Do my L-Plates make me a target...

[Toby Stokes]

I've got myself mobile (CG125), insured, helmeted and everything. I've done my CBT and now I'm out there practising aiming for the Direct Access, but it seems every man, woman and child in charge of a motor vehicle is using me as a target.

Now I'm not just being pathetic here, I've ridden a bicycle in London for years and I know all about riding assertively, holding my lane, indicating, "life savers" and all that so I'm not out there being timid.

However everyone seems to take it as red that I must be ridden at aggressively, attacking me, cutting me off, jumping into my lane without indication, one guy actually leaned out of his van window and shoved me as he passed) far more that when I was on a bicycle...

Even big motorbikes seem to take great pleasure in hacking me off...is that some sort of macho thing, or just "trial by fire"..."if I can survive that, then I deserve my wings" so to speak?

Anyone else...?

(Loving every minute of it though, so if this is some enormous London-wide conspiracy to put me off, it ISN'T working
____________________
Big, bad and beautiful...the bike, dammit the bike!

[stinkwheel]

I am surprised about the bikes behaving like that, maybe they were dispatch riders who are not-like-other-people and to whom the rules of the road applieth not? (as I am sure hellkat would confirm)

The rest does not surprise me, they did it to me when I was road testing a bike for a friend which had L-plates on it (having been on the road myself for ten years). The behaviour of other road users was appalling.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[billy whizz]

Are you sure you hav'nt got "f*ck me" written on your back somewhere?
____________________
Here comes the summer!

[Major_Grooves]

Yup you've just got to live with it then pass your test ASAP.

I found it was worst if you dared do the speed limit.
____________________
About me|@Major_Grooves|My company|Digg|Flickr

[baldy]

I think the use of the middle finger would be appropriate in these situations.
____________________
One day i will rule the world, just not today.

[karen_moomin]

Yes, you're a target. I get the same and it does tend to annoy me and put me off.

The use of the middle finger is satisfying, and also the 3 fingers to signify "you're in a 30 limit you twat" also seems to work a treat when you get overtaken while doing the speed limit.

[Minky_monkey]

Ah the joys of London driving!!

I've been riding for five years, and even I have second thoughts about it sometimes!!

It's everyone for themselves!

[mrchips]

If anyone overtakes me on the 125 I overtake them back, or if they are really wanting past and can't I slow down and sit well out. A few little things to annoy them makes your journey more entertaining.

[Robby]

Really grown up there then.

You could accept that people will overtake you and let them do it. If this bothers you, do your test and get a real bike.

[The Tot]

L plates in london not good , even worse if it's L plates + pizza boy!!! Mind you it is fun if your on a 2T 125 on L's cos unweary road users will not even suspect that your NSR or RS or Mito would beat them off the lights. Best thing is to get rid of them ASAP which will boost your morale....
____________________
The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[hellkat]

[Spiral]

[hellkat]

Yea you've got to give as good as you get, Toby. No point letting them all intimidate you

So if a fat mad-looking bird with mental hair on a big trailie comes up at the lights beside you grinning inanely and revving at pedestrians, don't worry - its only me I probably won't belt ya one. Unless you're cheeky
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[hellkat]

Unless of course, I'm being Mrs Sedate, on a XJ900, riding all polite and stuff
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[clemsta]

You are a target, other road users think that you can't go over 40mph when in reality most 125's will exceed any UK speed limit. I derestricted my NS125R on friday and it does 0-60 in 7 seconds which i find can beat most cars i've had it at 95mph down a hill but i think it will do 100mph.
I had a major oil leak on the NS and wasn't sure where it was coming from, found out that the head and the cylinder bolts had slackened off, i'm getting a new spark plug as the old one is f*cked so i'm hoping to get 100mph fingers crossed.

I was flying along the service road at a massive 25mph because i was following my brother on his ped and a BMW driver blew his horn at me and flew off, so i dropped it a gear and accelerated after him, got up next to the drivers window and did the then i accelerated past him. He didn't know where to look .

BMW drivers

[Mister James]

I commute on my little aerox 100 from NW London to the Heathrow area, and I find that I dont tend to get too much flak.
Most drivers seem content to leave me alone, and the majority of the bikers I pass are fairly friendly.
A few balk at returning my nods, I'm trying to work out whether it's that my uniform makes me look like a traffic warden, or because they're struggling to cope with the concept of my 6'1 15.5 stone frame perched on the little death machine!

As it's my first transport, and I've only been riding for about 5 months, I'm happy to let anyone that wants to, take the piss, it's no skin off my nose.

I'll get a real bike when I have the money! For now, I'll just enjoy bimbling along at 60mph.

[Toby Stokes]

CG 125 does Rock...it is a proper bike

I'm all for giving as good as I get once I know what I'm doing...
I'm only 2 days in and already getting sly with the old traffic lines and speed limits and avoiding twats, and changing gears whilst cornering (ooh how good am I...)

But its those "Ooops shite, Stall, black cab up my arse blasting away at the horn" moments that tell me I'm still learning so I'm still taking it carefully for now...

Saw a right fox on a big Honda this morning ,black chickl in full leathers...Blats up next to me, looks over, gave me the nod and a smile (Kapow Biff Batman!) and bolted leaving me grinning, in love and tasting her tail pipe , only to be be hauled up at the next lights...It was such a cool moment, I almost felt bad catching up to her puttering away on my baby bike. Still...worth a second look anyway. GOT IT with full beam smile! Nice one!
____________________
Big, bad and beautiful...the bike, dammit the bike!

[Rhino]

L's do make you a target, and once you're rid of them, you may still be bullied by traffic. If two lanes merge, or a similar scenario, don't play chicken with the other traffic - they are bigger and safer than you and know this. When riding with L's this principle is multiplied, and you should concede when you need to.

It's no good being in the right if you are lying in the road as a result. I'm not saying this is right, it's just the way of the world. As Jerry Springer says: Take care of yourselfs, and each other.

[JodieWodie]

The CG IS a marvellous PROPER bike, I concur.....mine is serving me well

I have had times where people see me...see bike...see L Plate..."Oh well, I am going to pull out in front of her at the last minute"!....Cars go recklessly close to my ass...trying to goad me...I am sure of it.

Mainly, I think, (this happens every day!)...I am sticking to 30-35 in a 30 zone...cars UP my exhaust....obviously thinking I am a L can only do 30-40....then I get to a 60 zone and fly off...they stay miles behind !!!! Just showing me that they are idiots who are trying to push me faster in a 30!

I just try and ignore it now....I flash my brakes or shake my head, etc....if they get to close....

Enjoy your CG !!!
____________________
Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow"

[dink]

Think it's the L plates. Oh and prats that seem to forget at some point in their biking history they were once that person on a 125. I live in York and traffic here is horrendous for a small town. I even had hassle on the 125 from people on scooters and for a few years. Must admit it is better now I no longer have those L's. Best thing you can do its keep your cool. If another biker wants to act like a prat let them when they make a mistake you can just ride past at a nice steady pace and laugh at them. Other vehicles I used to get wound up at and find myself beeping and cursing like a lunatic. In hindsight they probably never heard a word I said but it made me feel loads better I always nod at learners, maybes because its not that long since I was one and it always made me smile when I was nodded at on my little cbx.

End of the day the cg is an excellent bike for learning or else they wouldn't use it for training. It has an engine, all 125cc of it. It's geared oh and its got 2 wheels thus it is a bike feck what others say about it. 2 days in and stalling is nothing you'll get there its just practise. Keep plodding on once your confidence increases and your more comfortable you'll be able to ride give other road users grief and not stall. Just don't forget to enjoy riding

[Marc_Buck]

Is York a small town? wasn't it once the greatest city in England? except London.

It was our northern Capital.
____________________
94 fzr600r

[dink]

ok so it's a city oops but it isn't a very big place you can ride across from where I live on the outskirts in the south of York to the north outskirts of York in about 10 mins if that on a bike. It is like an overgrown village crammed full of suicidal tourists.

[McJamweasel]

There's 873,000 people living in York - that not a small place.
____________________
BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[Marc_Buck]

Ok, well apparently it is very beautiful, in a historians eyes anyway.

Marc_Buck
____________________
94 fzr600r

[dink]