complete newbie!

Hiya!A complete fruitloop (me) thought it would be a good idea to buy a bike before he has passed his test! Haha Always wanted a bike and not a fan of fireblades, bandits etc so i have bought a very low mileage 800 volusia! As soon as i found it i knew it was exactly what i was looking for in a bike!hqve booked my direct access for jan feb so hope to get full use of it in the spring! Any advise would be massively appreciated being a newbie to bikes
Cheers
Matt

Matt...first advise ...enjoy it !

Hi Matt and to Suzuki 800.com

Hi Matt &

first advise would be to get a good leather jacket for protection and as they say get a helmet that suits how much your head is worth to you, so for me I don't scrimp or cut corners when choosing my lid i do look for a bargain and try to get one that has money off but do make sure i get good quality.
Enjoy the site and good luck on your up and coming test

  Matt, & 

You're not the first to take that route - Justyn has done the same as you & recently passed his test.

Enjoy your new bike & using the forum

Cheers     Yam

Hi Matt   Stay upright wherever possible 

Matt  , enjoy the Volusia they are good bikes as are all the 800's!

 Matt you are very welcome to our little haven.

The Spaniard has just taken your exact same route, he has just passed. Keep the faith biker.

Cheers guys!Been practising for my theory so should be ok with that fingers crossed!just come back from a wee spending spree and now have a set of textiles,gloves,helmet,boots,bike cover and an oxford chain...cost a wee fortune but I think my girlfriend would prefer me to stay alive if I take on the role of superman!haha not sure what to expect going from being on a sports bike learning to one of these

Welcome Matt and good luck with the tests 

Welcome Matt.

Welcome matt

Cheers guys!looks like i have myself on a nice friendly forum :) already been looking at the exhaust section on the forum.....how do I know if an exhaust will fit?lots of random codes that mean sod all to me right now!haha I want the v&h pipes and know my bike is a 55plate

Hi Matt, glad you like the site. We will answer any questions you have in the relevant sections. that way they could be of use to others at later times.

Fair enough will put a post up

Welcome Matt and good luck with the tests

Passed my theory! :) Bought all my clothing/helmet etc and the bike is being delivered Sunday,also got a set of vance and hines pipes in the post.......can't wait!Wahooooooo!!!

Good on you Matt - A positive step in the right direction

Cheers        Yam

Well done! 

Well done Matt! 

Matt!  Thats one hurdle out of the way!  

Well done Matt, just a word of advise.... leave off fitting the V&H until you have passed the practicals if your using your bike, the instructors are getting ordered/trained to be more anal/stroppy due to eu regs etc, OR at least keep the original pipes to hand and swap them back the day before the test.

Cheers guys! Well being honest I want to do all the learning/tests on the instructors bike so I am familiar with it for the test. May have a go around the carpark being very very careful,any advise apart from don't twist the throttle right open?haha

Twisting the throttle open and making loads of noise revving the engine is actually a good thing it keeps the bike balanced! You just have to learn clutch control that's the most important thing, high revs low speed means stable bike. When I started riding 6 years ago I got some big chalk from the pound shop and a tape measure and marked out my local carpark (when it was empty and closed) to the dimensions listed on the gov website and practised practised practised. But even then took 2 goes to pass practicle 1 damn nerves always get the better of you. RELAX and enjoy its honestly not hard or tricky just practise those u turns, high revs slow speed and ALWAYS look where you want to be and the bike will do the rest.

Just a wee update!dropped my foot down on first mod 1, passed second time (65km on timing gate for emergency stop...oops!Haha).Passed my mod2 last week

Congratulations!   Well done Matt, Just in time for riding season 

Well done Sir, welcome to the world of biking.

Good on ya, now you can truly live the dream.   

Nice one Matt .... now you've got your test under your belt, take it steady as you build up your experience .... & as Sim saya - you've timed it right for the current riding season !

Well done Matt, did the same thing myself on the U turn. Know you can really start biking

Now you've passed your test the real test begins as just because you passed it don't mean you're ready for everything so just take it easy & always keep an open mind because even though you think you know everything you don't!
Learn as you go about your everyday driving & remember if in doubt back off & wait!

Well done mate... What an achievement .  I'd missed your earlier posts, so just read it all from your 'joining' post. Great job

Cheers guys!managed to get it insured and taxed today and had a ride out-really enjoyed it but a huuuuge difference to the Cbf600 I learnt on!taking it steady now as I appreciate I still have loads to learn,unfortunately managed to loose my rear brake pedal rubber :( dealer only job for a replacement?

well done matt good luck and take care 

Nice day for it   try giving these a ring for the brake pedal rubber.
http://www.robinsonsfoundry.co.uk/

Hi Matt - glad you're enjoying yourself.  The brake rubbers are still a current part - cost about a fiver & are ordered from any Suzuki main agent.  Soak it a cup of boiling water before you try to fit as they're a pig to get over the end. 

You gonna post a pic of your bike soon ?