Linf would be so proud of me...

[Ian A]

[QUOTE 3384451, member: 45"]I know what you mean about nerves. Knowing that there's a bunch of people watching you through the window doesn't help either. I was most edgy about the figure of 8. I'd only had a day's practice on the 600cc bandit, and came from my 110cc auto scooter so I wasn't quite comfortable with the sensitivity of the throttle and the day before when practicing at the end of the day I got a foot down. Got through it on the test though -he only made me do two circuits of the cones.

I got two minors, but didn't worry about it. 1 for being 1kmph below the threshold for the emergency stop. The other was for the avoidance manuoevre. I wasn't fast enough so he made me repeat it.

It's such a relief to know that it's over, I'll not have to do it again, and I've only got a doddle of a Mod 2 to do.[/QUOTE]

I got one minor on the Mod 1, the walking speed ride was a little too fast. I obviously walk faster than he does . Just glad it wasn't so much faster that he failed me.Was very worried about the figure of 8 but it was set up to be harder in training and it went well on the day. I have a semi auto bike without a clutch and it's something I'm not too used to. Had enough time on the XJ6 to get used to the clutch for the test. I wish I did have a clutch on my own bike, makes slow controlled riding a lot easier.

Got two minors on the mod 2, one for being a little too far over to the side of the road when turning right a few times and another just before the end of the test for stopping too close to a truck at traffic lights, out of view of the wing mirrors so the driver couldn't see me. I knew I'd made a biggy as soon as I did it but examiner told me he understood why I did it ( I didn't want to block a side road) but I should have planned ahead and stopped further back if I was going to do that. Fair point and I was in the wrong. I wasn't close enough to the truck for him to fail me though. There's a few things you can fail on immediately. Lane drifting on roundabouts is a apparently a common one. We were taken on all the roundabouts on known test routes a good few times. When I passed I didn't have top wait for the second person to do their test, I got to ride the school bike back on my own :-)

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Looking forward to hearing how you get on Paul. When's it due?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

[QUOTE 3384384, member: 45"]It's the bike show at the NEC this week and guess who is already there at another exhibition?

I've just emailed a pic of a black Tiger to Mrs P. "Dream on" was the response.[/QUOTE]
"Buy it and I won't be here when you come home" was what TLH said to me.

She's still at home and I don't own a mo'bike. Gotta love TLH.

 

[EltonFrog]

In the olden days when I took my bike test all you had to do was go round the block 4 times clockwise then again 4 time anticlockwise and not fall off when you did an emergency stop. Do that and you passed. My best mate managed to fail three times. 1974 that was!

Christ! I've just realised I've had motorcycle license for 40 years! FORTY FECKIN YEARS!

 

[EltonFrog]

[QUOTE 3384384, member: 45"]It's the bike show at the NEC this week and guess who is already there at another exhibition?

I've just emailed a pic of a black Tiger to Mrs P. "Dream on" was the response.[/QUOTE]

Get her to take the test too! My missus has got a Kwacka ER6, Her third bike, she does more miles than me.

 

[Lisa21]

@User , I have it on great authority that Linford is, infact, very proud indeed and he sends his congrats and best wishes

 

[HF2300]

Well done.

I passed my bike test 5/3/81 on a Suzuki GT250. The day after my 17th birthday and never looked back. It's all a bit more complicated nowadays.

There's a blast from the past. Was a time it seemed everyone I knew had GT185s or 250s. Nearly bought a late GT380 myself.

 

[Ian A]

Any updates on your mod 2 yet @User?

 

[Ian A]

Good luck .

 

[Ian A]

[QUOTE 3420674, member: 45"];-)[/QUOTE]

Congratulations

You get a second smile day when that new licence comes in the post with the added categories.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Hey, excellent news. Well done Paul.

Versys? Sorry, no idea (does anyone other than BMW actually make motorcycles ?)

Well done again and good luck with your search.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

[QUOTE 3422246, member: 45"]Thanks Geoff.

I visited a couple of bike shops on the way home last night. I like the idea of something upright and comfortable, like the adventure bikes, but have a budget. The cheaper BMWs are singles and I'd rather go for at least a twin. There are others around but I sat on a Versys yesterday and it seemed ok, and there are some cheaper ones around -I've seen a couple of 57 plates with about 13k miles on for less than £3,000.

I've still got to get permission anyway, so this might not come to anything, but I much preferred accelerating up the Bristol bypass on a Bandit yesterday than the 7 mile trip up the M5 on a 110cc Honda Vision this morning! I'd really like something that will get me around Bristol easily but can also manage the odd trip up to Birmingham (90 miles). For £3k.[/QUOTE]
Yep, understood.
How about a well-cared-for R1100GS or R1150GS? 3K should get a nice one.
Not that I'm trying to influence you or anything but they are easy to ride, well balanced with LOTS of low down torque. And so well built they'll last for yonks AND very good parts availability through lots of non-franchised suppliers.
Above all, get something you feel comfortable and confident on. Glad to see you're not veering towards sports bikes.

 

[Ian A]

@User How are you getting on with the Versys? It looks fantastic. I'll admit I've been looking at touring bikes as well as sports tourers now. BMW G650GS, the 650 version of the Versys or possibly a Triumph seem to be well liked. I'm waiting longer now to save a bit more money and am looking around the £3k mark for a bike so a decent condition tourer would be in budget around £3-3.5K. Either sell or try and get a decent PX for my current bike.

 

[clid61]

In the olden days when I took my bike test all you had to do was go round the block 4 times clockwise then again 4 time anticlockwise and not fall off when you did an emergency stop. Do that and you passed.

Me too 1977, exactly the same ,took mine in Northwich on an RD250 , L plates off and straight onto M6 back to Warrington flat out !

 

[Ian A]

[QUOTE 3501565, member: 45"]Ahem...[/QUOTE]
Thanks, those are exactly the kind of thing I'm after. Plenty of lowish mileage ones available on bikes which have a proven record of getting to a high mileage. I'm a couple of months away with the money and hope to get a decent price for mine in the spring when the sun comes out or a decent PX if I can buy at the start of the warm weather.