al_stu

Most schools will provide full gear but it might be a bit rough/smelly/badly fitting. Suppose it doesn't hurt to get some cheapish stuff off ebay for lessons but bear in mind if you're doing 20mph or 120...The floor is still pretty hard. You can replace gear if you wreck it, you can't replace a knee if you ruin it through not having half decent gear, so don't skimp too much.

He has bigger balls (or a smaller brain) than I have!

I know some of us drive fast occasionally but seen this on facebook and it takes it to a new level, some of the moves they both do are terrifying! P.s. aware video is from the 90s so probably done the rounds before ">

Or... practice practice practice and you're more likely to spot a developing hazard in the real world and that might just save your life... which makes the test slightly less bloody stupid if you ask me I passed my car test 11 or 12 years before the bike test (no hazardous perception when I did car) and was clocking 50k a year driving all over the country at the time of my bike theory. I like to think I know what a hazard looks like! Although i did find it a PITA, I did pass it the first time by the way. I think more training combined with a 'real life' based test (no one drives like they're on test for more than a week) would do better. More for cars than bikes, just because my instructor on the bike did a bit more real life stuff, filtering, going a bit quick (not silly...but overtaking etc)...basically we did a couple of hours of advanced training. But that might have just been my instructor

Can I convince the Mrs to miss the chance of going to her first wedding show with me to go out on the bike. ..hmmm. ..

yep I found sometimes I click 'too early' grrr So I would click when I thought I saw the hazard, and if it developed further I'd click it again just to be sure it'd registered. Its a bloody stupid test if you ask me, just practice practice practice and you'll start to learn the trigger spots that they're likely to have picked to place a hazard (double parked cars, pedestrian crossing, bus stops etc etc)

Wooo the other half's work doesn't understand 'restricted duties and no manual labour' so Dr signed her off for two weeks and she can now come with! Fingers crossed for sunshine, or at least not thunderstorms

I'm anywhere between a 10 and a 12 depending on the brand and have wide feet. Never had a problem with finding boots, they're pretty generous with sizes as in winter people wear thick socks. Just go try some, either a big shop or the NEC bike show will have hundreds of pairs in there and usually reduced in price.

Go for the day! More training = safer. Bigger bike = can keep.up with traffic and feel safer. I was a bit wobbly on the cbt but felt much happier on the das. Seems lots of people either do better on cbt or das, probably all in the mind. Plus at this time of year you should be able to get a deal on das and a deal on a big bike as you're coming out of season

Definitely try somewhere else. Never heard of being forced onto a scooter. I did my cbt on a geared bike and although I passed they said they'd like me to do another half day before we went on to DAS as they were concerned I want quite ready for a 500. It was a great idea and really helped my confidence and most importantly they didn't charge me! There are great schools out there, yours sounds a bit pants

Probably giving it a swerve this year as been last 2 and don't need any gear.

I've just bought one. Well a Caberg flip, god knows which model. My old one was an outgoing HTC regular bought on sale at the NEC. Not sure I can notice any wind noise extra, but FF are definitely heavier. I can notice it in the shop but on the bike I'm ok. I find the flip front can feel claustrophobic at first as it sits a lot closer to your face. All in all...I'd go flip because its handy for chatting at the lights or when you stop for a minute and I find it easier to put it on, but it really is just a personal preference. Tend to be a bit more expensive presumably as there's a bit more work required to make them. No safety issues any more, they all go through the same tests. If you need to wear glasses then FF is the way to do things. I know sports bike guys who can get a bit cagey about FF, one of those daft image things.

I do really fancy one of them, lovely bike, hope you have fun and keep it shiny side up!

I struggled to balance for exactly that reason, so in the end I went with stop, really big look round and then u turn. instructor pulled a face as its not normal but couldn't fault me on it. The best thing that happened for me was a white van parked in a car park behind the test, so all I kept thinking was look for the van, look for the van...wasn't even sure I was inside the lines because I was afraid if I checked I'd stall (like usual!)

hmm I believe that the test centres can be a right PIA with your own bike...Won't the school let you book MOD 2 no training? Just seems a bit steep, even if they stay with you all day

How would I go about obtaining one of aforementioned shiny TMBF stickers? Other than peeling it off your window ofc

Camo doubles up as paintball gear

I dunno, I think your more likely to get through without paying. I've probably ordered 5 or 6 things from outside the EU in the past year, only paid duty on one of them. It does help that a lot of stuff from China seems to be brought in marked as "gifts" though See if the buyer will mark as a gift, or if its one of each you can try marking as samples. Technically its fraud but if its an odd thing (i.e. not running a business on it) then customs won't usually bat an eyelid Budget up to 30% extra if you do get hit though, 20% VAT plus Duty. Depends on the products. Oh and the delivery company will usually charge you for the privilege too as they will have had to pay customs in advance just to get your parcel off them.

To the woman in the a50 (speed limit 70) wearing a pink hi viz on a scooter (speed 40) you are either very brave or very stupid. I'm not sure which, but best of luck to you :-/

The motorbike centre or something. Manchester superbikes? I can't remember the name. Opposite the ducatti garage on wash way road in sale. They were good with my fazer and reasonable price.

Why not just buy a charger that only switches on when plugged into the phone? I'm sure Tango said his did that.

its not even worn in yet, needs a few more miles and the lining will ease off

I bet he was! Although to be fair the other rider won't be looking around on the way into a corner, he shouldn't have been running so close to him...looks like his own fault!

Tried out the waterproof covers for the luggage today as for caught in a shower. They weren't designed for the motorway apparently. 30 miles later I have 2 scraps of plastic shreds hanging off the bike! Not a proper f**k it as I wasn't that fussed to be fair. But still a shitty time to find out!

Me today joined the a road into whitchurch behind a van with trailer and audi. First gap I saw I flew past at *cough* the speed limit. Turned the next corner and found workmen had ripped up the road so loose chippings warnings everywhere. Down to 25mph with said van up my arse for the next half mile!