Star rider I remember those from the late ‘70’s, every Sunday morning in a Primary School playground in the middle of Portsmouth. A 5 hour training period as a sort of forerunner to CBT’s.
I had one lad who was a few cans short of a six pack… every time we’d have to remind him how to start the bike, pull the clutch, and put it in gear. Then he’d give it a big handful and drop the clutch… on one occasion he left a set of tyre marks up a whitewashed wall !
His biking career finished on the day he ran his bike into the back of the biggest Traffic biker in Portsmouth…
Star Rider … now there’s a blast from the past !
If I remember correctly it was Bronze / Silver / Gold
Bronze - being school playground and involved lots of cones, Silver - up to test standard on the road
Gold - advanced certification
I even went on to take riders out up to Silver standard.
I too, was a Star Rider instructor. Very keen back then, I was also Chief Instructor and Examiner on the RAC/ACU course (became the BMF course later) and an Observer for the Kent Motorcycle Group of the IAM. That last one came with training at the Kent Police Driving School - a real privilege for us civilians!
Like Steve, I saw a lot of folk who would have been much better off using the bus, though a few real success stories made the effort well worthwhile.
Took trip to Elan valley and llyn Brianne. Saw large group of mopeds coming other way so slowed right down because experience of large groups on narrow roads always encounter one idiot on wrong side. No had bloody three of the planks almost hit.
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Up through North Wales to The Old Stores Motorbike Cafe, Nr Mold, then up over Moel Famau to Ruthin. The return down the A5 to the Tollgate Cafe for tea and cake, before heading home via Ellesmere, a 160 mile trip in good weather.
Mainly Ford related week:
- Mondeo Mk4 got new wheel hubs front and rear, front discs and pads and rear lower control arms + MOT
- XR3i cab got new radiator hoses
Doctor T wrote: ↑Sun Apr 13, 2025 12:56 pm
Today am planting flowers in the borders and an apple tree together with a pear tree. I may get out on the bike next week if am lucky
Unlikely, anything like my life and it won’t be happening.
MOT's and serviced today, booked in for 08.30, I went to start the bike at 07.50, nothing, no life whatsoever. Plugged the Optimate into the din socket, not charging. Tried a jump start power pack, turned over once then nothing. I hooked the Optimate direct to the battery and after 90 minutes the bike started, it's been fine ever since. The battery was replaced in October.
Mark in Synter Shrewsbury was accommodating and got the bike booked in after 11.30 MOT he had waiting.
Glenn wrote: ↑Mon Apr 14, 2025 3:33 pm
MOT's and serviced today, booked in for 08.30, I went to start the bike at 07.50, nothing, no life whatsoever. Plugged the Optimate into the din socket, not charging. Tried a jump start power pack, turned over once then nothing. I hooked the Optimate direct to the battery and after 90 minutes the bike started, it's been fine ever since. The battery was replaced in October.
Mark in Synter Shrewsbury was accommodating and got the bike booked in after 11.30 MOT he had waiting.
I put my optimate on ( directly to battery via the din plug) once a week until it’s cycled and all clear with the green leds.
On one day am free. i got stopped from riding the bike. By A big, bloody boil on my bum. Called the doc, asking him to see it as I think I have a boil. Go there, shorts down, and he said you have a bloody big boil. I told him I had I looked it up on Google. He asked am I was a doctor, I said I was a GP. Looking confused, I said a Google practitioner.
Seriously the bugger hurts.
Wana see pic's of it
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering. May the shaft be with you
I remember those from the late ‘70’s, every Sunday morning in a Primary School playground in the middle of Portsmouth. A 5 hour training period as a sort of forerunner to CBT’s. 
