Time for a big 'un

[Recumbent Jim]

This morning I passed the two theory tests required for the Direct Access training.
Tomorrow I get my first ride on a bigger bike, I'll leave my 125cc in the carpark and spend the day learning on a 500cc! Several days training and then 2 practical tests and I will be allowed to ride whatever streetlegal bike I can get insured on. It also means that I will be able to take the L stickers off my bike and look less like a learner.

I was parked next to a SV650s today while taking the tests and my little Derbi 125 was the same size!

Fingers crossed for tomorrow :thumbsup:

[Brian675]

Best wishes for tomorrow!

[ShnikeJSB]

Good luck mang! Break a kickstand! :thumbup:

[TattooFun]

I forget how "good" we have it that we arent restricted in CCs pending time on bike. Then again with some of these peolpe around here, I wished we had that law.

[Marko]

Good luck tomorrow Jim

[Budo]

Awesome... Good luck with the tests :D

[Scooter Scott]

Good luck Jim, I'm sure you will do fine. I'm glad I started on small bikes and worked my way up. Working a a bike shop helped a lot too. When I first started working there I jumped on a Kawasaki 500 triple and flipped it over in front of the shop. I got hurt and the owner was not impressed.

[tripleracer]

nice one scott. how you coming on your training Jim?

[Recumbent Jim]

It is all good.
I have done some training on a GS500E, a step up from my Derbi GPR. Heavier and more powerful than my current ride it did take me an hour or so before I was able to put the worries about the extra weight and power out of my mind and just ride the lump. By the end of the morning I was riding tight figure eights, weaving between cones, pulling off the dreaded high speed swerve manouver and not forgetting the ermegency stop. I was half expecting the GS500E to be the finger of god pushing at my back when compared to my Derbi, and while it was most impressive to begin with by the end of the day I was begining to get comfortable with the extra Wooooo!.

The best bit of my first day had to be when I had just pulled onto a 2-lane highway with my instructor behind me and another learner behind him, I joined behind a HGV and the overtaking lane was clear..... so mirror, signal, lifesaver and ka-ZOOOOOM! 30 to 70 mph in a flash and a "Nice!" over the radio. As much fun as my Derbi is in the twisties she really lacks any punch coming out of turns or trying to overtake, while the GS500 has that punch it wasn't as much fun pitching it into turns. Towards the end of the day the I was leading our little trio through some nice winding roads and was really digging the extra pull when exiting the corners when I heard "Very nice Jim, but ease off a little and let Simon catch up". Simon was coming from riding a RS125 (derestricted to 30hp ... it should have been 15hp like my Derbi - naughty boy!) my instructor called him a "point and squirt merchant" as he had "no idea how to corner". Sprinting between corners and tipy-toeing around them was his style. It seems my time spent trashing a 15hp 125cc for 6 months has paid off.:grin:

Now I just have to fit some more training around my shifts and then pass the remaining two tests... then I'll be all set for a big'un all of my very own. :hooray::hooray::hooray:

But I'm in no great hurry, partly as I don't want to get stressed while trying to pass the tests... and partly as I'm still learning while riding my 125.

All in good time.:smug:

[chimkychink]

Nice dude, good luck with the tests. If you need any help/tips on some of the manouvers the ask here :thumbup: I'm in the London area if you need any extra practice on a bigger bike. If you can u turn a 675 you can do it on anything.

[DoubleApexx]

Nice dude, good luck with the tests. If you need any help/tips on some of the manouvers the ask here :thumbup: I'm in the London area if you need any extra practice on a bigger bike. If you can u turn a 675 you can do it on anything.

I can't U turn a 675. Maybe I better start practicing more...

Good luck on the rest of your tests, Jim! And good for you for not being in a hurry. I took similar progression steps when learning to ride - I started with a beat-to-crap Ninja 250, went to an SV650... then 5 years later my 675. As you said, "All in good time".

[ShnikeJSB]

I can't U turn a 675. Maybe I better start practicing more...

Good luck on the rest of your tests, Jim! And good for you for not being in a hurry. I took similar progression steps when learning to ride - I started with a beat-to-crap Ninja 250, went to an SV650... then 5 years later my 675. As you said, "All in good time".

To be honest, the 675 is definitely more of a bitch to do a u-turn than any of the other 3 bikes I've been on for any length of time. The fact that it is tall with weight pretty high up (with the exhaust and all), coupled with a shorter lock-to-lock turning radius, make it more of a pain than some. :thumbup:

I definitely think an SV650S or SV650 (now replaced by the "Gladius") would be a good next step for you. :)

[Recumbent Jim]

It is "Test Time"
:party:
I am now ready for my Module1 test, and tomorrow at 11:35 I am due at the Bristol Multi Purpose Test Centre where I'll have to run through the standard motorcycle control malarky. So fingers crossed, but not while demonstrating slow speed clutch control :laugh:, I'll be one step closer to having my full license. Next step is to take the Module2 test, which apparently I'd have passed today if one of the stints on the road had been the test, and then.... SHOPPING!!

[Budo]

Sahhhweeeeeeeettt!!!

[Recumbent Jim]

:cursin:
:censored:
:rant:
:nothappy:
:sad5:

[Scooter Scott]

:cursin:
:censored:
:rant:
:nothappy:
:sad5:

Rut row. :unhappy:
What happened?

[ShnikeJSB]

Figure-8 getcha? :raspberry:

I don't even know if you have to do that there, but I did -- and it's the ONLY spot I messed up in during the license test. I put my foot down a split second. It was nearly impossible being 6'1" and attempting to do a tight figure-8 in a tiny box on a FLIPPIN' MIDGET REBEL 250... :notamused:

But I still passed easily. What happened with you?

[Recumbent Jim]

Figure-8 getcha? :raspberry:

I don't even know if you have to do that there, but I did -- and it's the ONLY spot I messed up in during the license test. I put my foot down a split second. It was nearly impossible being 6'1" and attempting to do a tight figure-8 in a tiny box on a FLIPPIN' MIDGET REBEL 250... :notamused:

But I still passed easily. What happened with you?

I can't believe I failed
My instructors can't believe it

I put a foot down on the U-Turn. Never done that before, no other mistakes or problems. Oh well there is always next time.

[ShnikeJSB]

I can't believe I failed
My instructors can't believe it

I put a foot down on the U-Turn. Never done that before, no other mistakes or problems. Oh well there is always next time.

That's ALL you did, and they failed you for it??? That's crap...

[Budo]

Wow... that sucks Jim.

How long before you can re-test?

[Recumbent Jim]

I left my bike keys on the table in the test centre and had to dash back inside to get them while the examiner was waiting and things went a bit south from there. I was a touch too slow in the U-Turn and dabbed a foot down... FAIL! At least I was allowed to go through the rest of the test so I consider it a "practice" run.


That's ALL you did, and they failed you for it??? That's crap...

Well those are the rules. I didn't successfully demonstrate slow speed motorcycle control to the examiner... Although I had no trouble with the figure=8, slow ride or even the slalom. For slightly over half the cost of a full day training. I got half day training, which was really fun and I got a test chucked in.
I felt the raw power of a GS500E cranked all the way full throttle as I thrashed it on the way back from the test centre, it was my instructor's idea... honest! Rob said "let's have some fun on the way back to base.." and directed me onto the 70mph limit two lane road... Yeeeeee-HAW!

Now I just have to rebook the test when I get some more free time in a week or two and go from there. I can always dump in some more Module2 training inbetween. Once again riding my 125cc home was painful as the memory of what a humble GS500E felt like was still fresh in my memory.

[ShnikeJSB]

70mph 2-lane road?!?!? Illinois' EXPRESSWAYS are only 55mph, let alone some random 2-laner! :whawhat:

[chimkychink]

That sucks dude... If it makes you feel any better I failed first time. Absolutley true story, I did my test years ago, before all this new 2 part thing. I actually passed my test but the examiner marked the wrong box by mistake. By law back then, you weren't allowed to edit or modify the test sheet in anyway, or issue a new one. So even though I passed I actually failed, got a free 2nd test that I passed.
I'm totally confused about this new test thing... I thought you did all the slow speed and uturn shit in the first part... Do you have to do it twice? IMHO doing a uturn without putting your foot down doesn't mean shit let alone prove slow speed control

[chimkychink]

Oh yeah... I forgot to say... When I was learning I was fucking terrible at uturns... I kept practising by myself, but what I did was do it in HALF the road, from the kurb to the centre line, gotta counter steer like crazy... Anyhoo I pretty much mastered it so when I actually did the test on the full sized road it was a pisstake how much space I had... I pretty much did it in half the road :laugh:

[Recumbent Jim]

Over confidence claims another sucker!!
Yup I've binned my ride. A lovely downhill left right S-bend caught me out. Too fast into the left and not enough skill/road to make the right so had a botany lesson as slammed I into the grass bank at the side of the road. All I remember thinking was "I hope this doesn't hurt too much!" I ended up on my back, feet in the road beside my bike. What a newbie crash. Too Fast, looking where I was going to crash and not where I needed to go, and throw in some front brake and game over.... at least I got a "continue..?"
Step one was "ouch!" pain means alive yay!
Step two was toes and fingers moved
Step three was pain wasn't too bad and located between shoulders
Step four was call for help.

So the bike is damaged, strange that eh?
Gear shifter peg has broke off, left mirror and front signal are toast.... not forgetting the left fairing is cracked around the mirror mount. I haven't looked any closer yet so who knows what other damage there is. The front has to be suspect,
Right now I'm relieved to be alive and thankful I binned my 125 and nothing faster heavier and more expensive.

132 miles into a 134 mile trip to my parent's for Easter and I bin it 2 miles from my destination! At least I was able to call my folks to recover the bike in their trailer.

YES I was wearing full gear. The back armor took quite a punch looking at it, saving me from quite a nasty back injury... although the discomfort I've been having is bad enough.

It has been and embarrasing, expensive and painful lesson. One I shall learn from and get back on my bike once it has been fixed. My bike is still at my parent's farm and will stay there until it gets collected on Monday, after which the damage will be assessed by the insurance peeps and I'll find out what happens from there.

[Brian675]

Sucks to hear you crashed, glad you're alright for the most part.
Hope this doesn't discourage you from riding.
Best advise I can give is fix it up, take a moment to think why it happened, and go back to riding.

[Marko]

That sucks that you binned it but as many before have pointed out there are two kinds of riders those that have crashed and those that haven't crashed yet.

At least your sense of humor is wasn't hurt to badly, botany lesson indeed. :nod:

[Recumbent Jim]

At least your sense of humor is wasn't hurt to badly, botany lesson indeed. :nod:

My sense of humor has always been a little twisted if not sprained. It will take more than a little crunch to dampen my spirits when it comes to two wheels. Life is far too short to be taken seriously... for starters you'll never get out of it alive :grin:

If you can't find something to chuckle about.... you're simply doing it wrong!:raspberry:

[ShnikeJSB]

My sense of humor has always been a little twisted if not sprained. It will take more than a little crunch to dampen my spirits when it comes to two wheels. Life is far too short to be taken seriously... for starters you'll never get out of it alive :grin:

If you can't find something to chuckle about.... you're simply doing it wrong!:raspberry:

Try having that attitude after dropping a bike costing 3x as much as your Derbi, then we'll talk. :laugh:

Then again, I've never done it either. Only to my 1st 2 bikes, which cost $3200 (2000 YZF-600R) and $3700 (2003 SV650S) -- basically 1/3rd of the 675. And I was pissed when I did to those 2, so I guess I can't speak, LOL! :raspberry:

[Recumbent Jim]

Try having that attitude after dropping a bike costing 3x as much as your Derbi, then we'll talk. :laugh:

Then again, I've never done it either. Only to my 1st 2 bikes, which cost $3200 (2000 YZF-600R) and $3700 (2003 SV650S) -- basically 1/3rd of the 675. And I was pissed when I did to those 2, so I guess I can't speak, LOL! :raspberry:

I'm not taking my crash lightly. I'm only too aware that a slightly different angle of impact and I could have broken something. Perhaps even added to the list of bikers in the sky. I'm also angry at myself for throwing away my bike like that, I can't afford to drop a £10 note let alone a bike that cost me £3000! But what is in the past can't be changed and I have to deal with it and move on. I've done the whole ranting, raving, arm waving (well metaphorically as my shoulder pain prevented much upper body movement :grin:) shouting disappointed thing. Staying like that isn't good for my state of well being, nor will it make it any easier to jump back on any bike in the future. So as with anything like this I accept my mistakes, try my best to learn from them, mock myself & make light of the whole thing and put it behind me.
I find that it keeps me sane. Well mostly!!

[Recumbent Jim]

Well my Derbi is being repaired... I can't wait to get my bike back. Today was a lovely day for a ride, but since I don't have my bike I couldn't go out for a Sunday morning ride with my mate. I had to watch as he rode off alone, wondering when I'll be able to gently let out the clutch and follow on in his wheel tracks again. :sad5:

Still things are looking up. I was wondering around Fowlers in Bristol, my local triumph dealer. Looked at, sat on and dreamed about bike ownership. They didn't have much new stock, a few STRs (droool) some Rocket3s (not to my taste) no Daytonas (grrrr!) but I looked at all the shiny bikes they did have. The summer is coming and I would like a new bike in time for the better weather that is due, so I asked about the wait for bikes. They have been allocated a single 2010 SE. I wandered home, by bus!!! (and as a bus driver that is so annoying!!) thinking all the time about this being my best chance to get the bike I want... I've handed over £300 as a deposit and that 2010 SE has my name on it and it should arrive in June sometime. Now I have a bit of a rush to get my full licence before the bike arrives. :afraid: but I had to act to make sure I grabbed that bike. I can't have someone else riding around on my dream bike can I?

So sometime in June I'll trade in my Derbi for a shiny new SE. I'll be sure to take plenty of pics as Fowlers turn a Derbi into a Triumph for a large stack of £££s :laugh:

[Scooter Scott]

Saw your post in the chatbox earlier and am very happy for you. Just be very careful when you get it and try to get some more seat time on anything first.

[ShnikeJSB]

That's QUITE the jump there dude!!! :whawhat:

Just take it easy when you DO get her, respect her, and be aware of her much higher center of gravity than your Derbi!

[Recumbent Jim]

Woooooo!!!
My Derbi is coming back on Wednesday morning. So I'm going to be spending that morning sitting around in my bike gear waiting for my bike to be delivered!
:party:

[Budo]

Two weeks... that's not that bad at all :D

[Marko]

Could be a long couple of weeks

[Recumbent Jim]

I got my bike back at 9am today. All fixed and looking like new. So I geared up, swung a leg over my bike and thumbed the starter. I was a little nervous as the last time I was sat on her I was about to crash! Deep breath, clutch in, push down into 1st and slowly ease out the clutch. I took it really easy in the first few turns and realised I was mincing around for no reason. I know why I crashed, I know it was my fault. So I got on with the ride and enjoyed the hell out of it! No going into corners too fast... damn I've missed having a bike!
Next week the tests and lessons start again.
Then in June I get a new bike... Soooo excited!

[Recumbent Jim]

Tomorrow I'm taking the parking lot, bike control, slow speed manouvers Module 1 test again... as I failed with a foot down in the U-Turn on the first attempt!!). Then a few more sessions and the real road riding Module 2 test. Fingers crossed I'll pass and finally get my full licence, which I need for my '10 SE which is due to arrive "sometime in June". I'm going to miss my little Derbi 125 when she gets traded in for a bigger bike.

[ShnikeJSB]

I'm going to miss my little Derbi 125 when she gets traded in for a bigger bike.

You're going to forget AAAAALL about your Derbi once you put a few hundred miles on a 675. :thumbup:

[Marko]

You're going to forget AAAAALL about your Derbi once you put a few hundred miles on a 675. :thumbup:

Do you really think so? I remember my first bike, it holds a special place in my soul. Some of the other bikes I've owned are chapters in my life but I will never forget my first bike.

[ShnikeJSB]

Do you really think so? I remember my first bike, it holds a special place in my soul. Some of the other bikes I've owned are chapters in my life but I will never forget my first bike.

In my case, my first bike was very forgetful... :laugh:

I had a "previously crashed-n-fixed" 2000 Yamaha YZF-600R. What a pile of crap that bike was... :raspberry: I have fonder memories of my SECOND bike -- the my '03 SV. But really, the 675 blows them all away in every which way -- including my attachment to her and memorability. :thumbup:

I never even GAVE names to my first 2 bikes. They were just that -- bikes. But Chloe is different.

[Recumbent Jim]

Whooooot!!
I did it on the second time of asking. This time my feet didn't leave the pegs... well unless it was time to bring the test bike, a GS500e, to a stop and listen to the examiner's instuctions for the next part of the test. I failed on my first attempt by putting my foot down during the U-Turn.
I was pretty nervous and I'm very happy to be back home with only one more test to go. That is booked for next week.
I'm one step closer to my full licence and full sized bikes!
Happy Days beckon!

[chimkychink]

NICE! congrats!
wanna buy my kwak? its a pretty sweet deal :nod:

[Recumbent Jim]

NICE! congrats!
wanna buy my kwak? its a pretty sweet deal :nod:

All things considered I'd really rather not purchase your kwak. Mainly for two reasons...
(1) I have a bike in mind, having already put down a deposit on a shiny '10 SE
(2) I have a bike in mind, having already put down a deposit on a shiny '10 SE

Now I know that is really just one reason, however it is such a big one it was worth mentioning twice.:grin:

[Marko]

Congrats on passing.

[Scooter Scott]

Jim, buy chimeys kwak and trash it a bit before you invest in a 675. Believe me you will be better off for it. Coming off the little derby you are going to have at least another off in your soon to come. save some money and maybe some skin. Ride safely dude.