JohnnyBoy83

I've got mine on Wednesday, then booking the mod1 asap Well done!

I'm in a similar situation at the moment and the cheapest place I've found for lessons was £55 for a 2hr one, though I'm down in Merseyside. Seems to vary wildly, which is a bit annoying.

Niiiiiice! Any excuse for an upgrade

Cheers guys, given me a lot to think about. I'm 30 so could just go straight for the full A license.

I don't have a larger bike, but I could probably borrow one.

So I'm pootling around on my 125, and it's great for commuting the 3 miles to work, but I want more. Looking to try for my big boy license, and everywhere I turn people are trying to sell me 14hr+ direct access packages. Not a bad way to make £600, but then I am a cynic. Perhaps I'm just being overconfident, but I've had a car license for 10 years, so I know the rules of the road. I ride to and from work every day in rush hour traffic and I'm not dead yet (6 months now). Is it really that hard to pass your test? I've spoken to a few riders who are family/friends, and they've said take a few lessons then just bang in for your test, see what happens. I'm inclined to agree with them, but thought I'd get a few other opinions cos I'm like that. Any of you used these direct access packages? Or do most people just go for it?

Triumph Rocket. Practical, economical, nippy around town

Yeah, likewise. I deal with the Police every day in work, and they're generally a good bunch. Not at 1am on a Sunday morning though, apparently.

Could've used the ants a few weeks back. Some waste of DNA decided to nick my YBR from outside my house. Cheeky gits only managed to get it 80 yards up the road, rear wheel was chained up so they were struggling along the road with the back lifted off the ground when Old Bill randomly drove past and made them poop their pantaloons. Trouble is, instead of walking 30secs down the road and knocking on my door, Old Bill decided to get it recovered to a shark 5miles away. I then had the pleasure of buying it back from them for £150, complete with damage that I can only assume was caused in the recovery itself. Fairing was smashed and handlebars bent from being dropped, but the luggage rack being all dented in from the top can only have been them chaining it down to the truck. C'est la vie... It's now chained securely to the house, with a disc lock on the front too. Lesson learned...

That is insane, no other word for it!

The helmet didn't actually hit the deck, I slid on my shoulder for a short while, and my visor was up, it caught the ground. Scuffed the face of it so can't see properly out of it, but the only damage is to the visor, helmet is untouched. I get what you're saying, and if I'd banged my head I would replace it, but I didn't.

Yeah, I'll give them a look, they're doing boots as well and I need a decent pair. So, I've given the bike another once-over before taking it to the garage, and it's actually just a blown bulb! Bounced it over at 30mph and all it has is some scuffs and a blown indicator bulb, I'm impressed, this YBR is a tough little cookie.

Steering rack stopper and levers are fine. On second inspection the handlebars are fine too, was just my wonky eyes in the dark last night. Only damage is light cosmetic scuffs, and the right-front indicator isn't working. Think I've been a lucky boy!

Yeah, was a bit of a shocker. I know what people mean now when they say "it all happened so fast". One second I'm riding along happily, next I'm staring at the roof wondering what hit me. Thankfully my lid is fine. Visor was up and scraped along the floor so is goosed, but the actual lid itself didn't make contact.

So I had my first spill coming out of the Wallasey tunnel tonight. Bike decided to do a bit of acrobatics while I was braking, think I hit a spot of oil or something. I'd wondered whether I needed all the padded/kevlar gear with "just" a 125 YBR, but after landing on my shoulder and sliding along the floor at 30mph I now understand why it's important! A bit bruised, but I'm intact, so I guess the gear did its job. Bike wouldn't start at first, was just getting the engine light, but after about 10mins of catching my breath and cursing it fired up like nothing had happened. Handlebar is a bit bent, and the right indicator won't work, but otherwise it looks largely intact, just the odd scrape. Reckon that'll be expensive to fix, or should I just take the hit out of my own pocket rather than get the insurance involved? I rode it home OK afterwards, was a little wobbly but I think that's mostly due to me being all beat up down my right side! Luckily I only live 2mins away from where it happened.

Yeah, I've lost my rhythm entirely

Problem solved! A very small corner of the plastic chain guard was bent in slightly, and was catching on the drive chain. How random! But sorted now, and my YBR is running (and sounding) perfect. Just goes to show you the smallest things can make all the difference.

I had a biker friend of mine look over it in the carpark at work, and if anything he said the chain was a bit too slack, lol I'll have to bite the bullet and have a crack at taking the chain off on Saturday, give it a good once over. Thanks for the advice guys (and girl!).

Right, so I've had a good look over the chain, can't see anything obvious. Gave it a clean and lube tonight, noise is completely unchanged.

Thanks guys

Ok, the noise stops immediately when I pull the clutch.

Yeah, I'm 99% certain the noise stops the second you pull the clutch, but I'll double check on my ride to work. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll take a look at the chain then.

Would that only make a noise on open throttle? It stops the second I ease off. No noise whatsoever coasting.

Hi all. I'm a bit of a biking newbie (read: total newbie) so not even sure if this is anything to worry about... I've noticed a strange noise when I open up my throttle. It's starts off fairly quiet, and gets louder as the bike warms up. It's hard to describe, but the best way I could manage is that it's a rhythmic ticking/clicking sound. It speeds up a bit as I open the throttle fully, and cuts off completely the second I let go. I can't seem to replicate the noise when the bike is standing, but when I'm moving it's that loud I can hear it with my visor closed & in traffic. Bike seems to pull just fine, no issues with performance at all, just this bloody noise! Any suggestions would be appreciated.