monotone

All weather commuter, except if there is snow or ice on the ground. I figure that if I can't walk on it without slipping, I'm taking the bus. So far that's been about 10 days in 2 years. Having said that, I really don't like riding on frosty mornings in the dark. I actually counted last winter, and out of 160 journeys to/from work between October and March there was just 1 journey on what I would consider a dry grippy road. (31 December, if you were wondering)

I've used a Kriega US10 (got it free with my Almax chain) on a 20 minute commute every day for over a year and it's never let any water in. I have room for my 2.6L lunchbox in the main compartment and phone, wallet and visor cleaner in the top pocket. The straps are easy to adjust and the clips are reliable.

I've had one for a year and can't really fault it as a learner bike. It's a very small bike but I manage fine at 5'10. The performance is fine for my commute but being learner legal it doesn't have the power for hills and forget about overtaking safely at anything above 50 mph. It's frustrating coming off a roundabout behind a van and seeing them pull aside to let you overtake but even on full throttle you can't even catch up However, I have had too many pies and at 14stone probably cripple the performance. As for handling, it's very lightweight but the brakes are not very strong. I don't need to use them much though, as simply rolling off the throttle slows you down as much as most cars do on their brakes. Mine has lasted through a year of daily use without any mechanical troubles and seems to do about 100mpg even at full throttle half the time. I would recommend one. My experience of the Aprilia RS125 is that of a reluctant mechanic who had to carry out a complete engine rebuild when the boy's second hand, dropped a few times, 5 year old one seized. We got it running but it never went right and cost him about £500 in total on top of the £800 he paid for it for 3 weeks use. This is why I went for a new 4 stroke Honda

I usually see the same bikes on my commute so know which ones will nod and don't bother with those who didn't in the past. For some reason it puts a massive grin on my face whenenver someone nods back, really brightens up my day I nod to those with L plates as I've not long been off them myself. There is one guy I see most mornings on a scooter (no L plates) who gives me a huge nod. He gets much respect from me as I remember once seeing him slither past while I was waiting at a bus stop in such heavy snow that the bus didn't turn up

My CBT instructor gave the opinion that D ring straps were safer, in that they would hold the helmet on better in a crash, but I don't know if he was talking from experience or just made it up. I think he was reasoning along the lines of "more expensive = safer".

I use the Nikwax stuff that you put in the washing machine too. My jacket was certainly cleaner and more waterproof afterwards.