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All Advanced training is worthwhile so long as on completion you don't start to think that you are Gods gift to motorcycling.
Learning is something you start doing some time before your first breath and stop doing about 3 minutes after your last.

As for riding like a berk, we all do that on occasion.
The trick is to hold your hand up and apologise rather than try to justify it as OK because you are "Trained".

Hear! Hear !

Spooky !

Why log on today after so long away?  The day after my first ride at an IAM Club!!!! 

Having enjoyed (in a-slit-your wrist kind of a way) the less than complimentary (though I do don't say unjustified; I wasn't there) comments about the high viz badge-boating-brigade, I felt momentarily dispondent.

However, I remembered and re-read a thread from January in which the leading members of the forum spoke well of advanced training and thereby inspired me to have a go. Thank you.

It's taken a while but I have now covered 5k miles on the new bike and am feeling quite up to speed again).

Declaration:  If/when I pass the test, I shall not be wearing an IAM hi-viz or showing the badge.  Also, I will not be riding a GSA. 
If my riding  should offend it will (maybe) be because I am riding like a selfish berk and not becauce I am part of a particular brigade. 

£8 ???? 

£8  Jeeez. How do you like them  :banana:s

Only one time:  I left a newish pair of Alpinstars (top end) gloves on the saddle while I went to prepay for "gas" in Florida (Jan 2011).  In that few moments they were nicked.  Still in denial; using winter gloves ever since. I don't believe it was a conscious decision - just forgetful....bit of a worry 

Soooooooo, here we go, apologies if you aren't a big Joe Satriani fan, but 4 mins of wind noise isn't that great....

The camera was mounted to the sat nav ram mount between the bars... 'scuse the bugs on the screen. 
Note the lack of the usual 'rippeling' that you get with other makes..

Oh and i do have to point out that no speed limits were broken at any time during the making of the vid....everyone else was just going very slowly.. 

http://youtu.be/shb10v8WHwI

Fantastic sky!

Wana buy mine... lost the will to ride any more. Lost latest pillion & nearly got killed on it other day by some one on wrong side road..So thinking at 50 give it all up...Life preservation job...God , sounds depressing do it not..sorry....

Sorry to hear this Zider.  I went through same thoughts or worse because it was my fault.  However, the guys here and my own depression at the thought of never riding again had me giving it a go.  I very pleased that I did despite not having regained the same level of confidence as before. Perhaps that's a good thing.  I will enrol for a AIM course when I (hopefully) get back from Berlin and Ovronnaz. 

Surely 50, for many reasons, is the perfect riding age!  Listen to your friends here.

you can use a car one ... there are loads of waterproof cases on the fleabay... some of 'em even have ram mounts so tis even easier....

they  (660s) are OK when they aren't taking us up goat tracks.

Indeed.  Mine has a habit of taking me off an Autoroute at a rural exit then a five mile trip down the lanes and finally back onto the Autoroute at the next access point.  Maybe it's a hint; "Get off the Autoroutes and take the D roads"  I agree, time permitting. 

The voice has some serious road name pronunciation issues particularly on the mainland - better just use the  turn instructions.

Sena SMH10? IMO brilliant

Yep!  Thanks Kwikas'

If you get to the extreme south-eastern end of Switzerland, the Furkka Pass (yes I know) between CH and Italy is stunning.

Simplon is ok ish.  I have not been over the col of the Grand St Bernard because each time (4) that I have crossed, it dropped a monsoon so I chickened out and took the tunnel.

Riding up to any of the ski resorts can be brill: Nendaz, Cran-Montana for example.

Have a brill time.

Agreed agreed.  They are a terrifying sight. 

That I was fully armoured up and wearing an H Sam tilted the Sussex police in favour of not prosecuting me for my prang.  Oh, and of course they minimised my injuries - so a bonus there.

Sadly my armoured summer jacket (13 years old) was cut off and I have not found a good replacement - small price though.

I am off on a 2,400 mile trip on Friday.  I will have to wear my Rukka jacket but hey, I could use some weight loss, so sweat a little, strip it off during coffee stops (even change T ) and shower at the end of day.  Beats the horror stories related by Mogs above.

On a thread deviation note :I have just invested in a Senna to obviate the need to look at the sat nav which is fitted, for my 6'4"height,  rather low. 

Any feed back on sena?

Safe riding all.

Routemaster Steve is right;  It is good to have a base and ride out daily.  In the late nineties we stayed at Le Lavandu,  and did day rides to places like the French Grand Canyon: Verdon Gorge.  etc loads of possibilities. 

Time being of the essence, we would take the overnight Car train  ( two bikes charged as one car)  to Avignon and spend the day meandering through Provence to the coast and our base.

Whatever you do, it's all great so happy riding.

Think I'm getting itchy feet from all this talk of touring into Europe. Any pointers for a continental touring virgin? 
I was wondering what sort of distances you looked to cover on a daily basis so that you could take in a bit of scenery rather than just getting from A to B each day.
What would be a good starter trip for a week to maybe ten days? I fancy cutting through a few countries heading for Germany or Austria, but think that might be pushing it for time/distance.

Currently planning a big one but in the light of various events this year, I took a short "shakedown" trip with a mate who is also a Eurotour jungfrau.

Before I retired, time for bike tours was limited and therefore the trips tended to fall into : 1. Getting there; blasting down to, say Avignon (or taking the car train overnight from Calais) and then 2. Gentle touring; stopping., sightseeing, staying at the same B&B for a couple of nights and riding out to special places on twisty routes.

Nowadays, I like it all be a tour, I plan circuitous routes through places and parts of countries I have never visited. 

Why not start with a short one such as :

The Shakedown Tour

France 15-18 May 2012

15 May: London-Calais-Boulogne-Abbeville-Rouen. 238 miles.   (50% on Peage)
              Heavy showers/strong winds/occasional dry, sunny spells.
              Stayed at: Chambres Avec Vue, Dominique Gogny,
              22 Rue Henault, Mont St Aignan. Tel: 02 35 70 26 95.
              Evening meal: marvellous Belgian fish casserole at great local bistro
             
16 May: Rouen-Evreux-Chartres-Le Mans-Saumur. 264 miles.  Mostly N and D
              Sunny, warm and dry.
              Stayed at: Pascal & Olivier Schvirtz, 225 Rue Du Chateau,
                               49260 Sanziers/Vaudelnay. (In a yurt!) Tel 02 41 59 12 95.
              Evening meal:superb lamb cooked by Pascal


17 May: Loire Valley Run.  All on D roads following the Loire
              Saumur-Tours-Amboise-Blois-Sully Sur Loire. 161 miles.
              Dry. Overcast. Afternoon sun. Occasional light showers.
Lots of stops, visited the towns, sat on terraces and watched the world go by. All very relaxed and yet still covered 161 miles
              Stayed at: Hotel Burgevin.
              Evening meal: superb beef served by waitress in a hurry who won us over with extra dauphinoise.


18 May: Sully Sur Loire-London. 370 miles.   75% Peage
               Mostly dry and overcast with occasional showers.
Tooled around the countryside visiting small towns. After Lunch, put the hammer (a little bit) down and headed for the train.

Arrived SW London at about 2030 feeling (and I am a creaky old bugger) quite relaxed and happy.

Our big tourers really do eat miles, when called upon, in comfort, but for me, minimise the motorway riding.

Good luck and great tours to you all.  Last one off.....close the door.

Hear Hear!   

The pioneer in all this was was Ralf Nader and his book "Unsafe at any speed"

In a perfect world.  At least they step up to crease (plate for yanks) when you complain. 

If only M&S sold bikes.