Does "L" really = Loser

[justsomeguy]

My bike is the 'Bird, but apparently it gets eaten for breakfast by the 'Busa bird!!

Well it so happens that we do have a Busa here (was with us on Sunday)- can we find out who eats who one day??

*drools in anticipation*

[oldrider]

All my life Ive been hearing how nobody sees us. (Sorry Officer etc)
The amount of attention you seem to be getting "everybody sees you".
Where can I get an "L" plate?
I would rather listen to their dumb comments than wear their stupid cages.
Ignore them and just enjoy your bike.
People can only bother you if "you" let them.
Oh no just another old advise giver. Sorry Pal. Cheers John

[Str8 Jacket]

Oh no just another old advise giver. Sorry Pal. Cheers John

Once and for all, I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH ADVICE BEEN GIVEN TO ME!! In fact I am actually very pleased to get it. I am a learner and I accept that people want to help me, its great that they do!! My problem is the way in which this particular person "gave" me their advice, it put me of what I was doing and flustered me to the point that I almost took of in the wrong lane cause he was still talking to me as the lights changed. And just to make it clear, I would feel the same way if a younger male or female did the same thing.
This thread was a chance for me to vent plain and simple.

[Ixion]

Once and for all, I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH ADVICE BEEN GIVEN TO ME!! In fact I am actually very pleased to get it. I am a learner and I accept that people want to help me, its great that they do!! My problem is the way in which this particular person "gave" me their advice, it put me of what I was doing and flustered me to the point that I almost took of in the wrong lane cause he was still talking to me as the lights changed. And just to make it clear, I would feel the same way if a younger male or female did the same thing.
This thread was a chance for me to vent plain and simple.

Ah, you need to cultivate a secret trick , hitherto known only to married men (NO! NOT *THAT* ONE. Sheesh, you people have *grubby* minds) .

Mrs Ixion frequently gives me advice. In fact she gives me advice all the time. I'm sure it is very good advice, too. But , y'see, the thing is, I never hear it. All married men learn this trick. It's a sort of auto advice bypass, in left ear, bypass brain, out right ear.

Don't know whether it's possible for a chick to acquire the knack or not. No field research on the subject, because no married man has ever been foolhardy enough to try to give his wife advice. Or, at any rate, any who did have not survived the experience.

Actually, that's sort of semi serious. Just ignore the whole thing, nod your head, go "uh-huh" and ride off.

[oldrider]

I was just referring to the fact you are "being seen". Lucky you.
Then I thought oh oh sounds like another preacher. Settle down.
They didn't have this system when I started, 50yrs ago .
(Dont know how they measure the value of it)
We don't ever stop being learners, you won't always have to wear a plate.
Cheers John.

[Str8 Jacket]

I was just referring to the fact you are "being seen". Lucky you.

Cheers John.

Hehe, yea that bit actually actually made me laugh!! I wasn't taking any offence to what you said either btw. Just wanted to clarify why I actually started this thread.....
Just last week on my first ride into town I was riding down Courtaney Place, having issues with using my clutch properly and this (dare I say it) guy stopped next to me and gave me advice on how to use the clutch more effectively. I put his advice into practice and since then I haven't stalled once and can now actually change gears (up and down) smoothly. So advice is always welcome, just so long as it is relevant and not in my right in my face to the point of bordering on intimadation. Yesterday the guy's breathe (as previously mentioned) was foul and he almost rode over my left foot in the process - that's how close he got!

[Eurygnomes]

Hey Str8!!! You must be pulling up for too long at the lights - I roar off as soon as possible! No, seriously though, I haven't encountered this, but that might be because my L-plate *ahem* must've been snapped off and I'm on my way home to put it back on!

What was the advice given on the clutch by the way? And has anyone got advice for accidentally stopping in neutral on the way to 2nd? I think I must not be giving my gear lever enough kick upwards...and it always happens when I'm trying ot look cool too! (that's a joke, I can't possibly look cool in all the clobber I wear!).

[Smorg]

Well it so happens that we do have a Busa here (was with us on Sunday)- can we find out who eats who one day??

*drools in anticipation*

Ive seen zxr600's outridden by a guy who knew his 250 inside out...............in the end its not the bike its the rider, but speaking in straight lines my money's on the busa as much as i love the bird

[hondacmx450]

i got my licence back the other day and i went for a ride on my mates bike (l plate on it)and a dick in a car was telling me how to ride i said year you know a lot f off
he said get a real bike latter on that day i saw him on mine and stopped and said so now how should i ride my street fighter he said nothing
you ride how you ride if you ant doing anything wrong then cool stuff the dicks out there

[Jeremy]

Mate the fact that car drivers on a "L" plate can go at 100km on the motorway and m/bikes riders on "L" plates can only go 70km.

Now that sux's....

It should be the same for all car drivers and bike riders on "L" plates.
They should ALL be able to go 100km on the motorways etc.

"L" m/bike riders are on 250cc and under is ok by me.

Do not tempt them to make changes to the motorcycle legislation. Instead see if you can get learner car drivers to be restricted to 70km/h.

Hey Str8!!! You must be pulling up for too long at the lights - I roar off as soon as possible! No, seriously though, I haven't encountered this, but that might be because my L-plate *ahem* must've been snapped off and I'm on my way home to put it back on!

What was the advice given on the clutch by the way? And has anyone got advice for accidentally stopping in neutral on the way to 2nd? I think I must not be giving my gear lever enough kick upwards...and it always happens when I'm trying ot look cool too! (that's a joke, I can't possibly look cool in all the clobber I wear!).

Solution: Switch straight to second in the first place.
Other solution, rev first and hold the revs above 4.5k and it won't goto neutral nearly as easily so you can pretty much guarantee to hit second.


Finally to Str8 Jacket: Begging my pardon here but were you sticking out like a sore thumb? Stalling at lights, indicator always on, etc. Most importantly were you wearing full gear? Also you say that someone managed to pull upside of you in a car nearly running over your foot, where were you in your lane for that to happen?

I find it a little odd that two different people talked to you within 4 days, though I have a feeling here it is it solely because you're female.

[NordieBoy]

However I now know NOT to offer advice should we ever end up on a ride together.

Depends what your breath is like

[NordieBoy]

Also you say that someone managed to pull upside of you in a car nearly running over your foot, where were you in your lane for that to happen?

What car?

"pulls up on his BMW something"
"next to you so his bike is practically touching mine"

BMW make bikes you know.

Have for some years now.

[N4CR]

I always thaught it signified 'Lane splitter'.. well for me anyway.

I don't find people doing that to me cus they all think its a 400~600 etc etc and its too noisy to talk over anyway And the L plate is angled weird so you need to be close to see it too.

I take advice and weight it up with other advice. If there is a conflict I simply use common sense to make the best decision or a combination of both.

[parsley]

The 70 K law is to STOP L-Plate bikes going on the motorways.

But it doesn't. Why not just ban L-plates from the motorway? That's how it works in the UK. The 70 kph law doesn't keep you off the motorway, but it makes you mighty uncomfortable once you're there!

[James Deuce]

Come on.... the speed restriction is to stop people going on the motorway and stick to back country roads with a max speed limit of 70. It is a good thing. The fact that people want to ride on the motorways at 70 with everyone else doing 115 is their choice.

The L-plate is supposed to let people know you are a novice and hence give you more room. It is a pity that a few people tend to abuse that fact and take advantage of someone who may not be able to adequately "fight back".

As pointed out there is no legal restriction preventing a learner from riding on the motorway.

The L plate does nothing except set you up as a target for either criticism or hostility from people who have never, ever been informed that there is a 70 km/hr limit for motorcyclists on their learners permits.

City traffic with it's greater number of intersections, and oncoming traffic with no dividing barrier or median strip is a great deal more dangerous than a motorway for a learner. Learning to mentally filter relative motion and detect threats consciously and sub consciously and flow with the traffic whilst maintaining a buffer is arguably easier at 100km/hr, with all the traffic around you moving in the same direction and moving at speed differentials of no more than 10%.

I personally think that the 70km/hr law exposes learners to a great deal of unecessary danger, and as you point out compels them to travel via more dangerous, not less dangerous routes. Then when they do hit the open road at 70km/hr on a congested main highway, they either ride to the left and encourage the less "able-minded" drivers to overtake them within their lane, or potentially precipitate a head on collision with oncoming traffic if they maintain their lane position.

Mind you this is all just my opinion, and we're all well aware of what that's worth.