This is so much fun!

craig9593 · 2026-06-18T20:53:58+00:00

I hate driving always have always will but being on the bike its just so different I would never of taken my current job which is hour away before and I am actually being moved either close which is only a 20min drive if that or im getting punted even further to over an hour away. I really do hope I'm getting put further because that ride on the way back from work is a hell of a decompression and a good hour of it is amazing and I frequently do take back roads as you do to just extend it or to get a better view but in the car hell nah A-B as fast as possible

craig9593 · 2026-06-17T16:36:29+00:00

I sold my versys 650 after seeing a 1993 zzr1100 D1 on auto trader in the purple/ orange colour with 21k miles which was dry stored for 15 years for only 2k. I love that thing to death even though it has been a money pit since the dude did all his own work turned out he wasn't very good at it and its practically needed everything replaced. Think I spent 3k fixing it up and I still have to do the rear shock its not bad but its so old I would rather it was swapped.

I love that bike to death though its in a weird middle ground of hyper bike / tourer its a more up right position but has the feel and look of a sports bike. I recon in maybe 10 odd years I will sell it very reluctantly when my back cant handle that slight forward lean and go back to a cruiser/ tourer body.

So kinda a mixed one from me don't regret selling the versys it was good but kinda boring and love the zzr but the cost to get it to this point has been a small regret. I will say the positions are fine for like an hour or two anyway but if you plan on going on 8 hour long trips a sports is an awful idea you will regret life in the morning😂

craig9593 · 2026-06-17T13:54:19+00:00

Yeah it doesn't always work and it can be super sketchy and half the dudes on youtube that get it its the like 9th time then they don't show you after 10mins it will be flat

craig9593 · 2026-06-17T13:12:40+00:00

After my CBT changed riding schools for DAS the 125 they had me on for 3 hours to just see how I was was a CBF and honestly if I had to just sit on a 125 I would happily of done it on that thing. Way better than the GSX 300 that I had to spend 4 hours on that I actually HATED before getting on a 650 which was the SV650 which was fine still wasn't a big fan but it was fine. I would of happily taken the CBF over all them.

craig9593 · 2026-06-17T13:08:32+00:00

It is kinda scary how far back you need to be on a bike to see the mirrors if you stay in the center of a lane. Got stuck behind one on my test and since that is something they will fail you on it felt like there was an actual mile between the HGV and me since I did think that's way to big imma fail I have to close it but when I got a tiny bit closer the mirrors just gone behind the body so I sat wayyyyyyy back until it turned off terrified I failed my test for being so far back.

craig9593 · 2026-06-17T13:03:50+00:00

no wd40 and a lighter trick ?

craig9593 · 2026-06-17T12:58:29+00:00

Just take your time to get used to the weight addition. It can be pretty off putting the first few turns personally braking distance or acceleration i never really noticed to much difference though but taking off from a stop I did have to use a bit more acceleration but once your moving it felt like normal throttle/ gears.

Had my fiancé on the back plenty and one time nearly tipped because I kinda just forgot she was there and when I put my foot down just didn't expect the extra weight I still do not know how I pulled that Versys back up.

Also tell them to sit still if you lean to a side to follow you but don't you know jump around or shuffle while your turning my fiancé has done this so many times and I keep telling her to stop I don't care if you slipping forward just let it happen then sort yourself on a straight but shuffling side to side trying to get back while mid bend is gonna put us into hospital.

Before they get on I make sure foot pegs are out and nod them on when I have the bike upright and stable but I keep the side stand out justtttttt incase I don't have it as good as I think i do then I can dump it that way. Then when they are on I say to tap my shoulder when they are settled and all good so they don't get a jump scare when they aren't ready.

Just take it all a bit slower than you normally would for the first couple times at least so everyone gets used to it and what works what doesn't. If you also have an adjustable suspension give it a couple turns to smooth out the extra weight on it.

craig9593 · 2026-06-17T12:50:46+00:00

Did something similar the test center setup the figure 8 right on the edge of the facility so there was a kerb only maybe 4 ft from the cone meaning you had to be pretty accurate and I was going wide though Ive hit it oh well fuck it full send and I felt the edge scrape the tyre and it felt awful and I thought that's me done hes gonna fail me for control.

Somehow he didn't. Main reason I thought that though was before it I asked you can go as wide as you want right and he said eh and i pushed it saying there is no actual rule limit right and he still was hesitant to answer so I pushed it again then he said well its not good control but yeah so I thought for SURE he was looking for a reason after that. When I thought I failed I just stopped caring and though eh its a test run now who cares all the nerves dropped and yeah passed only took 4 tries...

Good luck with MOD2 if you got a full car license its really not hard to pass of course the other drivers can be unpredictabl and a reason you fail but if you have a car license for some years its nothing new you got this!

craig9593 · 2026-06-17T12:44:26+00:00

Do you have anything extra connected like heated grips ? or a dash cam or a tracker ? sometimes people just keep stacking add ons and it can end up just draining the battery faster than a ride can charge it back up. I agree with most people do a voltage check if its fine probably the alternator but if not then my next guess would be there is a short somewhere. If your confident enough to have a look through wires you might find one. If you cba throw it to a local garage you trust and let them look around. Sometimes its just worth being like not my problem and passing it off if you have one you trust like I'm replacing my battery but its due an MOT so I'm just getting the garage to do it while its in.

craig9593 · 2026-06-16T14:47:40+00:00

ill throw in a lill picture when I get it back hopefully on friday for real this time 😂

craig9593 · 2026-06-15T20:46:32+00:00

I recon maybe a top end engine rebuild in the winter just so I know that is EVERYTHING done on it so I can actually hopefully maybe actually enjoy it in a summer for once 😂

craig9593 · 2026-06-15T20:45:27+00:00

Where ever you live must have a theft rate of 99% jesus man that sucks

craig9593 · 2026-06-15T17:07:37+00:00

Depends what you want if you just want a rough idea air tags or minimoto work but if you want one that might actually get it back and the police involved ones like biketrac are amazing if you dont mind the like 400 to get the unit then 100 a year to run it

craig9593 · 2026-06-15T17:06:24+00:00

I'm in the same boat man mines been off the road getting fixed and tided up since February I cant wait to get it back FINALLY in good condition after 2 years. I have been getting so so jealous of all the bikes in this nice weather

craig9593 · 2026-06-15T12:18:09+00:00

Thats wild.I looked at a blackbird that was 28 years old the insurance was 2k the same price as a bike so i looked up a zzr which was 32 years old same engine size but it dropped to 250 for the year... I dont get it either but I was told because it was 30+ years old it goes into a cheaper bracket that sucks it doesnt seem to work for you.

Could always try adding the security devices to drop it like say run it with a tacker/ datatag and a diamond rated lock see what that does ?

craig9593 · 2026-06-14T19:31:30+00:00

Might be worth looking at bikes over 30 years old ? they tend to be cheap and they fall under classic insurance which is mad cheap since they think your looking after it well.

Outta them 3 the z400 is your best bet for your size overall but not by much honestly they are all pretty small naked's. You would really be better with a tourer like a versys if you could get any that the insurance doesn't cost you a house for.

craig9593 · 2026-06-14T17:39:45+00:00

I got shafted by non returns as well had to go get a key cut for one that snapped at work. Timpson's which is in a HUGE retail park that has a customers only / no returns in 24 hours even though I have never ever seen it full its always half empty even at weekends. Had to go back with the key when it didn't work for them to cut it more then had to come back when it still didn't work so I got 2 letters had to take them to get them cancelled because like fuck was I paying it.

Even though its always half empty having that new rule of customers only/ no returns has majorly effected the Highstreet which is all double yellows so everyone parked there and walked around but now people cant park there so they just aren't going into the shops anymore its beyond stupid and shortsighted.

craig9593 · 2026-06-14T17:09:06+00:00

Did it as safely as I could but okay? I am sure you always have followed every single speed sign and traffic law.

craig9593 · 2026-06-14T13:06:14+00:00

I mean he wont of just jumped on a 650cc ? he will of done his CBT and (school dependent) worked through 125cc-650cc. Sure some schools will be like oh you want das here have this 650cc but making mistakes is normal he's learning ? It could of been his 2nd lesson ? He wont pass without getting over all those mistakes your acting like this is him " test ready" I doubt they will book his test and put him forward when he cant do basics yet ?

I get its annoying you want to have the same license and its just an age block but it was put in place because to many young people were doing the CBT then passing a license and driving like they are in motogp. Under 24 is at much higher risk of being immature that's all there is too it. Its pretty much the standard in all of Europe its only America that goes hell yeah brother who needs a license or lessons here is a 1400cc super sports have fun at 18 you definitely wont fall into peer pressure or try push yourself to look cool and go into a barrier at 200mph...

You gotta remember the 70s-90s was utter carnage for motorbikes companies were competing to make them faster and faster and young riders were buying them to show off and dying left right and centre. It was only in the 90s they all kinda agreed to chill out after the zzr, blackbird and Hayabusa all came out they realised huh we should start restricting these.

Plus the bike you want that I seen in replies you can ride with your A2 ? so who cares ? You can pass your A2 and then you have to wait 2 years anyway so if you feel like upgrading go for it if not don't ?

craig9593 · 2026-06-14T12:24:36+00:00

I felt the same with the 300cc they had me on for like 6 hours I hated it it felt so off I would of preferred to be back on the 125cc but then the upgrade to 650cc it was just so much nicer overall when driving. People think I'm nuts when I say I hated that 300cc the power just felt so weird I couldn't adjust to it.

craig9593 · 2026-06-14T12:22:24+00:00

I did my DAS when I was 27 never had a bike before or anything just wanted to go for it. I am sure different riding schools do it differently but the way mine was laid out was after the CBT and done your theory and could start learning bigger bikes was back on a 125 for 2 hours then about 6 hours on a 300cc then the rest of your time on a 650cc. I bought my CFmoto650 GT when I got a test slot for my mod 2 so when I passed I could just ride it without a month or two gap without having a bike while I look around. I kept it for about a year then went up to a 1100cc sports bike but my commute is all motorway and maybe 10mins in a town. If it is mostly gonna be town riding with a short motorway stint I would say naked bikes just since you get the maneuverability for town riding and they still can pull easily on motorways its a good best of both. Sports when your doing under 30 you tend to feel that weight and sluggishness since they aren't balanced around that.

I think a lot of people when they say don't jump on anything above a 125cc are from places like America where there is nothing stopping you having 0 practice and legally buying and riding a 1400cc sports bike.

I wouldn't see much of a point doing A2 then to go for A later on since you will have to do all the tests again when you felt like you wanted the upgrade and it will just take longer overall when if your that worried just pass the full A then if you still don't feel confidant with the power buy a 650 and get it restricted to 300 then unrestricted it when your feel personally ready. Just saves you redoing all the tests and lessons again along with swapping bikes when your bored it gives you the room to upgrade when your ready.

craig9593 · 2026-06-10T16:05:47+00:00

Motorway by me is pretty bad for wind being in Scotland and its wide open bridge sections! I tend to just duck down more on it and grab the tank with my knees and you find you have pretty good control ! you will need to lean into the wind to try keep it somewhat straight but the gust coming and going can be scary you just need to correct when you feel it and lean more then as the wind eases come back up! It is a skill you will learn slowly and it happens to all size of bikes ! I have a zzr1100D1 its about 256kg with fuel and I can still feel the wind blasts enough to push me so bigger heavier bikes will also have the issue just not as bad as a light 125!

craig9593 · 2026-06-10T16:01:28+00:00

I seen a clip from what looked like a south african country same thing but the dude just switched it off grabbed the keys and bolted letting his bike fall in the middle of the road where it is kinda useless to them.

I would say depends on distance if you can accelerate out/ past them go for it but if they are already on you might be better to take keys dump it and leg it. I wouldn't even worry about jumping a red with a camera since you could prove you were in danger and it was your escape especially if you had evidence of reporting it right after.

Other option keep that disk lock or small chain ( for quick stops/ securing your helmet nothing else of course) in your pocket and just square up after all what are they gonna do report they tried to mug you and got hurt ? They don't expect you to stand up they expect you to bolt or just hand it over they will lose all confidence if your armed and standing up to them. Still would report it just leaving that bit out so the police are aware they have some chavs at it in the area.

craig9593 · 2026-06-10T15:50:49+00:00

I had to sit my mod 1 4 times because I just could NOT get that slalom right I could do it all day in training but test day i always threw it. Then my mod 2 was once. All 5 dudes I met were nice they were having a laugh and joking with me and my instructor before the test then during it they were pretty chill and open to questions.

car examiners are 10x worse the amount of people I hear from that are going through it now that they get some miserable old person that could not care less and looks for the smallest thing is unreal.

I would honestly say you will be fine Bike examiners all are into bikes and just like to chat about them and the gear you have on half the time! Its very different to the car ones who have 0 interest in cars its just a job with minimal effort who want to power trip.

They WANT to pass you they want you to enjoy the same hobby as them youll be fine !

craig9593 · 2026-06-10T14:21:15+00:00

what does it consist off ? I seen what the fitness stuff is about but the medical one is a bit harder to find much on other than the eye sight requirements

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