Yes good luck matey!

You'll look back at it tomorrow avo laughing at how easy it all was

Good luck mate, fingers crossed!
Your right when you say it's gruling. If its any consolation I found the test day pretty chilled.

The examiner was a very nice chap who just wanted to see a alert safe rider who wasnt likely to end up a mess on the pavement though silliness.

Its easy for me to say it but enjoy your self, take it easy while making reasonable progress, keep it nice and smooth . ...... And for god sake keep us up to date!

i passed my mod 1! whooop!
felt great to hear those words, and only 1 minor for going 1kph too slow through the traps on my hazard avoidance. details!
had a whole day on the bikes today, and am now shattered, but on the plus side, spotted a zx6r on ebay for the right money and in the right colour!
really keen to get a good nights sleep, and a long day riding tomorrow. it's all coming together now, and starting to flow nicely. only mistakes now are small minor things. just need to focus for the last two days.

craig

Well done Craig, I picked up a old gpz750 this afternoon so ill be back on the saddle as well

Congrats Craig! Sounds like you're almost there

Sam, any pics?

Nothing special yet, paints to be sorted, new battery in it today, service tomorow. Then tax and test for summer.

£180 spent in total so far

Cool, like the flat bars.

I'm thinking of swapping my bike for something else for the summer. Really haven't a clue what though.

I was going to get shot of them, they look nice but are in no was comfi.
Ot, you just board and fancy a change?

Just a change. Fancy a twin, something loud

Which model ZX-6R? Any chance of a peek at the eBay listing?

I'm sure I've said this before, but be aware that a 6R will a lot more powerful than anything you've ridden so far. The difference between a 500cc commuter bike and a 600cc sports bike is incredible. While this may sound like a good thing you have to bear in mind that the 6R will be a lot less forgiving if you make mistakes and it's a bike that can get you into trouble very quickly indeed.

I love 6Rs and I've owned 2 from new, but I'd be incredibly wary of them as a first bike.

thanks for the advice. there isn't anything i can say really except i try my best to take on all the advice and information i can.

i had quite a big scare today with a cement mixer pulling into my lane and leaving me nowhere to go. it really did scare the shit out of me, but must be taken as a positive in so much as i'm happy it happend with my instructor around me.

this in turn has taught me a new respect, and helped highlight the vulnerability you face on a bike.
i wont say i wont go fast,etc etc. it will happen at some time, all i can say is i will be as careful as i can, learning whatever bike i end up with, and hope to build on my skill as time goes on.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300668319987?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

here it is.

craig

OK, that's a late registered J1 model - a great bike and a good all-rounder.

Things to look out for:

The wheels have been re-sprayed (they should be green) - that's no bad thing as the original paint was fairly crappy and a nightmare to keep clean, but check the wheels very carefully to make sure they aren't damaged.

The owner hasn't fitted an after-market rear hugger, which means that the rear shock gets covered in crap. If it's still running on an original and un-protected rear shock at 28k miles then it will be nearly time for a rebuild or a replacement.

The 6-pot brakes sieze up at the first sign of bad weather, so you need to make sure they're working properly.

For the above two items you really need somebody who is used to sports bikes to test them out, because even with a knackered rear shock and brakes where 1 piston is doing all the work the bike will still corner and stop better than a training school 500.

Oh, and while some people like those double-bubble screens I think they look gash and that the original is much prettier. You can make your own mind up on that, though

thanks Andrew! very helpful bit of info there, i did clock the wheels myself, but as you said, there known for flakey paint on the rims arent they.

i agree also on the screen, and as the bike will be used for low speed commutes and playtime, i think i could find a decent standard screen to replace that one with.
do you have an opinion on the bike in general? too much money, bit tatty etc? i have emailed the seller a couple of times in the last day for some better pics, but no reply yet. will keep you all posted.

craig

Given the minimalist ad and the lack of photos there's not much I can say about the condition, really. I'd be almost sure it's a dealer trying to off-load a trade-in bike.

The price seems reasonable, although it would have been a cheap bike new - it was registered after the launch of the A1P model, with the 636cc engine, so dealers were desperate to get rid of old stock. I bought a J1, brand new, in December 2000 for £4,200, so I'd bet this one was a real bargain.

Really the only option is to go and have a look, kick the tyres and see how it is in the flesh. Aside from the things mentioned above be sure to check:

Chain - always the first thing to look at on a 2nd hand bike. If the owner hasn't bothered to adjust, clean and lube the chain then they won't have bothered to do anything else to the bike either.

Tyres - the original rubbers on these were Dunlop D207s, which most owners didn't like that much (they're OK in the dry, but not very confidence inspiring in the wet) so it's unlikely still to be fitted with those. It should now be wearing either outright sports tyres or sports-touring tyres of a name brand, because only a complete numpty would fit crap tyres to a 170mph bike.

Condition - if it's a dealer they'll have given the bike a really good clean and maybe even fitted new tyres/chain to get it sold, but have a look behind the front wheel at the condition of the radiator and header pipes. If the bike has been neglected these will be in a pretty sorry state. Check for all of the usual low-speed drop damage as well - after-market mirrors and indicators are cheap and plentiful, so they'll have been replaced if damaged, but have a look at the footpegs and bar-ends.

Other than that you should be fine. The engines in these are pretty much bullet-proof (one of the bike mags did a test where they ran one of these at the red-line with all of the coolant removed and only a litre of oil in, until it over-heated to the extent that the end-can caught fire, and it still started and ran fine afterwards!) and they were never the bike of choice for wheelie-nutters, so the gearbox shouldn't have been abused too much.

As I say, they're a great all round bike - I used mine for everything from track days to weekend camping trips and they were always faultless.

thank you, really helpful stuff there!
a little update for today
I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
can't belive how nice a feeling it is. i did ride quite nicely, and picked up 2 minors! really pleased with myself, and for my instructor, he really is the guy responsible for it all. so so chuffed, i'm off to tell the world!

craig

Congrats

Feel free to name your instructor Craig, the good one's that treat you as people rather than cattle should be commended.
Well done any how! bet your itching to get your kit and bike together now!

Well done Craig!

Well done, Craig.

Remember that your first year on a bike is, by far, the most dangerous one, so take things easy, remember that you're still a novice and invest in good kit.

Best of luck and have fun!

Yey, well done Craig!

Yes a great feeling, glad everything went well

Let us know how you get on with getting a bike. Perhaps we should start doing coupe/bike meets soon too?

Well done Craig

Congrats Craig!


Just remember what you've been taught, put it into practice, don't get complacent and, even though it pains me to say this, listen to AndrewR; your first year, especially, is going to be your most dangerous!

Also; beware of all other road users, they *are* out to kill you*!








*Police driving course, day one, Hendon, first lecture.

Congratulations Craig!

Remember to update the thread with pics of your bike when you get one.

I should really be looking at getting another but due to a house renovation and spooking myself somewhat last year my plans are on hold a little

thanks guys, my instructor is jed at 2 wheel training in topsham. he really was a great teacher, and a proper laugh too.
the bike is being viewed tonight by someone else, so i'll wait and see the outcome of that. desperate to get one now, and get on the road.

you are all right, i will do my very best to be as safe as i can be. hopefully the commute with teach me more bike control, and awareness all at slower speeds, and will plan to introduce weekend rides when i can.
thanks again for all of your advice, especially your last few posts andrewR.

ta
craig

If you buy the J1 and need any advice let me know I had a J1 for over a year and now have a 636 a1p . I have covered over 120000 miles on both and know what goes wrong . My A1P has just clocked pass 96000 miles it had only 18000 miles when i bought it september 2010 .They are a fantastic bike .

They are, and there are more of them than you!

The best bit of advice I can give you is that every time you have a near miss (and you will have them, I promise) don't be Mr Stereotypical-biker and curse all car drivers, instead think about what *you* could have done to avoid the situation.

There are loads of bikers with bastard-car-driver-pulled-out-right-in-front-of-me stories who, on cross-examination, it turns out were coming over a blind crest at 100mph, 50 yards before a junction. On a bike, far more than in a car, it's not about how other road users should behave, it's about completing your journey safely.

As a bike-copper mate of mine says, "The graveyards are full of people who were in the right".

Excellent advice and so true as well.

Nice to see a biker with the above attitude too

thanks guys. well, i guess it isn't meant to be as the seller is being a oenis with reagrd to getting himself sorted. after emailing him tuesday to confirm i was able to view the bike friday, he's put an extra £50 on the bike, not replied until last night, to tell me he has three people viewing it this afternoon. never mind, i have also spotted this older, but seemingly well looked after bike in cornwall.
http://pistonheads.com/sales/3618662.htm
i left a message with the seller about viewing this afternoon or sunday, fingers crossed.

Looks very tidy - don't forget to include £120 in your budget for a new rear tyre.

yep been looking at that already. what is generally excepted as a good all rounder? i assume it has to be w rated? also how much does it cost to have a new tyre fitted and balanced?