Returning

[colincampsite]

After some time out I have returned to biking and bought a Burgman 650 on which I will pass my test this Thursday 9th Feb. My hopes and plans are to see as much of the world in the 20 or so years left to me. I am 71 and excited about it all.
I have joined here to help me formulate plans and listen to the extensive advice of fellow members.
For 16 years I lived in Spain and looked after my wife, traveling in our camper van almost everywhere. Now she has gone and I have the future to myself.
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Colincampsite

[grr666]

Sounds like a plan. I'm not sure a Burgman is a great choice for a long tour, but if you are imaginative with luggage
then you can make it work. Remember that in some countries they may not have availability of parts and consumables so keep
your bike maintained as much as possible in those that do. Carrying spare tyres may be helpful. Also worth noting
that some roads you may find aren't really all that roadlike. Make sure you wire in numerous power points to the bike,
learn some motorcycle repair basics and how to get your own wheels off, you may need to. Best of luck with your test mate.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Rogerborg]

Sorry to hear about your wife, and best of luck with the test(s) and your touring plans.

Just so we're on the same page, are you doing your test(s) in the UK? Do you have an instructor riding to the test centre with you? I'll save the rest until we know this.

I reckon a Burgman 650 is ideal for at least European touring. Plenty of built in space, and you can add a top box or panniers for more. Remember that scooters are much more popular pretty much everywhere else than in the UK.
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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

[colink98]

Welcome fellow Colin.
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PCX125 (stolen) - CBF600 (current)
Ride it like you stole it.
ride sensible and not like an idiot and you wont get 6 points in one week.

[Azoth]

It was my understanding that you have to join an autoescuela and pass the tests on their bike in Spain.
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Safety in numbers

[colincampsite]

I rode in Spain on a 125 for which I took my test in the UK in 1996. Now I have got a 650 and am taking the bigger test. Module 2 is tomorrow (9th) and I have been using a Training School here in the North East. They have been excellent and I feel very confident.
One summer we were on Lake Garda when 3 old German lads turned up on their big bikes and tents. I thought, when I have the chance, that's for me. Now's my chance.
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Colincampsite

[Rogerborg]

[Azoth]

He's talking about the CBT, and is, I suspect, a bit of a naughty boy playing loose and fast with the rules, pleading ignorance with his 250cc and no-L-plates etc. Tbh the police in Spain aren't the brightest and it's quite probable that they wouldn't tug an old guy riding illegally for years. A young man from the UK is a football thug, an old man from the UK is a harmless, wealthy old expat, especially if he dresses like one, etc.

He did his first CBT in 1996, which activated AM or p category grandfather rights, permanently. He worked his story for Spanish plod out at that time. Then he did another more recently so he could take a mod 1. The whole plan was to plead ignorance of licensing laws since 1978 if stopped.
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Safety in numbers

[Rogerborg]

That ass-u-me could do with some liposuction, given that the CBT is purely a UK fiction and has never granted an actual 125cc license.

Also, OP has already completed mod 1, which requires motorcycle theory and a CBT, so doesn't sound like he's been giving it the #Baklahf attitude to licensing.
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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

[Azoth]

That was just his first CBT back in 1996. He's done another one recently so he could present it to the mod 1 examiner.

'Wot, oy did me 125 loycence' is the basic story and plea of ignorance he intentionally coined for himself in Spain. Of course he knew the CBT wasn't any form of licence. But he probably won't admit he knew, even to this day.

Twenty to one odds that this guy's a confident character. Wouldn't surprise me if he's been institutionalised for a long period to get that confident with human nature. Maybe jailed or borstalled or a long armed forces stint. Probably still willing to surreptitiously drink and drive. Only the good die young, and this is an old fox.
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Safety in numbers

[Evil Hans]

[Rogerborg]

[BTTD]

So anyone who moved to Spain must be an ex lag cos that's where they all go, right?
You missed the cockney accent and connections to a Larndon firm.

[Azoth]

[BTTD]

Rufous, genuine question, do you actually know this guy in real life? It just seems like quite a lot to lay at his feet if you don't.

[Evil Hans]

[Rogerborg]

[Matt B]

[Azoth]

[colincampsite]

Rufous is not me or he would have been looking after his own wife for 16 years in Spain because she had dementia and then had to return to the UK where she recently passed away.
One of the highlights for her was to ride as pillion while the cool breeze off the blue Med. cooled her smiling face.
I was legally entitled to ride a 125 on my licence both here and in Spain.
The Spanish Guardia do not show any favours towards older people, expats or even Man. City supporters like me.
I merely wanted to share that, although to me life seemed to have ended when they put her into a home 18 months ago, there is hope and I am determined to get the most out of the remaining 20 or so years.
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Colincampsite

[Azoth]

[colincampsite]

All I can say is that in Spain I was legally OK to ride up to 125.
You ask the local cops who stopped me many times to check my paperwork.
Anyway, I didn't register on this site to be confrontational. I used to be the first one in there but I think old age has taken it's toll and I just want to meet and talk with fellow bikers who have a sense of fun and adventure and self-preservation.
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Colincampsite

[Azoth]

OK, so you can't answer that one. It says it all.

I called it how it is. I said you're a bad guy, but I didn't say you lacked balls.

The bottom line about this site is, a lot of people here have a problem with pikeys and chavs for understandable reasons. For example, they steal bikes and/or ride illegally in other ways. They cause problems for others. However, the only difference between how things roll in your case and others like yourself is 1) age, 2) Spain. I don't think it makes it right, when you break the same laws as young delinquents here, just because you're older and in another country.

Now, these people don't get it. Majority of them never had the balls to even go and live in a nearby country like Spain, and so don't have our experiences. and those that did were often no good. Some people nearly your age have even boasted on this site about running cocaine across the border between France and Spain in the 80s. That's not cool with me. There's a contingent here that doesn't find it acceptable but, as you can see, there's also the get-pissed-in-a-muddy-field contingent here who knows little else that finds it OK. Those guys should just enemy me and not expect I'll do a Tef and let them get on... There are certain values I respect. I don't like people on the borderline (i.e. breaking stolen bikes, fiddling accounts or whatever they deny). But it's a big forum and you get all sorts.

I know you can talk me into a hole on this as you've had decades of experience talking your way out of stuff. I don't have your experience on that. But personally, I did things the hard way in UK, Spain and elsewhere. I've come down hard on chavs and I like to be consistent and not hypocritical.
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Safety in numbers

[colincampsite]

OK, I can accept someone who speaks their mind sincerely, if a touch blunt (rude?) because they believe in what they say. Or say what they believe.
So you have that on your side. Honesty. Furthermore you are entitled to your views and the opportunity to express them.
Don't imagine though that all expats and older people are like some you have met who you took a dislike towards.
For some reason you think I am a bad guy but I can assure you I am not. You will have to take my word for it.
Pikeys were called gypos where I came from. They were amongst my best customers and always friendly and paid on the nail and yet they still nicked our flags and coping stones. Doesn't make them all bad.
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Colincampsite

[andyscooter]

you could take a test on a 125 in 1996 and it upgraded automatically to a full licence
he probably could ride a bigger bike if he wanted to but didn't


I was going to do this in 2001 but as I have stated many times on here my scooter broke and the school lent me a bigger geared bike so I did it on that instead
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet