Turks111

Morpeth

2012-02-07T13:56:00.001-08:00

Took a ride out to Morpeth, strangely theres still remnants of the cold up there, yet it snowed a week ago. Really nice (maintained!) roads. Definitely going back when the sun comes out again.

Shooting whilst Riding

2012-02-07T13:55:00.001-08:00

Tried taking a picture whilst riding earlier. A lot harder than I thought it would be!

Winter Woes

2012-02-06T16:14:00.002-08:00

Not been up to much with the bike recently really :( Winter has taken a turn for the worst and most mornings I wake and its icy. If I do take the bike in, its usually with both feet planted at 5mph until I hit the main roads. Temperatures have dropped to -6 some nights, easily enough to surpass numbness and reach excruciated pain. The bike is having more trouble starting in the cold, keeps cutting out whilst on choke which is getting annoying. Have had a loads of work on so haven't managed to get out and about.

Did a big clean of my bike. I tried Morrison's cleaning service but its so difficult to clean it properly, its ideally meant for cars, I guess. The big clean was manual. I had a load of oil on the rear tyre that I couldn't shift. Ended up using WD40 to clear it (almost instantly) - have to be careful not to get it on the actual rubber though! I was up earlier than usual today, bike looked better than average in the morning sun:

Also, 3 days ago was the sad passing of Svengalie.

http://www.youtube.com/svengalie

2012-01-25T16:32:00.000-08:00

Navigating a treacherous concrete slab on my trusty 250. Wearing all the appropriate gear, clearly - was late to University!

Back to the garage - Heli Coils

2012-01-23T04:37:00.000-08:00

So took the bike down to a 'reputable' garage on Friday. Obviously I couldn't reconstruct the cylinder head because I didn't have the screws anymore, so I had to push the bike from Byker to Scotswood Road which is about 3.5miles! Pushing the around 150kg of machinery was actually easier than I thought - did it in an hour which I'm pretty pleased with.

I was looking at if I could perhaps do the screw recovery myself but I didn't want to do more damage than I'd already done. The bike to me isn't just a means of transport but also an investment in a new 'big' bike. I took it down to the workshop anyway and they said they wouldn't be working on it until tomorrow and they'll have to wait for parts as well.. I just hope the bill isn't too much. The spark plug thread had been cross threaded too so they said a 'heli-coil' was necessary - actually a really interesting process for restoring damaged threads. Fingers crossed the repair will go according to plan. Costing me £180...

First experience of 'real' mechanics

2012-01-19T16:33:00.000-08:00

After a bad experience with the garage:

-expensive
-messed up the chrome screw covers
-twisted the steering
-knock marks all over proved it hadn't been treated well
-unbalanced new wheel
-shady pattern parts

I decided to do the rocker cover gasket and spark plug myself. Went over to the garage and bought the parts off the place. Spark plug was easy enough to get to. Turned off the fuel tap, took off the seat, took off the tank, disconnected the fuel line and fuel sensor - from there its pretty easy.. unscrewed the old spark plug. Checked the spark gap was around 0.8mm and torqued it into place.

The next job was a lot harder. Originally, I thought I'd be able to squeeze the valve cover off the top of the engine but two things were in the way. Disconnected a few lines and eventually got it out. The gasket was clearly worn in areas and was generally worse for wear. When I took the screws off that were holding the top cover to the cylinder head, I thought all was fine.. but the threads had sheared off and were left in the cylinder head. Basically had to stop right there and then, will ring up a garage tomorrow and see how much it'll cost for them to drill the bolts out.

Had a look on a Honda parts website. They quotes £43.74 for the 3 bolts which is ridiculous, will be making a few calls tomorrow. The irony is that by avoiding a garage, I've actually caused more of a meal out of this and I'll have to take the bike *back* to a garage... shamefully.

Well last Monday was supposed to be Blue Monday but to be honest. this entire week has been rather depressing :( Chin up.

The cold...

2012-01-15T14:52:00.000-08:00

Went out today to clear my head of a few stresses. Wasn't until I was about 10miles from Newcastle that I realised there was quite a lot of frost at the sides of the road. I made a stop off at the Rainton Meadows nature reserve. I wanted somewhere quiet, similar to my experiences in Scotland.

The nature reserve was unbelievably peaceful, took a few photos, this is probably the best of the bunch - taken on my iPhone so excuse the quality:

Probably going to have to put the bike away for the good part of a month. I can deal with the rain but not ice... I'd rather save myself a whole lot of hassle and just walk around for a while. I've seen too many videos of bikes losing control on ice for me to give it a go, especially on standard on-road tyres.

I'm starting to get a bit worried about selling my bike this summer. Concerned that the scratches on the rear fairing, boot marks on the side fairing and shifted wheel alignment will mean I won't be able to sell it :(

2012-01-11T17:59:00.000-08:00

Managed to pass my MOT. Bike was in repairs for the weekend and will be back in again tomorrow.

Had the head bearings repaired, new front tyre and wiring rearranged - altogether I'm not very happy. The bike was given back to me but the steering was off. I let the mechanic ride it and he refused to accept it. I rode it away regardless and told him that I'd give it a day or two and see if it was just me adjusting to it.

By the time I'd got home, I was so frustrated with the steering being wonky that I tried to fix it by holding the tyre between my knees and twisting the steering back. I later found out the the steering head nut is secured with 140nM of force, no chance I was moving that. At one point, I convinced myself that I fixed it but I was wrong.

In the end, I resorted to ringing a Honda dealership and explaining the situation. I took the bike down to them and they fixed everything for free and even pumped my tyres up. Given that it was right at the end of their shift too, they were extremely helpful.

The dilemma I'm in now is that I have to take the bike in for the next part of the repair, to the same garage that broke the steering. This job is bigger too - a new rocker cover gasket - this means the top of the engine needs to be taken apart. Will have to see what happens tomorrow!

Also been looking at getting a new air filter but didn't realise they were so expensive. I thought they'd be the same as an oil filter. Looks like I'll be paying around £30.

Next Bike, MOT and Craving

2011-12-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

Been riding my CBF250 since August now and there hasn't really been a day where I haven't ridden. I've racked up around 4500 miles travelling to the likes of Hertfordshire, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Leeds, Newcastle, The Scottish Border and Cumbria. I've been home and away from the bike for around 2 weeks and I'm craving to ride again. I was meant to go for one last ride but it bucketed down on the last day.

Had my first MOT - didn't go too well. I looked up online a list of things to check before I went. I rushed through it all because it was freezing in the garage and I was a little short on time. I turned up with not a great deal of confidence, especially after getting lost on the way (they had moved address). The guy was nice enough but unfortunately I failed on both my front tyre (1500miles old!) and the head bearing. Also got an advisory for an oil leak as my rocker cover gasket had blown.

So when I go back, I'll have to wash my bike then hand it into a repair garage, another few days of waiting :( I hope to hell it passes this time! Overall cost is going to be £240 which includes:

Rocker Cover Gasket

Head Bearing

New Front Tyre

New Spark Plug

Service

Re-Mot

Labour

I don't think thats that bad! I had a full clutch re-install which cost around £350! Maintenance is costing me a lot, definitely going to have to stay on top of things to try and reduce the cost.

I've been continueously looking for a bike for next year. While I thought I was settled on a 2003 Honda CBR600f Sport, for a few hundred more (maybe even the same), I could get a CBR600RR. I'm going to do some quotes and work out how much the insurance is. I've been given the chance to sit on both and I much prefer the 600f being that I'm 6ft 2". I'm also worried that the RR could also be too much for me to handle as my first 'big' bike. The other argument is that I'm spending around £4-5k on bikes and I could get more bike for my money (RR instead of the FS), why wouldn't I? Help!

Christmas

2011-12-07T10:39:00.001-08:00

Been riding now for around 5 months and everyday seems to be a new riding lesson.

I've added a tail bag to my bike so I don't have to carry my chain in my rucksack. I've also added heated grips. I don't know if I like the luxury. Maybe its just the ones I have, but it seems that on 'high' they burn my hands and on 'low' I can't feel it at all.

Christmas is fast approaching and I've chosen to not ride for around 3 weeks, whilst I go home. Should be getting a new textile jacket, an Alpinestars GP T, a race visor, new air filter and... A Drift 170 HD. This means I'll be able to record whilst riding which will add a completely new dimension to my biking in general and this blog. Hopefully, I'll be able to get a nice group of subscribers on YouTube. Been thinking about possible names and I quite like RussellBiker or RB. Quite like the videos that AccidentalBroadcast does so I'm going to get Adobe Premiere or Sony Vegas and makes some really nice, well edited videos.

Stay Tuned!

Current Gear

2011-09-08T04:01:00.000-07:00

I've been riding now for 2 weeks and thought it might be helpful to list the gear I currently have.

Due to money issues, some items were skimped out on to be able to afford the bike.

Helmet - Shoei XR-1100 - Can't recommend this enough really. Only quirm is that at 40mph+ with the visor open it produces a howling noise, but you shouldn't really have your visor open at 40+ anyway!

Neck - Pro Skins Balaclava and Standard Neck Warmer - The Pro Skins is almost too good to use at the moment. The company that produces them went bust so it might be an idea to look on ebay. They cost about £15. I haven't been able to properly wear it yet because it overheats me because its too hot right now.

Jacket - IXS Waterproof Blue /w Knox Back insert - This was bought second hand for just £5! Its a bit large fitting and clunky but does the job. It isn't truly waterproof but I'll be upgrading to an Alpinestars Goretex soon enough. Far better than the Spada one I had before.

Trousers - Cowhide Bikers Paradise Trousers - Bought very cheap, no armour unfortunately.

Gloves - RST Racetech WP - Very good gloves if a bit limiting on your hand movement, but this makes for good clutch control. Very wintery gloves which means your hands sweat and smell when worn in the summer months - perfect for Winter though. Spidi Race Red Gloves - Good for summer, not waterproof, inside linen stains hands.

Boots - Sidi Vertigo - Not waterproof and need some WD40 to stop the squeeking but a very good boot. Can easily walk around in them without pain.

Back Brace - Frank Thomas Arma Back Support - Is quite old now and falling apart somewhat but it gives you psychological safety. It supports your back and makes sure you maintain a good posture when riding.

It becomes a bit of a habit. I haven't bought normal casual clothes in a long time now but I could happily go out and buy a new set of gear any day.

2011-09-07T09:09:00.001-07:00

New bike

2011-09-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

A month after successfully passing my test, I finally bought a bike. I had a lot of issues with finding the right bike. It got to the point where it was changing everyday to try and find something that suited my needs. In the end, I settled with a halfway point that would give me a years worth of experience with riding a bike that had a fair bit of power, didn't need to be restricted, was lightweight and looked pretty impressive. I had my doubts, but the bike was always in my peripheral since I started looking. These are the bikes I looked at with my reasoning for disqualifying all of them:

Budget: £1300

ZXR400 - Too old, bound to have a series of issues for my budget, high insurance, too small. Needs restricting.

ER5 - Heavy, poor build quality, lazy. Needs restricting.

SV650 - Too expensive (next bike!). Needs restricting.

VTR250 - Not available in the UK and needed to be restricted.

Ninja 250 - Too expensive.

CB500 - Doesn't look that great, expensive, old, needs restricting.

In the end I went for a CBF250 2005 13000miles. For the money I paid, it was an absolute steal. It has 5 owners including me. Is in immaculate condition, had a service a few months ago and has a full years MOT and TAX. I paid £1320. Insurance was expensive at £550 but thats mainly due to it being kept at two addresses. It has amazing fuel economy and knocks on 270 miles from a £22 fill. Power band through 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears is surprisingly good and beats most production cars. It looks pretty neat and is a lot bigger when you see it yourself. I'm 6ft 3" in my boots and I fit on it really comfortably, nothing like the ZXR400. I've already done 1500 miles and am about to replace the entire clutch, due to it not going into neutral whilst the engine is running. I did my tests in about 2 months, without any 125 experience. It has twice as much power as the 125s you learn on, sounds genuinely beastly and doesn't look teeny.

I'm becoming an olympic hurdler..

2011-08-03T14:08:00.000-07:00

I keep coming across obstacle after obstacle.. I spend a day/week/month overcoming one and another crops up. At this rate I'll finally get a bike when I'm 85 years old and drop it as I reverse it into the garage.

So far these obstacles include:

Becoming old enough, having the spare time, having no other commitments, overcoming 'opposers', having the money to do CBT, Theory, Lessons, MOD1 and (as it pains me to type this) MOD2 three times. Then after all of this, I have to find a bike (with restrictors), dyno the bike, visit the bikes and test them. I'm currently stuck at obstacle 23942 which is a battle with the thousands of insurers for a decent quote. To make things worse, insurers *hate* restricted bikes (even more than unrestricted!). I found a grand total of '1' insurer that was willing to cover me. I'd be paying out 1014 (which is around the price of the bike itself) for a years worth.

Urgh. Rant over.

I did go to look at a bike today though. Its a ZXR400 L2 1991. I was expecting it to be a lot worse than it was considering the age. Its had a series of recent services and looks to be in good condition. I brought a load of buyer's guide comments with me and ticked them all off before I was happy. I won't post any pictures because it will depress me that I can't afford the insurance for it. The seller offered me the chance to ride it when I was there. I turned the opportunity down, worried that the power would send the bike shooting away underneath me, with me on the floor. I went pillion though (unaware of the pillion handle location) around the block which scared me no doubt, I don't expect we topped 30mph but it felt way too fast. No more riding pillion for me. When we got back I did take it for a spin round the corner - I won't divulge too much, but it was incredible. The bike sounded amazing. I'm truly gutted that insurance is now so steep.

Tomorrow will most likely be spent ringing/begging insurers to file a policy. I'm avoiding all ladders, black cats, drainpipes and mirrors until this is sorted.

2011-07-27T11:14:00.001-07:00

Pass!

I finally did it, MOD2 complete!

The title of the blog is now actually appropriate :) Had a ride early afternoon with another MOD2-taker (wonder how she did actually?). Everything was smoothed out and i remained calm and fluent throughout. Had some issues concerning some of Newcastle's more difficult roundabouts but they were all just issues like joining my exit in the right-hand lane rather than the left.

The actual test went OK. I had the same instructor as last time so I mentioned I'd failed twice before (get the sympathy vote eh?). I hit a set of roadworks straight away and was thinking the tests going to be over before its even started. We passed them after about 5 minutes and carried on. There were 3 learner riders infront of me too and their shifty riding made mine look better in contrast. We practically followed the route I'd just ridden so everything was fairly fresh.

There were maybe '3' moments when i thought i may have received a serious fault. The first was when i was travelling down a 50 countryside road. I flicked my eyes towards my speedo and was doing about 57. I rolled of the throttle and the mistake went unnoticed. The second was when i was coming off a roundabout - i looked back and couldnt see the examiner, so convinced myself i'd cut it tight with the car behind. The last mistake was when i accidently went the wrong way and was worried i didnt correctly indicate my 'wrong' exit - apparently i did lol.

I pulled into the test centre... Defeated. The final blow was when i tried to indicate left into a parking bay, missed the indicator and gave the horn a sharp press. As i aggressively kicked it into neutral and entered the DSA office, i turned and saw the examiner scribbling on her pad. I was sure i'd failed.

I met her in the office when she verrrrryyy slowly took my radio off me and sat down. At this point im severely depressed, head in hands stuff. Then the magical words sounded 'i'm pleased to tell you you've passed'. I was in complete shock and joy - this was surely the worst test i'd done to date? I thanked her repeatedly and left.

So that's the first part of my learning, i passed with 3 minors, two for going under the speed limit (lol, not like me) (Progress) and another for staying next to a lorry for a bit (Planning).

3rd try...

2011-07-27T02:26:00.001-07:00

Fingers crossed, I won't make this a lengthy one. I'll be finished by around 3.

2nd MOD2 Fail

2011-07-13T07:59:00.001-07:00

Just failed for the 2nd time Feeling really deflated right now lol

Got 2 majors, both caused by the ill actions of others First was caused by an older gent, I was waiting to turn right from a major road into a minor and could see him standing around by the side of the road. Checked approaching traffic, mirror and life-saver. As I pulled into the road apparently he started to cross. Second was down to traffic calming measures in a 20 zone. Oncoming priority sign was in place, I rolled up slowly and saw a car that had just joined the road about 60m in front. Thought I had enough time considering it was a 20 zone but the car must have disregarded the speed limit and sped towards me. When I passed him, he wasn't even at the priority sign so I don't quite understand this one.

First time I understand that I caused my own failure but this time it peeves me that had other people acted differently, I could have an updated license right now. Next test booked in two weeks time, third time lucky?

New School, Old Habits

2011-07-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

Given that there were no available test dates at my old school, I took a move to another school 3 miles up the Tyne. It takes me about an hour and a half to get there which is a bit of a bummer.

When I got there the guy seemed nice and went through all my documents. I understood changing schools was a really bad idea, given that they'd both have different ways of teaching which could cause issues with ambiguity (both schools preaching the opposite thing and not knowing who to believe). However I relished that I was given the opportunity to test a wider spectrum of teachers.

The first day I set out with the school's boss. He wasn't so highly critical which was so much better than having someone constantly moan at you in your ear. The only bad part about this is that you may not be told what you're doing wrong. I only annoyed myself when something went wrong. The absence of a moaning instructor sustained my confidence, so I was able to stop it from happening again.

The main issues I was struggling with first day were a few lifesavers, getting the hang of a few local 'difficult' roundabouts and road layouts. I personally feel my new instructor was a bit bitter that I'd transferred from his rival. For instance, he told me to turn the fuel tap off - I hadn't been told this as my old instructor would always set it up for me - he was truly shocked that I didn't know. Also, I asked whether or not the bike had a side stand because I couldn't see one - he then went on to say that CG125's never have side stands. On every CG125 I've used, they've all had side stands! I took everything in my stride though. It's a lot better to be accepting of all advice and criticism because you build up a layer of respect with your instructor. Other bitter remarks were made when I struggled to get the 125 on its centre stand and when I put a leg down on the U-turn. The lesson was cut in half when my headset battery ran out and we had to go back to the school, from this point he became more forgiving. I was happy to be back on the bike but was slightly annoyed that I was being ballsed for going with a local competitor.

I went back for my second day of training in expecting much the same that happened the first day but was relieved to find it was a different story. I had a different instructor this time and we set off as though I was in test conditions. Therefore to start, I was told where to go, then I was to commence individual riding to 'said' location. The instructor didn't criticise me at all the entire time but instead gave advice (perhaps this was because I did nothing wrong!). I personally believe I did two things wrong, one was not entering a box junction (mind-lapse! it's been a while since I've entered one on the road) and the other was when I took my time in changing lanes because I followed the wrong sign (I took the one to Gateshead Quayside instead of Gateshead). Neither however would have been a fail because I corrected them in time and didn't hold any traffic up. I still need a bit of practice on the hill start because I end up dragging my foot instead of bringing it up quicker in front of the peg.

I did however nearly get 'SMIDSY'ed twice. It keeps the mind active I guess and giving that discerning shake of the head on a bike makes you feel like an expert :) I was luckily travelling at a safe enough speed to not cause an issue. Both times were white vans who believe they can get in the gap in front of you because you're a learner. They don't understand that learner riders rarely have issues with speed unlike learner car drivers, meaning the gap closes a lot quicker than they expect. My instructor said the best thing to do is get eye-contact with drivers - theres some thought of subconscious connection when you make eye contact that forces drivers to stay where they are.

So! Test is booked for tomorrow, the 13th... Fingers crossed - I'm running out of time! However, I'm feeling truly confident. First time I took the test I was still worrying about braking in time for junctions and other minor things - this time its unusual circumstances that are the only things I believe can fail me tomorrow.

Light at the end of the tunnel?

2011-07-05T10:40:00.000-07:00

Been on a temporary downer due to lack of test availability and location. I came upon an idea that I (stupidly) hadn't thought to try. I started ringing around other schools in the local area (Newcastle) and managed to find a school that had a test free NEXT Wednesday! Before this, I've booked in three hours of lessons to get me up to scratch and hopefully stop my last fault from happening again. It turns out that this was the first place I ever rang when looking to ride a motorbike. I eventually turned it down because it was £4 an hour more expensive.

Therefore, I avoided having to ride in uncommon ground and in London's rush hour.

Only thing I'm concerned about now is seeing my previous instructor/s in the DSA waiting room! That'd be awkward.

Serious lack of test dates!

2011-07-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

With moving back home, I thought I'd have no problems finding a suitable school and test but things are turning out to be a lot harder than first imagined. I will have to travel around 5 miles just to get to a 'good' school in Hemel Hempstead. Then the DSA centre is in Enfield, a London borough! Looking at times too, the only ones available soon (2 weeks away) are in rush hour. Right now, it seems to be set back after set back. I know that unless I book the test soon, I'll start eating away at funds.

Sorry for giving a bad comparison between North to South here (I'm southern too!) but over the phone the experience was far better up North; I was booked in for my CBT in 2 days time and passed my MOD1 a week later. They consistently got back to me when I had a query and were always available if I had any issues. My MOD2 was booked a week after that!

Down here in the South, I ring up said school, twice in a day - both times I'm told that the person calling the shots is out and will get back to me when he's back. Well, it's now 8.06pm and I guess I've been forgotten. Normally, I'm quite collected and patient with poor customer service but perhaps my desire/obsession to ride again is taking over.

Theres a couple of issues that are proving tough to overcome. Being that it's expensive for me to live up North (especially the costs of getting there in the first place), it's far cheaper to learn down South. However, this means that not only will I not know the roads, I won't know my instructors and for that matter, they won't know me or my riding ability. The only times available down South at the moment are slap-bang in rush hour. Do I hope I get stuck in traffic? Or will this lead to more hazards and potentially more reasons to fail (again!).

Will update tomorrow when (hopefully) I have a lesson and test booked!

MOD2 Fail :(

2011-06-28T15:28:00.000-07:00

Had my test today and I ended up getting 2 serious faults for rearward observation.

I got into the school early and got about half an hours riding in before I was due at the test centre. From my instructor's reaction, I don't think I did anything wrong during this time. When the test started I was unusually confident and didn't treat it with the respect I probably should have. I got asked about the brake fluid reservoir, pillion travel and tyre pressure. We then set off and headed towards Hexham on the dual carriageway - I'd never been this route. Trying to take in the speed limit as I exited a roundabout, I poorly timed my head-check, leaving it until just after I had committed to the lane change.

I did signal (then started to move across), headcheck, lane change. It should be head-check, signal, lane change

When I got back the instructor told me that I had done the head-check, it was just a second too late. Personally I feel it's a little harsh but then again, it could have been a serious issue had someone undertaken me. I read through a lot of harsh fails for things like stopping too close to traffic in front and cancelling the indicator a few seconds late. Hopefully, I'll get the same instructor next time so he's aware of my previous fail.

At first, I was extremely deflated and demotivated. Tomorrow, I'm travelling down south where there are no DSA centres near me. This means that I'll have to commute up north just to do the test which is going to cost me in the region of £200. It feels pretty bad knowing that, had I of turned my head slightly earlier, I could hold an A2 license right now :(.

Regardless, I'm going to persevere and book my next test in around a week.

Last lesson done!

2011-06-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

Thats it, had all my lessons now. Think I've done about 14 hours now which has cost me close to £500! Set off this morning with another guy in for MOD2 the same day as me. We did a series of exercises where we led and then the other would criticise things that we'd done wrong. I spent most of the lesson as front biker and think I did quite well :)

Had some issues towards the end, especially on complicated junctions, with the routine 'head-check, signal, manoeuvre' - and also, if you come to a stop or are on a major road, the second head-check (or life-saver).

I've found with biking, its a series of ups and downs. When you start you're extremely eager to learn, then you get scared by lack of experience combined with the dangerousness of biking. But as you progress and start to smooth out your actions, everything becomes enjoyable. Today for instance, I just felt like I was going for a ride around the countryside rather than constantly pressurising myself to over think everything.

I have a 1 hour lesson before my test next Tuesday. I think I'll try to solidify the head check routine and make a crucial effort to spot speed changes as this is one of my big downfalls - although I feel like I know the roads well, it will be a good habit to pick up for later riding and something I've neglected whilst driving a car.

Talking of cars, I can't stand being in them anymore. The driver is always too distracted and I find myself gripping the seat as we approach hazards. Perhaps this is down to me being stuck in learner mode but it's still I very uncomfortable situation. So just a heads up, you'll become a control-freak from learning to ride ;)

To anyone at the stage I'm at, good luck with your test! I know I'll need it.

2011-06-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

Second last lesson today, next one is tomorrow morning. Think I've got the hang of everything now, its just about slowing it all down. Given that I've driven cars for 2 years, I've found I have too much confidence at speed when entering roundabouts. It's a strange feeling being a learner again and being told that every 5 seconds, you're doing something wrong. The instructors at my school explain constantly that they teach to a much higher standard than that required from the DSA, so hopefully I'll pass on Tuesday.

Things that I'm having to improve on are:

Noticing speed changes
Lane positioning at junctions
Too many head-checks when approaching round-abouts

It seems a lot about riding is being aware of your surroundings. When I passed my car test, I'd only had 20 lessons and managed to pass first time with 1 minor. I thought I was a master on the roads but riding a bike has proved me wrong. Every little sign can potentially have a much worse affect for a bike compared to a car. I don't feel that I'm ready to pass, but I didn't when I passed my car test.

Final Lessons

2011-06-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

I'm onto my final lessons now and biking is starting to feel a lot more natural. I used my helmet for the first time today and realised it is noticeably quieter than the one the school provides. It feels a lot more comfortable to ride and I can see myself commuting daily. However, theres the downside that I cannot hear my engine so much which I was relying on to remind me of the bike's gear.

Being a car driver, I'm finding it difficult to remember to move over to the right when turning right etc. I've also picked up bad habits of rushing into things that end up being close calls (i.e. no priority over oncoming traffic signs).

Still forgetting a few life-savers too :( I'm more concerned about how this could affect my health than whether I'll fail my test for it.

Saw a ZXR400 in the flesh today - amazing.

Update - 18/06/11

2011-06-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

Got about 7 hours of lessons planned for next week! can't wait!

I've been reading up a lot, like usual. I decided to buy DSA's guide to learning to ride for about £8. Its a massive waste of money in my opinion. I was expecting scenario diagrams explaining different types of junctions... when and where to check your blind spots... detailed break-down of OSM/PSL routine but instead it just goes over a few things that will result in a fail on your test - i.e. braking sharply causing danger to yourself and others (which is just common sense).

Been watching a lot of vlogs online too - enjoying 'blinkycab' at the moment. The Australian accent definitely adds to the humour. He did a clip a while ago that I think relates very well to my situation when I started.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_589805&user=blinkycab#p/u/0/pALHe5ZgnFY

He tells the story of how he got into biking and that, once, during a lesson he was overwhelmed with mid-lesson fear, that subsided once he got back on the bike. The truth is, you do feel very vulnerable shooting down the road, knowing that anyone's sudden decision could quickly and dramatically affect you. The fear affected me primarily because I felt like I was the only one feeling it - there isn't a part of training that deals with it and most people are ashamed to discuss it so it doesn't get brought up. It led me to believe that maybe biking wasn't for me? A couple of articles use the quote 'Biking is like having two bags - one luck and the other experience. The idea is to fill the bag of experience before the bag of luck runs out.' - frightening really. I for one, experienced fear when learning and questioned what I was actually doing, but here's to hoping it passes soon so I can start enjoying myself :)

Theory Test

2011-06-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

If you've done the car theory test I'd say about 20% of it is relevant. I did about 2 days on off revision and passed with 1 question wrong on the theory and lost out on about 13 points on the hazard perception.

You just need to remember not to click like a crazy man when you see that child cycling near the road :)

I learnt all the stopping and braking distances too :( Theres a couple of mathematical ways of working it out, I used the one where you can work it out by remembering 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5. When stopping in rain it doubles and in ice, it multiplies by 10!

Theres a great app for the iphone/ipod which has every single question that comes up in the test (same pictures and everything). It costs about £3 but is well worth it. Don't bother with the hazard perception app, it only has 10 video clips.

There was a guy who started talking to me in the queue. It was his 4th try, surely after that many you should realise that driving/riding isn't for you?

MOD1

2011-06-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

Ok, so my MOD1 was yesterday and I didn't know what to expect. Everyone I knew told me it was a piece of p*** but online I'd read about 5th-try horror stories.

We practiced the day before on some un-used ground and I felt especially nervous considering I only managed to do the swerve test perfectly once. Its hard to get the speed up to 30mph on a CG125 and you have to apply full throttle out of the corner in 2nd gear.

My method was to treat the tester with the upmost respect, remember their first name and thank them after they've told you the next manoeuvre to complete. Everything is just as easy as when you do it with your instructor. One thing to note is that it's very windy - I compensated this by adding extra throttle for stability. Theres a great video on YouTube where I guy has gone through his actual MOD1 with a camera:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYOUWHrqDJg

The day before, three of us were practicing the MOD1 parts. On the day of the test, one of them actually came off his bike on the swerve because he applied the rear brake too hard. It should be 75% front brake progressively and rear brake shortly after at 25%.

I hit the speed trap at 51kph and 52kph on both parts (50kph needed) and passed with 0 minors! It really is that easy ;)

What bike?

2011-06-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

I couldn't keep myself away from classifieds, eBay auctions and window adverts.

I knew a lot about bikes before I could ride them, I found myself being able to recognise bikes from a distance.

Originally I was going to get a Hornet 250 and restrict it. Then I was going to get a 600 and restrict it.

Heres a list of all the bikes I seriously considered. I still don't have a bike!

Honda Hornet 250
Honda Hornet 600
Honda VTR250
Kawasaki ER-5
Honda CBF500
Honda Super Bros
Bandit 600
Honda VFR400
Kawasaki ZXR400 - My current choice as I follow vlogger 'extreme601'

At the start, I really wanted a naked bike (bike without fairings/body panels). I thought these looked more sensible but things changed. I realised a 125 was too small for me (I'm 6"3), a 250 would get boring and a 600 was too heavy. There are a lot of sport bikes out there and the upgradability was a big thing for me. I don't just want to learn to ride a bike, I want to know how to fix it. A ZXR400 can be modified in so many ways. At the end of the day, it's completely your choice, but I asked a lot of people and read a LOT of articles. I came up with a ZXR400 as the most practical, budget-friendly option for me, personally :) I'm working towards having the money to get one!

Gear!

2011-06-14T14:37:00.000-07:00

I approached motorcycling very cautiously. Where most young riders quickly buy a 125 and get out on the road with a £50 helmet and some trackies, I avoided riding on my own so that I wouldn't pick up bad habits. Instead, I start to buy gear, to prove to myself and to my parents, that I really was going to be smart about learning to ride.

I went down to Westgate Rd, a road in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, devoted to the everything a biker could possibly need. I went into a shop called 'Custom Lids' and got some idea on what to get. The guy in there was possibly the friendliest salesmen I've ever met. He measured my hands and I bought some RST Race Waterproof Gloves. He advised that there isn't a great deal of difference between them and the higher end gloves. He also measured my head and recommended I spend the extra buck and go for a Shoei Helmet. I was ok buying a pair of gloves for £60 but decided to scour the internet for some good deals on a helmet, considering they cost hundreds.

I found a website that represents a store in Mansfield called Two Wheel and I highly recommend them. At the time I was using them, they issued a gift voucher depending on how much you spent. I bought a Shoei XR-1100 Matte Black. It has state of the art wind exhausting, a great design and the highest standard of safety. There was a slight delay, but the company always kept me in-the-know with the helmet's where-abouts. The customer service was extraordinary and they even include a free chocolate bar with every order! It cost me £309.99 and I got a £50 voucher which I'll probably use on a jacket.

I also bagged a Pro Skins Balaclava for £15 off eBay, which makes my head look tiny and hilarious!

In terms of gear, I now have a helmet, trousers, balaclava, boots and gloves costing £385.

Next few lessons

2011-06-14T14:23:00.000-07:00

I booked my CBT on a deal that meant I'd gotten it cheaper for booking 6 hours of lessons in advance. I was committed to learning to ride a bike and almost admired how difficult and frightening it was - I don't believe everyone can possess the mindset to ride a bike, compared to a car, which is relatively easy.

Unfortunately, my next few lessons were caught on the back-end of some experienced riders. For my next 6 hours I was with people doing their MOD2s. This meant I'd really have to step up the pace. I came prepared this time, unlike my CBT. I wore some cowhide leather trousers (hammy-downed from my dad) and some blue swift race boots that were 'massive'. I guess you can't really call that prepared! Although I was still extremely new to everything, I felt I was getting the hang of it quickly. On my second lesson, I was with a mid-20's guy about to take his MOD2 - we both had about the same amount of mistakes which gave me huge confidence boost and in some places, I did the right thing over him.

I was always concerned about the safety of motorcycles and consider myself a sensible person. Although my parents had few quibbles with me learning, probably because my dads already a biker and my mum trusts me as an adult, I took every opportunity to look into articles about counter-steering, high/low-siding, traffic accidents and poor judgement. It only really kicked into me on my 3rd lesson where a fellow trainee turned right at a box junction without seeing the right-hand, straight on lane. A car had to emergency brake and I nearly saw my first accident. I could have easily made the same mistake had I not already got some road experience from driving a car for 2 years. It dawned on me how much concentration would be required.

After my first couple of hours, the first instructor, who had previously stopped me and had stern words with me, came up to me and patted me on the back, commending how far I'd come on, in the last few days. From this point onwards, I suddenly started to enjoy things again. I was under the assumption that I was doing everything possible wrong, but in reality, the instructor was just being harsh to both set the foundations and make me aware that this isn't something to joke around with. I was always understanding of the instructors, but I can imagine some people becoming quite defensive - I suggest you treat every piece of their advice like the bible, after all, when you've passed, theres no one to tell you what you're doing wrong.

Finding a training centre & CBT

2011-06-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

To start, I rang around a few places. I worked out it would be cheaper and safer to learn in North England rather than on the fringe of London. I found a couple of places and based my decision on pass rates and testimonials.

I had my CBT booked 3 days after my birthday and can't remember ever feeling as excited as I was then. I decided to choose a school in Gateshead (Tyne and Wear) meaning I'd have to cycle around 5miles a day, giving me a bit of exercise I guess. I realise now, this was a bad decision, pulling up on a pedal bike to a motorbike training centre will give you 10x more grief than turning up in a cage (car) or by foot! I wore some jeans and a coat with some trainers. I was told to get some hiking boots or similar for the following lessons.

On the day, I was doing my CBT with a middle-aged woman who already owned a 350cc and had previous experience and a young lad, around 16, looking to get the pass to ride his moped and 125cc. So I felt relatively concerned knowing I had the least experience. To add to the pressure, the instructors were all highly qualified bikers with strict attitudes. We were all sat down and given a brief on helmet laws, the highway code and wearing the right gear (something I was always intent on doing from the start).

After a swift 15mins, we were whisked outside onto their set of bikes - some honda cg125s. The first part was focusing solely on understanding the weight of the bike and slow-riding (using the clutch, back brake and throttle) to go in a straight line - easy stuff! We then went onto cornering, shifting into second gear, shifting down and stopping in a controlled manner. I seemed to be progressing a lot quicker than the other two and was having the time of my life! I went through the basics of the MOD1 manoeuvres including the U-turn and figure of eights. Before I knew it, I was onto signalling and lifesavers. We stopped for a break and I grabbed some lunch with a huge grin on my face.

After quickly out-growing the test ground, I was told I'd be heading out early with one of the instructors - this is when the fears kicked in. I barely knew how to stop at speeds and now he wanted to take me out onto 40mph traffic? I thought perhaps the instructors were unaware this was pretty much my first time on a bike? Regardless, we set out and I was linked up with a one-way radio (meaning I couldn't talk back/swear to my instructor, I could just hear him). As soon as we left the ground, we merged onto a dual carriageway and I started to s*** myself. Trying to remember all of the controls; which brakes to use and how to shift between the gears was too much to recollect. Luckily, nothing bad happened although I was consistently being told off for doing 'everything' wrong - I didn't know what they expected? One of the hardest things to remember is to cancel your indicators and learn the routine of 'head check, signal, head check, manoeuvre'. Sounds easy right?

I was taken over to a series of barely used round-a-bouts and we stopped at the side of a road. I was given a very stern talk about the seriousness of biking and my errors. I took everything in my stride and tried my hardest to amend. I was struggling to use the engine to brake, by shifting down through the gears along with the idea of 'counting' gears. You're told to count the gears as the bike, unlike a car, doesn't tell you what gear you're in. I was taken by the instructor as a pillion and shown how to do it, but it looked far too easy compared to what I was doing.

The most important thing I learned today was to relax and plan ahead. Don't constantly look down at your tyre/speedo, keep looking ahead at where you're going and where you're going to stop. Most situations on the bike were planned so that you could drive into junctions and roundabouts in 2nd gear.

We drove back to the centres after two hours and I was given my CBT certificate. After my first day, I would have never gotten on a 125cc alone, for fear of killing myself. I was severely put off the idea of biking but persevered and booked a further 6 hours. For my first few lessons, I was genuinely scared.

Bit Behind...

2011-06-14T13:36:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to create my own blogs - I spend hours reading other's and watching their vlogs but I've never had anything interesting to talk about myself. I hope this all goes well and I carry on 'blogging' until I'm a fully fledged biker! Currently, I'm still learning; so I'll use this blog to track my progress and hopefully help others who are in the position I was once in.

My name is Russell and I'm a 20 year old student,

Recently, I decided I'd take up motorbiking...

As soon as there was a mode of transport available to me, I learned how to use it. I've cycled since I can remember, I've driven go-karts, quad bikes and a load of different cars. But whenever I saw a bike ride past as a kid, it slowly added to my excitement of one day getting my own. During my teens, bikes became a bigger picture, my dad bought a Moto Guzzi Nevada 750 and would let me ride pillion during the summer months. Towards the end of my school life, a few classmates were getting 125ccs and I was instantly put off as I couldn't stand the noise they made, realising if I wanted a good one, I'd have to wait till I was older.

Over the next few years, I went to University and bikes came back into my life again. It wasn't a rare occurrence to find a student with a bike, which is surprising considering the 'pennyless' stereotype associated with most students. I had my 20th birthday coming up and with 2 years car driving experience, I believed I was a mature enough lad to give biking a go.

The only experience I'd had before learning was in my old work car park, where I embarrassingly fell off a 500cc whilst cornering too slowly.

Currently, I've just passed my MOD1, so I'll go over how I've gotten through everything so far!