XmisterIS

I always thought that part of the test was crazy, I was very relieved when I passed my test and knew I wouldn't be doing the new one! If I'd failed I would have been doing the new one. I think that swerve should be taken out; I've been riding pretty much every day for several months and I've only just recently got the hang of flicking the bike at speed between tight, opposing corners! I pity anyone trying to do it after only a few days of riding, which is what most of the CBT + test courses seem to be.

How unfortunate, I suspect it was that bloody "swerve" manoeuvre. (whoever decided to put that in should be shot)

Thanks for that I will post pics of new bike when it is delivered!

Apparently the new test has now definitely come in (27th April I think). I have my A2 licence and I am now the proud owner of a restricted SV650 ... I might want to do the A-test before my two years are up (if I can be bothered/able to afford it!). So, it would be good to hear from anyone who has done the new test ... what is it like? I very much doubt I will actually do the A-test because I am lazy and I'll probably end up waiting for my 33bhp to come off anyway after the 2 years (1 month done, 23 to go ... !), but it would be interesting to hear first-hand experiences of the long-awaited new test.

I nod, and the only people I never seem to get a response from are fat hairy old men wearing open-face helmets on Harleys ....

Hi all, I have just bought an SV650 naked Anyhoo, I find the bars a too low and too far forward and so I would like to replace them with some motocross ones, probably with a 4.5 inch rise. I think tank clearance should be OK like that. I think I will need to install a longer clutch cable and brake hoses (the bike hasn't arrived yet so I'm not sure!). Can some kind person give me (or point me in the direction of) a complete tutorial on how to change the bars and lengthen the cable & hoses? I'm pretty sure I know what I'm doing with the bars, but its the cable and hoses that I am not sure about. For starters, how do I work out what length of new cable and hoses to get? Are there different types for different bikes? How do I know which one to get? Etc, etc, etc ... ! I need to know what I'm doing so I don't go out and kill myself because I haven't connected the brakes properly, or something like that! Thanks, Mike.

I'll add them to my wishlist too then! They are pricey, but gore-tex is definitely worth it. Anything will be better than my current gloves that say "super-warmth" and "waterproof" on them (yeah, right!). They also say "Made in China" on the label ... that'll be why ...

Thanks! Do you ride with them yourself?

I personally found the Draggin's to be an uncomfortable fit! Too tight on the thighs and not long enough for my waist size, plus they pinched a lot in the cock area. I ended up going for Triumph kevlar jeans in my local(ish!) bike shop - nice and comfy with a wide leg. Additional: I sometimes ride in ordinary jeans with a pair of articulated Delkevic motocross knee and shin protectors on underneath - very comfy and only £15 online. You can also get like a "string vest" type of thing from Hein Gerike, has various bits of protection, wear it under normal jeans.

Hi all, My experience of Gore-Tex is that it is cool in the summer and warm as toast in the winter! My boots have a gore-tex liner and I never get cold in them, even in the coldest weather. So .... I must have gore-tex. But ... is solid armour necessary? Or will lots of padding be sufficient? I tried on a pair of Alpinestars WR-2 in the Honda shop, they were really comfy, not bulky at all ... but hardly any protection Can anyone recommend a good pair of gloves that combine both gore-tex and armour/good padding on the knuckles and back of hand? And what size do you take? I am either an XL or a 2XL depending upon the make (I have wide hands with long fingers). Mike.

Hi all, I have found a 2001 CB500S for sale on the net, seller says that occasionally water can be seen dripping off the radiator ... I presume that's a cracked radiator; how difficult a job is that to do? How pricey? I would like to buy it because it's cheap (£800), economical to run and will make a great first bike. Plus I want to learn to fix the thing myself - presumably being a 2001 model it won't have any fancy electronic gizmos on it.

My brake fluid reservior on my handlebars says "DOT 4" ... can I just chuck DOT 5.1 straight into it?

Ah! A good ol' case of RTFM ... Why should it need changing anyway? Presumably, it's just a sealed hydraulic system, with some liquid in it, why does the liquid ever need changing at all? I'm just curious to know!

My brake fluid is getting pretty yellow (presumably because it's old). When should I change it? The bike has 12500 on the clock, I don't know if it's had a brake fluid change. The brakes work fine though.

Wow! Does that apply to all my wishes?

This is a great thread, could we perhaps have it pinned by a mod?

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll check it out

Hi all, I dropped my bike (Honda XL125) in December. I didn't do much damage, but I bent the handlebars and had to have them replaced. The bike fell on its left hand side, pushing the steering hard to the right. The bike seems perfectly OK, rides fine, etc, but whenever I push it backwards with the steering on full lock to the right, the front brake squeaks (like the pad is rubbing on the disc). It didn't do this before I dropped it, I wonder what could be causing it? Thanks, Mike.

I'm going to saw it in half to see what it's insides look like ...

I have just got a new helmet because I bonked the old one. It seems a shame to just chuck the old one out; I wonder if there are any places that take them in, take them to bits and re-cycle whatever can be re-cycled. Or do I just chuck it in the bin?

Lol! Nope, I just found that link today! I bought the helmet from another place. anyway, it says "bag", not "back" It's great how I just stumbled upon that particular website AFTER I'd bought the helmet! Anyway, I wore it this afternoon and it was so comfortable. The bit round your nose and mouth completely warms the air as it enters, so breathing is comfortable even in very cold wind, I can't recommend it enough and I would happily wear it all day. The nose piece and "chin guard" are removable for the summer too.

Que? No unnerstand, misser Fawlty ... I am from Barthelona.

ah! I've just bought a matt-black helmet!

I had a KBC VR-1X, which I bonked when I fell off and pierced the outer shell, so it was time for a new one! I had never really liked the VR-1X, it was uncomfortable and took ages to mold to the shape of my head, plus it misted up like a good-un while giving practically nill protection from wind entering from under the chin, and it had really restricted vision! (small visor). I bought it as a first helmet, with no helmet experience (chuckle!). Anyway, I went to Hein Gericke with a £150 budget, and I ended up with this: http://www.sounddistribution.co.uk/prod ... umber=4579 (I bought the Type-O). It has a bigger visor than the KBC (only slightly, but gives much better peripheral vision), It has a bit of cloth over the chin to stop wind coming in, I like the sun visor, it comes in a really nice matt black and, above all, it is incredibly comfortable! In fact, I thought it was just as comfortable as a £250 Arai that I tried on out of curiosity. So I was cheeky and bought it off the net for £25 less than the shop price All in all, for £125, I think it is by far the nicest helmet you can buy (provided it fits your head and doesn't move around, of course).

Don't get the rain repellant from Honda! I got some when I had my bike serviced --- it is about as much good as a chocolate teapot ...