bede

Rukka all day long. Don't see any point in compromise when comfort directly relates to pleasurable riding. It's damn expensive but will last years without problem. Mine has a five year warranty.

I have a quick release Givi. You screw a ring onto your tank filler and it just clips to by that a quick release spring loaded mechanism and also has a headstock backup strap for safety. Love it.

I have the Armaxion jacket and Cosmic trousers and absolutely love them.

Winter riding is no bother at all and in summer with the outlast liners removed and all the vents open they're lovely and breezy. The jacket is hefty but it's very well protected so that's fine by me.

I can't praise my gear enough.

I rode out to Cosford to see it fly over. Fair few bikers there too.

The right index finger of my Rukka glove has a small rubber blade on the back for clearing the visor and it works really well.

Mountaineering

Masturbation

Used to scuba dive but had major surgery on my chest about 7 years ago and sadly not dived since. Need to get back to it.

I had one of those as a field bike when I was 15!

^ This!

I did my CBT in mid May and felt miles away from being ready to take my Mod 2.

I passed my Mod 2 last friday.

After my CBT I had a DAS assessment on a 125 for the 1st hr then a blast on the 600 and whilst I felt far from comfortable in terms of competency on the road they said I was struggling on the 125 and was ready for the bigger bike. So, next lesson I had an hour on the bigger bike (XJ6) on the roads then straight into a mock Mod1 test on it. I did ok but was struggling with the fig of 8. A couple of lessons later I was fine on everything apart from the fig.8 still. It was my nemesis. After my third lesson though it just clicked and every lesson from there-on in just got better and better and before I knew it I had my tests booked and passed through everything easily at the first time of asking.

Each lesson you should pick up a couple of very minor things. It'll seem like nothing at the time but as it all builds up together it all just clicks and before you realise you're well on the way to being test ready. Time, patience, dedication to learning is all it takes. Just stick with it. You'll be rewarded in the end.

It is indeed. Can't wait to get out on my own now wherever I want instead of the same structured routes in prep for my test.

Just got home from passing my Mod2 this morning at the first attempt.

Thought the ride went really well. I picked up two minor faults, both for speed. One was me missing a speed limit sign on a dual carriageway having just left another NSL - I know the road was 40 but missed the short run at 30 before the 40 sign and pottered a bitabove 30.

Second fault was riding down a 40 limit slip road onto a dual carriageway - I saw a decent gap and opened up to get it as I couldn't see any further available gaps. I explained my reason and he seemed happy to pass me, just told me to be cautious of speed.

The examiner followed in a car as his bike had broken down yesterday!

Over the moon.

Had my Mod1 today at Burton. Tons of room, nice flat, good surface. Nailed it, no bother. One minor for doing 49 for the emergency stop.

Ace. I was told by my instructor that the slalom were 4 metres apart and the two figure of 8 were 5 metres apart. That's what I've been practising to and am nailing them no issue. My mod 1 next Friday will seem like I have an airfield to myself then.

I'm currently using my own bike for lessons. I insured it through bike sure and have a 60 day window in which to pass my test. I am insured for lessons so long as I'm in radio contact with an instructor.

Wales - Fitzpatrick's Cafe - Bethesda.