Capt Sisko

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2024/november/ktm-announces-self-administration/

Just a comment, if you're looking for something to add a bit of style, as long as you like the look of it that Puig one, fine, but if you're after something that's going to offer protection then you need something a bit bigger.

The scam needs the motorcycle press to expose it big time, but look at the companies that advertise with them or who MCN Compare promote. Guess who they use?

It could also be all part of what's feeding our ever increasing insurance costs. If the ultimate insurance company knows that it's going to cost £10k to settle a £5k claim, who do they get their money back from, the rest of us. As a side note about 18months ago I had to make a claim on my car insurance for a small bump. I dealt with my broker all the way and the only interaction I had with the repair company was a phone call to arrange what day & time could they come and pick my car up & drop off the courtesy car. Ditto when the car was due to for return. Not credit hire or storage fees and no delays.

From what I gather it's a relatively new business model. The insurance broker provides the insurance quote, and remember they're just a broker, not the insurance company and when a claim comes along, they pass it along to a 3rd party who deal with the other insurance company(s) and sort out the repairs. The result is the broker does very little actual work so they can keep their quote prices down and still make a profit. That's also why they charge extortionate amounts for policy changes. The problem is the repair companies the brokers use have discovered a way to fleece the both the biker and the insurance companies. We've all heard tales about inflated storage fees & credit hire charges, them taking months to do simple repairs and them giving misleading advice from underqualified legal advisors. What the commission deal between the brokers and the repairs is I can't comment on. Now all the above is fine if all you want is a certifcate to say you've got insurance and you're legal, but come a claim and the reality of cheap insurance comes out. It's well worth reading this article from White Dalton:- You and Your Insurer

I believe Cornmarket Insurnace don't, but market themselves as the prefered insurer for IAM members and offer a discount to members accordingly. What the deal for none members is I don't know.

Not looking promising. Nearly 600 laid off, massive loses and share price on the floor. KTM in a downward spiral

Having had to store a bike in a garden shed, my two pennies worth. 1. Door width. Getting you and your bike through a narrow door at the same time ain't easy, though your example does have a good door width. 2. The garden shed frame. Wooden ones are often build with a piece wood across the bottom of the door entrance. Although it might only be a piece of 30 or 40mm square timber it's something you have to push your bike over, and be careful of not tripping over yourself! Steel sheds will have a piece of angle and goodness knows what a plastic shed has, but they all have a basic floor frame to stop the wall speading out. 3. Reinforced floor. A V Strom 650 weighs about 220kg and at best that's spread between two tyres & your side side stand, at worst, most of it on your centre stand. A regular shed floor ain't built to take that sort of concentrated weight. You need to think about a way of spreading it out a bit. 4. Lights. Even if it's just a battery powered light it'll make it so much easier in the dark. In fact two are better one inside and one outside and above the door. The brighter the better. 5. Windows. It's wise idea to put some opaque obscuring film on the inside of the glass to stop prying eyes. 6. To Fort Knox or not. There is an arguement that too much visible security says to the scrotes, hey there must be something worthwhile nicking in there. For external security you can only do so much anyway. If the miscreants are carrying an angle grinder strong enough to cut through your bike locks, they'll just bypass whatever you've locked the door with by either cutting off the hinges or even cut away the wood or metal around the hinges. If they're going to that length then it's a professional theft and you probably aren't going to be able to stop them no matter what you do.

One of the reasons I prefer AC is than on the said long stretches of motorway there are regular services with proper loos, seats and a choice, albeit limited choice but still a choice of hot food. On the A1 south, and the checkpoint at Shell in Berwick is as good example as any, it's just a garage with the usual small selection of snacks and a brick wall to sit on to eat them. Not exactly a refreshing break when it's the likely to be eleven o'clock at night when you get there and by then you'll need it.

I'm not privy to the exact figures but I'd hazzard a guess at an 80 / 20 split in favour of the North. The north route has less chance of congestion and the scenery is better, but the weather can be worse and that M74/6/62 is a bit of a drag late in the day. I've done North Clockwise once and North Anti Clockwise twice. I prefer AC but others swear by CW. Nobody is right.

Unashamed plug for the Royal British Legion Riders annual 1,000 miles in 24hrs ride (or 500 in 15hrs) on the weekend of the 6th to 8th June 2025. For those of you not familiar with the above it's an charity ride run by the UK branch of the Iron Butt Association to raise money for the Royal British Legion. The general idea is to ride one of the six preset routes (all starting & finishing at Squires Cafe, nr Leeds), the longer ones being each just over 1,000miles and do them in under 24hrs. You don't need a big tourer or an adventure bike and you don't need to speed, but it's not for learners as you do have to use motorways. If you can ride comfortably & consistanlty at motorways speeds you'll do it easily. I did a write up of my '24 ride here and I'm happy to answer any questions as best I can. Link here, FB page here.

To chuck my two pennies worth in, I'd go for something that has a lot of mid range grunt rather than something that has you needing to be in the power band / right gear to get a response. Passing your test is just the first part in learning to ride so riding something that is a little more forgiving has its advantages on what is a steep learning curve.

In many parts of the world 'Winter Tyres' are mandatory on car & vans etc between certain dates or in hilly areas. I have used them on cars and they really do make a difference, particulalry on the snow & ice. The Toyota hybrid I had went up & down hills in the snow that it just shouldn't have done with ease, but I've never used them on bikes. So the question is, whilst proper winter tyres are available for motorcycles, has anyone actualy ever used them? Example:- Anlas Winter Tyres

Untick the 'with pillion' box if you had. They charge you more for this because should there be an accident and the pillion is injured they can claim for compensation from your insurer. As a side note, I've never seen this option on car insurance regarding taking passangers or not. Is this another case of us bikers being discriminated?

Just as a matter of interest, I was 19 for much of 1981 and had a Red & White RD400E. They poduced an alleged 44bhp / 165kg (although Japanese ponies were renowned for having short legs back then and the weight was usually quoted as a dry weight), nonetheless it's close enough to be what would pass as an A2 compliant bike nowadays. I can't remember exactly what I paid for insurance back then, but a well over a hundred pounds springs to mind (and that would have been TPF&T). Let's call it £150. If you put 1981 & £150 in the the Bank of England Inflation Calculator it comes out at the equivalent of £562 in 2024. So yep, insurance has gone up.

Picking up from bonio's post in the cheapest A2 insurance topic (and thanks for finding that, it's very interesting) there are some interesting anomalies. My R1250RT is group 12, as is the Husqvarna 401 Vipilen. My RT has horrendously expensive panniers & bodywork that will can get damage in the most minor of drops. The Vilipen doesn't. My RT has sticky out cylinders that can also easily get damaged, the Huskvarna doesn't and the said BMW 1250cc engine produces 136bhp as opposed to the Husky's 373cc / 45bhp. Throw in how expensive an RT to buy is compared to Vipilen and it just doesn't make sense. A Triumph Speed Twin and the Kawasaki Z900RE are also in the same group. Makes you wonder what criteria the insurance use to place a bike in a particular group, (not that I'm complaining if my RT is in a lower group that it ought to be). Anyone else feeling a bit smug or thinking, hey, that's unfair? Make Model Motorcycle Insurance Group AJS JSM 50 Motard 2 AJS Isaba 125 3 AJS Highway Star 125 3 AJS Tempest Scrambler 3 AJS Cadwell 125 3 Rieju Mrt50 LC SM Trophy 3 Rieju Mrt50 Pro SM 3 Rieju RS3 50LC 3 Rieju Tango 50 3 Benelli TNT125 4 Benelli BN125 4 Yamaha YS125 4 Honda CB125F 5 Honda MSX 125 / Monkey 5 KTM Freeride 250/350 5 Suzuki RV125 / RV200 / Van Van 5 WK 125 Sport 5 KTM E-Ride E-SX, E-XC, E-SM 6 Kymco VSR 125I 6 Lexmoto Adrenalin 6 Lexmoto Arizona 125 6 Lexmoto Assault 125 6 Lexmoto Tempest 6 Lexmoto Valiant 6 Lexmoto XTR S 125 6 Lexmoto ZSX 125 6 Lexmoto LXR125 6 Mash Black Seven 125 6 Mash Dirt Track 125 6 Mash Falcone 125 6 Mutt Mongerel 125 6 Rieju Mrt125 SM 6 Rieju RS3 125LC 6 Rieju Tango 125 6 SFM ZX125 6 Sinnis Bomber 125 6 Sinnis Cafe 125 6 Sinnis Max II 6 Sinnis Scrambler 125 6 Sinnis Trackstar 6 Superbyke RMR125 6 Superbyke RSP125 6 Yamaha MT-125 6 Aprilia RS4 50 Replica 7 Honda CB125R 7 Honda CB300R 7 Honda CBR 125 R 7 Honda CRF250L & Rally 7 Kawasaki Ninja 125 7 Kawasaki Z125 7 Keeway Rks Sport 7 Keeway TX125 SM 7 Mutt Mongerel 250 7 Rieju Century 125 7 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 7 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 7 Royal Enfield Bullet Classic 7 Royal Enfield Classic Chrome 7 Royal Enfield Himalayan 7 Sinnis 125 Terrain 7 Sinnis SMR125 7 Sinnis Retrostar 250 7 Sinnis Terrain 380 7 Suzuki GSX-R125 7 Suzuki GSX-S125 7 Yamaha YZF-R125 7 Aprilia RS 125 8 Aprilia SX 125 8 Aprilia Tuono 125 8 Benelli Imperiale 400 8 Bullit Hero 125 8 Bullit Spirit 125 8 Herald Motor Company Brat 125 8 Herald Motor Company Classic 125 8 Honda CRF300L 8 Husqvarna 125 Svartpilen 8 Kawasaki Ninja 250 SL 8 Kawasaki Versys-X 300 8 Kawasaki Z250SL 8 Kawasaki Z300 8 Kawasaki Z400 8 KTM 125 Duke 8 KTM 390 Duke 8 KTM RC 125 8 KTM 300 EXC TPI 8 Mash Dirt Track 250 8 Mash TWO FIFTY 250 8 Mash Scrambler 400 8 Mash Five Hundred 400 8 Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 8 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 8 Suzuki GSX-250R 8 Suzuki V-Strom 250 8 SWM Varez 125 / RS125R 8 SWM Ace of Spades 125 8 SWM GM440R 8 SWM Superdual 8 WK 650I 8 Yamaha MT-03 8 Yamaha YZF-R3 8 Benelli Tornado Naked T 9 Bullit Hero 250 9 Daelim VJF 125 Roadsport 9 Honda CBR 300 R 9 Honley Venturer 250 9 Jawa 350 Classic 9 Kawasaki Ninja 300 9 Kawasaki VN900 Custom 9 KTM 390 Adventure 9 KTM RC 390 9 Mash Dirt 650 9 Suzuki SV650 9 Suzuki V-Strom 650 / XT 9 SWM Six Days 440 9 Benelli BN 251 10 Benelli BN 302 10 Benelli Tornado 302R 10 BMW G310GS 10 BMW G310R 10 Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 10 Herald Motor Company Classic 250 10 Herald Motor Company Classic 400 10 Honda CB500 F C-ABS 10 Honda CB500 X 10 Honda CBR 500 R C-ABS 10 Honda CMX500 Rebel 10 Honda X-ADV 10 Kawasaki W800 / SE / FE 10 KTM 690 Enduro R 10 Triumph Trident 660 10 Yamaha Tenere 700 10 Yamaha XV950R & Racer 10 Zero FX ZF7.2 10 Zontes ZT310T 10 Benelli 600 I 11 Benelli Leoncino 11 Benelli TRK 502 11 Benelli 502 Cruiser 11 BMW R 1200 RT 11 CF Moto CF300SR 11 CF Moto 650GT 11 CF Moto 650MT 11 CF Moto 650NK 11 Ducati Monster 797 11 Harley-Davidson 883 Superlow 11 Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe 11 Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 883 11 Harley-Davidson Street 750 11 Honda CB650F 11 Honda CB650R 11 Honda CBF 1000FA / GT 11 Honda CBR 650 F 11 Honda NC750S C-ABS / DCT 11 Honda NC750X C-ABS / DCT 11 Kawasaki Ninja 650 11 Kawasaki Versys 1000 11 Kawasaki Versys 650 11 Kawasaki Vulcan S 11 Kawasaki Z650 11 Kawasaki Z800 / Z800E 11 Kawasaki Z900 11 KTM 690 Duke / R 11 KTM 690 SMC R 11 Spirit GP Sport / R 11 Spirit Street / R 11 Suzuki GSX-S750 11 Yamaha MT-07 11 Yamaha Tracer 700 / Tracer 7 11 Aprilia Tuono 660 12 Benelli 752S 12 BMW F 700 GS 12 BMW F750GS 12 BMW F 800 R 12 BMW R1250RT 12 Ducati Monster (937) 12 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 12 Harley-Davidson Fat Glide Supreme 12 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Special 12 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic 12 Honda Africa Twin / DCT 12 Honda CBR 650 R 12 Honda CMX1100 Rebel 12 Honda CRF450L 12 Honda Crossrunner 12 Honda VFR800F ABS 12 Honda Vultus 12 Husqvarna 401 Svartpilen 12 Husqvarna 401 Vitpilen 12 Indian Scout Sixty 12 Kawasaki Z900RS 12 KTM 790 Duke 12 Moto Guzzi V7 Anniversario 12 Moto Guzzi V7 Special 12 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone 12 Moto Guzzi V85 TT 12 Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber 12 Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer 12 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 / XT 12 Suzuki V-Strom 1050 / XT 12 Triumph Speed Twin 12 Triumph Street Cup 12 Triumph Street Scrambler 12 Triumph Street Triple S / R 12 Triumph Street Twin 12 Yamaha SCR900 / SCR950 12 Yamaha XSR700 12 Aprilia Dorsoduro 900 13 Aprilia RS660 13 BMW F 800 GS 13 BMW F 800 GS Adventure 13 BMW F 850 GS 13 BMW F 850 GS Adventure 13 BMW F 800 GT 13 BMW F900R 13 BMW F900XR 13 BMW R 1200 GS 13 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 13 BMW R 1200 GS Rallye 13 BMW R 1200 R 13 BMW R Ninet 13 BMW R Ninet Pure 13 BMW R Ninet Scrambler 13 BMW R Ninet Urban G/S 13 Ducati Monster 1200 13 Ducati Monster 821 13 Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer 13 Ducati Scrambler Classic 13 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled 13 Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle 13 Ducati Scrambler Icon 13 Harley-Davidson Breakout 13 Harley-Davidson Bronx 13 Harley-Davidson Bronx 13 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special 13 Harley-Davidson Street BOB 13 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special 13 Harley-Davidson Superlow 1200T 13 Honda CB1100 EX 13 Honda ST1300 Pan European ABS 13 Indian Scout Bobber 13 KTM 790 Adventure 13 KTM 890 Adventure 13 KTM 890 Duke R 13 Suzuki M1800 RBZ Intruder Boss 13 Triumph Bonneville T100 & T100 Black 13 Triumph Speedmaster 13 Triumph Street Triple RS 13 Triumph Thunderbird Commander 13 Triumph Thunderbird LT 13 Triumph Thunderbird Strom ABS 13 Yamaha MT-09 13 Yamaha MT-09 SP 13 Yamaha Tracer 900 / Tracer 9 13 Yamaha XSR900 13 Yamaha XSR900 Abarth 13 Zero S Z-Force 14.4 13 Zero SR / F 14.4 13 Aprilia Shiver 900 14 BMW R 1250 GS 14 BMW R 1250 GS Adventure 14 BMW R 1250 GS Rallye / TE 14 BMW R1250R 14 BMW R 1200 RS 14 BMW R1250RS 14 BMW R Ninet Racer 14 CCM Blackout 14 CCM GP-450 Adventure 14 CCM FT6 14 CCM Spitfire Six 14 CCM Spitfire Bobber 14 Ducati Monster 1200 S 14 Ducati Multistrada 950 / S 14 Ducati Scrambler 1100 / Pro 14 Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom 14 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide 14 Harley-Davidson Custom 1250 14 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight 14 Harley-Davidson Softail Slim 14 Honda CB1000R 14 Honda CB1100 RS 14 Honda Crosstourer C-ABS / DCT 14 Honda Crosstourer Highlander 14 Honda VFR1200F C-ABS 14 Honda VFR1200FD (DCT) 14 Husqvarna 701 Svartpilen 14 Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen 14 Husqvarna 701 Enduro 14 Husqvarna 701 Supermoto 14 Indian Bobber Twenty 14 Indian Scout 14 Indian Springfield 14 Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX 14 Kawasaki VN1700 Nomad 14 Kawasaki VN1700 Voyager 14 Kawasaki Z1000 14 Kawasaki Z1000 SX 14 KTM 1090 Adventure 14 KTM 1090 Adventure R 14 Moto Morini Granpasso 14 Moto Morini Milano 14 Moto Morini Scrambler 14 MV Agusta Brutale 800 / RR 14 Norton Atlas Nomad 650 14 Suzuki GSX-S1000 14 Suzuki GSX-S1000FA 14 Triumph America 14 Triumph America LT 14 Triumph Bonneville Bobber 14 Triumph Explorer XR / X / A 14 Triumph Explorer XR / X / T 14 Triumph Speed Triple S 14 Triumph Speed Triple R 14 Triumph Sprint GT SE ABS 14 Triumph Street Triple RS 14 Triumph Tiger 800 XC / X / A 14 Triumph Tiger 800 XR / X / T 14 Triumph Tiger 850 Sport 14 Triumph Tiger 900 / GT / Rally 14 Triumph Tiger Sport 1050 14 Yamaha Niken / GT 14 Yamaha XT1200ZE Super Tenere 14 Zero ZR/F 14 CCM Foggy Edition Spitfire 15 Ducati Multistrada 1200 DVT 15 Ducati Multistrada 1200 / S 15 Ducati Multistrada 1260 / S 15 Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro 15 Harley-Davidson Dyna Fat BOB 15 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Ltd / Low 15 Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special 15 Harley-Davidson Pan America 15 Harley-Davidson Road king Clasic 15 Harley-Davidson Roadster 15 Harley-Davidson Street Rod 15 Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle 15 Indian Chief Classic / Vintage 15 Kawasaki ZX-6R 636 / ABS 15 Moto Guzzi California Touring 15 Moto Morini 1200 ZZ 15 Moto Morini Corsaro Veloce 15 Norton 961 Commando II 15 Suzuki GSX-R600 15 Suzuki Katana 15 Triumph Daytona 675 ABS 15 Triumph Daytona 675R ABS 15 Triumph Rocket III Roadster 15 Triumph Speed Triple RS 15 Triumph T120 Bonneville & Black 15 Triumph Trophy SE 15 Victory Gunner 15 Victory Highball 15 Victory Judge 15 Victory Octane 15 Yamaha FJR1300A / AE / AS 15 Yamaha YZF-R6 15 BMW S 1000 XR 16 BMW S1000R / Sport 16 Ducati Diavel 16 Ducati Diavel Carbon 16 Ducati Monster 1200 R 16 Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro 16 Ducati Supersport & S 16 Hesketh 24 16 Honda Gold Wing F6 C 16 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT 16 KTM 1290 Super Duke R 16 Moto Guzzi MGX-21 16 MV Agusta Brutale 1000 16 MV Agusta Brutale 1090 ABS 16 MV Agusta Brutale 1090 RR ABS 16 MV Agusta Brutale 800 Dragster / RR 16 MV Agusta F3 675 / RC 16 MV Agusta Rivale 16 MV Agusta Stradale 800 16 MV Agusta Turismo 800 16 Suzuki GSX-R750 16 Triumph Thruxton & R 16 Triumph Thruxton RS 16 Yamaha MT-10 16 Yamaha MT-10SP 16 Aprilia RSV4 RF / RR 17 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory 17 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory 17 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 RR 17 Ariel Ace Cruiser 17 Ariel Ace Sport 17 Ariel Ace-R 17 Arc Vector 17 Arch KRGT-1 17 Avinton GT 17 Bimota BB3 17 Bimota DB 8 Italia 17 Bimota DB 8 Oronero 17 Bimota DB11 17 Bimota DB9 Brivido 17 Bimota Impeto 17 Bimota SB10 BimotaRD / X 17 Bimota Tesi 3D 17 Bimota Tesi H2 17 Bimota Tesi Race Cafe 17 Bimota H2 17 BMW K 1600 GT 17 BMW R18 / R18 Classic 17 BMW M1000RR 17 BMW S 1000 RR 17 Brough Superior SS100 17 Ducati Panigale V2 17 Ducati 1199 Panigale R 17 Ducati 1299 Panigale 17 Ducati V4 Panigale 17 Ducati V4S Panigale 17 Ducati Panigale V4 SP 17 Ducati V4R Panigale 17 Ducati 1299 Panigale S 17 Ducati 1299 Superleggera 17 Ducati 959 Panigale 17 Ducati Hypermotard 939 & SP 17 Ducati Hypermotard 950 / SP 17 Ducati Multistrada V4 / V4S 17 Ducati Streetfighter / S 17 Ducati Streetfighter V4 / V4S/td> 17 Ducati Xdiavel 17 Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide 17 Harley-Davidson FXDR 17 Harley-Davidson Livewire 17 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade 17 Honda CBR1000RR-R 17 Honda CBR1000RR-R SP 17 Horex VR6 17 Indian Challenger Dark Horse 17 Indian Chieftain 17 Indian FTR1200 / S / Rally 17 Indian Roadmaster 17 Kawasaki 1400 GTR 17 Kawasaki H2SX / SE 17 Kawasaki Ninja H2 17 Kawasaki Z H2 17 Kawasaki ZX-10R 17 Kawasaki ZX-10RR 17 Kawasaki ZZR1400 / Performance Sport 17 KTM 1290 Adventure S 17 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R 17 KTM 1290 Super Adventure T 17 KTM 1290 SuperDuke RR 17 KTM 450 Rally 17 Lotus C-01 17 MV Agusta Brutale 1000RR 17 MV Agusta Dragster RC 17 MV Agusta F3 800 / RC 17 MV Agusta F4 / F4 RR / F4 RC 17 MV Agusta Rush 1000 17 MV Agusta Superveloce 800 17 Norton Superlight 650 17 Norton V4 RR 17 Suzuki GSX-R1000 17 Suzuki GSX-R1000R 17 Suzuki Hayabusa 17 Triumph Rocket 3 R / GT 17 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS 17 Yamaha YZF-R1 / YZF-R1M 17

Be careful of what you say you do and what you actually do. Insurance companies have been known to ask for 'proof of' i.e. a photo of your garage or security and they don't take kindly to being lied to. Saying you also use a specific type of lock (which got you a discount) can also lead to problems when it comes to a theft claim if can't show you used it. From their point of view, you said I use an ABC123 Supertuff Lock so they reduced your premioum because it's going to make life harder for the scrotes to steal. If the T&Cs said you have to use the security you said you were (or a reasonable equivalent) and you can't prove it, they're entitled to reduce your pay out in the event of a theft claim. Call me a cycnical old git if you like, but I've had 45yrs worth of dealings with insurance companies and if they can wriggle or squirm their way out of paying, they will.

Just to reiterate the point. ^^^ What the man said ^^^

There is a known issue with the BMW canbus closing down the socket if it's drawing too much power, 5amp(?). Dynaplug Motoflator is one that allegedly works okay as it only drawers 4.2a. No ideas whether it's any good or not at a nearly £70 is no exactly cheap, but that's not that much different to a good quality battery powered pump. Motoflator

Not enough. It takes at least 5 or 6 to blow up a 150+ section tyre, and even then that's only just enough to get you to a ridable level. You'll be stopping at the next forecourt pump to take the tyre up to its proper pressure. Furthermore CO2 cartridges are a one shot item. It doesn't take much to cock up putting the air in and losing half of it. I joke, but it's partly true, as we all know punctures only ever happen when it's cold, dark and raining. You could be cold, you're pissed off & hurrying and those CO2 cartridges get bloody cold, in fact freezing cold when you use them, and you have to handle them. Any or all of those could mean you don't do the job right and you're now stuck without a plan B. Been there, cursed and ultimately called the AA out. In the end I was bailed out by another biker that very kindly stopped to check if I was okay. Five minutes with his pump and I was back on the road. That's why I gave up on CO2 and bought a battery powered pump.

According to this owners manual it's 1.7L ! - What does it say in the owners manual that came with the bike? https://blurocmotorcycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Bluroc_Legend_125_Manual_EN-2021.pdf (their page 15, but my PDF reader say 22 of 33).

I've never understood this. If the OEM tyre isn't as good as it could be, therefore the bike isn't a good as it could be. As a bike manufacturer, why would you do that? I can accept the argument of cheap but adequate tyres being put on something basic, low powered and manufactured down to a price point as being valid as part of keeping the manufacturing cost down, but on something costing numerous thousands to pounds, especially when they're purporting to be the genuine article, no. Then you look at it from customers point of view. You change tyres, put on say Michelin instead of Dunlop and all of a sudden the handling of your bike is transformed and the tyre not only grips better but they last longer. What does the customer think, hey these Michelins are great, I'm never going back to those rubbish Dunlops. Result, Dunlop lose a customer. Some will also rubbish them on social media and maybe influence others by their remarks. Dunlop or whoever lose more sales. In the overall scheme of things if you're paying £10k for a new bike, how much extra would genuine S22 cost over & above the OEM budget version? ‘For Want of a Nail’ etc.

You have to remember what CBT stands for 'Compulsory Basic Training'. Ignore the compulsory bit and look at what's left, basic training. All passing your CBT really does is prove you've figured out the very basics and you’re safe to be let out on your own. As you are discovering, now you're out in the real world this is where the learning bit really starts, and as you’ve also discovered there’s a fair old number of ‘I’ve paid my road tax, get out of my way, bloody learners’ types trying to bully you. It’s a steep learning curve, but the very fact you’ve both recognised and acknowledged it is a fine thing. Going forwards what might help is a motorcycle confidence course. These courses aren’t intended to get you up to test level, rather they are for people who are returning to biking after a couple of decades off or like you, someone who recognises they're on a journey and need some guidance. Any bike training school should be able to offer such a course, even if they don't advertise it. Just remember it's not a test, you're not there to be lectured too and there won’t be a set syllable. It’s your money, you tell them what you want out of it, ask questions and question the instructor why he say, well try it this way. The more you put in the more you’ll get out of one. Please keep us informed, from what you said, you’ve got you head screwed on the right way and have the right attitude, that's more than half the battle.

As were used to do it, i.e. with the a rifle and the permission of the land owner / farmer (who was often with us acting as a guide to what was his land) it was, and I believe still is perfectly legal. The BASC has a code of conduct for it. What isn't legal nowadays is the use of dogs which we didn't anyway. As my night time driving lessons occoured in the mid to late '70, shooting rules, firearms ownership and how you used them were a lot more relaxed than they are now. I got my first shotgun licence when I was 14 and was given a 12g five shot automatic Baretta shotgun for my sixteen birthday. Children nowadays lead such sheltered lives, I mean, I bet most of them don't even know how to make a half decent fertiliser bomb!

Deer. At the age of fourteen that's how I learned to drive . My father was a keen shot and qualified deer management ranger for the Forestry Commission. Whilst the Forestry Commission were good at managing their deer, the National Trust weren’t and word soon got around the local farmers that should they want the deer that wandered into their land and eating all ther crops culled, my dad was the man. At dusk, me driving a beat up old Land Rover (a SIII with a Perkins Deisel conversion), dad stood up in the back, shoulders, head & rifle sticking up through a big hole cut in the roof with his friend Brad working the spotting lamp would head off to the fields & wood bordering the NT land (honest we never wandered itnto it). At dusk it wasn’t to bad I could see enough, as it got dark, indeed got pitch black, no you can’t turn the lights on, it’ll ruin you’re night eyes and let the deer know where we are, (like a second hand Perkins diesel was quiet!). Brad, could gut & quarter a deer in seconds by the early hours they were hanging in his cold room of his butchers. Back then there wasn't the tracability of meat like there is now and I was the only kid at school who said, oh no, not Venison sandwiches again!