onesea

Did you play the insurance game? Being a domestic help rather than cleaner, a Cashier not a bank teller, a shop assistant not a sales assistant.

Do you keep it on a drive or in the garden?

It can make quite a difference. The same as lowering your excess can help.

The other thing is try a different model of bike.

I know my FZ6 costs me more than a bandit would or a Dueville by about a third...

For me sailing has always been my thing...

Although i have dabbled with rc sailing boats, caving, hill walking, geocaching, skiing amongst others...

so I've actually booked another cbt somewhere else in the meantime,if I pass that then great, if not I'll go back to the first place for my repeat.

I had similar experience was not allowed on road first day, of course it was the centers fault not mine , similar grumbles.

Did my CBT again at another center had a good morning and great ride, for various reasons did my DAS at another school...

Best thing I did learned allot from all 3 centers....

To calculate insurance go online and pretend you have got your CBT find a 125 Reg number you can borrow (E-bay/ Gumtree someone normally has there bike for sale and number plate visible).

Then use a suitable price comparitor...

My first year in my 40's with bike stored in garage was £150 with just a CBT.

OK last night I got carried away:

http://www.millets.co.uk/tents-camping/107838-eurohike-tamar-2-man-tent-red.html

A little but cheaper at $30 but its packed length is 60 cm but that is not to much wider than my arse so should be fine..

Next is throw over panniers I saw these and I like:

http://www.bykebitz.co.uk/givi-wp405-waterproof-throwover-panniers.html?gclid=CJLWg7_o0ccCFVdAGwodiKsD0g

Then if I am not careful my misses will stop me buying a second bike for touring

Stuck away from bike, with to much time to plan biking and boating things....

Not knowing when I am going to be home to execute them and probably will not be home long enough to either

never heard of them are they good

They keep me out of the house and away from telly :D

I guess you mean consoles for playing on...

SJ35 - Great fun particularly when playing against others onwater.

Sevylor Canyon 2 - One of my daughters favorites

Defender 110 - A little old school not used to its full extent but some of the options are invaluable particularly with Senator hooked on to rear.

FZ6 Naked - A little low on cc but for my experience its fine I plan to upgrade in time.

OK I was pondering my return to the UK in a few weeks...

Having promised myself I would never try carrying camping gear on the bike, cause I like my creature comforts to much.

I have now decided I want to do a bike meet/ rally (if there are any left on a free weekend when I am home), if nothing else the idea of the odd night camping is starting to appeal.

I think I have most of the gear except a tent... Well I have a choice of 2 tents one is 4 berth 2 bedroom thing that can even house the bike as well! the other I think is just to long to fit on the bike.

Seeing as its sales time any recommendations how big should a tent be to fit on a bike. Are there any particular things I should look for???

Any recommendations I guess I am looking for 2 man with enough space to be able to sit up in uncramped...

I saw this and thought of here...

http://www.highvisibility.uk.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=74&product_id=104

No experience of it just saw the advert...

I had all but stopped using Facebook, until I got the bike.

Very useful it is for keeping up to date with meets gatherings and videos of UK idiot drivers.

Actually posting on it? Private groups occasionly and the odd photo (normally tagged on other people's).

I do make best efforts when ever my x wife messes about with access to join another father's rights group (I am running out).

Games requests, forward this mail or else, the fluffy bunny / animal rights brigade, some of the ignorant campaigners and holier than thou posts do piss me off.

Hence I recently started following the countryside alliance, as a protest against the recent fox hunting sham (where interestingly both sides ended up claiming victory).

Then it's nice to know what they are fighting for at the time..

Sadly you can often spot an unhappy person or relationship in trouble by the FB posts (a marked increase in posts).

Qualifications required to become my fb friend to ask. I tend to let anyone befriend me, mainly cause I do not post anything that is private there.

Plus it's messenger service is very useful multiplatform instead of exchanging emails or phone numbers with people you are not that familiar with...

Joeman, I am aware of the Mayflower Park Meet although its one I have not been to.

There are plenty of social nights around here:

Monday: Avon Causeway "street Fighters"?? - have heard it mentioned but not been...

Tuesday: Poole Quay & Bugad Classic Bikes

Wednesday: MSN Minstead, Bittern bike meet & Henstridge Air Field (No Speed limits) Every 4th Wednesday,

Thursday: New Forest Inn Ashurst, Weymouth on the sea front, 2 near salisbury & Mayflower Park Southampton.

Friday: Western Shore Southampton

Saturday:

Sunday: Mudeford Quay every 2nd Sunday of a month and most nice weekends. Bikes at the Bell: Pokesdown 18:00

I have been to a fair few of them (and would even go as far as to say I am known at 1 or 2 LOL)...

Its finding people free on week days that becomes the issue.

Riffmaster noted week days tend to be better for traffic I find...

In a couple or so weeks when work is settled, I will be doing most of my riding during the week often at short ish notice...

I am new forest based and enjoy riding on my own but it is nice to have a partner in crime.

On my list to do/visit:

Various challenge Tag's,

Aces Cafe/ Other bikers haunts,

Any nice twist roads that get recommended

These and other places are nice to visit, but on your own are not alway the most social. Although I know some that are occasionally available during the week often I find myself on my own...

Not necessarily a fair weather biker, I nor my bike do not melt in the odd rain shower. Although I do ride for pleasure so am not afraid to call a day off.

If your interested post on this threat (or PM me) and when I am free I (or you can) update this thread when we are on 2 wheels.

Battery acid is not that harmful.

Not good for eyes on skin it gently dissolves finger prints (some professions find this useful I am told).

Eats clothes so wear old stuff as one drop a couple of washes later creates a nice hole .

I once got pulled early hours one morning wearing a wetsuit....

Policeman "where have you been?" Me "A party" policemans face .

He eventually asked where I was going, the reply became sailing....

A mate a few weeks later got pulled in a pink tuttu, he replied to a friends . Apparently he was not delayed to much longer...

Might of been my post that looks angry was not planned to be.

Apologises if I have offended anyone...

Remember the da or A test requires a higher level of riding on the mod 2 than the A2 test, you need to show development of your riding skills achieved from 2 extra years riding experience. Eg. Overtakes, appropriate acceleration, smooth joining of traffic flow at roundabouts, good use of mirrors and head checks where appropriate etc. Good luck

How the hell does the examiner know what you where like first time road? I guess he could look at your last observation sheet and think he got x minors for Y offenses???

Either way good on you go for it I think that for some people who have ridden allot on CBT some schools are taking money for old rope with to many lessons for A licenses....

The world [strikeout]is[/strikeout] can be shit, but that doesn't mean you have to be.

Having a selfish X of my own (sad to say like far to many) as a burden to carry, I read this and thought actually yup there is some truth there....

On a lighter note:

At about 14 going on holiday with friends, grandad says to me:

"Do not do anything I would not do" there was a pause and he followed on with " when you find out what that is let me know!".

If her bra and panties match when you take off her clothes, it wasn't you who decided to have sex.

Indicators are for girls anyway

And so are mirrors as you should always be going fastest and overtaking

On a more serious both in cage and on bike for me signalling out for parked cars depends..... Some times I do some times I don't.. Depends on the line of the road/ cars and how much I am repositioning on the road....

OK Guys lets see if you can answer a question that seems the most unanswered I can find on line....

The Bike Yamaha FZ6 Naked 2005 similar to...

http://www.sportbikes.net/forums/attachments/fz6-fz6r/50506d1121278956-naked-fz6-pictures-bike-fz6.jpg

Have to agree its the best looking screen there is the Yamaha original...

My problem is the screen is my red and stands out like a sore thumb, it also has considerable amounts of vertical surface. I think this makes me an easy target for those photography divisions, they have an easy thing to "focus" on (some say I can twist that left hand forward and that problem will go away )...

Secondly reason is with cooler weather next time I am on the bike that little bit of an increase in protection would be most beneficial... Can they get my head out of the wind on longer journeys?

The best I can find is:

http://www.bs-motoparts.com/en/wind-protection/mra-windshield-v-flow-vario-touring-screen-z-incl-fixations-light-smoke-i674-30890-0.htm

or

http://www.puigusa.com/tuning-bikes/yamaha-fz6-2005/windshield-touring-ii/c171en/f1-r225-m1352/

Can any one recommend or have any experience?

With regards to hand guards these are for weather protection primarily. The problem is the handle bars on the FZ6 are rather cluttered. with little space to clip the inboard end on to...

I know some will say heated grips I have used them when I was learning and found the tips of my fingers still ended up frozen cold... Again all advice appreciated..

All works I want to be able to undo for prettiness and when I am allowed to move on giving next owner the choice...

Sitting here thinking I should give up....

Then I have 2 Cartons sitting beside me only £15 each that's the next 30 days sorted :/

Still worried I might run out!!!

You can get a solar trickle charger on eBay for about £12 if you extend the cable you can keep your battery topped up for free

Now there does leave a clue to all passing something in there is worth investigating .

Thanks for al the advice...

RE leaving it in locked garage, and them posting it here. I suppose if some one was that desperate they could track it down it probably more effort than its worth. Its towards the back and would take a little time to get to. The garage is overlooked and watched frequently by a fellow biker. Plus my misses is about as well...

If the buggers are going to take it they will get to it one way or another...

Interesting no one mentioned cleaning, I knocked the worst of the bugs of gave it a quick wipe down. I forgot to spray some oil on the chain but that is on Scott oiler so fairly well lubed...

I have not bothered disconnecting the battery, think cleaning was higher priority. Its only 8-9 weeks max so as long as it starts its fine . Will update in a few weeks

Genuine question guys if you had 2 hours to say good but to your bike for a couple of months. Stored in a garage (with no power) unused unloved what would you do to it before you left....