Send some of your sunshine our way please @Sandi T - I love the heat . What made your friends decide on the BMW? It's quite a change!
I'll be happy to send some of our sun and heat your way, Mrs V! Especially during June, July, and August. Why BMW? Mr. Sandi and I were curious about that, too. Roe said that he's been thinking about getting an ADV bike for awhile now. I think he's got that desire that many have lately (especially with Covid) to get out and get away from it all. He and Shelly bought a small-ish pull-behind camper trailer about a year ago for the same reason. But they only used it twice and sold it. The idea of it better was better than the reality for them. Roe does realize that he may not take the new bike off road much if at all but he likes to give his idea a go which I admire about him. The reason for a BMW in particular had to do to some degree with availability and also getting a fair deal. He was looking at the Africa Twin and also a KTM but went with the BMW. He had to get the bike in Phoenix as the Tucson BMW dealership told him they couldn't get any of the 850 GS's!
Yes, because they are so easy to pick up when dropped and won’t break the bank when something snaps. Stick a label saying “Off-road skills’ on your tank and you will become an instant professional. Edit: But only if you wear the matching suit.
I passed the old 250cc single part test in March '82 and worked out I'd just got enough time to get another application in if I failed as those received from April would have to take the "new" 2 part test.
On the "non Triumph" theme, did a routine 15Hr oil and filter/oil screen clean on the Berg. Will probably have to stick a new knobbly on the back shortly.
Went out for a ride on my Indian Chief Dark Horse. a different style of riding to the Street Scrambler
As @DCS900 commented, @Daveweld, that's definitely a good looking bike! I got a chance to test ride the Chief last spring and really enjoyed riding it. How long have you had your Chief Dark Horse and what do you think of it??
Well the Gladius and I didn't fare too well today - pre Mod 1 test practice just before we went to the test centre went really well, no issues at all.....the Mod 1 itself was a fail. I dabbed a foot down in the figure of eight unfortunately which was just nerves getting the complete better of me. Still, onwards and upwards. I can retake in three working days from the fail, but the first available Mod 1 now is on November 11th so that date it is!
Don’t take it too hard @Mrs Visor … just keep plugging away and learning! You’ll be celebrating soon enough.
Absolutely; onwards and upwards. The instructor said he was surprised which is a compliment really, but doesn't help once you have failed . There is a very low Mod 1 pass rate for females at the test centre (33% ) so I am following in the footsteps of many female bikers who have gone before me. Next time .
Loving that positivity! Sounds like you were a little bit unfortunate and it seems a shame that there's no 'allowance' for exam. nerves but, clearly, it's a learning experience and the re-test is only 3 weeks away. Hope you get the time and weather to practice the pre-run calming breaths and then ace the next attempt! Good luck.
Thank you - I am hoping for a cancellation sooner but realistically I think it will be three weeks away. After I had dabbed my foot down I continued and rode some nice ones - I think because I knew the foot down was a serious fault and so a fail it relaxed me as I had nothing at all to lose. I just need to manage to ride like I do in lessons or my own practice every time because these issues aren't there. The human brain is an odd one, with mine stranger than most .
Sorry to hear that @Mrs Visor As you say the brain is very odd! You have shown you can do it time and again, such a bummer the one dab was on the test. Three weeks will fly by and you will sail through! Best wishes to you!
I'm sorry to learn that the "dab" led to a fail on this round of exams, @Mrs Visor. But you have such a positive attitude and you are so great about practicing that I have no doubt that you'll get there. Yes, the human brain is funny. When I took my MSF Beginning Rider Course to get my endorsement, I couldn't do what I called "The Dreaded U-Turn Box" during practice to save my life. But interestingly, when it came to the test, I did it without putting a foot down. Go figure. The way the testing works here (in Arizona at least) is that you start with a set number of "points" when the test begins. Each error constitutes a certain number of points being subtracted from that total. If you go over the allowed limit of points off, you fail the test. But only one error won't lead to that--unless it's an egregious such as running into a fence or into the instructor. Which I've heard happens more than one might think. Good luck next time! We're all pulling for ya!
We have serious faults which are an immediate fail - including putting a foot down during the low speed riding exercises - and minor faults which you are allowed five of in module one to pass.
I remember doing mine, the figure of 8. I felt I needed to put a foot down at one point but thought feck it, instant fail, I'll drop the bike before I put a foot down! Luckily I recovered without having to do either and went on to pass the test. Like you I also went far too fast for the emergency stop but that wasn't counted as a fault, the instructor did mention it though. All down to nerves, surprising how they can effect your performance. Good luck next time! I'm sure you'll do well