Grouch

The nightmare is over after 4 months of hell my bike is back on the road and is alarmed up to high heaven. I sincerely hope none of you get your bike stolen. Invest in security. Especially disc locks and alarms. Cheap £6.99 disc locks from eBay saved my bike from being a gang of low life teenagers joy ride. I would of got shafted by the insurance as well. I hate insurers they are as bad as the scum that steal bikes.

Alarms getting fitted today. Last night was hell. I didn't sleep a wink. Every little noise I heard I had to look through the window. I'm really paranoid and on edge now. My bike getting nicked was a horrible experience even though I got it back, all the damage makes it feel different.

Finally back on the road after nearly 4 months. I repaired all the damage and replaced the ignition myself as well with the help of a friend. The ignition was a nightmare to swap. It was held in by headless bolts.

She's a beaut pal

Ignition ordered and dispatched today!!!! Progress has been slow but it will happen soon. God how I miss my bike. Nearly 3 months of buses.

Simon, I ththought about that a while ago but the problem would be charging the phone all the time.

Thanks for the input guys. The silly thing is I have an alarm still in the box that I never got round to fitting. It's just a cheap one the same as I had on the XT. It has has the remote start etc but I'm not bothering with any of that I just want the alarm. The mrs's sisters husband is an auto electrician so once I have a new ignition hopefully he will sort it and the alarm for *cough *cough free.

Bikes still off the road. I've replaced the brake hose, so some progress at least. I will get it sorted soon, especially with warmer weather on the way (hopefully). I really miss riding and it's starting to piss me off with all the 'summer' bikers I've seen the last few days. The problem now is I'm going to be so paranoid about it getting nicked again. I won't be able to sleep when it's back home.

They were off the ground, they must of had a sharp, strong set off bolt crops. No can't get it in the house my door is raised about a foot off the ground with stairs. I think I'm going to concrete a wheel mount into the floor. Bikes still not done but I'm hoping won't be much longer. It seems the scum is going on a right little spree in and around my area. A few scooters and bikes have been stolen but a few he has been unable to get away with.

There's been a lot of attempted and bike thefts in the area lately. It's got to be the same low life's doing it. I'm just worried now that once it's fixed they will try again. I can keep it in a friends garage but he lives a few miles away and it would be a ballache keeping it there. I'm just going to have to get the alarm fitted and go stupid with locks and chains. I don't think I'll be able to sleep properly again.

Thanks for the support guys. Just had a proper look now and its not as bad as I thought. i will have her back on the road sooner than I thought. I'm going to do the work myself. I cant imagine it being too difficult. I just might struggle fitting the new ignition.

Haven't been on in a while guys, was focussing on getting my full licence but kept getting laid off and having to rely on agency work. Anyway three week ago woke up to go to work on a Saturday morning to find my bike gone. Went for a look around and it was in a nearby Snicket on its stand. The scum had bolt cropped 3 chains and a d lock. The saviours were a d lock and a disc lock on each wheel that they couldn't get off. They have HotWired it, snapped steering lock, smashed front indicators and for good measure slashed the front brake pipe. The bike is being stored in a garage and I haven't looked at it properly yet so there may be more damage. I'm going to go check it all properly tomorrow. My excess is £500 so I haven't gone through the insurance. I'm going to source all the parts and repair it myself. The police didn't even come out. I could of cried. So now its back to public transport and walking. The stupid thing is I bought an alarm months ago and not got round to fitting it. I still have a year of finance to pay as well. Horrible little cnts just wanted to rag it around and then set it on fire when they had run it into the groundground.

That's why I have put it off for so long because I don't want to fail over something stupid and I will end up losing it with the instructor. I think I have found a decent guy who isn't a jobsworth, spiteful sort so I will find out.

Renewed my CBT this morning with the school I want to do my full licence with. The guy was sound and was really good at his job. I'd been recommended him and they were right! It was ridiculously foggy this morning and the visibility was very poor. Anyway the guy said I would piss the mod 1 and just need a few hours on a big bike for the mod 2. I was numb and proper frozen after so I'm now regretting doing it in the winter, it's really putting me off but I can't put it off any longer.

That would go in my favour. I'm a captain of industry when it comes to punctures now. I can even spell puncture properly haha. They do make it harder every year and bring in more ridiculous laws, so the sooner the better. I understand what your saying but because I bought the bike brand new I will find it hard to sell for probably a quarter of what I paid for it. So unless I'm desperate for the cash I want to keep it. I still haven't paid for it either there is about another year left on the finance. Thanks or all positivity and encouragement guys.

I have been riding 125's now for four years now and I really need to move on, I planned on doing the test this year but got made redundant in January and it completely messed my life up financially. I am definitely ready for a bigger bike. I think I didn't do it sooner because I was scared of failing. I love my WR and will still keep it, my plan is to buy a superbike to use on a weekend and keep the WR for commuting. The fuel economy is excellent and it is comfortable to ride. I'm just in the process now of learning the theory and hazard perception and once I have passed that I will be straight in for the practical. I'm working that many hours lately that I don't get much time to practise but I don't need much. I've done my research and found a really good riding school which everyone can't recommend enough, so hopefully by xmas I will have my full licence.

Got another puncture yesterday on the same wheel. Luckily the shop had an inner tube in stock. Even though it was a ball ache it wasn't as bad as last time because I knew what I was doing and had no trouble getting the wheel off and back on.

Saw the post and thought it was directed at me haha

I bought some proper tyre levers and used fairy liquid etc but still couldn't do it. In the end I took it to a tyre shop and paid £8 to get it done which I thought was ok. I got the wheel back on easily and now it's all sorted. Thanks for all the help guys. Next project: fitting an alarm I bought ages ago but daredn't try it haha

Right tried getting the tyre off and failed. The tyre is proper stiff and rigid, it has zero flexibility. I'm not stressing myself out and ending up cutting the tyre trying to get it off. I used neat fair and let all the air out but, the tyre is proper solid. stuff it I'll take it to a garage and get it done properly.

Yeah Kev I've decided to do it properly and buy some tyre levers and a valve remover. My inner tube won't come until Tuesday anyway. So it looks like I'm a bus wanker for the foreseeable.

Thanks guys. I've ordered a new tube it will be here on Tuesday. I could do with proper tyre levers and a valve remover but I will have to improvise. Tony I'm ok now I just struggled getting the wheel off because it was so tight. I think the spindle needs greasing as well while I have it off.

I've just watched a video on youtube and it looks simple enough haha. I'm going to try it tomorrow.

I've sorted Mike. It was just stupidly tight. Cheers.

I've managed it. It was really tight and I was scared of putting too much force on it and rounding the nut or snapping it. Don't worry I'm not going to post a 'how to change a tyre' thread haha. Thanks for the help.