skatefreak

Hey, so i'v bought a motorbike but alas it doesnt fit down the allyway at my house, the bikes fairly big for a 125 (Kymco stryker 125) and the handlebars are pretty wide and trimming them down, not to much but a chap i know who has a fair bit of riding experience says that it would be to much to maintain good riding characteristics... Soooo, i'm wondering as i dont want to have this bike locked out on the street, if there is anyone out there that makes or produces handlebars that can be made shorter for moving around. It doesnt seem like it should be that much of a problem and off the top of my head it seems to me that there are many ways to do it so its fairly quick release and yet solid and reliable for riding... Any thoughts would be much appreciated! Best regards -Chris Jvr

Am i being silly again or cant you just replace your break disks yourself? You can buy them online so why not? -Jvr

Hey there all. Managed to get my CBT out of the way yesterday Through pure luck i was the only one there that morning so it was 1 on 1 We ran through everything in the usual order but I was supprised at the amount of clutch control required. I did have some issues getting to grips with the clutch control and whilst working on the figure of 8 i was getting worse and worse untill i stalled the bike. Took this as an omen and got off for a ciggie. The instructor was being very patient with me at this point as i was just not making any progrss, my arms were aching and i was just not concentraing... We had a chat and he admitted he prefured smokers as they take more breaks and somehow, in a way i cannot even begin to explain, i got back on afterwards and within minutes was cruising around slipping the clutch, using the break and actually looking around!!! Felt like the bees knees! I have to say that a number of times throughout the entire day i wish i had taken more breaks because even though i ride a BMX a LOT (to and from work etc) the muscles used in the arms are quiet different and i found myself straining to get the accuracy required for the throttle... Lesson learnt... Take More Breaks! heh Anywho, we broke for some coffee and he suggested the roads to which i just asked for a little more time to play on the bike, i did some more clutch work, pull aways, gear changes etc and before we went he even said i would almost have a good shot at the first half for the main test on a 125 *grins*. So thats the good, once we got out onto to streets it was downhill for a fair bit more... I let the stress of being on the road get to me and was trying to do everything at once and getting myself confused and muddled etc. I went from being proficent in the carpark to having to be stop every 10 minutes for silly little mistakes (somehow the instructor behind me could see EVERYTHING! aka, hand off that break, dont need it! why are you playing with the back break! your costing and in first, we'r not even at the junction!... yeah i found a bad habbit or two lol) We went through a town and some country side and it took a while before i realised i was capable of riding and i needed to pay more attention to whats going on around me and forget about *how* to ride the bike and just let myself do it naturally, it felt like quiet a lot to ask for, only having been on it for half a day but i was certainly getting somewhere. Towards the end i was really enjoying the ride and have to say i'm keen to get back on although i will certainly be spending some time in a car park and i asked if i could come back after i got myself a bike and if we could go for a ride just to be sure i dont get into bad habbits and such so that will be a good thing to do in a near future All in all i have to say it was a very good experience, i felt pretty good on the bike in the carpark but then felt pretty silly out on the road trying to rush everything and such, eventually got my head together and with the help from the instructor i am aware of what i am and am not capable of and what i need to pay attentiont to in the future! A very friendly and understanding chap and i would reccomend him to anyone in my area -Jvr

Ahh, This is all pretty strange really. I wear in ear bud headphones to ride to and from work and they are pretty good as i know when i first started using them i was sitting on the curb at a bus stop and the bus pulled up and i didnt even notice... But yeah, when i ride to/from work i can get up a fair bit of speed and notice that usually a Lot of noise gets through into my ear... Could this just be because there is nothing else over my ear and its just the wind or ear plugs work differently? Must just say as well, riding fast, even on a push bike can get pretty loud -Jvc

this is where i'm wondering if in ear bud headphones arnt a terrible idea as they keep out outside noise and can be used at a pretty low volume But then again, others say hearing the road clearly is very important! Not started riding myself but i think i willstart off without and try with them after a while and see how it goes! Regards -Jvc

All sounds rather tempting I think i'm going to have to get some experience on this 125 once i find it Definatly going for an off road style bike at first but maybe once I'v done further tests I might have to try out something a little more onroady Cheers for the advice! -Jvc

Hey, The closer I get to getting on the road now the more i'm contemplating a bigger bike in the not toooo far off future but I'm wondering, as I'v been driving a car for nearly 4 years I can say I'm pretty used to the roads although I will admit its from a different perspective to biking but more crucially, if I do my CBT, get a 125, get to know how to ride that then decide I want to move on, how on earth would I get experience on a bigger bike for the full test? I assume my biggest troubles would be getting used to controlling the bike on road, getting to grips with super defencive riding and getting comfortable without having a box around me, but without being able to ride anything bigger than L plates, surely it would be rather expensive to get enough experience through booked lessons alone Just a curious thought here really, being a student evey penny counts heh -Jvc

Yeah, Sounds like a plan, I think after the "1'st ride" thingy next week with the "rozzers" I'll head down and check them out Paranoid, of course! Lets just say my brothers a little more than capable when it comes to using the internet and such things and theres always a chance lol. Anywho, I guess there are worse ways for them to find out... -Jvc Ps, I'll let you all know what i thought of the place in the end, maybe it would be worth starting a database of sorts with recomended CBT/traning schools and why stop there, maybe include dealerships/breakers ummm, good trails etc heh. Okay, maybe i got a little off the tracks there but it would be interesting to set up a map and put points of interest and maybe even experiences with schools/dealerships etc... Could help put the whole biking cominuty in perspective as i have no idea whats around the corner in these parts

Hey, they are in luton, I would say i left out my location because ... http://www.themotorbikeforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=24181 But its out now i guess heh -Jvc

From what i can deduce it is there so that when it inflates it will push the head down and out of the helmate. This seems like a very good idea because to remove a helmate the emergancy services would have to pull on it therefore exerting force on the neck and spinal area which is not good! Very very good idea and i would go for it in a heart beat IF i ever expected the emergancy services to be trained to use this kind of thing... which i very much doubt in this counrty It would however be a fantastic addition to lip protection and would be fantastic if it became a basic and widly spread feature on all helmates, and as long as the services learnt how to use them -Jvc

Hey, I'm looking to do my CBT in a couple of weeks and was wondering if anyone has any knowledge of this group? Assured Motorcycle Training. Any thoughts and experiances would be much appreciated -Jvc *link removed by admin, the name is enough for people to recognise them and give info*

hey, yeah, i'v looked into it and they provide everything from the safety kit (bar boots) to the bikes themselves so all i need is some sturdy shoes and to be there on time The perticular course i'm to doesnt seem to be particularly widespread and is specifically for people before they take their CBT so they can get the most out of the CBT day itself. Check it out if anyone is interested! http://www.motorcyclingmatters.org/1st-ride/ Maybe there should be a sticky somewhere as it appears not many people have ever heard of it Best regards -Jvc

superb reply The course is actually with the bedfordshire constabulary They offer both pre and post CBT training which i plan to take them up on as it can only be a good thing to get experience from well trained riders I will have a root around for the paper part of my liscence when i head back home then Thankyou again Best regards -Jvc

Hey there all, I'm due to attend a bike safe course (Pre CBT) next week and asside gear (sturdy shoes) i'm unsure what i need in the way of paper work I have a photocard driving liscence from 02/06 but there is no mention about a bike on there atall and am concerned i will need a motorbike provisional or something... I am asuming i will need a motorbike provisional to do my CBT even if i have a full car licence? Any thoughts would be much appreicated -Jvc

Hey there all, I'v posted already on this subject but i havnt had much joy as of yet so i'm wondering if anyone frequenting here could help. Basically i'm looking for something onroad that can handle some offroad and learner legal but I need to get the bike down a passage by the house that is about 65'ish cm wide so does anyone know of anything out there with handlebars that would be narrow enough and or does anyone know if clipping the handle bars would be a bad idea? Any thoughts would be welcome on this one Best regards -Jvc