fastbob

Correct .

Welcome back . What have you been up to then ? I've got a proper Harley now courtesy of Mr Frog and he's gone and got an even bigger and madder one . James in Brum appears to have quit motorbikes for now and all the usual old scrotes are still chuntering on ..

You want my opinion ? Dress in whatever bike gear you are comfortable and safe in and then stick a set of " Outdoor " waterproofs such as Karrimor etc from Sports Direct on over the top . Buy big and be prepared to replace them every couple of years . I'm done with so called waterproof textile clothing . None of it ever works for long and everything except the really expensive stuff starts to fall apart from day one . And don't even mention waterproofing sprays because they are just a con .

I'll take my chances . There's no way I'm riding a Harley with a plate fitted in the traditional way .

Ah well yes , I really wish I'd tried this before I went to Scotland . If I use the sissy bar in conjunction with my big roll bag it forms the perfect backrest for touring . I might even be tempted to try the screen next summer .

I don't get any of this . You have all the time in the world to inspect the bike , Lexmoto or otherwise , before you buy it . And as soon as you get it home it's your bike and it's your responsibility to sort it out mechanically . That means getting a spanner and tightening up bolts . The clutch lever screw fell out because you didn't check it and tighten it . Same with the chain and exhaust cover and anything else that you have allowed to fall off because of mechanical negligence . Sorry mate but it's called taking responsibility ..

Is that it ? Some great photos but a very disappointing response from such a large forum .

I actively encourage and facilitate overtaking . I fail to understand why car drivers will come up behind another vehicle and then just sit there . Overtake or hang back but don't drive just behind me for mile after endless mile . It's just rude . And before all the Harley jokes get dusted off , I used to do this on my GSXR if it was raining . Why should I be pressured to ride 10 or 20 miles an hour faster than I want to because some nobhead dictates ? This is why every long route is interspersed with little convoys of 5 to 6 cars all driving nose to tail . They didn't set off together did they ? No , someone set off and after a few miles another car latched on behind them . It would be seen as crass to floor it to lose the second car and the driver of the second car does not have the inclination or the balls to overtake . So they drive along until car one becomes weary of the car following and slows down a little bit . It's not long before another four cars join on in the same manner until the whole thing slows down further because everyone is subconsciously interacting with each other . And that's why the open roads are full of little processions of tin boxes .

Now that's exactly where and when I would wave . By the way , have you ever tried the B7076 that runs parallel to the 74 all the way ?

You've answered your own question really . There IS a hierarchy in motorcycling as there is in most things . I personally don't go about waving and nodding at everything on two wheels . I do nod or wave when there is a common experience to be briefly shared , like being hundred miles from anywhere in the pissing rain or on a particularly wonderful piece of road in the sunshine . One thing I definitely wouldn't do is wave at scooter riders especially in my locality . I don't really want some coked up little Roadsman shoving a kitchen knife into me at the next junction because I " Disrespected him " Ya get me Fam ?

Good job Keith Moon isn't around .

It must be self explanatory because no instructions are included in the manual . The manual is available as a PDF file online .

The Chinese are " Renting " millions of acres of Africa to feed themselves but I don't suppose that any of the farmers see much of that either .

Well , this is good . Due to complete ignorance on my part and monumental disorganisation on their part , I have been admitted to an Airshow and classic bike show at the Shuttleworth Collection ABSOLUTELY FREE ! I have offered to pay but that just seems to send them into a tizz . Oh well , Chocks Away !

That would be the absolute perfect bike for me . Practical , fast , light , red , a Suzuki , comfortable , good secure luggage , screen etc etc . Ideal for touring Scotland . Unfortunately I don't do practical .

Yeah , I hope it all goes well but don't be discouraged if you don't pass first time . I didn't .

Loughborough Bike Day . Harleys were definitely in the majority . Later I ran into two nutters with turbo Gixers . Yep one has two turbos !

In the meantime , just get some leather keks and move on . Unfortunately you're not the first woman to be treated badly by a motorcycle training school. You've got to ask yourself , why someone would want to be an instructor in the first place ? You can't tell me that a proportion of them don't enjoy the feeling of power over others that it gives them .

Now please don't be offended but have you ever been assessed for Autism ? I was assessed about ten years ago and found to have a paradoxical mixture of traits and an overall diagnosis of mild Asperger's Syndrome . Best thing I ever did .

Just tell them . I can't really see what the issue is . Are you worried that they might think that you're implying that they were trying to mislead you .

The white centre line has probably saved my life on numerous occasions when I have turned into the full glare of the sun and temporarily lost all orientation . Sometimes they are all you've got .

Be a crime not to put at least 200 miles on the bike if it's going to be good weather . Where to go , what to do ?

No , K&N is the wrong choice for all weather riding . The handy 17mm nut is only spot welded on and is very likely to shear off if the salt has got at it .

Big balls !