Thursday, 18 November 2010

Check out the Massive Yamaha & Suzuki stands...

Don't forget to pop in and see us on your way to the Carol Nash Motorcycle Live Show at the NEC...


Taking a non-biking mate with you ?
If they booked a FREE Get ON ride anytime before 28th October 2010...
...they can claim 2 FREE tickets to Motorcycle Live.

Click here to get them... 


In the meantime - here's a sneak peek of the Yamaha Stand...































and the Suzuki Stand...































PLUS click here for your chance to win a brand new 2011 GSXR600


Enjoy the show !
 
 
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Thursday, 11 November 2010

Riding Home in High Winds...

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THAR SHE BLOWS!
Apparently we’ve got some weather coming, so...


RULE 1. If you haven’t really got to ride in this, you know what… Don’t

But if you have to:

Here’s 10 top tips from our slightly barking, every day- all weather riders here at Streetbike…



1. Go later and avoid the Traffic

2. Avoid Elevated Sections of Motorways. They’re the blowiest. M5 J1- J2 is a particularly blustery hot spot. So keep low.

3. Avoid High Sided Trucks – Don’t pass unless necessary and keep well back out of their bow wave! If you have to pass, keep wide. You pay your taxes so use the 3rd lane on the M-Way if you need to. Just give trucks a very wide berth.


4. Keep your speed down – acceleration makes the front of the bike light and more susceptible to cross winds. Likewise, hard braking makes the back light - ditto susceptibility. Smooth works always and especially now.


5. Relax on the bike – use a light but firm grip on the bars AND KEEP LOOKING AROUND YOU.


6. Allow plenty of space between you and any traffic or pedestrians. Gusts are unpredicatable for everybody.


7. If you’re getting buffeted, particularly passing trucks, drag your back brake lightly, this will stabilize the bike.


8. Keep looking around you and plan ahead. Watch what the trees are doing for an indication of what the winds doing ahead of you. If the tree’s in the road – the winds up!


9. Keep an eye out for open spaces either side of you. Roads approaching from the left or right can channel wind right across your path with very little warning. Slow your approach to junctions.


10. ENJOY IT. Seriously. All experience is education and this is sharp end training for that round the world bike trip you’re going to do…aren’t you? After all, if its 200 miles to the last ferry out of Tangier, you’ve got to make it wind or no wind. This stuff hones the 6th sense you’re going to need for a full life of biking.

And if we’ve misssed anything, click here to throw your tips our way and we’ll slot them in. Keep upright.

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Thursday, 4 November 2010

Training and tests - Last Part by customer Cy Pearson...


Streetbike Instructor Paul Sturgiss with a very happy Cy Pearson

I just got in from Bromsgrove...
So what you’re saying… but I’m telling you I just got back from Bromsgrove...

Big Boots
After my very dejected ride back to Halesown I’m then faced with a bleak diary of available Mod 1 slots that fit with my work and availability of the guys at Streetbike and actual test slots. I had to wait over 2 weeks, it was just infuriating, only slot I could get was 30th September, patience is a virtue I kept telling myself, it will some come around – but no bike rides in between and the Yamaha was still sat in pristine condition in the garage. Nice having it in showroom condition but I much rather get it dirty and use it.

The day finally came, early start at Streetbike, 7am to get to Wolverhampton for a test at 8:30. Good ride to the site, cup of tea in the cafĂ© opposite. Tony who I’d done a few lessons with was also with me, he was up first. Waiting was a killer but he came back and passed first go so he’d beaten me but I was determined this time. Don’t go too slow through the speed traps was running through my mind that was the focus. Park in the green cones, manual manoeuvre – easy. Slalom, figure of eight – easy. Now the swerve DON’T GO TOO SLOW… nicely around the curve opened it up sights set on the curve, through the trap, clatter…. Yes you guessed it, big boot meet blue cone… Game Over.

Would you like to carry on with the test, John the very nice examiner asked, will it change the fact I just whacked a cone I asked… Sorry no he said. So shoulders down and lots of cursing and swearing to myself I tootled back to the gate to be allowed off… 50% pass for Paul today.

3rd Time Lucky – Hopefully
I know, getting tedious isn’t it… Another 2 weeks wait and I’m up again with a very nice lady whose name I forget but she had a 125 and was using it daily and wanted to lose the L plates… Maybe I should have done that… Another early start, and I’m up first…

I'll spare you a long drawn out paragraph – bike, green fence, green, yellow, blue and red cones, examiner, me and a bike = PASSED, sadly the nice lady got very nervous and think that was what did for her and she failed – I knew how that felt. Oh my god, I might actually get to ride my bike before it becomes a classic.

Mod 2
Mod 2’s are in short supply and I couldn’t get booked in for 3 weeks. I couldn’t go straight to the test I wanted to have a ride the weekend before. Paul was off so out with Steve and Will who was about my age and just getting started, he was out on the 125 and I was given the label experienced rider – no pressure then.

I had a great ride, everything flowed really nicely, missed a couple of observations but I knew I’d done it so I could rectify it, everything else was a dream, thorough pleasure to be out riding.

The test day arrives, Wednesday and a late morning slots for us. I’d had the worst Tuesday at work and needed to focus on the bike, nice ride around in the morning, felt very comfortable – I’m not superstitious but for the first time I was on the “other” bike… it was a little higher than the usual bike – Don’t be a fool, it makes no difference…

The examiner was John from “Conegate” – don’t think he recognised me, wasn’t going to mention it… Got the bike and passenger questions out of the way at the start and off we went. As soon as we left the test station we pulled over and straight into the “follow the signs” bit of the test, been doing it since 1987 when I passed my car test so no issue really. Road works in Bilston and massive queues around the Bilston St Island traffic not leaving the junctions clear – nightmare. I was thinking about moving over on the dual carriageway into the outside lane to try to make progress when I saw John move over edging towards a car telling me to get in front of him so I thought I’d failed for not making progress – but you never know so carry on…

Some national speed limit which was fun, pulling out from the kerb and a hill start, all covered and we were on the way back to the test station. I got into a muddle with three lanes enter an island, right indicator on going straight on but I was surrounded by cars so they were probably not looking at lights but my position. Nearly at the test station and the message pull in behind that parked car. Normally Paul gives you the instruction about a bike length away, but the instruction a car length came over the radio so I thought Volvo estate seem like a good length.

I thought I had fluffed it up, few things in my mind that I might get picked up on but I didn’t know if there were serious faults or not. Congratulations you’ve passed… What a fantastic feeling… 5 minor faults including 2 stalls – bit of nerves…

I just got in from Bromsgrove...
To finish where I started, I just got back from Bromsgrove where I went to visit a pal I don’t see very often – why is that of any interest – I went on my very own bike all on my own – Journey number 1!


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Monday, 1 November 2010

Congratulations to Yamaha on third consecutive Triple Crown Win






All of us at Streetbike would like to congratulate Yamaha on winning their third consecutive MotoGP Triple Crown with the Team, Rider and Manufacturers' titles. The achievement marks the first time since the Triple Crown's inception that any manufacturer has won it three times in a row.

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Training and tests - PT3 by customer Cy Pearson...



The deal is done, the bike is ordered, the training is booked, I brought a helmet and a jacket – yes they are blue and I’ve taken some stick for making sure I’m co-ordinated with my bike, philistines, do they know nothing. The party night came and I wasn’t going to go but my 14 year old daughter wanted to go and see what it was all about, so we went. We were one of the first so got a goody bag each, got a free burger and a listen to the Kerrang DJ. Some of the faces I knew from the CBT and they were all geared up ready to drive their 125’s away at midnight, we had a good look around and chatted to loads of people getting new 60’ plate bikes but I couldn’t stop – My bike was away in the storage area and not due to be delivered till the following week…
We left them to it at about 10pm and drove home in the car.
The bike eventually arrives, inside a van, its lowered off and we do the checks of paint work, owners handbook, keys, immobiliser, and the lecture about not riding it cause it would be illegal and I had to sign a disclaimer to that effect. I pushed it from the road to the drive behind my car (pictured) – I was determined to leave it there for a few hours so that everyone would see it. It was like being 17 again with the rubbish 10 year old Escort estate on the drive that I couldn’t use except I’m 40 and it’s a brand new bike and I’m meant to be grown up. I gave it a good dusting over and even a bit of polish, ok ok it had 2.4 miles on the clock, what of it, it was my new toy and I want to play. But it looked huge…
Training day 1 – Making Friends with the bike
Saturday morning, 8am Halesowen, I arrive at Streetbike and there are the training bikes parked on the yard – 600cc monsters, nothing like the 125cc I did the CBT on – what have I signed up to, they look massive, how will I cope with that. Back with Paul who I did the CBT with, “let’s make friends with the bike” he said... Didn’t get what he meant at the time but I do now, you are so much in touch with what the bike is doing, nothing like a car, everything is exaggerated, the noise, the feel the exposure but it all felt a bit more grown up than the CBT, this was serious. This was a machine that needed to be handled properly after all it would get to 60mph in about 3.5 seconds and top out at 130mph -140mph that was about twice the acceleration of my car which is a Focus ST 2.5 turbo and this was a training bike.
We spent some time on the patch where we did the CBT, it was different but the same – I know what I mean. Then out on the road with some basics, turn left, turn left, turn left, turn left recognise where you are, let’s try that again… then suddenly over the radio “at the end of the road we are turning right, turning right, remember what to do from the CBT”… eerrrrmmmm NO!! mind went blank, came to a stop a bit suddenly with no finesse , all a bit messy, not really pointing in the right direction, in 4th or 5th gear or maybe 3rd – who knew – think think think, composure, nothing coming pull out and head up… better. Rest of the afternoon went better after that – realised its about staying calm, head up and looking around, shoulder checks, life savers, observations, signal manoeuvre - Just keep doing that...
Great day, knew why I wanted a bike and this was it but surely there was more out there than just Halesowen.
Training Day 2 – This is it
Today was about getting some miles in and learning the craft of riding not just left, left, left with the odd right turn. We set out heading towards Bridgnorth, beautiful sweeping wide A roads, 50mph and 60 mph limits so really got to get some biking done. This was what it was all about and it didn’t leave me disappointed in any way. We took it in turns leading, there were two of us with Paul following on, soon realised that Paul liked his lunch which suited me too, bacon butties and fry-ups were going to be a part of this training too, but good to get a break in after a few hours.
Bridgnorth then on to Kidderminster more A roads, some dual carriage ways, with nice sweeping curves – Perfect.
Another great day on a bike, bit of a warm ear from the radio ear piece but a small price to pay.
Training Day 3 – Birmingham city test runs
Today was all about fine tuning the skills, making sure checks are second nature, the practicalities of being on a bike are understood like less space needed to enter an island, making a decision and doing it not dithering around and getting up to speed – getting up to speed, not considered that as an issue, it’s a no brainer…. Wrong! We’d done some short bursts at 60mph but there was always a bend coming up so easing off and taking the long sweeping bend at about 45mph. Today we hit national speed limit dual carriageway and Paul was keen to make sure we were confident – the first time I got to 70 mph I looked around, surely I needed Mr. Scott and Mr Sulu in attendance at this speed. It was fantastic and such a thrill but my god how fast does it feel compared to a - car what a rush… some more riding around meant we hit that section a few times and I was much more comfortable with it but I think I’m going to be sticking to the nice A roads rather than motorways and wide dual carriageways, seems much more fun.
Training Day 4 – Test Day
A couple of hours on the bike then a relax at the test station in Garrets Green, Mick was doing his mod 1 first. I was cool and calm, tests never bother me, if you know what you are doing why worry, that just makes it difficult. Mick went off, 15 minutes later back in through the door with a proper miserable face – he’d failed, didn’t get up to speed on the first attempt at the swerve then missed it cause he was watching the speedo second time, he also got a few minor points for not shoulder checking both shoulders in the middle of the patch – as if you were surrounded by traffic.
1 - I took note, road steady into the first green box, found neutral, switched off, stand down and got off. 
2 - Pushing the bike is easy enough, balance it on ur hip for forwards and hold front and rear for backwards, don’t forget those shoulder checks even when pushing, and parked it in the next bay. Done! Slalom in-between the yellow cones and the two blue cones then do a figure of eight twice around the blue cones – No cones moves no feet down, Done!
3 - Ride the corner at 19mph and through the speed trap at 32mph swerve through the blue cones and come to a stop with the front wheel in the little blue square of cones. Bit late on the breaking but in the box and through the cones. Done!
4 - U-turn. Shoulder, mirror, mirror, shoulder, pull away, 2nd gear, check and go. No feet down. Done.
5 - Walking pace ride… 1st gear very slow behind the clip board, wobbly but Done!
6 - Around the bend again 19mph, through the speed trap at 32mph, emergency stop. Done!
7 - Ride to the gate and wait… Gate open parked all checks Done!


Not quietly confident but absolutely convinced I’d passed, walking back thinking about the Mod 2 and tonight finally out on my own bike, lots of people who want to see the bike, got a good 100 mile round trip to get everyone in. Lots of Facebook posts about what I was doing – everyone know what was happening.

Back for the debrief, Paul comes in to, I wanted him to share in my good news.

Examiner: “if you travel before doing the u-turn how many should checks would you do”
Me: “Two, one to pull away and then one before you start the U turn”
Examiner: “You missed the second one, you looked where you were going and pulled out”
Me: “huh”
Examiner: “Sorry to tell you but you have not been successful here is your test sheet”

It was a clean sheet, I’d done a shoulder check but carried on looking, maybe I should have looked forward then back, maybe I should have left the look a little longer to make it clear… Didn’t matter I’d failed and no Mod 2 – was an early bath for me, a very miserable ride back to Halesowen…

CY

Training and tests - Last part by customer Cy Pearson
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Turning the dream into a reality - PT2 by customer Cy Pearson

My story on why I decided to start riding, and what happened after that! (part 2)

So I've seen the machine I want I've even got approval via a photo from she who must be obeyed in terms of bike style and even the colour but it was important for me to get Sam really brought into the idea, I was about to blow a whole stash of cash just for my selfish reasons but I was also hoping that she might get the bug, even if only a little, because I'd love her join me and get on the back.

I packed all those who where interested in having a look at the bike I've got my eye on into the car and headed back to StreetBike - I'd been there a lot lately on my own, many detours on the way back home from work so most people in there knew me quite well by now but I dont think Sam spotted it...

Down to brass tacks with me old buddy Charlie, got the finance sorted, got a quote and then options... options... hadn't thought about that, more decisions but not too many thankfully. Full or half faired, ABS or not ABS and what training, don't forget I cant actually ride this thing yet. We, yes we, went for fully faired and with ABS, and we went for CBT, with 4 days training including the Mod 1 and 2 tests, so that meant me old mate Charlie had to re-do the finance. Someone definitely approved, Jasmine (see pic), my youngest loved the bike as did Abbie my eldest who also can't wait to get on the back - she's 14 and thinks its cool, Holly, 12, stayed at home as she thinks Im an idiot.

The deal was done, I'd brought a brand new '10 plate motorbike, it was August so it wasn't going to come for a while but at least I could book my training. Streetbike were having a party with a DJ that ended at 1am on 1st Sept so those buying '10 plate bikes could ride off into the night on their new bike... but not me, while my CBT was at the end of August the training and tests were not till well into September.

August 28th, 8am start for my CBT. I'd done a CBT years ago when they first came in, there was no radio comms between the riders and instructors in those days and there was about 6 of us when we went out on the street. This one was far more civilised, 2 instructors (Paul and George) and three new riders. I was the oldest by at least a decade, one fella was being practical, he'd brought a new 125 to make it cheaper to go to work and there was a 16 year old lad who wanted a scooter, mine was just a toy for dry days - hey that's the perks of age.

We spent the morning on the pad getting used to the bikes, some things came rushing back to me from my first CBT other things felt quite alien but I soon got used to it and felt quite at home on the bike. Bacon butties in the cafe for lunch and then we were going to be allowed on the big scary roads. The younger fella went off with Paul and George looked after the two of us on 125's - it was fantastic! Had to get used to some practical things like lining up on the road properly and cancelling the indicators (I owe George a few Mars bars for that - that was the penalty for leaving them on). We all passed and were handed of slips of paper to get on the road, the young fella's dad was buying him a scooter that day and the other fella had to wait till the 1st Sept but he'd be off on his bike that night. I had to wait for my bike to be delivered to home and I still couldn't ride it.

CY

Next the training and the tests...


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How I took on life on two wheels: The lead up to the decision Pt.1 by Customer Cy Pearson


My story on why I decided to start riding, and what happened after that! (part 1)

 
So Christmas has gone and we are once again in the bleakness of a cold January and once again, as I have for the last 23 years decided that this is the year that I will definitely take my bike test and get me a little something to ride around on. Clearly this was met with the usual round of "you say that every year", but this year was different, this year I was turning 40 and there was a certain determined feel to what I said.

By now it was about April, still no bike and still no bookings for lessons or tests, but on an afternoon off I was following a van with a sign £99 a month including training (OK so when you get there you don't want what they have to offer and you want less deposit so it all changes but doesn't it always) - it was Stratstone Harley dealer in Wolverhampton and the bike was an 883 (pictured above). It was a bit intimidating at first walking into a Harley shop or indeed and bike shop, I had no idea about the ranges or even how to ride a bike, what would I say, Im gonna look like a right numpty. They were great, talked about the options, accessories, clothing, sat on a few bikes and settled on an 883 (pictured) It looked ideal, the wife would go for it as it wasn't a sports bike and it looked like a cruiser so surely she'll be happy and wont think I'm going to ride like a lunatic.

I was wrong, she was very anti Harley or any type of chopper, she much preferred what she called proper bikes where you lean forward not backwards, "thats not what you want" she scowled... I have to admit I was disappointed and pleased - disappointed because I was still no closer to a bike yet pleased as I preferred bikes with a fairing to them too and had probably settled on the 883 as I thought she'd go for it. But she was now engaged in the subject of me getting a bike and almost seemed interested.
But more time passed and no bike, no lessons and no test, I'd gone 40 in June, I was looking at loads of web sites for bikes, reading up on specs and peoples views and was even more determined to do something. I ventured into StreetBike in Halesowen, again a bit intimidated by so may different bikes, the Harley shop was pretty much a bunch of similar looking bikes, but here there were off roaders, small scooters, large scooters, tourers, absolute sports bikes, what do you do where do I look.

Again I clearly looked like a numpty newbie and was approached by a chap in a Streebike shirt - "Need any help" Charlie said, "Oh, I really do" I said. I must have spent 2 hours with Charlie asking all the daft questions, how does this work, whats that, is that better or worse then that, what do you ride, he must have thought he'd just landed the village idiot to try to sell a bike to.

Then I saw it, and it just fit my image of a bike, and just what I could see my self riding, it was a Yamaha XJ6 F ABS (pictured), all that remained was to see if I could really afford it now and of course convince her in doors it was a great idea....

CY

Next Blogpost from CY... Turning the Dream into Reality...



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