All Activity

Thanks for the comments. The Peugeot was pre registered and heavily discounted. Im obviously hoping it will be ok. Some good advice about looking after the engine in the replies. I will take heed and fingers crossed.

Did that course and the test myself. Quite an informative course. I was lucky to have an experienced Police motorcyclist as my observer, he lived in the real world which was great. I think it's a good course, and, as I did, you'll probably learn some valuable lessons. But if you expect to get any insurance discounts after you pass your test, you probably won't, or at least that was my experience anyway. As @wastedyears1981 said, no training is wasted, as long as you take from it what you need, and are open and receptive to criticism where warranted. I'm no longer a Road smart member, but I couldn't really fault the course. Best of luck with it

Had a Voge 125r before passing the DAS.... Very well made and good bike. You get a lot of bike for your money. One I had was liquid cooled, full ABS, USB charger and colour display. Didn't have any problems whatsoever with it. Parts such as air/oil filters, F and R sprockets easily bought. Not so sure what the support is for parts that are none service

Just signed up for the Bike Safe course with the local plod. Doesn't matter what you do ... Any training either road or track is beneficial for being safer on the road.

Similarly, I could come to a feet up full stop, pause, the ride off no wobbles on my VFR and the ST1100, but none of the bigger bikes since. The local Blood Bike group held a slow riding day last year and I did ok then. Not so today, though. I need to nail it ahead of our tour in September

@Steve_M I found slow speed on my ZZR really easy, even though I hadn't ridden for 24 years. This V-strom though, I'm all over the place. I know it's a much higher centre of gravity, but still, I wobble like a wobbly wobbling thing

Who's local(ish) to Stoke? Looking for riding buddies since moving to the area. I'm happy to ride with anyone regardless of CC!

I’m not finding / making time to get out on the bike much this year. Too busy with home projects, lots of family staying, friends visiting, holiday, etc. I had to run an errand to Brampton, our local town, four miles away. Usually done in the car, I chose the bike. Also filled it up ( @ £1.33.9 / litre). On my return I practiced my slow speed riding up our drive. I was rubbish*. So I’ll be going out and practicing more over the coming weeks.

See if you can find some pictures of a more well known Lexmoto it resembles. So if you speak to an insurance company. It might help to say it's a similar model. At least then the insurance company would have an idea how to rate it. Direct bikes are not the best company to buy from, unless they have changed considerably. They got done by trading standards years ago for having no spares backup. Just a link to Lexmoto spares site. I would definitely do a PDI on the bike before riding it.

I always think of the Top Gear Peugeot drivers. Sorry can't help it, it makes me laugh.

Good job. Makes you wonder what the OP put on the insurance forms.

Am I correct in saying oil becomes acidic over time/use, so starts to degrade the material the belts are made from?

Great find! Perfect budget solution for keeping gear dry.

Huddersfield. I am thinking Earnshaws Motorcycles. A very long established business with a good reputation. OR Huddersfield Kawasaki Centre. A similarly long established business with a good rep. DC motorcycles. Been around for 30 years or so. Used to be a motorcycle breakers back in the day. Reputation unknown. Rock up, jump on and ride...

I have to confess...... I used the heated seats in my pick-up this morning. It was freakin chilly.

Froggy is quite correct. Wet belt engine.. Main dealer servicing only and on time as they know the correct oil ect has been used during the service. If it fails during the warranty period then fine and dandy. It is after the warranty period that service history really becomes important when / if the belt fails before its stated time and you are pursuing a "goodwill" claim towards the cost of repairs. And never, ever ask for an engine flush at service time with a wet belt engine. Seems there is a growing feeling in the trade that it can chemically damage the belt. Engine flushes are BS and not required if the oil is changed regularly. There is also growing evidence that a regular oil change using the correct oil reduces the chances of failure drastically and many of the failing belts are a product of a poor servicing regimen. Many vehicles, serviced on or before time at main dealers are actually reaching their stated belt change interval. Wet belts. A product of the devil and idiotic politicians.

I’ve seen a couple of posts from people who have described themselves as short and asking for advice about choosing a bike. The attached article appears to address the question. I haven’t read it all as it doesn’t apply to me. I hope it’s helpful. Article link

I went with a mate to Old Stores, had brekky, then went to Wrenbury for a coffee at Berries cafe. Unfortunately the cafe was closed as they were catering for a funeral gathering so I used Google maps to find the nearest place for coffee. We ended up at No.18 which is less than 3 miles away. It's a very classy coffee/tea place doing afternoon teas for the mostly lady clientele. It all looked very refined, not your usual haunt for a couple of scruffy bikers but we were made very welcome and well looked after. There was one other male present. As we got up to leave, donned our jackets and helmets, he looked up, our eyes met across the room, and I could read his mind - he was thinking - "You lucky lucky bast*rds."

Eek ! Wet belt engine. Be very careful and try to maintain perfect warranty record, if it does go wrong you want to be in a position to demand complete replacement engine. These things are a lottery it may equally last the distance but worth being cautious. The Mini all day long for me. Good luck. Cheers Ian

Hi I would also check breakers for a similar vintage GT550 as loads of these ended up on the despatch/rental circuit and there should still be plenty of parts kicking about. Cheers Ian

Those old Celicas were nice cars. What worries me is that these days given a choice between a Celica and an old Volvo I'd go for the Volvo.

The 208 is a PureTech wet belt engine. Keep the Mini. They don't have a great reputation in terms of build quality but it will outlast the 208.

I thought insulting was quite appropriate given the nature of the bike in question.

Good morning

Good bikers, good morning