Phil1

He's ok, I think he's often let down by some rubbish productions though, I've seen better vloggers on youtube with a gopro.

Without a plastic weld (HDPE), I think you'd need a new tank....

The whole system is designed towards forcing you to get some experience on a smaller bike while you're still in your yoof. All the statistics show younger riders/drivers are more likely to end up in an accident and this is all a direct result of this. I'm not saying you're a hooligan, but statistically you are more likely to be. The cost is minimal to be fair compared to what you've got to endure for driving a car. Do you have a car also that you're insuring? I would take the above advice and get something a little smaller initially, there's no point buying a bigger bike that you're going to have to restrict anyway and just paying more in insurance. I would look at sorting yourself for your full A licence as soon as you're eligable. Think it's 2 years of experience AND over 21 isn't it? It'll seem like forever, but it'll come round quicker than you think. Even if you keep the same bike, having a full A licence will reduce your premiums massively over an A2 licence.

Living up to the username too

I've always fancied a go on a V-Strom. They look superb value for money. Just looking at the website, it seems they've got three engines to choose from now, the 650, 800 and 1050. The price difference between the 650 and 800 is minimal so I'm surprised they're still continuing the 650 really, unless it's just for A2 capability etc. Edit... Even the 800 should be ok for an A2 conversion at 84Ps (62kw approx).

Whilst I've agree everyone does it differently, I was taught in my lessons that you should always have four fingers on the brake, four fingers on the clutch levers. I think you could probably get a minor, or even fail your test for not doing so as you'd be classed as not in full control. I wouldn't exactly be comfortable advising people to change to this method, I'd suggest an ergonomic change to the levers first if they're already comfortable with using four fingers.

It wouldn't take much to go one step further though and have a form the customer is required to sign when they purchase/have fitted a non road legal item. That goes a long way to show the customer has been forewarned, and still actively continued regardless. It's too easy for a customer to say "Oh well I wasn't fully aware that it wasn't road legal" at the moment. Unfortunately the people who are making, fitting and selling these non compliant items are going to lose some business because of this action, but they're just going to have to diversify and start making more things that are road legal, that appeal to people still.

@Simon Davey No, I'm still looking. I can't decide what to do and I'm probably overthinking it. I've decided I don't like the idea of my phone mounted somewhere on the bike. It's better in my pocket I think as there's less chance of it being "lost" if I was to come off and it's got emergecy contacts on etc. I'd rather it be on my person if you like. I'm now looking down the avenue of a seperate sat nav and seen a tomtom rider with a mount on ebay, but realised I've now got to pay for the kids afterschool club so funds are low again . Anyone fancy subbing me?

Avoid using wire wool on the pistons unless you clean them up scrupulously, a tiny strand of it can ruin the seals. Scotchbrite is better. Plus the wire wool sheep are on the endangered species list now.

Reading those reports, it seems they're liable as they've not taken reasonable steps to warn the customer about the legalities of it. I think had they made a disclaimer that the customer had to sign and agree to before the work was carried out, then they wouldn't have had any issues. As far as making the customer take the car away on a trailer is a bit far and out of the remit of the garages involved. In terms of the MOT test, they now state that if the car/vehicle has a dangerous fault found on the MOT test, then it can't/shouldn't be driven away from the MOT station. How does the MOT centre prevent that from happening though? They can't hold the keys or forcefully prevent them from doing so, they can only tell them it shouldn't be driven away. If they ignore that advice then it's down to the driver again, and they're liable for prosecution should they do so, not the MOT station. The MOT station could further cover themselves, by ringing the police and explain the situation, but it can't be them held responsible if they've taken reasonable steps.

The onus should always be on the driver of the car/vehicle. The garage should have just set up a disclaimer form that the driver has to sign to say he understands the car isnt road legal and the garage doesn't accept any responsibility for it once it's left the premises. I'm constantly bombarded with ads these days on Facebook about adblue removal, decat systems, mileage "correction" etc etc. Most of which is irresponsible at best and illegal at worst. It's not the garages fault though, it's the drivers that don't give a toss.

Does anyone have any experience of fitting a sat nav, or phone mount on a bike with clip ons? I'm really struggling to find anything decent for an SV650 with clip on handlebars as there's just virtually no where to mount anything. Ever since I've started driving/riding, I've always liked to set off with a plan in mind of a general area or a particular road I'd like to try. I know a lot of people just set off and decide as they're going along, but I generally like to have some sort of plan. A sat nav would be ideal for me as I can set up a route on my PC on waze, and then just go to my phone and open the app and there it is ready to go.

Surely if they're BS/kitemarked etc and designed for road use (with a baffle etc) then there shouldn't be any issues I wouldn't have thought? I can only assume it will apply to those that are making ones that are actually only intended for off road use that are subject to more intense scrutiny.

New exhaust fitted, MOT passed. First time out in 2 years, so a bit wobbly the first half a mile to the petrol station. Soon settled in. The new tyres (Michelin Road 6) are absolutely superb, certainly makes the bike feel 10x better with new tyres. https://youtube.com/shorts/oq2lCWUdSI0?feature=share

And even cheaper than the versys, how about a v-strom? Another superb option, and often overlooked is a sprint st. Bit more of a sports tourer than a tourer, but they're still supposed to be excellent.

I thought I saw a check box for "feet down"

I found a higher voluntary excess didn't make much of a difference. Mind you on less than £100 for the premium it's never going to be a huge proportion. I did just get another quote for comparison on a bike I'm considering next time, something along the lines of a '10 Triumph sprint st1050 and it was £350, so the bike certainly makes a difference.

Probably been mentioned before here, but it's a nifty little website should you be looking at the ergonomics of a new bike and how you'll look/sit/position on a new bike before you've got it. https://cycle-ergo.com/ Obviously I'd still recommend going down the avenue of actually sitting on a bike first, but a lot of people these days buy online and it might just give you an idea of how comfortable you'll be. Not affiliated with me in any way etc, just thought it was interesting

Daft, just daft. I was pleasantly surprised when I got a quote for my Sv650 that's been off the road for about 2 years. 37yrs old, 11yrs NCB, garaged, 4000m/yr, pillion included, SD&p+ commuting. £93 for the year.

Fitted. Sounds and looks good.

That's the plan anyway, not too fussed for loads of noise but more to make the bike look slightly more modern. The massive 90s bean tin style exhaust lets the bike down a bit in my opinion.

It does have a BSAU193/A mark on it, which seems to relate to "The Motor Cycle Silencer and Exhaust Systems Regulations 1995" so I'm assuming it has been tested to be road legal, plus it does say on the advert that it's road legal.

Got myself an aftermarket exhaust for my SV650. The plan was to fit it and then put the original one back on for the MOT each time. Since getting it though I've realised it needs the original exhaust cutting out to fit the new one so it's not that straightforward. What's the usual craic with taking a bike for an MOT with an aftermarket exhaust on it? Is it testers discretion etc? Does anyone else have an aftermarket on and have bother come MOT time? It does come with a baffle which I did plan on leaving in anyway.

I'd throw some amount of caution with that one. It's easy to adjust it too far and not have the clutch fully engaged even when it's released, you'll ruin the clutch in no time.

Ensure you've got the angle of the lever right too, if you're having to twist your wrist all the way back it will soon become painful. It might just need angling further down. Check full lock to lock afterwards too to make sure you don't move it to a position where cables/hoses are rubbing on anything.