learningtofly

Thanks - it's in lovely nick actually. Much more of a purist's car, and far more engaging because of that. I did love my Boxster, but it was 18 years old and following the last service I was given a list of about £4k's worth of additional work that was required. maybe the write-off was a blessing in disguise as I don't have that kind on money knocking around. (The car was worth £7.5k at best anyway, so it wouldn't have been money well spent.)

Okay, I'll see of there's a cheap BnB nearby and then decide what to do

Well, my poor old Boxster was officially written off by my insurers last week after about a month of thinking about it following what was a pretty minor prang. I was toying between a convertible Mini and an MX-5 as a replacement, and this is now sitting on my drive. It's a 2010 (Mk 3.5 facelift) 2.0 SE with low mileage and not a mark on it. I drove it about 65 miles home yesterday, and it's an absolute joy. Far more engaging than the Boxster, although I did notice the back twitch on a couple of corners (I was going pretty quickly and it was chucking it down, mind). So far, very happy indeed, although I think I'll let Skuzzle work some magic on it in the spring (the basic upgrades take it from 158 to 190 bhp).

Good advice. Will anyone else be staying over?

Did someone mention biscuits?

I'd love to come, but being fairly new to my bike I'm a bit nervous about a 1.5-2hr journey home, at night and in late October. Am I being a pussy?

To be fair, the jacket’s described as having a waterproof membrane, as opposed to being waterprooof. Unless the membrane itself isn’t doing it’s job I’m not sure you’d have a case on a fitness for purpose basis.

I took mine in Enfield (apparently no longer the lowest pass rate in the country!) last week. I thought my particular test route was quite undemanding, save for a very steep downhill street with a sharp right turn at the end. I got a minor for that turn, in fact! Sounds like you've got the same examiner as me (He took me to this route, where he failed me on that corner because he said "I cut through it". Short, bald dude with glasses and a very unpleasant demeanour?!? His name was "H" - didn't seem short from memory, and very pleasant (we were both laughing out loud before and after the test).

Send it back! not fit for purpose and all that To be honest, Stu, I just can’t be arsed to take it all down again, and half the packaging is in the wheelie bin now. I think I may be able to cobble a solution together by using a ground anchor I have lying around, so I’ll have a play around with it tomorrow.

Anyone fancy this before I put in it the wardrobe and keep it as a spare?

Well, I thought I'd update this thread as I've just put my Ridehide cover together and there is an issue that's probably worth noting... It took about an hour, all in, and for the most part was relatively straightforward. What didn't help as all was that - on my cover, at least - the logo on the front face was printed upside down. I therefore wasted a fair amount of time turning the bloody thing around, upside down and inside out, trying to work out what I was doing wrong. I wasn't doing anything wrong, in fact, save that i wasn't standing on my head! The deal breaker, though, is that I can't now bolt it down, as it's not actually big enough for the bike (despite what they say on their bloody data sheet). This is a problem because it means that it needs to be manipulated in order to pull it fully over the bike; otherwise the leading edge lowers onto the seat. In fact, if the front wheel isn't straight it also needs to be lifted over the uppermost mirror. Anyway, there's no way it could be closed fully if it was bolted down, and its therefore going to be a nightmare in strong winds. All in all, I'm singularly unimpressed.

Thanks mate! Glad you passed!!! Did you do yours at Enfield by any chance? I took mine in Enfield (apparently no longer the lowest pass rate in the country!) last week. I thought my particular test route was quite undemanding, save for a very steep downhill street with a sharp right turn at the end. I got a minor for that turn, in fact!

Made it http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/LightestTouch/8E4D1956-E1EF-4014-BAB6-F25643773AF8.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/LightestTouch/A3B77CF8-5B0E-4A5B-BA35-E1A6C6F89E50.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/LightestTouch/BCEA34AA-2402-44EC-A15B-61268D12110A.jpg

Thank you very much

Fantastic - well done. Just take a safe and leisurely cruise home - great chance to get used to the bike.

Thanks guys - much appreciated. I absolutely love the bike, and will very shortly be riding it down to the Ace Cafe so i can feel like a proper biker With regard to the photos, I did give them a tweak in Photoshop before posting them. That exif data has reminded me that I need to turn location services off when necessary, though. So easy to forget these things.

I've taken [mention]elizabethf[/mention] 's advice and started a new thread, as after much excitement at Chateaux LTF the Street Twin is here. Yes, just one day after passing my Mod 2 - that's what you call timing Anyway, I spent literally weeks watching and reading reviews, and seeking advice from the many bikers I know. The key issues for me were that I wanted a retro roadster style; it had to be naked; the seat had to be no more than 800mm; and an engine size preferably under a litre. Triumph was always a nose in front of everything else, although I did seriously consider a Ducatii Scrambler (fit and finish not as good as others I was looking at) and an R9T (just a little larger and more powerful than I wanted/needed). Despite nearly cracking when I tested an incredible limited edition Stripple, in the end it came down to Triumph's Street Twin and the T100. I'd like to have been able to go for the T100 but in reality the ST was much more comfortable; I could flat foot it, and I knew I could add some bits and pieces to get it how I wanted. In the end, then, that's what I did, but in addition to the stock bike I got: Fox adjustable RSU Heated grips Luggage rack & grab rail Centre stand Drilled chain guard Knee and tank pads Dresser bars Flyscreen Engine case protectors CNC machined front reservoir I've done about 50 miles on it since this morning, and to say I love it would be an understatement. The low rumbling engine tone is to die for, and it's such a comfortable and easy bike to ride. I can't believe that 900cc of engine can be so undemanding! Anyway, I shot a few pics on my phone, and now I'm going for a lie down as i feel emotionally exhausted.

Normally no more than 10 minutes.

Some very good advice so far - I agree that telling yourself what you should be doing, throughout the ride, is very helpful (probably think it rather than say it, though - or at least say it very quietly - as you'll be talking over the examiner otherwise). Best of luck with the next one, and don't get disheartened. Its good experience, if not what you'd have chosen as an outcome.

Mine was a CG125, circa 1978. In orange.

Well done, and good luck with your Mod 2!

yeah I thought the same Had to read it twice My eldest daughter is not married to her partner. He has a daughter from a previous relationship. So they are not related in anyway otherwise it would have been my daughters step daughters partner. Or I could have said my eldest grandsons half sisters partner. Thanks for the clarification. Most, errr... helpful

Turns out my eldest daughters partners daughters partner is a paint sprayer, he did it as a favour so is a top job.

Aside from that, it also gives insurance companies an out if you don’t.

I just bought one of these, with the intention of stickingit under the seat and popping it on if I suddenly find myself feeling a little too invisible at night. No lights but it seems pretty effective.