Anton17

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJPYmd8_Qdw

Sorry, I didn't know this thread had been done before - I did do a search! Hope it hasn't peeved anyone, was just curious since it's like how if you're walking your dog and see another dog owner, they tend to smile or stop and chat, and thought it was a nice little reminder than people do still stick together for whatever similarities.

When I first got on the road I quickly noticed other bikers giving the nod to acknowledge you. I thought it was a great little community gesture and have done it ever since, but have noticed some either don't respond or look at you with vague puzzlement and anger. So, do you?

I'm not really fussed on a date on time, more to see if people are up for it, then go from there. Don't really have anywhere in mind to go... would just like to see and chill.

Seen a lot of bikers there in the past and now I've got one it's time to join in. I live about 5 minutes from there. Any chance of a big meet up?

Couple more shots:

Depends with me, I have to put it in behind a car. Without a car in it in the day I generally just ride in, but damn it's easier to back it in for when you pull out again. I will probably get into the habit of doing that if I have enough space. With the car in, I have to shimmy it until it's in horizontally on it's side. Pain in the ass but I got a garage with two vehicles in it.

Wish I hadn't needed to sell my proper camera before I got my bike back.

Yep, if you got it to work, just go through elimination. It depends what electrical problems you're having. Is the battery charging? I've had to replace the battery, rectifier and generator/alternator on my bike from charging problems so if everything else looks good then look into those (might not be that bad). If connections are good and everything seems ok, take it to a tech for a second opinion. The thing is with electrical faults is you could manage to fix the problem temporarily and have it cut out on you when you need it - a.k.a. a junction! Not a nice feeling, trust me - better to be safe.

Following up on a previous post of electrical faults on my Honda NSR 125 2001 (battery won't charge), the garage has came back and had a look at the alternator/generator. They took the case of and the whole thing was filled with shit - thick black grease type stuff with what looked like sand and dirt. They said it could be possible that someone had known what the problem was and caked the alternator full of this stuff to act as an electrical mask so it showed positive readings in test. Sabotage, in other words. Has anyone ever heard of anything like this? The mechanics can't work out where this stuff has came from since with the case on and sealed nothing should be able to get in. I've only just bought the bike so I don't know what has happened and can't trace it back. It sounds like a pretty peculiar thing and was wondering if anyone has heard of or had any experience with something similar or has any idea where the substance has came from? We can only surmise it's either been botched as a mask by someone who knows what they're doing or the casing has been left off through the weather. Any ideas?

Had a number of people come back to me and said it was the alternator, but the garage doesn't seem to think so. However, they don't seem to know the problem either, and said today they will try and make it priority but they have a lot of work (they haven't called back today) - does that sound fair service to you? £450 for a repair, the repair didn't work, and then they say they're too busy? From a Honda garage, I will find it very hard to keep my cool if they come back with ANOTHER repair cost after they said the bike was good to go. I'm getting very concerned now. The repair cost is already half the cost of what I paid for the bike and it doesn't seem to be getting any further forward. Whenever I've used eBay in the past for expensive items, I've never had a problem - now I feel like a royal idiot. What should I do? The cost is now at £1500 for the bike and the service costs and I do honestly expect the garage to come back with another cost to fix it. It's turning into a fantastically bad deal. Do I suck it up and keep giving the garage money since at the end of it I'll finally have my working bike, or... what? I'm gutted and frustrated at all of this.

Right guys, it seems the end of my woes is not the end yet. Bought a second hand NSR 125 off eBay for a grand, tested bike at purchase and all was a-ok apart from an oil leak. Took it to a Honda garage down the road the day after and they said the oil tank had split. Being a 2-stroke the cost was at £250. A few days later they come back and say the rectifier was dead and the battery wasn't charging. Another £120. Fitted a new rectifier yesterday and the battery still wasn't charging - another £40 for a new battery. Took it home today. Rode around for about 10 miles to get used to it, everything fine (horn worked) but quickly noticed the indicators weren't working correctly. They would come on at different speeds, not come on when lights were on, or not come on at all - then magically start on again. Eventually they stopped working at all and the lights were very dim. Tried starting the bike up again and the battery was gone. Took the indicators off and the front ones were rusted as almighty hell - back ones nice and shiny new. Took a bulb out and tried starting bike, all ok. Took some rust off of the front indicators and then the bike didn't start. Tried the horn and a very dim sound came out. Indicators work with lights off, didn't work with lights on. Front display lights would dim when the brakes are pressed. Lights still dim. Checked connections again and then bike would not start. We bump started it and drove it around the block a few times to try and get some life. Still all same problems and does not start from stop - only starts with bump start. I'm taking it back to the garage in the morning but I'm growing thin and tired of this now. Everything should have been sorted after paying them £450 but evidently not. I just want my bike working normally, that's what I paid for... I just passed my CBT and I want to use the damn thing. Has anyone ever had similar problems or know just what could be wrong with it? Thanks for any replies or advice... feeling a bit crap with all of this.

Just came back from my second shot of the CBT since I failed on the road test prior... Passed! Spent half an hour in the cage before start to get used to the bike and clutch again and then we went on the road. I cut into the right hand lane on a roundabout when I was going straight on and he gave me a good grilling about it, then we went and did it a few dozen more times and I was fine. Finished with some minor turn-ins and the emergency stop and u-turn - let's go back to the unit! Chuffed. Just gotta get my own bike back from the shop later on and I'll be off. Was much better when I relaxed... just hard to chill when you need to keep telling yourself! All the replies here did really help and felt much better knowing that other first timers had the same problems. The instructor I had this time round said my last one was pushing me too hard for starting out but he was much better and up for it, really eased me. Looking forward onto the road with my own bike, and then onto DAS in a few months!

Just came back from my second shot. Passed! Spent half an hour in the cage before start to get used to the bike and clutch again and then we went on the road. I cut into the right hand lane on a roundabout when I was going straight on and he gave me a good grilling about it, then we went and did it a few dozen more times and I was fine. Finished with some minor turn-ins and the emergency stop and u-turn - let's go back to the unit! Chuffed. Just gotta get my own bike back from the shop later on and I'll be off. Was much better when I relaxed... just hard to chill when you need to keep telling yourself!

Just made a thread about this but thought I'd make a post here since the replies have helped. I failed my CBT yesterday. I had three hours sleep and I was stressed as hell (just since I wanted to do it so madly). I am the kind of person who if I don't get it right the first time, I get annoyed at myself. After a few hours my tiredness and stress levels set in and I was losing concentration. I managed to complete all the maneuvers in the pad but some took a few attempts and some time (clutch control, slow speeds, junctions). I had never driven a car or bike of any kind before apart from a push bike so I had no gear or road experience. I was on a geared bike and looking back now I did well to get where I did. I wasn't perfect but he took me out on the road and I made a hash of a traffic light junction in the first 5 mins. I missed the turn, stalled, and went for the turn again. I should have carried on and we went back to the school. I was annoyed at myself and very stressed. I am glad it happened now since if it happened on my own it could have been a disaster and it gives me some time to chill out. I'm going to try and go back in the week, spend a couple of hours practicing things I want to be comfortable with and have another shot at the road if I am ready. It is good reading these replies since my confidence took a battering and I didn't have any to start with. It is hard when you haven't done it before and it was a lot to take in and remember and when you beat yourself up, accidents happen. I did for a short while think about throwing in the towel since I just felt that bad I didn't do it, but I'm going to keep trying and do it if it kills me. I think some more sleep and regularity and practice is all I need to get out and be ready. And if it isn't, I'll try again.

That's pretty much what is was for me, too. I know clutch control comes with time but my instructor kept telling me to ease off the throttle more so I was doing it too much and stalling. The throttle was sensitive and I started going at it quite fast. I found slow speed control tricky, of course, and my left bends on U-turns really gave me some trouble. Other than the skill it was my road knowledge and trying to remember to do everything. I would keep thinking about one thing and forget something else. Mirror checks, lifesavers and indicators started to hassle me since I was trying to think about clutch and gear changes and slowing down properly. I'm not ready yet and I know that now but I was pressuring myself into getting it done. I will hopefully go back in a few days and ask to have some practice on slow speed U-turns, clutch control/stalling and do a load of junction practicing with mirror checks etc. After that, as long as I do some reading on the highway code, I think I should be able to do better. Just the nerves and pressure!

Haven't ridden a bike before and while my NSR 125 is still in the shop I took the CBT. Really enjoyed it at first but after a while the 3 hours sleep and work the night before was starting to take it's toll. I kept getting frustrated and annoyed with myself and my concentration slipped. I started stalling a lot and making shaky U-turns. I managed to do all the maneuvers in practice but messed up royal when we went out on the road. Was fine round a roundabout and down the road then came to a traffic lights and stalled. I missed the turn and he said to carry on (straight) but I thought he meant carry on with the turn and I went in right. Stalled again in the turn but luckily nothing happened. Could have been a lot worse than hurting my pride. I feel like I would be fine out on the roads if I was just by myself and that's why I was getting frustrated. Obviously I can't go and practice without a CBT and I'm running low on cash now. I am the kind of person who likes to practice until I get it right but I can't do that without being on the road and that has a lot of danger at my level. Body is hurting all over now after work and the CBT and I can't walk, and mentally I feel pretty drained and stressed. Not sure how to get around this. I'm going to try and persevere and hopefully book another CBT later in the week. Has anyone had experience like this? I know I can do it but I can see I'm not quite ready yet, but I don't know how to be ready, if that makes any sense?