Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

For gloves if you intend to ride on a typical UK/Scottish day would suggest spending more than a hundred. Sounds ridiculous, but even 10c at speed is cold.
Previously bought two sets of gloves (60 + 75 each) that weren't waterproof for more than a few minutes, not that warm (defo not for under 10c which it is here for half the year) but worst, could barely control the bike, comfy and flexible in the shop at 22c, but once outside they stiffened right up. The rst ones were so stiff I changed back to my old gloves on way home. Habe since soaked them and worn them whilst doing gym stuff to soften them and not much better.
Try them on a bike before buying!

How about boots? I went to my LBS for a helmet and gloves but their boots selection wasn't great and I'm fairly confident I can get the right size online...

boots

Just get a load from Sportsbikeshop, try on then send back.

IME you can get decent functional boots relatively cheap. Gloves you can't.

Personally I wanted something with decent shin protection, so went for these TCX S-Speed

They're great (here's my write up: https://www.lfgss.com/comments/13588084/ ) They come in regular, waterproof, and Gore-Tex. I found Dianese and TCX fit similarly, but SiDi didn't. Here's a long post with my other bike gear which includes the various boots I tried: https://www.lfgss.com/comments/13513793/

If you want something that works as a casual boot then there are tonnes of good options, TCX, Style Martin (sp?), etc.

If I'd known these existed tho I would have tried them on and saved up.

Daytona are great, can be resoled for reasonable money. You can go round the world in them.

I've got 2 pair of Alpinestars for round town, one trainer style, one slim black boot. Handy if all you're doing is getting somewhere in town and walking round.

I don't really do sports bike boots.

Noob biker here but I’ve bought both my boots, helmet and gloves from infinity so far. Defo worth it. The helmet was very reduced in price plus they ordered in the right pad kit to make it fit properly. The boots I could have got a little cheaper online but I got to sit in their nice shop and get advice and try various on. They have a loyalty card scheme too to accrue points for future savings. Not pushy at all on the sales.
If I’m not buying secondhand I’ll be using them from now on as my go to as they have been ace.

I can echo this^

Funny things boots...I rarely wear them on the street. I've got a set of Sidi racing boots and a set of Gaerne MX boots. From a protection point of view, the Sidis are not ideal - most racetrack crashes are not really the sort of crashes you have on the road, though the shin protection still comes in handy. The MX boots would be much better but MX boots are horrible to wear, walk or do anything in.

My Gaernes have saved me from at least 3 guaranteed broken ankles that road boots probably wouldn't have done - two from casing jumps and one from getting tangled under a crashing bike. They are way stiffer in the ankle and sole and super heavy but it makes them shit for everything else.

If I was still in London I’d head there but to be fair the LBS were basically perfect from a customer service POV. I checked the prices against online and they’re pretty similar so happy to keep going there when possible.
Gone big on the boots so next step is a jacket and jeans...

Spring is here, The grass is riz. Time to give the Thruxton a whizz:

Battery fully charged, fuel on, choke out, press starter

"Whrrrrr. whrrrrrrr. whrrrrrrrrrrrrr. whrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr."

Well fuck you very much Mr Triumph!

And I don't seem to have a thin-wall 18mm spark plug wrench to see if there is a spark.

I tried the Vespa and it runs like a champ. 40 year-old Italian technology beats 12 year old British.

Probably fuel rather than spark if it's been sat all winter mate. Drain tank, new gas and go hopefully!

There isn't a lot in there, so that's definitely on the to-do list. As is a carb service.
Just annoying that I seem to be missing the one tool that would allow me to do some basic troubleshooting!

Got given this as a loaner bike while the tiger got serviced, triumph speed triple.

Turned out the 18k service on the tiger was a bit more expensive then planned as new chain and sprocket was needed urgently so now £500 lighter.

Took the girlf on the back to collect my bike and she didn't enjoy it at all.

My thoughts on the triple are it is a fun pocket rocket for cruising around town or b roads but not much use on longer rides

Someone was talking about boots... I went for the Oxford merton5boots from Infinity. Kept my toes warm and dry over winter and would recommend

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Naked's never are though aren't they. I found the Street triple to be particularly bad once it creeps nearer to triple digits!

It's a pain in the arse, especially if you're tall - but it has enabled me to keep my license I guess.
Might go over to have a look at Flanders next weekend - will have a look for a touring screen - don't think much of the double bubbles.

Ah wind blast. Forgot what that's like. Head inside the double bubble on blackbird.

Is it weird to wear leather track trousers with a textile jacket on street?

No, I do it.

Sorry but if you wear leather trousers, you have to go the whole hog.

Joking aside, I also wear either a textile sports jacket (or a Barbour style wax jacket) plus leather trousers.

Tbh it makes a lot of sense as you get a lot of bang for your buck with a textile jacket and they can be a bit more versatile. With the liner my textile jacket saw me through a good part of the winter and honestly if it had a collar it might have done it all.

Cool, thought I might start with textile jacket then go full race suit for the weekend when I get more confident and the speed starts to go up.

More questions (sorry) anyone who has recently passed got a Highway Code or any practice materials they don’t need? I’m looking at you @PhilDAS

Sorry mate. My theory isn’t for another week and I’ve just been doing practise tests online

As phil said, theory test is on line so is the highway code. ;)

I'd look in to the hazard perception as my opinion of a hazard is different to the governments.

Kids today don't even know they are born

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-accessories/kids-bike-accessories/motorbike-noise-maker

You can get an app which is great. I used that.

Plus the whole Highway Code itself is online (or in the app).

Motorbike leather trousers and jackets are shaped for your riding position not standing up or sitting down.