I 'failed' my CBT at the first attempt back in 2010. I was so bad, they wouldn't take me out on the road. I'd done downhill mountain biking for many years and I should've flown my CBT but I just couldn't put it altogether on the day. I did get my CBT at the 2nd attempt, just.
Unbelievably and after some extensive and intense quality training, I passed Mod 1 and Mod 2 first time in 2011. Scary to think I could barely ride a motorbike just about a year before and now I could go out and buy a 200mph+ machine.
Anyway, after passing my CBT, I bought myself a Skyjet 125. It was made of cheese but it taught me a lot about riding and also maintenance, as it was in bits more than it was on the road. I rode it even after passing my tests but finally gave in to the lure of a bigger machine and bought myself a
second hand Bandit 600. It was mint when I bought it, the owner was 70 and had it from new, it was his baby and despite the bike being 11 years old when I got it, it only had 6,800 miles on it. I still have it, it's still mint and I love it, I can't see me ever parting with it.
My made of cheese Skyjet.
Stilton Skyjet by
Dale, on Flickr
The Lady, as she is known.
The Lady. by
Dale, on Flickr
I've changed the indicators for smaller ones, put on a hugger, removed the bag carrier and the collector box to muffler joint has been modified to stainless rather than the manufacturer mild steel version. The whole exhaust is now stainless. I've had to replace the oil cooler, tyres and battery but apart from those little changes, it's as it came out of the factory.