Pick up in Preston

Within a week of paying for my Vixen, it was ready to be picked up from Freedom Bikes, in Preston.  I could have had it delivered, but figured that it was only half an hour drive home, so opted to go down and drive it back.

I hadn't ridden anything since my CBT about 8 months earlier...  So with some nerves and trepidation did I enter the shop.  Friendly shop.  The guy there quickly showed me round the bike, did the paperwork, then wheeled it out the back into a small car park.  He started her up, said to call him if there were any problems, and disappeared behind the fire escape door, which closed firmly behind him.

The engine then cut out.  I tried to start it, but it wouldn't catch.  The choke was on full, which he assured me it needed as it was brand new, and you needed it if it hadn't had a run for a while, for a few minutes.  I tired  again ... no joy.  I imagine the engine flooding, if such a thing is possible.  I used to have an old car with a choke and that was a nightmare.

I manage to turn the choke off, and it starts this time, with plenty of revs.  In fact, so far, it has always wanted a lot of revs to start up.

I behold my new bike.

Pre first ride

The guy in the shop, before leaving, told me I could practice in the car park before going on the road, as outside the gates was a busy main road...  I was supposed to push a button and ask the gate guy when I wanted to leave.

So, I glove and helmet up and try to get the Vixen off it's big stand (it has two, a side stand, and a larger, more stable one).  Just as I'm doing this, unsuccessfully, a girl comes out to empty some rubbish.  I can tell that she lingers, enjoying watching me puff and pant and almost topple the bike.  In the end I get it, and I can finally check my mirrors and put her in gear.

I figure I'll do some figure of 8's first.  As soon as I move, the gate goes up and I feel obliged to ride under it.  Now I'm at the junction, in the middle of Preston, there are people and cars and trucks and dogs and everything.

So, deep breath and wobble out.  I kind of remember.  I'm a bit jerky and wobbly, I struggle with indicators, gears, brakes, everything.  There's actually a gear number display, but I try not to look at it.  I find myself looking at the indicator switch when I try and use it.  It's fiddly.

Pretty soon I'm in three lanes of traffic and in another world.  It goes okay.  I remember things.  It's actually fun, even in city centre traffic.  I start to smile...

First stop, petrol station.  Petrol cap off, no problem.  I put £11 of fuel in, it looks quite full after that, no idea how much was already in it.  I reset the trip meter.  Cap back on.  Ah, not so easy.  It seems to have a lock, a spring, and a line-up bit.  I struggle and fiddle and create a small queue behind me.  It seems you have to push it down, then turn the key.  But this, whilst firm ish, still seems to move and doesn't convince me that it's on correctly.  No time to lose, I pay and get out of there.

The petrol cap is fine.  I bomb out of town eastwards, it gets quieter, I pass through small towns, then villages, then am completely lost.  I stop and consult my phone (Google maps, tell me where I am).  I'm 35 minutes in the wrong direction, is where I am.

I plot a new course and head off again.  Now on dual carriageways I get her up to 65 without too much bother, but more than that she starts to complain.  Cars whoosh by, leaving me hardly any space.

I stop again and realise I'm shaking with cold.  I have an open face helmet (the wife said it looked nice), no scarf, a pair of jeans with nothing under them, a t-shirt and a super thick Frank Thomas black leather I got on eBay for £40.  And some summer riding gloves.

It's March.

I put on a scarf I have and zip up everything, put down my visor.  Carry on.  Better.

I get back to Preston for rush hour.  Things are a bit hairy.  Busy roundabouts with junctions that fly off onto the M6, trucks, dual carriageways and fast, fast cars.

I find my road and head in the right direction, 1 hour and 10 mins since I set off.

Sitting in traffic looking ahead I suddenly realise that I'm driving like I'm in a car.  Cautiously, I look about and then head off between the rows of cars in the queue.  I start grinning as I fly by endless lanes of stationary traffic.  Hahahahahahaha!

Then was a fairly long ride home, which was mostly straight single national-limits roads, on which rush hour traffic didn't tolerate sub-70mph bikes.  They overtook with frightening lack of consideration.  All I can say is don't wobble around on those roads, at 5.15 pm.

I get home about 45 minutes later, shaking, cold to my core.  I can barely get the chain lock (eBay Oxford Chain Lock) to operate.  I spend 10 minutes trying to work out the best way to put it on.  I then try to put it on the bigger stand, almost toppling the bike...  I leave it on the side stand, lock the steering (key operated on the side of the bike) and go to sit by the fire at home.

Conlusion: Bike is great, the only thing you'll miss is power on open roads, but for everything else so far it ticks all my boxes.  Very happy.  Also need warmer clothes...

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OXFORD MOTORCYCLE BIKE MULTI-PURPOSE GP CHAIN AND LOCK 1.5M