I never thought I'd say it but Guzzi's lost their way.
I never thought I'd say it but Guzzi's lost their way.
Right. Unless I've missed something, we should be on day 2 of you becoming a real man OP. How are the lessons going?
Biased as I bought a striple a few weeks ago as my first bike, but as a newbie it’s been everything I wanted - light, forgiving yet powerful, looks & sounds awesome.
You might find the power more manageable after you DAS - you’re currently comparing it to the dreaded YBR.
I thought I wanted to be upright but actually quite liked the slightly more forward position - it felt like I was leaning backwards when went on a more upright last weekend.
Anyway, how’s the training Tony?
Everyone must be different when it comes to the power and dealing with it. I've watched a few videos where reviewers have said specific c100bhp naked triples are most definitely not for learners. However, I have noticed they are nearly always American where I think the training is less progressive/stringent.
I'm still trying to decide on what to get, just pootling around on a 250 while I work it out. I do sometimes think anything with 3 figure power would be too much for me but then right from the start I found the 65bhp school bikes a bit pedestrian despite the instructor saying it would take me a while to get used to the power.
My first bike after a long lay off was a Yamaha XJ1300 and then I switched to a Ducati multi Strada 150bhp. After 5 years I’ve changed to a Ducati Scrambler 800 that I’ve enjoyed for the last three years. The Scrambler for me is so much more fun than the others for what I do. I guess we are all after different things when it comes to bikes.
Absolutely. The only thing I know for certain is that I have absolutely zero interest in modern sports bikes and dressing like a power ranger.
I know I have said it before but I think the “nature” of the bike is the most important part especially for a new rider. I would be more concerned about a new rider on an 80 bhp sports bike than a 100 bhp roadster as the power delivery and the handling will be so much less forgiving on the sports bike. I still remember my first 1000cc sports bike and being astonished how quickly corners came up suddenly and the weight vs a 600 sports bike. Even with a mature owner I still feel an “apprenticeship” helps make a better rider that enjoys their bike.
Just as we wouldn’t criticise a newly qualified driver at buying a GTi but have concerns about an M3.
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Completely agree, think I said similar earlier in this epic thread. I was really nervous going from the YBR to MT-07 for DAS - FIVE TIMES the HP I was used to!! But it was fine, and didn't really get the heart going like my street triple.
(though I accept Tony doesn't want one so I'll stop banging on about it )
I've had three spells as a biker - in my teens as just a way if getting round affordably, in my 30's for commuting into London (great fun at the time - I wouldn't do it now) and from early 50's to date (early 60's ).
My latest spell began with a Yamaha FZ6 then an FZ1, a Suzuki GSX1250 - a brief pause when I foolishly thought I could do without a bike - then a Suzuki GSR750 and now a Hayabusa - the first bike I've owned with clip ons and a marked contrast to my normal upright preference.
Much what I could add has been said but these are a few general obsrrvations:
A big part of bike enjoyment (for me) comes from simply walking into the garage and seeing a beautiful piece of engineering in front of me - so full marks for your concern about getting the looks right.
The absokute power of the bike is not really an issue (unless you have a clumsy right hand). Despite having a ludicrously fast bike I only use a fraction of its power - the fuel mapping means throttle response is progressive and predictable. Crack the throttle open and the response is brutal (0-100 in less than 5 seconds if you know what you're doing - I couldn't do that). But the reason I love the bike is the availability of oodles of torque at low revs. If you're a laid back rider, that will make all the difference. The GSR750 I had was light(ish) and had plenty of power but if you wanted instant acceleration, you had to change down. Not the end of the world but ultimately the reason I changed it. As long as the throttle response is progressive, strong low down torque may suit your riding style. Then again you may prefer constantly hunting for the right gear.
Plus you can see I've had 5 bikes in 10 years - like watches, no purchase needs to be long term. Good luck with your test, enjoy whatever you buy, and buy MCN every so often and you may find yourself buying something else in a few years ☺
ATB
Jon
Last edited by JonRA; 20th September 2018 at 17:25.
And just to throw in another perspective, I bought a CB600 when I passed my test a good few years ago. But I found it pretty uncomfortable and it gave me hip cramps after not too long - I've got longish legs. After a couple of years I sold it and bought an old CB750 and turned it into a kind of street tracker but TBH I just couldn't deal with the unreliability of it. You leave it in town and come back to it later in the day wondering if it'll start or if you'll be off buting cold starts from somewhere to get it going.
I sold that eventually too and bought a KTM supermoto that everyone told me was a hooligan machine. Previous owner had fitted a one tooth bigger rear sprocket so it was a bit better over more than 3 miles. I still have it and love it. It's comfy as the seat to peg distance is larger and the seat is huge so I can slide about on it. I sit upright so I can see over all the traffic and it's really not that scary quick. Plus, it looks like the bat bike and sounds like a helicopter.
So, get something that suits you - even if everyone else is telling you it really wouldn't suit you.
Absolutely! Your money, your choice
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Single garage with a small car parked in there with the bonnet facing out. The car could probably go back a bit to give enough access to get it in but TBH with a half dismantled car on the drive, another in the garage, one parked on the street outside the house and a motorbike already in the garage I'm pushing my luck with marital bliss as it is.
Leave the small car on the drive. Get rid of the dismantled one. Park both bikes in garage.
Simples
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Blimey - It seems I've been a bit negligent in respect of this thread - to be fair, though, I've been otherwise engaged. Anyway...
On Tuesday we (that's me and the one other guy I'm training/testing alongside) spent the entire day on the road, but on YBR's; this is the standard Day 1 DAS training day at the school I'm using (North London Motorcycle Training in Edgware), and although I was sceptical about it I think I understand now why they adopt this approach. Anyway, unlike the riding I've been doing on my own, much of this was flat out, and the main things we took from the day were not to be hesitant when approaching junctions and roundabouts; and to get up to speed (that is, the speed limit if it's safe to do so), as soon as possible. tI was much more aggressive riding than I'd been doing, including spells at 60mph on dual carriageways.
Yesterday was both exciting and upsetting. It was our first day on the Gladius 650s, and we spent half the time in a large private car park set up to mirror (albeit in a smaller area) the Mod1 test bed, and the other half on the road. The road riding, as it had been the day before, was absolutely fine. We stayed relatively local, hit some dual carriageways too, and I loved every second of it. The manoeuvres for the Mod1 test were more mixed, though. All the fast/emergency stuff was fine, and I was pretty decent on the slalom. However, I was struggling to push the bike backwards and re-park it as my technique is pants; and I put my foot down a couple of times on my u-turns. Also, I was far better going in one direction on my figure eights than the other. All of that paled into insignificance, though, when my instructor told me to park up and get off the bike for a chat. I was fairly near a perimeter fence, and for some reason decided to do a u-turn in that direction. Realising I couldn't make it I panicked, hit full lock and slowly toppled over. The embarrassment, with all the CBT candidates watching
I went home yesterday feeling a bit dejected, but today was better and a lot of fun. The road riding was superb, with some 60 and 70 mph stretches as well as horrors like the Uxbridge Road and Hangar Lane (we also had a look at the Uxbridge test bed, where we'll be heading for the Mod1 tomorrow afternoon). The Mod1 practice was better, although if I'm honest I'm still capable of doing something silly, so I'm not going into the test in any kind of over-confident frame of mind. Hopefully, I'll get more sleep than I did last night, though, when I was replaying the bike-drop in my mind until about 3am when I think I fell asleep (and I was up at 5.30!).
One last thing about the bike selection... the more I think about it, the more I think it's going to be a choice between the Street Twin (in black, and with some custom parts) and the Ducati Classic/Street Classic Scrambler. What I want to avoid is buying something that's too demanding (either performance wise or in terms of weight manageability) and which then stops me enjoying my bike. This is a stressful process as well as being an expensive endeavour, and I think I need to be trusting my instincts as well as listening to advice and doing my research. The thing I've been dreaming of for bloody years now is cruising along the A and B roads, and having a commuting option that gets me off the train. Never once have I thought about screaming round the track or up/down the motorways, as that's not what this is about for me.
I'll post an update tomorrow evening, hopefully with good news (fingers crossed!).
^^^ Best of luck for tomorrow. I'm completely with you concerning bike choice, and I'm also tending towards the lower end of the available options - based on what I think I will use the bike for, where I just don't want or need very high performance.
Good luck, Tony. I hope all goes well for you tomorrow.
Do not be disheartened by minor setbacks. They happen to us all. As it happens, I came
close to dropping my Scrambler X today, as I was making a tight U-turn and stalled (schoolboy error, wrong gear which I did not check before committing to the manoeuvre) on the way to the bike’s first service. Fortunately I got my foot down before we reached the tipping point. I might not have been so lucky on my K1600 Bagger, which weighs about the same as the QE2.
All the best for tomorrow.
If for some reason you fluff the MOD1 part-way through, don't chuck the towel in and continue with the rest of the test. You've paid for it and the experience is very useful, particularly when the pressure is off!
Best of luck tomorrow Tony.
I've dropped a bike like you - frustrating/annoying at the time but no real harm in the scheme of things. Plus a lesson learned and not likely to be repeated.
ATB
Jon
Good luck, try and keep your shoulders/ arms relaxed, you'll be fine. Having given up bikes after about 30 years it's good to see someone get bitten by the bike bug. Whatever you buy you will probably drop so a more relaxed (less expensive plastics, perhaps some engine protectors) and secondhand is the way to go and if you find yourself grinding the pegs you can always go sporty later. Most important question is what watch you wearing for your test?
Tony, this is for you:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=-jyltAAFS4E
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Good luck Tony
Not sure how accurate this site is, but it's quite interesting to look at the options, and may give an indication?
http://cycle-ergo.com/
Saw this bike last night, opposit end of the scale, looked so light it could float. Some trick styling too, maybe just a tad OTT?
Loving that. Properly well put together and finished.
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Ha, thanks for the update Tony, at least you’re enjoying the roads.
Coming out of lunch at a caf in a builders yard just before taking mod1 I dropped the bike turning around in front of an audience - passed with no minors (let’s no dwell on failing mod 2). Don’t worry about it and good luck!
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Thanks to this thread, I’ve gone from having no intention of getting back on a bike to spending a considerable amount of my free time looking at bike reviews. R Nine T and Thruxton S are top of my list. Wife won’t be pleased when I break the news.
Good luck today Tony.
If it helps any, I was the same with the mod1. I got a right bollocking for being down right dangerous on the emergency stop which completely destroyed my confidence.
I found it's a luck of the day test in many ways. You can figure of 8 perfectly all day then in the day a single wee dab of the foot without ever being out of control can make all the difference. I think it's a test where there needs to be more trust put in the examiners assessment of the riders ability.
Anyway, just relax and don't try to over think the technique. Good luck.
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That was very unprofessional of him.
On a lighter note, when I turned up for my re-test it was the end of December and the weather was vile, freezing cold with rain verging on sleet. The examiner announced that he would be following me around in his car, as he 'Wouldn't want to be riding in these conditions'...
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
Oh, I agree. It almost completely put me off riding and changed my opinion of my instructor. I took a month to reflect on my options then went and did 1 more 2 hour lesson with them and passed mod1 and mod2. When I went back the instructor asked me if he'd done something to offend me and I gave him both barrels.
My examiner also followed me in a car on mod2. I almost failed because I kept trying to leave gaps big enough for both of us, he was in a bloody big mitsubishi l200. I could hear him occasionally muttering obscenities at the traffic as it was during rush hour.
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Nowt wrong with Clews Competition Machine motorbikes! A British manufacturer with a proper heritage born from producing competition machines, they have always produced large single cylinder bikes and are now just latching onto the section of the market that seem to be selling well these days and fair play to them. CCM are one of the few current manufacturers who's modern (hipsterish admittedly) designs don't leave me cold.
That CCM is pretty beautiful and looks well finished. Those bikes are hipster but I think that's pure enough to remain an interesting bike when things move on. They're also pretty sensible if you do a lot of in town riding.
I remember CCM from when they used B50 engines. What do they use now, Rotax?
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.