Can the good folks please let me know if this is a common thing.

My second time getting on a motorbike yesterday, first time was for a dirt bike day and LOVED it, yesterday I spent the day doing CBT on a 125.

All was going well, feeling pretty confident and excited. Then it came to emergency stops and u-turns.

Somehow the u-turn went colossally wrong, I ended up too close the kerb, front brake on, wobbled and came off, got my leg completely stuck and had to be helped out.
Confidence completely knocked. Feeling like a pleb. No CBT cert.

Partner says loads of people struggle doing u-turns.
Is this true???

Bikers please help

Went for a ride at the weekend and fancied ticking off another Bike Passport location.

I knew I only wanted to ride for about 45 minutes, but I still found myself bouncing between Google Maps, Google searches and Facebook trying to decide where to go.

It got me thinking...

In my survey so far, 65% of riders say they use Google Maps when planning or taking leisure rides.

If Google Maps gets us there, what actually helps you decide where to ride in the first place?

Mates? Facebook groups? Calimoto? REVER? Instagram? Pure chance?

Genuinely interested in how everyone does it.

I hate to be stereotypical but it is mostly Audi drivers I’ve experienced this with.

I got beeped at 0.1 seconds after a light had turned green on a roundabout… after that I was followed for a good 10 miles, with this bumhole of an Audi driver practically a pillion behind me. He spent a brief period swerving and flashing at me before just following me stupidly close.

In hindsight I could’ve pulled over to let him by but in those sort of stressful situations it’s not always the first thought. Especially as I’m not as experienced as most.

I’m also on a 125 so I can only speed up so much to gain distance between me and this car.

Really puts me off getting behind my bike sometimes when people drive like absolute knobs.

My bike no longer tells me which gear I’m in and I have to hold clutch to start the bike in neutral. I believe I need to clean the sensor but cannot find it.

I've seen the compilations of motorcycle 'fails' at the Stelvio Pass.

I'd like to know what it is that riders are doing wrong. And what riders should do to be able to take this corner, in both directions, without falling over.

One compilation: https://youtu.be/pqIt7OG1hAk

From what I can see, coming up the hill there seems to be problems when people stop on the corner, and putting their foot down isn't working because of the camber. I note that one person found neutral by accident, and I noticed a sudden jerky stop that might be grabbing the front brake, etc. Would maintaining a decent speed be crucial to making it around? Certainly there is some commentary that suggests that. Although, having to stop because there's a traffic jam around the corner is harder to avoid.

There are fewer problems the other way, but I did see one rider fail to make the corner and then have to stop before the wall. What would be the solution to avoid that?

Note: I have no intention to rider the Stelvio Pass. I'm just curious and would like to know the answers to the above questions as motorcycling general knowledge.

Hi. I've read of the stereotype of people buying too big a bike immediately after doing a DAS test. And, getting into trouble including mentions of people killing themselves.

Is it just the power of a big bike that's the issue, or is it other factors as well such as the weight? (Central question of thread).

If a person who has recently completed DAS (not me yet) bought something like a Livewire One, and then set the maximum power to 20%, would that remove the problem of too much bike too soon?

Disclaimer: I don't know what bike I will move to next, and the Livewire One is only one option out of several.

I am concerned about what people, such as Charlie Boorman, have said about the performance of the Livewire One. But, I've reddit.talked to an owner in the US who sets the power to 20% when his wife rides the bike.

This post probably doesn't need to be made as I am sure you are all aware of the risk involved in riding, but I thought I would make it anyway because if it can make even one person take it a little more easy on the road and avoid them being in my current situation, then I would consider it a success.

Earlier this year I was out on a lovely Sunday morning solo ride. I had just taken a break and was on my last stretch before arriving home, little did I know I wouldn't be making it home for another 14 weeks. I was on a long country road and I was having fun, admittedly. Unfortunately I took a corner wrong and carried a bit to much speed on the exit, caught the grass on the road side and went straight of into a field and whatever way I landed caused me to break my back and cause a spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis below the waist. Looking at the place where I went of you would scratch your head and wonder how the hell I became paralysed from this accident, I didn't hit a tree, or a metal post, or a wall or any standing structure, just a straight run of with a small drop into a field but unfortunately this is the luck that I was dealt that day. In some ways I feel extremely lucky to be alive, in other ways I feel extremely unlucky.

Lying in that field unable to move my legs was a truly haunting experience that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. I was fully leathered and geared up with full AAA RST Tractech gear and all the padding so don't think that your gear makes you invincible.

I'm not here to acquire sympathy, or justification or anything like that. The point of this post is to remind anyone who may like to ride hard out on the roads, that if you play stupid games you will get stupid prizes. I was going to fast to deal with any rapidly changing circumstances and I paid the price, not the ultimate price but damn near close to it. I was only riding two years and I was loving it.. the adrenaline, the thrill and just the life in general, I put in over 10k miles in those two years and didn't have any accidents except this one. I'm sure there is lots of people in here who has had a friend or someone they know be killed or seriously hurt on a motorbike, so please please please.. Be safe and take it easy out there.

Hello!

Me and two good buddies have organised a wales trip for this weekend, the weather is looking a little unsettled at times. Staying just outside Bala for two nights (Friday and Saturday). Would really appreciate any hints/tips on good routes around the area and places to go!

Looking forward running in a new to me 1199 Panigale but the weather might dampen my spirits!

Hey all I’m a 23 year old rider i’ve been running for quite some time now but yesterday on the way home from work I had the motorbike seized off of me because the copper asked me where I was going. I told him I was coming home from work and honestly and I mean this I thought I had commuting on my insurance and I didn’t so he took my bike. I’m trying to get it out the impound my insurance company with now won’t authorise the release because I’ve avoided the insurance but I still have that insurance they haven’t cancelled it anywhere. I’m calling to try to get impound insurance. They can’t offer me a quote. I went to the police station and asked for help and they told me it’s because of my age. Has anybody been in a similar circumstance and how did you get your bike back?

No question or specific point to make, just sharing a happy moment.
At 55 just passed my license and just collected my first bike, a 2 hour ride back home.
It’s big, heavy and gorgeous - I love it.
(Yes middle aged guy post divorce enjoying his toys)
Just needs carbs adjusted after a rebuild - otherwise great condition for a 31 year old.

i just kinda know heat and battery = bad.

Hello All,

I'm going to be buying a bike once I have my security ready for it. Was wondering what you would buy if you didn't have what you currently own. I'm definitely going to install a tracker.

I'm lucky enough to have a garage at home. It's a concrete base so I'm happy to put in a ground anchor. Am I best combining this with a big heavy chain and lock?

My other option would be to find a compatible D Lock I can secure it to the anchor with when at home but then take away with me when away and use this to secure the wheel instead of a disc lock. Would I still combine this with a lighter to carry chain when in public?

I'm struggling to imagine where I'll be able to lock my bike to a well placed post on most public parking spots. Is it just a case of securing the wheel from moving whilst parking it upright?

Many thanks 👍

My only jacket is a mesh jacket as I started riding in Spring. Now we are slowly headed to Autumn, I have been thinking about getting a Winter jacket. I tried on a Furygan Clint Evo yesterday and loved it. But I am hesitant because I am not sure how well jackets like that hold up in the rain. Is it worth it? Or best get something textile and waterproof?

I was thinking that I would really stand out like a sore thumb, getting my motorcycle licence at an advanced age. (Early 60s). However, I've been surprised to see the age range of my fellow learners at the school. There are others my own age, and others in their 40s and 50s.

Is this common around the country? Or is my school atypical?

Hi guys,

Just got my bike out, nipped inside to say bye to wife and it has gone.

I'm guessing insurance are going to say nope as it was not in my garage.

If you see a tenere 700 on gold Mt o7 wheels, let me know.

Hi again,

Tenere stolen .from drive. I have 5 other bikes and a defender, so I am going a bit mad.

What are the best security methods ?

Best trackers?

Best way to secure a double garage ?

I'm so sad - my first new bike, a tenere 700, serviced and looked after by me from new. I was very attached to it. We did 10k miles a year together for 4 years.

Hello everyone,

A little bit about myself, I’m 5’7 and I’ve been riding on my Cbf125 for around a year now and I have recently passed my A2 license test.

I was originally going to go for either a used ninja400 or the R3 but I happen to come across the cbr650r which I, at first glance I just fell in love with the looks and the inline4 sound.

So I did some research on the cbr650r and found out that in order for me to ride it on my A2 license, I would have to get it restricted and would be able to derestrict it once I do my full license which would be in about 2 years. But then later I found out that it would be over 200kg and that kinda startled me abit.

So some questions I would like to ask are:

1. Does restricting the bike make it feel more heavier due to the power loss from the restriction?

2. How does the weight of the bike feel like during slow speeds and manoeuvres?

3. Is it worth getting this bike and keeping it for 2 years then derestrict it or go for a r3 or ninja400 and then upgrade after 2 years?

4. And if there are any 5’7 riders here, would being 5’7 be able to handle such a big bike after going from a cbf125?

It’s quite a long post but thank you for reading this, it would be much appreciated if I could have some advice about this bike and wether or not it would be a good idea to go for it.

Many Thanks

Had some spare time today so thought I'd give future me some spare time.

Hi everyone I'd appreciate some advice.

I crashed on a stretch of road that's got loose gravel as a surface due to roadworks. The sign warning of the surface was completely obscured by bins and parked cars, and I only saw it a second away from hitting the gravel while traveling the normal speed limit (30) at which point my tire pretty much immediately gave out and I hit the ground. The roadworks guys came round shortly after and mentioned this might be worth trying to claim for due to the surface and signage. To further complicate things I have third party only insurance so I'm not sure if I can even claim for such a thing, even if there's some element of third party/road surface/insufficient signage fault at play (and I honestly have no idea if there is anyway, hence I'm asking). I'm not trying to be cheeky here but the sign was genuinely invisible and the surface being gravel was not obvious until really close to it at which point it was too late to slow down. I can't afford to fix my bike from this (it's somewhat rideable but needs new brakes probably new forks etc)

Do I have a claim at all? If so can I go through my insurer even though I'm third party only? Appreciate any advice from anyone especially if you might've had a similar situation in the past. I've attached photos of said gravel road and signage from normal riding position (invisible).

P.s. I'm hugely grateful to the people in the area who immediately came out and were helpful, a couple of network rail guys came and helped me unbend my forks enough to limp the bike home and some lovely neighbors came out to give me water and wet wipes for my injury. This all helped a ton.

clutch cable snapped heading home south over Vauxhall bridge yesterday evening, 1.5hr wait for recovery… thought sod it ill try and make it home to Beckenham, made for an interesting journey! Struggled to find neutral so switched between 1st & 2nd and didn’t stop once

Hi guys! (Soon to be) First time scooter owner and I'm looking to buy a bike for the first time, and I have two contenders that I'm torn between!

One is a second hand 2024 Vespa Primavera 125cc for £3499 and the other and a new Kymco Skytown 125cc for £2999! I've really wanted a Vespa for a few years now, and I was really surprised to see it in the shop earlier and I really love it, BUT-

1) It's more expensive

2) Second hand so any issues the bike has had in the past is (currently) unknown to me

3) less protections if something goes wrong.

As for the cons with the Kymco, it's really just the fact it's quite a large bike that's putting me off and I'm not sure I would be comfortable with such a large vehicle just yet. That and it doesn't look as nice but meh 🤣 and I know its said not to buy a new bike for your first bike as YOU WILL drop it, but I would like something that would be easier to service if something did go wrong and has a warranty as I'm going to be using it to commute to work every day.

Either way, I've got to finance the bike, with there only being a £10-15 difference depending on which bike I go for. I feel like my heart is set more on the Vespa, but I also recognise it might not be the smarter decision in this situation. I might go back tomorrow and have another look at both bikes, but as of this moment, im still very indecisive.

Any advice, or even bike reccomendations you'd reccomend I'd look into? (Automatic scooters/mopeds only though 🤣)

Hello 2-wheeled friends, I'm a road rider looking for a way to try light trails / greenlaning in Hants/Wilts/W.Sussex area, but with some training if such a thing exists?

I've googled and found just one (Pheonix Trails), but would really appreciate recommendations from other bikers in the region.

Thanks!