Any Motörbike riders here?

octatonic · November 2013

Anyone ridden a Street Triple?

Spec looks great- price too.

randomhandclaps · November 2013

I have. I am massively obsessed with Speed Triples. I've ridden a couple of Street Triples and after swearing to myself that I would never buy anything below a 900 I have to say that is I did it would probably be Street Triple.. If it's looks that puts you off a sports bike then the Street Triple is great. If however it's the riding position the maybe not - I'd at least sit on one first.

ddlooping · November 2013

I take it you're not interested then.

octatonic · November 2013

ddlooping said:

I take it you're not interested then.

Oh sorry, I missed your post. Is this one you have for sale? What year?

ddlooping · November 2013

octatonic said:

ddlooping said:

I take it you're not interested then.

Oh sorry, I missed your post. Is this one you have for sale? What year?

Yes, it is one I have for sale.

Now to find the paperwork...

octatonic · November 2013

I'm probably more looking for a 500cc+ bike so I can do direct access etc.

Also was thinking of going through a dealer so I can get a bit of a warranty.

But if it is a bargain and in good condition then I could be tempted.

octatonic · November 2013

CBT booked for Thursday. :-)

I can book the rest of the DA in a month or so.

boogieman · November 2013

Good luck with it. Most of the on the road stuff is ok if you're already a car driver, mostly common sense really, although it takes a while to adjust to a) how vulnerable you feel on a bike when you're used to four wheels and b) how other motorists can be complete tools round bikers.
The off road stuff is good fun if you've got a decent instructor. Amazing how slow you can trickle along without falling off .... once you get the knack. >:D<

octatonic · November 2013

Thanks mate- I've ridden bicycles a lot in London so I'm well aware of how vulnerable I can be.

My main concern is getting the clutch/shift arrangement.

boogieman · November 2013

If you can do fretting and a wah pedal at the same time, clutch and gears will seem like a piece of piss. >:D<

randomhandclaps · November 2013

You'll be absolutely fine with the CBT.

I know a bloke who is a tester and the two most common fails on the DA are the U-Turn (which might not surprise anyone) and the other is not cancelling your indicators because people are so use to it being automatic in a car. Even seasoned riders do it and it can be deadly. Whenever you're riding along and you have a spare moment of thought just get in the habit of pressing cancel just in case.

Since the advent of DACs the test is stricter than ever for large bikes whereas a small amount of leniency is allowed on the 125 test. It's understandable really when you consider I could get on a bike for the first time in my life on Monday and buy myself a R1 on Friday.

octatonic · November 2013

boogieman said:

If you can do fretting and a wah pedal at the same time, clutch and gears will seem like a piece of piss. >:D<

LOL.

randomhandclaps · November 2013

The only aspect of the CBT I wish they would remove is the bit where they tell kids to pull past me on their scooters at a red light and just sit in front of me revving the shit out of it whilst I'm having a stretch. This means I spend every red light trying to negotiate my way around some unpredictable bellend in a shellsuit.

octatonic · November 2013

randomhandclaps said:

The only aspect of the CBT I wish they would remove is the bit where they tell kids to pull past me on their scooters at a red light and just sit in front of me revving the shit out of it whilst I'm having a stretch. This means I spend every red light trying to negotiate my way around some unpredictable bellend in a shellsuit.

Well, if you're going to live in essex...

boogieman · November 2013

randomhandclaps; said:
Since the advent of DACs the test is stricter than ever for large bikes whereas a small amount of leniency is allowed on the 125 test. It's understandable really when you consider I could get on a bike for the first time in my life on Monday and buy myself a R1 on Friday.

It is also kind of stupid that they don't demand some sort of refresher test for born again bikers. I hadn't ridden anything with gears for over 30 years and I got straight onto a Honda 800. Scared myself to death nearly. My last bike had been a Velocette 500 that could just about see a genuine 100 mph going downhill with a hurricane up its chuff. The Honda would do 150 no problem, given the space (and the deathwish) But I didn't need any compulsory retraining and the insurance was stupid cheap because they assume you're old and therefore an experienced rider.

randomhandclaps · November 2013

boogieman said:

randomhandclaps; said:
Since the advent of DACs the test is stricter than ever for large bikes whereas a small amount of leniency is allowed on the 125 test. It's understandable really when you consider I could get on a bike for the first time in my life on Monday and buy myself a R1 on Friday.
It is also kind of stupid that they don't demand some sort of refresher test for born again bikers. I hadn't ridden anything with gears for over 30 years and I got straight onto a Honda 800. Scared myself to death nearly. My last bike had been a Velocette 500 that could just about see a genuine 100 mph going downhill with a hurricane up its chuff. The Honda would do 150 no problem, given the space (and the deathwish) But I didn't need any compulsory retraining and the insurance was stupid cheap because they assume you're old and therefore an experienced rider.

I agree with this. My old man hadn't ridden in a good few years (he had an old Triumph Tiger he kept in the garage which I would take for a run for him). What he had ridden was mostly vintage bikes. Around his 60th birthday he decided to buy himself a Thunderbird Sport, which was the same bike I had at the time. You knew when you went out with him for what should have been a pleasurable ride that he just wasn't enjoying it and had quite a few moments of scaring the shit out of himself. What was fast back then didn't compare to what a modern bike could do. The only saving grace was that the modern bike had better brakes too.

strumjoughlamps · November 2013

I don't think I know anyone that chose to do CBT on a geared bike..

anyhoo, gear and clutch is a doddle, I rode a rev and go into the dealer and rode out on the YBR and I hadnt been on a geared bike other than a Vespa for 23 years and even then it was a DT 50 over farmland.

ddlooping · November 2013

octatonic said:

I'm probably more looking for a 500cc+ bike so I can do direct access etc.
Also was thinking of going through a dealer so I can get a bit of a warranty.

But if it is a bargain and in good condition then I could be tempted.

In very good condition overall, a bit of rust on the wheels, and it'd be ~£1000.

octatonic · November 2013

ddlooping said:

octatonic said:

I'm probably more looking for a 500cc+ bike so I can do direct access etc.
Also was thinking of going through a dealer so I can get a bit of a warranty.

But if it is a bargain and in good condition then I could be tempted.

In very good condition overall, a bit of rust on the wheels, and it'd be ~£1000.

Ok mate- let me get through CBT and see how my fat ass does on a 125.

ddlooping · November 2013

octatonic said:

ddlooping said:

octatonic said:

I'm probably more looking for a 500cc+ bike so I can do direct access etc.
Also was thinking of going through a dealer so I can get a bit of a warranty.

But if it is a bargain and in good condition then I could be tempted.

In very good condition overall, a bit of rust on the wheels, and it'd be ~£1000.

Ok mate- let me get through CBT and see how my fat ass does on a 125.

Okey dokey.

manicguitarist · November 2013

Just make sure that when you've got the bike test and have had a few months (careful!) practice on the road - get some advanced lessons (IAM for example). It'll reduce your insurance, but also help you have more fun more safely. And enjoy! Biking is the most fun you can have off stage and out of bed.

octatonic · November 2013

Cheers manic- I'm going to do some advanced rider stuff with i2i once I get my full license.

Daneff · November 2013

A little late to the party but here's my experiences of 4+ years biking.

I started off with CBT at age 19, no real driving experience before that. The CBT was god awful, the bikes they supplied were Honda 125's circa 1970's in which the odometers had gone around the clock several times. I struggled a lot just trying to get the damn thing to operate, this was compounded by having an angry Scottish Gordon Ramsey alike instructor. I had already purchased my own bike just before taking the CBT, otherwise I might of given up after that day. I still "passed" as such, but left the day with a very dark cloud over me. The very first time I pulled away on my own lovely 2005 Honda 125, I drove it perfectly fine (despite a snow blizzard occurring halfway home.)

So for the next 7-8 months or so I enjoyed my Honda Shadow 125 cruiser immensely. The shadows are probably the nicest 125 cruiser you can buy (but most expensive), I think they're the most powerful at least. They're very big for 125's, full size bike really so I didn't look out of place on it being 5'9 70KG, you'll probs look big on it but thats the nature of all 125's. Got mine for about £1600 second hand 1 owner, Cost nothing to run!

I then took the full test, albeit restricted to 33BHP as I was under 21 at the time. I think the rules have completely changed now. I then bought a Yamaha Dragstar 650 cruiser, which scared the shit out of me with the power compared to the 125. Stunning bike and very reliable. Very forgiving, confidence inspiring and balanced ride, mega comfy, extra loud pipes

. A bit more character and excitement compared to the ultra refined Honda Shadow 650 equivalent. Can be had very cheap second hand for the amount of bike you get, shaft driven also so no chain clunking and adjustment.

So I rode that for 3 years with much joy. Taking pillions on the back was effortless (as long as they're female and weigh 8 stone and less aha!). All passengers commented how relaxing it was, but I do try my utmost best to drive safely and smoothly as possible so they don't wood pecker you in the back of the head.

Only a few gripes with cruisers is maintaining all the chrome. Its an absolute nightmare with road salt and wet weather in winter etc. If you get behind on cleaning it'll start rusting very quick, and you'll start loosing a lot of value on the bike as the attraction is them being so shiny and pretty. Once chrome starts pitting your doomed.

Also you can't filter that much on them, as they're so wide. Back then I was never in a rush to be anywhere so didn't mind really, I was very much into the relaxed cruiser riding attitude.

I then got a boring car and due to music stuff so I really wasn't using the bike much. I sold it eventually and took a break of about 7-8 months.

Until about 2 weeks ago

I got a new job starting in January, in which its notoriously pointless trying to drive a car to the area, let alone park (Abbeywood Ministry of Defence!) so it was the perfect excuse to get 2 wheels again. This time I went for the polar opposite of cruisers, I just went off them a bit and fancied a change I suppose. Didn't want chrome. So I bought a 2009 Kawasaki ZX6R. I could finally afford to insure one at my age, due to having 4 years no claims (hurrah). Impressions so far, it's about as close to flying as you get, without being superman. You look where you want to go, and your there. Endless power, with great power comes great responsibility though

Comfort wise im fine with the riding position being young and average weight/height, I imagine for the older and larger folk it would be an issue. My commute is not very long either. Filtering is very easy due to the slim nature of the bike.

In conclusion, my gradual progression in bikes has probably helped me massively safety and experience wise. I had no other choice to do it that way due to my age, I would just advise massive caution with taking the direct access route as you will have massive amounts of power on tap straight away. Unless you drive a powerful/sporty car, there is just no comparison between 2 wheel and 4 wheel performance. Going from say a 1.4 litre VW Polo to a 600cc+ bike of any type is going to mess with your perceptions.

Also don't forget the amount of safety gear you will have to invest in. You can spend up to £1200 on a jacket alone! Of course there is gear as cheap as you want, its a personal decision, i've always been advised buy the best you can afford. I think there's a balance between name brand, actual safety technology, and fashion design to be had. Once you get to a certain price level it seems most have very similar safety options, but the price goes up with how good it looks/what gimmicks they add on.

Leathers are not waterproof, although have the best abrasion protection. Really only dry/warmer gear. Winter riding requires thermal and goretex lined Textiles. It can get horrendously cold driving at speed in winter if you do not have the right gear on. Once you start getting cold you get distracted, your safety its being affected. Cold hands impair your operation of the bike. Heated handlebars are wondrous things, although some Oxford ones I had on my Yamaha were terribly unreliable. Google Sharps helmet ratings, its a gov run site testing nearly all helmets for their safety. There's some surprising results, with some cheap lids coming out much better than brand names costing £4-500. Always buy your helmet new, even a small knock on a used helmet could impair the unseen internal structures of the helmet. Always have biker boots, the most common injuries on bikes are feet. They also makes operating the bike much easier through the designs ie, gear changing. Otherwise some great bargains can be had on ebay. I nabbed a £500 Dainese textile jacket for £120 as new. Plenty of people rush into biking and buy all the top stuff, only to find its not as easy as they imagined and sell it all off soon enough. Bide your time and your size will come up. Sizing can vary massively between brands though, so you really need to try some stuff on in a shop first (skip your business morals here).

ALWAYS wear your gear, even if "just going down the shop". All it takes is that 1 granny in the Nissan Micra to pull out in front of you and you'll be needing skin grafts as a pair of casual jeans will last 0.5 seconds skidding on tarmac.

Sorry if this all seems obvious! Just thought i'd put it all out there any ways.

storytimeover//

ddlooping · November 2013

Just checked, my Yammy has 21689 miles on the clock.

octatonic · November 2013

Halfway through the CBT. Passed the first bit enough to let out on the open road. 125cc is ok but I definitely feel they are sluggish.

Myranda · November 2013

Depending on what you're on they're not always a great example of a 125 - there are better ones.

Did my CBT on a Yamaha 125 that wasn't amazing engine wise... then day one of 5 they had us on 125s for the DA. The second was a CBR125... the engine was more responsive though the steering was so light that it felt almost unsafe and unstable... bleh.

When I got on the CBF600 with its bigger engine and heavier planted feel on the road everything was so much more pleasant

ddlooping · November 2013

octatonic said:

125cc is ok but I definitely feel they are sluggish.

The idea is for you to get comfortable/familiar with the whole driving a bike thing on a 125cc and then move up to a bigger bike.

octatonic · November 2013

So... I pass my CBT.

As life experiences go it is up there with getting my bulldog and the 3rd and 42nd time I had sex with my wife.

Really terrific fun- big learning curve though.

I've decided I want to spend 6 months on a 125cc bike to put the pieces together before I go for my Direct Access.

I could do it now but I reckon I'l be a better rider if I do it this way.

@ddlooping - sorry mate but I'm not going to go for a cruiser just yet.

I want something a bit more manoeuvrable- probably a Honda CBF125.

ddlooping · November 2013

No worries

BenSirAmos · November 2013

octatonic said:

So... I pass my CBT.

well done

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