houltmac

The only place with a decent range of Wiese stuff I know of is in Kidderminster but I take it that's a little far?

For sure. How close will you be?

The BBC say it ain't exactly going to be riding weather, but then I don't have a bike to ride anyway Still, if anyone wants to make their way down here and show off their bike I'd be happy to be impressed

Sorry to hear about this man. At least you know you will pass next time right?

@ace Thanks, I will do! @rennie Agreed, it should have been localised. Still, I say I started in the South West, you might say the finishing point was the midlands... what is the ruling on crossing the boarders?

Hey, thanks for the invite. When I get me/a bike back I might well take you up on that.

Hey Miller, welcome to the forum. I'd say that's a pretty good start to getting where you want to go. My advice would be to book a training course with a local school. They can teach you the techniques you will require to ride on the road as well as how to stay safe on the road (there aren't any cars or buses on the dirt after all!). I took a 5 day intensive course called a DAS and by the end I had passed. You sound like you might only need 2 or 3 days. Best to see how it goes I guess. Take a look around the CBT, Test and Training Information forum for more info regarding training and testing for riding a bike on the road.

Hey, does anyone fancy a ride tomorrow? I was thinking of going down to Weston-Super-Mare, maybe Taunton. No real reason, just fancied a ride regardless of weather if anyone is up for it. I'm happy to go anywhere though. I'd be starting from Gloucester but can head north, south, east... even Wales!

The rain today wasn't too bad for me. It was annoying as hell that it kept starting and stopping and I didn't know whether to put my waterproofs on or not. Of course I did and then it proceeded to stop raining for most of the journey. Actually [WARNING: Off-topic], does anyone else find the in-between weather the worst? It's really a pain the ass deciding whether to tog up and with what just to find you could have thrown on any gloves, any jacket and any visor and been on your merry way. I wore liner gloves twice today when I didn't need to and I made many stops where I had to take them off and put them on because I had no where to put them. I also wore a neck-warmer unnecessarily and waterproof trousers when it had stopped raining. Back on topic though... I had my first big drian slide today. I was second in the queue at the lights on busy but fairly minor road in the left turn only lane. As I turned this very familiar corner I completely forgot about the drain. It had been lashing down but had temporarily stopped. It's a sharp left up a short but steep slope dropping down a blind sweeping left pretty quickly with a pedestrian crossing just out of sight as you go up the hill. I was so busy trying to look where I was going so I didn't crash into a slowing car in front, or just not make it round the oddly difficult 8mph corner that the front wheel hit the drain. The front felt like it was going to tuck under me and I had a "moment", somehow loosened instinctively and it seemed to come back before the rear hit the drain and nearly low-sided me. High, then low in under a second. Still, it held and that's what's important. I'll be getting my pressures done tomorrow though as they are probably a little low. The only other thing today was the spray. It was so bad I didn't see the cyclist on the other side of the road and overtook some old guy in a clapped out Rover just as the 4x4 overtook the cyclist and we almost met on the white line. It was too late by the time I realised he couldn't pull back in as I couldn't either. I gassed it through and the rear squirmed on the white line. I made it but it was a little too close for my liking. Oddly my first instinct was to power out of there ASAP and then calm and think it through. Perhaps I could have waited to overtake, but it really did look safe at the time and I think if I had failed to power through so quickly once I realised there was no going back I would have been clipped for sure. All-in it was so eventful I treated myself to a bacon double on the way home

I will say up front that I don't know of a model or manufacturer that does that first hand, so if you are absolutely set on it then ignore this. That said, I would be more worried about overall fit, comfort and safety and then I'd make it work for me. In fact, that's what I have done. I have an Arai Chaser which is super comfy and a great fit. It has room around the ears so I can wear headphones though. I use my iPhone which means I can take calls also. I can control it all from the headphones with one hand without looking. Additionally, I can fit my TomTom headset internally also if I want and wear headphones at the same time. I can hear music, take calls and listen to directions, all whilst cutting out the road rumble and being able to hear sirens/horns/traffic. Finally, I can also change the tinted pinlock visor insert depending on what the day looks like, and carry a spare in my jacket pocket in case it turns murky. Just a thought, and there may be reasons this is irrelevant or stupid, but it's the way I took this all on.

Getting this back on track, and finalising the whole thing... I picked my bike up at lunch today. It's all fixed and working well. Overall I left it at the garage for under 24 hours and I was given a free loaner during that time. They had no qualms once they realised I bought it from them and had purchased a 2 year warranty. A very friendly, polite and prompt service and I can't speak highly enough of Frasers of Gloucester for their overall customer service. I am glad to have her back!

I did consider changing the pipes and the box since it was going to be worked on, but then I realised I have no money. I have a loaner at the moment; an '09 Gladius. Very nice little bike.

Thanks to all for your help. Sadly the shop aren't open on Sundays (that's madness to me but seems common around here). I took it down first thing this morning and had a mechanic listen to it. "Yep, that's a new exhaust you need there" he said, then he bent down and had a look. I still can't see anything, but he seems happy enough to quote me. I mentioned it's only 5 weeks since I bought it from them, with their 2 year warranty but he didn't seem impressed. Between the corrosion argument and the fact that he says it's getting common with the model (who am I to argue?) it could class as a manufacturing defect and again, that would exclude it. All in I can't blame him. I have been in the same position and since he doesn't know me from Adam he's covering his ass. He took my details and said he'd get the boss to call me but it's okay to ride. I have parked it in the garage for now since it's less than fun (even a little scary to ride). I couldn't wait for the call so I called them and got a slightly hysterical and garbled response but again, I've had crazy days and it seemed like that's all it was. I emailed the salesman who sold it to me (I bumped into him as I left the dealership and he was very apologetic) and he's forwarded it to the service manager to get the bike booked in. I will hopefully be getting a loaner bike too (/me hopes for the ZX6!). I take it that means they can just weld it under warranty. I really hope so or I won't be riding for a long time since I am totally skint and supposed to be saving!

My initial reaction was the exhaust having an issue like that, but I really hope it's not a cylinder. I don't know anything about engines, but that sounds major and long term. Thanks for the ideas guys.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I know it's all stab in the dark stuff, but simply talking about it a little has made me feel a little better until I get a final answer tomorrow. Scary stuff when the first bike you actually buy yourself sounds so wrong after only 5 weeks.

Thanks for the responses. I checked the manual and it says - periodic maintenance: Engine oil - yearly or 7000 miles Oil filter - yearly or 7000 miles Coolant - 3 years or 24000 miles (yes, it's miles not k's). It's way too dark in my garage to do anything now, and the bike sounds okay (a little louder, but basically okay) at idle. It all seems to be in the revs/drive. I hope it couldn't have anything to do with the chain? I cleaned/lubed it last weekend and haven't done that many miles, but it has been yucky out. Looked okay to me earlier but then again I have no idea what I am doing Still, hoping the dealer will tell me "it's this stupid" and I can go about my business.

I checked the oil just the other day and it was fine. I also thought the same thing (because it's one of the only things I know how to do) when I got back and it looked okay. Perhaps time for an oil change? Around 2000 miles in 5 weeks... No idea if the oil was really changed (as I was told it would be) before I picked it up. I assumed it had new oil/filter as they said since it took 4 days to "service" before I picked it up. That said, I don't remember the fairing bolt being missing before the service either. The warranty was extended, it's an 07. Just shy of 10k and only previous owner was the dealership.

As it turns out I met a guy called Steve on a 636. He gave me his number and said to meet up with his little group sometime. There are about 10 of them but they are all pretty quick it sounds like, with a couple of track bikes each. The Duc is slow as though apparently and there won't be pressure or taking the piss so it sounds good. Man that Ninja was loud! Anyway, he told me about a cafe "just up there" so I went in search and found a nice little hangout outside Bridgenorth. I might go there again next weekend if anyone is up for it. (Feel free to move this to another forum if it's deemed too local).

I have an issue which is really worrying for me since I have no idea about mechanics. I rode about 100 miles today without issue, but on the way back I had to kinda rag it to get there on time (I was still over an hour late). Just before I got to my destination I noticed a change in the sound of the engine. It's much louder than before and it's much deeper, more croaky. It has that hog rumble under it and it doesn't feel smooth in low revs. It also has little bottom end power, and requires the earlier gear changes to feel right again. It's most noticeable in 1st/2nd and in second there is a definite vibration which sounds like something metal. All looks okay to my untrained eye and nothing was done to the thing, it just changed while I was riding it down some 50/60mph B-road twisties (in second and third gear mostly). The only other thing was that I filled up from a backroad petrol station, but it's attached to a biker hangout so I doubt it's bad. Any ideas to put my mind at rest? It's under warranty and I'll be heading straight there tomorrow, but of course I am worried.

Well I'm in Worcester but it looks like in riding alone. A ninja just pulled up but doesn't seem interested. Other than that it's a stark contrast to last weekend sadly.

I'll make this brief: Today is Sunday, it's mid-November and it's sunny. I'm going out! I'll be heading to Worcester initially this morning (any minute now) and need to be back in Stroud by 1PM (hospital visiting time) but other than that there isn't a plan. I'm hoping someone will text me a location for a meet (my number is on the contact forum). Cheers guys and have a great sunny Sunday!

As CobbZ says, it's pretty small once folded. I don't fold mine neatly at all, just very roughly and then stuff it in. It's still really small and fits in it's own bag in seconds. You could easily fit it in a small tank bag, let alone a backpack.

I use the cover previously linked to when I'm at work, the rest of the time it finds a garage. I paid £19.99 at my local HG store and it's brilliant. It's been 100% waterproof so far. I left it on the floor at work to dry one night and someone must have stood on the clip and broken it, yet even in high winds it's still not come off. I do park it in the corner for protection though. I'm happy with it so far anyway.

I ride to work, but since it's only 1 mile away I will generally take a longer 20-30 mile route, even in the rain. If I'm gonna get wet I may as well do it properly right? The rain has never bothered me much. Of course, I am a little more cautious but it's not a problem with the right kit. Cold is the same really. The only thing I don't like so much is the wind and that's what brought me in today. I don't know I can stand it tomorrow though so I may well be out in it regardless. Cleaning the bike in a tiny garage or out in this weather could be an issue though...

Sadly, I forgot about the football, and the rugby, and I have to find some time to visit my granddad in hospital at some point tomorrow. Perhaps I will take a short one and then go out for a longer one on Sunday? Either way, I will be looking to build up some endurance over the coming months, and think it's likely to be way harder in winter than summer so it's got to be good practice right? It's way harder to ride in all that clobber and rain for sure. Anyway. If anyone fancies building up with me (as I am a complete and utter newb to distance riding) then be sure to PM/TXT me.