bonio

Yeah, that's my experience too. I have advanced qualifications in dropping bikes, and frame sliders or engine bars have saved me every time. Depending on your bike, bar ends might give you some protection, but they've never been any help for bikes I've had. I wouldn't bother with sliders for the swing arm or forks or wheel hubs; they're just for decoration. As for brands, R&G are fine, but I was more impressed with the sliders from CNC Racing; they were a lot more solid as well as easier to fit. And yes, it's an easy enough DIY job. If you're tightening them on the engine mounting bolts, don't do what I did, which was to use R&G's torque settings; use the manufacturers. I ended up finishing a 600 mile ride home, with both sliders and both bolts behind me somewhere on the motorway.

Good advice from @daveinlim. There's a quick and dirty tool here https://bikerrated.com/insurance-estimator/ that you can use to get some approximate quotes for comparison. Try different bikes, different ages. Try with and without 1 year's NCD, and see how they all compare. If you're thinking about the moped route, though, it's worth running a real quote through to see what your insurance would be on the bike you want with 1 year's NCD. It's common for insurers to slap on a premium when you move from a bike with smaller engine to a larger one. I've had it happen to me twice - going from a 500 to a 1200, and some years later, going from a 400 to 800. My guess is that on both occasions I broke some magic insurance barrier (1000cc, 650cc) that triggered a higher premium. The premium went down to something more sensible the year after, but this would kind of defeat what you're aiming to achieve.

Good evening. Two years ago, I thought I might just be able to retire in 3 or 4 years. Now I reckon it's 5 years away at least, and it could hold there, always 5 years away, for as long as inflation is up where it is. Saves the hassle of working what to do with all that free time

Had to google that. Was it worth the trip to Middlesbrough?

Coming up to the Suez Canal by road - wowzer that's weird - the sight of ships sailing over a sea of sand...

I'd say to buy textiles (like the jacket onesea gave the link to) and buy them loose fitting enough to go over your work clothes. Textiles should keep you dry for 7 miles in all but the worst downpours. And with your work clothes, you should be warm enough too. I'd add heated grips to the bike to stop your hands freezing. Textiles with removable quilted linings work well for commuting. That way, you can remove the lining in summer and they should still be ok - unless the weather gets crazy hot. In summer you've more options: I use kevlar jeans, and then just carry on wearing them all day in the office (except I hardly ever go there now, since covid). Look on ebay. There's usually a fair choice of of reasonable secondhand stuff. Or visit a local J&S (if you're near enough) if you want to buy new.

Was sore last night for sure.

7 bikes is probably the perfect number. Seriously though, take your CBT, and do direct access (DAS) to get your licence. You'll get a better idea of the kind of bike you're going to be happy with as you go through the training. Meanwhile, ask yourself what kind of journeys are you going to be doing - days out for larks, commuting, longer distances, summer only, all weathers?

@daveinlim It's mainly meat. There's a bit of nail attached too. The whole thing is about the size of a penny.

I think you add them all up and put it down as a 25.

Hedgecutter. It wasn't even on. I was putting the blade back into the sheath when the end of my thumb got in the way. Found the bit stuck to my finger.

The end of my thumb

Ohhhh very nice.

... when I had my GS they were known for being shipped with batteries that would last a year at best. Perhaps not much has changed there.

The voltages look fine to me - that's what it should be doing. My guess is that the battery's taken a bit of a beating in the cold. Either the Optimate will cheer it up and make it fine again, or else it will keep it hobbling on for a few more weeks before it dies on you when you really need get somewhere on time.

Oi. Nothing dull about Suffolk! Windy, well you've got a point there.

I don't work in the motorcycle trade, so I've no experience to help. But there is a shortage of people to fill skilled jobs in all industries in the UK. I've just done a search for "Motorcycle technician" and there seem to be plenty of vacancies. I'd say consider one of the UK's smaller cities; London is great if you've loads of money, but life is harder if money is short. If you speak some English - you don't need a lot to get by - you should do fine

If there's no number three parking space, then it's clear that the parking spaces have one numbering system, and the flats have a different one. So there shouldn't be any need for the numbers to match up. I'd suggest just not to worry about it. She's got the paperwork to prove it's hers, and she doesn't need anything more than that.

Yup. One winter - was it 82-83? - it didn't melt for a whole month. When the thaw came, the warm air froze on the inside walls and covered them in ice too. Look at me now though - central heating and an electric blanket.

I read this and didn't reply cos it's way beyond my 3 Haynes manual spanners competence ceiling Doesn't help that the OP didn't say where he was. Nor that he's never been back since posting...

Welcome in!

@Steve_M Ta - don't know if I'll ever go that way, but even so it's helpful to see how you plan the routes.

So, where are these pics then?

Heated grips are a survival essential

I'm not sure that the police would be interested even if she were to approach them: if he were to say that say she gifted him the bike, how could she disprove this? (as @TimR says, the V5 only says she's the registered keeper, not the legal owner). Is it on PPP or HP? If it's a PPP, how likely is it that the guy will return it at the end of the loan period? Or will she become liable for the balloon payment too? In this case, she might be better off talking to the finance company and explaining the situation and that she's planning to default. Try to come to an arrangement that isn't too painful for her. If HP or a bank loan, then it more finely balanced between defaulting and carrying on paying. I can't see any other option for her - but about what getting advice from Citizens Advice? They've probably come across this situation more than once.