bonio

If anyone can use this, you're welcome to have it. Just PM me your address.

Nice idea. I'll be honest, the Peaks has always left me mystified. People say how great it is, but all I've found are traffic and towns and then sweet patch for 3 minutes and another 30 sign *sigh*. So I'd be signing up for this straightaway if it I lived nearer. All the best

Oooh shiney red hoses. Nice.

At least the Sinclair C5 came in white.

Story of my life, mate.

I need me one of those.

I rode it! Had to go to Ipswich for a second jab of vaccine or placebo - don't know what. Zoomed down the A12 to get there as the staff were waiting in for me, but had a good ride back on the twisty roads via Framlingham. The roads were in great condition - all the crud of winter's gone - so a cracking ride. Loads of bikes out.

So @Breezin, if you're skipping through these here posts on your phone or whatever, stop, go back, and read this one a second time. It's all the advice you need.

The Bobber is beautiful. It might be a modernist monster, I'm also partial to the Thruxton.

Wife would like recessed spots in the kitchen. Isn't going to get them.

Ours too. I've been told they're for better privacy; when the light's on, it outshines any light bouncing off you, and so you become harder to see from outside the house.

When I moved house, I got one of the bikes shipped to the new place by this guy: https://www.uship.com/service-provider/344667664-haulin-ass-transport. He was really amazing, took great care of the bike, and even offered me a discount after one of the L plates was damaged. He's in Essex, so you might be out of his area. But I found him using uship and using them made the whole thing effortless.

Not owned either, but I think I'd prefer the reliability of Triumph over a newish Enfield. Also, I reckon you'll be happier with an older bike: you *will* drop it at some time, and when you do, you'll be so pleased that it's already had one or battle scars and the new scratch isn't its first. And when you come to sell it on after a few years, you should be able to sell it at more or less cost price. Thought about a Yamaha XSR700? Just within your budget perhaps. Or a Kawasaki W800? Others will be on here with better ideas

Sorry @The GOAT Was looking forward to catching up with you. Hope your health improves a bit over the summer.

@Ian Frog Yes mate. I'm due for my second vaccine on Sunday, or my second placebo; either way, I'll have had two of each by Sunday. And then they'll be able to give me some kind of cert

The Smokies! Wooo. Sign me up.

This is true. 800s too

I did the DAS intensive thing: one week from CBT to passing Mod2 - or my case, to failing Mod1 and game over. Eventually got through Mod 1 and Mod 2 a month later on. If I were doing it again, I'd do DAS but on a more relaxed schedule, over a month or so.

If you buy a 125, I'd buy secondhand a Japanese bike, preferably a Yamaha like a YBR or a Honda. That way, you will get the best reliability you can buy, and you will sell it on for much the same amount as you pay for it. Other countries' bike might not work out so easily for you. With a Chinese bike (sorry lads, I said it) you've greatly reduced your chances of coming out of it emotionally and financially unscathed.

It's Easter for us! Chocolate eggs on Sunday.

Any more needs or wants? Would you consider a naked? A street triple? A Brutale? A Shiver? What about price? A BMW S1000XR is a lunatic machine with good manners and a supercomfy ride - if you can put up with the vibes. But if you want a sports look then @fullscreenaging's Z1000SX idea is a great suggestion - a cracking bike, with a sports soul, but a more comfortable riding position. The VFR is bit sportier in body position, but easier than full-on sportsbike.

As @Gerontious says Gore-Tex comes with a guarantee that's pretty watertight . I bought some second hand Gore-Tex trousers once on ebay (I think they were Hein Gericke), but they leaked. Sent them to Gore-Tex, no receipt or anything. They couldn't replace them, as they were no longer produced, but they gave me a hefty discount on any Gore-Tex trousers I wanted.

Looks awesome Congrats!

Not sure I'm 100% right, but I think the CBT was meant to fix the problem of someone sticking some L plates on a bike, hopping on and ending up as a KSI statistic, simply through lack of awareness of the dangers. I believe, though, it's introduced a new problem: people pass their CBT and reckon they're now qualified to ride, so why bother doing any more? Especially now the test is so complicated (and schools are expensive).

There are two ways to get a motorcycle licence: 1. Do a 1 (or sometimes 2) day CBT. This allows you ride a bike up 125cc on L plates for two years. During this time you can't take pillions and you can't go on motorways, but you can ride on your own and gain experience. The idea is that at some time in the two-year window, you take your motorcycle theory test, get a few lessons from a school, and then take the practical tests for the full licence (the first part is at a purpose-built test centre, the second part is on the road). 2. If you're over 24, you can take lessons on a full-sized (i.e. 600cc or 650cc) bike with a tutor following you, and when you're ready, take the practical test for the full licence (again, in two parts and again, you need to pass the motorcycle theory test first). This is very similar to the way you learn to drive a car. If you're finding it harder to pick up driving skills, you might find option 1 works better for you as it gives you plenty of time to get used to the bike while riding roads you're familiar with.