bonio

I have both. I've only used the gloves once; ways too much faff. Grips are always there when you need them, just ping the switch and you warm up. Two areas where gloves are better: more even heat (back of the hand as well as palms) and you stay warm even when you're hands aren't on the grips. Neither of these seem to me to beat the convenience thing.

Yeah, stay tuned. It's a grand week away, like none other.

Dipped headlights?

If it were me, I'd go and get checked out. The question of fault is a legal matter, and I am not an expert on these things. My guess is that its depends on things like: how far was the woman ahead of you when she started to move? Did she indicate first? How suddenly did she make the manouvre? Some part of the blame is very likely to fall to the woman, as she was making a risky manouvre and so should have taken particular care - which includes checking her mirror and her blind spot for other road users. But a portion might also fall to you, depending on how fast you were going and what precautions you were taking. If this becomes and important question, then I'd be thinking about getting a lawyer.

Where in Oxford is that godforsaken thing?

Noisiness depends a lot on the bike and the biker (what kind of position you ride in) too, so it's hard to give concrete recommendations. That said, the most comprehensive reviews for noise I've ever found are on web bike world. The quietest lid I've ever used was the Shoei Qwest. The GT-Air I have now is quite a bit noisier. Don't forget too that a good screen can reduce noise a lot. It doesn't even have to be bigger to reduce noise, just being more aerodymanic can do it. Also a chin curtain can reduce noise. I ripped mine out of the GT-Air, as the ventilation was poor with it in.

I got a Rukka jacket off ebay about 3 years ago. It's been bomb-proof so far. Previous to that I'd bought some HG goretex trousers off ebay but they leaked like seive. I sent them back to goretex, and since the trousers were no longer in production, goretex sent me a cheque which I put towards a new pair of Rukka pants.

If your local plodsatbulary does them, why not try a BikeSafe course? It's designed to be a intro to advanced training. It gives you a good idea about what advanced training is about, the kind of things you could learn, and it's a good way to test it out before deciding to go any further. They will also put into touch with local groups where you can get further training from if that's what you want.

For me: gloves over (easier to put on) unless it's really wet, when it's gloves under (stops the rain running off the jacket inside the gloves).

Don't worry too much about it mate. Just get yourself another test booked and you'll get through next time.

If you've the cash to spend on lessons and you find you like riding the bigger bike, then I'd suggest taking that route rather than getting a 125. You could either go on an intensive DAS our just take lessons at your own pace but either way you could have a full licence by the end of the year.

Yes, you need a CBT to take a lesson with an instructor on a public road. But like Tango says, the school will take you though the CBT as the first step of your training.

Yes for sure. When I first passed my test, I used to terrify myself coming home from work doing 70mph on the dual carriageway - what if I come off now? Nowadays 70 seems a bit tame and I have to work hard to stick to it.

Ouch. Bad luck mate. Get well soon.

Hey Al. Try this and see if it helps: after checking the road is clear, just before you move off, turn your head to the right, and look straight down the middle of the road you're turning into. Keep looking down the road while making the turn.

Mod1 is basically about two things: 1) emergency stop and swerve, and 2) slow-speed control. So the U-turn, the figure of 8 and all that stuff are there to test how well you can control the bike at slow speeds. And like Joeman says, if you need to put your foot down, it's a sign that you're not controlling the bike very well.

Ooh. Learn something every day.

I guess this is talking about the fuel cut off? (which I think looks like this) Can't think why you'd turn to off, except of course in an emergency.

Change of address for car insurance (Saga*): £0 Change of address for GS insurance (Bikesure): £0 Change of address for VanVan insurance (WikedQuotes): £37:50 I guess you get what you pay for. * Yes I am that old

I think you dropped a "not" there Bonio Ice is properly evil on a bike Dropped mine on black ice Ha. Someone actually read my post

I haven't even begun to decide what gun I'll buy first Bikes seemed like the higher priority... You've a lot of naturalizing to do

Sadly no. The aim of the CBT is to give you enough basic training to keep yourself out of trouble while you're learning to ride. On the CBT you will attend about 2 hours listening to stiff about what kit to wear and why should go out on the bike when its icy, 2 hours practising basic stuff like turns, and a final 2 hours riding on the road with the instructor and probably 3 others. You will have great fun and learn very little. If you're interested in building your confidence and becoming a better rider then why not take the occasional lesson after doing your CBT? You wouldn't even have to take the A1 test. What you learn would really add to the experience your getting of riding the roads and would be a good preparation for the A2 test when you do it.

Don't know I completely agree with you. I spent enough time in the US to find out that it is a very foreign country; for example, it felt - and still feels - far more different to me than Germany. The thing with the States is that, because the language is so similar, it's easy to imagine that people think in similar ways. And by and large they don't. On the other hand, the great thing about a different language is that it unlocks ways of thinking that are almost impossible in your own language, and this gives you a readier insight into the way the people think.

Better go soon. I still remember the day I passed the age limit for an resident visa.

@Xtreme has. We upped sticks and went to live in the States. We did it with no particular aim, except that it seemed like a great opportunity. We stayed a bit under two years and we would have stayed longer except we realised, given the schooling for the kids, we really had to choose to stay for life or to come back to Blighty. We had a great time, and I'd do it again given the same situation. As for the language over there, we kind of picked it up on the hoof