The Dark Wob

In the case of then GT, it is not helped when they get an extra baking due to the proximity to the downpipes

Same on the 14 I bet then. They run up between the down pipes and then across the top of them.

When 97cc was a lot........

Here's a topic within my Confessions Of A Motorcycle Instructor tales that I've failed to mention so far so here goes.

Pupil's parents and how to deal with them.

Occasionally we'd get proud and over-enthusiastic parents, usually the dad, who insisted on hanging around to watch their offspring do their CBT on their birthday. One couple stood at the side of the compound and gave their son a hearty round of applause whenever he managed to complete any basic CBT element on our training ground.

Once or twice a biker dad has taken it upon himself to oversee the whole CBT and provide his "constructive" opinions during my lesson. On one such CBT, I was in our office/classroom doing the usual shit about procedures when turning and the dad decides to anticipate what I was about to say and shouts that it's O.I.L.S, observation, indication, lifesaver, steer. Now, back in 1982 or whatever when he took his Frank Spenser test that was true, but nowadays we taught the O.S.M.P.L.S technique of observation, signal, maneuver, position, lifesaver, steer. Daddy was having none of this as was voicing his opinions not just to me and his lad, but also to the other CBT learner I was teaching at the time.

Compound work over and it's time to hit the road. Biker daddy insists on tagging along on the 1100 Zephyr that he and his son arrived on. This sort of puts me between a rock and a hard place as I can't really refuse someone following us as it's the Queen's highway. Also, at the back of my mind is that the whole reason of me becoming an instructor was based on my boss inviting me to ride along on a friend's CBT in the first place.

We set off for the road element with biker dad asked to ride behind me. He tried asking to be given an instructor's radio so he could talk to his lad but for some reason* there was only one of those in the office that I insisted on using. After about 40 mins of riding around quiet roads I'm in need of a smoke so we go to a quiet road for my pupils to practice U turns. At this time in the training school's life we had just bought our first CG125 to replace our worst Lifan. I put his lad on the CG because I really couldn't be arsed arguing and lobbed the other lad on our one running Lifan.

As you Wobbers know, I usually have a perfect memory which means I can share all sorts of anecdotes from my past in various threads on this fine forum but there's one thing I can't remember, what bike I was riding on this CBT. Whatever it was I do a demo U Turn to show my pupils how it is done. I then remove my helmet to supervise my little ducklings whilst having a smoke.

Lifan Lad is managing to U Turn his bike perfectly well but the son of Biker Dad is struggling to U Turn the little Honda. To my surprise, Biker Dad starts to berate his lad for his lack of balance and decides to show him how it's done on his 1100 Zephyr. Biker Dad, helmetless BTW, pushes his Kawasaki as close to the kerd as he can, engages full lock and walks it to the other kerb, something he saw me do a few minutes earlier to demonstrate to my class that it could be done. He then thumbs the starter, kicks down into first and pulls away determined to set a good example. Just before he commits himself to turning in the road I notice a car enter the road behind him. Normally this wouldn't be a problem with my pupils as they've been taught the right procedures regarding observations but this cunt's just focussed on the kerb opposite and is about to get himself T Boned by a car! I manage to run over just in time to stop him from getting his right leg broken and save his blushes. For some reason, he manages to keep his opinions to himself for the rest of the road work and keeps his mouth shut.

Two more in. This is same as mine. Bought for spares. Paid 50 quid with logbook,2 sets of keys. Is missing handlebars,switchgear and is surface corroded in places but nothing major. Paid 50 quid. Sold the wiring loom and front crash bars so far for 60 quid. This was bought the day after for my son who is now 16. A tamoretti retro 50cc with 2000 or so miles on clock. Off road for about 8 years. A chap I worked with,it was his sons. Son bought it about 1 year old amd just before its first mot he binned it. A car pulled out on him and front end went down. His dad put a new exhaust on it as well as front wheel,tyre and disc,gave it his son who said was too scared to ride it. Ended up in garage under cover. Paid 200 quid with all paperwork and 2vsets of keys.

bub2006 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 14, 2022 1:15 pm
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That's a really old butchered Combi-Camp there - 3 stud wheels!

Bought it with lid and mechanism but apart from that was empty. Removed lid and use it for bikes. Still needs some work like extra eyelets for straps,channels and runners inside too but for time being it works fine.

And the wheels are a bastard. It will be a nightmare if hub fails or wheel gets damaged. Its going to probably end up a bit of a frankenstein in time.

bub2006 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 14, 2022 2:08 pm And the wheels are a bastard. It will be a nightmare if hub fails or wheel gets damaged. Its going to probably end up a bit of a frankenstein in time.

Does anyone else remember the Comstar wheels fitted by Honda back in the day?

I think everyone of a certain age will remember them.