Shepherd

That looks absolutely fantastic, congrats on your talent.

Erm ... Welcome and Good luck... "In order to replace the starter motor of the Gilera DNA 50, it is necessary to completely disassemble the engine block, removing it from its housing by unscrewing the screws that fix it to its supports. Once the engine has been removed, the starter motor can be located in its upper part. The starter motor can be removed from its housing by unscrewing the fixing screws and disconnecting the connectors. In this way, the old starter motor can be removed from its seat so that the new one can be inserted. After installation, the engine must also be reinstalled". https://www.scegliauto.com/en/video/gilera/moto_tutorial/70327/

I love the ride to J&S from mine. After Chelmsford it's along the A414 to Harlow SBS then back up through the Rodings to Thaxted ( Wonky town), turn right through Finchingfield and all the wiggly bits until the Braintree Outlet. I could go straight up the A12, but where's the fun in that?

Tbf, they were working last night

Im 6'1" and regularly have a pillion on my Versys 650, if only for a couple of hours at a time. Doing a trip to Spa Francorchamps soon, and it's a coin flip between the V or the Deauville. Both quite capable I think, just very different.

+1

I think it's like riding a pushbike, a little faster than you think you should go makes it a lot more stable and easier to control. Having the confidence to that however, is a different matter. Good luck with it.

I know that feeling. Bleeding hefty deauville leaning away from daughters car on side stand was blown upright and over in the January winds.

A lot of the time having a mortgage gives life insurance too, so worth keeping a little owing.

Did this course last Thursday, it was so good. Never having done as much as a first aid at work course before, I feel I can drive a defib now. Tip: don't volunteer to be test dummy for the tourniquet section!

Enjoy reading this, and learning from your tips.

Congrats on the pass Take it easy though. I see too many over confident riders on the A13, A406 and the A2 whizzing between traffic at stupid mph - it's only a matter of time at the speeds they filter at. Enjoy it ... safely!

Was one of them yellow and on The Highway / A13 by any chance? Had the same thing picking Wife and Daughter up from theatreland. Bloody dangerous, and how come they can ignore the average speed cams?

I'm an ATGATT rider, a cager and had a Smidsy. Been riding since end of Covid.

@Old-codger just replied to a similar question here May be worth a try?

It's frightening how and why you know this! (Note to self: do NOT piss Amber off)

To add to the above - thanks for a great thread. Even for a 'panic mechanic' like me, I enjoyed it. Maybe I didn't understand some of it, bit I read every bit.

Congratulations. It makes it all worthwhile. Now the learning really begins.

Tried and failed to pick my Winter doer upper from off the bonnet of my daughters car. Apparently it's been a little breezy whilst I was on my hols? Gonna have to get the neighbours help on this one - Deauvilles are not the lightest bikes. Might try pushing it up using the car, can't do any more damage.

My so called 'Intensive' car lessons in 1985 equated to 1hour each day Monday to Thursday, with a 2 hour lesson on the Friday which gave time for the test in Grays, Essex. It was 3.35pm, school chuck out time. I sat in queuing traffic on the original A13 for most of it. The examiner was new, more nervous than I was. When the emergency stop came, he kept looking over his shoulder for a space behind me to avoid a collision. Just kept an eye in the rear view mirror, anticipating the tap on the dashboard. I was stopped by the time he turned around to face the front Total cost was less than £100 including the £17.50 test fee. Not been on bike for long. Cbt was £99 in 2018 Rode on cbt until lockdown restrictions eased for Mod 1 & 2 same day. Had to ride from Southend to Ipswich for tests, as local centres were fully booked. A great ride home from there with a smile bigger than my visor

Congrats, the hard bit is done. Enjoy mod 2 on Monday, treat it as a ride out with your buddy.

Hippo bags are quite popular around here - may be worth a go. I've seen them collect their own branded bags, but also the builders tonne bags too. https://www.hippowaste.co.uk/

The doer upper winter hack I got from (unknowingly) 4th Dimension was a Cat N - non structural write off. 1 fairing from the breakers and an ignition lock / immobiliser antenna from Aliexpress and all sorted, taxed and mot'd. Less than £250 including the road tax and a bike back on the road for about 40% of it's true value. Mind you, it is a Dullville.

Yep, been there, done that