Ttaskmaster

See, I'm getting a Deauville and/or an FJR for those times when I'll want the features they offer. But I've always likened Cruisers to flying one of those BIG bomber aircraft. You bank slowly around long bends and corners, but you feel the lean so much more and (probably because of the position) it's like playing 'Planes' as a kid with your arms out. The Spitfire-like engine sounds probably help!! I love taking sharp corners at amazingly low speeds, sometimes having even ground out the pegs.

5' 1"???!! OMG, you're a cute little short-ar..... I mean, "vertically challenged person"!!! Guys, there is definitely something sexy about a small woman on a big bike!! Trust me Did you find much of a difference between Sport and Cruise? I've been Cruising since I started, but apparently the Sporties all find it hard going from body-leaning the whole bike to simply using the arms and conscious counter-steering.... Just curious.

I've heard of Knotts. Heard nothing bad that I recall. Should be OK.

In my oh-so-pretentious opinion... Yes, a 535 is a small but reasonable bike. Too small if you're a big'un, but fine for the more petite riders, like Gary Numan and the girl round the corner from me. It's getting to be an older model, so make friends with a mechanic who can help you maintain it. 650 Drag has 40 BHP as standard and, having tried one out, a restricted one isn't all that different. It weighs 230 kg anyway, so it's a touch heavy to manoeuvre at slow speeds, but you'll get used to it soon enough. Handling is fine and the weight helps your stability in corners. Even restricted, it can keep up with the big 1100s and it will still do licence-losing speeds on the motorways. The 250 would be a bit of a waste in my opinion. You'd want a bigger one fairly soon. Go straight to a big bike, get used to it and enjoy it. Incidentally, AR Motorcycles in Farringdon (fairly near you) have a Honda Shadow for sale. I got my 650 Drag from them at a rather cool price!!

Dude.... With all due respect, this is how we deal with things here in England. EVERY biker will take the piss out of whatever you ride... If you're a Cruiser, then you're a posey gay boy who likes dressing up like the biker from Village People. If you're on a Tourer, you're an old fart who should be wrapped up at home reading Donohue transcripts and renting Alan Alda films. If you're on a Sports, you're a crazy speed freak, not old enough to shave and will die in a horrific high-speed crash within the year. And so on..... People give serious digs. You just have to be thick skinned about it. Then again, we can get away with it here coz no-one owns handguns.... I reckon if we tried that in teh US, we'd be shot at the first insult. We have people like that here, too. Zero Tolerance and all that. They're usually the most Politically Correct types, too. Means I can't have a laugh with my short-ass friend, because he's actually "vertically challenged" and I ought to be sensitive to his problems. I really wish these people would come up to the local Clubhouse and listen to some of the guys there telling Nigger jokes whilst sat next to a giggling fellow MC member of "Afro-Caribbean Origin"!!! As for 1300 forums.... Well, I'm sure we all wish we had our own forum for each and every single different bike we own...... I've seen several for the 1300, mostly with the same sort of posts and not many of those, either. It's a relatively new bike, so there's not much to talk about yet. Even the 2006 DV 700 is still being discovered. Patience Incidentally, I tried a 1300 out once. Preferred my 650 Drag (sorry, V-Star) as it had a better balance of power-to-weight and was easier to park in the awkward spaces. Also too much flash and streamlined 'flowing lines' brochure bollocks. Yam have stopped doing Custom styling, for some very annoying reason.

I was gonna say something impolite, like 'bollocks', but I've recently been accused of extreme rudeness. So, I'll instead simply say that I disagree in the friendliest possible terms. You can use hosepipes and even the local self-service jetwash (some Tescos have 'em). All our local dealers (including the branded ones like Honda, Yamaha and Triumph) hose their bikes off. You do have to be careful around the seals and keep it on a low power setting, but they're fine to use. However, don't try and power-blast every bit of muck off. Use something like Muc Off. Scrub any large bits of crap, then spray down with COLD water. DO NOT use hot water as it can help dissolve the salt and it will have an even easier job of getting into and rotting away your internals. Dry the bike (or leave it in teh sun if it's a warm day), polish up any chrome with Autosol or similar, then coat it with ACF 50 (keep it away from the brakes). Whenever you go for a blast, particularly in winter, hose the bike off and re-coat with ACF before putting it away, to help keep the salty badness at bay. NO. Dozy fecking cow.... What's she doing even near my bike in the first place?

Without meaning to put anyone/anything down, I'd offer the same advice I was given whenever I asked about Bikesafe, IAM and so on. Wait about a year before doing it. Pass your test, do six months of daily riding with some long distance trips. Then return to the school for a one-day check-up/refresher session, accompanied by purchasing and reading (cover to cover) a copy of Motorcycle Roadcraft. Then do another six months and then do Bikesafe. The reason given for this is that you develop a feel for the bike and get used to riding well within your safety margin. When you come to do advanced riding, you will have more developed skill and ability to build on and will understand everything just that little bit better. More so if you ride something odd like a Cruiser. All the riders I respect strongly recommend doing Bikesafe first, then an advanced membership. However, that's just my opinion. I may be wrong or you may just prefer to do it another way.

I just do as I please, mostly. If she has issue with it, then she can either go complain to her girlie friends or find someone who gives a shit. The way I see it, she's with me because she likes who I am. In order to make the relationship work, I have to continue being who I am. Therefore, I'm holding up my end of the deal. Incidentally, I also unconditionally accept her and all the flaws that make her who she is. If she doesn't share the sentiments, she's in the wrong relationship.

You could just get a mudguard (sorry, 'fender') off the Custom model. Check it out first, but I imagine the two are fairly interchangable with minor modifications. HTH, W.

Be VERY aware of everyone else's blind spots. Know when you're in them or approaching them and avoid stopping in or getting stuck in them. Filter only up to 20mph above traffic speed, to a maximum of 20mph. In other words, if they're doing anything up to 20mph, you filter only up to 40mph. If they start to move faster, merge back in with the traffic. Do not attempt to fit through a gap unless you are sure you can fit cleanly. If you think you might clip something, you will tense up in anticipation and your riding wil become imprecise. On some lanes and dual carriageways, you will find you're riding over the raised Cats' Eyes. This will be bumpy and may throw you off-line a bit. be prepared for it. Also be aware that sometimes gravel, oil and other crap can be found collecting on the lines you're riding down. Lastly and most importantly - ONLY filter when you need to. There is NO point being one of those twats who filters past a measly two cars on a deserted road late at night, just so they can be first off the lights. My girlfriend needs to learn this one..... If you have nothing better to do or are not running to the clock, then fuck it - Sit in traffic for 30 seconds. It won't kill you.

That was all I was going to say

From what others have said, it costs a LOT. Better to hire one out there, or even buy one.

Lady Goff gets to feel my love later..... behind the bike sheds

OK...... but you gotta promise not to tell anyone..... Alright, meet me behind the bike sheds, after school!!

I always find that, in such situations, phoning back and getting someone else works best!! Good luck!!

Most people will read what you post out of interest, but will not reply if they can't add anything constructive. Also, old hands tend to get bored of answering the same old questions, like "What oil do I use" and "How do I adjust the chain". Half of it is covered on CBT and DAS anyway and there are plenty of websites sites that detail this stuff specifically for Newbies anyway. It's the same on most types of forum and Newbies seem utterly unable to read stickied 'Newbie FAQs' or use the Search function. Not a direct bash at you either, mate (we were all the same once). Just playing Devil's Advocate, really. By comparison, I've come on here and I think my first 20 posts were all solving other people's problems. I must have seemed like a right know-all!!

I don't have a camera - So you'll have to imagine my large weaponry!! Ain't no Mills & Boon nonsense, though!! Google Image up English Broadsword, English Bill, Quarterstaff and so on. Big, hitty painful stuff.

Phone again and if they argue, quote the website at them!! It'd help if you can have the page open while you're on the phone to 'em.

Which is why I was considering inviting him round to tea - My main hobby (yes, over and above biking) involves the use of many big, sharp, violent medieval weapons

I hope you're joking!! TBH, most people won't have a clue about raked forks.... including me. The Chop guys all tend to have their own websites coz they build their own. Certainly, I'd not want to try riding a chopped Drag around the narrow English roads!! I had enough scary moments on the 125 with a massive turning circle. But yeah - Try asking all those chopper peeps. Bound to be at least ten forums full of 'em!!

Yep - Posey tossers on shiny Cruisers 'never' ride in bad weather..... so I seem to be the exception. Actually, many bikers only ride during the good weather, so come winter a lot less people buy. Dealers drop prices in the hopes of selling bikes and bargains can be had. To be honest, any 125 in good nick will be very fine around 15-20K. These things are usually good all the way to 70K and beyond. Just make sure they're looked after! Don't just look in the big publications, either. Search every possible bike sales place, even local ads and Googling. You will find great deals! Oh, one more thing - Fancy accessories like saddlebags and sissy bars don't add that much value to a bike. Long Tax (even though it's only about £15 for a 125) and MoT are better.

£1500 is a good price, particularly around this time. Usually they don't drop below a couple of grand until November-ish. There's nothing specific to check for, so... Check there's no excessive rust anywhere. Small spots are not to much of a worry. Make sure there's no sign of it being dropped or chucked down the road, ie scuffs or cover-ups on the paintwork. Listen to the engine and try comparing it to the 125 you ride on CBT. If the bike still has standard pipes, it should sound lower and slightly quieter. It won't have that 'grumbling tractor' sound of a Harley, but neither should it sound like a screaming moped. Be sure there's no knocking, tapping sounds etc. Also - Get a copy of Bike Trader. The first few pages give full advice on what to look for when buying 2nd hand. If buying from a dealer you have better legal support than buying private. Mileage.... Reckon on 3-4,000 per year, maybe a few hundred less. Other than that, plus all the Bike Trader advice, be sure you're happy with it. Be sure this one feels like 'The One'. If at all possible, take a biker friend along to give an objective second opinion. Maybe ask your instructor or join the local MAG group. Good luck!!!

That was perfectly polite, matey... or at least as polite as you deserved. It certainly wasn't unkind in any way. What you waltzed in and asked about can be done, I told you some of the ways people do it and I explained the drawbacks, adding that I don't recommend doing it as it may cause serious problems with your bike (and because I care). I then suggested a better alternative. Having ridden a 125 Drag myself for over a year, I thought I'd share what I learned and how pointless/dangerous the usual 125 tricks actually are. It's entirely up to you if you want to risk it or not. Where's the lack of manners? You didn't bother saying Hi, introducing yourself or offer any form of common courtesy. I responded in kind.

OK, credit for trying to be sensible. Even still, I reckon you're either putting too much into the throttle, or dumping the clutch. It takes some time to get used to any bike, particularly when moving up. I spun the wheel on my 650 Drag a few times while I was getting the feel, usually while trying to power off from standing. If you're certain you're not putting too much into the throttle, then focus on clutch control and check that you're not accidentally touching the rear brake at all. Also, if this was in the wet, then adjust your riding accordingly. Gently gently and all that. I'm trying not to be patronising about this, too Checking in with an instructor is possibly the best idea anyway, as s/he'll be able to see exactly what you're doing. Perhaps drop in to your local school and ask for five minutes of his/her time. Sincerely, good luck, fella.

One final thing, shorts people..... Google up Brittany Morrow. 'Nuff said.