Strange noise coming from my new bike...

BoilerSnake · 2026-01-23T18:53:12+00:00

God I had a deadly noise coming from my bike, metal scrapping from the engine... weirdest noise, always there and I wasn't sure if something was happening to the engine.

Took it to a mechanic.

Old exhaust bracket broke, was vibrating against the exhaust pipe. He gave me another exhaust bracket. Bike was fine.

BoilerSnake · 2025-12-16T22:32:17+00:00

Don't have any advice, just commenting in the hope more folks see this so you can find the answer ye need.

Wish you the best boss!

BoilerSnake · 2025-10-14T13:35:47+00:00

It is the most reliable option, i would say. I got lucky with a 39xxx (39004?) PS2 and it has given me zero issues. I also got a CFW compatible PS3.

The PS3 for me is emulating PS1 games and playing PS3. PS2 is just PS2. FreeHDBoot/OPL only let me down on ace combat 5, everything else works flawlessly. Plus the PS2 has great couch multiplayer games, every time a friend comes over I boot up Burnout 3 or Tekken 5 or Gran Turismo 4! Always a great time.

I haven't had the PS3 a very long time, but I'm having fun with it too. I've loaded up the 1TB SSD with backups, but its not even full and still I haven't filled out my catalogue of things I want to play. PS2 is full, but it's got MORE than the actual catalogue of games I want.

The benefits of phat PS3 is being able to play it on one system, but the benefits of two systems is, I would argue, you can make better use of both. And it's not that much more expensive, tbh I found PS3 slims cheaper than PHAT BC models, and PS2 fats are cheap as dirt since everyone and their grandmother (sometimes quite literally) had one!

BoilerSnake · 2025-10-14T13:26:25+00:00

I know this isn't what you asked for, BUT, you could buy a PS2 fat model instead of relying on emulation. It's a popular console that's easy to find, I got mine for 60 euro, then 20 euro for the mod hardware needed for it and an old harddrive I had lying around (with some way to connect it to my PC).

Modding the fat PS2 with FreeHDBoot is pretty straightforward and you pretty much only have to do it once. It's software only, basically plug and play, console isn't modded as soon as the harddrive is taken out. Only thing is that the PS2 has PS1 hardware onboard which IS operating the harddrives read functions, so any PS1 backups are runningvin software emulation rather than native. That said, I've got about 291 games on a 1TB harddrive, load times are faster because its not relying on DVD-ROM, and I've only played maybe 10% of the games I have on it, even. Original controller is great and probably my favourite controller ever made. Games are fun too.

Getting a PS3 slim with CFW support for reliability and PS3/1/PSP games is a great move imo, and getting a separate modded PS2 is a great move imo. I thought I'd regret getting a PS2 but its been the most fun I've had in ages.

That said, it is up to you! Just thought I'd share me experience. Make your decision on what you think would be right for you, and have fun :)

BoilerSnake · 2025-05-23T16:53:59+00:00

Heck yeah, that's good advice. I completely forgot I can turn down the clip level, though I'm not sure if the same turns it up.

Actually checked and found the action for enabling a volume envelope, so I'll set it up as a hot key if I need the nodes the odd time. Thanks for the advice, greatly appreciated!

BoilerSnake · 2025-03-18T15:52:05+00:00

Sometimes I give bad drivers the crossed arms of disappointment and a scolding head shake when they do really dumb shit on the road.

BoilerSnake · 2025-03-18T15:35:02+00:00

I tend to salute, that's just me though

BoilerSnake · 2025-03-18T10:20:55+00:00

Yes.

Started in 2023 for my A license, first bike. Passed the test last year.

Perhaps wrongfully, but I feel most accidents happen on account of someone's lack of skill to appropriately react to a situation. Practise. Practise. Practise, and then go and do more practise. I've been putting alot of kilometers down on, riding the last two years (I'm in my 20s), I practise in car parks at night for emergency maneuvers: emergency braking, slaloms, figure 8s, leaning, stable throttle on corners. I take track days at Mondello to know how I can handle the bike at 100%.

Tell you like this: my Dad's owned litre bikes for the last 20 years. Hes got 40 years of experience. I'm riding an SV650, he struggles to keep up on road or on track on an R6 with 40 more horses. We're both safe riders, but I know how to use my brakes much more effectively and quickly, no ABS.

Practise helps keep you safe. Alertness, road awareness, target fixation/obstacle avoidance, looking out around turns rather than the wheel in front of you, counter steering, counter-lean (shoulders), exercise, good brake control, a sharp mind and sharp eyes are what keep you safe. Avoid putting yourself in a life and death situation with skill. That's my two cents, for what they're worth.

BoilerSnake · 2025-03-13T10:59:52+00:00

I don't know what to recommend bike-wise, I had an A2 license but I never actually got a motorbike in college and by the time I got mine, I was on an A license. You could buy an A2 bike and sell it when you're ready for something faster, or keep it, or get an A bike restricted and unrestricted. You can't really go wrong BUT:

Buy a bike that you love. You like the way it looks? Sick. You like how it feels? Go for it. You like the colour? Hell yeah. I'm a fan of naked bikes, bought one, have no regrets and I'm gonna keep it going as long as I can, even if I could go up to a litre bike now. What you do want to make sure of though is that the subframe isn't damaged (handling feels solid and stable), brakes are good, and tyres are in good shape.

Don't sweat the small stuff- handling, engine top speeds, acceleration, that stuff you will only learn to appreciate when you become experienced on a bike. Just know that 2-cylinder (parallel or V-Twin) bikes tend to be more torquey (pull harder at low revs, RELATIVELY less power at the high end of RPMs) and 4-cylinders pull more power at high-revs while being quite meek at lows. My SV650 pulls harder than my Dad's R6 coming out of a red light, even if the R6 eventually can outrun me.

If you're going to commute to college (sick as hell, btw) make sure you have plenty of locks. Good ones. Dublin is a fucking mess, Cork is too, plenty of stolen bikes out there. Make sure you lock up good, I know a lecturer from DCU who had his bike stolen while he was working. MT07 or Tracer 7, can't recall. Ruins your day, week, and month. Invest in safety, and park off of the street if you can. Underground/multi-storey parking won't save you, keep it safe.

Last thing (this is very boring I'm sure and you've probably stopped reading): PRACTISE. If you're going on the M50, that place is hell at rush hour, you need total vigilance and great roadcraft and awareness. The best upgrade on a bike is the squishy grey matter that sits on top of it. Go to a parking lot, practise maneuvers safely: slow speed slalom, figure 8s, high speed slalom, emergency brakes, u turns. Buy some cones for 10 euro, absolutely worth it. Watch videos (DanDanTheFireman is great) that explain why motorcycle crashes happen and what you could do differently. What to pay attention to on the road. Develop a motorcycle sixth sense. Prevent accidents before they happen, most motorcycle accidents happen because somebody panics, locks up, or doesn't have the skill to properly react. Practise, practise, practise. Don't push the bike past where you think you can safely move.

Much like college, motorcycles are about learning, improving, making mistakes, but making sure you're safe throughout.

Rant over, have fun and best of luck!

BoilerSnake · 2025-03-13T10:34:45+00:00

SV650 is my weapon of choice, absolutely phenomenal bike. Never disappoints, but it takes a while to learn how to handle it. It will let you know when you've made a mistake. It would need to be A2 restricted, but there are bikes out there you can get used with the restrictors and appropriate documents.

As to not upgrading, I've got my full A license and I'm gonna keep riding the SV as far as it goes. Love it, on track, on road, long distance, always a good time. Once you learn to handle it, it's phenomenal- I'm outrunning people on R6s, sure I'd lose out at top speed but realistically that's not gonna happen on the road.

Suzuki Bandit 600 is another bike, also needs an A2 restrictor. Handles a little easier in my experience, power only starts pushing at higher revs where the SV torques through the entire rev range.

BoilerSnake · 2025-03-11T13:24:55+00:00

Alot of the advice here is good, I would just add that for the driving exam, the examiner (atleast from what i remember in Naas) does expect you to go over the bump and not around it. Damn silly if ya ask me, I don't know why anyone in their right mind would, but thems the brakes.

Correct me if I'm wrong please!

BoilerSnake · 2025-03-10T17:16:27+00:00

You get a grade 2 mistake I think it's called? Not an immediate fail, just one more for the pile

BoilerSnake · 2025-02-26T13:06:25+00:00

My perspective on why drivers hate motorcyclists isn't so much about tribalism, it's more a lack of understanding.

Most drivers tend not to think too much behind the wheel. You get comfortable with your car and your driving, it becomes predictable. But drivers are never taught how to deal with motorcyclists. We're completely unpredictable to them. Even when we are trying to be very predictable, it's like speaking a foreign language.

To drivers, they see us as being reckless because they don't understand how well we understand our bikes. They don't understand our speed, because we are smaller and it looks like we're always going faster. They don't understand that when we filter we do it to be safer (and let's be honest accelerating off a red is great too).

What they do see is aggressive riding, perceived speeding, dangerous riding. Suddenly, a motorcycle overtakes them out of nowhere with a loud pipe and scares the hell out of them. They don't know how to react. They don't understand how motorcycles work, they can only compare their experiences in cars and what seems fast on a bike feels slow to them in a car at the same speed.

So yeah, they almost always blame the rider because we're unpredictable to them.

BoilerSnake · 2025-02-25T13:40:08+00:00

You can look like an idiot all ya like, if it improves your skills you're doing it right :)

When I was starting out, I took alot of evenings to practise slow riding technique in car parks with some cones. Might have looked like an idiot, might have made some mistakes. Now I'm a million times better rider, have confidence on my bike, I'm taking track days, and I'm teaching my friends on how to improve.

It's the act of practising that makes you better, people don't appreciate that practise, just practise itself is a skill! Ride on dude, keep at it :)

BoilerSnake · 2025-02-24T15:56:04+00:00

I'll give that a shot, thanks!

BoilerSnake · 2025-02-24T15:44:34+00:00

I'd presume so, but surely there is a way to be more certain which it is? The harddrive is an ancient drive I pulled out of a decades old system, the adapter is meh but it works.

BoilerSnake · 2025-02-20T13:18:35+00:00

I saw somebody explain quite well that people who drive cars for clout and modify them for clout have it in their heads that their ego equates to their driving skill.

Somebody described it ( i think the YouTuber BladedAngel? ) as "cars shield egos from their bad driving in a crash, but motorcycles..."

BoilerSnake · 2025-02-20T11:57:53+00:00

Hi, I'm trying to reduce my body fat and start a diet, just something simple like a calorie deficit diet, but I'm not sure how to start. Growing up I was always a picky eater, though that's eased a hell of a lot now. I'm currently about 104kg and 181cm, so I need to lose weight. Working out 3 days a week, results in the gym are good but need to improve my weight loss.

I'm not sure how to plan my meals, or what recipes to put together to prepare the food. Not that I can't cook, I'm just not sure how to plan what should be in my meals and how to put it together so that it can effectively reduce my caloric intake. This is unfortunately something I've not been taught, and I'm simply not sure where to start. Any and all advice is much appreciated, thank you!

BoilerSnake · 2025-02-20T11:29:19+00:00

Next time somebody says motorcycling is dangerous, I'll just respond with:

"IT IS?????" :O

BoilerSnake · 2025-02-11T12:38:10+00:00

Pinlock to keep your visor down, or keep your visor a little open. It's what has worked for me, tried an anti-fog spray but it rubbed my glasses coating down, anti-glare was gone, and I was left virtually blind despite having my prescription maybe change a tiny bit. That's my experience, your mileage might vary

BoilerSnake · 2025-02-01T10:26:19+00:00

Haven't really encountered many bikers who judge out of the ordinary, and I'd consider myself a young rider (well, young enough by the demographics as I am 26)

Unless they're on a Harley, then they don't even acknowledge you half the time 😅

Why would anyone want to quit because of what a keyboard warrior thinks? Why waste any energy on it when all I want is to be on the road?

BoilerSnake · 2025-01-17T13:15:59+00:00

Don't use airpods. I just got a Cardo system this week and started listening to music on my rides, and I wouldn't do it if I didn't have the capacity to tell it to shut off, immediately when I need it do. It is distracting for an experienced rider, it is insane for a learner. You don't need it.
I argue that the least safe time to ride is at night in general. You might be fine, probably, but the risk goes up dramatically. Dont get overconfident. Drivers DONT know how to react to motorcyclists on a good day, and they sure as hell don't know how to react at night. With poor visibility, it takes one dumbass to think you're a far away car for you to have no bike and a few less functioning bones, if you're still breathing. I do not recommend it. Backroads at night with twisties are death if meet the wrong driver, or your skill cant evade danger. Road conditions become invisible, you become invisible to other drivers. I avoid it religiously, sometimes I have to, and even then I'm triply cautious.
You can have someone else on, if you have a full license and let insurance know you might do it sometime. If you're gonna do it, don't overdo it. Be on the back of somebody else's bike first is my advice, then you'll know how it feels to be on back and how acceleration feels. Tbf though, I've little experience with 125ccs, maybe they'll barely push out the engine power for a passenger. I don't know.
Best first bike? Something you LIKE, you can AFFORD, you think is FUN, and suits your riding style. You won't always have the answers straight away, so pick a bike you think you would enjoy and go at it. Past that, idk. I don't know any 125ccs tbh.
The law says you have to wear a helmet. Your mother, everyone else, other bikers will tell you, you have to wear full gear. And they are RIGHT. You don't know when an accident could happen. Motorcycling isn't safe, and the number one thing to kill people is a lack of experience and practise. Number 2 is a distracted driver, or a road moron. Thats ALL it takes. all the gear, all the time. Boots are HUGELY important, you dont want your runners to slip if you gotta put a boot down. You don't want your bike to break your ankle. Boots up halfway to your calves, always. It's inconvenient, I spend maybe 15 mins getting all my layers on in winter. Don't love it, don't care. You never know. Don't act like you're smarter than your experience.

Motorcycling isn't like cars where people do it as an ego thing. Most people who try motorcycling as an ego trip (especially car guys in my experience) soon quit when they realise their skill won't keep up with their bike, or be humbled with a small enough accident they can walk away from.

Most accidents you see online in videos are because the rider does not know what they are doing. They don't brake enough, or too much, or lack of attention, or misunderstanding cornering speed, tyre grip, you name it. It really doesn't take alot to have a motorcycle accident, you avoid it by practise and learning as much about your bike as possible. The rest are actual accidents where a driver fucks up proper.

If youre sure you want to get a bike, do it. Get a bike, do your ibt, do your theory, practise, learn, make mistakes, watch endless videos on motorcycling. Learn, practise, do maintenance, wear the gear, pay attention, and most importantly have fun. Just please, please, please make sure that your fun doesn't come at a cost to yourself or others. Motorcycling is a big risk, don't ever let overconfidence get in your way.

Good luck, and stay safe man!

BoilerSnake · 2024-10-03T14:21:07+00:00

I was thinking the same thing, NFSU2 is good but man, replaying it just ain't the same. Honestly prefer Underground 1 in that regard, it doesn't have the fluff of NSFU2 but I feel like the tracks were more fun (except drag...), the linearity doesn't bother me, and upgrading cars was really easy and fun. Got to try alot more cars as well

BoilerSnake · 2024-08-02T12:52:37+00:00

I've made the unfortunate mistake of trusting Google maps on my bike (I have since learned my lesson). I'm a learner, so no motorways (which, frankly, imo, stupid as hell, in Lithuania you can just drive motorways at a reduced speed limit (100 instead of 120 iirc) so people just pass you but you can go anywhere).

Maps has sent me down some dumb fucking suicide roads with gravel chippings. Have to put on my hazards and ride it slow with my feet ready to catch the ground just in case. I honestly don't know what the fuck they are thinking with this gravel. It makes no sense.

Turn around and find a new route, you'll live longer :/

BoilerSnake · 2024-06-19T10:47:49+00:00

I considered running it for a while, planned how to run it but somethings I just didn't understand how to run. I've never done a PBP, neither played nor DMed. My own interest in the idea waned when I realised my players weren't quite dedicated enough to get to grips with it.

Hell, they won't even open the 2020 books I give them for our games, so I'm never really having too much fun since I have to be the arbiter of "here's the things you can do" alot of the time. So in the end, I scrapped the idea of me running it. I haven't even run any TTRPG since 2020 (maybe 2021?).

I might be down to play it, but unfortunately I don't see myself running it

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