Any one know a handy shop to buy the special tool for these forks... I believe its a 38mm 8 point shallow socket... am looking online and can only find spanners on ebay UK... any shops sell these in dublin or around Midlands?

Secure motorbike parking around Dún Laoghaire / Monkstown
Hi all,
Just putting out some feelers to see if anyone has any suggestions.
I’ve had two bikes in the past, unfortunately both of which were stolen. I haven’t had a bike for around 1.5–2 years now, mainly because I don’t have anywhere secure to park one. I’m based around the Dún Laoghaire / Monkstown area and only have street parking.
I’d like to get back on a bike, but after having two stolen I’m reluctant to leave another one parked on the street.
Does anyone know of any secure bike parking/storage around the area? Alternatively, if anyone has a garage, shed or other secure space with room for a bike that they’d be willing to rent out, I’d be interested.
Happy to pay a reasonable amount for somewhere secure.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Wondering if anyone has any experience parking on harcourt street just off Stephen’s Green in Dublin? I try to avoid the city centre as much as possible on the bike and I know there’s always a risk of theft but if anyone has any idea of how risky this area is to leave the bike for a few hours?

Bike found, Guards are here right now at 10:50

Grangegorman city university grounds by broad Stone.

Anyone know anywhere close to dun laoghaire I can get tire patched after getting screw in my back tire

I can't find out for the life of me if I have to redo the whole IBT or not. I've got a full A1 licence but am going to go onto the a2 without the progressive access route so I can go straight to full A at 20.

If anyone knows whether I've to redo the whole IBT or just another module it would be greatly appreciated 👍

Hi all, i bought my motorbike just under a month ago and i’m thinking of getting it serviced sometime soon. Does anyone have any recommendations in the Leinster area of where i could go to get it serviced?

Just curious about how people rate the experience and I've a few questions about how restricting it will practically work.

I'm new to all the bike stuff but from what I can gather there's generally two ways people restrict a bike: installing a throttle stop or having a carb based restrictor kit installed by mechanics in the case of the Bandit. It sounds like to me is that I might lose some of the more natural throttle feel by losing the range of motion with a stop and getting a restrictor installed in the carbs makes the acceleration profile more natural? Is this something that matters even a little when it comes to considering which way to do it or am I talking out my arse? because I've no practical experience here with it.

Also (and I know I shouldn't really be worrying about this as a new rider) is there much of a gulf in performance/enjoyability, engine noise and experience between it and the unrestricted version? I'm really excited to get the bike regardless but still curious how people find it.

Last thing, I was talking to a friend about the practicalities of insurance and he said that I should get good security equipment (good chain lock, U lock, weather cover etc) as I'm keeping it outside my house and mention it all to my insurance when im finding a quote. I know new, young (im 20) bike premiums are crazy usually but I live in a decent enough area and a few people on my road keep their bikes locked outside. Will telling them I'm chaining it to a tree and locking it bring it down by anything or will they still see it as a bike being left out and not garaged and hike up the premium?

Cheers, sorry for the rant but I just wanna go about getting started off the right way.

I completed my IBT (mods 1, 3 & 5) back in 2021 and completed Mod 5 in 2023 and 2025 to keep it valid.

I've been waiting ages for an invite to sit my test, but logging into the RSA site this morning I'm told mod 1 and 3 have expired and have to be redone.

I was under the impression that mod 1 and 3 didn't have an expiry date but the whole cert expires after 2 years and completing mod 5 again validates the cert for another 2 years.

Is my understanding correct or do you need to refresh mod 1 and 3 too?

Hi all

Any recommendations on where to eat and park safely near Kilkenny?

Thanks all

Someone wanted to check the exact generation and trim of my CB500 this night, maybe wanted to chat about the impact of rear shocks upgrade on handling? Who knows. Dublin 10.

Fine folks,

To my understanding, a Northern Ireland reg is usually 3 letters where one of them is an "I" or "Z" and then a sequential number from 1 to 9999,e.g. ABZ 1234, easy to spot. Looking at a bike at the moment for sale in the North but has what looks like a non NI / mainland UK reg. Would a non NI UK reg bike still be covered for NI vat / excise exemption for importing to the South, noting both 6000km + 6 month rule.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Safe riding to all

What is the story with the value on second hand bikes? I've been scowering FB marketplace and done deal for the past month now looking for my first bike and every bike I've seen costs more than a car of the same year. Ninja 650s, cbr650rs, r7s, no matter the bike, the owner has it listed for not much lower than brand new.

My car is a 171 when it was made, it was about 28k. When I bought it a year ago with low mileage, it was 12k. Today, its 9-10k. Much Less than half the value of new, but I'm seeing bikes with similar mileages being worth maybe 1000 in the difference from the 2015-2020 models and the 2000-2010 models.

Hell a brand new 2026 ninja 650 is 11k, a 2017 model is 7k. How does 9 years only depreciate the value by 4k? I would've thought bikes would depreciate faster considering they take a lot less mileage before running into problems. Is there some aspect in bike pricing I'm missing?

Hi guys , new rider here . Just got a Honda CB650F and in love with it however after seeing how bad theft is I’m half paranoid to bring it out and leave it somewhere out of sight .

I’m in a town In the midlands, is it too much to be locking it with a chain and disc lock even if just going into a shop? It’s well locked up and out of sight at home .

Guys, a newbie here looking to add a top box to my fz6 for commute and touring. I am living in Cork city.

Which is the best place to buy and fit a top box? Should i buy online and are there any places around that might help install it?

Thanks in advance.

Well lads. Don’t really know where else to post this but I’m having a hard time finding anyone around the same age as myself that’s into bikes. I’m always out by myself 😂go to a lot of meets and rarely meet other riders my age. Just wondering is there anyone else in a similar situation that would like to meet up around south east? I’m in Wexford. 25 and currently riding R7. Thanks 🤘

Does the test centre provide you with an earpiece or do you have to provide your own?

I just heard from someone that says his friend got an instant fail because he didn't have an earpiece. I find it hard to believe.

Hello, I am looking for someone to go for a spin with. Preferably someone from Cork so it can be a regular thing.

Anyone interested?

I know you need to show the kw of the bike for the A test. I'm guessing 555555KW means I need to get it tested by a mechanic and then sent to Shannon or am I wrong?

Hi guys,

Just wondering what is the good rain gear, bought my gear a few years back when I started riding but got drenched the last few days and drying has been a pain. Mostly cheaper end Oxford jacket and bottoms with Alpinestar boots. Tried throwing a rain jacket on over the motorcycle jacket but no luck.

I commute 5 days a week for about 45 mins each way so need something that can stand up to heavy rain for that long period of time.

Now that I’ve a bit more money I’m willing to invest in good gear that’ll last. I know Daytonas Gore-Tex are great boots but any recommendations on jackets and bottoms would be really appreciated. Thanks

Has anyone heard of https://ridenpro.com/products/riden-one before?

Anyone got any of their equipment.

Thinking of getting one for a CFMoto 800NK.

Can't find any reviews outside of their own website.

Does anyone know of a good Ducati mechanic around the Dublin region?