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Slowside

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  • Gender
    Male
  • Bike(s)
    KTM Duke 125
  • Location
    Ireland

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  • Interests
    MTB, running, gaming, cinema, ice cream runs on a motorbike.

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  1. Big maybe from me. My budget limits me to older bikes, which generally don’t have ABS. However, I do often wonder if I should spend a bit extra to put me into newer bike territory which will increase the ABS equipped options. Pretty much no doubt in my mind, based on the evidence at hand, that ABS is a proven benefit in reducing the risk of a crash. The fact that it only comes into play in extremes is the reason I’d want it. You can ride for months or years without a single incident, but that 1 time someone pulls out at a junction in front of you on a wet road is where you’ll be thankful for it.
  2. You will also need to pass your theory test before you do your MOD1+2 tests. Some schools include this in their fee and book it for you (mine did), others will expect you to have done this before booking with them.
  3. Following on from my MOD1 post, passed my MOD2 at an incredibly wet Banbury today with 1 rider fault. The test centre at Banbury is like a damp old school building with a service road that consists entirely of pot-holes and gravel. Hardest part of the test was getting in and out of the centre without stacking it into a hole in the ground. Examiner was a very nice guy. Calm, polite and friendly. At no point did I think he wanted anything else but to issue a pass, the rest was down to me. We set off through the town centre and then around a variety of housing estates and greasy national limit back-roads. Due to conditions I was fairly cautious with the throttle, but didn’t get marked down for that. Had my head on a swivel to ensure all my observations were noted. Despite being one of my worst rides (very stiff and awkward due to nerves) I didn’t make any critical errors. On the independent ride I missed a left turn I needed. It came up too soon and although I could have made it if I’d rushed it, I chose to pass it and be safe. Heard a subtle ‘tsk’ through the comms, followed by a “okay, you’ve missed your turning, please could you double back at the next roundabout”. Grabbed the turning on the way back without any probs. 1 rider fault for hesitation. Stopped at a cross-roads intersecting a 50mph road. Examiner pulled up level with me, reasonable gap in traffic, he must have assumed I was about to go as I heard him throttle up ready to pull away, but I bottled it. Knew there and then that was a mark against me, but stayed calm, waited for the next gap, life-savers done and away with no drama. General meander back to the test centre, right turn in across the ravaged service road, park up without falling over, test done! Soaked to the skin, but passed.
  4. In the spirit of contributing something back, just completed my MOD1 yesterday at Kettering test centre. The place itself is very open and modern, with plenty of conveniently placed parking. Just don’t park in the bay closest to the gates, else you will need to execute a u-turn just to get into the paddock. Examiner was a very nice guy called Nick. Top marks to him for putting me at ease before and during the test. Managed to pass with no faults. Overall I felt a little awkward due to nerves, but having completed dozens of mock tests beforehand it all went without a hitch. As someone who has always found slow speed handling that hardest part of riding, none of it was overly challenging. The high speed manoeuvres are among the easiest to pull off in my experience since they are at the bikes happy speed. 50-60kmh is really where a modern 600 is in its element, with bags of grip and stability. You just look where you want it to go. This test really is mind over matter. Easy to say now (was a bag of nerves before hand), but anything you can do to loosen up will go a long way to get your through the test. Top tip, have a procedure for each stop and start and take lots of time. Mine was stop, life savers each side, neutral, listen to next instruction, LONG SLOW BREATH, click into 1st, life savers again.
  5. AKAIK, if the carriageway is wide enough that you can pass a doors width away, whilst still on your side of the divider, then you should proceed with caution. Full observations including lifesaver, reduced speed pass parked cars and another life saver over left shoulder once you’re clear the last parked car before pulling back to position 2.
  6. Your CBT allows you to ride a 125 with a power output not exceeding 15bhp. Unfortunately, restricting a larger capacity bike is not permitted, or indeed possible in any practical sense. If your CBT is nearly up and you are confident, then a very short DAS course is the way to go so you can get your full license as cheaply as possible.
  7. Assuming you are not filtering and are slowly moving along in a stop-start queue of traffic, what is your preferred method of inching along? I’m quite happy with slow speed control and can crawl along at a snails pace whilst the traffic is moving. But when I need to stop and then move forward to close up the 8ft gap that has opened, the process of moving off, feet up on the pegs, slow back down, foot back down and stop smoothly in a gap the length of bed can be a bit rushed. Usually I’ll leave a big enough gap to make this process smooth, but sometimes that isn’t possible. I see more experienced riders either foot dragging or duck waddling in these situations, but I tend to stick with the feet up and soon as you are moving approach.
  8. I have a few pairs of Bull-it SR6 jeans in various styles which I really rate. My earlier pair which are about 2 years old are still in great condition, but the sizing was well off and they came up about 2 sizes bigger. A new button fixed that but it was still quite annoying. Most recently I’ve bought a couple of pairs of the Cafe style as SBS are doing them half-price and I was relieved to find the sizing spot on now. Comfort wise they are very good, I ride in them to work, wear them all day without getting too warm and ride home. They will keep you dry in a light shower, but they do suck up moisture so stay damp for a while. No idea how they perform in a crash and I hope to not find out, but the aramid layer seems pretty generous and the coverage is good. Don’t think you can do better for the 70 quid or so they currently go for.
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