O/T but I Passed

[Simon]

Okay off topic but just sharing because I'm telling everyone [smiley=Wink.gif],

Just taken my Motorcycle test (on the 25th) and passed woohoo,I've ridden and raced motorcycle's
since I was 11 but never got around to taking a full
licence test now at 43 I've done it,

now my licence is pretty full all passed first time,car, HGV class 1 (big rigs to you across the pond),and now motorcycle,
next maybe I'll go for a track licence eg tanks,
I've have had a FLT (forklift) licence before but thats lapsed,

anyway as you may tell I'm well pleased, gonna start
looking for a bike and gear next.

Simon.  

[Carbon_Angus]

it's probably very common to ride both, but i only ride pedal powered bikes.

do you need to wear brain buckets? in California, it's law.

[jeffhop]

well done simon, id love to pass my bike test but the wife wont let me, im stoopid enough in a car!!!  congrats!!!!

[Simon]

do you need to wear brain buckets? in California, it's law.

Yep its the law of the land and very strict one at that,

personally I won't ride a bike powered or unpowered
without a helmet.

Simon.

P.s thanks Jeff

[seanzzo]

49 years old started riding motocross at 7 got first harley at 13 took till I was almost 15 to assemble Dad gave it to me in pieces been riding since and still dont have one LMAO Maybe someday not this year though I may be going to Iraq for Halliburton HOOAAH

[Matno]

A doctor I work with witnessed one of his neighbors in a motorcycle crash week before last. The guy was in a relatively benign-looking crash (would have been a fender bender in a car), but on the bike, it sheared (literally) his entire right leg off. There wasn't even enough leg left to place a tourniquet. Basically, he was just shredded from the hip down. He also had a nicely broken forearm. Lucky for him, the first two cars behind him were a plastic surgeon (a rather famous one at that) who didn't hesitate to use his coat to stop the bleeding, and an emergency room nurse. According to the surgeon, he would have bled to death in less than 2 minutes.

Of course, the real tragedy was that his Ducati was demolished... (Okay, I'm not really THAT callous). I'm still trying to figure out why he had a Ducati though, because evidently, he had only recently taking up motorcycling for the purpose of riding it to the train station to commute into the city for work. I guess when you're rich...

Simon, drive safely! Here in the states, (statistically) motorcyclists have a 100% chance of getting into a wreck. The only variables are how bad your crash is and whether you get into more than one! Not good odds. I've seen enough post-crash patients to never want to drive one myself... (And I refuse to go faster than 60 mph on my Proflex...)

[orange]

A doctor working at A&E (Trauma/ER) I worked with told me how he was asked to confirm that a motorcyclist that had been in an accident was dead - when he opened the ambulance door the guy's head was between his legs... unattached. "Yes he's dead", the doctor said. Needless to say he never ever recommends motorbikes.

I scare myself enough on unpowered 2 wheels especially since it's not you the person on two wheels who a lot of the time causes the accident but the motorist who doesn't see you...
every day I coomute there's always at least one occasion when somebody cuts me up or tries to pull out on me because "they didn't see me" and if I'd been going faster I'd be in an accident.

Go carefully out there!

[kiwi]

Simon, drive safely! Here in the states, (statistically) motorcyclists have a 100% chance of getting into a wreck.

I cant understand that.
Simon if you pan to ride on the road,which i guess you are otherwise why get a  license.
1) Take a defensive driving course,to rejuvenate your "driving skills" and as a motorcyclist you HAVE to be defensive.
2) Take a proper motorcycle training course and shortly after an avanced riding course.You will gain lots of really information.
I used to ride motorcycles every day and every weekend for years.....eventually traded my bmw for a house,never really got back into it.Seriously considering another mcycle bike now for transport.

[Simon]

Thanks for all your concerns it is appreciated,
I do intend to have a follow up course,

I must admit I was very impressed with the standard
of training I was given,
firstly I had to take and pass a theory and awareness
test (on a computer) with the DSA,

once I'd done this it was off to CBT training on a 125
machine,this was impressive as the emphasis was on not on only learning to ride a bike but road awareness,
until they were satisfied did they let you onto the roads for more training,the guys were very strict
mainly with the young one's (those who'ed never been on the road before),
once this course was done I had 2 1/2 days of training on a Yamaha 600 not only for the test but road awareness, then my I had my test,
I think they pretty well prepared me for whats out there.

Simon.  

[orange]

It's something I've thought often that all motorists should be made to ride a bike/motorbike for a few weeks on the streets before driving a car. That way they'd learn a) defensive driving b) to look out for cyclists/bikers

[Carbon_Angus]

It's something I've thought often that all motorists should be made to ride a bike/motorbike for a few weeks on the streets before driving a car. That way they'd learn a) defensive driving b) to look out for cyclists/bikers

as well as those who walk their dogs on trails!

here we tend to ride and walk on trails the same as we drive ..on the right. What about in places where you drive on the left???

Angus

[Simon]

as well as those who walk their dogs on trails!

here we tend to ride and walk on trails the same as we drive ..on the right. What about in places where you drive on the left???

Angus

We tend to ride on the left as its on the public roads,
walkers tend to walk (with or without dogs) werever
they seem to like,my pet hate is a bunch of walkers
either walking towards you or away from you but they
have to take up the WHOLE trail and are always reluctant to move over and make room,

walking on a public road without a pavement (sidewalk) you are suppose to walk against the flow of traffic.

Simon.

[shovelon]

I cant understand that.
Simon if you pan to ride on the road,which i guess you are otherwise why get a  license.
1) Take a defensive driving course,to rejuvenate your "driving skills" and as a motorcyclist you HAVE to be defensive.
2) Take a proper motorcycle training course and shortly after an avanced riding course.You will gain lots of really information.
I used to ride motorcycles every day and every weekend for years.....eventually traded my bmw for a house,never really got back into it.Seriously considering another mcycle bike now for transport.

Good luck to ya guys.

I have been riding a motorcycle for almost 35 years now. The first mishap landed my bike under a cadillac when my throttle stuck and had me wheeli-ing through my high school parking lot.

My second mishap was when a Mercedes 450 sl cut in front of me and immediately came to a stop. I had to dump it on wet pavement. I had just dropped off my fiance.

In recent years, I have not riden very much. In fact, my Honda 600XL is parked in the garage, and rarely gets out. Beyond that, my other half convieniently forgets to pay the insurance for it.

Honestly, I am thinking of selling it, as the traffic situation here in Los Angeles is insane. My brother-in-law, the stuntman rides a motorcycle to the studio, but will never ride the freeway. Seen too many of his friends pegged.

Hey Simon, England sounds like a great place to ride to work. It will keep you out of the subway.

Terry

[Simon]

Hey Simon, England sounds like a great place to ride to work. It will keep you out of the subway.

Terry

Yep not to bad where I live and commute,
the B roads (tight twisting single carrageways)around here are ideal for bikes.

Opps just bought a bike off e-bay,getting it saturday,

Triumph Sprint RS


Simon.

[lewism3]

Get the bike out and cycle to work. That's what I do, just be careful where you leave and how you leave it. Friend of mine had her bike stolen from her back garden!!

Lewis