Yes, did pass the IAM test on the Commando back in the early 90s - just to see if I could....

Excellent Ian. It's good fun doing the training & the test too! Hoping you had a good experience.

Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:50 pm
Current Ride: T-max mk6
Location: Teesside UK
Contact: Contact MrGrumpy
Re: First ride....
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Post by MrGrumpy » Mon Nov 29, 2021 11:06 am

Deer are almost everywhere! A long time ago on a summer morning in my then house in the middle of Reading's southern suburbs, I heard a strange noise in the garden and was rather surprised to find a great big deer eating my apple tree! No idea how it got there.....
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Was that before or after Jobs?
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By the bye,

I taped a 50 pence piece to the left handlebar grip as a reminder not to use the LH lever as a clutch lever following advice from a well-known bike trainer from southern uk.
Works a treat - I’m now using the front brake more, after many years of riding bikes: Not sure what that says about my previous riding habits ……. It’s alright - you don’t have to tell me ……

Where did you tape the 50p and how does that work?

I taped the 50p to the forward side of the LH bar and each time I wrapped my fingers around the bar (nervous tension just before I wanted to de-clutch) as I approached a road junction I was reminded that the LH lever was not a clutch lever. I then used the front brake only to slow/stop and put down my left leg as normal. After a while I became accustomed to not de-clutching when stopping.
I’ll keep it there for a few rides until I no longer need the reminder.

As previously stated, my use of front brake has improved considerably and I have not activated the ABS yet!

Now, just got to get used to not overtaking other vehicles just for the fun of it, and because I can: and other inappropriate behaviour - very true statement when riding previous bikes such as Honda Blackbird, Yamaha FJR…….. ah, well ….. tempus fugit.
Also, hopefully less painful anyway (my “off” in 2012 was not nice - had to replace textile clothing - and now I’m nearly 10 years older).

Thanks for that - I think I'd find it too uncomfortable in normal riding. Just have to retrain my brain, a bit like swapping sides for brake / gearchange on Brit / other bikes (although can never get on with Triumph's upside down layout).

As my other bike is a 1952 Norton I don't tend to go for iffy overtakes anyway.....