Motors Motorcycle Mayhem

I think my main problem was too much confidence, typical know it all bloke , what can I do

Could be something in the surface though as it just gave way so easy, though I should have appropriate control of the bike whatever the surface.

Used the back brake but I have to say its pretty useless, not that I'm blaming the bike it was pure rider error, too focussed on hitting 32mph through the speed traps, quite difficult in the space available on my little bike with me being 20 odd stone.

 

Better to crash on a private test track with no oncoming vehicles or solid roadside detritus, and realise that you're not competent, than doing so on the busy highways. When I lived in London, I had to swerve at faster speeds than in that test, due to being cut up. Running out of skill on the road is only good for funeral directors.

 

i got back from the isle of man today, anybody else go?

 

Not only that but it rains on the road too, or you come across an unavoidable patch of gravel, or a manhole cover or any number of other things. Even with the old test you had to be travelling at a reasonable speed for the emergency stop, if they examiner though you rode too slowly they would fail you.

Moriquendi

 

I got my first bike yesterday, a Honda 125 Varadero. Got to sort out some jeans/boots etc, and insurance before I can ride it though.

Any recommendations for insurance? I have 2 claims on my car recently (hit a deer) which I hope wont affect it too much.

 

Congrats Wide bars and big-bike dimensions I presume that'll go better than a CG125 seeing as it has two cylinders, it will probably feel less wheezy?

Hit up something like www.thebikeinsurer.com and it'll do a decent comparison of a bunch of insurers for you.

Enjoy, and be safe

edit: also, pics!!!!

 

Pics!





(I removed my L plates for the photos )

 

Hand guards, wide bars, v-twin, and it looks quite tall and appears to have quite a bit of bounce too.

You'll be buying a Supermoto next

 

Anyone see the MotoGP yesterday? What a race, the last 5 laps were motor racing at its absolute best iplayer link and skip to 1 hour 7 mins if you don't wanna watch it all!

 

The end of the 125s and the aftermath were pretty entertaining, too.

 

MotoGP was epic, I love it when you get a massively entertaining few laps like that. The benefits of narrow vehicles and wide tracks.

 

I can't guess 90% of the cars in 'Guess the Car' thread because they never made it to the US and now you come up with a cycle to run out and buy and IT'S not available in the US.

I need to sell the farm in Iowa and get a part year home in the UK!

john

 

Never mind...

 

There's also a larger version of it, an 1100 I think. Personaly I don't like the big enduro bikes but each to their own and I'm sure there are things for which they're really good.

I pulled up beside a BMW HP2 Sport yesterday I want that bike.

Moriquendi

 

What did you do with yours? Very nice bike and disappeared? I had my Harley but my little brother couldn't kick start it - backfire nearly broke his ankle - so he had BSAs and a Triumph Trident?(sound right for 69-70 era) .

john

 

There's actually quite a lot of bikes, it seems, that we get over here that don't make it over to you guys in the US

Love those bikes One was in a group ride I went out on last Saturday, very, very imposing to have in your mirrors

 

The back end of those BMWs are just awesome

Anyway, did anyone else go on the Plymouth Megaride last Sunday, 10,000 bikes turned out, it was amazing, pretty much, think of a bike... it was there...

 

More pics, finally got round to taking some from a different angle

 

Traded a jailbroken iPhone 2G 16 gig, a G4 Mac laptop 1.5 etc, and a ipod mini for a Honda Shadow VT 125. Need to get a CBT booked, ride around on that to get some experience and get my proficiency up.

Also need a new lid, gloves and boots - got a jacket already.
Pics once she's roadworthy and shiny.

Joe

 

Cool, the Shadow was the bike I almost bought, nice big looking bike for a 125.