Contact lenses FTW lol.

Obviously if you wear glasses then thats unavoidable but some of the injuries i've seen are pretty bad.

The person that invents prescription visors is going to be a very very rich man.

Apart from trying helmets on to get an idea for comfort, How did you decide on make/model? Are there any good safety rating sites to

They do have to pass certain safety tests, but its about what fits you the best, at a certain price point.

Different manufacturers use different shell shapes, so they suit different people better, depending on the shape of your head.

I find shoei helmets fit me best, and are of a good quality. So i always go for the best i can afford within their range.

I do indeed wear glasses! I've not tried contacts as I'm not sure I could put them in tbh, I'd not even thought about glasses in the lid. :( saw a British superbike rider with glasses on today too! I just assumed as they're wedged in so tight they'd not move much tbh. Bad times!

Its the shock of a severe crash that can cause lenses to shatter as opthalmic lenses aren't safety glasses.

Therefore they don't get all the usual impact, shock and penetration test that safety specs do.

iirc only Oakley lenses conform to safety glass standard but thats only on Oakley original lenses, not lenses glazed into frame by opticians.

Might be worth giving contacts a go. It's a pain with glasses anyway tbh.

Worth trying them as most optician's offer a free fitting for them.

Contact lenses technology has moved on leaps and bounds nowadays, very comfortable to wear and can get up to 12-13 hours continuous wear from them too.

 

 

 

 

Have a read up here Matt. http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/

SHARP are an independent body who test decent crash helmets. 

If it has a sharp rating of 4 or above then it's a decent lid. 

Anything by Shark will fall into this category(4+ out of 5 stars) but for me the reason 

I bought a Shark lid was the optically perfect visor (Really thick visor too) 

 

In short, Fibreglass is generally better than polycarbonate. 

Carbon Fibre is the lightest but so will your wallet be after buying one. 

Go for double D fastening. Simple and not much to go wrong, avoid fussy ratchets

or seatbelt style buckles. 

A removable washable lining is a very good idea. 

Look for ACU gold sticker on the rear of the lid. this sticker means it's allowed

to be used on track so is a fair indicator of quality

 

Thanks, will take a read through url

 

 

Good route to go down to try it first and see without spending a fortune. If you pick a decent bike you shouldnt loose much at all over a year, good 125's dont seem to depreciate! Whats your commute like? Get the CBT done with a decent school, my instructor was saying how he installs the basics in his CBT training so no only will the new riders be as safe as possible but if any want to go on to do their DAS then they will have be practicing the correct things from the start. Obviously there is a limit to what you can cram into one day AND all schools should be doing the best they can but he has had people turn up to a DAS after CBT'ing somewhere else and havent a clue! 

 

As for the lid advice, Garry has covered the main bits. I'll be honest, I just went to a big warehouse type bike shop with loads of lids on display up near Skegness. Basically discounted anything I haddnt heard of below £100. Tried them all on, decided which I preferred and went from there. My mate (a biker) made me put them on then held it while making me try and move my head side to side, up and down etc. I wanted the Guy Martin lid but I could quite manage the £999 price tag.

I've found a couple of bike shops in Sheffield/Barnsley of which I intend to drop into all of them to have a good look around and see what they say about their own stock.

 

My commute is 34miles round trip which I currently cycle, there are a lot of hills due to living on the edge of the Peak District, I work in the centre of Sheffield so have a lot of fantastic routes to get to work. My only reason for looking at a motorbike is down to my health, I've been advised to cut my cycling down. 

 

 

Trying them on is an absolute must but you do need to know what to look for.  

 

Safety is a great thing to consider as the helmet is the most important bit of kit (and the only one legally required).  However there are other things to ensure are right.

 

Short term comfort is easy to consider but helmets need time to settle (ie foam will slightly compress) so what feels okay in some areas (mainly forehead) for a short period may not diminish and actually build up over a longer time and become extremely irritating if not worse.

 

Fit - comfort aside make sure it fits properly where it should and will not come off when you try to pull it off when secured.  I always put the helmet on, sort the strap out then try and pull it off to make sure it doesn't!

 

Noise - not the easiest to check but really important.  I bought a flip front lid a few years back and it had good ratings on safety was very light but turned out to be very noisy, yes a normal issue with front flips but nothing indicated it on what I had seen through normal research, further digging after finding out did show up a noise issue from some.  It was a Caberg and in all but noise it was great.

 

 Clip mechanism - While Double D is a reliable standard I have had no issues with a seatbelt type lock on my Schuberth and really doubt that a helmet such as that will have quality issues on the clasp which others would not have previously highlighted or the company rectified.  

 

What you really want is a stockist who has a good selection and a sales team who will spend the time to get you the right lid rather than just boost their profit margin.

 

I would really consider a helmet which has a built in sun visor.  Illegally tinted (or non street legal) visors are available and I have used them rather than risking sunglasses inside my helmet (various horror stories about the consequences of this in crashes available on the web).  Tinted visors are good but they are something the police can pick you up on and I have seen numerous people get caught out after sunset with no alternative than to ride home with the visor up.  The drop down sunvisor is great, although in reality not as great as the full replacement visor but does combine effectiveness with functionally and legality.

 

I have never compromised on helmets as they are what I consider to be one of the main things protecting me from the outside world.  The only time I let my guard down was buying the caberg which while looking at the Sharp rating came out with 4 starts, the same as my newer lid, but was too noisy to use for protracted periods, even with ear plugs in.

 

Alas not an easy item to buy.

 

I've seen a few helmets with built in visors but discounted them as I wear glasses which tint when in sunlight, I had them made when I started cycling as they're fantastic for all weathers and keeping those pesky fly's out of your eyes, I hadn't considered the impact side of things!

Well the wait has ended, the bike was finished and MOT'd yesterday. Got the bloke to drop it off then I went for my first solo ride  :sun: Filled it up with fuel, quick visit to my brother then a little ride, thought I'd do a bit of everything, through town, down the dual carriageway, then a bit of countryside twistys. I was taking it very very carefully, new tyres and a new bike so it was nice that the roads were quiet, I could just concentrate on what I was doing. 

 

I can see now why everyone was banging on about the CB for a first bike, I love it! Nice and light, nimble, easy to ride. It's kinda got 3 modes, 0-4,000 rpm is nice and relaxed, chugs along nicely. Then 4-7,000 it has a nice lump of torque to ride on, after that it takes off right through to the redline. Even the mirrors do a reasonable job at seeing behind! 

 

I just need to sort the rear shocks out, each is on a different preload setting and either adjust the brake pedal or my foot position. As soon as you touch it the light comes on. Aside from that it's all good, love it! If I feel ok (I've not been well) I might go visit my uncle in London this week. 

 

Few little plans for the bike, get some new bar ends to tidy it up a little, give it a good clean and polish up. If I keep it long term I'll get some Hagon rear shocks. 

What size bar ends mate? What diameter tube?

Not sure tbh, need to dig about and see. Shocks adjusted, feels a little better now. 

 

 

My not quite so swish clocks lol

^^^ If Subaru made bikes....

 

I've always liked a good solid Honda.  I honestly don't think it matters what you're 

riding after passing the test, it all feels awesome. 

 

Don't tell the Mrs but I have secret plans for obtaining a second bike...

Something, 4 cyl revvy and a fair few years old might be nice. Always

fancied a CBR 1000F as a nice supersports tourer. Seen plenty of low priced

examples and they are a good solid bike if you find a decent straight and honest

one.  But waiting for the right opportunity, something I can pimp and make loud 

and properly tinker with and not be worrying about keeping my warranty intact

but no rush though, having loads of fun on the ER. Although I took the time to wash the 

dust off of the Audi today. Clearly neglected lately I thought it deserved a clean at least. 

Off out on the bike again though tomorrow. Wife is out until 11 pm so I'll be off for a spin.

I'm trying to empty my tank so I can try a tank full of super to see if she runs a bit smoother.

As its a 650 twin it's quite a vibey bike so if it runs smoother on super I'll keep putting

that in. It's a fuel injected bike so the computer should sort itself out after it's done a few miles

on the higher octane fuel.  We shall see...  

^^^ If Subaru made bikes....

 

I've always liked a good solid Honda.  I honestly don't think it matters what you're 

riding after passing the test, it all feels awesome. 

 

Don't tell the Mrs but I have secret plans for obtaining a second bike...

Something, 4 cyl revvy and a fair few years old might be nice. Always

fancied a CBR 1000F as a nice supersports tourer. Seen plenty of low priced

examples and they are a good solid bike if you find a decent straight and honest

one.  But waiting for the right opportunity, something I can pimp and make loud 

and properly tinker with and not be worrying about keeping my warranty intact

but no rush though, having loads of fun on the ER. Although I took the time to wash the 

dust off of the Audi today. Clearly neglected lately I thought it deserved a clean at least. 

Off out on the bike again though tomorrow. Wife is out until 11 pm so I'll be off for a spin.

I'm trying to empty my tank so I can try a tank full of super to see if she runs a bit smoother.

As its a 650 twin it's quite a vibey bike so if it runs smoother on super I'll keep putting

that in. It's a fuel injected bike so the computer should sort itself out after it's done a few miles

on the higher octane fuel.  We shall see...

Sounds like you need a zx7r

Mucho jealousy setting in seeing you both getting on the road

Mucho jealousy setting in seeing you both getting on the road

 

The thing is Matt, I was frankly flabbergasted at how quick it all 

happened, if I hadn't been waiting for test dates I could have cracked

it all out inside a week. Even with the delays waiting for test slots it still

took less than a month.

 

That ZX7R is probably too much of an outright performance machine for me...

I'm only looking to drop about 1500 on a new bike, but as I said no rush I can 

wait for a bargain to come up. I have plenty of ways to get my butt from a to b

as it stands. Have to switch my attentions to getting the van through its MOT later.

I've just bought a sofa for my kitchen via ebay and need to go collect it later this week. 

I'm going helmet shopping today, I've got a few makes/models written down that fall into the 5star rating for me to try. My brother has found me a waterproof Buffalo Jacket/Trousers deal that I shall be buying, then I only have the boots/gloves/CBT and bike to buy.

 

I'm definately going for a 125 as the only experience I have on 2 wheels is cycling & 16years ago when I ran a 50cc scooter for a few months (before it got stolen).

 

Bike wise I've narrowed down to a 2nd hand Yamaha YBR or a new Zontes Panther. The shop where my brother takes his Triumph speed triple have sold the Zontes for the last 3 years and they have stopped selling all other 125's, they rate these highly, especially since the 2nd revision.

Although reading this  it does seem like a fairly decent starter bike 

I'd still go for the Yam,

You'll shift it on easier after you've finished with it and

it should be very very reliable whilst you use it. Also there are easily

available parts and ANY motorcycle shop will work on it. I've heard some places

get a bit pi55y about working on chinese/vietnamese bikes and parts can be

sometimes be hard to find. The Yam is a very easy bike to use having ridden one

myself. I can't comment on the Panther. Look forward to seeing your bike when you get it.

Whatever it is.  

 

My advice, whatever you buy  if it doesn't have them already put a set of the

best tyres you can buy for it on it. Certainly do not trust budget brands, if you

haven't heard of the maker don't buy the tyre when you're talking about bike tyres. 

Soft quick to warm rubber will be your friend while you get your practice in, and

get something with good reviews in the wet as well. All season biker needs an all season

tyre.

 

It sounds like you'll be an all weather biker so get some good 1 piece waterproofs. 

I bought these after reading a lot of reviews, at that price point you'll get none better.

Cold wet riders aren't concentrating on the road as much as the warm dry ones are. 

I got the fluo ones. And they fold into a built in inside pocket with a strap and buckle

and you can strap them your seat as they are quite chunky and won't go under most seats.

They can be put on when already full clothed, I'm 6.0 and 12 and a half stone and they go over my 

full leathers and boots easily in size medium.  

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Richa-Typhoon-100-Waterproof-1-Piece-Over-Suit-for-Motorcycle-Motorbike-Scooter-/291068088777?pt=UK_Over_Suits&var=&hash=item43c50291c9

.    I've seen a few helmets with built in visors but discounted them as I wear glasses which tint when in sunlight, I had them made when I started cycling as they're fantastic for all weathers and keeping those pesky fly's out of your eyes, I hadn't considered the impact side of things!

You'll probably find they won't darken?

A lot of visors these days have UV protection and the glasses won't react behind those.

I went for a flip down sun shield for that very reason.

Those have a danger built in too. The flip down has been known to cause injury to noses inn the event of an accident but I'm prepared to accept that.

The sale of my Cyclocross bike has meant things are progressing a little quicker than expected.

 

My Buffalo Jacket & Trousers arrived today, both feature 2piece inner liners for insulation during the winter, both have protection plates in and zip together

 

Having tried them on today, there is just enough room for a lightweight jumper/fleece for the extra cold mornings. It does feel strange with all the extra weight of this clothing compared to what I'm used to when cycling (even in the winter)

 

Decided to set off early to work tonight so I could pop into SMC in Sheffield to order my helmet, as it turns out the had 1 left in my size & colour choice. I settled on the HJC IS-17, it comes with a 5 Star Sharp rating/inner visor/chin deflector & dust guard/removable liners/pinlock ready visor + insert & grooves in the padding to prevent pressure points when wearing glasses.

 

I also came out with a pair of Lindstrands summer gloves

 

All I need now is to get some boots/CBT & bike :)

Nice work, my wifes new leathers have turned up this week too. 

I'm happy she has proper leathers that fit her now. 

Got jacket and trousers in feminine design and cut

both RST branded from two separate auctions total spend

£100 and both are absolutely as new...

Nice hauls guys. I think I need to get new boots before anything else, mine are ok but a little restrictive with being able to move my foot up and down so I need to have a hunt about for some that are a little more supple maybe. 

Booked my CBT today, I'm really excited but at the same time really worried. 

You'll be fine Matt, just keep a level head, remember your observations and you'll pass.

On a side note, tomorrow will be 18yrs to the day that i passed my test lol

Nice hauls guys. I think I need to get new boots before anything else, mine are ok but a little restrictive with being able to move my foot up and down so I need to have a hunt about for some that are a little more supple maybe. 

Mine were like that, Could barely get them on and off. 

Thought about returning them and getting a half size up,

After a bit of wear they are perfect, the leather was just stiff

when they were new. I wore my boots round the house to break them in.

Wouldn't swap them now and with the amazing Dainese biker socks on they 

just slip off easy after a ride. Me and Mrs g just got back from Cheddar gorge 

after a spin down there on the bike this evening. Lovely evening for it. 

Booked my CBT today, I'm really excited but at the same time really worried. 

You'll love it. Just listen to what they are teaching you and you'll be fine. 

Mine are cheap ones, I think they're more winter orientated tbh. 

 

I want to go for a spin but dunno if I can be arsed on my own. My mate blew his CBR 600 up and doesnt get his new blade till next week, brother has no MOT, Uncle has gone on holiday. :( Never mind, got world superbikes on sky box to watch lol