Noob biker...

[maaarcooose]

Just wanted to say Hi to all on the forums.

I just got my first bike last week (a Hyosung Cruise II) and did my CBT on Friday. The bike only cost me £600 with 12 months MOT, 1,400 Km on it and was owned by the vice chairman of the local bike club.

After moving in with my GF my work comute was such a nightmare that getting a bike seemed like a logical thing to do and then I discovered how much I enjoy it.
At 32, I thought I was gonna stick with cars for the rest of my life, but now I don't think I could be without a bike.

Just gonna ride as much as pos, and dodge traffic to work every day then do my Direct Access in a few months.

I find it most funny that all the things I have heard said about how terrible it can be riding a bike are true. Within the first weekend of riding around my home town, I have witnessed more idiotic things happen around me that I ever did in a car.
The day after my CBT, I had been into the town center and parked in a much better spot and for free, I came home a different route for a nice run. Coming up the road I could see a group of guys on the left side shouting and gesticulating at a guy on the other side of the road. One of them decides to walk across in front of the car in front of me. I've got a good distance between us, obviously, so the car breaking doesn't effect me at all. Once the car has gone past, another guy steps into the road, looks me straight in the eye and stops in the middle of the lane, still looking at me, then he starts shouting at the guy opposite.
At this point, I panic a little. Is he gonna go back or keep going? Convinced that he is gonna stay where he his, I buzz round him giving him a wide bearth. Fourtunately it's a wide road and has a big load of chevrons in the middle.
I look back in my rear view and he's shaking his fist at me and shouts "Look where you're f***ing going!!!"

I have also noticed that it seems to be that because you've got L plates on, everyone thinks they should either sit right up behind you or over take for no good reason, even when doing the speed limit.

I nearly got knocked off by an Audi driver that nearly ran me into a parked car by sitting right in my blind spot. Thankfully I did do a lifesaver at the right point. I think just turning the head makes some drivers think twice about cutting you up too.

I feel thankful that driving for the past 15 years has given me a good amount of road sense. I feel sorry for you younger guys who are fresh out on your 50's with no experience.

Sorry about the long post, but hey, lots has happened in my biking life in just 6 days.

Got some weird issues with the bike, but they will do for the maintenance section.

Looking forward to frequenting this forum and riding as much as possible....

!m!

[Catalyst]

I'm 16 and fresh out on my 50, yep i get overtaken alot then they realise they cant actually get back in front because theres a car

For examply, yesterday an old bloke in a mercedes thought he'd overtake me when doing the speed limit. He had to slam his brakes on as soon as he got past me because he was turning right......didnt indicate and he couldnt even get down cos of oncoming traffic. So he would have been better behind me............never the less i still stuck my finger up and shouted a few forbidden words so he got the point

Have fun on your bike mate, i sure am and ive only had mine 12 days! It's only a 50 but im already hooked

Jack
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|--Previous--|:2007 Aprilia SX50...--Current--|: 2007 Kawasaki ER-6N
SlimRick - I can cook really well - but it's a useless skill, as I'm not a woman and it's their fucking job!

[truslack]

Well, I'm fresh out on my 50 in a couple of weeks so I have all that too look forward to! Hollis will be ok - he has enough money to be a brand new ultra-reliable top of the range model

Sorry mate, just had to!
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Current: Suzuki RG 125 Gamma, Honda H100, Triumph Tiger 800XC, Suzuki SV650 (minitwin)

[Catalyst]

haha it's ok, don't worry this time next year it will be fucked
____________________
|--Previous--|:2007 Aprilia SX50...--Current--|: 2007 Kawasaki ER-6N
SlimRick - I can cook really well - but it's a useless skill, as I'm not a woman and it's their fucking job!

[Dalemac]

Hey mate, nice cat ya got there


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YBR125 -> GPZ500S -> SL1000

[maaarcooose]

[ms51ves3]

I haven't got my 50 yet I turned 16 3 days ago. Doing my CBT beginning of next month but I have already started looking for a moped. I have one issue and that is most of the 50cc scooters for sale are de-restricted. I have £650 and I have looked on eBay autotrader and lots of free ads but it's no use. At this rate I'm never going to get on the road. I only have one option and that is to buy new, the only things I can buy new in my price range is those cheap chinese scooters off eBay that seem to fall apart once you start them. One of my friends has one thats restricted and as he went round a roundabout it just cutout on him. I don't want the same experiences as him.

Mark

[truslack]

[ms51ves3]

The exhaust isn't the only place a restrictor is in. I got a quote to re-restrict a peugeot scooter of £200 (it's only £100 to de-restrict it). I know there isn't much chance of getting caught but tell my dad that, he won't let me have a de-restricted scooter. He thinks i'll ride around like a maniac (which I won't). I just want a de-restricted scooter so that I can flow with the traffic. I watched my dad driving before and his speed never dropped below 35mph. I'll just have to keep looking around.

Mark

[kiers]

[Catalyst]

My dad didn't take to de-restriction at first, if you can get a restricted one first then as you gain road sense and experience get it de-restricted then.

Trust me 30mph is easily enough for the first month as you'll be learning more and more constantly as i know i still am. As you get better he will proberbly take to the idea more if you explain to him what dangers you've seen at going 30 (I've seen many in only 4 weeks...but if i could go 50 then i would have already crashed).

Jack
____________________
|--Previous--|:2007 Aprilia SX50...--Current--|: 2007 Kawasaki ER-6N
SlimRick - I can cook really well - but it's a useless skill, as I'm not a woman and it's their fucking job!

[nick606]

my bike wasn't restricted when i got it and ive been fine. As long as your sensible and dont push yourself beyond your limits you will be fine. Better to learn slow than push yourself to far to fast and end up stacking your bike

[Catalyst]

[ms51ves3]

It's £100 to de-restrict. It would be a lot easier if my dad would just let me buy one straight off that had been de-restricted. On eBay you could probably get a de-restricted scooter for the same as a restricted because there is more variety.

Mark

[Catalyst]

Could de-restrict it yourself, isn't very hard (apparently) im just summing up wether to do it myself or not.

Jack
____________________
|--Previous--|:2007 Aprilia SX50...--Current--|: 2007 Kawasaki ER-6N
SlimRick - I can cook really well - but it's a useless skill, as I'm not a woman and it's their fucking job!

[ms51ves3]

I wouldn't want to risk messing my moped up.