Classic British Flight Sim

Indeed, I never go out unless I've got all my gear on. Its a bit hot but when you get going it's not so bad. I also wear a high visibility jacket and ride in the middle of the road at least 2 seconds behind the car in front as I was taught on my CBT. Each time I manoeuvre, I always check the rear and the blind spots before and I'm always on the lookout for other cars that might pull out.
I think after a long ride today I'm getting used to counter steer, I don't even notice I'm doing it now. I've also noticed that you get nods and little waves from other bikers
I've grown rather fond of this little bike now, it's not really geared for high speed but it doesn't half accelerate when you give it some juice Tends to get blown around a bit on dual carriageways but I would expect that on a light bike.

There is, of course, a protocol to waving to other bikers.

I think this explains it pretty well.

Jon


To Wave or Not to Wave
By Shalom Auslander

I love motorcycles, and I love riding. Like many of you, what first drew me to bikes was not just the experience of riding, but the feeling that I'd become part of a special community: a brotherhood, really. Nothing calms me more than a long ride down the interstate, waving to the members of my beloved clan. Except when I pass Harley guys. I hate Harley guys. Hate, hate, hate. When they pass me on the highway, you know what I do? I don't wave. With their little tassle handlebars and the studded luggage and the half-helmets: God, they drive me crazy.

You know who else I hate? BMW guys. Oh, I do hate those guys. I don't wave at them, either. They think they're so great, sitting all upright, with their 180-degree German engines. God, I hate them. They're almost as bad as those old bastards on their touring motorcycles. You know what I call those bikes? "Two-wheeled couches!" Get it? Because they're so big. They drive around like they've got all day. Appreciate the scenery somewhere else, Grampa, and while you're at it, I'm not waving to you.

Ducati guys: I don't wave at them either. Why don't they spend a little more money on their bikes? "You can have it in any color you want, as long as it's red." Aren't you cool! Like they even know what a desmo-whatever engine is, anyway. Try finding the battery, you Italian-wannabe racers! I never, ever wave at those guys.

Suzuki guys aren't much better, which is why I never wave at them, either. They always have those stupid helmets sitting on top of their stupid heads, and God forbid they should wear any safety gear. They make me so mad. Sometimes they'll speed by and look over at me and you know what I do? I don't wave. I just keep on going. Please, don't get me started on Kawasaki guys. Ninjas? What are you, twelve years old? Team Green my ass. I never wave at Kawasaki guys.

I ride a Honda, and I'll only wave at Honda guys, but even then, I'll never wave at a guy in full leathers. Never, never, never. Yeah, like you're going to get your knee down on the New York Thruway. Nice crotch, by the way. Guys in full leathers will never get a wave from me, and by the way, neither will the guys in two-piece leathers. And I'll tell you who else I'm not waving at: those guys with the helmets with the loud paintjobs. Four pounds of paint on a two pound helmet; like I'm going to wave back to that! I'll also never wave at someone with a mirrored visor. Or helmet stickers. Or racing gloves. Or hiking boots.

To me, motorcycling is a like a family, a close-knit brotherhood of people who ride Hondas, wear jeans and a leather jacket (not Vanson) with regular gloves and a solid-color helmet with a clear visor, no stickers, no racing gloves and regular boots (not Timberlands). And isn't that what really makes riding so special?

Made me laugh too Eric and in that spirit, I hope you enjoy these..

Loved those pictures Dave,although first impressions were that you were anticipating an urgent call of nature!

I'm quite the opposite. If I'm feeling charitable, I'll nod to moped riders too. Gives em a sense of urgency to get rid of what they're on and pass their bloody test

It was common years ago for bikers of a certain age, forced by accumulating a wife, sprog and perhaps a hound, to make the great step into covered motoring and buy a Reliant Robin.. easy because a full 2-wheel license means you can drive a 3-wheeler without any further tests. Like the motorcycle community of which they were once part, Reliant drivers also used to flash or wave to each other

Oh Jonesey.. I guess you mean you're riding toward the middle of the road and not on it. Bang On Of course.. it depends on the type of road you're on. On many country roads, riding toward the middle may spell disaster as you'll find that car drivers have great difficulty in keeping to their side of the road.. especially when confronted with a bend! On those types of roads.. I tend to keep to the middle of my side should some 4-wheeled herbert lose the plot. Even this has it's pitfalls because when it's been raining and crap gets washed all over the place, it tends to settle (forced there by car wheels) smack where you want to be leaving you about a 2 foot width on one side (toward the oncomming herberts) or 2 foot t'other side and the verge! The road alongside the pub is one such road and I HATE it with a passion Then.. there are the ribbons of black that twist and turn for as far as the eye can see. Makes you feel good to be alive

ATB

DaveB

Blimey.... that 70's shot on the GT185 sums the scene up for me .... LOVE the jacket Dave! Do you still have the Jeans? (BTW the trike's a cracker too!!)

Jonesey..... stay safe

Hi Jim

I sold the jacket on to another matelot.. from Sutton Coldfield. The jeans.. well, believe it or not, I might still have em though it's likely the 2nd Mrs B binned em along the way somewhere

ATB

DaveB

I'm back on 2 wheels after a break of 6 years or so. Went and bought myself a new Yamaha FZ6 S2. When I grow up I'd like a Kawasaki Z1000 but I'll be paying off the FZ6 for some time to come

Done a few mods to it:

Twin underseat Scorpion cans minus the baffles
Tail Tidy
Bellypan
Flyscreen
Trojan wing mirrors
Smoked LED brake light
Smoked indicators lenses - couldn't get orange bulbs so bought yellow... matches the bike at least

On the to do list:

Braided brake hoses
LED indicators
Seat cowl
Luggage for touring
HID headlight upgrade?
Rizoma wing mirrors

Oh well, I've gone and come off, was going to happen sooner or later I suppose.
It was raining and as I was slowing down for a set of red lights I didn't spot the manhole cover (was concentrating on pulling up behind the stopped car in front)... front end slid out from under me and as I tried to regain control I was thrown off.
Not too much damage to the bike, just a bent peg, missing mirror, slight scuff on the end of the exhaust and front mudguard. Can get new parts on ebay cheap enough.
I'm ok myself, just a few scratches and a bruised shoulder that is rather sore but should be ok in a week or so. Helmet took a whack so I reckon Ill need a new lid as its got a scrape on the side. I was a bit shaken up and will take it extra-extra-extra easy in the wet from now on. Saying that though, I wasn't the only biker in A&E yesterday...

Deary do Mark

As you say.. it was gonna happen at some time. Thank goodness it was a slow speed prang. You will, in time, develop a 6th sense where manhole covers are concerned. We all understand they're where they are rather than where we'd want them but they will remain a pain in the butt for motorcyclists until the day we're all on hover-bikes

Glad you got away with minor damage to both you and the bike. I was never fussed about me getting hurt as skin will heal. New bits cost money

Don't let it put you off mate

ATB

DaveB

Hi Guys

Also had a GT185N (metallic Blue) NPL 639R was the reg

loved it to bits.

but had a big crash on it on Diesel in Kingston one way system outside the bus garage and ended up with a broken neck (v6 is where the break was which aparently is dodgey)

was told i would never walk again and all that rubbish (was riding my GT250 4 weeks afterwards)

don't remember the accident even to this day which is very odd but having seen what was left of the poor ol GT185 i am glad i don't remember it

Mr B i will post some pics of the new 10R later just to turn you more green

I seem to be home from shoreham far quicker than the others too (it wasn't me officer)

Regards
Rick