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Post by Davros on Jun 30, 2006 15:51:55 GMT
Hey all,
Well me and the missus both completed our CBT today, it was an absolutely fantastic day (as everyone on here said it would be!), learnt so much and a great ride out as well.
We done the CBTs on a pair of Piaggio Zip 50s and it surprised me how much quicker it was than my baby Baotian !! But these scoots were 2-stroke and well run in !
One of the most useful bits of the CBT for me was gaining the realisation that I have been an idiot on buying a cheap (non-BS kite mark standard) helmet from eBay.
I also haven't even been using gloves yet so have now put that right by ordering a decent helmet, some good gloves and I also need to get a bright jacket as I have been foolishly riding with a dark blue jacket and no hi-viz vest.
The riding itself, and the exercises in the yard could not have went better and it was a truly great, memorable day.
(My Instructer was a proper Hells Angels type rock-biker type with a bull ring through his nose but extremely professional and really safety conscious).
For anyone living anywhere in the North East area I could not reccommend SEEAR MOTORCYCLE TRAINING highly enough - they are superb.
From CBT, it only costs £300 guaranteed to pass your direct access test, including as many lessons as are required, and instruction on a Kawasaki ER-5 500cc bike.
Ok, I'm getting carried away now but as soon as my forthcoming wedding is out the way, that will be the first thing I spend some money on !
Cheers,
David.
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Post by ally1756 on Jun 30, 2006 16:12:14 GMT
congratulations davros!
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Post by Davros on Jun 30, 2006 16:24:49 GMT
Thanks Ally!
Here's the ironic bit - I have been talking all week about taking the Gilera Runner out for a ride "the minute I get back from the CBT" .......
so I get back home from the CBT and am met at the car by one of our neighbours who says to me "Just to let you know, I hope it's no conveniance but we're having a concrete drive laid out at the back so we've got the lane blocked by the cement mixer for a couple of hours"
(A FULL SIZE, WHOPPING CEMENT MIXER TRUCK !!)...
so it's completely blocking the access out of the rear of my house, where the Scooter is!
But hey, I'm all for neighbourly relations and what's a couple of hours !
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Post by ally1756 on Jun 30, 2006 16:28:32 GMT
lol its hell!!! i was straight out on my scooter when i got it lol
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Post by lplatewarrior on Jun 30, 2006 16:45:18 GMT
Congratulations on getting the cbt passed. Just wait till the cement mixers moved. I am sure it won't be too long.
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Post by Davros on Jun 30, 2006 17:12:20 GMT
Now that I've passed the CBT and am a pro-biker [ LOL, ;-) I'm taking the mick ], I was thinking about bunnyhopping over the cement mixer and tearing off in to the distance....
....but, err... the missus told me I couldn't so I'll just wait until the cement mixers moved
#sleep#
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Post by Ginger Phil on Jun 30, 2006 18:28:59 GMT
Well done fella!!  The weather is meant to be good this weekend so I guess you won't be on here much? ;D  |
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Post by Davros on Jun 30, 2006 23:04:18 GMT
Heh heh - you could be right Phil - how's this >> I've set my alarm for 7am (7am on a Saturday!!), and aim to be out on the Gilera by 7.30am, while it's still quiet, for a cruise around the villages !
Can't wait !
Cheers all.
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Post by andyscooter on Jul 1, 2006 8:21:46 GMT
congratulations bet your out when i wrote this
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Post by Davros on Jul 1, 2006 21:24:27 GMT
Yes - I was !
I have to say, I found the Runner a bit unwieldly today.... it's soooo heavy !! Really quick as well, probably too quick for a first 125....... Don't get me wrong, it was great fun but I didn't find it an agile scooter and I find I have to take sharp corners (turning left into junctions, etc) a lot slower than on the BT50..... The scooter looks amazing out on the road (it's been under cover for nearly 2 weeks up until today - I almost forgot what it looked like!).... but I am thinking of selling it and getting a lighter 125....
Any recommendations anyone ? ......... Andy, am I judging the Runner too quickly ? I'm just amazed how heavy it is.
David.
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Post by Ginger Phil on Jul 2, 2006 6:15:48 GMT
Not bashing chinese scooters before anyone starts  but quality is heavier. These chinese scoots are made from the bare essentials that's why they're light. Take my Blaster, it's meant to be one of the lightest scoots around but i'm sure it was heavier than my Taishan. It's unlikely you'll find a much lighter 125 unless you're talking an inferior brand to Gilera. |
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Post by Davros on Jul 2, 2006 9:29:22 GMT
I think you've got a point there..... I think also it was a mistake my buying an Italian scooter as most of the modern italian jobs (I'm talking Gilleras, Aprillias, etc, not Vespas) seem to be designed to have quite large bodies (for a scooter) but with small wheels to get the most of the available torque.
Aother part of the problem may be to do with the age of the Runner ..... it's 7 years old yet I'm expecting it to feel as fresh as a 3 week old BT50...... the steering feels a little lighter going to the left than it does going to the right (i'm talking when turning the bars at a standstill, not whil turning), so I reckon there may be some wear in the bar....
It's just sailed through an MOT so I'm not saying it's unsafe, just that I probably shouldn't have bought a 7 year old, Italian Scooter reputed to be one of the fastest 125 scoots on the road, as my first 125 !! ......that's me, I get excited and jump in too quickly !!
On top of it all, I'm missing the smoothness and quietness off the 4 stroke ..... some love the raw power and smell of 2 stroke but again, for my first 125 I think the smoother power deliver of a 4 stroke may have been better suited to me.
So ................ I think I'm going to put the Gilera onto eBay today.... It should sell easily as it has Full MOT, 12 Months Tax, runs perfectly and is a greeeeat colour !
Will stick a buy-it-now of £500 on it, which is what I paid for it .... but I have put the tax on, filled the tank and oil and also cleaned it up since getting it.
There's a special discount for buyers from the Chinese Scooter Club so if you know somone that wants a fast Runner 125, drop me a PM !
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Post by Ginger Phil on Jul 2, 2006 14:36:13 GMT
Stick it in the Non-Pug section of Pug-Club too. |
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Post by Ginger Phil on Jul 2, 2006 14:39:16 GMT
By the way, I passed my CBT today. #thumbs_up#
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Post by Davros on Jul 2, 2006 15:42:52 GMT
Hey hey ! Congratulations Phil ! I was worried when I saw your first post above about the scoot, with no mention of your CBT ... LOL !
I bet your pleased - although it's only the start of the journey, it feels bloody good getting the CBT done, especially for us old car drivers !
Yip - I've just posted it in the Pug Club forum so we'll see.
On eBay I have just gotten my first DOH message from a guy asking if I'll swop the Runner for a Rover 420i N' Reg ...... He got a polite but CLEAR response !
Oh well Phil, 2 days to go to the X8 - I can't wait to hear your review of it !
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Post by andyscooter on Jul 2, 2006 17:00:58 GMT
bet he says its heavy cogratulations phil hope you enjoy the bike
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Post by Davros on Jul 2, 2006 17:02:40 GMT
LOL ! #rofl#
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Post by Ginger Phil on Jul 9, 2006 17:22:40 GMT
bet he says its heavy cogratulations phil hope you enjoy the bike Christ knows where my topic reply emails are going so sorry for dragging up an old topic.  Anyway, yes it is damn heavy!!  |
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but quality is heavier. These chinese scoots are made from the bare essentials that's why they're light. Take my Blaster, it's meant to be one of the lightest scoots around but i'm sure it was heavier than my Taishan.
