Are Harleys still the dogs bollocks of bikes? Bear in mind if anyone answers, I know **** all about bikes.
In marketing terms they probably are, in biking terms they're not, imho. If you're out and about and you see Harley's on the road the riders all look as miserable as sin, I've never seen a grinning one.
There are several different routes to getting a license I think you’re referring to currency/ renewal requirements for a PPL(A), there are, currently, other routes to gain a power flying license having different training and medical requirements. The club at Leven is very professional and whilst some aircraft may. E aging, they will be well maintained, by professionals and be perfectly airworthy, with training likely cheaper than at Humberside. Getting a power license is expensive, gliding is a much cheaper way of learning to fly and can open up other options for progression. The club at Pocklington is recognised as one of the best in the UK, has an excellent fleet of club aircraft, one training glider being less than two years old.
Go and have a lesson and see what you think of it. If you enjoy it have some more. Just let it progress at it's own pace. Do you actually need a licence or do you just want to fly. If you really want the licence, work out the cost of getting and keeping it. You can try different aircraft at different places (Tiger moth etc.), just enjoy it and see where it goes
Would not disagree with any of that. If money is tight, then yes, explore the options available. However, once you hold a PPL(A), to maintain it you need to fly. It is a costly hobby.
My teenage son is close to getting his PPL, he started age 14 with the RAF cadets at Pock school. On track to get his pilots licence age 16 before he can legally drive a car. Bonkers!!! Lots of studying involved
That’s true, but there are other licenses that don’t need a medical from an AME and have different currency or renewal requirements, which reduces cost. But, as you and others say, try out the different options available, light aircraft, microlights, gliders, gyros etc and see which best suits you. Gliding is probably the lowest cost and likely fastest to being solo, but expensive on time, power expensive and takes longer to get your license, but takes less time out of your day.
A few years ago a mate of mine was going through a phase of ''I fancy a Harley'' - he contacted the Harley dealership at Lincoln and, tbf they have brilliant customer service; they insisted that he should really have at least a half days test ride, they also said if he had a mate who would take one out that he could ride two in a single day, so .... three Sundays later we've ridden six of the bloody things, Fat Boys, Fat Bobs and fat knows what else, apart from one they were awful things, vibey, uncomfortable and that feet forward thing is just plain weird. But, one of them - the Harley 48, was an absolute hoot to ride, with a tank range of 50/60 miles it was the most impractical thing I've ever ridden but, it really was bonkers, it was built for ragging around and creating sparks from the footpegs as you tipped into every corner. Unlike every other one I rode it was certainly grin inducing when you ragged it.
A somewhat cheaper mid life crisis item is a Gibson Les Paul. You can make a hell of a row with a decent amp.
I’ve been looking at a Gibson SG bass funnily enough. I don’t need one, and I’ve read mixed reviews…but they do look good!
Not dissimilar but I've got 3 Tele's and a 50 watt Vox...The wife's gave me a hell of a row on occasion!!
Oh I certainly do have an amp for it. A 300 watt Trace Elliot combo. (and some other amps and speakers too) I currently play either a Fender Jazz or a Fender Precision through it, which is why I don’t really need a SG bass as well (I do have other basses too, but rarely use them apart from an electro acoustic one which I tend to not bother putting through an amp) When I play loudly I haven’t noticed the neighbours complaining …
