If you haven’t been riding through winter like me then take care getting back out there and wear good gear. Check all the essentials:

• Oil
• Water (if applicable)
• Tyre pressures and wear
• Chain tension and wear
• Check all electrics (kill switch and all lights being the main ones)
• Also have a glance at your sprockets

If the bike has been sitting for more than a month then you will probably want to drain the fuel tank as well as the petrol may have gone off. When you leave it too long it can form a jelly like substance in the fuel lines or worse in the carburettors. If this has happened or you forgot to drain your float bowls you will need to strip down the carbies and clean them out with compressed air.

Electrics corrode so if it won’t start check that the connections are OK on the:

• Battery (you have already checked for charge right?!)
• Kill switch
• Clutch switch (if applicable)
• Neutral switch (if applicable)
• Kickstand switch (if applicable)

Just a few tips for fellow bikers who might be considering a move to the UK from Victoria.

If you only have your L’s pass you test before you come so you can transfer your licence over. When you have a full licence (ie over 21 with a restricted motorcycle licence) this will be transferred to a full A licence in the UK meaning you can ride any capacity bike you like. However insurance is going to set you back…it is significantly more expensive here.

To help reduce this cost make sure you bring a no claims bonus confirmation letter from your Australian insurer with you. This must state your NCB in years, your name, your bike and a policy number. The company will probably want to see the original so make sure you make copies before sending it through the good old Royal Mail. The only insurer that would accept my foreign NCB was Bennetts – you may find others.

NCB ratings are not taken from your car like they are in Australia so make sure you transfer any car NCB over to your bike before you come. 5 years is maximum NCB and it will make a real difference to your quote.

Before sending anything into the DVLA ensure you make computer scans or at least photocopies of your licence (both sides) and any other documentation. It could get lost in the post, but much more likely the DVLA will neglect to add your motorbike licence to the licence they send out to you!

When you receive your new licence immediately check it lists the correct categories. Another little quirk about licences here is that they come in two parts – it’s ridiculous but the plastic one like the one you keep in your wallet in Australia is not your actual licence. There is an A4 sheet of paper that must accompany it to be an official licence so don’t toss it like I was tempted to. This annoyingly means that if you are out riding and get pulled you will have to go into a cop shop to flash both parts of your licence.

If you decide to do some advanced/safer riding courses then I can recommend the BikeSafe scheme where you ride out with a police observer who gives you tips on your riding. This I found was very helpful as riding here is completely different and more hectic I found. If you do decide to do this course take the ones organised for London rather than the surrounding counties as the London courses are subsidised by Transport for London and therefore cheaper for the same service! They run one from the Ace Café to the North West of London and one from the Police Academy in Bromley to the South East of London in Kent. I attended the Bromley one.

To help boost my confidence I am also an associate member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). I have only been to two observed runs so far but I can already feel I my riding improving and it is making riding more fun. They are very friendly. I am doing it through the London Advanced Motorcyclists (LAM) group who run sessions from Banstead and Bromley. Basically you attend a Potluck session and scope it all out and meet people. If you decide it’s for you then you join IAM and attend potluck sessions from there on in.

By the way you need to bring your bike (roadworthy condition of course), proper gear, your MOT certificate (if applicable), your insurance certificate and both parts of your licence to both BikeSafe and your first LAM potluck sessions. You should also bring an open mind and remember they are there to steer you in the correct direction – they are not going to force you to do something you don’t want to do. They are there to help you improve not attack your riding.

Yeah I know I am not that quick off the mark posting this up, but I have been admiring it for days. The new Street Triple is running a slightly retuned version of the Daytona’s 675cc triple cylinder engine. It also shares the same frame and swing arm as its much lauded super sport colleague from what I can tell. I have always loved the styling of the larger Speed Triples, but I am not keen to go to much over a 600cc until I have had more on road experience in this country. So this is the perfect compromise – it has the go of a Daytona (well nearly), looks fantastic and sounds great. I will be very tempted to trade the Bandit in come August and try to get one of these (I reckon there maybe a wait involved given the stir this bike is creating).

I have been hunting around the web looking for all the information I can find about the bike so I thought I would share it with you.

Triumph 675 rolling news article – Best photo for a desktop background I could find.

Triumph Street Triple site

VisorDown.com Article

London Bikers Article

Bike gets delivered.

Kevin tries to destroy it.

Carmichael at it again!

Yet more fantastic bike control.