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wots
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Joined: 30 Aug 2012
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PostPosted: 09:19 - 17 Sep 2012    Post subject: Commuting! Reply with quote
Now on my second day of commuting, Friday was a little difficult, heading off down the A3 at 50Mph for the first time, but it was dead quiet which made it easier. Coming back, was trickier much more traffic and pre rush hour. But I got on with it. Only stalled a couple of times, usually because I wasn't in 1st Embarassed

This morning it was a breeze, really easy no issues. Very, Very happy. I did spend a couple of hours just riding around near home, continually navigating junctions, roundabouts (as well as mini). Practicing u-turns in quiet small roads.

I felt much more confident today. Thanks guys

Filled up the bike for the first time, still had a third in but it wasn't brimmed when I got it, I wanted to set it up for using Fuelly. Hence figure below is much lower than you might expect, for now.
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Currently: Yamaha DT 125 LC2,Repsol Fireblade, and Bumblebee MSX 125
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dungbug
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Joined: 05 Feb 2012
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PostPosted: 09:29 - 17 Sep 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
The more you ride the more natural it will feel, good idea to ride around near home to get some miles built up. Ride safe. Thumbs Up
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CBT: Pass 25/06/2011 Theory Test: Pass12/06/2012 Mod 1: Fail 08/07/2012
Mod 1 Retest: Pass 15/0702012 Mod 2: Pass 03/08/2012
Suzuki GN125 (Sold) ~ Current bike: Yamaha YZF 600R Thundercat
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Kradmelder
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Joined: 13 Jun 2012
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PostPosted: 09:33 - 17 Sep 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
Just be careful your confidence doesnt grow faster than your experience. Take it easy for at least 6 months, which is when crashes happen.

Like dont filter just yet, dont go much faster than the traffic, and watch every car at intersections in case they turn in front of you. Dont rely on just their indicators.
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS
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wots
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Joined: 30 Aug 2012
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PostPosted: 10:31 - 17 Sep 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kradmelder wrote:
Just be careful your confidence doesnt grow faster than your experience. Take it easy for at least 6 months, which is when crashes happen.

Like dont filter just yet, dont go much faster than the traffic, and watch every car at intersections in case they turn in front of you. Dont rely on just their indicators.


Thanks for this Thumbs Up , although have been mindful of getting comfortable and then letting my guard down.
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Currently: Yamaha DT 125 LC2,Repsol Fireblade, and Bumblebee MSX 125
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Knightsy
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Joined: 21 Jun 2012
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PostPosted: 10:56 - 17 Sep 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kradmelder wrote:
Just be careful your confidence doesnt grow faster than your experience. Take it easy for at least 6 months, which is when crashes happen.

Like dont filter just yet, dont go much faster than the traffic, and watch every car at intersections in case they turn in front of you. Dont rely on just their indicators.

+1

I didn't start my filtering until good 8 months into riding, when I got the hang of the basics.
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Kradmelder
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Joined: 13 Jun 2012
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PostPosted: 12:06 - 17 Sep 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
You can also start practicing low speed riding, dragging your rear brake and keep the clutch in the friction zone. Do it on empty roads first. Until you can ride straight at like 5-10 mph. You will need this to filter.

Avoid using your front brake at very low speeds, especially if your front wheel is a bit turned, or down you will go!
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS
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shereen
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Joined: 15 Mar 2011
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PostPosted: 12:11 - 17 Sep 2012    Post subject: Re: Commuting! Reply with quote
wotsthestory wrote:
Now on my second day of commuting, Friday was a little difficult, heading off down the A3 at 50Mph for the first time, but it was dead quiet which made it easier. Coming back, was trickier much more traffic and pre rush hour. But I got on with it. Only stalled a couple of times, usually because I wasn't in 1st Embarassed

This morning it was a breeze, really easy no issues. Very, Very happy. I did spend a couple of hours just riding around near home, continually navigating junctions, roundabouts (as well as mini). Practicing u-turns in quiet small roads.

I felt much more confident today. Thanks guys

Filled up the bike for the first time, still had a third in but it wasn't brimmed when I got it, I wanted to set it up for using Fuelly. Hence figure below is much lower than you might expect, for now.


Where do you live and work? Your profile shows you are close to me and I commute to Kingston on the A3. We can be commuting buddies Laughing
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wots
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Joined: 30 Aug 2012
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PostPosted: 12:12 - 17 Sep 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kradmelder wrote:
You can also start practicing low speed riding, dragging your rear brake and keep the clutch in the friction zone. Do it on empty roads first. Until you can ride straight at like 5-10 mph. You will need this to filter.

Avoid using your front brake at very low speeds, especially if your front wheel is a bit turned, or down you will go!

During the CBT instructor kept saying busy throttle, dragging rear brake and holding clutch so it's just slipping. Couldn't do this, just managed to rev the tits off it everytime I came to a cone Smile. Did this yesterday when practicing a 'u' turn and it started to come to me.
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Kradmelder
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Joined: 13 Jun 2012
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PostPosted: 12:25 - 17 Sep 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
wotsthestory wrote:
Kradmelder wrote:
You can also start practicing low speed riding, dragging your rear brake and keep the clutch in the friction zone. Do it on empty roads first. Until you can ride straight at like 5-10 mph. You will need this to filter.

Avoid using your front brake at very low speeds, especially if your front wheel is a bit turned, or down you will go!

During the CBT instructor kept saying busy throttle, dragging rear brake and holding clutch so it's just slipping. Couldn't do this, just managed to rev the tits off it everytime I came to a cone Smile. Did this yesterday when practicing a 'u' turn and it started to come to me.


You need to get it right. Learning to ride slow in a straight line is essential in traffic. Imagine the embarrassment of riding in 1st, but cant go slow enough so you apply brake while your handlebars wobble. And you eat pavement. or fall into the door of a cage.

easy hand movements on throttle and clutch until you can control speed. a bit of rear brake will make it more stable. You will master it quick.

Ja, like they taught you, but now you will have less room and it is not a cone but a cage next to you. And you have to watch traffic as well.

get your basics right and the rest is just defensive riding, looking ahead, anticipating what an idiot a few cars away will do. Soon it will become second nature and you will enjoy the commute.

And if you are looking far enough ahead you can spot the bird in a low cut top several cages away and filter to a point where you can look down into her cage Mr. Green
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS
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wots
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Joined: 30 Aug 2012
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PostPosted: 12:28 - 17 Sep 2012    Post subject: Re: Commuting! Reply with quote
shereen wrote:

Where do you live and work? Your profile shows you are close to me and I commute to Kingston on the A3. We can be commuting buddies Laughing


Crashalton > Walton-On-Thames so I go from Raynes Park all the way to the turn off just before the 50 limit turns into an NSL.

Black CBF125 on a '62 plate with a White Lid, wobbling along (not so much now, thankfully).

Was it just me, or was it a little gusty along there this morning?

P.S. I did mis-type my place of departure, but I like the way it looks now so left it. Hope it's not an omen! Shocked
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wots
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Joined: 30 Aug 2012
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PostPosted: 12:30 - 17 Sep 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kradmelder wrote:

And if you are looking far enough ahead you can spot the bird in a low cut top several cages away and filter to a point where you can look down into her cage Mr. Green


One step at a time though eh? Can I do this step first though? Smile
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Kradmelder
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Joined: 13 Jun 2012
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PostPosted: 12:37 - 17 Sep 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote
wotsthestory wrote:
Kradmelder wrote:

And if you are looking far enough ahead you can spot the bird in a low cut top several cages away and filter to a point where you can look down into her cage Mr. Green


One step at a time though eh? Can I do this step first though? Smile


Didnt your instructor teach you where your head and eyes turn, there your bike will go? You must resist this temptation or your bike will swerve into her door and you will take a a dive.

First look ahead, stop at the tactical point where you dominate the high ground and have unrestricted view of the valley below, and then stare away Mr. Green

Some ogling, smiles, hand gestures etc, can then come in once you have learnt to have free hands and hold the bike with your left thigh while right foot is on the brake. This makes all sorts of gentlemanly hand gestures with 2 hands possible. Mr. Green
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS
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Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 13 years, 172 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
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