First ride back... and I didn't kill myself!

[Recluso]

Which is probably always a good thing

As some of you folks probably remember/know, I decided to plow into the side of a taxi in early October which left me with a mangled wrist, also known as the bionic arm!

Well, after 3 months of no bike, I was given the all clear and went out on the road for the first time today. Big props to the lovely Clive down at Road-2-Freedom who took me out for an hour which was a massive confidence boost in itself! And it all went just grand. Couple of things to tweak (mostly hesitation based confidence issues) and only got actually jittery when we drove over 'The Junction'. Twice.

Slight change of plan though! And that is, no more DAS! Test is still planned though, it'll just mean a 2 year restriction as, after much discussion, it was felt that the big ol' Suzuki GS500's that they use for their DAS tests might not actually be the best bike for me, given my... lack of stature and that I would probably be more confident doing the test on my own 125cc until I found a bigger bike that fitted me a little better.

E: Oh, and the bike took a little more damage than I was lead to believe. Not sure of the exact details, but apparently the insurance wanted to write it off!

So there we have it. I'm alive. I'll be back on the bike. And I promise not to drive into any more taxis.
____________________
'Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.'
Honda PS125i > Yamaha YBR125 > Yamaha XJ6 Diversion > Yamaha Tracer 900

[TheDonUK]

You cant be much smaller than 5'4?

Even us shorties have no real problems with GS500's and the like...

You dont need to flatfoot with both feet..
____________________
[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[waffles]

Good to hear you got back in the saddle as soon as possible though, good on ya! Good luck with your tests too
____________________
Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[Recluso]

[goto10]

for getting back in the saddle and carrying on with the training!
____________________
'12 NC700S & '12 CB600F Hornet [Stolen by some dickless twat] Suzuki GT500 shed

[DrDonnyBrago]

I did my DAS with Clive, decent fella. He was in the local papers not long ago for saving some people from a burning block of flats as he was passing by (ex fireman IIRC).


Anyway, good to hear you are getting back in the saddle. The longer you leave it the worse it is.

[defblade]

33bhp is fine for sensible(ish) road riding.

You're still pretty much the fastest thing about, until you get to motorway speeds and above; even then you'll hold your own OK (between maybe 80-90 (I've been told. #cough#)), just no blasting off into the distance.

And 2 years isn't really that long (although time does seem to be slowing as the end of mine approaches... ).
____________________
Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[Recluso]

I'm going to ask a silly question here, but how do restrictors work? I appreciate they limit the power but how is it they do that? More to the point, how does it affect the feel to ride when you're 'maxed out' as it were? i.e. does it just feel like they won't 'go' any faster, or is it more like a 125 where you're inevitably redlining it to get that bit more oomph out of it?

The limit doesn't bother me. My plan has turned to: Get back on bike > Get confidence up > Test when able > Find something with a little more 'go' when feel ready to step up.

I'm not looking for super speed anyhow. Just something I can use to get where I want to go including having the ability to progressively use the motorway if needed.
____________________
'Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.'
Honda PS125i > Yamaha YBR125 > Yamaha XJ6 Diversion > Yamaha Tracer 900

[hedgehugger]

I've had a bike restricted in the carbs. It could still do a ton, and as it was the first bike I'd ridden after a 125 it felt like I could fly

After I sold that my next bike had a throttle stop, That was awful. It was noticeable when you tried to twist the throttle, it didn't go anywhere. The bike still went from 0 to silly speed and could still get above the speed limit though, no problem.

Most restrictions will be un-noticeable.

[Diddylord]

Well done for getting back on the bike.

I'm not much taller than you if at all I have a 28" leg and started off on a ybr 125 which fitted me fine.

I now have a honda cbf 500 shown in the link below and I find it fine even at my height and arm reach I think the bars have been rotated since I first started ridding it ( long story) but I find it really comfortable.

it is restricted on the throttle cable so that it u hit a throttle stop early. this allows the bike to run and rev freely through the gears and accelerate as far as I can tell normally. I have had 90 + out of it and it would probably do more but it gets there very quick tbf. I can highly recommend that you try one of these as they are fantastic bikes for people of our size.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=92493&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=2300

good luck with getting your tests passed

[Recluso]

[Conon]

[Recluso]

Balls of my feet, smarty-pants!
____________________
'Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.'
Honda PS125i > Yamaha YBR125 > Yamaha XJ6 Diversion > Yamaha Tracer 900

[Kickstart]

[defblade]

[Rogerborg]

Get in while the getting's good. A is A, in the final analysis.

All I remember of the original incident is a Batman shirt full of boobs. How are they? Not to knocked about, I trust.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Recluso]

Thanks for clarifying the workings of restricters. I had ideas as to how they worked but it's nice to know for sure.

And yes Roger, the boobs are just fine. As was the Batman t-shirt
____________________
'Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.'
Honda PS125i > Yamaha YBR125 > Yamaha XJ6 Diversion > Yamaha Tracer 900

[Kickstart]

[MadCatLady]

Well done Bionic Woman for getting back on your bike
Pleased to hear you are feeling better and good luck for when you take your tests.
I am taller than you, but have short legs. I am thinking about moving on to either a Suzuki Gladius or ER6-N after doing my tests. I like the look of them and both are 'short-leg friendly'.
____________________
CBT - 06/07/11 Theory passed - 19/09/11 Module 1 - 00/00/00 Module 2 - 00/00/00

Yamaha YBR 125

[Recluso]

[maccidees2002]

Congrats on the recovery and getting back on.

I'm 5'2" and inside leg of 28" so thought I would struggle passed and got my xj600 which I had to have the seat shaved a little to feel better height wise but I have just switched to a cbr600f and can barely tiptop with both feet but with a bum slide and thinking about road position etc I have been getting along really well with it.

Loads of help on the short arse sticky! and found it really useful.

Dont let your reach put you off too much but in the end its how comfy and confident you feel.

Good Luck
____________________
Theory= 11/3/2011 , C.B.T= 11/3/2011 , Mod 1= 14/3/2011 , Mod 2 18/3/2011.
Bikes= 1992 xj600s & 1998 cbr600

[Recluso]