Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Dress warm.
Read up on the Highway Code.
Enjoy.

Don’t be put off riding by how meh it is to ride a 125. Bigger bikes are both easier and better.

So long as you don’t totally hate it crack on and do your full test.

Same same. Really not a fan of upright bikes, after an hour my spine feels compressed despite all efforts to be relaxed and loose.

I'd echo @skinny The VFR800 ( I had the VTEC for a while) was a fucking express machine. Super comfortable too, and with the right cans, will play a really nice tune. Only reason I got rid of it was because it was a right arse pain to work on and I didn't have a garage.

They can be had for cheap and can also go like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHDe_dbVzJM

wear something warm & turn up early

Good job for getting out there and test riding without preconceptions. I'd just keep trying stuff until you find something you like. Maybe put the BMW up against the Suzook GSXS1000F next - both big fairing, sport-tourers with almost identical price and weight. Got to say, I reckon the Suzuki engine is one of the all time greats - supremely smooth grunty mid-range, more top end than you'd need and a snick snick gearbox. Looks surprisingly classy in Blue/Black.

https://bikes.suzuki.co.uk/bikes/sport/gsx-s1000f/

Not sure what other middleweight sportstourers are still out there? They've all gone a bit supersize me.

VFR800s a good shout too if you can still find a low mileage shiny one.

Don't be scared of dropping the bike.
listen to your instructor.
When you get on the roads, don't ride off to one side, own the lane.

I found talking to myself helped (if you've not Motorbiked before) "off the throttle, clutch in, change gear, clutch out, throttle on"

Enjoy it.

Thanks all, some good advice. Am looking forward to it, hopefully weather isn't too brutal ;)

No. I can’t get over the fiddly styling.

VFR800 is a good shout. Looks like you can get a very decent one for under £5k.

Multistrada for the win.

Fair enough. It's not for everyone but I really like the current yamaha styling.

I think I might be getting old.

I think Yamaha are making some brilliant tools at the moment but a lot of the styling is definitely an acquired taste. The MT series is a bit too power ranger and the sport heritage doesn't quite hit the mark. That said they all appear to be awesome bikes and the looks have certainly grown on me.

I'd love a play around on either of the 900 triples - everything I've read about them says they're a complete gas.

Definitely a taste I've acquired, I love pretty much all their styling at the moment. Bit more creativity than the usual "heritage" suspects.

If you find yourself back in London you're welcome for a piss about on my mt09.

I didn't get out of the office until 10pm last night and so had a bit of fun wheelieing on the way home. It just wants to.

I really do want to learn to wheelie. It's almost a crime I can't owning the ktm. Maybe I will go to wheelie school in summer.

I find clutch out wheelies are the easiest as they're not as violent as power on ones. The MT09 will power on wheelie in the wet in 4th gear if you turn stage 2 TCS off. It's an animal.

I’m too much of a coward!

Says the person who raced across Europe for lols.

HTFU etc.

Remember to cancel your indicators.

In fucking 4th clutched? How torquey is that motor? I thought you can only power out of 3/4th?

@skinny says the person who egged me on to join silk road for the lolz. (signed up btw, so my thanks and salutes)

MT stands for 'Master of Torque' in the MT range - they're not lying.

Stick it in 'A' mode and and twist the throttle hard enough in 1st to 4th and it'll pop the front wheel up.

Clutch wheelies will happen from 1st to 6th.

The OG MT (mt01) was a 1700cc brute that got through rear tyres quicker than a tank of fuel.
My mate had access to one for a while, said you could spin up in any gear, but it was slow (he had a zx6r, so most are slow in comparison)

Was that one supercharged as well? I can't remember. EDIT: no, but a common upgrade

Just seen brand new KTM 390s are on sale at £3k...very very tempting

That is tempting - they look a giggle.