Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

The idiots guide to bike exif is pretty good too.

I've got such an itch to buy a new bike but need to sort out the old cb750 in the garage first. Planning to clean the carbs this weekend then try and get it MOT'd in the next week or so. What I really want is a ktm 690sm with akras or a guzzi griso. Just need to find that money tree.

The dust covered thing in the garage is a '79 CB with dirt track tires and I have an open face ruby helmet. So that site was pretty close to my bone as well. It's not been running for at least a year and a half though so i'm deeming it pre-hipsterfication.

B.

I have a Griso, I can't think of a bike I'd rather have.

Maybe a Brough Superior or a Vincent Black Lightning...

Decided just to fork out the extra for the proper levers.

Getting there... has it started yet?

If you need a hand, I may be free over Easter to wield a hammer.

My gf has expressed an interest in getting a scooter.

She has a full car licence (passed approximately 3 years ago).

Am I right in saying if she does a cbt she can ride a 50cc scooter without L plates?

She says she's not fussed on ever riding a full motorbike so could she do a test on a scoot and be allowed to ride a 125 scooter? What about a 200 ie a Vespa Px? Would that need a full bike licence since it's got gears?

If a 50cc scooter is classed as a moped then it seems no L plates required. I'm pretty sure if you pass the practical on a scooter you'd need to retake on a geared bike before riding one with gears.

I passed my test 9 years ago but I still think this advice is still vaguely current. A CBT will allow you to ride any scooter/moped/motorbike up to 125cc with L-plates, no pillion allowed. Obviously if you do it on a twist-&-go scooter and then buy a motorbike you're a tit but it's permitted. I did my A2 full test on a Vespa (which reverts to an unrestricted license after two years) then four years later bought an unseen motorbike on eBay in the midlands. I just had to get it off the guys drive without crashing and by the time I got back to London I'd pretty much got the hang of it :S

/csb

Getting there... has it started yet?

If you need a hand, I may be free over Easter to wield a hammer.

Cheers, i think I think i should be ok.

Yep its started. Lynx helped me out loads on the servicing side.

In the end the problem with the throttle was because the bars were bent bang on the section where the throttle clamps. I've replace the bars and the throttle is moving freely. Fuck knows why I didn't do this a year ago.

Annoyingly it failed its MOT because of the brake lever being too short and the front brake light not working. Then guy in Burwins said he'd put them on if I bought them and they've got a ten day MOT retest deal thing.

Doubley annoyingly though he said i needed a new switch, which I bought this afternoon. When I got the bike home I had a look at the switch to see how it worked....

...it wasn't properly plugged in : |

My gf has expressed an interest in getting a scooter.

She has a full car licence (passed approximately 3 years ago).

Am I right in saying if she does a cbt she can ride a 50cc scooter without L plates?

She says she's not fussed on ever riding a full motorbike so could she do a test on a scoot and be allowed to ride a 125 scooter? What about a 200 ie a Vespa Px? Would that need a full bike licence since it's got gears?

If a 50cc scooter is classed as a moped then it seems no L plates required. I'm pretty sure if you pass the practical on a scooter you'd need to retake on a geared bike before riding one with gears.

Passing your car test no longer allows you to ride a moped without L plates and so on. It hasn't done so since 2001. She will need to take a CBT and if she does that then she can ride a 125 with L plates, and I would recommend that as a better option. 50s are dangerously slow.

If you take your CBT on an automatic scooter then you can still ride geared bikes up to 125 with L plates until the CBT runs out. However, if you pass your actual bike test on an automatic then you can only ride other automatics without L plates.

A Vespa PX200 needs a full bike licence because it's a 200cc, not because it has gears, but to ride it (or a PX125 without L plates) you must have passed your test on a geared bike.

I think a dirt cheap 50cc scoot and a cbt might be the way to go to see if she gets into it. She's quite a nervous driver, actually we don't have access to a car now we live together but when she lived at home she was so I'm not entirely convinced that two wheels of any sort will be the right way to go for her but I reckon we can do it pretty cheap as an experiment.

There's a small part of me that yearns for a buzzy, two stroke stinking chavvy scooter for some reason!

There's a group on discount for CBT at one of the local training places until 18/04/14 if you have a look.

Cheers.

^^ link: http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/surrey/uxbridge-motor-cycle-training/36415323?utm_source=localhub&utm_campaign=localhub&utm_medium=london

She will need to take a CBT and if she does that then she can ride a 125 with L plates, and I would recommend that as a better option. 50s are dangerously slow.

This and everything else BQ said. 50cc is fine if you're on a Greek island but not idea in London.

I'm really not sure why one wouldn't do a CBT and choose a 125cc. It's c.£80 and a day.

Rusty and I are in Glasgow but cheers.

I think a dirt cheap 50cc scoot and a cbt might be the way to go to see if she gets into it. She's quite a nervous driver, actually we don't have access to a car now we live together but when she lived at home she was so I'm not entirely convinced that two wheels of any sort will be the right way to go for her but I reckon we can do it pretty cheap as an experiment.

This might be the answer to that
http://www.uk.piaggio.com/piaggio/UK/en/news/MP3-news.html
3 wheels.

You can even get a version which qualifies as a car, so you can ride it on a full car licence.

Rusty and I are in Glasgow but cheers.

Oops :)

Rusty, you got a link? I thought I'd found it but was expired. Was it BikeRite?

Yeah I misread the groupon page because it had about 4 different dates on it. The voucher, if purchased, had to be used by 18/04/14. I thought it was available to buy until then.

No worries. Cheers.

Help! Does anyone have a bit of off-road space to store a motorbike for a month? The lease on my garage ran out this week so I need somewhere to park up the bike pronto while I get something longer term. I'm not using the bike at the moment, so no regular access needed.

I'm in Clapton - anything relatively close by would be appreciated.

cheers.

Help! Does anyone have a bit of off-road space to store a motorbike for a month? The lease on my garage ran out this week so I need somewhere to park up the bike pronto while I get something longer term. I'm not using the bike at the moment, so no regular access needed.

I'm in Clapton - anything relatively close by would be appreciated.

cheers.

I could offer a "secure" parking space in Downham. It's gated but there have been break-ins in the past, before my time there. So, basically, yes, but it's not Fort Knox and I couldn't be responsible should the worst happen.

Is there a list of recommended motorcycle schools in this thread?

I could offer a "secure" parking space in Downham. It's gated but there have been break-ins in the past, before my time there. So, basically, yes, but it's not Fort Knox and I couldn't be responsible should the worst happen.

I've got a garage at my house in Brixton where I keep my motorbike and bikes. A long way from Clapton, but might be a short term solution.

i did my cbt with metropolis but wasnt happy with the rest of the service i received. nice new shiny bikes but my instructor seemed demotivated and was attending his social and marital affairs via sms/text more so than he was focusing on us his pupils. should have pulled hm up about it there and then really.
had a great experience with motag in crystal palace who i passed with. a smaller concern, non shiny but good motorcycles and dedicated instructors who want you to stay alive and enjoy motorcycling (was the impression i got).

that said i think if you find a school that suits your temperament then you will learn and and as a consequence pass eventually. it might be the case that because of my temperament and being rubbed up the wrong way initially i would never have passed with metropolis.

I did my CBT with Metropolis and the instructor was excellent. The service from the sales person though was total bollocks.

Really unsure if I would go with them for my full test though. Still deciding...