Stilton Jo

MCN festival of motorbikes at East of England showground, Peterborough this weekend (Sat and Sun)? I am going with the Triumph Owners Club....Purple Bonnie on display again - come and say hello, we have teabags and an urn.....

I think you need to re-think what you call 'the set pieces'. I know they are 'slalom', figure of eight etc, and you have to do them in a set order on Mod 1. But try and imagine them as just part of a slow bike ride.....eg, you have been out and about on said bike, you decide to stop for a cuppa at your fave bike haunt. You enter through the gate, very slow, there are always lots of people about....so you slowly weave in and out of the bystanders (slalom) and head for the clear area behind to park up, but someone left their helmet in the way so you have to go round it (fig 8) and come back. Now you ride dead slow (slow ride at walking pace) to a nice parking spot. cuppa. When you leave, you have to turn around (u turn) and avoid all those nice shiny bikes in a row, and then you can go a bit faster (curve)(controlled stop etc) They are not just set pieces. You do actually have to be able to ride around things/people/potholes/ in pub carparks, etc. I remember many years ago when I first drove a car and having to do a 3 point turn without hitting kerbs...so difficult then, but 30 years later you can turn even a big car around in a blind alley, in the dark, snow etc without a second thought. Same will come on the bike, but you need to remember WHY you have to do these pieces. Hope that helps x

I am a friendly biker! I nod. I usually get a nod back, possibly helps being a girl Was out yesterday, stopped to turn right at a junction to allow a car to turn from my left into the road I was on, 4 guys in the car. They clocked the bike, then me, and I got big smiles Mind you, I look much prettier with my helmet ON!

Humbucker - I think I was with you! I used Camrider in P'boro too, and from reading your posts, think we were on same rideout a couple of times....you had to pass before you headed back to Spain, and I only had a few days to get it all done as I was on half term hols. Luckily I passed Mod 1 and 2 first time, on consecutive days!

Come along to our show! Its run by the Triumph Owners Club, but you don't have to ride a triumph to come along. Lots of stalls, music, beer.... http://tomccpbro.co.uk/sbs/wordpress/ See you there x

Yammy you are confused! You upgrade a A2 to an A licence (A1 is for 125 only- you would do that at 17 or if you only want a 125 bike). As far as practising - basically, you can't! I had a full A1 licence which meant I could ride a 125 without L plates, go on motorways etc. But I could not legally ride the 500 cc bike OH got me - even if I stuck L plates on it - UNLESS with a qualified instructor. End of. You cannot bimble around on a bigger bike, unlicenced, just to practice. So I booked into a training school, rode their 600, with instructor, took the tests, and got full A licence.....can ride anything licence

I was taught to change down the gears approaching lights/junctions etc so that by the time you stop you are in first. Right foot on the brake....and use it more at slow speeds. Left foot then goes down, holding back brake, gas ready and in gear ready to go. I only put in neutral if I need to open/close visor or something like that. Slow manoeuvres are better with back brake, much smoother, so in a line of slow/stop/start traffic like at lights or big roundabout, left foot down is much easier. My front brakes are pretty fierce too, so not a good idea to use at low speeds!

Why the 'expensive bill for repairs' ??? It was a training school bike. Surely that's why you have to pay so much, to cover insurance etc. If they hadn't put bars/bungs on it, they hadn't prepared the bike to be used in training. The bike I used (an XJ6) had a veritable cage around the engine - which bore lots of evidence of drops, even before I added another two.....No charge to me whatsoever. She may decide to have another go when the memory fades a bit. Enjoy two - up rides in the meantime.....of course on the plus side for her, the pillion gets to have the pints!!

Miss Bex.... I did my tests in Peterborough too..... its a bugger of a place! I still have no idea where I am or where I am going on 'the parkway' as there are so many bits of it and they all look the same! I went wrong on my mod 2, but still passed it.... came out the test centre, turned right, down to the lights, follow signs to city centre he said... get to the roundabout and city centre is 2nd exit (straight on). I carried on round! When I looked at the sign, most of the letters are missing so I didn't think I had the right exit and just above it is a huge green sign saying 'Boongate'.....no wonder I got confused! Anyway, went all the way around it, he was waiting for me, I went past him, carried on, down to Pizza Hut roundabout, right on A47, and rest of test was fine Chin up, you will get there!

CBT - then A1 tests. You then have to wait til 19 to ride anything bigger/more bhp. Why do you need to do 70+ on a 125 anyway???? You can't go on motorways until you get rid of the L plates, and a 125 on a motorway is a pretty nerve racking experience.! So, basically, no, nothing between 125 and an A2 licence when you are old enough. soz!

At 17 you can do A1 - this gives you a 125 licence (do your CBT first though!) - you can take the L plates off, and carry a pillion. You will need to do theory, Mod 1 and Mod 2 on the 125. After 2 years you can then go on to do A2 on a 500. As far as the restrictions go - there I am not sure! check the government websites!

I feel your pain! I could do U turns easily on my 125, and did Mod 1 and Mod 2 tests on it and got rid of the L plates. I then went for DAS....on a 600. But I am a shortarse, and struggled with the weight of the bike. Whilst training, I was fine at slalom and figures of 8, but the first time I attempted a U on it, I didn't have enough revs, felt the bike wobble a bit to the right, went to put food down to save it and ended up over compensating and dropped the bike to the left (wtf?). From then on, I had a mental block on the u turn. It didn't help that in the carpark area we trained on, they used cones...which actually makes the area smaller. On the actual test, I did the first few things, then the U turn. I took a deep breath and went for it. Front wheel just on the line, back wheel 6 inches to the right of it when I stopped - bike at slight angle - so a minor! Phew! regarding putting it on its stand - side stand is absolutely fine. Good luck!

How old are you? If you are 16/17, you cannot ride the Ninja.... If you are 19+, you can do DAS on a 500, and that would enable you to ride your Ninja. If you are 24+ you can do DAS on a 600 and get an unrestricted licence enabling you to ride any cc bike. You will have to ride a bike from a training centre - you can't stick L plates on the Ninja, or ride it without an approved instructor with you.

I am still absolutely crap at U turns. On my Mod 2, on a 600, I dropped it twice whilst practising. From then on I had a mental block on them. Even on my actual test I just scraped the white line, but only with front wheel, so got away with it. Strangely I could do the slalom and 8 easily, even though it was tighter turns. Keep head up and look where you want to be - focus on those cones on the 8, as soon as you go past one, turn head and look for the next one, keep knees tight to tank, shoulders loose, don't tense up.

We are down to six.....just sold my Yamaha XS500. We now have the Rune (his) Blade (his) CB900 custom (his), and a GL1000 (his) awaiting restoration. I still have my YBR125 but its up for sale (any offers??) and my CBF1000.

Yay! So happy! Did training on Wednesday, practiced all the slow stuff on the actual test centre, and took Mod 1 on the XJ6 yesterday. Couple of dodgy moves but scraped a pass. Was so nervous it was unbelievable! So back on it this morning, a bit of a blast along the A47 and through Peterborough to loosen up, and then did Mod 2. Missed exit on the first roundabout and had to go all the way round, but it was a pass! Time to look for a new bike!

Mod 1 yesterday, Mod 2 today! I am now the elated owner of an Cat A unrestricted licence! Go me! Missed the exit on the first roundabout - nerves so had to go all the way around, oops, but the rest of the test was fine. I got a fault for that, and for something else but can't remember what it was. Who cares? I passed!!

Yay! Mod 1 on 600 passed today! I was so nervous I went to the loo about 4 times in the 20 minute wait, and then off I went. Pushing the bike I find really hard because I am so small and feeble, but I breathed deeply and took my time. Sorted. Slalom and figure of 8 - a bit messy but I got round the cones, no feet down. sorted. slow ride - fine. Then, U turn. I hate this. Big mental block as the first time I did this on the 600 I dropped it! Anyway, deep breathe, off I went, plenty of observations, turn....front wheel just on the white line! NOOOO! Carried on....top corner....as I came out the turn I knocked one of the blue cones over. NOOO! Did the stop, he then sent me to do the emergency stop and avoidance. Did them both and then he asked about the cone...did I knock it over? I said yes, on the first circuit. He replied that he hadn't seen it... So, the upshot was --- I passed! skin of teeth or what...!

I have had to hunt around to get my training done - it is impossible for me to take time off in the week to train, I had to do a couple of hours here and there after work (rush hour traffic - fun!) to train for my Mod 2. I then had to 'throw a sickie' to actually take my mod 2 test!!! Anyway, now onto DAS ( above was for 125), and again, after work, Saturdays, and half term!

Hiya All.. Have been to Hartford a couple of times, but been away in Europe for 4 weeks so just catching up on the news that it's burnt down.... Can I suggest/remind folks that there is the Talbot Inn in Stilton which does good food/beer and is biker friendly - the Triumph Club meets there on Wednesdays (other bikes welcome too!) Jo

The one I got from the dealer, with the kit wouldn't fit. We had a hunt around in the garage and found another filter (unused) and it had the same size thread, but was about half inch shorter. Fitted perfectly! thanks for the advice x

My OH bought me a 1977 Yamaha XS500 as a bit of a doer upper. Its in overall good nick, runs well but need to get it serviced and MOTd. Having mega problems with the oil filter! Help! Yamaha don't make them anymore, so the only one that fits has a 'kit' attached - and then you can't actually get the thing on cos its too deep to fit behind the engine casing. do I need to take the whole casing off? Seems a right faff just for an oil filter! Anyone got one of these can offer advice? Is there a filter off another bike which will fit? Thanks