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Show me your noisy toys!
After failing my test last week (learner driver pulled into my lane on a dual carrigeway whilst I was 3/4 past him, leaving me with nothing to do other than brake (casuing instructor to brake, car behind etc etc) not a fail, only a minor, but not putting the instructor in a good mood 2 minutes in.
Followed by a bad decision exiting a roundabout onto dual carrigeway and getting stuck behind one of those harmless* grannies doing 40, resulting in a stream of cars overtaking and no gaps to overtake into. Ohh well says I its only half a mile to the junction, sit tight and hope I dont get rear ended. FAIL (I now hate grannies almost as much as I do Daily Mail readers).
Other than that 2 minors, one of which I had to point out when he said 'anythig else?'
*appart form a test costing 200 feking quid!
Failed for going at 40 on a dual carriageway? Seems harsh.
Thinking about doing my test this summer 😕
Yea, but if you think about it bikes arent very visible, so if you were doing 40 behind a slow car it wouldn't take much for a distracted driver to plough straight into you.
I failed my first one after some **** in a transit double parked right before a roundabout, I thought he was turning left so pulled up behind then got stuck!
200 quid though!? Think my test was about 60 quid, is the new style test longer or something?
£90 test
The rest is is getting to/from the place, the instructors time and bike hire.
Just e-mailed you a couple of pics - i don't know how to post them!
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Not mine, but looks nearly the same. Only mine's got black wheels. And no ridiculous luggage carrier. And has a 'carbon look' hugger. And my garden's not that tidy. And mine's got a seat cover. Shite, at least it's the right colour....
Bad luck on the test - I failed 1st time too. Go in for it again, you'll pass next time!
Bad luck on the test - I almost failed mine for speeding - unfamiliar road that looked like a country lane (no lampposts, etc) but I'd missed the 30 sign which was half-obscured by a bush. Did you manage the u-turn OK though?
My Monster:
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its a 2 part test now,
Module1
Manual handling into/out of a mock garrage,
Slow speed stuff (walking pace or lower):
Slalom
Figures of 8
Turn in the road
Straight line (keeping behind the examiner)
High speed stuff (32mph)
Swerve
Emergency stop
Module2
40-50minutes on the road (i.e. the old test)
With a few of its mates...
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It doesn't look like that now 🙁 2 more scottish winters, another 10000 miles and a general loss of interest have left it a bit sorry for itself. Still works though.
Tried a couple of those firestorms after I passed my DAS - sound lovely.
Unfortunately Mr Bank Manager said **** off
The module 2 part test is £75.
Also - there is more to your failure story than you are making out. What did the serious fault on the sheet say?
The test does look a bit more involved now, sure you'll nail it next time. It's worth it, but be prepared to go hungry a few time...
Last one, the 2nd TL1000s I owned -
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Current one, Africa Twin, here on Morecambe bay sands. SSlloooowww bike, but so comfy & fun to ride; done more miles on this in 15 months than any bike since my first one in '98 -
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Crashed my Vmax last Autumn and it was written off (annoying when in reality it was just scratches and bent bars) and am still umming and arring on it's replacement. I know it's a personal thing but it's just the best looking bike ever to me. I miss her. 🙁
GSX 1400 high on the list but i can never be arsed to sort out a test ride. If the Vmax's weren't more now than the brand new one i bought i'd have another in a heartbeat. Nothing else really floats my boat and i don't really fit on sports bikes.
I only passed my test 1st time cos the instructors bike had a flat and he had to follow me in a crappy little car. He couldn't see me for half the test as he was too far back! And when i did make a mistake i pretended my earpiece wasn't working so that's why i took the wrong exit at the roundabout..... Bless him, he believed me.
Do you want a copy of the sheet?
2 minor signaling faults, one of which was the one i pointed out, the other I don't remember so is his oppinion so obviously wasnt something i said "ohh fek I shouldnt have done that" after)
1 minor for anticipating other road users (the learner pulling accross whilst i was passing him)
1 serious for not geting upto speed due to granny
£90, yup your right its £75 (plus £15 for the mod1 which i'd paid for at the same time)
SimongG - Is that MrsPPs ex-Monster you have there? 🙂 How's it going?
Currently
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Previous
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And before that
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A serious fault for getting stuck behind granny? Is it 'undue hesitation' or something? I know it's not great, but I didn't think it'd be a test failure. Harsh.
Post up a copy of the sheet if you want. I might be able to give you a hint or two for the next time.
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My current toy - going in for a race tune this time next week 😉
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😉
PP - yes, the same Monster. Going well, it fell (or was pushed) off it's stand a few weeks ago. Damage was (thankfully) just a bent sidestand and bars - the crash bungs did their job. Went for some black Renthals as replacements, slightly different riding position which feels spot on, more like mtb risers with a bit of an upright sweep.
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PP - yes, the same Monster. Going well, it fell (or was pushed) off it's stand a few weeks ago. Damage was (thankfully) just a bent sidestand and bars - the crash bungs did their job. Went for some black Renthals as replacements, slightly different riding position which feels spot on, more like mtb risers with a bit of an upright sweep.
Hmm I would doubt it fell off unless you parked it pointing downhill?
Mrs PP is pleased to see 'Daisy' again... 😉 (She never named any of her other bikes)
The black bars look brilliant actually! 😀
We're probably going to get a Multistrada next year, as we're off to the TT again.
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Hadge, that's a work of art! 🙂
Hadge, that's a work of art!
+1 but I'm not jealous, much, lucky b'stard 
ive got one of these 1999 Aprilia RX50 hopefully getting a rx125 when i can afford it
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[/img] except mine has a big buff sticker on the rear panels and needs a new coil...
and i have one of these (this ones not mine)
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and one of these which i crashed into a wall yesterday and totalled it
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will get some pictures of my bikes when i get a camera 😳
Tom
Hadge
You are a lucky, lucky man... I was lucky enough to have a sit on a Desmosedici that belonged to a mate's Dad once, he'd barely had it long at all and already covered quite some distance on it. Apparently he did 1500 miles in the first week on it! Though it did help he picked his up from the factory...
Anyway, not mine, but mine is exactly the same... An original 1996 748SP...
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Except mine has got a proper Carbon front hugger off a 916SP, and a WSB spec extra tall "flip-up" screen.
in full touring mode :
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more sporting [sort of] :
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Did mine on a expansion piped' RD250E, luckily in the days when the instructor stood on a street corner and you did a short 'routine' around a couple of blocks.
It was also raining heavy for the first time in ages, so very slippery.
He said after passing me that he just stood in a doorway sheltering from the rain and could hear my every move... probably never went above 25mph and no emergency stop ('cos of the rain).
I use to haver one of these....
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Actually I've picked the wrong picture and bike.. the above is a MT03
I had a Honda Hornet:
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Kinda hard to identify from that angle. MT3?
jahwomble - be honest now, how many times has it blown up? I've had harleys and buells for the past twenty years or so, and much as I loved my last buell (an m2), it was never the most reliable of bikes. Sounded f***ing great though!
Love the look of that africa twin
here's mine, had it nearly a year now
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I've got one of these - bloody lovely. [img] 
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Not fashionable, but fairly capable and good fun:
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"be honest now, how many times has it blown up?"
Actually only once, well once and a half really and in three years that's pretty good, always had buell modded harleys or full buells for about thirty years now, and if you get the motor balanced and blueprinted properly, they run pretty well considering the crudeness of 'em 🙂 My missus has has buell tuned 1970 xr750, now that does go off with a bang regularly but is just the biggest laugh ever to ride on the street:)
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Nice bike hadge,.........does anyone here have a ktm rc8 as I'm thinking of putting my hand deep into my pocket and getting one.
Bought new in '97 and currently on 101k miles
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And ...
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Also have a TY175 which is long term loan to a friend
Ducati's for me too and I also have an SP1.
749R for commuting and if our lass wants to use it
Desmosedici for sunny days.
The desmo is ok, but I think I'd actually prefer my 1098R back sometimes over it.
Hadge - how long have you had it for? Looks like your still running standard Marschini wheels?
A few of us have changed the wheels for BST carbons instead of factory ones though to widen the range of available tyres if you haven't already.
I'll post some pics when I get chance later
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04 749R for Sunday service.
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KTM ADV for touring, poor road conditions, in the wet and everything else.
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only pics i seem to have online are from mallory last year...
i really like the polished swingarm, cutch cover & rearsets lobby_dosser.
thanks Chris, it was like that when I bought it. Do you have stock mirrors on yours for commuting? Unless I do the funky chicken, i can't see nowt.
I've got a Fireblade engine in my kit car. Does that count?
I must say it seems as though STWers are more dicerning in their bike choice than the average biker. Lots of Dukes. Niiiiiiiiiiiiice
I'd kill for a Desmosedici. Snells our local Ducati dealer had the last one (No. 1500) in stock recently, and I see one parked regularly outside Hien Gerike in North Camp...
It hurts sooooooo baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!!!!!!!!!
"does anyone here have a ktm rc8 as I'm thinking of putting my hand deep into my pocket and getting one."
I've ridden one and thought it was great - get it bought! Some dealers are doing 08 ones for £7999, that's bloody cheap. Identical 10 ones are £13,000! If I hadn't just been made redundant I'd be very tempted myself...
My Bros, currently leaking coolant madly after I took her to the max revs the other day 🙂
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lobby_dosser - no mate, i changed them for the ducati performance extended ones.
They weren;t expensive, about £90 for the pair new, they come up on ebay fairly frequently too from what i've seen but makes a massive difference and look good too. The stock mirrors might as well not be there!!
Chris - got a pic of them?
zing zing zing...
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rebus - how do you like the Guzzi? I quite fancy one of those
the mirrors or the bikes?
Will sort some later when i'm at home
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Theres just soemthing about the noise of 2 strokes that appeals to me 🙂
That and big air cooled singles (opposite end of the spectrum, I know!)
1st bike choices-
BMW F650GS (with off road bits for some green laneing whilst up north)
Kawasaki W650 (Dont want a 'replica' triumph, but dont want an old one either)
Armstrong MT500 (Dad had one, looks wierd, and a strangely addictive noise)
NC30 or 45 (wont fit)
RGV250 (wont fit, will blow up)
And before anyone says anything, no there is no logic behind any of those choices.
Chris - Both! But I'm interested in the mirrors 'cos I've got a 749, too.
101k on a sportsrbike?
*doffs cap to the guy riding it and honda*
No real input but visiting the bike show at the Arena today reminded me how much I want a KTM 990 Adventure. Good god I love them things.
good taste jack 😉
more ting ting ..
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AND a THUMPER !
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Suzuki Hayabusa ........next...I wished
I haven't ridden a bike for a few years now. Been getting my kicks on the MTBs.
My fave BMW has been sold but the old BSA is always a keeper. Neither is running at tthe moment but neither is far away - this year I must sort it out
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An enfield india in sort of trials trim
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Some nice looking bikes here, makes me feel all nostalgic.
I've not got a bike now, you can tekll because I'm alive but my list goes thus...
First bike...
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First 125
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Passed my test, headbanger time
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Grew up a bit.
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Last bike now, went a bit daft. Had this only a few months before it was stolen.
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What a crazy little bike that was. Those were happy days.
Oh, and lobby's first picture is just sex.
cheers samurai, that was the front room of the guy I bought my 749 from
a 8)
samuri - good choice of bikes there. Yammy 2 strokes and Honda V4's.
Trouser bulge time 😉
More ting ting ting
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Samuri,that brings back happy memories.I had a NS400 in Rothmans colours. Great bike,thirsty,near-perfect handling.Had mine for a month before I smashed it and myself good style.
my collection up until a month ago.
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Anyone know anything about this....
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The most fun/scary thing I have had in my garage
(not around any more 🙁 )
Got to say Rebus - have a bit of a thing for the Griso! I was very tempted to get one instead of the Tiger 🙂
Perhaps next time...
here is my very noisy toy
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😀
Pfft, here's mine!
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We are the Mods!
;O)
Speaking of mods, can someone delete the last two pictures please, they're not motorbikes. 😉
here's mine.....
MOD: image removed due to malware
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[/img]11 years old,an still doing the job.150 mph/comfy an ugly! - what more could you ask for.
[b]lobby_dosser[/b]
my collection up until a month ago.
Leave it out mate, I'm struggling not to go out and blow my life savings as it is. Had to resist scouring Orange Crush for the good of my bank account and now I get it here too...
Flamejob looks like a 610 Husky supermoto.