Lucifah

If simple things like mirror brackets, a tiny windscreen and soon a tail tidy count as mods, it's for practicality and safety. Probably they don't even count as mods compared to what other people do to their bikes

What have you got in mind? Any plans as to where, when, how long yet? Just curious. Not signing up just yet Lucifah- that to me sounds like an "I'm in" type of post- Sniper is dead...long live Lucifah! Well, I've got say I'd love to do such a tour some time, because there's lots to learn while having loads of fun along the way! That said, I also have a couple of commitments, which will make it difficult this year. I'd hate to sign up too early just to bail out last minute. If you could drop a few clues, that would help. As somebody else said: The "where" is not very important. But for me the "when" and "how long" is, if that makes sense. You sound quite ambitious, and the next challenge won't be the last challenge by the sound of it. Any plans for spring next year?

What have you got in mind? Any plans as to where, when, how long yet? Just curious. Not signing up just yet

Fantastic videos, all of them! Thanks for sharing. Fell off my chair when Sniper reported his encounter in Paris!

That made my day! Technically those tampons fulfil the same purpose as condoms though... if they're in, you won't be, and nobody gets pregnant. Now really fast...

Make sure you get your invoices paid, and then: ! Customers like that just can't be happy. Can't be arsed. Expect everything and everybody to work the way they think they should (without being specific about what exactly their expectations are). On top of that they feel like you should serve everything on a silver platter and be grateful that they chose you. Hasn't she threatened you with legal action yet? That's usually next. Not sure what's worse. Smaller customers (presumably) like this one, or corporate players. I'm having quite a bit of a "fight" with the latter these days, in the wake of the heartbleed bug. It made it into the news, and now everybody who considers themselves important (usually way too many people in big entities like this one) wants to chip in and have a say in things they know sod all about. Things suddenly need to change in most hilarious ways. (We weren't vulnerable to that bug in the first place, so the whole thing was a non issue as far as that customer is concerned.) Anyway, I'm with you there. Customers can be a pain in the backside!

Okay that's interesting, thanks!

That decision doesn't make any sense. It's arguable if such a condition warrants revoking the license or not, and I haven't got any clue about that particular defect. But the DVLA is essentially saying: "Well, listen, we don't think you are fit for the road. However, as long as you ride small things you are less of a risk to others. Whether or not you break your own neck... who cares." And that's a really sad attitude! The decision isn't consistent. You either can operate a vehicle or you can't. But somehow they found a nonsensical grey area in between.

Where are they? On a different note, I wonder what the legal situation is: Are those vids good enough to provide evidence that can be used in court? (Not talking picture quality here; are they accepted as evidence?) What if the "director" (the rider) makes a mistake... Can law enforcement seize the cam and use it against them? Would be a double-edged sword then, because although we like to think that we're never at fault, we may be. (Let's say you're knocked off the bike, maybe unconcious, and the plod find the camera at the scene... they might use it without you having a say in it. Long shot, I know, but still.) Really just wondering if the law has kept up with technical developments and their implications. Is anybody here in a position to expand on that? TC maybe?

F**k it, or F**K YOU rather - to my clients who keep me from going on a ride yesterday and today. Customer is king and all that, and they pay the bills, but still F**K YOU!

I recently got what I thought would be a good offer... http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008PONFEG It is CRAP! - Buttons are too small and don't give feedback - speakers are small but thick, very uncomfortable - speakers are very low volume somehow - too many bulky plugs which are difficult to get into the lid Tried fitting it a second time today. I managed to get it in finally, but it's not worth the effort. So out it went again. Worst thing is: The volume fades in slowly. So if the lady says "take third exit at the roundabout", you'll hear "...at the roundabout". Useless. Got what I paid for... And I thought BT tech is not exactly rocket science. This isn't meant to be a rant, but rather a heads-up for others who are looking to buy a BT kit and come across the one on Amazon. Stay away from that particular set. For satnag purposes I'll just go with cable ear-buds for now, with phone in my pocket.

Absolutely. It's all about having fun, not about competing with others. It's a road after all, and we need to keep room for error (both ours and other people's), obstacles and unexpected hazards. After such a long time without bikes, my tyres' chicken strips probably look more like chicken motorways for some time to come. I'm not bothered by lean angle discussions. Visibility (positioning) is more important than pushing the bike (and my safety) to or beyond its limits.

This! Don't focus on the number plate of the car in front of you. Look ahead! Look as far around the bend as you can look, and position yourself in a way that allows you to look even further (if it's safe. Watch out for oncoming traffic or obstacles) Once you manage that, your bike follows. Try it. You'll instantly realise the difference it makes. Suddenly everything feels more natural and easier, and it makes you relax! Countersteering discussions turn quickly way too academic. Truth is, you already do countersteer without realising it. Otherwise you'd pretty much go straight lines all the time. That said, you can of course practise doing it. But main thing is really to look where you want to go, because that'll automatically make you steer your bike towards that point. (Which is why target fixation achieves the opposite, but that's a different subject) The race track gurus will tell you something different, but for a newbie you want to be done with any braking before leaning into the bend if possible. During the bend you'll want to keep the throttle constant or give it some more as you progress through the bend. That keeps the line smooth and avoids that the bike wants to stand up. Once the corner opens, you can give it some more and dart out of the bend

If you don't mind hard labour / getting your hands dirty, and if part-time means for example working 2-3 full days a week rather than only half days, check out local factories. They often have all sorts of work to do which require zero qualification. Sure they aren't usually very exciting jobs, but with a bit of luck you find one which does shift work and get a few extra coins when doing late/night shifts. That's what I did, admittedly a long time ago. Was hard first (I'm a slender built), but after a week you get used to it. I did that for just a few months, mostly only night shifts, and was able to gather quite a bit of money that time. If you only look for the jobs that everybody else does (friends, fellow students), you will find it harder, because there's more competition. There's always work to be found and done, if you really want to! And don't let pride get in the way either. It's temporary.

TAKE On ME - A-Ha

Hi folks, I thought I'd give a first impression on this bike after having owned one for a couple of weeks now. As I had not been riding for more than 15 years before purchasing it, some info may be interesting for returners/newbies as well. In a couple of months time I will give a more thorough review. The specs: Kawasaki Z800 Year: 2014 List price: £7,499 (but nobody pays list price; negotiate for some discount! ) Engine/Performance: Liquid cooled 4-Stroke In-Line Four, 806cc, 116 PS, 83nm Suspension: fully adjustable rear, pre-load front fork Weight (with fluids): 229 kg Mods: Evotech mirror brackets, Kwak Windshield The cons: Stock mirrors are too short; you can see your arms but not much else. The Evotech brackets are a cheap & cheerful way to fix that and surprisingly they are very sturdy (the mirrors don't vibrate any more or less than they normally do) The instruments/dash are a graveyard for flies. The windscreen solves that. But that's the only thing the windscreen is good for. It still is a naked bike and wind protection does practically not exist. Rear brake seems very soft. Could be a matter of adjustment. (Will find out after first service) Top gear is a bit too short for my taste, which adds mid-range rev vibrations to the windy experience beyond 70 mph. (I did not just say beyond 70 mph. Ignore that ) Some may find the lack of gear indicator a bit last century, but that's a non issue for me personally. If you desperately want it, you can add it as an accessory. Not a lot of storage, to put it mildly. You'd be lucky to fit more than a disc lock under the passenger's seat, together with the stock toolset. If you're short, the weight might be an issue when you have to stop. The pros: The seemingly massive weight for its size is a non-issue (at least for tall people who can flat foot), unless you push the bike around. You don't feel any of it once you've got your feet on the pegs, not even at very slow speed! That's quite a positive surprise. In fact it feels very nimble and yet very stable. Flips into corners quite easily too. The front brakes are brutal, but start out very soft. The progression makes them very easy to control. The whole rev range is smooth with progressive power delivery; no sudden peaks or flats. Very easy to control at any speed. Massive urge to surge forward at higher revs, but again no sudden suprises. Extremely good throttle response. It does what you want it to do, when you want it. Nice and accurate gearbox. Neutral finder is helpful in city traffic with many stops. (Can't incidentally switch to 2nd while standing still.) Very suitable for tall people! I'm 6 ft 1, and I find the seating position very comfortable. I think the suspension is great. Together with the smooth throttle response it feels super stable and confidence-inspiring around corners, even on below-average road surface. I like the stock sound. Not as "harmless" as many other stock exhausts, but not neighbour's pain in the backside either, when you come home late. I love the fully digital dash with equaliser-like rev counter, two independent trip meters, avg and remaining cruise range, proper fuel gauge etc. It's easy to read and didn't have any problems with reflections. For those who like to take their bikes abroad, the speedo can be changed to kph and back to mph with a few button clicks. Indicator, neutral and several warning lights are leds, which are lined around the digital dash. It makes sense and works very well. To sum it up: It's not a long-range tourer, and was never meant to be one. It's a bike to have a lot of fun with on any road. Everything feels very quickly very natural in a way, which puts your mind at ease. In fact I already felt home on it when I had the test ride at the dealer's. The powerful engine, which may be frightening for a beginner (I was a bit wary about it, too), is easy to keep in check, thanks to the smooth progressive power delivery and excellent throttle response. You can tag along with city traffic, or rev up and leave everybody behind, darting around bends. In fact, the short gears make it pretty clear that this bike belongs on the road, not the motorway, so the lack of wind protection is not really a problem either. There, the bike does exactly what you want it to do, and will leave a huge grin on the rider's face (not sure about the passenger yet).

Just so on time... Happy Birthday!!

Cheers Stu!

Seems the admins here don't like me

Nice one! You'll be addicted before you know it

haha but it's fine to get a quick bike because I'm more likely to only hurt myself if it goes wrong... can't see that line of argument working with my mrs lol. Lol, no that was not what I meant to imply I don't think you are more likely to get yourself into trouble on a 600-ish cc, unless you are intending to ride full throttle all the time. Anyway, listen to what Joeman just said. That bloke apparently grew up on two wheels.

I bet it will. I don't think that a smaller bike makes you a better rider per se, because the moment you hop on it you are still a newbie, exposed to the same hazards and risks on the roads. Maybe the bigger bike reduces your exposure to some of them actually (wider tyres, higher weight): a little bit better traction, feels more planted and stable around corners or on dodgy road surfaces and even wind etc (Now, if it was a car, my advice would be the opposite, because a powerful car is a weapon, and unlike on a motorbike where the majority of accidents won't really harm others, accidents in cars are much more likely to claim third party victims.) My first bike was a 600cc (600 Bandit), and if I could turn back time to the 20th century, I'd buy exactly the same bike again. But that's just me. Any advice you get on this subject will be biased anyway

sorry Im not with you By running to beat traffic on a crossing, do you mean people coming from the sides last second, because I would try and make eye contact with people on the junction to make sure they have seen me and stopped. But thats not really what I would call a life saver so I didnt mention that. This may need a badly drawn paint diagram. I'm exceptionally bad at drawing stuff... Soo... Maybe a situation like this? Transcript: Waiting at a crossing for people to, erm, cross... (with or without traffic lights doens't matter). A nob darts across the road from behind you, at an angle where he's in your blind spot. Those folks usually don't follow the markings.. Maybe because it just switched to red for him, but he thinks he can make it before it's going green for you. Maybe because you gave way for another pedestrian and the nob thinks he can make it across, too, before you set off. Or, if it's London, then just because. Two-legged hazards everywhere!

Is it Form D1? (I've got the same here in front of me, but for a different purpose) You'll need a Passport or any other of the options listed in section 5. You don't need to send your passport, though, if you fill in your number and sign in section 5 A. Then they'll check the records with HM Passport Office directly. Bills are NEVER a proof of identity. They are a proof of ADDRESS. (Not the mobile phone bill though; that's rarely accepted anywhere) As for the photo, you've got many options to get it signed. Some Post Offices (for a fee), Doctors, Solicitors, or if you know any Coppers, they can do it too. (You don't need to get it signed, if you have a UK Passport; the booklet which you got with the form, explains that on page 12)

Any hair longer than 1/2 inch is just... a mess.