Welcome to Artistar Adventures - the home of great motorcycle rides, spectacular views, and epic journeys! Join me as I take you on different motorcycle adventures around the United Kingdom (and eventually even further as the channel grows!).
I'm currently posting weekly videos while we approach winter, with more regular uploads planned as I go on new adventures.
Subscribe now and join me on the open road!
My first motorcycle was fully electric, a Super Soco TC Max, but I wanted to give petrol a go and absolutely love my current motorcycle, the Honda CB125R. At the time of writing this, I'm looking into getting a bigger motorbike and planning the next adventure.
I'm always working on improving the content / channel for you guys, and appreciate the support. I hope you enjoy the ride! 🏍
As a motorcyclist I have to say that the gears explanation using an outstretched hand was brilliant, so simple but so effective. Also using the hands to show how the clutch worked was equally simple and effective as a learning tool. Good information passed on to others. Good stuff. Ride safe and happy.
@@artistaradventures Hope to upload some from my first riding experience in the Lake District, on your recommendation. OK first one was the recent near miss from the top end of Honister pass but there'll be a few more to come, unfortunately I had a minor off up there, but no damage, just to my pride! Tried to stop for photo's of waterfall on excessively steep hill, came to a stop, applied front brake and the whole lot just kept sliding back down the hill! With hindsight I should have let the clutch out and it would have stalled and help stop it but I took one then two steps back and I lost it, tipping me between two big boulders. Only went down gently, well at first then it just overpowers you as you just can't let go of it. 🙍♂🙍♂😮🤷♂😂😂Take care fella.
@@artistaradventures It doesn't really help them at all, what would be better would be to go and do an actual course instead of watching someone on youtube who rides like a learner. Dont like the criticism, dont post a video.
Brilliant idea for a video. You still remember when you started, so the best teacher. I would only say, to new riders, practice stopping a lot before going up from 1st or 2nd gear. If you have drummed into yourself how to stop safely, you will have much more confidence. Starting and stopping are the scary bits when you're new. After that it's easy and observation is the most important. Like AA says, plan ahead.😊
Hey it’s the Garmin Montana 700i - pretty good although it feels a little clunky / slow when looking to navigate to a new location. Very solid unit though, waterproof and can survive being dropped It has good connection to satellites so great for going to remote places and you can use it to message home if you haven’t got phone signal. Hope that helps!
Sorry to hear about the bike mate. Never been there but that showroom looks familiar due to the magic of RU-vid. Hope it all gets sorted without any further issues. Just ask them if you can borrow a Tracer 7GT for your tour and commute and tell me what it's like. I was adamant that's what I was getting myself until I passed both Mods an F750GS 😂
Thanks man, I hope I can get it fixed quickly! lol it would be fun to borrow another bike. The F750GS is a great looking machine. Happy and safe riding 🏍
Well recognised all the areas you were as having spent, quite literally, days waiting all around there. Remember I said there'd been a lot of changes, well one is finding out Hunts are now Yamaha, when all the years I've been up there they've been Honda! Right onto your problem. From what you've been told it struck me an element of scaremongering was taking place. That leak would be leaving lots of spots of oil on the ground when it was stood to have any effect on your front brake. If it is that bad you can tie a piece of cloth around the fork to catch any excess oil as a get you home method. When oil seals fail they weep gradually with no ill effects for hundreds of miles if not thousands. Latterly you mention stone chip damage, this might require a new fork leg, this would start getting expensive so hold your ground on the warranty issue. Best to check yourself if there is a stone chip, by pulling the handlebars up whilst holding down the front wheel. You won't need much pressure as remember a stone chip can only have happened whilst you were riding so the forks would have been depressed to some degree when it happened. I have NEVER heard of a stone damaging a front fork leg EVER! You would certainly have known about it when it happened. A fork seal replacement means removing the front forks from the bike, a competent mechanic can replace a pair of seals in an hour on a bike such as yours. The last pair I bought to fit were around £10 for one of my 250's. The usual cause of seal failure is aging, this will not have happened yet to yours or corrosion on the fork leg as they have to be smooth to seal correctly. Good luck with it and keep us updated as to how you get on. All the best. P.S Just returned a few hours ago from a few days riding in Lancashire and the Lake district, encouraged by your videos from last year riding there. 🏍👍😁😁
Thanks for your comment! I did get a few red flags, I’ll take a second look at my bike and see if I can notice anything. Good to know it might be a cheap fix fingers crossed 🤞 great to hear you had a nice trip! I’m planning to go Northumberland on your suggestion from last year, just want to make sure the bike is good to go. Thanks for watching, happy and safe riding 🏍️
Sorry to hear of this problem, I would have thought that the front suspension would have been to designed to handle road undulations and speed humps. I've owned my my 03 for three years and have had no problems whatsoever. IMHO, I think it's very unlikely that a stone chip would cause any problem as the fork leg is hardened steel. On a brighter note, the charge for your first service sounds quite reasonable as mine was well in excess of £200. I wish you luck in pursuing a satisfactory warranty claim. Best wishes.
Thanks bud. I was really surprised to find out anything was up with the bike! The stone chip theory does sound crazy. I’m glad yours has been reliable, that’s very reassuring to hear. Interesting to find out how much your service was for the same bike. Happy and safe riding 🏍️
If you got a chip in your fork thay have to change it because every time the chip passes your oil seal it will slowly damage the fork oil seal again you have the same problem best of luck with the warranty
oh man, it's hard work haha 😂 yeah I was pulling it out of fields with cows in for the Peak District volunteers. It was kind of fun for a day but I can imagine it getting tiring 😂 thanks for watching / commenting
@artistaradventures very cordial. Thanks for the video it's really helpful. It is true you can fail a CBT or it can be extended if the target is not met on the day. Mine is booked for the 3rd. Any advice for a semi-pro cyclist with 13 years of car experience?
@@fabioa.5490 great to hear you enjoyed the vid! You will be absolutely fine with that experience, the main pitfalls are if someones never been on a bike or doesn't have knowledge of the highway code etc. Only tip I'd say is don't be afraid to take your time when learning it all, there's no rush so the more slow / relaxed you can be the better it will go. Once you get your CBT and then go out on your first ride it's such a great feeling, totally worth it! Good luck with it al
Nice one Artistar. You went along the old coast road which was replaced by the A55 when it was built in 70s and 80s and saw the Duke of Lancaster, the old derelict ship on the way to Talacre (its pronounced Tal-ack-rer). Theres loads of static caravan parks there so its busy in the Summer.
ahh great to know, thank you! I was wondering if I was saying it right 😂 and the ship looked cool, wish I went to check it out. Next time! Thanks for watching / commenting
Agree or disagree. But as far as I'm concerned, bike tests these days are just a money-making scam. When I was younger, you took your test on the road with one guy standing and watching you. and it must have taken half an hour. All this crap now is just to con people out of a lot of money, and I don't like being conned. I haven't passed my test, but I was riding a 250-cc for years and never had any accidents. It may be important if you intend to ride a high-powered bike but not a 250-cc There is nothing they could teach me that would make me ride any better. I'm sure it would be easier and less hassle to get your pilots license. I only wish I had taken my test before they brought all this bullsh*t in.
I started on getting the test done cbt at £150 the theory was £34 been driving 20years and never seen a money racket like it £400 for mod1 bike hire and test then sames for mod2...
@@davedarave871 I couldn't agree more. It's just one big racket. It was unquestionably hundreds of pounds less expensive with the test from the 1970s. It's obvious all these ridiculous, unnecessary tests conn people out of even more money.
Well welcome back and yes have been worried about you. Glad to know you're alright and are employed, I hope the job is going well and is something you enjoy doing. I knew it was the Etihad you were talking of being one of the largest stadiums, well it is now since we were delivering there when they made it bigger. One reason you can tell is those support columns used to be on the outside of the building, if you look at old pictures of it, but now the building has encased them near the bottom. It's only 14 months since I was a regular in that area but what a lot of changes there has been in that short time. Just be careful of riding around in the area where you ended the video, as it is on the outskirts of an area that has a particular reputation. Now I can rest easy knowing you're safe, and I'm only half joking when I say that. Ride safe and happy. P.S. Don't leave it so long next time! 😉🏍👍😁
thanks Cloudmaker!! Planning to keep up with the videos this time, need to see how many adventures I can get in before winter. Where are you delivering / working to at the moment?
@@artistaradventures We are mainly in the midlands area nowadays with little forays further afield to Lancashire/Yorkshire/Berkshire/Cambridgeshire and even Luton Airport! East/West is basically Cheshire to Lincolnshire and we pick up from the docks on the Mersey and the Humber occasionally. Having had the pleasure of delivering into Greater Manchester daily from 2009 to 2023 I do not miss it at all. Although delivering there recently and got talking to the guy's on site and found they were all local lads to me and all went to my old school! I love coincidences like that. Even yesterday I went to a retired farmer in Staffordshire and asked if he remembered a freak accident which resulted in a Tractor broken in to two pieces. Engine and front wheels in one and cab and rear wheels in another. Turned out it was one of his tractors and he said it was at least 40 years ago that it happened. His mate who was driving was in shock but had no injuries at all. Oh and having met two great Scottish guys on the Welsh rally, I met them again last Saturday night at Skipton on the English. Made my day that did. Take care fella will look out for your next one.
Awesome! It’s coincidences like that which remind us it’s a small world. Planning a day trip to north wales next, looking forward to getting out :) hoping I can get the mic working! Then I’d love to go on some bigger adventures. Thanks as always for your support
@@artistaradventures Hope your trip to Wales is blessed with good weather and great roads. I love Snowdonia and the north west coast of Wales. Not much time on the rally to really enjoy the scenery, as you'll remember. Speaking of bigger adventures I already booked accommodation in Scotland for September back in February! Discovered last year that staying in the Inverness area gave the biggest access to most of the north of Scotland for a weeks touring as it's one of the narrowest parts of the country. Looking forward to the next video. Take care.
Welcome back I watched all your earlier videos and used your notes for my mod 1 and they really helped. Now I have my full licence and the bike I always wanted 👍
@@artistaradventures I had one of the first Triumph speed 400’s in January which was a great bike and now I have upgraded to a Trident Triple Tribute which is amazing 👍
Hey! I'm back too. I never really went away but life got challenging and I narrowed down watching RU-vid. I'll try to keep up this time but it's good to know you're OK.😊
@@artistaradventures I'm great now. Moved to a new town as well. I'm in Devon now and it's very bikey here. My son got his A licence and has a classic 650 BMW and we are sharing a Honda Vision scooter. I am saving for a Grom. Are you still on your MT 03? When my son did his test, I told him about the speed trap from your test. He went really fast but still stopped OK 😂
I still think I fail as somtimes my brain don’t play ball straight as got learning difficulties but then it’s how to set the cones up to for stuff like figer 8 as u can do stuff like that and u turn in ur own time can’t u and I struggle with theroy to
yeah there's no real time pressure from what I can remember, apart from the exercises where you need to be going a specific speed (as you need to get up to speed quick enough). I know it's not ideal but if you do fail try not to give up, you'll get it eventually :D
Your posted videos are so nice, great adventures, lovely surroundings, safe driving in whatever circumstances or weather type, positively and curiously narrated. It is a pleasure to watch your content. Almost having watched it all, I truly hope you will find the possibility to create more. In addition, what you have been undertaking on the 125cc, leaves me beyond words. Best regards.
love this comment! It was part of the reason why I decided to hurry up and get back to making videos again. More content on the way, thanks for watching / commenting
Really enjoyed the series, lovely journey and really proving that you dont need a 'big bike' to go on tour and you see a lot more when youre not glued to the speedo. Nicely done.
Thank you for the information, I'm doing my cbt on 24th may in Manchester, I am 57 never been on a bike before, was thinking of a gear bike but may do an automatic 125
im 58 yrs old and im on the return leg of biking...ive had them all... now contemplating the cb300r.... i just dont ride fast anymore ...or need to go motorway at 80mp hfor hours ive done that..insanely mind numbing.... enjoy every stage of your bike life...never worry about impressing anyone..let the idiots do that.. and ride safe
thank you, I hear you - 300cc is plenty for me too. Yeah I much prefer going slow and exploring remote places than going as fast as possible all the time. I agree that we should ride our own ride. Happy and safe riding, thanks for watching / commenting
yep reality is it can get to higher speeds, it struggles though - at least mine did! I actually got a sore wrist on long journeys from having to pull the throttle so hard to maintain that speed 😂
They dont "test" you on that. Its more they want to know how much you know. Most are self explantory. They will go over road signs and what they mean. If you do want to learn road signs though the "DVLA" app is good. If not i wouldent worry to much they will help you😊
Yeah I can't remember there being a specific test or even that many questions :) a big thing they spent a lot of time on when I did it was lane positioning.
