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May 14, 2015 16:40:30 GMT
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So far in life I've only ever ridden an 80s 80cc J dirt bike thing when I was a kid, a Puch Maxi and an ex-military BSA 350 single cylinder and other than that steered well clear of bikes, pushed down that route heavily by my old man who had several very near misses on old Brit bikes in the 50s and 60s, his Velocette is the one he always chirps on about. However, a good friend has just passed his bike test and is now on the road and keeps telling me to take the licence. So far it's been a steadfast 'no', and if I did get a 'bike' it'd be a Lambretta which didn't go down well.
Then came yesterday, when alongside me at the lights a late 70s Kawasaki 400cc thing (sorry, don't know my bikes!) perfectly restored in a lairy green that was only acceptable in 1978 and gleaming chrome pulled up. The rider was wearing a matching 70s style Kawasaki leather jacket. It's the first time I've looked at a bike and got that same 'ooh' I get when I see a decent car, and the tiniest twinge that maybe I should take that bike test.
My question to you all is... Am I having a mid-life crisis and do I need to have a long word with myself?
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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May 14, 2015 17:10:05 GMT
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Having just bought a bike today after 10 years gap I might be a bit biased.
Doing the bike test is good fun and it makes you a better driver. Learning how to read the road and traffic from a different perspective is interesting.
Bikes, like aeroplanes, are not inherently dangerous, they are just incredibly unforgiving when something goes wrong. Learn to ride properly and exercise self-control and you'll be safe. I know if I bought another huge engined bike I wouldn't last long, so I've gone for a retro-style smaller bike I can potter about on without being tempted to overtake everything in sight.
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dazcapri
North East
Enter your message here...
Posts: 1,056
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May 14, 2015 17:54:40 GMT
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It was probably a Z400 and it was a 1970's brown one that resulted in me doing my CBT a few months ago,so at least your not the only one having a mid life crisis mate
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Mk3 Capri LS
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May 14, 2015 21:22:38 GMT
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^ just as Taurus says Stick with J / Euro bikes if you want reliable (avoid British - unless you want to tinker instead of ride ) I was away from bikes for many years then got a 70s Honda CB350K4 - in georgoeus metalic gold & chrome - to commute on. Great fun! Don't go for a big (600cc bike) to start with, at best you'll scare yourself. When I moved onto a Kawasaki ZZR1100 I booked myself onto a track-based rider training day, *very* worthwhile for learning bike control. Look at advanced car or bike lessons (IAM etc) to improve your observation & the chance of avoiding accidents. Be cautious / paranoid, some idiots on the road are out to get you, others are just dangerous - either way you will get hurt. '72 CB350K4 Go for it!
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Last Edit: May 14, 2015 23:02:03 GMT by nomad: fix typos, add pic
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May 14, 2015 22:07:37 GMT
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Who cares if you're having a mid life crisis, just go with it and have some fun! I had a mid life crisis too, did the bike test and bought a bike, it's great! And you don't have to go out there and buy some road rocket, i already had my TW125, i just wanted to not have to have 'L' plates on it any more! I like pottering along, riding off road, and if i get the chance blasting (If you can call it blasting when you're riding a 125) along the beach! Go for it, enjoy it, but as nomad says "Be cautious / paranoid, some idiots on the road are out to get you, others are just dangerous - either way you will get hurt." Seriously, there are some idiots out there, and not all of them are in cars!
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May 14, 2015 22:24:14 GMT
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more likely a kh 400 and yes go and pass your bike test youll love it!!!
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May 14, 2015 23:16:31 GMT
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One of my mates had one of those about 20 years ago, i always thought the exhaust arrangement was a bit odd, but it was a beautiful bike.
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Make sure you go everywhere at least 20mph over the limit, try to get your knee down on every corner, hide in blind spots, and sign up to a bike forum so you can blame car drivers when you take the 'racing line' through a blind left hander at 90+ only to find a queue of traffic doing 60 on the other side of it.
*n
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Last Edit: May 15, 2015 6:22:24 GMT by penski
Top grammar tips! Bought = purchased. Brought = relocated Lose = misplace/opposite of win. Loose = your mum
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This: Is lovely. *n
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Top grammar tips! Bought = purchased. Brought = relocated Lose = misplace/opposite of win. Loose = your mum
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Taurus, Nomad, Pistonpopper all have great points.
I have ridden since age 14, started on an RD350 Yamaha.
To keep a long story short, I have a BMW R1200GS in the garage, but would rather have a 600 class dual sport bike for myself, but hen my wife would not ride with me.
Smaller bikes are great fun.
Do some rider training, including the Metropolitan police training days, they are worth doing.
Get that bike, and always ride safe.
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Last Edit: May 15, 2015 7:27:12 GMT by grizz
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Nice to see I'm not alone.
Well I think I might have to go for it. We're looking to move as we've outgrown this house and the new house will have additional storage for my stuff and ideally a workshop / big shed. The missus is getting a dog after we move so if she's getting a dog, I'll get a bike.
I'm not looking for speed, I want cool, and I want retro. Something like that KH400 would be ideal. There's a chap near us that sells retro bikes that he's restored, but restored to ride rather than as a show pony, and not a lot of money bought some ready to roll 70s and 80s rides. Don't think it will happen this summer as we need to move first but it will give me a good project next summer - Operation Wheelie.
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goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,872
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Bikes = awesome. If you think it might be fun, then the only way to know is to go out and have a go! On the right day nothing beats riding a bike, swooping through the corners, in a way that no car could, it's great. As everyone else says, you have to have a certain amount of care at all times to keep yourself safe from other road users, but equally as there's no radio and no passengers to chat to (you can't really chat even if you do have a pillion!) then there's a lot less distractions which makes it less of a chore than it sounds. I'll also just put forward that I've been riding for 10 years now, I learnt to ride a bike before a car and it was my only transport for 2 years (big sports bike + snowy commute = scary!), to begin with I felt like everyone was out to kill me, but over time I've found that my anticipation of what other road users will do have improved, equally I've learnt where to put my bike in the road, and how to approach junctions in a way that makes me more obvious to other road users and now I have very few of those 'moments' where someone doesn't see me. I'm also in the smaller bikes are fun category. I've had all sorts of bikes, the fastest/biggest sports bikes I've owned being my Ducati 748, though I've also spent a good amount of time riding my dads ZZR1100, and now after all that, I currently ride a 200cc 2 stroke. Small bikes as so much lighter and easier to throw about, it makes them more fun at slower speeds. Seeing as this is retrorides, and everything has potential…. The above type of 70's Honda, is quite a popular base for mods. I'd like to build my interpretation of this kinda thing one day The closest thing to a retro bike I've had was a 1989 Suzuki RGV250, the combination of ~60hp from a 250cc 2 stroke v twin and very little weight, made for a wild ride
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Last Edit: May 15, 2015 7:45:51 GMT by goldnrust
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PHUQ
Part of things
Posts: 859
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May 17, 2015 19:47:25 GMT
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I presumably had my mid life crisis at 19 and did my test. Ended up on a 1979 Suzuki GS550 which, although a fairly big lump, was very forgiving- I loved it. Had a Honda XBR500 for a while too which although not the prettiest thing being a 500 single was great fun, short wheelbase and light so was quite chuckable, fairly torquey and no power so you had to ride to it's capabilities. Personally I don't see the appeal of plastic fanastic roadrockets, I enjoy getting the best out of the bike and myself and for me I can enjoy that on anything, it's just a matter of finding the right roads. Something 4- stroke, 70's or early 80's, between 400 & 600cc and Japanese would be a sensible starting point in my book.
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jonw
Part of things
Can open a Mouse with a File
Posts: 768
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May 18, 2015 11:08:08 GMT
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Go for it!!! I did my test at 19 and have never looked back. Bought a 1980 Honda CB250N for £notalot. Rode it for a year, was given another 250N at the same time. Stripped it in the back garden. Scrapped, sold or kept the bits. Bought a new SV650 Suzuki, still have it 13 years later, geat bike. Then bought another Honda 250N (1981 vintage) as a commuter. Sold that for a 2005 GS500 Suzuki. Also bought a 1962 Triumph Tiger Cub for brit fun. Two engine re-builds, a re-wire and carb work later it runs a treat. Now restoring a 1961 G12CSR Matchless. 90% there. Have a few pics:
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Suzuki SV650R The good Triumph T20 The Bad BMW G650GS The Ugly Matchless G12CSR The Smokey Toyota Hybrid One pint or Two?
Ingredients of this post Spam Drunken Rambling of author Bad spelling Drunken ramblings of inner voices Occasional pointless comments Vile beef trimming they won't even use in stock cubes
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dungbug
Posted a lot
'Ooligan!
Posts: 2,852
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Don't think it will happen this summer as we need to move first but it will give me a good project next summer - Operation Wheelie. Nothing stopping you from doing a CBT and getting a cheap 125 to smoke about on, you'll need to pass the bike theory test before doing the Mod tests aswell. The theory test pass is valid for 2 years so might be an idea to do it now and get it out of the way, come next summer you can start training without having to faff about with doing the theory test......I did 14 months on a Suzuki 125 (all year round commuting) & I think time spent on a 125 isn't wasted, it gets some miles under the belt (albeit slowly) which will build your skill as a rider & give confidence.....Test examiners like to see a 'confident' rider on test After passing my test I sold the trusty little Suzi 125 and bought a 600 Yamaha Thundercat, world away from the Suzi but it was forgiving, fast and proved to be very reliable. Good luck, you won't regret getting on 2 wheels
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Past: 13 VW Beetles from 1967 - 1974 Bay Window Campers (1973 & 1974) Mini's (1992 Cooper lookalike & 1984 '25 Anniversary) MK2 Polo Coupe S (1984 & 1986) MK2 Polo Breadvan (1981 & 1984) MK4 Escort (1989) MK2 Granada Based Hearse (seriously) Fiat Uno 60S (1986) Punto 60S (1998) Cinq (1997) 1998 Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat 2003 Ford KA
Current: 2004 Ford Focus (barely alive)
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Update from Oop North : It's sunny, our last hailstones were about a month ago, as it's summer the rain is now warm Mate A is an electrician, has been driving cars & using a 125 with L plates as a works vehicle for years. He passed his big-bike test 3 weeks ago, got a CBR600 and promptly sold the 125 Mate B has been driving cars for a few years, a couple of months ago decided to get his big-bike license (as he won't get the chance next year due to family & commitments), he's now done CBT & theory and is taking lessons for mod 1&2. mate 3 has been driving/riding for years and is now taking advanced (IAM?) courses to improve his bike riding. ^ All are loving the 2-wheels experience pics are always good, have an oddball bike in the sun as inspriration
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I really should get off my backside and get my open licence. I've been riding bikes for about 4 years on and off, and could have gone for my opens 2 years ago, but we're allowed to ride up to 660cc on our restricted licence as long as it's below a certain kw/kg ratio.
Oh well, some day I'll have money to get another bike... just not in the next couple of months.
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