Newbie Hi From Norwich

Originally Posted by kaivalagi

Had my first scare.....

Coming onto a small (but not so mini) roundabout in a 30 zone, no traffic to the right or ahead, just as I enter the roundabout a people carrier comes careering from the left, probably breaking the speed limit and there are no signs of it braking at all. I yanked on the front brake and had to steer to the left too otherwise I'd have been in it's path, lost the front wheel for a moment then let off and regained control again.

Shook me up just a bit, and the SUV just keep on going....woman driver who was probably on the phone

In some ways I am glad it happened as I will take nothing for granted on a roundabout again!

If I had come off I may have been able to get the reg but there were no witnesses and I would have likely had to claim on my own bloody insurance...no more inner city back road shortcuts me thinks...

Good to hear you lean't a valuable lesson. There are some riders who never get a second chance.

Ride like every car is out to get you and always expect the unexpected

Regarding modding your bike..

For more comfort when riding, you can adjust the angle of your fr/brake and clutch lever.

Looseen the perch bolts and move them downwards to a more comfortable position.

Stock settings arn't the most comfortable for most riders.

And it's free.

[kaivalagi]

Thanks for the tips, I'll give the lever adjustment a try

I am so glad I am having to run in the bike, it's meant I have been more conservative in my approach and am learning how ignorant drivers are to motorcycles in the mean time...urban riding is such a danger in my eyes now!

Next time I think I may well lose my rag with whoever is responsible and not let it go! Hopefully they'll then think twice about their actions *fingers crossed*

Originally Posted by kaivalagi

Had my first scare.....

Coming onto a small (but not so mini) roundabout in a 30 zone, no traffic to the right or ahead, just as I enter the roundabout a people carrier comes careering from the left, probably breaking the speed limit and there are no signs of it braking at all. I yanked on the front brake and had to steer to the left too otherwise I'd have been in it's path, lost the front wheel for a moment then let off and regained control again.

Shook me up just a bit, and the SUV just keep on going....woman driver who was probably on the phone

In some ways I am glad it happened as I will take nothing for granted on a roundabout again!

If I had come off I may have been able to get the reg but there were no witnesses and I would have likely had to claim on my own bloody insurance...no more inner city back road shortcuts me thinks...

Woo, nasty. Well done on recovering from a front slide, you must have bloody good reactions! Scary moments happen, part of the learning process.

Originally Posted by kaivalagi

Next time I think I may well lose my rag with whoever is responsible and not let it go! Hopefully they'll then think twice about their actions *fingers crossed*

Most car divers will claim they didn't see you or tell you that you were going too fast.

Please don't loose your rag, Car versus bike = bike looses.

Let it go and concentrate on defensive riding.

A member on here had a signiture something like..

A good ride is one which you return home from.

[kaivalagi]

Originally Posted by ravingdavis

Woo, nasty. Well done on recovering from a front slide, you must have bloody good reactions! Scary moments happen, part of the learning process.

Thanks, it's good to know just how great the sv is! I put a lot of it down to me doing road racing on bicycles when I was younger (and fitter)...I think my natural balance on 2 wheels did it for it, well that and just how light and nimble the sv is

Originally Posted by Mighty Boosh

Most car divers will claim they didn't see you or tell you that you were going too fast.

Please don't loose your rag, Car versus bike = bike looses.

Let it go and concentrate on defensive riding.

A member on here had a signiture something like..

A good ride is one which you return home from.

I'll try not to lose my rag, I am generally a well tempered guy...

Even with the scare I am loving every moment on 2 wheels

It always makes me laugh when people pull out on me or try to pull across on a dual carriageway - when I turn around and gesticulate at them they always just raise their hand really casually to say sorry and I'm thinking "you just tried to f'ing kill me!".

Was good to meet you on Sunday, hope you manage to get those 600 miles in ready for the first service

[kaivalagi]

Originally Posted by deltron

It always makes me laugh when people pull out on me or try to pull across on a dual carriageway - when I turn around and gesticulate at them they always just raise their hand really casually to say sorry and I'm thinking "you just tried to f'ing kill me!".

too true, I've started the guesturing already...stuck on a roundabout in clogged up traffic with some driver inch'ing ever closer today trying to ignore I existed, I gave them a nice view of my kangaroo leather palm...not got as far as using more offensive signs just yet, nothing has demanded it since the other day thankfully

Originally Posted by deltron

Was good to meet you on Sunday, hope you manage to get those 600 miles in ready for the first service

You too, hope went when the bloody crap weather got here, I had to cancel the first service on Monday, I just wont get enough miles in...although I did go for a nice ride tonight around all the back roads around the broads etc, I'm not liking the fallen leaves on small back roads I'm starting to see though! I have Saturday and hopefully Sunday afternoon available for more miles

@All, Newbie question on stands ...is it worth spending the extra on an Abba superbike stand? And does the front lift also work well with the SV i.e. should I just get the package? The Abba site says "we do not recommend this front lift for a motorcycle with a V-twin engine"

I don't like the idea of a paddock stand as I'll be on my own sorting things out! I would appreciate your input as the I want to be certain before a £140 purchase.

Also, is there still a 10% discount with Abba if purchased over the phone by a forum member?

Originally Posted by kaivalagi

@All, Newbie question on stands ...is it worth spending the extra on an Abba superbike stand? And does the front lift also work well with the SV i.e. should I just get the package? The Abba site says "we do not recommend this front lift for a motorcycle with a V-twin engine"

I don't like the idea of a paddock stand as I'll be on my own sorting things out! I would appreciate your input as the I want to be certain before a £140 purchase.

Abba stands are very good, especially if you have the bike specific ends, but a bit of a faff for day to day use IMO. Not a problem if you're only going to use it for lubing the chain or maintenance though. The front lift, IIRC, goes under the engine which is great if you want to get the forks out I presume, but it lifts on the engine, which if you have a v-twin means the the front exhaust pipe is usually in the way.

Rear paddocks stands are easy to use so long as you have a grab rail or rack, and swingarm bobbins.

[kaivalagi]

Originally Posted by petevtwin650

Abba stands are very good, especially if you have the bike specific ends, but a bit of a faff for day to day use IMO. Not a problem if you're only going to use it for lubing the chain or maintenance though. The front lift, IIRC, goes under the engine which is great if you want to get the forks out I presume, but it lifts on the engine, which if you have a v-twin means the the front exhaust pipe is usually in the way.

Thanks for that, I want it mainly to get the rear wheel off the ground for maintenance and not to use every day, the side stand is fine for that. Having the suspension loose is a nice to have though.

Originally Posted by petevtwin650

Rear paddocks stands are easy to use so long as you have a grab rail or rack, and swingarm bobbins.

No grab rail at the mo, still in a box with the seat, not sure it's ever gonna go on to be honest...

[maviczap]

Get an ABBA stand you won't regret it. Having a paddock stand is just as big a faff as an ABBA stand, plus there's more chance it'll fall off the paddock stand, than the ABBA stand
Paddock stands are a PIA, even in the garage, as an ABBA stand will breakdown as take up no room, whereas a paddock stand will be a useless lump of metal tubes that conspires to trip you up and get it the way when you're not using it.

As for the front lift, I didn't bother with one. A car jack will do the same job, with a lump of wood to protect the engine