Pete

Just chillax. I nearly rode straight into a telegraph pole on my CBT! I was coming out of a junction turning right and couldn't get it right, went for what I thought was the brake (after riding a push bike for so long) and took the clutch in, got confused so banged it back out, jerked the bike, legs went everywhere, traffic stopped and people laughed and off I went kangarooing down the rode like an idiot That and stalling it countless times, nearly coming off and being scared to go right at roundabouts! Don't worry, like MtotheJ said you'll feel fresher and more ready for it tomorrow. After sleeping on it and riding 'round for half an hour you'll become all natural-like and will wonder what the problem was, I promise!

Hi there Pete..i have had a few good rideouts to Wales over the last few weeks and will be going again in the near future..so if you are interested then let me know..i tend to go solo or with a couple of mates if they manage to get time off work..have contemplated joining a few groups around my parts but in all honesty they dont do a lot so i tend to head down south and rideout with guys from the GSXF Owners club..I live in Worcester so the Welsh border is never far away..i sometimes venture up to Bassets Pole to the bike meet on a Tuesday evening but last weeks was dismal with less than 50 bikes turning up..Weston Bike night is cracking but it mite be a little to far for ya dependin on where ya live.. :cheers http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx54/wased_ace/Photo-0181.jpg http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx54/wased_ace/Photo-0166.jpg Sorry mate, I wasn't ignoring you I just haven't looked at this thread for a while! I'm still up for it. Had a lovely bimble down to Oxford via Morton-in-Marsh the other day and it's a great run going past Evesham too just following the A44 most of the way. I'll keep an eye on this thread and like others I'm well up for it...depending on weather!

My rear tyre's nearly ready for the bin and I'm looking at which one to get next. Currently I have a Pirelli Diablo Strada fitted and it's been OK. However when my uncle popped round the other day on his new bike I took a look at his Bridgestones and they were really, really warm and felt sticky to the touch! I couldn't believe it, a tyre that actually sticks to your finger. So what're people's opinions? I do quite a lot of mile munching so want something that will last, but also want something a bit stickier than the Pirelli that I already have. I'm looking to spend between £80 - £100. Oh and my tyre size is 150/70 ZR17 69W.

Mine's got a black screen, was on the bike when I bought it. Not a big problem but would be nice to be able to see through it! So, like Frankie says I'd go for the tinted one as well.

Weather's a bit pants! Have you got your new bike yet mate? If it brightens up later I might be up for it. I live in Redditch in Worcestershire so depends how far away in Leicestershire you are!

I agree wth TC in that I'd never buy anything from Hong Kong usually. However this one claims to be from America. Either way they've got good feedback so could be worth a go.

Old news! Jean Philippe Ruggia was doing it way back in the 80's. He's the one that got extra sliders built into his elbows http://v4.sportnetwork.net/mainadmin/img/1801082657276.jpg

Clogged air filter? I did think maybe a kink in the fuel line but I 'spose it wouldn't be having a consistant problem in every gear then...?

Could it be clutch related? Maybe the plates are worn or the cable is too tight, thus not allowing the plates to close together firmly?

Don't worry about losing tyre grip mate - plenty of people ride with pillions on the back of a 125 and there's no drama. I'd keep it under the seat if you can, if not then the top box should be fine. Good choice buying the Abus btw.

I'd say CBRf, not CBRrr. The CBRf is a lovely bike, the rr is too twitchy for a first bike, too likely to end up nasty...

I knew I'd read your stuff before TC! I didn't know you were so prolific... http://www.mcnninjas.co.uk/docs/Filtering

They look nice, but yes definately best to try them on first. I was lucky last week when I bought a pair off fleabay and they fit really well, but it was a risk I'd rather have not taken...but I'm broke and needed cheap boots! It also added some spice to my otherwise mediocre existence

Dodgy petcock? Get the tank off and inspect the petcock if you have one. Also check the vacuum hose on the tank.

There by hangs another tale,, finding a pair of gloves that will fit inside the the cuffs of a jacket,, it's not easy, summer gloves OK, but winter gloves it's almost impossible,, the thing with gloves, they don't seem to be made to do either And with me they always seem to pop out after a couple of miles anyway! I've tried tightening the velcro cuff but that just makes the gloves harder to get back in afterwards!

Just a stab in the dark but could it be clutch related? I know when my uncle changed his standard clutch to an open clutch cover on his Ducati he had to change the pressure plate over and it ran great for about 10 miles then it just wouldn't pull at all. Had the same problem's you've described until he went back to the clutch and replaced some plates as they were too thin.

Another one for the Knox Contour club here! Like nman I also can't see how this particular back protector would cause more damage. It's quite low-profile and fits very snugly. After a while I don't even notice it's there anymore.

I ride with leather Hein Gericke salopettes, and a cheapy textile jacket with knox armour in. I've also got a Knox Contour back protector and have left the foam one inside the jacket (looks like I've got a bit of a humped back at times!). I was out on the bike a lot over the weekend, covered about 500 miles and for the most part it totally pissed it down. I ran the Cat and Fiddle and for anyone that's been up there in the rain and fog you'll know what I mean when I say it wasn't just a little bit damp! My textile jacket let in a bit of water at the front zip, but that's to be expected with a cheap jacket, however much to my surprise my Hein Gericke trousers left my pins bone dry! I feel "safer" in the leather trousers than in my textiles trousers. They're thicker, warmer (with jogging trousers on underneath), have better triple stiched seams and even though they were a nause to bed into they're now alot comfier than my textiles too. I'm still surprised at how waterproof they are, so maybe that was just me, or maybe because they're still quite new so you might not get as good waterproofing in the long run I guess. I'd say textiles top and leathers bottom. The reason being that up top you can get better all-weather gear with textiles (depending on what you buy and how much you spend!) and can also add/remove layers more easily because of the looser fit with textiles than leathers. TC1474 I would also like to know more about the back protector problems. Would wearing my Knox Contour and my foam insert one at the same time be a problem? My knowledge only goes as far as to know that Level 2 is the better of the two available and I'd be interested to know what sort of problems can come from an after market back protector and which ones in particular would be good to avoid.

My Haynes manual says to check it when the bike is on the centre stand and there's no one sat on the bike. I guess some bikes are different, you'll just have to read the manual for yours.

You've obviously never danced with a robot, Colin. They've all got two left feet...

dont you mean the terminator or a power ranger, transformers are autobots/decepticons, ROBOTS.. No I think he meant Transformers, obviously! http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae248/peteblakemore/prime.jpg?t=1247784172

Also might be worth noting that depending on how much water you got in the bike may run 'lumpy' for a few miles. Again, don't worry about it.

Or make it go bang and get you with the hydrogen gas!

I'll leave the battery licking to you hard blokes. Just a thought but if 6 milliamps across the heart is enough to kill someone then surely 15A across the fingers from a bike battery could turn your brain to jam? Just a precautionary measure, but I've always read and been told to disconnect the black/negative connector before doing any electrical work

Just in case... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Honda-CBR900-RRT- ... tsupported http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDA-CB900R-CBR9 ... tsupported