Nute

Ref counter steering, you cannot turn without a bit of counter steer, probably sub consciously, so we all do it anyway to some degree.

Don’t have a centre stand and always get off when filling. The FTR has a fuel tank about the size of a coffee mug and it’s hidden down in the guts of the thing so to fully fill it requires a bit of faffing about dribbling the fuel in slowly.

I bought a digital audio player ( Astell & Kern ) a while back that I use with some really nice headphones. It’s sometimes a pain finding lossless music files to play on it but sitting in a comfy chair with no distractions and just loosing yourself in the music is lovely.

The majority of potholes, at least around here, are where the road has been dug up for some reason and poorly reinstated. When the patch breaks down, usually due to water getting in around the joints to the original surface, the council just chuck a load of cold repair tarmac in every 2 months for the rest of time, at our expense.

That’s a good deal, which provider are you with?

I recall when I rode my first 125 along the A34, lots of traffic and hgv’s & it was very intimidating. As said above try it out of rush hour first, wear you high viz and expect a bit of buffeting as the hgv’s or other large vehicles go past. Remember that you have every right to be there and that other road users should respect your space, try to resist the temptation to keep as far left as you can, use the middle of your lane so people don’t try to squeeze by in your lane. You will soon become accustomed to it …

Any half decent builder / contractor shouldn’t be living hand to mouth and need cash up front to cover materials. As someone who arranges building work for a living a) never pay anything in advance, not even a deposit b) both parties should sign a contract which includes an exact description of the work, preferably a full specification.

No idea what it’s called but the 90 degree tyre valve extension thingy makes inflating tyres so much easier

Parked it outside the garage ready for a wash. That was 5 hrs ago and haven’t done it yet. Might have to go put it away again then do the same tomorrow…

I’m the same height as you. I got a 125 to bumble about on for a few months after my CBT and then did my DAS which was a good move. I went through the same thought process on what to get as a first bike and ended up going for something bigger. I’d say go for what you want rather than stick with something lower power as a first choice. You only use as much power as you want when you are riding. My first bike (which I still have and still love) was an Indian FTR. It’s by no means refined, lots of vibration, fueling is sometimes a bit variable but it’s absolutely brilliant fun.

Just do the direct access course and you are done and never need worry about it again, just enjoy riding whatever you want.

In the garage too on a rail fixed to the ceiling. Diesel heater next to it in case it’s wet and needs drying.

I went to the local cinema car park on my 125 and practiced there. I’m sure all the staff must have been laughing at me watching on the CCTV. The place I did my DAS at had a huge private expanse of tarmac marked up with the Mod 1 layout exactly the same as at the test centre, plus a second low speed layout ( just the U turn, 8 and slalom) and you could just practice as much as you need. Still easy to cock it up by forgetting the shoulder check in the U turn but at least we were all confident that we could actually do the low speed stuff without problems.

Just noticed you are in Surrey, I can strongly recommend 1st Gear in Farnborough, really great and infinitely patient people with a really good training setup.

Don’t beat yourself up over it. Go back and have another crack, or possibly find an instructor who will give you a bit of additional time and coaching. The place I did my DAS course had CBT courses running as well and there were a few students where they said just come back for another afternoon and get a bit more time under your belt. I don’t recall even recall having to do a figure 8 for mine, and I spent the whole road ride with my helmet not done up. Luckily I twigged and cinched it up before the instructor noticed. I stalled it more times than I could count, spent half the time with the indicator on … I literally thought there was no way in a million years I was ever going to get the hang of it. By some miracle I got through it but never had any issues once on the bigger bikes (at a different school). Don’t be so hard on yourself.