chiz

She's bike daft, seems even worse now!! We had to go collect the NSR the other day, it had been locked up outside an office block for a week so i thought we'd better move it! I managed to get it started after removing all the smashed panels and 20 minutes of turning the air blue, it runs okay considering. Once I'd 'warmed it up' she was straight on it and nailing it home, bad back and all. She said she was shitting herself at first, well it didn't show.

Quick update. It's been just short of two weeks since my girlfriend came off her bike, most of the bruising has gone but her back is still very sore. Although the back pain seems to be fading pretty quickly now that her new YZF-R125 is ready!!

Aha! So it was you I heard it from then!

Same here, I'm not worried about the cost of insurance, whatever price it is, I'll still pay it. That's why I don't feel the need to go through all the formalities of Rospa/IAM training and testing. I want to be a better rider, I don't need a bit of paper saying so. A friend of mine has already said he'll take me out on an observed ride and identify any areas needing improvement, then we'll work on putting them right. He's not affiliated with any particular groups but has been riding/racing for 30+ years and has instructed in the past. I'm sure I'll learn a thing or two from him.

I've heard that the IAM is equivalent to Rospa Bronze, I've also heard that you have to be re-tested for the Rospa qualification every so often (3 years?) Where as the IAM is a lifetime qualification. Someone on here definitely knows as I'm sure it was on here that I read it I know the IAM car doesn't need a re-test, I've had mine about five years now. To be honest I'd be content with knowing I'm a better rider, the bit of paper isn't going to save your life, but the training could well do.

I wear a Forcefield Pro Sub4 every time I ride any motorbike, OTT? Not in my opinion.

Having read a few topics recently regarding wearing too much protective kit on 125s, I have a story for you, hot off the press as it only happened today. My girlfriend has just had a tumble on her NSR. She's okay, thanks to her kit. It's been a year since she did her CBT and she hasn't ridden a bike since, so I took her down to a closed road near our house, there's a couple of roundabouts for practising cornering and a couple of straights for general stopping/going practice. I did a few laps with her to get her settled in then left her to it while I parked up and kept an eye on her. She was taking the roundabouts at 25-30mph which is about right for the size of them. As her confidence grew, she started getting more of a lean on and increasing her entry and exit speeds. Well, she took it too far and panic braked mid corner, straightening her up and sending her into the curb, she bounced off and straight across the road towards the central reservation where she mounted the curb and hit a small wire fence. This brought the bike to a halt and threw her over the fence, across the shrubs in the reservation and into the wire fence on the other side, she hit the second fence with such force that she snapped the fence post clean in half!! She continued sliding/rolling onto the other side of the road, coming to a halt in the middle of it. This happened about six hours ago, she's out of hospital now with a bag full of pills and a sore back. Her kit is ruined, both elbows, shoulders, knees, back panel, boots, gloves, one lower leg, upper arm and helmet all scuffed/chipped. The paramedics had to cut most of it off anyway. Bearing in mind what happened is regarded as a low speed tumble, on 'just a 125', that kit prevented her form being much more seriously injured. I wasn't in any doubt before as to the importance of wearing the right gear regardless of what you are riding, but seeing that today has certainly banged the message home. WEAR THE RIGHT KIT. You can still make a mess of yourself whether it's a 125 doing 20-30mph or a thou doing 150+.

I actually feel sorry for you, my girlfriend is in a similar situation, I bought her textiles when she was gyming it up six days a week, now she's packed it in and put a little bit of weight on, not much, but enough to make her textiles a bit too cosy. She's after leathers now but I'm reluctant to buy any in case she starts the gym again.

Also... 2.3.7 Tinted visors 2.3.7.1 If tinted visors are used during daylight hours, advice only; if used during the hours of darkness or conditions of reduced visibility, consider prosecution using ‘Tintman’ equipment where available. 2.3.7.2 It is acknowledged that there is much debate about this issue and many variables and anomalies can be applied. Therefore a pragmatic approach is necessary and only in cases where there is an obvious danger should prosecution be considered. From... http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/ ... ebsite.doc

Here's some coppers talking about it.... http://www.ukpoliceonline.co.uk/index.p ... 60772cf702

I've always bought new, although I suppose used is okay as long as they haven't been damaged. DOES NOT APPLY TO HELMETS. That's not a dig at you by the way, just advising you to view any used purchases with suspicion.

There's been something similar for pedal bikes for a few years now. Not a bad idea, anything that keeps you looking where you're going as opposed to over your shoulder is a good idea.

I completely agree, I spent a long time perfecting my slow ride for the purpose of passing mod1, much the same as U-turns I'd say, I can count on one hand the amount of U-turns I've done since passing my test (and not one of them was absolutely necessary), but I spent plenty of time practising them. I mentioned the slow ride thing just to find out if I'm the only one who doesn't do it any more.

Hmmmm.... I was taught that slow riding was a combination of revs, clutch and foot brake, a combination I've never used since. (I remember saying to my instructor that revving the engine whilst applying the foot brake was the most un-natural thing I'd ever done in a motor vehicle). In slow moving traffic I use varying clutch lever pressure and the engines idle speed to match the speed of the traffic, if I get it wrong and start catching up to the vehicle in front, I apply the foot brake and engage the clutch to slow down/come to a halt. If idle speed is too slow for traffic speeds then I apply gentle revs. I never brake and accelerate at the same time. Might sound strange but it makes perfect sense to me.

I've never slow-ridden since passing mod1, I didn't even slow ride on mod2... Am I the only one? Seems strange that there's so much emphasis on slow riding yet I've never done it since.

The bigger bike should be easier, or at least that's what I found. No idea if a little bit of wobbling will be a fail or not, two foot sounds quite extreme at that speed.

I was speaking to the gaffer at a bike gear shop near me (who sells the Scorpion 'pump-up' lids) he reckons there a gimmick, too much to go wrong and too expensive to fix. Also if something packs in mid ride you'll be left with an ill-fitting helmet until you can get home.

Boots, without a doubt. Might as well get used to them now, I did my lessons and tests in trainers even though I had boots (Yes Para, I know.... Knob!!!), once I passed I had to get used to riding with my boots on.

Good luck mate.

Sounds like he was after an easy day.

Some people also find peace of mind by paying more for something, regardless of the facts. A company could bring out a £500 pair of gloves.... somebody would buy them.

That could be said about lots of things.... Why did you buy a YBR when you could have bought a brand new Chinese import jobby (with free everything) for next to nowt, it's still a 125 right? I've seen gloves costing more. If I'd set that kind of money aside for gloves then I wouldn't think twice about spending it. If you're after Kangaroo leather gloves then HG do them for about £80, I use them and they're spot on. http://www.hein-gericke.co.uk/shop/prod ... ts_id/3587

Good man, you know it's the right thing to do.

That wont look silly at all.... Honest!! PS. See what I mean WF? (see link) £85 for that shite!!

Flog it!! There's always a daft civi that'll pay silly money for ex-army gear, even if it's falling to bits!! The amount of shite I sold when I was in QM's was amazing!!