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[Closed] Mid-Life-Crisis (Motorbike purchase)

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Mod 2 was this morning, in the pissing rain.

Had someone pull out on me, a closed road on the indepentant ride where I ended up taking the examiner on a detour, as I knew the area so could nip around it, then right at the end I missed the entrance to 20mph zone and went too fast....

And somehow only got a minor for it, **** yeah! I think the examiner was being kind as I was perfect up to then, apparently.


 
Posted : 02/04/2019 3:29 pm
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Well done, 20 years ago when I did the direct access test, instructor commented that there wasn’t yore so much need to ‘Chuck it about’ as had scraped the pegs round a righhander, still got a pass 😉


 
Posted : 02/04/2019 7:44 pm
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Well done on passing sobriety

Definitely feel more vulnerable on the road

Same here, especially when close to 40foot truck on the motorway :-0


 
Posted : 02/04/2019 10:37 pm
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Passed the Theory and Hazard Perception this morning after learning how to pass the test (not what a hazard looks like!). Another theory 49/50 - bah - scored 50/50 for both practice tests yesterday, and 61/75 on hazard perception compared with 43/75 for early clicking (three zeros) and no confirmation click last week. Median score was 5 🙂 and I could be a driving instructor now...

Now to get out a bit and practice on the 125, if I can wrestle it from Teen2. Then Direct Access when I feel a little more comfortable with the controls. Engine braking still feels odd compared to cycling!


 
Posted : 03/04/2019 11:46 am
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well done on passing, there won't be much engine braking on a 125 compared to when you get on a bigger bike, that much I can tell ya 🙂


 
Posted : 03/04/2019 10:52 pm
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Congrats 🙂 nice work.


 
Posted : 04/04/2019 8:15 am
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Mod 2 was this morning, in the pissing rain.

Had someone pull out on me, a closed road on the indepentant ride where I ended up taking the examiner on a detour, as I knew the area so could nip around it, then right at the end I missed the entrance to 20mph zone and went too fast….

And somehow only got a minor for it, **** yeah! I think the examiner was being kind as I was perfect up to then, apparently.

Congrats 🙂

It was my MOD 2 on Tuesday. It pissed it down the whole time. It was all going tickety-boo until approaching a give way junction I was asked to turn left. I had good visibility of the road so just slowed, kicked down the gears and went to pull out. However, instead of selecting first as I though, I'd managed to get neutral (this, on a bike that selecting neutral is very hard). Went to pull out, realised my mistake, had a wobble, put my foot down. Instant fail! A real shame as I only had one minor.

The most annoying thing of all (apart form the massive damage to my pride) was phoning SMC in Sheffield to tell them I wouldn't be picking up my new Duke 790 that afternoon after all...


 
Posted : 04/04/2019 11:04 am
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I'll pick it up for you!!


 
Posted : 04/04/2019 1:48 pm
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Ahhh, commiserations, I hit neutral on my test turning right out of the test centre, but I'm so used to doing it on my learner bikes (the RS has a false neutral between 5th and 6th and the little suzuki has them bloody everywhere) that I just swore at it, banged it into first and carried on!


 
Posted : 04/04/2019 3:22 pm
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So to wrap up my contribution to the thread (until my next one), I went and looked at some new KTMs at dealer open day and was put off by the price and the "melted transformer" styling, so didn't bother with a test ride in case I liked it 😉

But I did go and have a look at a 2003 Triumph Sprint RS that popped up on the FB classifieds, as it was local and cheap. Guess what's now sat in my garage?

Yup, £1000 worth of Hinckley Missile.


 
Posted : 14/04/2019 6:27 pm
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Guess what’s now sat in my garage?

Didn't happen without Piccies 😉


 
Posted : 14/04/2019 7:13 pm
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Oh go on then 😉

[url= https://i.postimg.cc/qRNdSZdm/IMG-20190414-195617.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/qRNdSZdm/IMG-20190414-195617.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

Not quite in the garage, it needs a going over with scotchbrite/wire wool to clear back some of the surface rust, but it's only cosmetic.


 
Posted : 14/04/2019 8:59 pm
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nnniiiccee 🙂


 
Posted : 14/04/2019 9:08 pm
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Saw a Norton Dominator on the way home from work in my car the other day... well, I heard it first.

OMG.


 
Posted : 14/04/2019 9:36 pm
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ta11pau1

... well, I heard it first....

That'll be the big ends...

Oh, there's a new one?


 
Posted : 14/04/2019 10:27 pm
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That Triumph is fab. £1000? Bargain! They are fast and comfy.


 
Posted : 14/04/2019 10:39 pm
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That’ll be the big ends…

Oh, there’s a new one?

Yeah was one of the new ones, was on an 18 or 19 plate.

I'm 99% sure it was one of these https://www.teasdale-motorcycles.co.uk/shop/new-motorcycles/norton-dominator/ but with the race pipes as in the video, sounded exactly the same.


 
Posted : 14/04/2019 11:04 pm
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Where did you see the Norton Ta11pau1?

My mate has a Dominator Naked. It’s a very pretty and noisy thing.

We were out today but he didn’t have his Norton as it’s too uncomfortable for anything more than an hour.


 
Posted : 14/04/2019 11:21 pm
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Those are amazing, the sound of it, one of my first purchases after a lottery win.


 
Posted : 14/04/2019 11:25 pm
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It was coming off the A229 at Maidstone (bluebell hill) onto the M20, coast-bound. At about 6pm either thursday or friday.


 
Posted : 14/04/2019 11:31 pm
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Ah ok, wasn’t him. But still a nice thing to see one actually being used and not just being parked up and looked at.

My mates is one of the last Domi Nakeds they made, full Ohlins suspension, megaphone exhausts, polished tank and carbon fibre parts, all alloy parts polished aswell. Has had a few “teething” problems with it but seems to be running ok for now.


 
Posted : 14/04/2019 11:44 pm
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I think the Norton Dominator is the best looking bike you can buy new at the moment.

Back last night from a weekend riding in Wales, 6deg in Llanberis, thank god for heated clothing 🙂

Great little warmup for Pyrenees trip in May.


 
Posted : 15/04/2019 9:03 am
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Congrats 🙂

It was my MOD 2 on Tuesday. It pissed it down the whole time. It was all going tickety-boo until approaching a give way junction I was asked to turn left. I had good visibility of the road so just slowed, kicked down the gears and went to pull out. However, instead of selecting first as I though, I’d managed to get neutral (this, on a bike that selecting neutral is very hard). Went to pull out, realised my mistake, had a wobble, put my foot down. Instant fail! A real shame as I only had one minor.

The most annoying thing of all (apart form the massive damage to my pride) was phoning SMC in Sheffield to tell them I wouldn’t be picking up my new Duke 790 that afternoon after all…

So, following on from a cancelled first MOD 2 and a failed second MOD 2, I'm pleased to say I passed on Thursday morning. 2 minors - stalled pulling away from one of the many "pull over on the left when it's safe to do so" and accidentally beeping the horn in the kerfuffle getting started and pulling away safely...

Anyway, with a smile plastered all over my face, I headed over Snake Pass to Sheffield Motorcycle Centre in the afternoon to pick up my new Duke 790. Happy bunny!

Duke790


 
Posted : 24/04/2019 1:17 pm
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Well done! And nice bike, mine is still waiting on the bits I ordered to give it a routine service before I go out on it again.

I was out on the Aprilia over the weekend, and 2-1 lane merges are so much easier on a 955cc four stroke than a on a 125cc two stroke!


 
Posted : 24/04/2019 1:46 pm
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I have one just like that but orange...

Congratulations

https://www.ktmforums.com/forums/

https://www.ktmforum.co.uk/forum.php

https://www.790dukeforum.com/


 
Posted : 24/04/2019 2:07 pm
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Nice one. remember its now that you actually start to learn to ride., If I were doing it again I would get a post test lesson in motorways and cornering and stuff


 
Posted : 24/04/2019 2:10 pm
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If I were doing it again I would get a post test lesson in motorways and cornering and stuff

I'd book Donington GP 🙂


 
Posted : 24/04/2019 2:12 pm
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Nice one. remember its now that you actually start to learn to ride., If I were doing it again I would get a post test lesson in motorways and cornering and stuff

I'm back into riding after about 20 years. I got myself a 650 v Strom. I had a few refresher lessons before I started looking properly so I could test ride with confidence. So glad I did. I would also consider so e advanced riding lessons now. Money well spent.


 
Posted : 24/04/2019 6:32 pm
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@Furious Well done and that's a lovely bike 🙂

I had great fun over the Easter holidays - lots of biking and in general, things are progressing quite well for me - the occasional wobbly moment but that's to be expected. Taking things very steady but gradually trying to lose the "driving a car" mentality while keeping things very safe.


 
Posted : 24/04/2019 7:44 pm
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Out of interest (and may be of use to me in the future if I decide to try and get an A2 licence) why is putting a foot down an instant fail? Is it not the same as putting a foot down when you come to a stop sign or a Give Way when there's traffic coming?


 
Posted : 24/04/2019 9:36 pm
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It's putting a foot down to catch the bike following a loss of control. It's not putting a foot down when stopping for junctions, etc.

By loss of control, this might be stopping rather quickly while turning and the bike leaning, missing a gear unexpectedly and the bike slowing resulting in a stop. Basically, if you hinder traffic if any way, that's not a good thing to do. You need to control the bike at all times, rather than the bike controlling you.


 
Posted : 24/04/2019 9:51 pm
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OK, understand that, noted.... thanks 🙂


 
Posted : 24/04/2019 9:55 pm
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Nah probs - it's all part of the learning process (and beyond as I'm finding....).

Lots of peeps on here can offer better advice than I can (passed MOD 2 last year so still very much new to all this but happy to pass on any knowledge).


 
Posted : 24/04/2019 11:28 pm
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Out of interest (and may be of use to me in the future if I decide to try and get an A2 licence) why is putting a foot down an instant fail? Is it not the same as putting a foot down when you come to a stop sign or a Give Way when there’s traffic coming?

It’s putting a foot down to catch the bike following a loss of control. It’s not putting a foot down when stopping for junctions, etc.

By loss of control, this might be stopping rather quickly while turning and the bike leaning, missing a gear unexpectedly and the bike slowing resulting in a stop. Basically, if you hinder traffic if any way, that’s not a good thing to do. You need to control the bike at all times, rather than the bike controlling you.

Yep, GQ hit the nail on the head. I was already rolling out of the junction so I wasn't in full control of the bike. A foot down during a maneuver is a fail on MOD1 and MOD2. Seems harsh on the surface but understandable in context.


 
Posted : 25/04/2019 10:44 am
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Super excited, after 6 months of loving my Duke 390 the time has come to say farewell. New bike Friday has arrived!


 
Posted : 26/04/2019 6:31 am
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Pictures or it didn't happen @Bianchi-Boy 🙂

Just back from a soggy five day Almeria Euro track trip. The rain in Spain does not just fall on the plain 🙁 While you guys had the best weather for ages.


 
Posted : 26/04/2019 8:15 am
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Morning all... New bike Saturday for me last week.


 
Posted : 26/04/2019 9:20 am
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Nice Tootallpaul! 👌👊


 
Posted : 26/04/2019 9:28 am
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That's a nice looking motorcycle.


 
Posted : 26/04/2019 9:53 am
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Proof that it did indeed happen!

Street Triple


 
Posted : 26/04/2019 3:34 pm
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Nice. I had a matt grey Street Triple R, such a fun bike


 
Posted : 26/04/2019 3:39 pm
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Good thread now 🙂

Tootall, XSR700 or 900 ?

Bianchi, shiny Striple 🙂

MY 790.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40730123903_11a159d022_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40730123903_11a159d022_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/254bwPz ]2019-04-25_03-16-32[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

Also my ZX6R
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/7882/47435537721_13885d7f01_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/7882/47435537721_13885d7f01_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2fgHwJD ]2019-03-21_04-27-26[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr


 
Posted : 26/04/2019 3:56 pm
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XSR900 - Traded in my Tracer 700 for her.


 
Posted : 26/04/2019 5:18 pm
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Just passed my test* and picked this up and heading to Donington park for a trackday Monday

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/7832/32558245107_6c74be4d98_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/7832/32558245107_6c74be4d98_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/RB4vXz ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/153018338@N03/ ]Tony H[/url], on Flickr

*Not really


 
Posted : 26/04/2019 5:30 pm
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I picked my Triple up on Friday morning, went for a little ride around on the way home and then parked it in the garage. It has not stopped raining since!


 
Posted : 28/04/2019 8:55 am
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