bonio

The XR is amazing bike, too. The engine is more punchy than the GS, a bit more exciting to ride. But the bike has legendary problems with bar vibes. Some are fine, some are so bad, the riders give up on them and buy something smoother like a Harley.

Welcome in!

Happy birthday mate. Hope it's been a good one.

Here's my experience of riding the R1200GS (the later, water-cooled version). I'd been riding for just 3 years, on a CB500 with forty something bhp. I'm 5' 7" and can bench press 30kg on a good day. If it wasn't too big for me, it isn't for you. The bike is a complete blast; it's a great bike, super-comfortable for all-day riding, it eats motorways effortlessly, loves twisty roads, and will even off road when your sat nav tells you the quickest way to the YHA is over a mile of muddy track. It's once of the best all-round bikes out there. A couple of small negatives: wide bars mean it's harder to filter: fine on a motorway, but I used to get stuck in London traffic, while the scooter boys were whisking around me lots of torque (which is nice) mean it revs low, and you don't get the wild hooligan feel of a inline four nearing the red line. ... but nothing there to put someone off.

I got a great Chinese visor for my GT Air from aliexpress. A bit tinted, and fits better than the original.

Never liked the idea of them myself. With a sunsheild in the helmet I can go from sun to shade and with a flip of the finger I can see clearly again. But with tinted lenses, I'm not going to want to wait however many minutes it is until I'm able to see the next bend. But I've never tried them so perhaps I'm imagining a problem that doesn't exist?

That's an amazing statement. The MS is a cracking bike and I'd have thought it was set up well to shine on those roads around Alston. I'm really interested to know: is the Guzzi really that much better?

Yes it lasts the full two years. You can use it on as many practical tests as you want.

So I make that: you need a valid theory test - which you already have as you took yours in Sept 23 and it is valid until Sept 25 (see here) - and then you do mod 1 and mod2 on the right bike and job done.

Welcome

Don't know. Mine was sold without a centre stand, but there's one you can have as (expensive) option. It comes standard on the top model. So in this case it's all about cost cutting, and trying to make the top model seem more attractive. I've got a paddock stand for oiling the chain, so it's only inconvenient when I'm touring, and I've just bought a side stand jack to fix this problem.

Don't worry about us, @Stu. your family need you and we'll still be here when the pressure eases off.

Mornin' all.

I'd be looking at suspension too. It's where manufacturers usually cut costs on mid range bikes.

Χριστός ἀνέστη! That was amazing. But sad they've blocked you from reaching the airport.

Hey @Bikesure, what would you say the answer to the OP's question is?

We can't get hire decent software engineers, even though we offer good pay. When I retire next year they won't even try to replace me; they know they won't find anyone. Our problem is that we're a lumbering old engineering company, and just not cool enough to attract young (or even middle-aged) bright things.

Well done. Mod 2 is also the easier one.

Hello hello hello

Didn't recognize you in that pic...!

No, no harm to the transmission. It's built to take worse than that. I'm sure I've made the same mistake. Just too old now to remember it.

Welcome! How long have you the VanVan? Do we get to see a pic?

Never too late to start. Bungles is right. If you can afford it, think about taking the direct access route: once you've got your CBT on 125, direct access allows you to do your lessons and take your tests on a 650, and once through you're fully qualified to ride any size bike you want. It's the quickest way to getting going on anything bigger than a 125cc. Only disadvantage is the cost of the lessons, which can add up. As for what bike, I'd suggest you leave that decision until you've at least done your CBT (which is the first step whatever route you take - you will do it on a bike the school provides) and perhaps later. Better to have a bit of experience to bring to the thought process than to go in completely new. Kit too. No home in looking online at bike porn tho. We all do it. As for Superbike factory, I've read posts of people's bad experiences about them I wouldn't go near them.

No mate, sorry. You need to take your test first.

Welcome in, buh! Sunny Ayrshire? Are you sure about the sunny bit? Can anyone move there?