techniques

I'd hazard a guess and say in the 80s & 90s you were riding all the time, and these days its far and few between. 

When you do something all the time, everyday, you find quicker and more efficient ways to do it. 

I remember the early days of forgetting the key, putting on gear, needing to pee, taking off gear, forgetting helmet, forgetting pinlock visor, f**k sake. Walking back and forth like a mad man.

Now I'm going into year 3 riding riding at least 4 days a week when it's good weather, the act of getting on the bike is streamlined and effortless. I even built a shelving unit next to the bike to keep all my bike paraphanelia organised. I'm ATGATT 

Too fast for the conditions. (Icy December.) I tried to slow down too harshly to make a left turn and lost grip and my SV slid to a stop, lost balance and keeled over. 

Too stupid. I tried to bump start my GSXR 600 back when I was having recharging issues. I had full gear + helmet, lost balance and fell and watched my baby scrape on the crash bar. That one f**king sucked. 

It was around 9.30pm and I was down an empty road next to a very important building. I'm sure some CCTV guy must have been laughing his face off watching that.

1 hour ago, daveinlim said:

 

Is this generation ulez compliant? I'd have thought you'd have to get a cert even if it is within emissions. I've the 2011 version and agree it's a great all rounder 

I don't think so.

Usually 05 vehicles swinig either way and you need to prove it and 06+ you're clear. My K3 is not ULEZ compliant. My old 05 SV650 was but I had to prove it.

Definitely something worth factoring into price when deciding which bike if you're commuting within the ULEZ.

2002-2005 600cc Honda CBR600RR or GSX-R600 sports bike.

Can be had for £2-3k.

Riding positions are not as aggressive as the others or newer models.

Your core/back muscles will have to strengthen a bit to get used to the position. An hour each way is tolerable.

Great for motorway cruising or blasting - depending on your mood, more power than you can handle and you'll always look forward to riding it.

Great for filtering as you will be doing a lot of that on the A2 and anytime there is an accident on the m25 and traffic comes to a standstill, which is everyday. 

As others have said, If you're planning on doing this commute soon, you will need to learn how to layer up to keep warm, get heated gloves and waterproofs for Dec, Jan, Feb & maybe March.

Wind chill sets in fast on the motorway.

If you don't wear the right gear, your fingers will be freezing before you've even left the A21 and the first thing you'll do when you get to your destination will be to open up Autotrader and look for a car. 

The latest and greatest - Michelin Road 6. 

Long lasting & ultimate wet grip performance. 

Switching out the Bridgestone S22s for them when Winter gets here.

2 hours ago, manxie49 said:

I've got the S1000RR (although I am going to be selling it), I do love the bike, but you're right, I'll never in a month of Sundays use all the power it delivers.  The sound, torque, look off the machine, and the feel of all that power in the throttle is amazing.  However, I've come to look at it as a weekend toy.  I don't find it comfortable to ride long distances, can't tour two up, even riding it round town is a pain "it doesn't like to crawl around", and be careful .... it's a true licence loser if you get carried away.  Let's be honest though, the bike is designed for racing, and that just isn't me anymore.  Great for track days though .  Get one of the bikes you're looking at, you'll love them, providing they fit in with the type of future riding you intend to do.  I think you've just got to ride one for a while to see the appeal.  As for me,  I love to tour, camp and ride in a bit of comfort now, so it no longer fits the bill, plus I can no longer afford "or justify to my other half", the luxury of two bikes. 

The sound, torque, look off the machine, and the feel of all that power in the throttle is amazing. - I think this experience is probably what I'm after. Just being able to enjoy an incredibly powerful and beautiful piece of engineering.

You've sold me on it. Now, for the next important question. GSXR 1000 K5, 2012 Fireblade, 2008 R1 4c8, -£5-6k bracket or stretch 1-2k more for a 2010 S1000rr?

2 hours ago, keith1200rs said:

Torque. I used to ride a Kawasaki 2 stroke powevalve which was quick when you kept it above 8000rpm. That seems a bit frantic. Also, if you are doing a steady speed you need to drop a few gears to get the power to overtake. With big bikes you often don't have to change gear to overtake- just open the throttle.

This is a good point but I enjoy shifting, working through the powerband and making sure I'm at the right gear and rpm for the situation. Honestly, another good reason why I DON'T need a 1litre bike. 

3 hours ago, Stu said:

Just shut up and do it

 

 

Buy the bike you like and want you don't HAVE to use all the power 

This is type of advice the devil on my shoulder says to me all the time! 

Like Nike said, Just do it.

I've owned a GSXR 600 for 11 months now and I've never once thought, "I wish I had more power right now."

An M3 tried to race me once and I let off once I started thinking about the potential consequences of my actions, and then another Beemer on another day, but it was night time and raining so I didn't even go for it.

I enjoy the occasional traffic light blast off against a nice car, but it's always over before it even begins. To be on the side of the road, trying to explain to the police why I was doing a 100mph in a 40 is a position I never want to be in.

I am now used to the raw power of a 600 and the thrill isn't as strong as month 1, but if anything, I still spend most of the time telling myself to calm down, again - as I start thinking about the potential consequences of my actions.

Still, here I am at almost 2am looking at a 2010 S1000rr with 190bhp, 2017 Fireblade 189bhp, GSXR 1000 L2 182bhp... 

All that power that I would never use... and I still want it.  1litre sports bike owners, talk to me. What's the appeal? 

If you suspect a bad stator, open her up and have a look. If you see burnt coils, then there's your confirmation. 

I spent months trying to diagnose why my bike wasn't charging, with the battery, rectifier, stator, loose connections as potential suspects.

If I'd just taken the 20mins it took to remove the side fairing, unbolt and remove the engine cover, I would've seen a stator with burnt coils that needed replacing. 

Instead, I did it the other way around. I bought a new battery, had the mechanic check the rectifier etc etc etc. 

Open her up and have a look.

On 26/05/2022 at 19:44, Geoff Wilson said:

Do people actually start out on 1000cc superbikes?

 

I’m a joiner and I was talking to a guy earlier today and I mentioned that I want to get my full bike license and get something like a Suzuki Bandit 600cc and he told me that his brother rode dirt bikes when he was younger and a 250cc when he was in his early 20s when people could ride a 250cc on L plates and he recently passed his test and bought a Suzuki GSXR1000. 

 

I understand that there is a difference when it comes to maturity generally speaking between someone in his early 20s and 30+, but is it really possible for someone to make such a big jump and ride the bike without any problems? I was always under the impression that litre bikes do not forgive people and someone needs years and years of experience to ride one. The power difference between a 250cc from the 1980s and any of the superbikes will be crazy. 
 

I did work in a factory about 10 years ago and one of the lads in his 20s got a Yamaha R6 as his first bike after passing his test and he was fine on it. 
 

Unless someone wants to correct me, someone passing his bike test and getting a litre bike with very little experience is like someone passing his car test and getting a Nissan Skyline.
 

Does anyone know someone who started on a 1000cc superbike after passing his test? 

Did the brother buy an L2 GSXR1000, by any chance?

Either I know who you are talking about or this scenario is a lot more common than we might assume.

Bike has not been charging for some time. Finally replaced the burnt stator!

Interesting topic on style of bike - matching level of gear. 

My first jacket was an Alpinestars Atem V on a CB125F. You could say that was overkill as I wasn't hitting any race tracks, but I didn't look out of place as the bike is sports style and I wanted the safest protection I could afford.

I wonder if people wear full leathers on a Vespa 125cc. To me, they're synonymous with business suits or similar smart casual attire (especially in Europe) that look cool but offer 0 protection. 

Get the leathers & more importantly, get the boots. You'll see more people on crutches from bike accidents than road rash bandages.

23 hours ago, Stu,9486 said:

Thanks for the advice guys, I visited superbike factory today to sit on various bikes and found the gsxs1000 as really nice fit, now looking for a good deal. I am also test riding an mt07 next weekend. I just can't commit to what I want in my budget. The hornet has been great and just looking for something that doesn't require tweaking every few rides. The hornet requires carburettor maintenance regularly (probably my fault for intermittent use). And also I want a smoother ride as the power band on the hornet is just not right to stay in the speed limits.

Significant power difference in these two options. 

Also, I've never heard someone use the power band as an excuse for breaking the speed limit. Ill keeping that one in my back pocket!

GSX-S1000 all the way.

"90% of motorcyclist casualties are male."

Why is the most useless statistic in the opening sentence of this article? 

Tell people that entering a bend too fast and crashing is one of the most popular ways to kill yourself on a motorcycle. Test your cornering ability on the track, where you won't have to fight gravel, oil, oncoming traffic and an unmovable metal object that will cut you in half when you go flying into it at 80mph. 

Tell people to slow down at junctions and expect people to pull out. Too many riders flying through junctions expecting people NOT to pull out. Not defensive riding at all, considering this is THE most popular way to kill yourself on a motorcycle. 

90% of motorcyclist casualties are male. What next on the most obvious motorcycling facts? "GSXR riders don't wear gear." "Harley riders think they're too cool to nod back."

Yeah... we know. 

5 hours ago, KiwiBob said:

It doesn't matter what your "thinking" is you can not legally sell a vehicle that you have on PCP without settling the finance first!

Actually, In these situations, the legality is what doesn't matter to people. On both sides. I hate to disappoint you, but that's the reality.

4 hours ago, peatear said:

 

I did EXACTLY this. Bike on finance, private sale. They knew it was on finance and I was paying it off with what they

paid me. I made nothing as I sold it for exactly what I owed on the finance.

Yes you aren't /supposed/ to do it this way. However like others say, they don't care so long as they get their money.

And don't delay in paying it off.

 

This was my thinking. Years ago, I financed my car with Close Brothers Motor finance and when I asked if I could sell the car they said yes, providing I settle the full amount. 

If you want to be on the safe side, you should get the seller to just pay them directly. I don't think you'll run into any issues if you pay off the finance with the money from the sale.

Opinions from someone who started biking in Jan 2020.

125cc sell like hot cakes these days.

There has been a bike inflation since summer 2020 because of Covid. Production delays of new bikes + general demand for the used market skyrocketing. 

I think it's going to end this year when people start spending money on holidays like they used to, thanks to restrictions being lifted.

March-April is the start of the season. People have recovered from Christmas and are ready to start spending again.  

If I had a bike sitting in storage and not in use, I'd be trying to sell it (privately) ASAP. Now is the time. 

If you want to help the young guy out, lend him 50% of the cash for his first £1000 USED bike. If he doesn't have £500 to puts toward a bike, he simply can't afford, because it only gets worse after that.

The Japanese are the best when it comes to bike control. It's incredible just how agile these machines are when the rider knows how to control it. 

I wish we had this kind of training here.

Seeing the hazard before it materialises and preparing for it, that's how you stay alive. Good job!

Another White Audi to add to the naughty list...

For anyone interested in my list, 

White Audi. All of them, but specifically A3/S3/ **new addition** SUV.

White BMW 1 series.

White or black BMW 3 series.  

ALL TAXI's. London black cabs/Addison lee vans/ Toyota Prius. etc.

Honourable mentions:

High performance SUVs. Audi Q7/Q8.

                                        BMW X3/X5

                                        Range Rover - Discovery / Sport. 

                                        Especially if they have private plates.  

Artic lorry. Especially if they DON'T have UK plates. 

Unbranded Toyota Hilux. Actually, unbranded pick up trucks in general. They seem to follow the rules (sort of) when they have company branding on it.

Do not be surprised or angered by any flagrant behaviour on the roads of the vehicles listed above. Expect it. Prepare for it. 

12 hours ago, Pbassred said:

The idea of which brake to use is one of those things that doesn't get taught.  

I'd go one step further and say, when learning, they push the rear brake a lot more than the front! For slow manoeuvres, yes, okay, it helps with bike handling - but rear brake was so drilled into me that I used it as the main brake over the course of riding my 125cc. 

My SV650 lost the back wheel the couple of times I had to emergency brake. They were definitely "brown stage" moments and it wasn't great braking as I had lost traction and  I was sliding. That quickly put a stop to me relying on the back brake so much.

My Gixxer front brakes are so damn powerful, I don't touch my rear brakes anymore. The couples of times I have, this winter, on slipppery roads, the back immediately wants to go. 

My braking is 95% front brake these days... Even when practising my emergency braking, which is something I do on every ride as to build the muscle memory of progressive braking, I don't touch the rear brake except when in slow moving traffic, making turns etc.

On 09/02/2022 at 21:23, NewriderDave21 said:

I'm on a Honda CBF 125 2009 model 

On 09/02/2022 at 21:00, NewriderDave21 said:

 Why can't I seem to have the confidence.

Inexperience. 

Put the hours in on the bike and it will come to you.  Also, there is nothing wrong with pulling over and letting others pass if you feel they're on your arse so much that it feels dangerous. 

You'll still filter past them at the next set of traffic lights.

35 minutes ago, Gerontious said:

Seems doubtful to me that the Danes would use a word like "insane" in their laws dealing with road traffic. the article mentions "dangerous and illegal riding or driving" so it does seem to include cars. I also doubt that this power will be handed over to the police. It will be through the courts who will demand evidence. dash cams more than likely.

 

"dangerous and illegal riding or driving" seems tp me to be pretty self explanatory in its aims.

 

I would have no problem with something like this in the UK. caught on cam doing something really dumb, you get a ban. you get a big fine. maybe it would help hammer the point home if they took the vehicle away too. maybe.

This makes more sense. I was hating the idea of a copper catching you driving badly and nicking you and your bike.

So that's a no to wheelies when I'm on Superleggera V4. Got it! 

What exactly is insane riding and who gets to define it? 

Will they be stealing seizing people's bikes if the offender blows over the limit? or for speeding? or just wheelies?

Will this law extend to cars or are motorcycle riders the only ones capable of insane riding ?

Where I live, there's a 50mph road that splits into joining the motorway or continuing on to the next town. 

I waited for the car in front to jump into the motorway lane (aka. get the f out of the way) and then I opened my baby up.  I was leaning and accelerating as the road curves around.

Suddenly, I felt my bike lose traction and the whole machine was sliding, with me already leant over. I look at the speedo. 60somethingMPH.  *explitive.* "Please Lord, not at 60mph." I thought to myself.  I let off the throttle and she corrected herself. 

1) It's still too cold. 2) I'm ordering a new pair of boxers as I type this.