Hywel

HELLO!!

I'm having a bit of trouble shopping for tyres because my front wheel is a 16" / 130 section one which limits my choice of rubber quite badly. My question is, can I mix different tyres within the same brand? For example I want a Bridgestone BT-021 on the back but they don't make that for my front so would putting a BT014 or an 016 on the front with the 021 on the rear be ok?

TA!!

Welcome, and congratulations! Being free to go wherever you want on a big bike is an excellent feeling.

I've had my first big bike since a few weeks before christmas and only now am I starting to filter. On the 125 I gave it a couple of goes but my machine control wasn't quite good enough back then and I'd end up getting to the front of a queue thinking "jeeeez I am NOT good enough for that yet" after a few little scary / wobbly moments.

On the hornet I feel much more stable and take huge pleasure in getting through standstill traffic when I'm confident with the space I have. When the traffic starts to move at any pace though (anything above 10mph ish I find at the moment) I start getting uncomfortable and slot myself back into the next gap.

I'm new to filtering but these are some useful tips I've taken on board and used so far;

- Keep half an eye on peoples heads, if someone ahead of you is looking in their mirror or over their shoulder then slow down and get ready to stop

- Same goes for their wheels, if they're pointed in a way that looks like they might steer the car into your path, slow down and be ready to stop

- If you see a big gap open up on either side of you up ahead on a dual carriageway, a car may quickly try and pull across into it, so slow down and get ready to stop

- When slotting back into traffic be careful even if it looks like someone is leaving a nice big gap for you... the gap might have been created for a car pulling out of a side street

Will B&Q stock that?

I just about got away with this... Thankfully did a couple of practice holes on my old tailpiece and pretty much cocked it up then went at it with the new one... did the holes with a drill and a flat file and both indis snapped in tightly and sat perfectly flush but I then held it all up in front of me and despite my measuring I hadn't been careful enough with the filing and one was set further back by about 5 mil - 1cm but after slightly adjusting both holes in opposite directions I got it right. They don't sit tight on their own now but will look great with some adhesive / something to stick them down.

Now to give the undertray a shot..

Then..... WIRING!

http://badattitudes.com/MT/homer-simpson-5.jpg

In an attempt to tidy up the back end of my CB600F hornet and stop me from wanting a newer bike I've bought a standard tail piece, a shotgun undertray with a plate bracket, some tasty looking LED tail lights and "Cat-Eye" indicators which fit flush into the tailpiece / rear fairing... whatever you wanna call it.

I just wanted to ask whether anyone had bought these cat eyes before from Jestertrickbits.co.uk

http://www.jesterstrickbits.co.uk/acatalog/Indicators.html

I realise this is a long-shot but the question I'm asking is, does anyone have a cutting template for these? I think I was supposed to receive one with the items but no joy. I'm guessing I need to make an egg shaped hole exactly the right size for the clips to snap on tight, but would like some light shed on it. This is what they look like underneath...

http://i45.tinypic.com/1ze8gtk.jpg

I don't really wanna start hacking away at my new tail which took a while to source until I have some dimensions / measurements to use.

Thanks fellas, job done. Wasn't really close enough to do with the fingers but a slim spanner did the trick, tickover is sounding a lot more comfy now.

My bike ('98 CB600F) seems to be idling a bit slow.. I've read that it should sit on about 1300rpm but it's ticking over at 7 or 800 making it feel lumpy and lazy like it's about to give up. Does anyone know where the pilot screw is on this model? I'm assuming it's somewhere between the carbs but if so, how can I get to it without removing the fuel tank? Any replies would be appreciated!

Yeah the wind has been unbelievable recently. Coming home from work in the car last night called for a death grip on the steering wheel whilst I was bashed violently from side to side on the link road from Cardiff Bay to the M4, not the grippiest surface either. I can very nearly afford my first big bike now but I doubt I'll be taking that sort of fast and exposed route in these conditions until I know the bike inside out! Scary stuff.

My dad (oldmanonabike) and myself will be there on the 29th, quite looking forward to it. Don't suppose there'll be any used bike 'stalls' or whatever will there? If not I'll just enjoy looking at the shiny new bikes and the ladies!

If you haven't already, have a scan through the questions in the back of a copy of 'learn to ride' or something because there are quite a few bike specific questions that aren't too obvious. The hazard bit is the same deal though as far as I could tell. Good luck!

Thanks for the advice there m8, ill certainly look in to umat, found one in caerphilly and they charge 450 i think it was for 3 days and tests so that would be fine for me... regarding the gixxer it'll be fine insurance wise as ive priced it up found one at 500 odd, but id be more than happy to go up to 1000 if needs a must.

I'm not exactly an experienced biker (understatement) but given a choice if I was dead set on a really focused super/sport I'd definitely start off with the 600 for a while. The 50bhp 500cc twin training bike felt hellish enough to me after full throttling a 125 everywhere, let alone 170 odd bhp going to the ground from a gix1000.

Personally my plan is to ride a Bandit6 or something for a while before dipping a cautious toe into the realms of really quick bikes. Saying that I've heard plenty of people doing their DAS's and hopping straight on the most bonkers machine they can get their mitts on with few problems. You've just gotta stay aware of your safety I guess.

That UMT place will book you a theory test if you decide to go with them

EDIT: Just realised that you almost definitely meant 1000 quid for insurance and not 1000cc... Doh! Wouldn't be surprised if it went higher than that to be honest!

Most bike training stuff seems to happen in Newport to be honest. Have a look at http://www.umat.co.uk and give them a ring about prices. I did it with them and apart from one or two ego's in the instruction team and the fact you have to pay for damage you cause to the bike they got me through everything just fine. Do a bit of googling if you wanna shop around, pretty sure there are a few more in Newport and a couple based in Cwmbran too.

A gixxer is probably a bit more bike than a lot of people would suggest for a first ride after the test, and you'll probably be shot down by huge insurance quotes so check out running costs before you take the plunge. From the advise I've collected it seems to be a better idea to ride something a bit less extreme (lower insurance group) for a year to get a NCB, then when everything gets cheaper, go for the bike you really want.

Well done! I did the DAS but I'm still enjoying a 125 without Ls, ride safe!!

Well done! Feels great, wish I had an SV650 to ride though. Enjoy!!

Congratulations! Don't be nervous about mod2, try to read the road as best as you can, stay chilled and it'll be fine.

Thanks all. Off to fulfill a boyhood dream and buy a Bonnie - has only taken me 50 years!!!!!

Congratulations! Enjoy the bonnie, I think my dad's gonna buy one when he passes, I'm gonna have to have a go

Congratz! Good luck for mod2, same applies there too... Just keep calm, and make things easier on yourself by keeping your following distances big and doing your indications / observations nice and early!

Hard luck! I also failed my first mod 2, misjudged a van driver’s intentions but went back and re-did it with better forward planning skills and passed, your test sounds unfortunate though. You’ll get there!

I was told to do a lifesaver whenever I intend to change direction. If a signal is necessary then do your 'mirror, signal, lifesaver, manoeuvre' procedure.

Going straight ahead on a roundabout - when riding onto the roundabout, you'll usually bank left to get into your lane first before leaning right to get around the curve of the roundabout. I was told to do a left lifesaver just before entering the roundabout, then another one to the left before exiting or changing your position on the roundabout. Keeping half an eye open for straight-liners coming from your right as you go round can't hurt either.

(I'm not a know-it-all and I'm not pretending to be really experienced, I just remember specifically asking my instructor that exact question about lifesavers and roundabouts, that's the answer he gave)

I always had a secret fascination with bikes as a kid / teenager but my parents would quickly disapprove if I hinted at the subject so eventually I gave up. Passed my car test at 17 then after five years of not even slightly considering bikes, I started noticing them more and more when driving until I finally decided that there was no reason for me not to learn if I thought they were so awesome. So I went for my CBT and instantly loved it, passed my DAS and now here I am, saving up for my first bike in painful slow motion. I'll get there!

My justifications for learning and getting a bike are, cheaper insurance (my premium is still super high), able to slip through standstill traffic and it's heaps of fun.

Well done you lot. I had a successful Mod 2 today also. Got to the bike school at 9, and was quietly pleased to find out that I had a different instructor for the half day of training, he was a calm and friendly West country chap who put me at ease straight away, and didn't stress out nearly as much as the other guy I had last time, his reaction to a mistake was something like

"woops, try not to do that later pal, ha ha ha" as opposed to

"WHAT THE F*CK DO ARE YOU DOING!!? GET THE F*CK OVER! YOU'RE GONNA FAIL NO DOUBT IF YOU F*CKING DO THAT ON YOUR F*CKING TEST"

Which was nice.

We drilled the routes for a few hours then headed over to the centre. Same examiner as last time. "Bugger" I thought, but he was much more cheery and more communicative this time round, must have been in the middle of a bad day the other week. Had a slight potential iffy moment in front of a van changing lanes to turn right (wasn't a huge issue, it just could have been worse) but he said after that my riding / observations smoothed out a lot so he decided to put it behind him and call it a minor. Got asked to pull over 3 times and the rest of the test went well and was actually quite an enjoyable ride. Done and dusted.

Now... How many defenceless grannies do you think I'd need to mug to buy a decent bike? Being skint with a full license and no proper bike is frustrating, glad it's out of the way though.

VOTED

I'm hoping like hell I can click the '2nd attempt' button tomorrow afternoon!

Stick at it, I've heard plenty of cases where people will feel useless on their first go, turn up for the second time feeling like they have nothing to loose and stomping through it. Keep the revs busy and let the clutch out slow!