Midlife Motorcycle Crisis

Gone

2006-08-11T11:18:00.000Z

My bike eventually hit the reserve and sold for £500. I had hoped for more, but I think £500 was fair. It's gone to a good home and the buyer is happy - seemed perfect for what he wanted.
So now, as someone helpfully pointed out, I have a full licence and no bike! I've been tracking a few on ebay but so far nothing has been right.
This would seem like a good time to end this weblog. I've achieved what I set out to - pass my bike test so I'm happy.
Thanks for the advice and encouragement, it honestly helped.
cheers!

£360 - 10 bids - 71 watchers - 1007 page views

2006-07-19T12:46:00.000Z

Ok, I think the auction is finally starting to move! I added to the description last night, telling everyone the reserve price - I never really know the best way to play ebay, either buying or selling.
I just hope that if people are interested in bidding, they don't leave it too late. I still think it'll make the reserve.

£310 - 7 bids - 63 watchers - 819 page views

2006-07-18T10:43:00.000Z

1 day 9 hours left on ebay. The bidding seems to have stalled a bit, but there are loads of people watching so I'm still hopeful the XL will at least meet the reserve of £500.
I'm watching quite a few bikes too. There is currently a Yamaha XJ550 for £499 that is really nice. Unfortunately it ends before mine, so I really should wait and see what happens.
Getting quite exciting though.

ebay

2006-07-13T12:48:00.000Z

I've finally got my bike up on ebay. It took me a while as I wanted to get photos that showed the good and bad points - trying not to give a false impression, but still make people want to buy it.
I also added a page of extras photos here.
It seems to be going pretty well so far. I started the auction last night at 9pm and by this morning there were 4 bids and 19 people 'watching' it. 6 days and 7 hours to go.
I took it for a ride last night, to make sure everything was going as expected and had a nice ride out into the country. The journey back reminded me why I need a bigger bike though - it struggled on the big hills leading back into town. It's really a great bike for buzzing around town, not really for the steep hills around my way.
I'll miss it though, it makes me happy just to look at it - its a cool bike.

Orange Clean Machine

2006-06-30T15:18:00.000Z

The problem with spending a day cleaning up my bike to take pictures for ebay is that now I can hardly bear to ride it and get it grubby again.
Yesterday I ended up bicycling to the station and nearly killed myself trying to ride home up the hills of Hastings later.
I guess I'll either have to get fit or resign myself to further polishing.
Writing up the ebay sales description is quite tricky. Obviously I want to sell the bike the best way I can by describing it in its full glory with photos to match, but I also want to be sure that people know exactly what they're bidding for - it is 30 years old afterall and does show it's age in places. It's a fine balance.

Moving On.

2006-06-20T17:30:00.000Z

My XL 125 passed it's MOT today without any work needed. It had a service too, but nothing really came up.
It's a great bike but now seems a good time to get it smartened up and put on ebay. I bought it 2 years ago for £700 and it's maybe suffered a bit from not being garaged, but it'll be perfect for someone to restore or to use, as I've done, to prepare to their test.
It'll be interesting to see what response I get on ebay - how much I get for it will largely dictate how much I have to spend on a replacement. Hopefully there will still be a demand for a classic 125.

On The Road

2006-06-19T15:23:00.000Z

It's been nearly 2 weeks since I passed my bike test. It was a strange time - quite intense. Looking back now I can see that I made it a lot harder for myself than it needed to be. I built it up and made myself nervous. I created extra problems
I really didn't need - If I'd failed again, it would have been my own fault.
My instructor was excellent and the examiner was also great and tried to put me at ease. The test itself I have to admit, wasn't all that hard.
It's really just a matter of riding around sensibly for half and hour, paying attention to the laws of the road.
I'm sure with good training, virtually anyone could pass in a week from scratch.
It was a strange day. I re-took the test on the same day of the week - Wednesday, same time - 1.33pm. Beforehand, I ate the same meal in the same cafe with the same instructor and other learner who had failed straight after me previously. I had the same examiner and rode the same route. I rode pretty much the same and so when I was standing in the room with the examiner, after the test, waiting to hear the result, I couldn't imagine hearing anything else other than, "I'm sorry, you haven't passed...".
I was amazed and relieved to pass. Happy that it was over and I could get on with the real part of learning to ride well - actually doing it, out on the road, on my own, every day.

The Lucky BMW Spanner

2006-06-07T18:09:00.000Z

For unknown reasons, it had always been my intention, if I ever managed to pass my bike test, to buy an old BMW R80 motorcycle. I used to hate these, they're ugly I thought. However, I realised I was wrong, they're beautiful, in a strange German way.
I love German engineering. I had a VW Camper for years and now have an old Mercedes and I appreciate the design, the over-engineering, the fact that everything is well thought out and logical to work on.
Anyway, I was wondering around a car boot sale last weekend and kept seeing BMW things - keyrings, badges, stickers. I was feeling pretty low about my lack of motorcycling success and these things seemed to be taunting me - "You'll never get a BMW motorbike, you loser, because you'll never pass your test" (quite nasty). Finally, rumaging through a box of old tools I came across this BMW spanner and it hit me that actually I wasn't being taunted, I was being asked if this was what I really wanted - to pass my test and buy a BMW - and so I accepted this, bought the spanner (10p cheers) and it became my lucky spanner.
Therefore it was fortunate that I didn't realise that my lucky spanner was in my other jacket until I came to look for it when I needed a spanner to remove the L-plate attached to my rear number plate this afternoon after I passed my motorcycle test.

D-Day Minus One

2006-06-06T21:12:00.000Z

It's my re-test tomorrow. I'm nervous, but I want to get it over with. I rode pretty nicely today. I did mess up the U-turn a couple of times, but I did loads of good ones. The problem with this is, of course, you only get one attempt - if you put your foot down, that's a test fail. That's where I am now. I reckon I'm a lot better than when I took it last time, I'm much more confident, if I fail, it'll be something stupid.
I have about ten pages of my book still to read - I need to finish this before I take my test otherwise I can't pass. I also have my lucky BMW spanner that I haven't mentioned yet - basically it's lucky and it'll help me pass.
Ok now I need an early night, I have to leave the house at 7.15am.

Back on the road again, again.

2006-06-05T19:43:00.000Z

I started off today feeling pretty gloomy about my prospects for passing my re-test on Wednesday, but now I'm happier.
Cheered up firstly by my pal James - thanks for that matey, it helps - then my first lesson since failing and I rode rather well.
My instructor was very positive and I now genuinely feel that I am technically competent enough to pass my test on Wednesday. OK, I could still fail, I can still make stupid mistakes, but now I feel it's purely a matter of time and I will pass!

Seconds Out, Round Two.

2006-06-01T10:26:00.000Z

This time next week I'll either be very happy or very annoyed, again.
My second attempt at the practical bike test is next Wednesday in Brighton.
I have about 10 hours of training booked before then on the big bike and I'll be continuing practicing on my 125.
I'm feeling pretty good about the test. I feel I'm a better rider than I was before I started training. I need to remember the basics - observation, speed limits, not falling off etc... I think I'm better at controlling the bike and I'm certainly more confident.
However once I have the instructor yelling in my ear again everytime I do something wrong I may feel differently.
I'm still not riding as smoothly as I imagine I should be able to though. I know how I want to ride, but I'm still quite rough 'round the edges. I suppose it's the same as most things, when you see the professionals they make it look very easy, and really that comes with experience and practice (and talent) - I'll have to work with the experience and practice I guess.

Inspiration and Motivation.

2006-05-24T13:03:00.000Z

There's a motor show on at Canary Wharf where I work. Only one pitch has attracted my attention - The Triumph Motorcycle stand. If I needed any further motivation to pass my bike test, sitting on this bike would be it.
The new Scrambler is beautiful too. I can see myself on one of these. Better make sure I'm ready for the re-test.

Back In The Real World

2006-05-18T22:31:00.000Z

Back at work today and the last few days seem like a dream. It's been quite an intense few days. I've never ridden as much as I have in the last week. I've been concentrating so hard on this one aim. I can hardly believe what I've been doing. It's like a memory of swimming underwater. Riding along at 70mph on a rainy road, crash helmet and visor dulling outside sounds, detached voice suddenly in my ear as the instructor comments - very strange.
Feeling more relaxed, I'm taking a few days off riding to recharge my batteries before my next assault on the unholy grail.

FAILED!!!

2006-05-17T15:28:00.000Z

I didn't think I'd build up the tension, I failed. Not that badly though, if that's any consolation - it wasn't at the time - but now a couple of hours later and another hour and a half ride back from Brighton it is, a bit. I failed on two serious things - observation, not enough 'lifesaver' looks over the shoulder before a manoeuvre and going too slowly in a 'National Speed Limit Applies' zone. Fair enough really. I knew I should be looking more, and the speed issue was not figuring out where a 40mph zone ended and 'normal speed' began. A bit annoying that, because in a car I don't really think too much about not going fast enough, I'm more worried about too fast.
Anyway, apart from that I had very few 'points'. You're allowed to rack up 15 points (one an error) in the test before you fail - I had 6 points.
The examiner actually complimented me on my riding and control which was nice of him. My U-turn was perfect! but when it comes down to it, I failed. Sorry!
I've booked another test in two weeks time - so I have to go through all this again.
If I look at it objectively, I know that I'm a much better rider than I was last week - 50 times better. Safer, more confident and I have the experience of the test, which wasn't actually too bad. Next time I'll pass!

Who's Stupid Idea Was This?

2006-05-16T17:32:00.000Z

I can't believe I'm putting myself through this. At times today I was having the worst time I can remember. Riding along duel carriageways in the pouring rain, getting soaking wet, having to keep up with the instructor, it was like torture. An hour and a half ride in the rain from Brighton back to Hastings. Where's my car? The horrible feeling of loss of tyre grip going 'round a wet roundabout, whether it really is the bike sliding or the tyre getting caught by an uneven road surface.
And I hate exams. I get stupidly nervous. No one else told me to do this - I have only myself to blame.
However there was a point as we neared home and the sky began to clear, and I listened to the 500cc engine roar, that my spirits lifted and I got a glimmer of understanding.
Will I pass my test tomorrow? I really don't know, I guess I have a 50-50 chance, there is so much that is unpredictable, not only my own performance but the traffic, the weather, the examiner.
No one else has put pressure on me to pass first time, only myself. Maybe if I allow myself the same as the car test - 3 times - that will take some pressure off. I'm not sure. I'm going to be really disappointed if I do fail. Just the thought of going through all this again is almost too much to take!
Plus, after riding all day I'm walking like John Wayne.

Day Two

2006-05-15T19:26:00.000Z

Here's a photo of the bike I'm training on. A Kawasaki ER5. I told my instructor how I was enjoying riding a modern bike and he laughed saying the Kawasaki design is 10 years old. Still seems new to me.
I didn't sleep well last night. This morning I had to remind myself that no one was forcing me to do this, it's supposed to be fun. If I fail the test, I'll just take it again. I passed my car test 3rd time - that seems meaningless now years later.
I'm still making mistakes and I still can't imagine I'll ride perfectly on Wednesday. I think I'll need some luck.

Today when I was doing U-turns in the road, sometimes I was perfect, othertimes I messed up so badly. It seemed random.
Tomorrow we head to Brighton to ride around the roads where I'll be taking the test.

Training Day

2006-05-14T23:03:00.000Z

Saturday was my first day of training. I started out on my bike and moved onto a Kawasaki 500. The difference was interesting to say the least. The Kawasaki goes about twice as fast, it has excellent brakes, electric start, it doesn't stall at every junction, in fact it's really nice and easy to ride. Getting back on my 30 year old Honda XL125 4 hours later felt very strange - the riding position is so different, it's slow and noisy, but it does have a lot of character. I think that's really what I like about old bikes and cars.
The training itself was good. Hard work but good. It's mentally draining to have to concentrate for that amount of time and have someone in your ear telling you whenever you make a mistake, and I made plenty.
We did a lot of miles, in on different types of roads - country lanes with horses, duel carriageways and busy towns. I felt pretty disheartened at times - I can't see how I'll be able to ride to the required standard on Wednesday, how I won't mess it up.
My instructor seems to think I'm doing ok - I have two more full days, then a half day and test.
I know I need to try to relax and enjoy it, but that's easier said than done.

With Big Match Analysis...

2006-05-11T23:09:00.000Z

I rode so badly yesterday, never feeling fully in control, that I knew I would have to find a way of concentrating better. So today, copying a video I saw of a guy demonstrating advanced driving techniques, I have been carrying out a running commentary of what I'm doing while I ride.
"...there's a road junction coming up on the left, so I'm looking out for someone coming straight out...parked cars, watching for doors opening in front of me...white van driver at the roundabout, anything could happen...slowing down for the zebra crossing...not looking at the pretty woman walking down the pavement...speed limit..."
It's amazing how much it helps to keep me focused. I realised I spend a lot of time while riding, thinking about what bike I'd like if I pass my test or what I'd do if I fail, now with John Motson in the helmet with me, I find my mind can't wander too far.
I don't think I'll always do this, but it'll certainly help until I become more competent.

Practise not making perfect just yet...

2006-05-10T22:45:00.000Z

My test is a week today. I've been doing a fair amount of riding, practising, trying to iron out the faults - it's hard though, I get annoyed when I make mistakes - I think I should be able to ride more smoothly, pulling up to juctions too fast, slowing down too abruptly, pulling away too fast - manoeuvres in general.
I was once complimented on my smooth car driving by my pal George who was a coach driver at the time. He said I'd make an excellent coach driver - I'm pretty sure he was referring to my driving rather than my shouting at passengers.
I suppose it takes time and experience. Hopefully my instructor will be able to get me through the test and then I can work on the experience myself over the years.

More Zen.

2006-05-05T15:36:00.000Z

I'm about a third of the way into 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' and I'm enjoying it.
I had some misconceptions about it.
1) I thought it may be a bit 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' - another cult classic from the 70's - it isn't, phew.
2) I assumed Robert Pirsig would be a hippy looking type - he's not (or wasn't) see photo.
3) I thought he'd be riding some huge Harley type bike - in fact it's a quite small 1964 Honda SuperHawk 350cc.
4) I hadn't realised that the book was based on an actual trip that Robert made with his son, Chris and friends, John and Sylvia Sutherland in 1968.

More excellent photos from the trip here.

It's interesting both as an introduction to philosophy and as a retro Americana travelogue.
Also worth noting that according to the Guinness Book of Records Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is the bestselling novel rejected by the greatest number of potential publishers (121).

Good and Bad News for the England Football Team

2006-05-04T21:23:00.000Z

"Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren has been appointed the next England manager, ending months of speculation over Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor".
I can't help feeling disappointed about McClaren getting the England job. I'm sure most football fans feel the same, except possibly the Middlesbrough ones.
McClaren is a massively underwhelming choice. The F.A. should have pulled out all stops to get Gus Hiddink. He has everything you could possibly ask for to manage the national team.
The other big England story is the loss of Wayne Rooney for the World Cup Finals. This is a terrible blow as Rooney seems to be the only player who can create the unexpected and change a game. However Alan Ball, one of England's 1966 World Cup winners, points out that a similar thing happened in 1966 when England lost their equivalent star, the brilliant Jimmy Greaves. Geoff Hurst was a squad player at the start of the tournament and only got his chance when Greaves was injured. He became the only man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final and played a huge part in the victory. Perhaps someone will step into Rooney's boots and surprise us all.

Late Learner Ramble.

2006-05-02T12:59:00.000Z

Compulsory basic training is a very good thing. When I got my first bike at 16, (a purple Yamaha FS1E 50cc moped) I had never ridden a geared bike on the road. It was really trial and error. It's incredible I survived. When I was 17, I swapped this for a Honda CB175 (like the one in the photo) that would do 75mph. Although I then continued to ride for another 3 years, I never learned some of the basic skills that I was later taught on the day of my CBT.
No one ever showed me how to ride slowly, which involves using the throttle, clutch and footbrake together - in a car this would be 'slipping the clutch' a big no-no, but on a bike apparently this doesn't harm the clutch.
Maybe it's part of my personality that I don't like to learn by the book, I like to teach myself in my own time, whether it's the guitar, photoshop or how to program the video-recorder.
However, learning to ride a bike or drive a car properly is really a matter of life or death. It seems that motorcycle training now is all about safety and riding defensively.
Another change from the late 1970's, when I was first riding, is the attitude to drinking and driving. We knew it was wrong, but we still did it. I hate to think about it now. I remember riding into a bush after an afternoon of drinking homebrew at my pal Peter's house. I remember dropping my bike outside a pub after drinking too much one night. I needed help to lift it up but still got on it and rode home. Finally I slid off the CB175 one night riding home through Ashdown Forest after an evening drinking. The bike was written off, but I was barely injured. I was lucky no one else was involved and the long walk home gave me time to sober up and think about how it could have turned out.
Later, drinking coffee in my parents kitchen, a Policeman turned up. The bike had been found in a ditch, there were skid marks all down the road and they were looking for a body in the bushes, He didn't breathalyze me, though he knew I'd been drinking, I guess (apart from being too late) he figured I'd learnt a lesson - though he did take me to task for not reporting an accident.
Some things you learn for yourself, some things you have to be taught.

Change of Plans.

2006-04-28T11:29:00.000Z

I was all set to start reading "Gravity's Rainbow", but then another old book caught my eye. Another that I had started and not finished and that seemed more appropriate for this site. So here I go again with "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance".
According to the Author's note "it should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It's not very factual on motorcycles, either".

Test Date

2006-04-27T20:20:00.000Z

So, I now have a date for my bike test - May 17th. Far enough away for me not to be too anxious, but close enough to start building the anticipation. If I can pass, it should be a perfect for the summer.

Training Days

2006-04-25T16:04:00.000Z

I've just about sorted out some motorcyle training. I'm doing 3 days intensive riding, then the test day - as long as I can get the time off work. It turns out that this is the guy who took me for the CBT (basic training). He sounds a bit like a Sergeant Major, but he claims to have good results so I'm hopeful. Before then I need to ride as much as possible.

Back On Two Wheels

2006-04-24T15:54:00.000Z

I should probably point out I'm a fair-weather rider - I'd get booted out of any motorcycle club, I'm a total amateur. This is another reason why I've yet to take my practical test - not enough practise.
I got my bike out of hibernation this weekend. It had been hiding undercover for a few months waiting for warmer weather - I had to get moving though as I need to pass my test before my CBT (Compulsory Basic Training - lasts two years) runs out on 12th June.
The bike started first time, and then wouldn't start again. It's always hard work to get it started anyway. I mended the fuel pipe that had been leaking since I bought the bike nearly two years ago, put fresh petrol in, cleaned the spark plug and finally it started.
I took it for a spin and it felt great to be back on two wheels. Next I need to get some practise and book some lessons to see what chance I have of passing my practical test anytime soon.
I have the number of a local instructor who strikes fear into everyone he teaches, but as he has a very high pass rate, I'm prepared to get shouted at and ridiculed as much as necessary.

Another Tricky Test

2006-04-23T19:26:00.000Z

Completely off subject - I was looking through my bookshelves for something to read and came across "Gravity's Rainbow" by Thomas Pynchon.
According to the inside cover, I was given this for Christmas 1985. I've tried to read it a couple of times and can remember enjoying it but being defeated by it's density or possibly mine - anyway, to go with my motorcycle test challenge, I'll try again with Gravity's Rainbow. Which will be harder?

MidLife Crisis - Good or Bad?

2006-04-23T18:33:00.000Z

The Midlife Crisis gets a lot of bad press. Surely anything that makes you stop and think about what you're doing and where you're heading has to be a good thing?
Possibly, packing in your job, ditching the wife and kids and buying a Harley is an extreme measure, but there must be some centre ground to be found in the deal.
I had ridden mopeds and motorbikes when I was a teenager - until I finally grew tired of the wet and cold and passed my car test. (At the 3rd attempt).
Cars are much more practical and sensible. Warm, comfortable, you can take everything you need, anywhere you like. I like cars, they're great.
Somehow though I always regretted the fact that I had never bothered to take the bike test - at the time I hadn't thought I'd ever want to ride anything bigger than a 250cc bike (as was the legal learners limit then). In fact I'm not sure I ever thought I'd want to ride anything again.
Sometime around my fortieth birthday I decided I should get a bike again, a couple of years later I did, now almost two years on from that I find that I still haven't taken my full practical bike test. I've pottered around on a beautiful 1975 Honda XL 125 trials bike. I took my CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) and passed my theory test.
The practical test should be easy - so why haven't I taken it? Lack of confidence partly - not a problem when I was 17. Then I had a bigger bike and no training whatsoever. Now I suppose I know how dangerous these things are and what can actually happen. Now after 22 years of car driving, I'm a pretty sensible, careful road-user.
Anyway - The point is, I have until 12th June 2006 to pass my practical bike test, or I have to take the CBT again - a waste of time and money - so this is where I start to take it seriously.