1st Bike

Went and did it today.... bought a bike that is, after passing DAS.
OK, it's only a CB500S, but quite enough for me to see if I shall become
a dedicated biker, or retire gracefully back to my "cage", but not until
after next summer when I've got a few miles/hours under my belt & can
decide.

I quite enjoyed the 30 mile ride home from Hemel to Chesham (a long cut!),
through quite a few towns & villages. It was a bit weird @ first not having
someone giving me instructions and the odd bollocking for missing a shoulder
check (I seem to miss a few when exiting roundabouts, busy with cancelling
indicators - I guess that'll become 2nd nature & my shoulder checks
improve).What are your views on doing advanced rider training: should I wait
& get more experienced first or go for it now; I was thinking of Spring '04?

So, if all goes well, it'll be a 600 something late '04 or Spring '05.

Niv; CB500S, Marin Attack Trail(1), Roberts custom racer(2), Holdsworth
racer(3)
(1) Montain bike
(2) My pride & joy of pedal bike,
(3) Winter hack pedal bike

 

Niv wrote

Fucking right too. *NEVER* do shoulder checks. Totally fucking
unnecessary they are as it soon becomes apparent if yer fucking arm is
there or not when you get clouted by the cage you missed for failing to
do your LIFESAVER.

Who was the fucking moron who told you that shoulder checks were the
thing to do? Tell him to bring his ignorance here for a good telling
off.


nearly forgot

Welcome to the Dark Side.

 

Nice one.

As in Chas Roberts? I always fancied a DOGSBOLX myself. I take it
the build quality is superb?

 

Congratulations on both counts.

I find that happens quite often.

Heh, cue the 'shoulder checks v Lifesaver' argument about now.

I reckon the sooner the better. Look up your local advanced rider group
and get some observed rides under your belt.

Here's hoping all goes well, then.


--
John

SV650
Black it is
and naked

 

jsp wrote

There is no argument.

 

Don't worry about it - just make sure you're faster than anything else
on the road

Apologies to the GixerThou rider who I hit this morning

 

As in Chas Roberts? I always fancied a DOGSBOLX myself. I take it

Yep, custom built by Chas himself in '96.
Superb doesn't cover it, it's better than that.
e.g. fillet brazing is smoother than a babys bum;
none of this horrible Taiwanese TIG weld mess (Like my Marin).
Great bike.
Niv.

 

Wasn't a black CB500S from Lloyd Coopers in Hemel Hampstead by any chance?

 

Maybe, why?

 

Some instructors insists that they are mostly "Blind Spot" checks and
that the only true lifesaver check is when you are turning right from a
major to minor road. However, the DSA calls them lifesaver checks.
Except for the "U" turn which is a "bloody good look".

--
Alan

http://www.ads-training.co.uk
"Kneesliders Sponsored by Cane"
GSX-R1000 , Triumph Thunderbird, ZXR750L2 Racer(gone), GHPOTHUF#27
TGF, UKRMFBC#7, Two#24, BOTAFOF#11, YTC#9, GYASB#1. SbS#23.
DFWAG#2, DS#2, DIAABTCOD#20. remove "thisbit" in the reply
http://sportsbike.org (our own endurance team) http://Team-ukrm.com
"Nemo repente fuit turpissimus"

 

Well done mate.

Good choice.

The fromer please. We will kill you if you do the latter

Spring '04?

Advance training for new riders is always a good idea. The instruction
you get will be on how to ride rather than how to pass your test. Winter
time is good because you'll be taught a lot more about control in
slippery conditions. By the time spring comes around you'll be dusting
your mates. ;o)




--
Alan

http://www.ads-training.co.uk
"Kneesliders Sponsored by Cane"
GSX-R1000 , Triumph Thunderbird, ZXR750L2 Racer(gone), GHPOTHUF#27
TGF, UKRMFBC#7, Two#24, BOTAFOF#11, YTC#9, GYASB#1. SbS#23.
DFWAG#2, DS#2, DIAABTCOD#20. remove "thisbit" in the reply
http://sportsbike.org (our own endurance team) http://Team-ukrm.com
"Nemo repente fuit turpissimus"

 

I worry about this lots.

I think the only time one of my checks could seriously be called a
lifesaver is when I'm pulling onto a dual carriageway.

When I am turning right, all the 'ahead-and-to-my-right' observations
seem to take so much time, that my quick life-saver would only save my
life if, erm, me looking at the car in my blind spot caused *it* to
back off! Time and lack of owl-training mean I cannot look over my
shoulder quickly, but when I have time on a slip road (and the bike's
not about to turn) I have no probs.

Sometimes when pulling *on* to a road, I over-compensate, and stop
when it's not strictly necessary, just to make sure I can see down the
road to my right...on a couple of occasions this has caused the person
following me (who has better vis, and so knows it's free) to nearly
crash into me. ( And no, that's not just Will I've done that to.

What am I doing wrong? Apart from clearly trying to kill myself?

 

Power Grainger wrote

It is a lifesaver every time you do one. Miss one too many and you will
soon learn.

 

I can't recall ever doing one going onto a dual carriageway, I simply
pick a vehicle to aim in front of and exit the slip road around 90,
traffic allowing.

 

.... only in a Darwinian sense ...

 

Can you learn when you're dead?