Page 5 • Who rides a motorcycle? • Non-Gaming • Social • Eurogamer.net

billythekid 10 Jun 2009 16:50:55 12,595 posts
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ScoutTech wrote:
I got all the stories about right back in the real day when they had to go around the block many times one direction, then the other and at any moment the examiner might jump out so you had to make an emergency stop. Manage to survive that and you got a license!

My Dad regales this story all the time, except he done his test when it was raining and the examiner had a big yellow umbrella so he was slightly easy to spot!

chopsen 10 Jun 2009 16:58:12 21,958 posts
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StarchildHypocrethes wrote:
Passing 100mph on it was ridiculously noiosy good fun

*cough* on a track day, obv. *cough*

StarchildHypocrethes 10 Jun 2009 16:59:18 33,974 posts
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Um...ahem....yes....that's precisely what I meant. Whatever else could I have been talking about?

/shifty eyes

Rankin 11 Jun 2009 08:40:03 2,931 posts
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StarchildHypocrethes wrote:
This is my little baby

ooh, I started on an NSR125, too. Had a mate derestrict it as soon as I'd passed my test :-)

It's long gone now, but mine was black with pink(!) and blue detail. I'll see if I can find a pic of the colour scheme.

Here it is!

pinebear 15 Jun 2009 00:13:47 8,571 posts
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There's another peculiar piece of UK motorcyclist body-language - the cross-chest arm wave. As far as I know it means something along the lines of "slow down, danger / speed trap ahead". Is this sort of thing continent-wide? Are there variations or alternate meanings?

Salaman 17 Jun 2009 10:19:40 24,162 posts
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Hmm not seen anything like that yet. I'd probably flash my lights to warn ongoing traffic of a speed trap. The wave sounds like a good option if there's danger ahead. Luckily I've not yet headed into a danger zone so I've never been waved at like that.

I came here to rant though (and then saw that question posted). Who the fuck tailgates a motorbike!? Idiot.

This morning as I was coming onto to the motorway. This involves a nice looooooong left hand turn which tightens a bit before going over into a right hand turn. Fun when it's dry weather.

Just before I went into the turn, a red opel comes and drives up right behind me. My whole left mirror was filled with read radiator grille and a massive opel badge which looked close enough for me to see the remains of the bugs that had splatter against it.

I went through the turn with this joker right off the back of me. It's a 2 lane on-ramp but in the right hand turn it merges into one lane.
On the merging bit, I went next to quite a slow car but he had to stay behind. I zipped onto the motorway and into the fast lane and say a blob or fed merging into the slow lane behind a truck 4-5 cars back and thought "so long fucker!"

About 4 minutes later my mirror fills up with red and silver lighting badge.
To get away from him, I overtook the car in front of me by going between him and the car in the middle lane. The opel went and sat on the car's tail who moved aside about 30 seconds later and I decided to do the same before he gets me killed.
He then went up ahead and went to sit 5 inches off the back of each consecutive car, making his way up through the fast lane traffic despite the heavy traffic.
Fucking cunt. I find it terribly annoying in a car and it's quite dangerous but to go sit behind a bike that closely is just stupidly dangerous. > :-(

chopsen 17 Jun 2009 10:33:17 21,958 posts
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Sounds like a complete twat. I recently got tailgate by White Van Man while on a bike, despite being on the speed limit and there not being much traffic about. Idiot.

The important thing, especially on a bike, is not to let it get to you. If you get pissed off you make mistakes....

FairgroundTown 28 Jun 2009 10:44:01 2,522 posts
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Well count me BACK!

I did a one-day back-to-biking course yesterday - first time I'd ridden in nearly 10 years, and it was cool. I would have failed the test though - couldn't get a CG125 up to 33mph for the swerve/ emergency stop - best I got was 47kph, and that was full-throttle in 2nd, which was the gear the instructor recommended.

Anyways... if anyone is thinking of getting training in the Thames Valley area, I can heartily recommend Lightning, who have bases in Reading and Oxford.

http://www.lightningpass.com/jkcm/

Next stop... new bike - hopefully in about 10 days - CBF125 - decided to go for something small and simple for the first year back, and I'll upgrade after that if I want to.

Rankin 30 Jun 2009 21:53:11 2,931 posts
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I don't know if you've already bought one, but I 'd seriously consider something bigger than a 125 if you're coming back to biking. I think you'd get bored of that within a couple of weeks. I came back to biking after a 10(ish) year break on a Bandit 650 and I love it.

Of course, if this is your first bike ever, disregard that advice and go for it :-)

FairgroundTown 30 Jun 2009 22:20:12 2,522 posts
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I had many happy years on a CG125 back-when, and to be honest, I never yearned for anything bigger - I'm not much of a speed-freak really - the instructor on the training kept telling me to speed up! But, yer - I might change my mind in a year, in which case... I'm sure Mr Honda will be happy to sell me something bigger

Fatiguez 30 Jun 2009 23:13:21 8,930 posts
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I keep reading this thread title in a quizzical, Seinfeld-like voice

Who rides a motorcycle?

warlockuk 30 Jun 2009 23:42:16 19,519 posts
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Those lightningpass prices seem a bit steep... I was looking at a 5-day jobbie later in the year, but I'm fucked if I'm payin' 800 sheets

FairgroundTown 1 Jul 2009 08:33:26 2,522 posts
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Warlockuk - you gets what you pays for, I think. I met some of the guys who were doing the "pass your test in 5 days" thing - we had lunch together - and they were being really kept on-focus, and doing the maneuvers (sp???) again and again until they were right. And the instructors were really good - very detailed and patient coaching - using the intercom to give a running commentary on what you are doing right, and what you can correct. Plus it was one instructor for every two learners, which also makes a BIG difference.

20 years ago (eeek - 20 years ago!) I passed my test with NO instruction, apart from the CBT. But it took 3 attempts*, and the test was MUCH easier back then. If you want to pass first time, I think it would be worth it.

* Failed once because I went very late through some amber/ turning-red lights - kept going, when I should have stopped. And once I skidded the emergency stop - too much back brake.

warlockuk 1 Jul 2009 10:18:34 19,519 posts
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Aye, it's just... �100/day seems pricey to me. /hugs wallet

glaeken 1 Jul 2009 10:23:33 12,070 posts
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If it includes bike hire and insurance that would not be too bad. I did a fast track 5 day course probably around 15 years ago and the cost was not actually that different. It might have even cost more but I don't remember the specifics now.

The one instructor per two students ratio sounds pretty good as well and sounds like you would get all of the attention you would need.

Salaman 1 Jul 2009 10:34:04 24,162 posts
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Been a great week to bike to work.
:-)

Bit hot with all the gear on mind!

BillMurray 1 Jul 2009 12:30:14 9,736 posts
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Has the government decided yet if they're adding an off-road section to part of the test? I thought it was ment to happen last year sometime but I heard a few months ago they've delayed it due to not enough test centres having the proper facilities?

chopsen 1 Jul 2009 12:35:02 21,958 posts
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Yeah, it's up and running, after load of delays. "Off road" being traffic cones on purpose built tarmac'd area, not off road dirt bike extreme stylee

BillMurray 1 Jul 2009 12:36:20 9,736 posts
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Ohhh, not quite what I expected then

warlockuk 1 Jul 2009 12:37:03 19,519 posts
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Aww

Salaman 1 Jul 2009 12:51:21 24,162 posts
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That had me confused until I went and read up on it here

Doesn't this exist currently? In Belgium both car and motorbike licence tests start with some manouvres in a sepcial area near the examination centre before you go out onto the road.

For bikes it's driving over a wooden beam, slow dirving (need to cover a fixed distance of 30 feet or so over a certain minimum time without stalling, stopping or putting a foot down), circle 8, slalom, emergency brake.

You know ... a bit like this. :-)

Salaman 1 Jul 2009 12:58:22 24,162 posts
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also ... wtf at the biker airbag jacket

ScoutTech 1 Jul 2009 13:04:01 2,428 posts
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Salaman wrote:
Been a great week to bike to work.

Bit hot with all the gear on mind!

Yep but also impatient car drivers seem to increase. Had more in the last week than I think I have in ages try and move up inside me if I have passed them! Why do it?!

BillMurray 1 Jul 2009 13:08:27 9,736 posts
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Salaman wrote:
also ... wtf at the biker airbag jacket

I saw some vids of Dainese testing a similar jacket. Looked pretty nifty, and with the their version you could hardly tell it was on the rider.

FairgroundTown 1 Jul 2009 13:12:03 2,522 posts
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The problem with the airbag is that it can't substitute for conventional armor, because there are too many circumstances when it won't go "off". (If I understand correctly, it works by hooking a rip-chord to the bike itself.) I'm all for protective gear, but this seems to be just a gimmick to me.

catterz 1 Jul 2009 13:24:02 8,763 posts
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I'm currently restoring a Yamaha YB 100.

Was sat in a garage for years and with a fresh bit of petrol started first kick. It soon started choking though and after a bit of investigation it turns out a mouse had completely destroyed the inside of the air filter and turned it into a nest. Managed to get a new air-box and filter off eBay and just need a new bit of tubing before I fit it.

When that's sorted I want to get some new brakes for her, repair the seats and get a re-spray and she's brand new.

warlockuk 1 Jul 2009 13:33:38 19,519 posts
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THAT is a sexy machine!

Salaman 1 Jul 2009 14:09:08 24,162 posts
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Nice little bike.

BillMurray 13 Jul 2009 21:55:06 9,736 posts
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Fucking hell. Bike insurance is a hell of a lot cheaper than car insurance.

Just had a little mess around on with some quotes online as i'm looking to start lessons of some sort later in the year and the difference is a bit shocking.

Cheapest TPFT on a 1.8 Civic is about �1300 and cheapest TPFT on a Suzuki SV650 is �183! It's bloomin' madness! Pretty much decided for me then and there which path i'm gonna take I think.

FairgroundTown 16 Jul 2009 18:12:06 2,522 posts
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Had my first truly scary moment on the new bike today - pulling onto the A329 (basically a motorway, although I was on the bit which technically is NOT motorway).

Mirrors - check!

Ready to pull out...

Life-saver - FUUUUUUUUCK - BIG LORRY! ABORT! ABORT!

I guess the life-saver did its job, but I was really cross with myself for not seeing the lorry earlier.

Who rides a motorcycle? • Page 5