Moto70 wrote:

I was a better rider than our instructors when I took my course!

It's amazing how often you hear this from bikers.

Matt_82 wrote:

Moto70 wrote:

I was a better rider than our instructors when I took my course!

It's amazing how often you hear this from bikers.

You've taken it out of context, the whole post was in jest as shown by the bit that Jimmy quoted!

I can barely remember my course/test other than I'm surprised only 1 failed out of the 6 of us and that I thought I had failed when I got impatient waiting at a T junction in rush hour traffic and just joined as soon as I saw a gap that at best was just big enough for the 125cc I was on. It turned out that they were rating confidence and awareness highly that week so I was only asked one question (what happens when you carry a pillion passenger?) and then told I'd passed.

Mod74 wrote:

I've been looking through some old copies of Scootering and think you might struggle to get a PX for less than £1300-£1500 Time was they attracted an even bigger premium when Piaggio announced they were being discontinued because of the emission laws, but that should have gone away a bit now as they brought them back to market by adding a cat.

Yeah, considering they're only 3 grand brand new, there seem to be a lot of 10+ year old ones at £1500+

Fancy a trip to Manchester?

Didn't even notice the LML thing. That's out then.

Cheers for the help fella, much appreciated.

My credit is also randomly shit. Fine with mobile phone companies / estate agents / Virgin media for example, but shit with pretty much any bank including even my own despite regular wage & savings account etc.

Pff, shit weather.... 

After that failed exam in November, the first lesson I had on the parking lot was a complete disaster, my mind was so focussed on what to do, that my body didn't do anything. So my instructors decided it would be time to have a lesson on the road (officially not allowed at most schools till you have your bike control). God, that did change me, loved it, wasn't afraid for one second, just the quick acceleration made me smile, was a shame that the other student (which was already allowed on the road, and therefore had to be first) was so god damn slow. Many times I've heard via the radio things like "as soon as it hits green, let others see you're on a bike, and speed up as fast as you can", but he just didn't do it. At one point he took a wrong turn (again, first few times I followed, didn't want to lose the other) and I decided to take the correct route. Instructor didn't matter, and she said it was ok for me to be in the leading position now.
Not once I've heard the speed up comment again, and a few times I had a hard time seeing them in my mirror, but whatever, was having the time of my life. Was complimented at the end of that lesson, and I was sure that this really was something that I want to do.

Fast forward in time a bit (I couldn't get any lessons planned before the exam at the end of December, than Christmas and New Year happened) to about two weeks ago. First lesson again at the parking lot. Went a lot better, felt much more confident. The 180 turn and the figure 8 still won't happen, but all the others are at least sufficient. So I was ready for the exam next week (the 25th), feeling sure that with the 3 lessons I had planned I'd be able to make it, and go for the other exam by the end of February, start of March. Now snow has happened, both my lessons this week have been cancelled, not sure about those next week and if the exam won't be cancelled. 
Quite disappointed, and am not sure if I can do the exam if I don't get the chance to have some more lessons, don't want to throw 200+ euro's away.

Meh, I'd really want to be on the bike again, cold doesn't matter that much, but the snow does.

I'm lucky with my school re examiners. For the bike control exam they don't do individual exams, they always have one day in the month reserved and then another parking lot is used for the whole day. The examiners are always in a good mood on those days, as all the instructors I have are great persons, and everyone that doesn't have an exam (or has just passed it) has a good time together.

Just getting nervous that the exam might be the first day on the bike again after two weeks of a winterstop.

Most frustrating part is that my bike is already in the garage, although it needs a few fixes. Most important ones are the tiny hole in the tank (luckily it's on the top, so no spillage while on the way) and that the battery isn't great anymore, this one has hardly been used for over a year. Bas can get it working by putting the bike in second gear, run a few meters and hit the gas. Has made for some fun moments at traffic lights that.
Want to give it a re paint as well, not that big a fan of this dark blue, was more thinking of an orange-ish/red colour.

That's a nice bike. You see those vents on the side of the leg shield... they blow hot air on your legs. Mmmmm, hot air.

Rip the God awful fly screen off and you'd have good looking bike. Bit overpowered for a local commuter, a 250 will pull 70+ easy. I wouldn't worry about the chrome, somehow it manages to weather the elements. At my old old house both my bikes lived outside with covers on, they were fine.

I've no idea of GTS prices sorry. A quick look on eBay should show you what people are asking for trade and private examples.

Winter time should be a buyers market really, but having just been scouring the classifieds for a PX though I'd say for them it very much felt like sellers market. I dread to think what it'll be like in a few months.

Yeah, but you ride one of them foot forwards with ape hangers and saddle bags so you don't count

I don't have a child, but I'm pretty sure that would be my first thought as well.

Serves him right for having an automatic.

Which, after passing my CBT yesterday brings me to my new bike...

Massive, massive thanks to Mod, who has been an absolute legend over the last couple of months, offering advise and assistance way above and beyond what anyone could reasonably expect.

@Moto70, how is your sticker producing set-up these days? May need to commision something from yourself if you're still able to.

adored wrote:

Serves him right for having an automatic. Which, after passing my CBT yesterday brings me to my new bike... Massive, massive thanks to Mod, who has been an absolute legend over the last couple of months, offering advise and assistance way above and beyond what anyone could reasonably expect. @Moto70, how is your sticker producing set-up these days? May need to commision something from yourself if you're still able to.

whatever you want, free of charge because I'm drunk! Obviously within reason but just PM with what you want...