gets attention.