I passed my motorbike test today.
;D;D;D;D;D;D;D;D

Here's the new bike that's been waiting in my garage and is now just insured

{"name":"604163","src":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/d\/d\/ddf0a3c8fe3c049bbebf2b7356b9fc29.png","w":720,"h":538,"tn":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/d\/d\/ddf0a3c8fe3c049bbebf2b7356b9fc29"}

You might find a better helmet than the felt hat in your icon... Anyway, congrats!

Cheers.

Is that a bug in the parser or does Matthew only allow 10 smilies at once cos he's grumpy

I just ordered myself a nice $400 riding jacket the other day. x10

This seems like a safe assumption ...

Congrats.

Last week I bought a 400€ leather jacket for 30€. How convenient that there's people around who can't tell the difference between worn leather and pull-up leather.

No picture of you leathered up?

Somehow I keep reading the title as "lathered up..."

Arthur: Same.

I've been considering getting my motorcycle license. Started reading a manual.

I've almost gone through one rear tire already. Shame, I have to cut down on the riding so it'll last until july.

My new jacket arrived today. Now I have to wait to crash to see how well it works.

^ picture or it didn't happen.

Mid life crisis, Neil?

Well, I can't be bothered to take a photo, but here's my jacket. Please ensure you wear darkened glasses before you look

{"name":"604188","src":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/8\/7\/87fef51b8ad87b3570d75d6e8caecf96.jpg","w":1000,"h":1346,"tn":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/8\/7\/87fef51b8ad87b3570d75d6e8caecf96"}

Wore it today... it's a great jacket. It weighs a ton, but I don't really notice it when it's on. It fits perfectly, is well built, and would definitely keep my skin on me if I were to crash.

However, if you have an aggressive (leaning forward) riding style, the jacket would be terrible as it rides up your back in that position.

Looks like it is bulletproof too

Let's see if I can post a photo directly fom my phone...

{"name":"604189","src":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/6\/f\/6f2593ce6df317c17c8af0938233d647.jpg","w":768,"h":1280,"tn":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/6\/f\/6f2593ce6df317c17c8af0938233d647"}

edit: (BTW, that's not my gut, my pockets were just full of stuff. Honest. )

I think I will be getting a new bike soon too.
My current bike is over six years old and I seem to have put enough money into it trying to keep it alive when getting a new one is cheaper.

My shocks have begone to bleed so i think that will be the braking point.
new shocks $400 USD vs new bike 1500 USD.

Should i buy the shocks and wait for something else to fail?

I just want to say:
Mr Bike you have served me well. I can still remember our first accident however
I think its time to get some young blood into my life. To the curve with you!

If by shocks you mean front forks, you probably just have broken seals. New seals will probably cost less than $40 and aren't all that difficult to replace.

Back shocks probly is the seal. my point still stands. she is old.

My current bike is around 40 years old. Over that, depending on what time of the year it was manufactured. I think it actually tells on the tag, I'll have to go look(Though I'm pretty sure it says April of '71).

Still running strong, I just played around with wires to get my running lights working again. I love my CB450. I also just got a new helmet. It's a Scorpion EXO-400, it MSRPs for like 200 dollars, but I got it for 60+S&H at STG. Having a helmet that covers your face helps a lot with breathing and being cold (depending on how warm it is out, eh?). Plus it reduces the road and engine noise a lot (of course some helmets are designed better in this regard than others).

All jackets bought in the USA are.

I have one; it's a nice helmet. The sizing is kind of annoying though because small/medium have the same shell size, as do large/extra large (i.e., only the padding size differs). Not sure if that's a standard practice or not. The MSRP is probably close to $150, but it's definitely a steal for $60.

Well, STG said the MSRP for mine was $190, but maybe that's inaccurate. Also, when watching the video they have on their site reviewing the EXO-400, the guy(who is actually the owner) stated that the bigger shell size was only for XXXL, which is only approved by DOT and not by Snell.

I had to get a 2XL to fit my fat head. My dad would probably need a 3XL.

As for a leather jacket, I'm using my dad's from way back when, most likely a good while before I was born. I still want to get some kevlar pants or something, but I currently have no money.

I have an AGV K3, this model but not tinted.
{"name":"agv_K_3_basic_one_blk.jpg","src":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/c\/e\/ce7461d46f57cd9534b1430317d97197.jpg","w":300,"h":300,"tn":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/c\/e\/ce7461d46f57cd9534b1430317d97197"}

I thought it was the right size, in fact it was too tight when I bought it and would barely fit. Now, I fear it's actually too big because when I ride my 'big' bike I can't go too fast because the helmet is trying to fly off my head

Next helmet I'm getting a higher specced one with more aero vents as I can't do shoulder checks at highish speed without getting my head whipped off.

Wouldn't that be reason enough to buy a new helmet now, even if it means taking a hit on this one? Call me crazy, but I tend to put safety before money (within reason). A couple hundred bucks more to actually be comfortable riding would be well worth it to me, even if it meant I had a wasted purchase lingering over my head (not like I would ever have any of those though).

Your head must be getting smaller.

What gear are you required to wear by law? Here in Illinois we can drive around in our underwear if we like.

I always wear a helmet because I know the one time I don't, I'll end up kissing the pavement. Plus it looks good with my Spiderman underwear.

Helmet is the only thing required by law (unless you are a Sikh).

However, nobody rides without gloves and almost everyone has a proper jacket and boots and most people have either padded over-trousers or padded/kevlar jeans. Personally, I don't feel right unless I have my padded trousers on as the time I don't will be the time I slid on some diesel and tear the skin off my legs and depart the knee-cap from leg.

The same applies to Europe too I believe. Pillion riders are the same with the addition that their feet have to touch the foot bars.

Translated to American: The bitch's feet have to touch the foot bars.

btw, talking of bikes, I got myself a pair of these a few weeks ago as I only had winter gloves until then:

http://www.heldusa.com/airstream.html

You wouldn't believe how much air gets to your fingers and hand in general. They're lacking a bit of padding round the fingers, but overall they're just lovely - kevlar inside, kangaroo leather for the grip.

My only reservation with motorcycle gear is what you're supposed to do with it when you get to your destination. I mean, what if you're going to j0rb or are in a hurry or something? It seems like a lot of work to put it all on (and often take it all, or most, off). It's certainly justified, but it seems rather inconvenient. How do people cope?

You get some extra storage space

And if you don't make it to your destination, it's still got you covered.

On that note (I originally assumed you meant the saddle "bags" and such) I can't stand bikes that have those on them. They just look so "uncool". To me the appeal of a motorcycle is that it looks sleek and fast and cool. Putting a blunt saddle bag or equivalent on it would ruin the appeal for me.

I meant the coffin dragging behind.

Besides that, I doubt you'd want to get "dressed"/"undressed" in the parking lot (at least, I wouldn't).

Also, I just thought the coffin was cool (if you're going to pull a trailor...). The girl in the video makes me sad for being so "ZOMGLOLWTFBBQ".

Of the motorcyclists that I see, probably 30% are wearing helmets. It's mostly just a subset of the people on sports bikes. If it's a guy on a cruiser, it's almost a sure guarantee that his gear consists of a bandana, sunglasses, tshirt, and jeans.

Personally, I don't even like riding highway speeds without a full face helmet. I don't have any leg protection yet. I'm thinking about just getting some knee pads.

It is annoying, particularly on short trips. I never ride without a helmet, but if I'm only going across town I may not wear gloves or a jacket (particularly if it's a very hot day).

The helmet can be locked to the motorcycle. (Unfortunately on my bike it's dangerously close to the hot exhaust pipes, so I don't use it.) I often just leave my helmet under the front wheel. Bikers aren't going to steal other bikers' gear (at least around here, it's like you automatically join a secret club once you get a bike), and most people probably wouldn't even notice the helmet sitting there.

The jacket can be hung up just like you would with any other jacket. Although if you have a nice one, you may want to keep it nearby...

And if you use removable leg armor, that's easy to take off if you are going to be somewhere for any extended period of time. And if you're just walking about a store (etc), just leave it on.

But it's all worth it. Riding a motorcycle is so much more enjoyable (and less expensive) than driving a car about. And it makes you automatically cool, even if you really suck.

Well, they're not cheap, but if you'd rather look normal after getting off your bike, just get some dragging jeans.

That reminds me... I wear my clothes baggy... My jeans are usually much lower than yours would be i.e., barely hanging on. There's no way they would provide me any protection, even if they were bullet/friction proof, because they would come off in less than a second. So I'd have to get used to dressing differently.

This is what I got the EXO-400 for. I think my open-face helmet reduced my perceived coolness. I really need to get a reflective face shield for it though, so people can't see my ugly face underneath.

What surprises me is that I never noticed how motorcyclists often lower out their left hand to each other when riding until I noticed them doing it to me on my motorcycle.

You've never noticed this? You've never noticed how many cars are exactly like the one your new girlfriend drives until you met her?

I installed a pair of Pazzo replica levers (from The2Wheels.com) on the SV today. A bargain for 29€, they make the bike much easier to manage with my stubby fingers.

{"name":"243138_2130651868474_1311315826_2604380_5892536_o.jpg","src":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/f\/1\/f1b09ea863bde5f9c68f3bf024a03fa9.jpg","w":1280,"h":768,"tn":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/f\/1\/f1b09ea863bde5f9c68f3bf024a03fa9"}

I don't have a girlfriend. That said, my dad and I never noticed how many grand ams and grand prixs(very similar) were around until he bought one. They're all over the fucking place. Every other vehicle you see is a grand am/prix practically around here.

Over here in the land of paradise we nod heads at each other.

That probably has something to do with your waving hand being on the throttle side over in backward island land (unless you build your bikes backward too).

Originally we used to have the gear on the right and brake on the left if that helps. That was about 50 years ago though.

Nods are better than hands I think, more visible.

I think you should start doing it and see if you can get it to ripple across the whole continent.

You want us to do "The Wave" with our heads? Not gonna happen!

This is how we do it in England

btw, I've discovered free ads
http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/yamaha-ybr-125/81249860

I just bought an EXO-700. Now I'm ready to cruise in style.

{"name":"Scorpion_EXO-700_Predator_Helmet_zoom.jpg","src":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/0\/8\/08a6232bc80eff1f8aaab4171cab8ac7.jpg","w":500,"h":500,"tn":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/0\/8\/08a6232bc80eff1f8aaab4171cab8ac7"}

Oh, and the obligatory picture of my bike, because I've not posted one before:

{"name":"3474246","src":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/3\/a\/3af6ecf5da742b51d3c26fb4cac76694.jpg","w":3264,"h":2448,"tn":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/3\/a\/3af6ecf5da742b51d3c26fb4cac76694"}

just got my new bike today it came with a free helmet. i just got to get it licenced and insured now. old bikes bin back fire a lot lately so i think it perfect time before something bad happens. i think i will give the bike to one of my cozs

BAF's first bike that he doesn't have to pedal... Seems like just yesterday we took the training wheels off.

I'm using an HJC CS-14:

{"name":"skarr%20large.jpg","src":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/7\/d\/7dbc54d63d6fd77f5641986b4fd0e480.jpg","w":600,"h":600,"tn":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/7\/d\/7dbc54d63d6fd77f5641986b4fd0e480"}

It's a helmet, not very good one at that but I also need a new rear tire desperately so replacing the helmet has to wait.