Shepherd

I passed at the age of 52, glad I didn't try in my 20's - I wouldn't have made it this far.

I did Essex Firebike last year - well worth the time.

+1 This helps with the natural lean on corners. I did my cbt with a mate who had never ridden a bicycle, and was trying to sit bolt upright when trying to turn and slalom. It's natural to lean once you've cycled as a kid.

Did you open the top vent? I can feel the airflow from that going over the top of my head a fair bit. I don't find it too hot at all - just a little noisy. Putting the visor down creates more of a booming noise.

Something along those lines was shown at a speed awareness course I went on a few years back It's stuck with me ever since, and is always in my head when i'm running late.

Sadly not, didn't have a clue where I was, or the location of any cafés. I didn’t even think to grab some tags whilst out and about, and I even stopped at one of them. I've already decided that I'd love to do it again, and I'll be better prepared next time. I'll be asking on here for some tips. I had been up and down to Donnington before that, so we reckoned on a 1600 mile week, which I seem to have recovered from surprisingly easily

Not today, but last week. Got taken for some fantastic rides all over North Wales, returning to Betws-y-Coed each evening. The roads were empty, and pot hole free! I can't believe the difference in road surface conditions between the roads there and the crater strewn area that I live in. Shame the Ponderosa has closed, would liked to have stopped in an iconic place like that. Didn't even know I was on the Horseshoe Pass( apparently). Didn't got to see any jets in the Mach valley, but could hear them buzzing around off the coast. Did get to cross on to Anglesey just to say I've been there, the same reason we went to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Weather was fantastic, not so the puncture on the last morning. It's all a learning curve.

Mine had a second label warning me to either point the bike towards the sun, or away (can't remember which),to avoid screen focusing the sunlight onto the dash. A bit like we used to burn the ants with a magnifying glass

Did you have a warning label on the Puig regarding melting of dash / clocks Or is it just on the Versys version? Strangely, it's not shown when purchasing!

Off to Donington tomorrow ready for the start of GT championship on Saturday, where a friend races as an amateur. Going to take the Deauville as we'll be 2 up, and it's more like a sofa for my Wife than the seat like a barstool on the Versys. Then all the way back to Essex Sunday night, only to take the Versys back up and turn left for a week in Wales starting Monday morning It's not gonna do the tyres any good on either bike, both sets are showing signs of squaring off. Might get my first tags though.

Excellent news, congratulations.

In the meantime, get out on a pushbike and learnt to lean in corners etc

That's to keep the rif raf out! Even the Billericay folk have to wipe their feet before going in to Stock - let alone Waitrose!

I also have the Nolan 100-5, and found the pinlock failing from the first ride ( it was already fitted when delivered). I do normally use pinlocks, so I fitted it in backwards for a while and used my old lid. After a couple of days, turned it back around and it sealed OK. Not noticed any ghosting or distortion when in use. I tend to lift my visor when I have the sunshade bit down.

Took the scenic route to the Essex/Suffolk border today to visit my daughter. Around 125 miles was enough for me to decide the Deauville is no longer the bike for me, I'm just too lanky. It doesn't give me the smile that my Versys does either. So, I'll be prepping it again for sale, after trying last year and getting the run around with time wasters. What's the best site to sell these days, is it still ebay? I don't do faceache/ twatter etc, so not a lot of options.

Yep, move the gate forward. Best security is to keep it out of sight. No room in that garage, I assume? Can you wheel around the back of the house, so it's further out of sight and more likely to be heard? If anyone is behind you when you get near home, go round the block and lose them. Invisibility is key. If you can get an anchor on to the wall behind them open blocks, loop the chain through so they can't slide it around and have the lock behind the bricks to make it harder to get a grinder in there.

No offence intended @Angela Collen, just my Basildon bred mind.

Your route looks fine to me, it's straight over, so left hand lane is good. Right hand lane could also go straight over, providing they stay in the right hand land on exit - normally reserved for drivers of German cars.

I'm also in the Nolan 100-5 club. Is the chin strap extra tight for you guys too, or do I have too many chins?

Sod the bikes, I want the shed / workshop!

I find it really hard to do it, but everyone says to look where you want to go. It makes your body and more importantly your shoulders help with the turn. I'm consciously telling myself out loud now to do this, and it's a help. It's not that I can't do it, it's just me in car driver mode I think. A bit like changing the gears to soon and too often.

It's a great feeling isn't is @ChrisBiggsUK? Getting out on the road, whatever the weather is sometimes a bit of a grind, but always worth the ride. I think lots of bikers (which is what you are!), have a favoured side, I certainly do. I don't think about it as often now, so perhaps it sorts itself out, who knows? As @Capt Sisko says, it is worth taking a couple or ride outs with an instructor just to refresh the basics and get a hint or two on techniques. Look out for the Police / Firebike courses in your area. Just wait until the better weather gets here - you'll find any excuse going to get the bike gear on

I thought it was also down to how much risk the insurer already had in the same area? That's why one could be that much cheaper than another. The dearer one needs to make it worth their while taking on more risk in the same postal area. To really show how weird they can be, I got both my bikes insured together ( multibike insurance), cheaper than either of them individually. Even the multi bike insurer quoted me more for one bike than both.