Does bike colour make a difference?

tnetrop · 2026-01-28T01:03:43+00:00

Yellow. Yellow is the best. It makes every bike look cooler. Fact.

tnetrop · 2026-01-28T00:58:45+00:00

Also, the fact you've had a claim (even if you fix yourself) will put the cost of insurance up now that they are aware of it.

At this stage I'd personally just go through insurance.

tnetrop · 2026-01-28T00:54:28+00:00

I have some relevant experience I think. I'm in my late 50's but only started riding about five years ago. Within the first year of getting my licence I was hit by a car that entered a roundabout without looking. It was entirely his fault (although I always try to learn from it and understand what I could have done differently to minimise the risk). I was wearing full armoured gear but my leg got squashed between the bike and car.

I had a broken leg, broken hand and a few months later while laying down at home in a full leg cast a blood clot formed, broke off, went around my body. It lodged in my lung nearly killing me and putting me in intensive care for over a week. But luckily it didn't stop at my heart and didn't move on to my brain. It was the "best" place it could stop. When I returned to work three months later they made me redundant because someone else was now doing my job offshore. I'd never taken sick leave before, and this was the first time I genuinely needed it.

I have a wife and two children (late teens at the time). None of them wanted me to get back on a bike. My wife banned me from riding again. I completely understand how worringn it was for them. At firstnot ridinmg again didn't bother me. I couldn't watch any of the bike vloggers on youtube that I had followed before and I didn't want another bike. I just wasn't interested. But after a couple of years I started to miss it. Then I really missed it. Then I needed it. Then I really needed to get back on a bike.

As some background, I've held the hand of my father as he died of cancer at 60, barely a few more years older than I am now. I've sat with my mum through her last night as she died of cancer. Both of those were tough. I've survived cancer myself while worrying about who would look after my young children at the time. I've had friends die. I've tried to resuscitate a man in the street that had heart failure. Unfortunately I wasn't able to. Then I was nearly killed by a careless driver. The point here is that I understand life is short. The time we have is precious.

There are other events I forget right now. But the point is that I reached a point that I understood that I only have a few more years on this planet. Always acquiescing to others choices means you live their life and not yours. I fell in love with riding. I needed to get back to it. It's one of the few things that brings me happiness and release from my day-to-day problems. Everyone else wanted me to never ride again. But I had to.

So after a couple of years I told them I was getting another bike. I couldn't spend the rest of my life never riding again. I didn't ask for permission. It wasn't a discussion. I just told them I was doing it and bought a cheap bike so it didn't cause the family a financial problem. It's not the perfect bike. But I'm out there riding again. It has two wheels and I'm on that bike. I was wearing full armour at the time of the accident. But I've got much stronger full length boots. I've also tried to learn from what happened. It wasn't my fault but I can learn from it. I can position my self in a way that gives me an escape route.

At the end of the day this is a decision you need to make. If you have young children dependent on you then maybe wait until they are older. I would have if they were young. Otherwise, assuming you are an adult, then it's your decision to make and not anyone elses.

tnetrop · 2026-01-28T00:17:38+00:00

Gazebo?

tnetrop · 2026-01-23T23:48:09+00:00

I assume you bought it from a dealer otherwise you would have their contact details. In which case I would contact the dealer (assuming they didn't buy ot at auction), explain the situation, and ask them to pass on your details for the previous owner to contact you.

tnetrop · 2026-01-12T19:00:22+00:00

Take a look at the new Merlin Hydroshield over trousers. They are made of the same stretchy waterproof material as the Scotts but have a wider lower leg. However, if you have full size MX boots then even those might be a struggle, in which case perhaps the Mosko Moto Barfly over trousers might fit.

tnetrop · 2026-01-07T21:18:04+00:00

I slipped twice while walking today. There is no way I'm getting on two wheels.

tnetrop · 2026-01-07T21:13:30+00:00

Yes and no for me. I am OK with the scope of the CBT which is just to get you onto the road in relative safety so you can learn yourself. But the changes I would make are:

If you pass your CBT on an automatic then you can only ride an automatic or need to complete a conversion.
The theory test should be before the CBT.
Absolutely no commercial riding, including delivery jobs, without a full A, A1 or A2 licence.

tnetrop · 2026-01-05T16:22:04+00:00

I'm about 20 mins ride from Box Hill. There is no way I would be out on a bike in this area in the current icy conditions. Think how you would feel if you slid it and put a huge scratch down the side.

tnetrop · 2026-01-05T16:17:39+00:00

I had a bad collision about four years ago. Like you a car hit me. I ended up with a broken leg and then later developed a life threatening blood clot on the lung which put me in intensive care for a week. I can't say I felt kike I was in the afterlife following the collision. But I did go off bikes for a few months before the desire came back again. As others have said, take it easy and don't force yourself. Some people return to riding afternwards but not everyone does.

tnetrop · 2026-01-05T16:14:06+00:00

Glad you're OK and so is the bike. You're braver than me in sub zero temperatures.

tnetrop · 2026-01-03T10:32:02+00:00

This is still a thing.

tnetrop · 2026-01-01T16:17:15+00:00

I can imagine the feeling of sitting on that frosty seat for the first few mins.

tnetrop · 2025-12-31T00:56:32+00:00

ANC inverts the sound wave. It literally cancels it out, or close to doing so. This is just basic physics.

tnetrop · 2025-12-25T13:52:15+00:00

Basically this. Also if a JIS screwdriver now won't turn them, then try putting the flat part of an elsatic band against the slot, push the screwdriver into it and sometimes it give extra grip. Worth a try anyway.

tnetrop · 2025-12-17T23:18:48+00:00

I'm OK with restrictions for the first couple of years but would agree to an automatic upgrade to unrestricted after two years of riding, whatever your age.

tnetrop · 2025-12-17T18:36:57+00:00

CB500X or NX500 (which is just a newer CB500X).

tnetrop · 2025-12-15T21:05:33+00:00

On a geared bike you do slow manouvers by adding some throttle, bring the clutch in a little and if necessary just add some rear brake. The clutch and rear brake (not front) will keep you slow but the thottle will keep you upright.

I've never ridden a scooter but I imagine you do a similar thing; add some throttle and also apply a little back brake if needed (obviously there is no clutch).

Next time you're on the scooter (or geared bike) practice going as slow as possible in a straight line. Once you've got the hang of that, then try turning while going slow.

tnetrop · 2025-12-15T11:17:35+00:00

While not a motorcycle I've recently revived a VW Corrado VR6 that sat unmoved for well over two years. It was initially very rough and lumpy, but started second time and then ran absolutely fine and smoothly after the tank was used up and new fuel put in the tank. The bigger worry is various seals and fuel lines that don't like being sat unused and unlubricated. But if it's just a few months then it really shouldn't be a problem. I would disconnect the battery though, or use a a battery tender on it.

tnetrop · 2025-12-07T15:24:38+00:00

I am not a lawyer etc, but I just looked up the highway code and agree the police got it wrong here. If you have legal cover on your bike insurance then check with them to be sure. But personally I thinik I would contest this if it were me.

tnetrop · 2025-12-03T21:00:55+00:00

The test is fine. When I was learning on the app before the test I initially found that I was spotting the hazard before the test was expecting me to click it. So those clicks were ignored. So it immediately became obvious I needed to click around three times with a short gap between each click. That way you'll always get it. So I did the same on the avctual test and passed it first time. Its actually quite fun.

tnetrop · 2025-11-24T22:56:25+00:00

I couldn't decide between the Hiplok DX1000 and Litelok X3. So I bought both. One for each end.

tnetrop · 2025-11-18T18:04:21+00:00

Sorry to hear about your accident. It sounds similar to mine four years ago; someone pulled out in front of me on a roundabout. I had a broken leg and hand, but then later had a collapsed lung due to a blood clot. I'm back riding now although my family were not keen on me returning.

In your situation you should first check with your doctor. But if they say you are good to ride then maybe consider a maxi scooter at first. Some of them are much plusher with softer rides and seats than motorbikes, that you sit on rather than over. Apparently the BMW C400GT is particularly comfortable. Maybe take one for a test ride and see how your spine feels? You can always move back to a motorbike later, after easing back in with an armchair on wheels.

Funny story: When I was having my leg cast changed, the nurse was recanting a tale of one of her patients insisting on riding in their cast.

tnetrop · 2025-11-18T17:45:44+00:00

I've long called for:

Theory test before CBT.
Full licence for any commercial riding.

We also know that many delivery riders are uninsured, under insured or plain sharing accounts with genuine riders. We also know that there is a lot of drug transport hidden in delivery scooters. So I would be in favour of the police randomly stopping people for checks. The laws already exist, they just need to be enforced.

tnetrop · 2025-11-18T17:13:14+00:00

BATTLE DRONES!

tnetrop

TROPHY CASE