bippo

How long do you need to wait Grouch?

Good one Grouch. I wanted that bike, but opted for the cheaper YBR - I really wanted my full licence! Take good care of it and it'll take good care of you. I didn't have a problem with mine. Oh, and plenty of locks please, you really don't want a nice bike like that ending up in the wrong hands. Enjoy!

That's one way to brighten a Friday afternoon...

Bloody hell Grouch... I really glad you're back on the forum, and still telling us of your woes despite the ribbing we used to give you. No technical advice from me I'm afraid (I'm just like you!), but I honestly can't believe the bad luck you have. It's been said many times by others on the forum, but honestly I'm sure guys on here would help you out in order to try and keep costs down. You only have to say. I can't do much but could act as teasmaid (or bartender!)

They did go into administration but think they had help to stay open by selling off some of their stores etc. Something like that...

Does your wife dye her hair any other colour?!! ;-)

Honda use the RC213V in MotoGP. The CBR1000RR is just derived from that bike. As a result the bike Pedrosa rides comes in at around 160kg, lighter than the CBR. As Noise said, his bike may well be lowered, God only knows. I believe they hand make the frames for GP, so his bike could have different geometry to Marquez's. Let us not forget that GP riders train incredibly hard, so will be physically fitter and stronger than your 'average' bike rider. Absolutely not taking anything away from Pedrosa, those folks amaze me beyond belief. Oh and as a woman rider, I found myself restricted by the height and weight of bikes available to me. An awful lot of sitting on showroom bikes, or in some cases, failing to even get that far...!

There is a picture of me somewhere sporting a fake tash... I promise, it was fake!! Ha ha! A group of us women did it at my old work to support the guys who we're doing it for real. It was an odd day in the office... Everyone looked like an 80's porn star...

Well done you!

I second that Mervin...

I'd never heard this before, but my God did this make me laugh...!

Hey there - hope you're enjoying your new bike (minus the sore hips!) I got my full licence on a Kawasaki ER-6n, and that was quite some adjustment from the YBR. I found that my ankles suffered from the footpeg positioning. Having broken both my ankle and knee on my left leg, it was pretty tough in all honestly. Bear in mind that the YBR is a very 'neutral' position. A position that is very natural to us all. So any bike that differs will be an adjustment. It's just like sitting in a chair at the end of the day isn't it! Needless to say, I ended up buying a Triumph Tiger once I passed because leg positioning was just like the YBR!! When I owned a classic Mini, the seat wouldn't go back far enough for my height (even with with a seat adjustment extender) but I persevered and it became not only the most entertaining, but one of the most comfortable cars I'd driven. As a result, I'd say stick it out, your body will adjust. My arms did to the wide and far away handlebars of the Tiger. Of course, this is assuming you haven't racked up miles on the XJ already...! I now have 4000 miles on my Tiger, and so far I've only messed about with the handlebars. Everything else my body is now adjusted to.

Love it!

Sorry I can't make it guys, today was my bike day, around Ripon, Harrogate and York. Rode home in a thunder storm, great stuff! Anyway, enjoy yourselves!

Now I don't feel ashamed to admit that I had to Google this chap... Still none the wiser though.

Mine did - 2012 model.

Welcome back - just make sure it's fixed for next years Squires meet...!! Hope it doesn't turn out to be too expensive.

Very cool!

I'll see if I can come to this, was a good ride last time (chasing Paul on my 125...!). Sunday is the only possibility for me. I'm having a new bathroom fitted this week, so things will be a bit of a mess at home.

Then go for it, you only live once!! At the end of the day, no bike is perfect, would be a pretty boring place otherwise.

I quite like the look of it if I'm honest. There is actually a review about this bike in the latest edition of RIDE magazine if you wanted to check out what they say about it.

Ye too kind! I had a blast with you guys! Definitely camping next time.

Yeah quite right Welshy. Me, of all people...!! Passed everything first time round without many lessons.

Yeah that's about it Andrew, although I believe Mod 1 is actually around 15 quid instead of 50.

I nearly dropped my phone when that started stamping around...!