Joeman

I use the net for loads of stuff as its cheaper for many things, but if i walk into someones business and take up their valuable time trying stuff on and asking them for their expert advice, I feel its a little out of order to then go away and purchase the same item elsewhere without even give them the opportunity to match the lower price. If we all did that, there would be no highstreet shops!!

I think if it happens, read the situation just as you would in the real world. So if you see the flash but he doesnt slow down, dont be an idiot and pull out in front of him!! See the flash, get eye contact with the driver, and observe the car slowing down and ideally coming to full stop. Try to understand why he might have flashed you to let you go - is his way blocked?? is there a "Keep Clear" box? only once you are sure its safe to proceed, do your lifesaver and make your move. After the test, if questioned, be prepared to explain your thought process Explain that you know flashing lights is not a signal to proceed. Ultimately, it you made the right choice and it was indeed safe for you and the instructor to proceed then you shouldnt be failed as you did nothing wrong.

Happened to me on my car test. A funeral car (complete with coffin) flashed me across at a right hand turn. Different in a car as I was able to explain my thought process to the examinar before I proceeded... Passed the test and the examinar said I did the right thing for the situation... Of course with one way comms on a bike youre not able to explain your thoughts before moving... Tricky one

Awesome, be a bit difficult to climb into though, j And those two big funny shaped tent posts Dont look like they would fit in a backpack very well.

Some good bargains.. But one thing I dont approve of is using high street shops to try stuff on and then ordering the same product online. If the sales guys take their time to help you out its only fair you buy from them. All shops are well aware they can be undercut by internet prices which is why the sticker price on biking gear is always negotiable and when you factor in postage and packing prices, high street prices can actually be cheaper than online prices if you haggle a bit. Yes many shops also sell online, but if we all only used shops as fitting rooms, they would soon start to disappear. That would be very sad..

Well done mate.. Hope she was pretty?? But what's that got to do with neck tubes??

Bikers with copious amounts of booze?? Camping outside the venue?? Wedding party next door??? What's the chances of one of the TMBF crew waking up in a tent with a bridesmaid smothered in wedding cake... Now that would be something to talk about for years to come...

both hands off handlebars, lift helmet, scratch itch, pull helmet back down.... sorted

done... easy market research for Suzuki!!

Powder coating every time! dont arse about with rattle cans, they are messy and when spraying something like a frame you waste most of the paint as it sprays right past the target!

If you have a small drill and the balls to drill your visor, you can get a pinlock to fit any helmet... Edit: here is the kit! http://www.racevisors.co.uk/product/uni ... nlock-kits

Wish you the best of luck of course, but just be cautious of solicitors who say you "have a strong case" when what they really mean is "this could drag on for ages and make me loads if money". Its certainly not a clear cut case. The whole dispute hinges on you being able to prove that the tracker was not fitted in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations. Something the dealer is likely to strongly contest. Difficult to prove either way... I reckon a good start would be to find someone else with the same bike who had the same tracker fitted by the same shop and ask them to allow an expert from the tracker manufacturer to examine the installation. If that's found to be incorrect then it will strengthen your case considerably. Good luck mate - keep us informed

Plenty unless they dropped on it straight away the bike would have to had been totally stripped to find it, more than enough time for the police to track it down. To find this tracker thrown onto a roof still active it must have been fitted almost on display. Normally they would not of even known it had one fitted until it's to late - caught. If the thief had a jammer, the signal notifying of the bike theft would only have been sent after the tracker was removed and disgarded away from the bike and jammer. So by the time the message was received the tracker was already off the bike. Trackers emit an RF signal so easy to locate with a few quid's worth of detection equipment and if your breaking the bike for parts, there's little need to be delicate whilst accessing the tracker. Tear off the fairings and tank and the tracker will likely be in plain sight.

I'd have to disagree. Most bikes are very well setup for most riders. If a rider finds it uncomfortable to ride a standard bike and feels the need to radically adjust the bike to suit their style then its fair to question if their style is needs adjusting first Adjusting the bike first and riding style second is a sure fire way to get into very bad habits making it difficult to transition to other bikes.

The theft is not the shop's fault. They didnt force the OP to buy the tracker, and there is no proof that it was not installed in accordance with the manufacturers recomendations. Trackers are not a guarentee that the bike wont be stolen, or that in the event of theft the bike will be found. So in my view the shop has done nothing wrong. hopefully the solicitor will not rip off the OP by flogging a dead horse of a case for thier own financial benefit, when a fully comp policy with gap insurance would have ensured the OP was not out of pocket.

Most likely just cable tied to the rear sub frame. so they just had to snip the ties and yank the unit out. Your insurance will pay for a replacement bike and replacement tracker, so what is there to gain by taking the shop to court?

I'd say very poor, I was told tank up air box up and then buried deep so no chance, I figured tank and air box up would be 20-30 mins etc then locate etc so 40 mins worse case, if this was so I would have had my bike back and all would be well, I have a solicitor appointment today and if he takes the case I will be taking court action to get a new like for like bike... Why should I lose out because of poor fitting, that's just neglect and unfit for purpose. Bikes are built to be serviced quickly by unskilled monkeys to maximise profits from servicing charges. Taking the tank and airbox off would take seconds for someone who knew what they were doing. Also, trackers can easily be jammed. Easy to have a jammer in the back of the van and drive it off someplace and strip it down. sorry to say, but your bike is likely already been broken for parts. With the limits of current technology, there really is no good hiding place on an R1 for a tracking device that cant be accessed in a few mins, so IMO getting solicitors involved will just be a waste of time and money.

Where on a bike can you hide a tracker that will take more than 10mins to remove?? There just aren't enough hiding places. Once you locate it, dont even need to remove it, just need to put a few holes in it with a cordless drill and it'll be dead.

Ride with balls of feet on the pegs ( as you're supposed to) and it wont happen

well done mate!! Big Bikey time!!

Walk in the cake.... Or a peice of park... Or something like that...

GSX-R600 K7 KTM300 Gilera Runner sp-180 Suzuki GS125 (remains of) Honda moped thing. Puch Maxi (dont ask why!)

A mate of mine used to work at southampton docks unloading all the news cars off the cargo ships. He reckoned that some of the high end cars had special software that limited the revs, and in the case of an automatic it limited them to 2nd gear. Only when they arrived at the dealers was the restriction lifted. Makes sense, but no idea if it was true or just something they were all told to stop them thrashing new cars about.

Wonder if there is an element of health and safety involved? so the manufacturers meet some H&S obligation by instructing new bike owners to take it easy for the first 100miles...

I reckon with modern manufacturing methods, there is little need for breaking in an engine gently. And i reckon the the main reason we're still told to break them in gently is because the manufactures want us to get past the warranty period before the engine blows up! However, from the consumer point of view, its better if it goes bang whilst still under warranty.. Also, if you're not planning to keep the bike forever, do you really care how long it will last? maybe a selfish attitude, but by buying brand new, you're paying for the privilege to ride it how you like. why should you have to ride it gently just so it will last a long time and be good for the person who gets it next?? they wont have to ride it gently for first 500miles will they, so why should you?? So i say thrash it from day one, and if it goes bang you get a new engine under warranty