ttxela

Well I'm still on L plates so don't have any non L plate experience to compare but I've definitely noticed car drivers seem to hate them! I've had folk overtake me in 30mph and 40mph zones when I'm doing the limit, and at the most inappropriate times too often into oncoming traffic, on bends etc. Before I did my CBT I spent some time riding a moped on my old car licence without L plates and didn't experience this to the same extent despite being limited to 30mph max. So I'd say it's definitely an L plate thing.......

Interesting as on my CBT it was the opposite and we were told to remain in 1st so you could move off if there was a problem. I'm wondering about the advice about being ready to move into an empty bit of road, surely if you're waiting at a junction it will mostly be beacause the road in front of you is busy, if something is coming up behind looking like it might hit you there's surely not going to be many safe options for empty bits of road? I suppose if you're in the countryside the hedge/ditch might be preferable to being hit from behind or moving forward into traffic? In town the pavement is not going to be a great option if it's busy? I'm thinking if a car hits me from behind at any speed I'm coming off anyway and would rather not be propelled into oncoming traffic as well? Dunno. But being able to take positive action by moving rather than being passively pushed out into a junction seems preferable? Don't take my advice though, I'm just a beginner

I have a bit of experience with electric bikes, albeit mine was a Super Soco TS so more of a 50cc equivalent really (although it was an older model so could be derestricted with a mysterious combination of headlight on and off whilst twisting the throttle and would then reach the heady speed of 45mph!). I bought it as a way of commuting to work as cheaply as possible and it was absolutely great for that. My commute is about 15 miles and the battery would be between 30% and 55% capacity when I arrived meaning I'd have to charge it up again at work for the return journey. No worries as it easily removes from the bike. The charger was noisy though so had to be used in the workshop rather than at my desk. It really was pretty much free once I'd bought the bike. After all work paid for at least half my commuting, 0 tax and very little insurance, no maintenance to speak of beyond brakes & tyres. The downside was limited range, even a minor deviation from my regular commute such as to pick up some shopping in town or visit a mate ran the risk of running flat. Acceleration was woeful, the one part of my commute where I had to turn onto a busy road I had to wait for such a large gap that I'm sure folk wondered what I was up to - the styling of the bike indicated to the casual uninformed observer that it was some sort of futuristic superbike, I had several comments when it was parked along the lines of 'that must be fast'. When looking to trade up I did buy the 125cc petrol bike I have now, Super Soco do a 125cc equivalent but the range isn't that much better (60 miles quoted but users report 40-45miles usable range) and it was getting on for £5k. At the weekend I visited my parents in Ipswich, a 140mile round trip, would have been tricky/impossible on the electric equivalent. I do think they'll improve rapidly though and I wouldn't write off getting another in future.

As a newbie I've taken the advice on board and wear what I interpret as the right gear on my 125. I've got a flip up helmet the bloke that sold me my moped I had before the 125 threw in as part of the deal. I know secondhand helmets can be frowned upon but the guy had literally gone from one side of a barracks to the other twice in it and it fits me well. I've got a textile jacket with armour I got off eBay, I doubt it's the best but it was affordable, it has a removable liner and vents - it's probably uppermost on the list to be replaced. I've got armoured overtrousers I used in winter but have recently invested in some Roadskin Jeans which are much cooler for riding but I still take a lighter pair to change into at work. I've bought some Oxford boots which are comfortable enough to stay in through the day in all but the current hottest weather. Gloves wise I've got a pair of winter bike gloves, also off eBay, they have started to fall apart a bit though so may get better ones before next winter. I got a summer pair from a bike shop which are much better. Being nearly 50 I grew up riding BMX's without helmets or gear and falling off then was very hurty. I've lost a bit of bounce since then so I imagine falling of a bike would be even more hurty.

We'll be heading off tonight for a quiet weekend in the middle of nowhere near Buntingford in the van after having to cancel a week away last week. Weather looks good at least. Still pondering a bike trailer......

Certainly I can relate a bit to this, it's probably why I never learnt to ride when I was younger. I think it's remarkably honest to admit to a bit of apprehension. I certainly had a bit of apprehension when I did my CBT, my 125 was delivered the next day though and I was straight out on it, I think like everything else the longer you wait the worse the apprehension will be. I did my CBT on a bone dry day and was worried for a while after about riding in the rain. If I'm honest I'm still a little worried about doing the DAS and having to ride a bigger, more powerful bike. My plan is to ride the 125 on L plates for a year or so first. It is very enjoyable though and despite still feeling a little of that fear, as soon as I put the bike away from one ride I'm looking forward to getting back out on it again.

Had a strange incident a couple of weeks back, riding to work on the bike. On the road between Willingham and Rampton (Cambs) there are a couple of bends, the second of which is to the left and has a field entrance on the outside of the bend. as I approach I catch up with a couple of cars moving slowly behind a tractor and large trailer. The tractor slows to a crawl on the LH bend, can't see his indicators but it's pretty obvious he's going to turn right onto the farm track. We all slow to next to nothing and the tractor begins to turn. Up from behind comes a car quite fast, decides to overtake everyone on the bend, makes it past me and the other two cars but by now the tractor is halfway across the road and the car screeches to a halt. I can see a woman inside with youngster in the passenger seat. Of course she is now trapped on the wrong side of the road and as the back of the trailer clears our lane the two cars move off passing her on the inside as she revs her engine and makes little lurches forward. Not wanting to be squished if she thinks she can squeeze out as I pass (there is by now several cars queuing behind me) I give way to her and let her return to the LH side of the road to carry on. As she does so it is ME she makes angry gestures and mouths curses at! Once clear of the trailer she proceeds to attempt to overtake the original two cars and is forced to brake and swerve back in by oncoming traffic. Hope the kid got to school ok......

Plans for this weekend have had to be changed, was planning a trip to Matlock but will now be helping the eldest daughter with some repairs in her house. At some point the motorhome awning will have to be dried from it's soaking last weekend!

Now that does look rather nice!

We'll be heading to Stamford in the ancient motorhome for the weekend with our Granddaughter.

Pretty new to all this, rode an electric Moped for a year or so on a bit of an economy drive but got the bug and did my CBT and now have a 125cc Mutt Mastiff, it's going pretty well apart from having to stop and go back every now and again to pick up the bits that fall off.... Hoping to do my full test next year. Funny having L plates again at 50 years old

New here but I started my 2 wheel journey on a 2019 Super Soco TS 1200r (a lot of name for a very small bike!) primarily my aim was to save money on my commute and I bought it secondhand for £1600 from a serviceman who was being posted abroad. It had only done 90 miles when I got it and had just been used for getting around the base. I rode it on my old driving licence as it is a 50cc equivalent. TBH it was great at doing what I had bought it to do and saved me a fortune compared to driving the car. The battery could be removed and charged under my desk off an ordinary socket. My commute was a 30 mile round trip mostly on country lanes with no viable public transport alternative. As a purely functional method of getting to work and back at minimal cost it's hard to beat. The downsides waere I still needed a car to do anything else as my commute was pretty much the limit of it's comfortable range. Acceleration was woeful and I soon learnt I had to wait for a massive gap in traffic to pull out onto any road outside a 30mph limit. Construction was a bit plasticky and it felt a little like riding a large childs toy. Eventually I got the urge to move on a bit and exceed 30mph so did my CBT and now have a petrol bike which I love. I would have been tempted to stay electric but the bikes which claim to be 125cc equivalents are significantly more expensive than a petrol bike and don't gain much in range over my old Super Soco. I'm considering riding my 125 to Wales later in the year for an event, a trip that would be very time consuming on the TS, stopping ever 30 miles to re-charge for 4-5 hours! I hope to do my full test next year but still can't see going back to electric as a full size bike would be a financial stretch whereas I see lots of nice petrol bikes for sale at prices I could afford. Electric technology does seem to be improving quickly though so who knows.....