h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Knight

Just passing by and noticed you passed your CBT. Well done

Another girlie biker on the road is just what us girls need. Just beware of idiots!!!!

Been riding for 1 1/2 years now and you would be surprised about how many times people try to run you off the road!!

What bike are you thinking of getting and are you doing your DAS course?

At the moment I'm looking for a 125 of some sort to ride for a bit so that I can suss out things like clutch control, watching out for malicious car drivers and this countersteering malarky that people keep talking to me about.

Went to look at a Honda CB125 on Saturday with a friend who knows what's what. It was no use however so it's back to hunting again.

After that who knows. The biggest problem is going to be the fact I have short legs. I did have a sit on a Honda 600 that had had the seat cut down which was very comfortable.

Snap. I have an inside leg measurement of 27.5 inches. SMALL.

Try looking at a secong hand Yamaha Virago XV125. They are extremely small. Failing that look for an Kawasaki Eliminator 125. Smaller again!! I sat on the Eliminator 125 thinking it was a 250cc engine. How wrong can you get!

I also bought an Eliminator 400. I could sit on it with both feet flat on the ground and my knees bent.

You are best off getting a small custom instead of a tourer or sports. They are usually that little bit lower.

The Virago 125 is v. low and v. nice. You will be impressed by how it looks like a bigger bike...

Not that I have a vested interest in that I own one!!!

Got a check for £1000 in the post yesterday: insurance from an accident when a white van man decided that he could drive onto a roundabout in front of me and then stop. This was a year ago. He admitted liability at the time, but then later changed his mind. Apaarently I had been riding at a dangerous speed. Yeah right, it was a blind corner and I had been riding for 3 weeks, no way was I even going faster than 20... funny how the average box drivers instant excuse for crashing with a bike is, 'he was going too fast'.

Anywat, my witness heard him admit liability, so a year later I ve got a grand to fix me bike with. Good, but not good having to wait all this time...

Still thinking about this one. I've reached the conclusion that I should take my test (the 33 bhp thing) and then I would have more choice over what I could ride. Courses do run locally for doing this and the place that did my CBT was very good, No pressure they just let you take everything at your own speed.

Then I look out of the window at the driving rain and think hmmm. Still I want to get out on two wheels again so ...

Its not fair, I wanna be 21 and do DA. I could climb into a Ferrari now, so why not a bigger bike???

Sounds like you've got some experience and know what you're doing.

You might have trouble getting insurance for a ferrari though

hehe. No im sure I would get it. After all, Ive got it for my TVR!!!
I wish.

Well, you see what I mean...
My bikes been playing up a little bit actually, last couple of days... Its an import that doesnt like the rain. I have to remember to coat it in WD40 every winter...

Anyway, back to work...

Work . Oh yes that stuff.

* glances round *

Well I've got till Friday

Point taken....perhaps they should have a sliding scale in experience and attitude instead of an age limit.

Well, no-one is more dangerous on a motorbike, than some middle aged businessman with a mid-life crisis, cant afford a supercar so does Direct Access and buys a superbike having never ridden a bike before. Rides it recklessly on Sundays and dies.

Whereas me...
Rides 20 miles a day and has done since he bought the bike...
Well, I do advise getting yourself one. They are the best thing ever invented

I agree with you

As for me, I enjoyed going out pillion a lot earlier this year but then 'my biker' went to work abroad. Another friend took me out for a ride on his new CBR1000 and I realised that I had severe withdrawal symptoms, so I decided to do something about it and went and did my CBT. I had a brilliant day and can't wait to get back on a bike again.

On the other hand I will confess to being a bit put off by the weather at the moment, although I expect that once I get back on a bike I'll forget about all that wet stuff that's currently hammering on the windows!

Its only water!
Just get yourself a good set of waterproofs and ride carefully!

I've pillioned on a 600, but I WANT TO RIDE A BIG BIKE.
125's do get a bit frustrating...

Any ideas what bike you want yet?

It's just one of those things, the thought of getting soaking and cold is always off-putting whatever you intend doing, but when you just get on with it you have a great time. Anyway the sun is back out here so I'm feeling all inspired again.

Not sure what I want to get yet. I have been offered the use of a Suzuki 500 if I do the DA course (if I take up the offer I'll check how drunk the offerer was at the time the message came through). I've had a sit on it but it does feel very big, and whilst I can touch the floor if I dropped the thing I'd be flagging down passing motorists to help me pick it up again!

Something in between I think, I've already be told that although 30 might feel very fast to begin with after a few months of revving an engine to screaming point you begin to think you need something bigger!

How long before you can do a DA coures?

You've got to be 21 to do direct access, but when you've been riding a 125 for 2 years you get automatically get larger entitlement. Thing is, I've been riding on a CBT for a year now, I've got to get my full license so I can get this. Which Suki 500 would it be? Nothing can beat a motorbike. Human melded with machine, etc and all that.

If you look on the guide there is a part for how to pick up a heavy bike somewhere, if you cant find it Ill have a look for you...

And it is true, after a month or two a 125 is no way fast enough...

If you are getting one 2nd hand, now is the time, cos of all those people who are selling theirs now and getting a new one in the spring.

I think it's a Suzuki SR 500E (is this possible?) I'm not 100% sure that I've got the right letters though or if they're in the right order. I'll get there eventually. While it's nice of them to offer I'm not convinced it would be a good bike to start riding on, although it is comfortable to pillion on.

Whatever I get it will be second hand, luckily I've got someone who has rebuilt various bikes to help and advise. His garage is amazing, you go in and there's a couple of bikes sitting on their stands as he tinkers with them talking about sprockets and stuff.

Are you going to do your test soon?

I'll have to see if I can find the h2g2 motorbike club again, there were some interesting entries on their site.

Go to my U space and click on the flying link at the bottom of the page and it will take you straight there...

hmm, test? soon? all comes down to the basic question of hard cash. I never have enough of it anyway, do I will have less that month. And there is no real motivation when once you have removed the ol' L plates you are unbothered anyway(especially on a bike like mine which looks bigger than a 125)

Always good to know a m/bike mechanic, I wish I did, I can get limited help from a few sources, but dont know any proper mechanics.

Not sure, but I think that the (SR 500E)? is the bike my brother has, have to find out next time hes around anyway, he's over your way in Cardiff.
Anyway, lunchtime!!!

Hmm, lack of funds isn't very useful. That's why I decided to have a go at learning to ride this year whilst I'm not having to pay rent.

He's a very useful friend to have. brought a Kawasaki 550 dirt cheep (it had a tree growing through the middle of it) stripped it down and re-built it, so I know I'm in safe hands as far as advice and help go.

Looks like I even got the letters the right way round . Cardiff, just down the road.

You're right, lunch calls.

You ridin' yet?

I have to confess I'm not. I've been out again for an assessment session and the instructor said I should book the test, spend a day out with him, another day out on my own and then a final session before I do the test. In theory I should then be able pass a test

Time off work and free weekends are the biggest problem at the moment. But I will get there!

I had such a great time when I went out again I'm not letting this one rest for too long.

I've been riding for over a year now, and I still havent taken my test...
Once you've taken off your L-plates (naughty) , and your bike looks bigger than a 125 there is nothing to make you bothered to take your test, especially when you need more money...

My bikes in the garage right now. Bloddy big end!!!