Penny

Oh and great pics, you look very cool Glad your confidence is starting to increase! You're doing it right; small steps, little bit of progress, increase in confidence, repeat

The link from Photobucket will already have the IMG tags included, then if you clicked the IMG button on here and posted the link in, it would have added another set of IMG tags. Probably.

I wasn't going to go but got invited today and couldn't refuse! I'm going on Wed 26th. I'm hoping some of the 2015 bikes will be there so I can have a sit but doubt they will be

Congratulations

That is rather the impression I've formed. I've had a go at a few and upset myself because I've clicked at things that apparently are not hazards, because I'm so anxious not to miss anything, and then tried to avoid that and not clicked enough - haven't failed as such but certainly haven't left myself a margin of error. When I come to do the real thing I will need to be much better, as I'm bound to drop a few points because of nerves. It does seem to be very much about working out how to pass the test, as much as actually being able to pass the test. I agree, I've done the test and it's all about how to "play the game". If you could sit with an actual person and talk them through the hazards you perceive, you would get a different score than the one given by a computer program. Best thing to do is get a CD-ROM of the test (sounds a bit old school now, not sure what format they now come in) and learn how and when the program is expecting you to click.

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/263/213/c40.jpg

thats the older pinlocks... the new ones are large enough to be out of the line of sight. this is my current helmet - the Pinlock is way up out of the sight line: My old Shoie had the top of the pinlock right in the line of sight when leaning forward on a sports bike Ah right, that's good to know, thanks! Yes, that's what I found, it was totally in the line of vision and was very off-putting when riding.

I didn't like my Pinlock either, didn't like the fact you could see it in your line of vision so I took it off. I don't commute though and try to avoid riding in the rain so it's not too much of a bother.

My advice would be to not move up to a 600, move up to a 400 instead...I wish I hadn't gone up to a 600, took me a long time to get to grips with how to ride it properly, my confidence was knocked when I first got it, which took months to get back, and I dropped it three times If there'd been all the 300-400s around that there is now, I'd have got one of those instead. Accept you will drop the bike at some point so don't go for something too nice/new, it takes a while to get used to the weight and how to park and balancing at slow speed etc. I'm female and short though, it's worse for us

Aww, too cute!

Oh no, sorry to hear that! But your attitude sounds amazing and I'm glad you're feeling positive You'll probably be a lot less stressed next time now you know you nailed the rest of it!

Seems a fair price though: "The fee will take into account the cylinder capacity and environmental compatibility of the car with a maximum toll of 130 euros a year. Foreign drivers can pay a 10-day levy for 10 euros or two month for 22 euros." People say "car" when they mean "vehicle" a lot of the time. Can't see camper vans etc being excluded! As for bikes, can't see them losing out on all that dosh either! Something else to add to the massive list of things you need when travelling abroad though, thanks!

Slow control is hard! Much harder than normal riding. You probably know this but dropping bikes when doing things like figure of 8s is usually down to not enough revs. As long as your clutch control is good, don't worry about revving more than you think you need. I hadn't dropped a bike for 4 years and dropped my pride and joy recently, totally stupid thing to do - it happens! None of us can argue with gravity unfortunately. You do need to be in the right mind set though, you have to think you can smash it! I'm terrible for thinking "I can't" and I know it holds me back as I'm already telling myself that it's not going to happen, so you make it not happen...self-fulfilling prophecy I saw this the other day and thought it was quite clever! Also, I agree with everyone else, go for the 600...there won't be much in it weight wise with the 500 and 600 but there'll be a world of difference with what bikes you can buy when you pass your test, which you will! Good luck

My first big bike was an XJ6, it's a cracking bike! Lovely engine, dead easy to ride, loads of poke. Nice low and narrow seat too. Had mine for 2 years. The only things I didn't like were the tyres that came with it (Bridgestones BT021s) and it's quite top heavy (mine kissed the floor 3 times )