bashfulpanda

Cheers for that, really helpful! I'll keep you updated on my progress!

Cheers for moving this to the correct place.

All sound pointers! I don't think we will be camping (some of the chaps are slightly... to old.... for camping ). We have free accommodation is Switzerland, but I've been there a fair amount. Some of the countries further East might be interesting, but as for how good/safe they are I don't know!

Hello!

I'm going to start planning a week long European Tour for me and some buddies this summer. I've never planned this type of thing before! I've done many many miles on more adhock tours. And I've also done a fair amount of riding on the continent.

I wondered if anybody had experience of planning these sorts of things, and could offer advice? Such as miles per day, back up plans, accommodation?

Cheers for your time

Tom

Cheers for the reply!

The is really necessary then.. haha!

Hey,

I was hoping somebody could help me out. I was having a look at my bike today and noticed the collar that tightens the silencer can to the exhaust pipes was lose, and I had a look around and there are symmetrical cracks on the exhaust silencer. I started the bike and felt around and I could feel a little exhaust gas leakage from around this joint (I've attached some photos).

I know very little about this kind of stuff , but here is my question:

Do I need to fix this immediately? There are some new/used cans on ebay for not too bad of a price, but I'm going to be riding this through winter, so if I was going to replace it I'd rather wait out until next year if at all possible.

Here are some photos the cracks appear to be in a cross on the top and side of the pipe.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7374/10442114223_ec0b0555be.jpg

photo 2 by tomcain2

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3684/10441935244_f04eb1b432.jpg

photo 1 by tomcain2

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5539/10441949926_cf0af5800d.jpg

photo 3 by tomcain2

Many thanks for your time!

Tom

Cheers for the reply - I'll have to have a look at the bulbs when I have the time!

thanks!

Hello!

I recently got a 2008 Honda CBF500. The bike is all good apart from the dash lights don't work. I've checked the fuse box and there isn't a fuse labeled as being responsible for this, so my questions:

Does this bike have a dash light? If so - is it how to fix it?

Cheers

Tom

You should! It's an incredible place!

Some from Switzerland

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2859/9162661608_4f205e68d1.jpg

IMG_1583 by tc1233

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5524/9162667222_2b521390f1.jpg

hdr by tc1233

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3698/9162660966_fb3597bca7.jpg

IMG_1629 by tc1233

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5453/9160438229_e14a784320.jpg

IMG_1655 by tc1233

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3718/9162658480_c30ff76d5c.jpg

IMG_1711 by tc1233

That looks incredible! Are there any 1/2 day routes you recommend around that area? We are based in Nyon at the moment.

So I'm over in Switzerland at the moment and a friend and I went for a ride! Thought I'd put up some pics! People seem to like pictures!

Yamaha XT660R and a Yamaha FZS 600 Fazer

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5347/9160436263_9cfca31927.jpg

IMG_1743 by tc1233

Swiss service stations have the best amenities!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7400/9160436635_7ee2518a28.jpg

IMG_1732 by tc1233

Parking with a view!

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3718/9162658480_c30ff76d5c.jpg

IMG_1711 by tc1233

Very Swiss!

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3833/9162659268_161a987387.jpg

IMG_1691 by tc1233

The view...

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5453/9160438229_e14a784320.jpg

IMG_1655 by tc1233

A glacier

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3698/9162660966_fb3597bca7.jpg

IMG_1629 by tc1233

Abit arty sorry..

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2859/9162661608_4f205e68d1.jpg

IMG_1583 by tc1233

....

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7417/9162662182_afb6dc491a.jpg

IMG_1581 by tc1233

The matterhorn is up there somewhere

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5524/9162667222_2b521390f1.jpg

hdr by tc1233

Cheers for looking, hope you enjoyed!

Hi Guys and Girls

I'm doing some work in Switzerland and was lucky enough to go and see Retro-Moto, a hill climb for bikes over 25 year old held in St Cergue. Here are some pictures you might enjoy!

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2846/9056392648_1fda255efb.jpg

IMG_1420 by tomcain2

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7338/9054167727_fe00ecf902.jpg

IMG_1418 by tomcain2

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3716/9054168841_c407576677.jpg

IMG_1416 by tomcain2

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2833/9053622686_7d7dc0600f.jpg

IMG_1567 by tomcain2

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3707/9051398523_f461519821.jpg

IMG_1536 by tomcain2

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3686/9053632264_2692180355.jpg

IMG_1535 by tomcain2

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3715/9053639232_3c4b0d661b.jpg

IMG_1529 by tomcain2

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/9051414723_75c4299c05.jpg

IMG_1525 by tomcain2

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5327/9051423409_1fa5b1954c.jpg

IMG_1512 by tomcain2

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5445/9053655904_740010e4b6.jpg

IMG_1499 by tomcain2

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2806/9051431383_322987c1e3.jpg

IMG_1482 by tomcain2

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3791/9053664896_697a964e85.jpg

IMG_1480 by tomcain2

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5469/9051446267_4ee99e6078.jpg

IMG_1451 by tomcain2

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3682/9051452461_b54afb6d66.jpg

IMG_1436 by tomcain2

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2886/9053648162_1642cab1b3.jpg

IMG_1516 by tomcain2

Hope you enjoyed!

Tom

Hello people! This is my first post here, I passed my MOD1 first time with 0 minors a couple of days ago! I'm doing my A2 DAS and was a total bike virgin prior to my CBT and lessons, I just wanted to offer some advice based on my experienced to others that are about to do it, I'm not going to list exactly what to do on each exercise because its been covered (so well) on this thread, I just wanted to tell you guys what helped to calm me down .

I know all the instructors say "try not to be nervous", but it is very intimidating riding onto a big tarmac pad with loads of cones. My first bit of advice (after parking your bike backwards in the bay to make it easier to ride out and onto the pad), and something that helped me settle my (very large) nerves was to stand and have a look at the test pad before going into the center, it just made riding onto it a little less daunting.

My examiner was really nice (I did the test at Shrewsbury) and instantly helped to calm my nerves a little! He checked the paper work and then we went outside to start.

Riding onto the pad

Don't be intimidated by all of the cones, I tried to forget that they were there, I just focused on the part of the test I was doing. Wait for the examiner to close the gate and explain what he/she wants you to do.

Manual handing

I used this part of the test to compose myself a little, park the bike up, take a deep breath and try and gain some confidence, after all pushing a bike around is easy!

Slalom

As many other people have said, don't go too slow focus and try and enjoy it, relax into a rhythm - thinking too much about what you are doing causes you to make mistakes and if you feel like you're about to have to put your foot down increase the revs and the bike will pick itself back up.

Figure of 8

Take as much room as you can, don't try and cut it too tight, look where you want to go and before you know it the examiner will be calling you over.

Slow ride

This is really simple, the main thing is try and enter the box for the U-turn straight.

U-turn

This was the element I was most nervous about going into the test, so I asked the examiner if I could have a second to compose myself and after I had managed to calm myself down I felt confident. Just remember the shoulder check, turn the bike in and look where you want to go, not at the line. There is so much room here! Again if you feel like you're about to mess it up increase the revs and the bike will pick itself back up, dont just give up and put your foot down!

Circuit ride/controlled stop

After I had gotten the U-turn out of the way successfully I started to smile and nearly enjoy myself, after all the next couple of maneuvers are actually pretty good fun! Go round the circuit, focus on the exit and then accelerate. I used this first run around to check my speedo. When you stop in the box try and ask the examiner how fast you were going, if he says 50kmph+ it will fill you with confidence, and if not you know you have to either accelerate harder next time, or not release the throttle too soon!

Emergency Stop

Repeat the circuit and watch for the hand signal (don't look at your speedo here, you know you are going fast enough). Remember, the examiner wants to see a safe controlled stop, so be gentle with the breaks and be controlled, you have soooo much room to stop in! Just remember those shoulder checks when you stop!

The swerve

The best till last! By this point in the test all my nerves had gone and I was feeling great, just remember to look at the outside cone and you will sale through! And you are done! Remember the shoulder checks as you ride off and smile! It's not all bad!

Sorry for the rambling post, but I was so nervous before doing the test I wanted to try and get accross some of the little things that I found helped! Hope this is at least a tad useful for somebody!

GOOD LUCK!!!