Shepherd

I'm the nob - again. Not today, but I forgot to post this when it happened recently. Before an Essex to Derbyshire ride I fitted some 90° valve thingies, as it's so bloody hard getting the pump hose on to them with the disks in the way, I lose more air than I put in. Returned to hotel car park next morning to find completely flat front tyre. The 90° adapter had worked loose, letting all the air out. Pushed the bike around half a mile to garage with an air line, bearing in mind I was on the Deauville which is a beast to move on inflated rubber. What really made it worse was that I had those little gas cylinders in the top box, but because it was just flat and not a puncture, it didn't occur to me to use them Bike is now on ebay

Mastic gun works just as well

You are obviously sore at failing this section and understandably so. The thing is, real life riding can't be replicated - it's a test to show you can control the bike in an avoidance situation. You need this avoidance skill to dodge the bloody potholes when they appear from beneath the car in front! You learn to pass the tests first, the learning to ride comes after. The required speed for this section is 31mph, that's not too fast to be able to keep the bike in 2nd gear and go for it without it becoming uncontrollable on a school machine. Book your test again, suck it up and don't let it get you down. Good luck for next time.

Congratulations, it's a great feeling isn't it? Now you've just got to take it easy... You've learnt to pass a test, but now you've got to learn to ride. Enjoy every moment of it, every ride feels great.

Great video - thank you! (Now I know I'm definitely not doing my own ) Nice bike BTW.

I have the good fortune to be watching the British GT racing at Donington this weekend. I have to say, the area around Derby is absolutley stunning. I live in Essex, which is jam packed at all times, the difference is fantastic. The nearest I get to a nice ride is the area around Finchingfield where @Simon Davey has the pleasure of riding. For all you people that live in the more picturesque areas of the country, don't take it for granted, take a few minutes to stop and appreciate it. You are very fortunate. Even your potholes are joined together with big areas of tarmac - our roads are just continuous spine jarring lumps of bedrock.

I'd be interested in that if you did. Please give it some thought ... and make it idiot friendly!

It may be worth having a chat to reception at The County Hotel or ( less likely) Premier Inn - should be cctv there at least. Residential is all permit only around the area and car parks not great. High Chelmer has free m/c spaces and is sort of locked overnight. I wouldn't leave mine there. I think I'd go to nearest residential area without permits and walk or taxi to the station.

If there's a Sports Bike Shop near you, call in so she can try them on. Sizes were all over the place when my missus was trying them out. We went to the Harlow shop on a weekday when it was a bit quieter, and the guy there was really helpful. He wasn't trying to push the most expensive, just asked a fair few questions on the type of riding we do. He did advise jeans over leggings, is about all I can remember - too much other stuff to drool over whilst she was deciding.

This was in Chelmsford last night. Tried again tonight, but failed.

I can recommend Hythe Hill motorcycles in Colchester, they do a good job at a fair price. Not afraid to send you to the breakers yard either, if it's a part worth getting. They're now in Whitehall Road, but still under the same name.

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?