I am a numpty

So, with a new bike comes new interesting features.
One of the things that I got with the XJ6 was Oxford Hotgrips - brilliant for the colder days. Unfortunately, they're wired straight to the battery, with no auto-off.

Can you see where this is going?
Well, ha! You're wrong.

Although, probably very close.
Instead it was another feature of the XJ6 that caused me to completely drain my battery dry.
That feature is...

the parking light.

What insane person throught that the parking light rotation on the key should be the one further along than the steering lock? I mean, seriously!

You put the steering lock on, and you're going to be away from your bike for some period of time, most likely.

What numpty thought it was a good idea?

Anyway.

I came back to my bike, after ~9 hours and the battery was deader than a really dead thing. Instrument panel showed no life whatsoever.

This meant I had to get the AA out to come and give me a jump start. [No, not alcoholics anonymous...]. Had the engine running for about 40 minutes in total, hoping that would be enough to charge it; and my initial check at the end of the day seemed to indicate it was.

Except it wasn't.

While the instrument panel came to life this time, there just wasn't enough juice to start the engine.

Today's morning commute to work was brought to you by my YBR125.

It showed to me just how much snappier the XJ6 is in comparison, in almost every way. More responsive brakes, clutch, gears, everything!

I'm going to see if I have the ability to bump start the bike when I get home.

Taking odds that I dump the clutch and drop it?

Video: My First Ride of the XJ6

First little birl round

So, I got my XJ6 this morning, and have taken it for a bit of a spin round town.
Nothing twisty, but just getting a feel for its handling

So far, so good. I occasionally find neutral from first, but that's it.
The acceleration, compared to what I'm used to, is amazing.

Can't wait to give it a proper shot.

When I did the thing...

Had a bit of a camera fail. When I got to the Rocket Centre, I discovered that the camera had actually crashed and had stopped filming at some point - I hadn't even left the proper Manchester area - so didn't get my approach.

So, this is just a short video.

I did a thing.

Today was the first good day of the year. So, I decided to go for a ride to Rocket Centre.
I'd intended just to have a look-see at the XJ6 they had, and maybe decide later if I wanted it.

Thing is, it was marked down by another £400. And it already had hot grips fitted, that I had planned to have added.
So, I may or may not have bought it there and then. Translation: I totally did.

It gets delivered next weekend!

It's Such a Dilemma!

While I passed my test back in October, I've still been riding around on a YBR125. And the reason I even have one is due to my own impatience... because I bought it in the September, when I already had my module 1 booked. I was just getting stupidly itchy to be on a bike.

How does this lead to a dilemma? Let me slowly explain...

I bought the bike on finance, and part of that agreement is that you aren't allowed to sell on the bike until the finance is cleared. This didn't bother me at the time, as I had planned to stick to a 125cc for a year, to "cut my teeth" properly, so to speak.
It's now been 5 months, and I want on to my bigger bike now! There's only so much I can take being unable to safely use a motorway or higher speed dual carriageway.

So, I've been searching for an XJ6N, which is affordable. And, I've found a couple.
My problems arise in that, if I wait, I can pay off the YBR faster by doing lump sums in to the account, but that leaves me 'stuck' with it for longer.
I could put it up for sale, and if it gets interest quickly, I could use my next wages to pay it off - but it would have to sell, or I'd be a bit stumped with money.
Or, I could say 'fuck it' and buy the XJ6 anyway, giving me 2 bikes for a short spell. But I don't know how that would go with insurance and whether I could afford to in the longer term [I have money for a rainy day right now]

Gah!

Also, the weather is meant to be crap this weekend...

Decisions, Decisions

I'm currently still pootling about on a '12 plate YBR 125, since passing my test. It's not hugely bothered me, since I pretty much just commute, and it's been a tad cold for long journeys.

For a while, I've had my eye on an XJ6N, which was the first non-cruiser to grab my attention. You see, I've always wanted a cruiser type - still do - but while flicking through bike sites, the XJ6 just went "HIIIIIIiiiiiiii!"
I can't say for certain why. It's not the fastest bike. It's not the sleakest. But, reviews I've seen since have said it's reliable. And there's a reason it's a popular bike [I since found] for motorcycle schools in the UK.

However, this weekend, I've added a second bike to that list now. It's in the same sort of league - popular in the schools - as the XJ6; the ER-6N. I had a sit on one of these when I went to Bolton Motorcycles over the weekend, and it was rather comfortable.

I'm still wanting the XJ6 mainly, but I think I will be happy if an ER-6N pops up before the XJ does...

And then I can go a little bit faster than the YBR can get to (: