DM me the reg and I'll give you the location.

I haven't ridden Maisie Moo yet, but that is certainly an eye catching colour scheme :-)

Edit: For those curious about hi-vis and visability, the white and red Battenberg pattern is reflective and the pink is hi-vis fluorescent too (which is actually better than yellow against new foliage). In addition, the riders now wear newly issued long sleeved fluorescent yellow jackets with contrasting bright red panels. The charity is also generously sponsored by the Manchester Airport Group so that riders can opt for air-vests at nominal cost. Our trustees take volunteer rider safety extremely seriously (hence the recent swap to long sleeves).

(Yes I read the guide b4 posting)
I just did part of my CBT yesterday, all went great was on a geared bike and got it perfectly. Did it with two other lads and had to wait around for them to catch up which is completely fine, better to take their time to learn than be unready for the road.
However, because of this and the instructor constantly blabbing on or taking their time to do other things, I never got to do module E. They clearly overbooked for what they had, the place wasn't big enough for all 3 of us to do things at the same time and it was very awkward and time consuming.
Now I have to pay for a continuation day which is another £70 on top of the £180 that I paid initially, not to mention they're for some reason booking me in for a scooter instead of a manual 125 which is what I own myself. I can obviously pay for this, but it doesn't mean I'm happy to. I'd be happy paying maybe £30 for fuel and extra service costs but this seems insane. Surely they should first of all prioritise my road safety and let me carry on learning on the 125 so I know I can ride it on the road rather than forcing me on an auto, second it's their fault for not providing that full service in time.

Am I just complaining for nothing? Is this normal? I just feel like they're taking advantage, considering I'm "young" (18) and will just go with whatever they say apparently. I've emailed them about it and they still haven't gotten back to me despite replying very quick to my request to schedule the continuation!

EDIT: They got back to me admitting they did go overtime themselves, yet they're still making me pay for the continuation. I know a few people wanting to get into the biking scene so I know who not to recommend them from now.

tiny old ladies in giant LandRovers,

drivers on the phone are at least 40%,

taxis that use the indicator when they are already half way through the turn,

drivers driving on top of the white dividing lines...

Feels like i leave Leeds and get transported to Karengate, not Harrogate...

I completed my CBT a few weeks back, on a scooter as I wasn't getting on with the geared bikes they had. I've recently brought myself a new keeway superlight (yes Chinese!) And I'm hoping to go for a first ride in the next day or so after attempting some manoeuvring on the drive which isn't the best due to the Incline it has. Anyone got any tips for the first ride? I need to fill the bike up so was thinking of an early 5am ride maybe to do that. Or try to.

Anyone else sad that CCM has a closing down factory auction? I loved the look of pretty much all of their bikes, the customisation, the design and of course the built in Britain aspect. Seems a great shame to me, not just for the brand but the peoples jobs lost along the way.

I'm looking for recommendations for a compact one-person tent that packs down small enough to fit on the pillion seat or in one of my saddlebags.

I'm 1.85 m tall and weigh 100 kg, so I'd like something comfortable for a bloke my size.
Also, I'd like something that can handle wet weather.

The bike is a CFMOTO 700MT.

Thanks, everyone!

The weather is still pretty warm, especially in and around London. Why do I see so few commuters already (in London)? Have you packed up for the season already?

I've got a 2024 Street Triple RS, in pretty good condition but it's kept outside. Probably not perfect enough for a main dealer to be interested. Any advice on where I could sell it? If it was £500 I would stick it on FB marketplace or Gumtree but it's in that awkward middle price range.

Thanks

Hey guys, after a long time coming I passed my CBT after a 16yr gap in attempts. Just getting my first 125 built up and then I can start enjoying the road. See y'all out there

Recently bought my own motorcycle, i have been riding all my life but mainly offroad. i have ridden a cbr125 through winter and snow where i used to live north of london but i recently moved near john o'groats. i plan to use this gs500 as my only mode of transport other than public transport. I am hoping some of you have experience of what i can get that will not break my bank but ill not freeze at the same time. i already have the helmet AGV K3 SV, i dont think it got above 25 celcius since i moved here a year ago so im hoping i can just get one set of gear that will cover everything. any advice or tips or whatever, i wanna know. im trying to learn as much as i can about everything i can.

Should the bike chain be clean to touch? I clean my bike's chain with proper cleaner and then live it. Within a week or so touching the chain will make your hands dirty. Is this how it should be? I have seen some bikes with gold tint chains that look very nice and clean. Are they under-lubed?

Afternoon, anyone got any recommendations for a tail tidy for the 2025 model MT07? Been looking at the Evo tech one. Just wanted to know if anyone had any better ones or any pictures of the evotech. Thanks

Hi all,

I managed to complete my CBT today (over two days, which was less intense)

Overall, I struggled using a geared bike and it was beginning to dent my confidence. However I then got switched over to an automatic Honda Vision scooter (honestly, was pretty fun to use)

Really good instructors from Two Wheels Honda and they looked out for me and the group I was with really well.

Now off to try and find a decent 125, and try and get some lessons on a geared bike so I can get better with that.

Just wanted to say thankyou to those who gave me advice on the last post. I passed my CBT today on a manual!!

To be honest I had an even worse instructor today he was horrible and shouty when we couldn’t do things to his standard first time but I just focused on the advice from the comments and it got me through.

Looking where you want to go really does make such a difference and I wish i was told this on my first CBT day.

Is it worth the trip? I've never been to something like this but interested in seeing new & fancy things, mooching about new bits of kit and clothing, potentially picking up some deals.

Any reviews or sharing experience greatly appreciated!

I have my Mod test tomorrow and I have had 2 full training days at the school.

I have yet to practise the avoidance exercise, slow speed in a straight line and also the manual handling exercise.

I still have tomorrow morning as my test is at 1 pm.

Anyone that has doine the DAS course, would you consider this normal?

My lessons were done with me and another student and the instructor.

Thoughts please,

Feeling slightly underprepared !!

I'm probably seriously overthinking this. But does anyone use a half motorbike cover for the winter?

I have a bike at the moment; I'm considering getting a winter hack. But not sure if I need one.

I don't use the bike that often, probably 3-4 times a week.

It lives outside under a full cover.

But if it's raining, or has been raining, or is a bit dirty on the roads, it kind of stops me from going out on the bike because I know that when I get back and the bike's still wet, I can't put the cover on it.

If I go out for a ride, and it rains and then keeps raining for a few days I have to leave the bike outside in the rain because it won't get dry enough to put the cover on it

I'm thinking if I got a half cover, it would at least protect the seat and the dash, etc., but I could still pop it on when I got back regardless of whether it's been raining or not.

So it might mean I use the bike more.

Does anyone else do a similar thing?

Edit: thanks everyone that was helpful I'm avoiding all these companies and going to contact their insurer myself and may use Dalton for the injury aspect. What an absolute pain in the arse all this is though.

Two days ago a van driver reversed into me on the main road through my estate. He admitted fault straight away and asked if he could just buy the bike off me, which I wasn't comfortable with.

I called my own insurer, who passed me to 4th Dimension. They searched the van reg, found nothing, and said it was either uninsured or on business insurance. Later I texted the driver for his details, and it is business insurance. Around the same time, an injury claims firm (presumably tipped off by my insurer) called me quoting 35% fees.

Yesterday morning I went to hospital because I'd been in a lot of pain overnight. I also messaged the driver to say the bike will cost more than he thinks, my helmet and gear are damaged, I've been injured, and it's best to go through insurance. He obviously contacted his insurer, because I then got a call from "Accident Claim Helpline," saying his insurer had informed them. The guy opened by saying he'd got someone a loan bike the same day. He tried to put me through to Lancaster Gate (no answer), then to Winn Solicitors, saying they only take 25% on injury claims.

I spent an hour with Winn, answered the same questions twice after being transferred, and at the end was told I wouldn't get a loan bike because I have a car. That's despite being promised one at the start, so I ended the call.

Now Lancaster Gate, Winn, 4th Dimension and Accident Claim Helpline are all calling and texting me along with another personal injury claim company.

I've no idea who to use, hoping to get some advice on how to proceed from people who have been through this.

Many thanks in advance.

Absolutely gutted to see my bike, that I'd never so much scratched the handlebar, laid out on the road with oil dripping out all because someone didn't even look.

For anyone who's been through this:

- Who should I actually go with: my insurer's route, a solicitor, or one of these firms?

- Is a loan bike realistic if I have a car?

- Are the fee percentages negotiable, and what's normal?

- Anything I should do now to protect the claim?

How much are you expected to know of the highway code when doing the Compulsory Basic Training?

I have done the car theory test 2x first go, but never followed through with the practical exam. Did they ever question you on the spot during your CBT?

Just wanted to ask to gauge what it's like.

Hello, hoping someone can provide some guidance.

My bike has been at the mechanics for over a month now. It was hotwired and the ignition cable was badly damaged / burnt.

My initial thinking was the mechanic was going to solder the ignition cables and that would be that however a month later I'm still left bikeless.

3 weeks ago they told me that it cannot be soldered and will need a new wiring system. The price they quoted for the part was £150. For labour would be another 150-300 depending on how much labour will be required.

Just called them today and they are apparently still waiting on the part to come (which was ordered 3 weeks ago)

I am beyond angry and frustrated...

I put a similar post on my local reddit page but wanted to get some thoughts on here as well. For info, I am a longtime lurker, had my full A licence less than a year and have been riding a 26 plate Yamaha MT07 for the last few months - already had an attempted break-in to my garage at 2 weeks of ownership but that's a different story.

I went out for a leisurely ride earlier and as I had just come off a dual carriageway into the suburbs of Cardiff, I was sitting in traffic (I don't like to filter yet unless I really need to) and I had a quick glance in my mirrors - in my left mirror about two car lengths behind there were two balaclava scrotes on electric bikes, parallel with each other, also sitting in traffic. Now let's be honest, these sorts of scum never sit happily in traffic. As soon as I saw them something triggered me, for starters they were wearing black balaclavas, and secondly it felt odd that they had kept some slight distance behind me eyeing up the bike. My fight or flight response activated immediately - I made it for the empty bus lane (which is open for motorcyclists) and sent it quite a distance to the front of the queue and then filtered between the two front cars.

Around 30 seconds later at the traffic lights, the scrotes had followed on their e-bikes on the pavement this time. The way I had positioned my bike at the lights would have caused them great difficulty to successfully bike-jack me. They then sped off through the red light, into the junction, popped a wheelie and I then turned the corner.

In summary, I didn't give them the opportunity to bike-jack me on this occasion. I was shaking like a leaf (both arms and legs) with adrenaline and had to pull over for a few minutes after the ordeal so I could stop shaking. Did I overreact at all? Is this becoming more common now and has anyone else experienced this?