Hi Everyone,
Paul here, passed my test Nov 2009 (DAS), previously rode Yamaha DT50, Suzuki RG50 & Yamaha RS125 as a teen! I rode a Suzuki GS500 1990 Blue for my DAS. First 'Big' bike was/is a Kawasaki GPZ500 S 1988 in green & white. Rode it everyday in all weather for two years and loved every minute of it, even riding to work in -8degs
Feb 2011!!
Brilliant bike that I intend to restore to near it's original beauty as and when I have the time & cash, presently sat in my garden!!
Current bike, and I spent 18 months researching my requirements and kept coming back to this machine, is a Kawasaki ZZR600 2002 in Silver & Grey. Bought it Sept 2011, love at first test ride
A fantastic step up, almost as dramatic as 125cc to 500cc in my humble opinion. Acceleration, braking and general handling being the most significant improvements, doesn't really leave a lot else!
The bike is my only form of transport and I am just about to up my daily commute from 10 miles a day to 40, into Nottingham city centre
Fortunately the new A46 is due to be fully open within the month so it should be a pleasant hack on a sunny day.
I am extremely fortunate to have a friend (Steve, Triumph ST1050) who has been a Kawasaki mechanic for 30+ yrs, his knowledge and ingenuity has saved me £££'s already!
My partner also loves two wheels, she participated in the 'Wheels to Work' scheme in the Summer of 2010 and rode a Sym 125cc scooter for 8 months courtesy of Notts CC.
She's a fantastic pillion who is yet to cause me concern whilst riding. Post ride, however, is a different story
May 2010 we rode to Hunstanton with a friend and his girlfriend (Suzuki RF900 ). A17, sunny day so fairly busy and my first real introduction to filtering. On the return ride I felt, what I thought was, an elbow gently pressing into the middle of my back. It didn't hurt and seemed to be controlled so I didn't react and carried on at 70-80mph. Once we got home I asked her if she could remember what it was she was doing when I felt the pressure in my back? She thought for a minute or so and said "Oh yes, my ear piece had slipped so I took my glove off and was pushing it back into my ear, my elbow must have pushed against you as I did it."
I was stunned and flattered, the fact she had felt relaxed enough to do that whilst we were travelling at 70mph avg was a real boost to my confidence.
I am an ex-
detective so only completed the 'Standard Police Driving Course' Summer 1990, ( I remember Gazza's tears as if they were yesterday!).
I would like to become a riding instructor and already have plans to train to be one, can't start that until November this year.
In the meantime I would like to improve my riding skills so I am looking to do and advanced riding course within the next 12 months.
For those that have managed to read this far, without loosing interest, thank you.
I am always looking to learn and to improve my skills/life expectancy so please feel free to comment or advise.
Cheers
Paul
