Any bikers on here? I done my CBT a few weeks ago and I'm looking to go for my full licence when I get used to riding around in traffic and get the hang of my little Suzuki EN lawnmower
Decided to get into biking as a cheap means of commuting to work and short trips out. I'm loving every minute of it at the moment but you don't half have to keep your wits about you... I've already had a few old farts try and knock me off! Lifesavers are exactly that! To be honest when I go for my full licence I might even stay on a 125cc as going fast doesn't really interest me at this point! Amazing at just how much you take motorways for granted when you can't use them! I'm taking it VERY easy until i get a lot more experience. Counter Steering still feels a bit weird.
This is my little thumper, sounds quite gutsy, will do about 100+mpg, costs about £10 to fill the tank, £15 to tax and will out accelerate my brothers Corsa A lot better then the knackered old Suzuki GN125 that I learnt to ride on.
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Your right to take it easy. Finding your feet and getting a feel for the bike. I have many friends who ride and all started up on similar machines to get used to the characteristics and handling of motorcycles. Over the years they have upgraded to sports/streetfighter type machines and are well and truly hooked.
I really fancy doing my direct access at some point.
Remember, even though you take things easy whilst you learn, many a biker will tell you that a high percentage of accidents involving motorcycles are usually caused by no fault of their own.(ie people pulling out or not seeing them)
Granted some bikers are a hazard to themselves and others but over the years I have lost count of the times I have been to accidents including two tragic fatals where the collisions were caused by people in cars with poor observations.
Not trying to frighten you mate but just take care out there and watch everyone.
I suffer from paranoid amnesia. I can't remember who I don't trust.
Do bears sh1t in the woods?? Does the Pope say prayers on Sunday??
There are loads of us here mate. Nice to see you joining the ranks of the great unwashed.
I bought my first bike in 1975.. a Suzuki GT185N (note that this was in the days when you could buy a 250 and kill yourself on a provisional and they weren't restricted) and got round to taking my test in '78 when I got back from Portugal (rode it there and back minus L plates)
There is one golden rule that you must obey if you intend staying out of hospital or worse.. treat every other road user as a complete idiot, that is, expect them all to do something stupid and be ready for it. Live by this creed and you should be ok. I'm still here 34 years later so it works.. believe me
I agree with all that has been said before. I rode bikes for 19 years straight in the UK (mostly year round), I was a riding instructor for 14 and a riding test examiner for 10. Remember to keep your wits about you at all times and treat every other road use as a complete and utter idiot and never, ever, trust a signal from them until they have completed the signalled manoeuvre.
The only way to survive on two wheels in this day and age is to ride ultra defensively and make sure that you are always protecting your own skin.
When the day comes for you to part company with the bike at anything above walking speed (and you will at some point as all bikers fall off or get knocked off at least once in their biking lifetime) try to relax your body even though the tendency is to stiffen up. The trick to surviving a fall from a motorcycle is to learn how to 'bounce'. I fell off 3 times (in the early years) and got knocked off once (a sales-tit in a Granada pulled onto a roundabout right in front of me as I was heeled over and there was nowhere for me to go except smack into his door, he was looking at the piece of skirt in the passenger seat at the time ) and the worst damage I ever suffered was a torn sleeve on my nylon Belstaff jacket and the arse hanging out of my jeans!
DaveB wrote:
I bought my first bike in 1975.. a Suzuki GT185N
LOL...That was MY first ride too in 1974.
DaveB wrote:There is one golden rule that you must obey if you intend staying out of hospital or worse.. treat every other road user as a complete idiot, that is, expect them all to do something stupid and be ready for it. Live by this creed and you should be ok. I'm still here 34 years later so it works.. believe me
We were typing at the same time Dave and said exactly the same thing......great mind drink alike!
My mate and I picked the bikes up at the same time.. his was the slightly older 185M (JCR 544P) which I'd lent him some dosh for the deposit. Odd cause I never had any money and had to borrow some off my dad. In the meantime, he put the deposit down on that one (slightly cheaper than the N) leaving me with the slightly dearer one (JCR 545P) I did over 21K on that little sweetheart and only changed the engine once Had it painted up to resemble a Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans. Got a hideous pic of me sitting on it somewhere which I'll frighten you all with if I can find it (caution.. the shot shows flared jeans)
Bless my soul Larry.. good one mate
Oh.. btw Jonesey.. that looney Rick has just sold his Z1000 and got a spanking new ZXR10. I am ever so slightly envious
Dave's got it absolutely right. Right defensively at all times, hang back and expect idiotic behaviour. It worked for me as the only accidents I ever had were MY OWN fault
I started in 1962 at 16 and had a Triumph 650 which could just do a tonontheclockflatonthetankdownwesterhamhill before my 17th birthday
A lot better then the knackered old Suzuki GN125 that I learnt to ride on.
I suffer from paranoid amnesia. I can't remember who I don't trust.
) and the worst damage I ever suffered was a torn sleeve on my nylon Belstaff jacket and the arse hanging out of my jeans! 
Had it painted up to resemble a Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans. Got a hideous pic of me sitting on it somewhere which I'll frighten you all with if I can find it (caution.. the shot shows flared jeans) 
