Chriswright03

Going back to one Ade as I don't think the second bike thing works for me. I have a mate who has 5 4 as he has just sold one a Tiger 800 as it happens. I thought I would ride it when I am out on my own but to be honest I just prefer the TEX far more so the hassle of having one stuck inside the shed not being able to move because the other is blocking the door is just not worth it. In any event I don't know what else I would get as I cannot abide chain drive and all the stuff that goes with it (no not going BMW!) So I think I shall use the money and add to it for another project that is bouncing around inside my bonce at the moment.

Well I can remember when leathers were lined with nylon! That is until they realised hownhotbit gets when sliding across tarmac. I think another thing to stress is that you buy from a reputable dealer and not from someone on t'internet flogging cheap copies.

Hope you are not holding your breath!

Hey there is nowt wrong with pies lad! Just to clarify here. I am not suggesting there is anything wrong with the IAM be it cars or bikes. I just have seen with my own eyes appalling riding from 'one' individual. That does not infer that those standads are either normal or accepted. I am sure you are well capable of making sure the instruction you are receiving is up to standard Ade. I would also like to stress that anyone considering taking further tuition should do so as it will be well wortwhile. I think it is vital that if you do you have confidence in your instructor and that if you see them doing something they shouldn't it won't assist with that. Thankfully it was not your instructor but it will be interesting to see if your instructor mentions the incident to the other rider and what response he gets.

Even when I was commuting to work as a bus driver where I always wore boots to drive in I always took them with me and wore full length boots as I just don't feel protected enough without. You can come a massive cropper at town speeds still and slapping your ankle down at any speed won't be the best fun I am sure. Each to their own Matt so your choice but the thought of ankle damage makes me shudder.

If I agreed to have a sidecar as well I could have three! Not going to happen. I would rather go and eat at Muckdonalds!

Sound advice but then you get this! :no: So as I have only just found this thread as well as a load of others in the biking section have you an update Aspman? What have you tried if anything or have you given up? I still love the Triumph Explorer but earlier this year gave into temptation aided and abetted by a number of RAT mates who have more than one bike and bought a Dayona 955i. I like it but don't love it and the idea was to ride it when I was out on my own. Problem is I have found myself taking the TEX instead because the Daytona just isn't my sort of thing really. Thing is you never know until you try and the only way is to buy one and if it goes wrong is flog it again. Which is exactly where I am.

Our local ones suggest you make a contribution to the fuel but don't insist. I agree about them being quite a social bunch and in fact the mate of mine who assesses with them did a run out for associates this Sunday just gone. Like I said there will be very good instructors and some not so good. When I was instructing for the BMF one of my fellow instructors had been out with an IAM group and one of them told him he needed to sharpen up his overtaking. He promptly rode off to lead and presumably show him how it should be done and took out a wheelie bin with his offside pannier! As long as you are happy with your instructor Ade that is what matters. For me I would never be happy with anyone that took me to a Muckdonalds!

I have actually witnessed some appalling riding my a Senior member of the Lincoln IAM. So much so that I commented on it to a couple of the other members about it then said I wouldn't be joining them as an instructor. His riding was to my mind dangerous and he was the Senior Examiner! It is the same as anything else though there are standards that should be adhered to and some people either will not or cannot do so. I have to say that the guy I am talking about was not a Police trained rider and had he ridden like he did in front of me on a test he would have failed. Apparently he is known for his 'style' of riding and comes up with an excuse for it which I consider to be lame in the extreme. We all do make mistakes and maybe this was one of the Ade or maybe he doesn't consider the lines apply to him who knows. Thing is you ride to your own teaching and standards and you won't go far wrong.

Who's that then Ade? Let me know and we will get them for you!

Or just a caution! Probably as good as time as ever for me to bring out a very old story. Bobby stops the bloke for speeding and the bloke says "Iwas looking for a sh1thouse" Bobby just smiles, gets out his pocket book and says "Congratulations you have just found one". Boom boom. I am here all week!

Which is what I expect Dave. Most of them (especially traffic officers) will realise that you are making safe progress and leave you to it. You might just get a normal bobby out on patrol (unlikely) and they may stop you because they 'think' it is dangerous/unlawful but once again that depends so much on variables. To be brutally honest there are so few bobbies out on patrol let alone routine patrol that chances of seeing one is remote and being stopped by one ever more remote because they are run ragged from pillar to post. Having said all of that I still wouldn't advocate blasting past at Mach 2 and if you do and get stopped don't come running to me!

I have never been concerned about people using sufficient speed to overtake safely as long as they are back within sensible limits once past. That is both as a Traffic Officer and an Advanced Instructor. So I am surprised that your assessor is concerned about it. It may be an IAM 'thing' but I can find out as one of my mates is an IAM assessor. When on general patrol in a Traffic car we used to sit around the 50 - 55 mph mark which gave people the opportunity to pass should they want to. I will admit not many had the nerve to but had they done so they would have been on their way much quicker. I will still pass a marked Police vehicle if it is below the speed limit and as long as I do it sensibly taking into account all the conditions around me I would never expect to be pulled. I think the main thing here is common sense and passing something that is travelling around the 55mph mark at 80 - 90 isn't going to work. Truth be told it is something that you could and sometime would be pulled for but if done sensibly most likely won't. Depends as much on the officer's viewpoint and sort of day he is having as anything else.

Sound good Ade but you know me there is no way I would spend extra money to have BMW written on my gloves. I could spend that money on cake!

Yeah well that isn't too difficult for a plumber is it? :p

Oh no! Not another BMW nut?

Well I did buy some last year. You know the sort with all of the knuckle protection. Fitted great in the shop but when I eventually did get to ride with them they were next to useless as they restricted my finger movement so much I found it difficult to use the controls. Ended up flogging them for a tenner which way way less than they cost me. Note to self go on the bike next time and try before I buy!

Something I really need to do Ade. My riding gloves have seen better days and as I have had them sice the start of the Century must do something about it. Was going to call in at J & S in Donny last weekend on our travels but didn't go on the bike in the end and as were were in the car due to the crap weather took a different route.

Thing is the blood biker service is doing something that should be paid for full stop. Let alone the volunteers have to pay for the fuel. Without it people would die so why does it only exist because of volunteers? That sort of thing should be funded by the NHS and thereby from central Government funds. It is a disgrace that it exists but for those that need it a service that can and does make the difference between life and death. I would gladly give up my time and ride for them but quite frankly I cannot afford to and when you see the obscene waste of money on MP's expenses I am appalled at the whole situation.

Sarky me? Well I never! I am not sure if blood bikers everywhere have to pay for their own petrol but they do in Lincolnshire Ade. If you have done all that training in the past Ade you will be fine. As you say just a bit of tidying up and polishing to do. I did some Training on a track day at Cadwell with a bobby from Leicestershire where we were taking some of the newer riders back to basics and this Guy was riding his Pan in ever decreasing circles and making me dizzy! All of the instructors I have come across have been so layed back they were horizontal! I am the same as it is no good being exciteable.

Good on you Ade and that just goes to prove that age is no barrier to learning. I have been asked to become an observer as I used to train and examine at Advanced level before and as much as I was flattered and it interests me I would hate to return to the days of having to go out on the bike for somebody else and not myself. I just feel it would take away the enjoyment. I have also backed away from volunteering for the blood bikes but that was mainly because you have to pay for your own fuel and over a busy weekend that could be two or three tanks worth and on my income I cannot afford that. I am delighted you have taken the opportunity and sincerely hope you learn something and enjoy it.

I know what that means without asking Dave.

Ooh get you! us Trumpet riders just gobble as much cake as we can get!

I did as well. :p Although I have to say that I nearly didn't have any friends after taking them out and promising them cake only to fail cos the caff was shut! Awfully nice of you to remember though especially what with your age problems and all.