I made it!

[meyrick]

Yesterday was the day when both my bike repairs were complete and my hatred of the bitter old bus driver culminated in me riding to work for the first time. It was my first time riding on roads with a) other traffic b) regular roundabouts and traffic lights and c) more than one lane to choose from!

Although I was crapping myself all the way there, the return journey in the dark was much better and my new halogen headlight is amazing - you can actually see stuff and everything I think I am finally getting this motorbike thing. Yesterday also marked the point when rather than being scared of how fast my bike is, I began to wish it was a lot faster. It doesn't like the hills all that much. My dad reckons I just need to thrash it a lot more, so I guess I'll try that on Monday.

Unfortunately I caught my boot on a piece of hazardous masonry coming back into sticks-ville and it has shaved a few layers off the side. I'm a bit worried that this has destroyed any waterproof properties my boot once had and I was wondering if it is possible to get some sort of waterproofing / boot repair rubbery goop of some sort to patch it up? Any ideas? By the looks of the damage I don't think the boot is made of leather if that makes a difference.

EDIT: Ok, apparently they are leather...

Paul

[DanceLikeAMon...]

Well done mate.

Once you are riding in traffic all the time you will find you improve dramatically as you haven't really got a lot of choice!

I found that after a month or so of "proper" riding, it is worth having a lesson with an instructor to tell you what you are doing wrong, and what you need to practise.

[meyrick]

Cheers DLAM. That's a good idea, I think I'll do that. I decided in the end to saturate the scuffed patch with waxy shoe pollish. I figure that will keep the water out as well as anything else if I apply it regularly. Probably should be doing that all over the boots anyway.

Just tied up all the loose ends (not literally) in my nest of wiring, stuck in another relay and a second battery for the heated vest and lubricated my chain. I have that contented feeling that everything is done...for now...and the bike is happy. I can't wait to go to work tomorrow! Oops lol

[Will87]

If they are leather all over, invest in some waterproofing wax like i did. Available from most army stores and about 3 quid a tin, last for aggges.

[pipnet11]

On the thrashing it thing, all I can say is dont worry about it. It took me ages to go over 7000 revs on my GS125 untill I noticed thats where all the power was. Also as there was no power lower down I had to thrash it to get to 60 or i had no chance. Red line in 4th was 55, top speed 65. The CG will be almost exactly the same. If its not going up a hill very well nock it down a gear, it wont complain.
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I love the girls that do, I hate the girls that dont, I hate the girls who say they will and then they say they wont, but the girl I like most of all and I think youll say Im right, is the girl who says she never has but looks as though she might. - Max Bygraves

[meyrick]

[ian_s]

Nice one. I followed a friend into work the first few times to get an idea of lane positioning/life savers before venturing in by myself.

Send me a PM when your up for a ride either around Chew or the mendips or even down to Fowlers to have a look at some bikes.

Have fun

Ian

[meyrick]

Yeah, I was going to follow my dad in (him in a car) a couple of times, but 'the day' kept getting postponed for one reason or another. Eventually I just couldn't deal with the bus again. Heh.

Some of the roads round the mendip way are really picturesque from what I've seen. I'd be up for a ride...maybe a bit more practice first though...don't want to slow you down

Paul.

[westendboy7]

Are those bikes 4 stroke or 2 stroke?

[meyrick]

[biggerjohn]

I did the commute thing in London with my 125cc and it is a hell of a learning curve mate.

But ride for yourself and don’t bother trying to keep up with others just concentrate on your position and keep out the gutter, use them mirrors indicators a lot to judge what’s about you and never forget your LIFE SAVER.

Just don’t fall into the trap of trying to match the numptys doing dangerous things and ride for your self mate and you will do fine.

But do take up the offer for a ride about the country is just so different from commuting just remember to set and keep to your own pace that your comfortable with.

[mchaggis]

You really do need to thrash weenie engines to get the best out of them. Just change the oil every 1000-1500 miles or so, and make sure the valve clearances are sorted and you shouldn't have any problems until about 30k miles. Mine gets to just about 60 at the redline in fifth, it is laughably underpowered, but I still need to learn a lot more about cornering.

Practise practise practise.

With leather boots, the more wax polish the better in my book.
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[Zoffo]

The thing people often get wrong when going from cars to bikes is the use of revs. If your used to the sound of a car engine cruising at 1500rpm then 10000 rpm sounds like the engine is about to blow up but that's where all the power is on many bikes. Try attacking the hills above 7000 rpm and accelerate up them.
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[meyrick]

Cheers guys

Been doing a lot better on those hills recently. The bike doesn't start to complain too much until about 11,500 revs Then it's time for a gear change