What Have You Being Doing With Your Non-triumph Today?

Direct Access Scheme @Sandi T - where people aged 24 and over can directly get their full unrestricted motorcyle licence in the UK - we have a graduated system.

 

Today was also a good day in the main; slow speed stuff has come on well BUT I did have an off on the road clipping a kerb as I lost control a bit (lot!!) after I went over a pothole on a roundabout and had a wobble, flapped a bit and ran wide. IF I had looked up the exit road I could have saved it - wide, messy, but on the bike. However I thought "don't look at the kerb" and....well, it's obvious how I ended up sat on the pavement with the poor bike on it's side. Nothing hurt bar my pride - picked up the bike, rode back to the (thankfully close) training centre, the instructor restored the gear lever to it's correct shape and back out we went. It was really, really embarrassing but certainly taught me quite a few lessons - there were several opportunities for me to have not ended up in that situation (if there was the option of an embarrassed face emoji I would have put lots in this post!!!!).

My Mod 1 is on Tuesday - today I found out that examiners are going on strike on Tuesday . Apparently not all examiners at the test centre we use usually go on strike so there is the possibility I may still get a test - I really, really hope so after having worked so hard and waited so long. I won't find out until Tuesday; I have to go there for the test appointment anyway to find out - so I may end up driving for an hour and a half to the bike training school, then going to the test centre and then having it cancelled so going back to the training school and back home again. If I get a test and when (trying to harness the power of positive thinking!!!) I pass there is then the question of whether I'll be able to get a Mod 2 or not. BUT I am trying not to let any of that play on my mind and am telling myself there WILL be a test. Fingers crossed!!!

 

Hoping the stars align for you @Mrs Visor. Best wishes on your test

 

I hope your next report here is a positive one, @Mrs Visor, and that you get to take---and pass--your Tuesday test. It sounds like today was a bit rocky but that you came back strongly. I'm glad that nothing but some pride was hurt and that you looked for positives from your experience and learned lessons from your mistakes. Way to go to shake yourself off, get back in the saddle, and get back out there. Sending best wishes and good vibes your way!

 

A couple of weeks ago I hopped on my Speed Triple and went off to run a few errands and prove the old adage that going nearly anyplace is an adventure if you're on a motorcycle. Today I decided to do the same thing. The weather was perfect and I was off work for fall break. Nothing too exciting but my errands were certainly more fun buzzing around town on my Triumph.

First stop, Sew Perfectly, an alterations and tailoring shop where I take garments to be repaired. They do sew perfectly, too! Today I was picking up my Harley-Davidson mesh riding jacket which needed to be stitched up along the neck near the front zipper. As usual, they did a perfect job. I popped the tailpiece back on my Speed Triple that has a tail bag attached to it. This is about the time I usually put the tail bag on so I can stow a jacket liner, warm(er) gloves, scarf, stocking cap, etc. My repaired riding jacket fit in there nicely.


My second stop was our neighborhood QuikTrip gas station to fill my tank. I didn't even notice how much gas cost. But I DID notice my odometer reading! My bike had just turned over to 6,000 miles. I've not put very many miles on this bike since I purchased it new in November of 2018. Divvying up my miles among three bikes plus not riding at all for 7-8 months last year after my bicycle crash have definitely helped to keep the miles down on this bike. Those two things along with the fact that I typically ride Speedy on shorter trips relatively close to home.


My third stop was at my bank to deposit a check. No photos of the bank so you'll just have to believe me. There was a security guard stationed near the ATM machines and I thought he'd seem it a bit suspicious if I were to start snapping photos of the bank.

My final destination was Arizona Kawasaki--KTM--Triumph so schedule a minor maintenance appointment. Yes, I could have done that by phone but I just like swinging by the dealerships now and again to say hi to the staff and to see what new goodies they might have.


This one caught my eye, a 2022 Speedmaster. They had one two weeks ago when I was there but already sold that one. The number of Triumphs they had on the showroom floor was way down. The salesman told me that Triumph just recently started adding a $375 fee on new bikes. Supply chain issues he said.


The popcorn machine at AZ--KKT was fired up again so I helped myself to a bag. It's the first time in well over a year and a half that there's been popcorn in that machine.. I don't think they've resumed "Donut Saturdays" however.



Shortly after I arrived home and tucked Speedy in the garage I took a look at the current weather. The app report looked as good as the day felt!


EDIT: Doh......yeah, I just posted what I did with my TRIUMPH in the what I did with my NON-Triumph thread. Sheesh. Not the first time I've done that, I'm afraid. Maybe if I post in the morning with a cup of coffee in my hand?

 

Some more spam from me.....

A really, really good day today on the Gladius; lots of town and dual carriageway riding which went very well, followed by a nice long - ish twisty country road route which was a nice ride and really helped my cornering technique.

This afternoon we went onto the test pad and did lots of controlled stops, emergency stops and hazard avoidance. All good and had lots of fun.

Final day's training tomorrow, followed by a rest day then test on Tuesday....and... the examiners' strike has been called off which is brilliant news .

 

I’ve been stripping the Yamaha…

 

Passed 4000 miles on my '21 Ducati Supersport 950 S . It's been a fun season.

 

Beautiful bike.
I Actually prefer them to the v4's. More "real world rider"? imho.
Lucky chap

 

Final day of my DAS course today on the Suzuki; it was pouring with rain when I woke up and got to the training school - but I was pleased as we had time on the test pad and I haven't had to emergency brake / swerve in the wet so thought it would eliminate any anxieties about that. I had a strange gremlin with the u - turn, which hadn't been an issue up until now - put a foot down then couldn't do it at all even with about six attempts; did everything else fine. Had a break, came back to the u - turn and they weren't an issue at all again - I did loads on both sides of the circuit to prove to myself they were easy if you relax and then a final couple at the end again to be sure. All the other exercises went well although I was a bit exuberant through the speed trap for one of the emergency breaking practises - it would have been a pass apparently but with a minor and a talking to about my speed!! Hopefully that's the weird u - turn wobble out of my system now!!

This afternoon we did some road riding which went really, really well - so overall I am happy .

 

Good luck

 

same here. mid-eighties the first two-part test came in ??

 

Sounds like things are going very well for you, @Mrs Visor. That's great! It must have been confidence-inspiring to successfully complete some of those exercises in the rain. I laughed when I read that you got a "talking to" about your speed.

 

Today Mr. Sandi and I rode with a couple with whom we've been friends for about ten years now. We'd typically have done our "usual" Sunday morning group ride but our friends checked with us earlier in the week to see if it would work for the four of us to ride on Sunday. With their schedules, it's a fairly rare occurrence to be able to ride with them so we jumped at the opportunity.

Roe has been a Harley guy for years and has a Panhead, a Shovelhead, and also an old school custom trike that he and his dad built together. He worked for Tucson Harley for years (a new job these days). And his wife, Shelly, has an older Softail with a pink flames paint job. So imagine our surprise when they texted us a couple of weeks ago with a photo of their new.....BMW F850 GS! They've only had it for a little over a week and have already put 1500 miles on it. And so far they love it.

So Mr. Sandi and I met up with Roe and Shelly and off we went to for a Mexican brunch up the road in Mammoth, AZ at Mi Pueblito, a place I've posted photos of previously. Round trip the ride is just under 100 miles. The weather was beautiful--a bit of cloud cover and temperatures in the 80'sºF. And we didn't meet up until 11:00am, providing Mr. Sandi and me the rare opportunity to relax and read the Sunday paper with a cup of coffee before getting the bikes out of the garage. I chose to ride my Street Glide Special today as I've not been on it for a couple of weeks since we returned from our trip up to Las Vegas.

Mr. Sandi's Street Glide, my bike, and our friends BMW. That's them sitting at the table on the patio on the right side of the photo. The place we're parked is designated "Motorcycle Parking Only".



My breakfast...."#114" on the menu. A green corn tamale with two eggs over medium and refried beans. After the snapped the pic I doctored the eggs up with some red salsa and some guacamole. Roe had a carnitas (pork) burrito served "enchilada style". Shelly had an omelet and Mr. Sandi had a burger and fries. Didn't figure those two things needed a visual.




Roe and Shelly wanted to meet Ellie the Boxer so they swung by our place on their way home. All five of us hung out in the back yard for another hour before they hit the road for home. It's so nice that the temperatures have cooled enough that we can actually sit outdoors in the middle of the afternoon now!

 

I passed CBT and bike and car tests 1985/86, so it was 2 part by then

 

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!

 

Especially if he’s not gonna use it off-road!

 

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.