manxie49

Another fooking politician talking out of her over privileged arse! Does she not realise that those who use bikes illegally or anti socially will find ways to circumnavigate these tracking systems, just like they find ways around every other security measure used!

I used to chop and change helmets all the time, always used to suffer with frontal head pain on long journeys, I was then recommended to try Shoei, which I did, and loved it. Have stuck with Shoei ever since. It would have to be something very special to drag me away from that brand now.

It feels like it's always raining here .... I only know summers arrived because the rain gets warmer!

Fook! And I thought it was bad here

I agree with Mississippi, we always see an increase in accidents at this time of year when people get the bikes out, dust them off, and presume that they're still as sharp as they were after a several month lay up. I ride all year round so would like to think that my riding skills are pretty constant. However I've still done advanced training above and beyond test standard. I did a one day off road course in Wales a couple of years ago, more for fun, but IMHO any training is good training. I was going to do the bike master course but that was put on hold due to covid, this year I'm doing a half day refresher on slow speed manoeuvring with a local club. After many years of riding bikes I would say I've become very focused on self preservation, probably much more so than I was when I was riding as a teenager. Through experience I've learned to keep my eyes open and my wits about me, and to always expect the unexpected, especially when riding on rural roads. As Jedibiker says though, even seasoned riders get caught out, and personally I think having your riding skills scrutinised by an expert once in while isn't necessarily a bad thing ..... That said, accidents happen, fact of life, no one is ever going to stop them. It's what we do as riders, to potentially mitigate accidents and serious injury that counts, that includes the gear we wear, riding skills, and something that is often overlooked, rider attitudes.

I find laying on my roof like this is a really good theft deterrent, ...... Seriously though I use ABUS alarmed disc lock and an Oxford revolver cable lock when away from home, using a cover and being mindful about where you park it is also a good idea. At home the bike is garaged, I would recommend looking at Almax chains and ground anchors. There are also some good trackers on the market but they can be expensive, and IMHO, some of the cheaper ones are just as effective as the more expensive, factory installation and subscription jobbies....

Defo buzzing on council pop ..... It was full of sugar

Thanks, that's really useful, one of those simple solutions that you never think of!

Hope its a good one

The joys of riding on rural roads, had that happen a few times over the years, amazes me how it always seems to be in places where you're committed to the bend, and there isn't much you can do to avoid it ...... The same with manhole covers, there seems to be so many of them placed right on the apex of bends!

As Stu said it could be any number of things or a combination. I ride all year round so for me "rear end twitch" is common, I ride off road as well and I think that also helps prepare me for the unexpected. These things happen from time to time, analyse it and learn from it but don't dwell on it, I know you don't want a repeat and that's understandable, but trust me when I say, if you continue motorcycling, sooner or later this sort of thing will happen again. You can't always guarantee perfect riding conditions and good roads. Take it easy mate

There never is

Not holding much hope out for a much needed foreign holiday this year, but has anyone tried booking a holiday in this country? Nightmare! Everywhere seems bunged ...... Seriously looking like it'll be bike and a tent, I'm ok with that though so long as I can find a bit of peaceful space somewhere, probably end up in Wick! Possibly South of Ireland.

Never owned one myself but I did talk to someone local who purchased one a while ago as I was considering getting one, I remember him telling me that don't go as dark as pictures would suggest and they don't lighten back up that quickly from dark either, not 100% sure but I don't think they're road legal either, although I've never been pulled for having a dark visor on my helmet in summer. I think the big thing that put me off buying one was the eye watering cost.

I used to live in a flat in Leicester mate so had similar issues, however, I used to wash it down in the car park with no problems or take it to a petrol station. Like Bob said above though, be careful about cleaning and oiling your chain, I used to put cardboard under the rear wheel and always made sure I cleaned any mess up to prevent complaints

I don't have an issue with people who want to engage in vigils or peaceful protests, however, when their actions start affecting everyday life, such as blocking public roads, gluing themselves to planes and trains, then that goes beyond peaceful protest and becomes public disorder IMO. I recall, not that long ago ER blocking roads into London, I also recall, from a personal perspective, a relative who was unable to get into hospital for a scan he'd waited ages for because of it, some of these people don't think or seem to care about how their actions affect other people.

What happened in Bristol last night is an absolute disgrace, I felt sorry for the Police ..... I know that some people will always find a band wagon to jump on, go back to the 60's and it was anti Vietnam war, move on a few years and it was CND and ban the bomb, I remember the riots then and the trouble at Greenham Common. More recently we have ER, BLM, Anti-vaxxers, anti lockdown, anti migrant demonstrations and clashes in Kent, it's one f----d up mess after another. I'm sick of seeing and hearing about it. I'm no expert, but IMHO the new policing bill included extra powers to deal with demonstrations because your average Joe on the street is sick and tired of being held to ransom by these people, and having their lives affected by their actions.

Be interesting to see a review once you get it, I've been looking at getting a tail bag for my off roader, that's a pretty good price

Facebook is a complete joke, my brother was given a ban for sharing someone else's post on FB, it was a squaddie quote saying: "he only takes the knee for the queen, for the fallen and to take aim". It was deemed as inappropriate! The shitter was that the original poster never got the same ban

I use Oxford stormex, seems to do the job for me, good fit and pretty hard wearing

I only let mine idle for a minute or so in the winter while I put my helmet and gloves on ...... Usually I just start and go, I just don't over rev the engine too much until it's properly warmed up. I have seen people start their cars and disappear of back in the house while there warming up, that practice has apparently always been illegal, it's called "quitting your vehicle"

Central heating oil does the same thing, it’s basically kerosene

I clean my chain in paraffin, works a treat ....