Category: Motorcycling

This weekend was the BMF show. Its been a few years since we have been, we usually camp but did not have the time this year.

It was a fairly small low key event, it seems the motorcycle industry has been heavily hit by the down turn in the economy.

It used to be motorcycles were a cheap form of transport for those who could not afford a car, but today it is the more expensive option.  Motorcycles are now considered a luxury item and as such one can see why the show is much smaller than in the boom years. However, if you have a family, a motorcycle won’t be enough. Here are 6 Books About Electric Vw Vans You Should Read when you are making the decision of getting something bigger and affordable.

Instead of the main manufacturers being present, they were represented by their main dealers. What was interesting, was that the smaller Chinese, Indian and Korean manufacturers were there in force bring a cheaper range of bikes and scooters to the UK.

We just went for the excuse to have a ride out and to pick up some more silk glove liners, and hopefully to see the new BMW F800GT, it could be a possible replacement bike for our Honda.

We managed to get the glove liners but BMW were not present so we will have to arrange a trip to the local dealer and borrow one for the day.

Last Tuesday I dropped my GS motorcycle off at the dealers for a service , MOT and new tires.  I was hoping to borrow a F800 while mine was being serviced but the day before someone went and crashed it (oops).  So I had a little naked G650GS, a single cylinder 650cc bike.

The weather was great last week and when the weather is sunny and warm a small naked bike is a lot of fun on the twisty Lincolnshire roads.  I have borrowed one before but the weather was wet and cold and that makes a big difference on a naked bike.

My big R1200GS is pretty comfy whether its hot, cold, dry or wet.  A naked bike is great fun when warm and dry but I don’t think I could own one, to uncomfortable when the weather is less then idea.

It seems like spring has finally arrived.  While it may be tempting fate to mention the ‘S’ word, the weather is definitely warmer.  The electric heated vest has been left at home for the last few weeks and for this last week I even left the thermals at home.

Its been a pleasure riding in these warm spring evenings.  The number of other bikers on the road has exploded in the last week.  Instead of just two or three bikes in the company car park, we have had nearly a dozen.

This sudden increase does cause problems, I have already seen my first crashed biker being picked up from the side of the road.  I have also been helping other bikers start their bikes as they have dead batteries and have been unable to start their bikes in the car park.

This is rather a rambling post but I think the points are:  If you have not ridden over the winter then you are very rusty.  Take it slow and take it steady.  Also get your bike booked in for at least a check over if not a service to take your through the biking season. We dropped the Honda off at the dealer just before our photography trip and collected it when we got back all, the GS which we have used all through winter is going to get a good clean this weekend then get a full service and new ‘boots’ (tires) next week.

The Motorcycle GP season is back, last night was the first race. Jorge Lorenzo had the perfect race and lead from start to finish but all the news was about Rossi. With him being back at Yamaha could the old magic come back.

Well if you have seen the race you will know that Rossi gave a master class in race craft coming through the field to take a fantastic 2nd place.

The last couple of years have been a little less exciting while Rossi has been struggling with the Ducati but the excitement is now back.

The big surprise for me was the young Marc Marquez, definitely one to watch and possibly a future world champion.

With riding all year round and not wanting to spend too much time on bike maintenance, then a bike with shaft drive and not a chain is a must.

So when considering a bike one of the first options I check is whether its a chain, belt or shaft drive.

Chain is out completely.  Maybe for a sunny Sunday bike only but not for a daily workhorse.  Belt drive is something I would consider.

Because of this my options are fairly restricted.  A few Honda’s, the big Yamaha FJ Tourer, but mainly its BMW’s.

Luckily for me the shaft drive BMW GS is one of the best bikes on the planet, but it came to my attention a few weeks ago that the Triumph Tiger Explorer is now shaft drive.  The Tiger has always been a great British bike but has always been shaft drive.

The standard Tiger is still chain but the new Tiger Explorer version, a GS ‘wannabe’ is now shaft drive, so its a valid option to consider for when I decide to replace the big GS.

You would think that a simple thing like changing a headlight bulb on a BMW R1200GS would be a relatively simple thing.  Its a practical bike designed for long distance travel.  People use them for journeys lasting months.  In most areas the design is excellent.

Well one part of the design is very frustrating and that is access to the low beam headlight.

Changing it is something I dread, I can get the bulb out but its a right struggle getting the new bulb back in.  There is very little room in which to move your hand.  I know some people who have resorted to removing the instrument cluster, and taking out the full headlight assembly so they can do it easier!

Please Bike Manufacturers, some of us are not just Summer Sunday riders, doing 50 mile fun trips now and again, we use are bikes all year round.  Tasks like changing a bulb should be simple and easy and you should be able to do it in the dark and cold by the side of the road.

For touring Motorcycles I am alway surprised that a bigger heavy duty battery is not fitted.

While in the summer the only extra load is the GPS, in Winter it’s a different matter.

Lights, Heated Waist Coat, Heated Grips, GPS, and lets not forget short journeys, all take a heavy load.

Many people including myself now consider a battery trickle charger an essential item.

If you are a Summer only biker then it’s a must but even for us Winter riders its necessary to top up the charge at the weekend to keep our bikes running well.

There is freezing fog out there today in rural Lincolnshire and you might find us motorcyclists travelling a little slower the you expect or would like.

Bare with us.  Visors are hard to keep clear in this type of weather and we can see a lot less then you can in your cars, vans and lorries.

Still lets hope it brings us some interesting photographic opportunities.