veracocha

I made it.

No, I'd only jinx it.

Every airplane I get off I tell the plane "you are the best plane in the world"

Private superstition... From the age of 17 I had a premonition that I would die in my 59th year. I seem to be able to convert a series of numbers in almost everything I see, especially registration plates and phone numbers and come up with 59. You can't know what I put myself through mentally today going on a long ride out through the Wye valley. Next Sunday I hit 60 you see so I hope to post next week to finally rid myself of this paranoia.

I fitted both a cheap Amazon set of auxiliary lights (very good) and an Atlas throttle lock (clone). Without doubt a brilliant little device that made my riding day much better. Best £40 I ever spent on the bike. Crazy when the real deal is £140.

With the bike having had it's first service yesterday I went out to the Shropshire hills today and went above 4K revs for the first time. Starting to enjoy the riding now instead of just concentrating on applying the training I learnt over the last six months. Not so nervous anymore and getting the fact the bike is capable of much more than I'm asking of it. Really enjoying it now.

I was into it in a big way a few years ago but living in Birmingham the light pollution was so bad there were very few dark nights on offer. I spent a lot of nights in Galloway or the Peaks. This was equally frustrating due to regular cloudy nights and having travelled hundreds of miles and setting up all my gear I finally gave up. One of the very few occasions where I did have 180 degree view of a beautifully dark night I got as much fun with a decent pair of binoculars than I did slewing the scope from nebula to cluster etc. In hindsight, the ease of use with a dob made much more sense. I used to go to starparties where F.L.O would often attend and you got some good deal from them. Try Stargazerslounge forum, some great advice there and there's always news of meet-ups for the experienced or beginner.

This. Finding that this is the reason my horn would blow a fuse when used. Melted by the exhaust.

Mint condition boots and used for a 15 minute ride. They just don't suit me so despite costing me £100 from J&S I need to go for a more casual boot. £45 to door UK only.

Shouted profanities at it as when I used the horn to advise some blind bint she was about to wipe me out it blew a fuse. Replaced it and same thing happened, blown fuse.

Stripped my seat down and shaved an inch of foam. Delighted that I can now flat foot it and it looks perfect to boot.

Cheers for the advice; the things smothered in the stuff

Hi Mike. Rednal south Brum. Yes, been eyeing up Clee Hill and into Wales as soon as the weather improves.

Never been good at intro's but 30 posts in I thought I had better give it a go. Some inexplicable pull drew me back to motorcycles a year before my 60th. Every waking hour for nearly a year has been concentrated on gaining all the necessary licensing and knowledge needed to get back in the saddle. Last bike I owned was 1980 (DT175MX). Anyway, got my CBT on the hottest day of 2022 and my Das 2 on the wettest day of the year. Did three months on a new Zontes 125 and bought a new 650 whilst awaiting my tests. Three months in and I've just covered 300 miles due to poor weather. Today I said sod it to the weather and went out to a bikers café in Bridgenorth. This is so not me but I managed to say hello to a few of the bikers there but I felt so under-gunned when I saw the hardware in the car park; something to work up to I suppose. Regardless, the trip out took me so far away from the things that trouble the mind of a chronic insomniac. Perhaps this is the answer to my mental woes albeit late in the day. Tonight I'll be doing a trip around the Malverns at least in my dreams. I hear it said many times, growing old is compulsory, growing up isn't and at the cafe today I felt like a big kid at the youth centre showing off his Dunlop Greenflash when Everyone else had their Adidas Samba's on lol. Next?, NC500 with a tent in April. I hope to be able to report on that at some point after.

Congrats sir. I passed mine only a couple of months ago. I might get some riding in if the rain ever stops!

I remember that thread, I even posted on it. I just wished I had seen the restoration thread on the old place. Nevertheless, this one's holding my interest completely.

I have to admit that I never saw the thread and having been a member there (and the new one) for 12 years I'm shocked that I missed it (milek)

Fantastic result . By any chance the other forum wouldn't be AGF?

Yesterday I found some photo's of me riding my first bike. DT175MX in white, 1979. You brought back so many fond memories for me just reading your post.

Hi Oscar. I recently bought a Zontes 125 after completing my CBT and for a 15 mile back-road commute it was fantastic and so cheap to run. Cost me £3200 and I sold it three months later with 1000 miles on it or £2400 so there are bargains to be had. Had I not passed my test and bought a 650 I would have kept it. Autotrader is where it sold within 1-day. (milek AGF)

Evening Oscar ?

84 year old man goes to confession and says "father, I am 84 years old and for the last year I have been having amazing sex every day with a 20 year old super model" Priest says "a year, my good man, when did you last go to confession" Old bloke says "I've never been to confession, I'm Jewish" Priest asks the old man "then why are you telling me" Old man says "I'm telling everyone"

I have the UK version of this bike (MT650) and we get 4-years warranty. I have been out twice the weekend having only passed my test on Thursday. The UK version comes with crash bars.

I bought it two months ago and it's been agonizing just looking at it in my rear garden unable to ride it. I went for a CF Moto 650MT. Very much a budget bike but nevertheless a great entry into the larger capacity machines.

It's a fantastic feeling taking a new bike out having just passed my test; a world away from my 125 which I loved. A bit nervous but within an hour you realise your training has stayed with you and got you where you are. Had one worrying moment when I hit some mud on the road down a country lane otherwise just a great feeling flowing through the Worcestershire countryside. Took in two motorway junctions, felt no different than when in my car so will make my way to Motorcycle live again tomorrow only this time on my bike. Great day.