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OAP bug eater

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Everything posted by OAP bug eater

  1. I agree that the rules and regs these days are intended to give new riders a better awareness of safety and their own riding skills, always a good thing. Back when I got my first bike, a BSA 250 C15, a single cylinder 250 with a tops speed of no more than 65 mph, and a 0 to 60 of about a week, the rules were, you could ride anything up to 250 cc, for as long as you liked no CBT or any of that malarky, buy the bike ride it away, my first insurance (at 16) for Third party fire and theft was a massive 12 quid, (bear in mind my take home pay was less than 10 quid a week!!) you didn't even have to wear a crash helmet, I often didn't. My dad had to teach me about changing gear etc, how I survived the first 6 months is nothing short of a miracle, I had to learn the rules of the road as I went, little things like who has right of way and other basic stuff, I was not alone most of my friends used the same 'learning techniques' I've been using motorbikes as my only means of transport for around 50 years now, probably tempting fate but, during those years I have had only one serious accident and I was a pillion on that occassion, I broke my collar bone in the mid 70s when some nob in front of me indicated to turn right, pulled to the middle of the road and stopped, as I passed him on the inside he changed his mind and pulled back to the left clipping my front wheel putting me on the ground and promptly drove off leaving me lying in the road. I've done the usual stuff of learning about ice n snow, but even so only came a cropper less than half a dozen times with nothing more than a bruise or 2 to show for it. I find myself being more cautious and careful nowadays than at any other time. Have huge respect for anyone setting out to learn these days, that's some dedication and determination, I doubt very much that I would have bothered had I just been starting out, good luck to all you new riders.
  2. I really didn't know that passing your test on bike had become so complicated. I got my full motorcycle licence in 1973, back then you were restricted to a 250 with L plates until you passed your test, I took mine on my Yamaha RD250. (one of only two brand new bikes I have ever owned) This is how it went, Book a test, turn up on the day for the test, show your provisional licence and insurance, ensure that you have your L plates on, testing guy comes outside with you, gives your bike a quick look over to ensure it's road worthy, he then tells you to get on the bike and start it up, once you achieve this amazing feat he instructs you to ride down the street while he WATCHES you, you are told to at a certain point to pull in to the side of the road and when you feel it's safe preform a U turn using your indicators (if fitted) if not use hand signals, and old trick used to be to remove your indicators before your test because he will ask you to do it all twice once with indicators and again with hand signals. he then instructs you to ride around block in a correct and safe manner, he can't SEE you because he stands on the corner waiting for you, he will then do the emergency stop, which I almost failed, he said at some point I will hold up my clipboard and I want you to stop as though a small child has ran into the road in front of you, I must've been half a mile away when he held up his clipboard, so I rode closer to him and then slapped on the anchors he said "I told you to do it when I held up my board" I replied, "I wanted to make sure you could see me" he accepted that, then I had to turn my motorcycle around in a narrow street, I can put my feet down and do as many 'points' as I liked all that was required was that I didn't cross the kerb at any point. there then follwed a few questions on the highway code, easy peasy, he then said "OK I am statisfied I will give your class C licence" I said "does that mean I've passed?" he said "yes congratulations" and that was it, I am still riding to this day on that same licence. I have nothing but respect for all you 'new' bikers I honestly don't think I would have been bothered to even try if I had to go through the 'stuff' you new riders have to go through, which is exactly the result they want, it's to make it such a long drawn out expensive rigmarole that it puts lots of people off, and it would be a shame because I have had so many fantastic experiences made so many great memories, made lifelong friends, I've laughed so hard that I've cried and cried for the loss of brothers and sisters. I wish you all well in your endevours. respect to you all.
  3. ^^^THIS^^^ As a spotty faced 16 year old (back in 1969) and 'old' biker (he was probably 30) said to me, Always ride as though every'one' (he used a different word) on the road WANTS to kill you and they are waiting for you to give them a chance, don't give them the chance. it really is the best advice anyone ever gave me, with the possible exception of "don't eat yellow snow" 52 years later and those words still go through my mind everytime I fire up the bike.
  4. AWW, sorry I missed this, I am in the N/E and own a Vulcan 800, I also have a similar problem to you, not an amputation but a damaged right leg which won't fully bend and as a result have always owned choppers or cruisers or bought 'forward footrests/controls' for bikes with 'normal' foot rest positions. Glad to see you got sorted, enjoy your riding and the adventures it will bring.
  5. Hi Thanks for the adding me. About me, 68 years old been a biker since the age of 16 (1969) never even learned to drive a car let alone own one, I WILL get one when I'm old. Current (and possibly final) bike is a Kawasaki Vulcan 800 classic, only got it about a month ago, this is the second time I have owned said model, a sign of how much I like this make/model, my previous Vulcan I bought in 2001 when I lived and worked in the Republic of Ireland, it still owns the record for the longest I ever owned a bike, 7 years only selling it when I was looking becoming homeless square in the face, was so desperate I sold it for 900 quid!! As soon as my finacial situation improved (bikeless for just under 2 years) I bought a Harley FXSTC I liked it but didn't love it, kept it for about 5 years, never felt trully comfortable with it, I found it too heavy and a struggle to push/pull when parking etc, as I am opperating with only one fully functional leg, my right leg is very weak and can only be partially bent, due to a terrible accident in 1971 (I was a pillion) my best friend who was riding sadly lost his life in the accident, he was a few weeks short of his 19th birthday. RIP Phil. I have honestly lost count of the bikes I have owned, even had a couple of trikes, 52 years as 'a biker' with a few occasions without thrown in, so not 'been riding' for 52 years, I would estimate a combined figure for times with a bike at around 46/7 Anyway, enough rabbit, see you all around.
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