Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Want some help with a bike related issues ?
No question too silly, no answer sarcasm free. We've all been there so feel free to tap the well.
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TLS-Moose
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by TLS-Moose »

The best thing I can suggest is to put "Bridgwater riders" in your title description?
If there is significant interest it's technically possible to create a sub-forum, but to be honest I doubt there's that much benefit .....
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by billinom8s »

Yep, always best to stick your target audience up in the title.
As you know we don't stand on ceremony here so anyone can organise Rideouts, meets etc.

Also, have a look through the intro section and see where people have said they are from, then shoot them a pm or respond to the thread.
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by ptolemyx »

Are the ride outs starting at Tiverton really too far from Bridgwater?

If so, I give up.......
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by billinom8s »

Not everyone wants to travel 50 miles to start Brian.
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by DaveH »

I found the same when living in Taunton. That extra mileage means having to get out of bed 45 mins or an hour earlier. Now I’m in Exeter I’m hoping I’ll get on more ride-outs, but I feel for those SWBers up North. The only advice I’d give is announce ANY rides you are doing up there. People are joining SWB all the time and there are Zummerzet folk lurking. You’ll get some interest, and probably sooner rather than later :-)
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by TLS-Moose »

ptolemyx wrote: Jul 30th, '19, 05:10 Are the ride outs starting at Tiverton really too far from Bridgwater?

If so, I give up.......
For the bigger rides, I tend to agree but if you want to pop out for a couple of hours of an evening, or a trip to a local bike night, the extra 30-45mins each way can make it impractical for many.

Likewise the early morning rides actually become late night starts for some, and the extra 1-2hrs people are out can make the difference between getting a permission slip or not as Mr Menzies will tell you .....
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by ptolemyx »

Completely agree Moose. I wouldn't expect anyone to come out on one of my spontaneous shorter rides around North Devon and Exmoor.

Centre of Bridgwater to Tivvy is 31 miles, which I think is perfectly okay for a longer ride that doesn't start at the crack of dawn. I often happily do the 49 miles to Bridge Motorcycles for rides starting there. The extra miles there and back makes for more of a day out for me. And, of course, I'll be happy to do the short trip up to Bridgwater (50 miles from home) when ride outs up there get posted.

South West Bikers, by definition, covers a large geographical area and like most of the forum I'm not likely to go on a ride that starts too far from home, but am happy to go beyond my own doorstep. I start most of my ride outs from Tivvy not just for my own convenience but to attract those nearer the northern end.
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by MellowYellow »

I've been down to Tiverton several times from Bristol including my very first ride out anywhere.

It's about 65 miles each way which makes some of the rides a very long way.

So I tend to go on those routes that loop east and / or north then fork off at some point. The Shepton Mallet ride was perfik.
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by Jug »

Chard to Tivy is about 31 miles (or 45 mins) the way I tend to go, and I find that perfectly fine as long as the start time is not too early.
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by Mervin »

the best record i have seen for traveling to the start of a rideout was my mate Pete , from Hadleigh in Suffolk to Taunton then we rode to valley of the rocks from there
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by billinom8s »

Stickley and his Mate rode from Poole to Exeter for the start of the RTTB one year. I think they set off at 1am!
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by Jug »

I'm surprised you weren't all home by then.
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by Geo93bristol »

Hello,

I past my big bike test back in September of 2019 but the wife didn’t let me get a bike straight after. She has finally relented and said I can ( yes I know I’m under the thumb but hey ho).
But now I’m torn on what to get, there is two bikes I’d take someones arm off for 1. Triumph bobber 2. Xsr700. I know different ends of the spectrum but I love both. Help
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by billinom8s »

hi there geo, welcome to the forum.

i guess you have to ask yourself what kind of riding you want to be doing. Once you know that then it should point you in the direction of bike choice.

take them out for a test ride, you may hate one or both or them.
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Re: Newbies.. Ask us Anything??

Post by Jug »

Geo93bristol wrote: Jun 20th, '20, 15:27 Triumph bobber v Xsr700
Tough call really, and it will come down to personal preference.

I have ridden my other-halves MT-07 a little and the engine is a peach but I found it to be too low.. or should I say the distance between the seat and pegs is too short for me so after a little while it made my knees hurt.

As Billi said, go test ride both but the longer the ride the better so you can check the ergonomics to make sure the bike "fits" you.
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