S-Westerly

I think it depends. Those with "advanced" riding/driving qualifications who go just go about their business might see a benefit from louder pipes. Those with "advanced" qualifications who bang on about it ad nauseam are likely to get little benefit as other road users will see the all encompassing glow of their self righteous smugness from some considerable distance, thus rendering the loud pipes superfluous. And here's me thinking you would see their polite jacket first Now that's just being gratuitously nasty!

I think it depends. Those with "advanced" riding/driving qualifications who go just go about their business might see a benefit from louder pipes. Those with "advanced" qualifications who bang on about it ad nauseam are likely to get little benefit as other road users will see the all encompassing glow of their self righteous smugness from some considerable distance, thus rendering the loud pipes superfluous. It's the special aura that advanced qualification riders have. Us lesser mortals just don't have it.

He seems to have got worse for this over recent years. In his earlier vids he was more careful to obey limits other than NSL ones.

Well done you. Now the fun begins!

From what I understand the major mobile phone networks intend to continue with the current roaming arrangements for Europe.

I think when it comes to retirement it very much depends on what you enjoy doing. I spend half the year on leave anyway so it won't be that dramatic a change. Less income obviously so that will be a major factor. Other than that I'm pretty damned busy with "stuff" so I'll do more of it. Maybe do some kind of part time job for beer money - or not.

All this talk about pensions makes me laugh. All I'll get when I reach 67 is the state minimum whatever that might be. Everything else is going to be from what we've managed to save and to be fair it's reasonable but.... How long it has to last is the question? My parents are still both going and my Dad is 90 next week so it may be difficult. I know low interest rates benefit the younger generation but I do feel a bit bitter and twisted when I was paying mortgages off at 15% and now I'm looking for a decent return I'm lucky to get 2%.

Early autumn last year the first big wind brought down tons of beech nuts. Came round a sharp bend and the road was absolutely carpeted with them. Fortunately it was a 30 mph zone so I wasn't going fast but it still made for a buttock clenching moment.

Must have been the same builder as us. Every single door in the house needed adjustment and some of them needed edges planing. Most of them are fire doors under the latest building regs and weigh a ton.

Have to say that I am not a good boy when it comes to these nobbers. I give them half a minute or so to pull over than just cut through the inside. Don't flash lights or sound horn just do it - fast.

Sounds about right, but what about 40 limits? Do they do 30? Somerset is full of them. The only time they're close to the limit is in a 40 mph zone. Drive me nuts especially if I'm in the car and can't get past. Not so much on the bike cos I can.

A lot of new bikes have LED as standard so presumably don't fail MOT's. The latest version of mine does and I have thought about switching to them on that basis.

Probably cruise around in a van and just lift anything that looks likely. Can I say Pikeys?

Bloody hell! Cheeky bast*rds, hope you get sorted but good luck with the insurance.

Okay so did you drop it when stationary or were you riding at the time. With short legs I've dropped mine a couple of times when stopped.

Yeah like Marino said. 3 to 4 months away and then 3 to 4 months home. Going back always sucks. Sadly work seems to be the default, it's like I've never been home.

That has nothing at all to do with this question. this site is for the irish republic. and its own laws and regulations regarding its citizens. It does indirectly as you have to go through the Republic of Ireland to get to Northern Ireland from the ferry There are ferries from Liverpool to Belfast, Stranraer to Larne and Cairn Ryan to Belfast. None of these require you to leave the UK. Last time I looked Ulster was part of the UK so unless your insurance has an issue with going there it's not a problem.

Touch wood the only bad accident I've had was back in 1979. I was going too fast in wet conditions and basically slid sideways into a rock cutting on the A5 in North Wales. I was lucky in that all I got was badly bruised and a dent in my leg from the handlebars. However my head smacked into the rock with enough force to crack the chin bar on my helmet (heavy fibreglass job). Had I not been wearing a helmet I suspect it would have been my skull that cracked with probably terminal results. Would never ever not wear a helmet.

That's a bit of an unfair generalisation. I know a lot of younger people (and I just about define grumpy old fart) who are absolutely capable of doing DIY stuff including one who's way better than me at anything mechanical. Also if younger generations are raised by the older generation who's to blame if the youngsters are somehow deemed to be failing? Presumably us as the old farts.

We've got Scottish Power and it's the absolute pits. They've been charging us double for over a year as according to them we have two metered supplies - we don't. I had to threaten them with legal action to get them to reimburse us and last month they again tried to bill us twice. Speaking to them on the phone is a waste of time. We signed up for 2 years and I can't wait to be able to kick them into touch. Useless, robbing bast*rds.

Know the area well, parents still live in Northumberland and I used to regularly fish Kielder. The road from Bellingham up to Kielder village is pretty decent and if you follow it up over to Newcastleton it's not bad either. They are often quiet as well.

Its an F800 Thought so, I think it's the one with a belt drive?

I was born in Southport and I've every intention of never ever going there again. It was geriatric central 40 years ago so God knows what it's like now.

With gerontious on this. Haven't had a TV licence for 40 years nor TV either. Completely ignore threatening letters and never had a personal visit. Can't be arsed watching it, total dross from what I can see.

Aeropress, hand burl grinder and whole arabica beans. Take about £100 of coffee beans away for a 3 month trip. Drink at least 4 large mugs a day. More on all nighters. Never touch instant & really don't like flavoured coffee. Will tolerate lavazza or Illy, it's the standard stuff in our stores. Never add sugar or milk. Admit to being a total coffee snob.