I tend to write
down everything I read about motorbikes (well mostly) and post it on my
web - it keeps my old brain ticking over. This blog pertains to
motorcycles and articles I am interested in and includes some video
reviews with no adverts.
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10th April 2024
Scotland's Terrible
Weather - New Winter Clothing!
Over here in Scotland during March and April we
are experiencing terrible weather. Storm winds, heavy rain and
periods of extreme cold,
especially
when riding a motorbike. My Honda NX500 adventure motorcycle has proved to
be an excellent choice and thanks to the weather I have been able to fully
develop new clothing for this year's late Autumn and Winter periods.
My
fully sleeved
base layer, 10 year old
Rev'It Gore-Tex touring jacket and
Rev'It Gore-Tex
trousers with their thermal layer and heavy Richa
Gore-Tex gloves kept me dry but even with my Honda NX500 motorcycle's
heated grips warming my palms, the back of my hands were
freezing.
Worse still, after a few miles on the dual carriageway, the areas under my arms
were also freezing. My new
Oxford Advanced Storm Collar
did a great job of keeping the rain and cold of my neck and my
Alpinestars boots were fully waterproof and cold proof thanks to my thermal
socks.
In an effort to combat the cold, I put on my skin tight fully sleeved
base layer, and then a fully sleeved M&S Marino Wool thermal vest. To
top of the two layers,
I purchased an
Oxford Advanced Expedition MS Midlayerwhich was a tight slim fit and when zipped up, it pulled the layers
tight in against my body. On went the Rev'It Gore-Tex jacket and
Rev'It Gore-Tex
trousers with their thermal layers, my Alpinestars boots, my Oxford Advanced Storm Collar
and I
also purchased a pair of
Rev'It Fusion 3 Gloves which are
Gore-Tex winter gloves specifically designed for wearing with heated grips.
Finally, the cold was kept at bay, and the summer weather (hopefully)
will soon be here but next winter I will be out and about on my Honda NX500
wearing my new clothing to combat the worst of the Scottish weather.
________________________________
27th March 2024
My New Honda NX500 Adventure Bike
at 600 Miles!
My Honda NX500 adventure motorcycle has proved to
be an excellent choice. During the last few weeks, it
has easily handled the high winds and heavy rain in the worst
of the Scottish weather. The
suspension and tyres inspire confidence, even around rain soaked corners. It is now
in the garage waiting for its first service appointment, which unfortunately is
in early May, due to the workload of the Honda dealership.
If you are young or old, becoming a
biker is fairly easy and it is a gradual migration. At the very least, and
providing you have a car driving licence, you can head off down to your local
dealership who usually provide a day’s CBT course on one of their 125cc
motorcycles which will give you a CBT certificate.
Sure, you may not enjoy it, you may simply walk away, but think of the
challenge. And if you like the sensation of riding a motorcycle, all you have to
do is purchase a 125cc motorcycle, pop on a L plate, purchase protective jacket
and trousers, a helmet, gloves and boots, and you are set for the road. It is
addictive and to step up, there is a ‘Government Theory Test’ on a computer and
advanced riding courses available. These, depending on your age, will gradually
get you into a 650cc and later an even larger 1,000cc motorcycle. I went through
the entire process at 65 years of age and I have enjoyed every minute of it.
There are lots of second-hand 125cc motorcycles, because every day, other bikers
are graduating to larger machines. Of course, you can purchase a brand new 125cc
motorcycle and later when you sell it and step up, you will not have lost much
money. The brand new
Yamaha MT125 is a 125cc motorcycle (image below) that
weighs in wet at a lightweight 142Kg and costs £5,102.00 in
the UK.
________________________________
27th January 2024
Toyota Changes the Goal Posts - Goodbye EVs!
I have
written many times about 'Hydrogen Electrolysis' - that school experiment which
can be industrially upscaled to produce hydrogen gas to propel electrical power
plants and combustion motor vehicles. JCB have already manufactured a hydrogen
gas combustion engine which is propelled by hydrogen gas produced from an
upscaled electrical hydrogen electrolysis plant. Toyota have also joined the
hydrogen gas combustion engine club.
However, Toyota has moved one step further and is set to kill of the future of
EV (electric battery) vehicles. Imagine a vehicle filled with a tank of ordinary
tap water which is electrolysis converted within the vehicle to produce hydrogen
gas and drive the vehicle's hydrogen gas combustion engine -
________________________________
24th
December
2023
Bike Lust -
Norton Commando!
The
Norton Commando 961 Motorcycle is a dream
bike to own. It harks way back to a bygone era of the golden years of
motorcycling. The new 21st Century variant follows in the same styling tradition
and as retro motorcycles go, it is right on the money, and not half bad for a
bike which is a piece of art.
Its nice to dream!
________________________________
24th
December
2023
Bike Lust - Brough Superior SS100
With a couple of sports bikes in the garage and a new Honda NX500 Adventure
Crossover (on the way) as a present to myself for my 75th birthday, you would
think that bike lust would fade away - not a bit of it!
I still would like a retro motorcycle, a Norton perhaps but more likely the much
less expensive Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. Of course, as an ardent follower
of the life and escapades of T. E. Lawrence
(Lawrence of Arabia) I would (naturally) like a Brough Superior SS100.
Its nice to dream!
________________________________
16th November
2023
New Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR Sports Bike!
The new
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR is lightweight and
judging by the video, it has enough power and handling to be a hoot on country
roads.
________________________________
16th November
2023
New Motorbikes for 2024!
An interesting video on a plethora of the latest new motorbikes for 2024
from MOTOBOB. I have already made my choice, and placed my deposit for a new
Honda NX500 Adventure Crossover Motorcycle
which is to be delivered in April 2024.
________________________________
14th November
2023
Itchy Boots in India!
Join Itchy Boots on her adventure bike, travelling in India -
________________________________
14th November
2023
The
Honda E Clutch Technology!
The
Honda E-Clutch opens up a whole new aspect of the riding experience for every
type of rider from beginner to seasoned expert. It takes elements of the
technology and performance of quickshifters, manually-operated clutches and
Honda’s unique Dual Clutch Transmission technology to create a unique blend of
these well-proven approaches.
During the gear
change, it uses a harmonised combination of ‘half-clutch’ operation, fuel
injection cut and ignition control to eliminate ‘shift shock’ for an
ultra-smooth ride. The clutch control itself is managed through an actuator unit
- similar to those used in Honda’s unique Dual Clutch Transmission gearboxes -
housed inside the right hand engine cover. All you have to do is to use the
throttle and change gears via the shift pedal. And if you'd like to use the
clutch manually at any point, simply grab the lever and use normally. And after
a few seconds the E-Clutch technology is back on. Alternatively, there's the
option to turn off completely via the TFT screen for an individual ride.
________________________________
3rd November
2023
Valentino Rossi
It was a sad day when Valentino retired but his racing academy has spawned
racing offspring that I will enjoy watching on MotoGP as they rise through the
ranks.
An interesting documentary -
________________________________
18th October
2023
Triumph Scrambler 400 X Motorcycle!
One of the first video reviews of this bike and it appears very tasty.
Certainly a great lightweight bike for rambling trips on country B roads, and
worthy of a test ride early next year, here in the UK.
In the video below, Big Rock Moto makes a great case for owning a Triumph
Tiger Sport 660 motorcycle. I did a bit of research and compiled an
Overview Article on this bike.
Its a bit of an all rounder and ideal for commuting, urban use,
touring, country road blasts and even a bit of light off-road trips. I like how
the pannier side luggage just clips on rather than using unsightly pannier
racks.
________________________________
13th September 2023
Country
Road Motorcycles Tested!
Its proved an interesting year so far and my hunt for the ideal 2024
lightweight motorcycle for the rough country B roads of the Lothians and Borders
of Scotland, goes on! I have road tested and reviewed a few motorcycles, the
KTM 390
Adventure the
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and the
Honda CB500X.
The next bike on my list is the
Triumph 400X Scrambler, which the other day I
sat on at
Edinburgh Triumph. The bike was on preview and
it is very impressive. The Triumph is expected to be
released for test rides in January 2024.
I was very impressed with the Honda although the dash screen left a lot to be
desired. Update on Dash Screen:
In my review, I have included a video on how to raise the brightness and
visibility of the screen. I have completed a short review on the
Honda CB500X Adventure Motorcycle.
William
Joseph Dunlop OBE(25 February 1952 – 2 July
2000) was a Northern Irish motorcyclist from Ballymoney, County Antrim, who was
noted for his performances at the Isle of Man TT. In 2015, he was voted Northern
Ireland's greatest-ever sports star.
Dunlop secured a record 26 victories at the Isle of Man TT, including three
hat-tricks, and 24 wins at the Ulster Grand Prix. He was awarded the MBE in 1986
for his contributions to the sport and the OBE in 1996 for his humanitarian work
in Romanian orphanages.
Joey Dunlop died on 2 July 2000 in
Estonia, while leading a 125cc race (he had already won the 750cc and 600cc
events) on the Pirita-Kose-Kloostrimetsa
Circuit.
He appeared to lose control of his bike in the wet conditions and died instantly
on impact with trees. As a mark of respect, the Estonian government's official
website was replaced with a tribute to Dunlop within hours of his death.
Northern Ireland television carried live coverage of his funeral. Fifty thousand
mourners, including bikers from all parts of Britain and Ireland and people from
all backgrounds in Northern Ireland, attended the funeral procession to
Garryduff Presbyterian
church and
his burial in the adjoining graveyard.
After his death, the Joey Dunlop Foundation was established to provide
accommodation for disabled visitors to the Isle of Man. Dunlop's legacy includes
the Joey Dunlop Cup, awarded to the most successful rider at the annual TT
races, and several memorials and statues in his honour. Dunlop's career was
documented in several films.
________________________________
27th
July 2023
BSA!
The Birmingham
Small Arms Company Limited (BSA), was a major British industrial combine, a
group of businesses manufacturing military and sporting firearms; bicycles;
motorcycles; cars; buses and bodies; steel; iron castings; hand, power,
and machine tools; coal cleaning and handling plants; sintered metals; and hard
chrome process. Motor bicycles
were added to bicycle products in 1910.
The BSA 3½ hp was exhibited at the 1910
Olympia Show, London for the 1911 season. The entire BSA production sold out in
1911, 1912 and 1913. In November 1919
BSA launched their first 50 degree v-twin, Model E, 770cc side valve (6–7hp)
motorcycle for the 1920 season. The machine had interchangeable valves, total
loss oil system with mechanical pump and an emergency hand one. Retail price was
£130. Other features were Amal carburettor, chain drive, choice of magneto or
Magdyno, 7-plate clutch, 3 speed gear box with kickstarter and new type of
cantilever fork. As the result of increased post war demand the Small
Heath, Birmingham factory was turned over entirely to motorcycle production.
BSA Company Limited is a motorcycle manufacturer which
purchased rights to the BSA name from Birmingham Small Arms Company's
successor, Dennis Poore's Manganese Bronze Holdings, upon the liquidation
of Norton Villiers Triumph in 1978. In October 2016, India's Mahindra
Group purchased BSA for £3.4 million in an effort to reintroduce motorcycles
bearing the famous BSA name. Today BSA motorcycles are back with the introduction of
the new BSA Goldstar as shown below –
________________________________
24th July 2023
In Old Age - The Direct
Access Scheme!
You are never too old to take up riding a motorcycle. In 2014, at 65 years of age, I
required something to provide that sense of danger that I was missing from my
earlier life. I sat the CBT at
Saltire Motorcycles in Edinburgh and
purchased a second-hand 125cc motorbike from them. I then undertook lessons with
Saltire through the Direct Access Scheme, studied using mock theory exam
questions/answers on DVDs and sat the Government Theory Test on a computer. I
then sat my test - all within 4 months. I traded back in the 125cc at Saltire
and rode a brand new Suzuki GSX-1250FA 'Bandit' out of the Saltire Motorcycle
showroom.
A favourite video of old guys on motorbikes -
________________________________
24th July 2023
Hydrogen Combustion
Engines are the Future!
The future of vehicles is not electric it is hydrogen gas powered combustion
engines. Either the conversion of existing petrol/diesel combustion engines or
newly manufactured ones. Seems impossible, well JCB have already invented and
manufactured a hydrogen gas powered combustion engine.
The correct way to produce hydrogen gas is to upscale the electrolysis process
that is often demonstrated in a school classroom. The mining
group ArcelorMittal will set up a pilot electrolysis plant and a hydrogen
filling station at its Eisenhutternstadt site in Germany.
Checkout my research on
Hydrogen - Perpetual Energy and
Electric Vehicles.
Also a neat video on
electric vehicles -
________________________________
23rd July 2023
Airbags & Airbag Jackets!
I regularly check on the development of airbag technology. At present I have
three motorcycle jackets, a couple of Rev'it textiles (short and long) and a
Rev'it leather. I don't like the idea of an airbag that fits over my jacket and
unfortunately none of my jackets have enough expansion space to fit an
Alpinestars Tech Air 5 Airbag underneath.
Of course, you can purchase Alpinestars airbag jackets with built in airbags.
Every airbag which is worn underneath a jacket or is supplied as part of a
jacket seems to have some extra costs in relation to the ongoing maintenance
and/or the rent or purchase of a electronic module. I have been researching the
RST range of airbag jackets which are listed in the
RST Airbag Section of their website and the
RST Pro Series Paragon 6 seems substantial.
Of course, the hidden cost is the
Inmotion Electronic Pack which has to be
purchased separately or alternatively, there is a yearly or monthly rental
subscription charge.
I suspect that the airbag manufacturers have these extra costs in place to
ensure the efficacy of their products. You cannot put a price on motorcycle
safety but it is a pity that I have already splashed out a considerable amount
of money on motorcycle jackets.
Backpacks - I have not witnessed any airbag reviewer address the use of a
backpack worn on top of an airbag jacket. I guess you could wear one but it
would have to be fitted slack on your back to ensure enough room for airbag
expansion in the even of a spill.
________________________________
23rd July 2023
Model Motorcycles!
Collecting model motorcycles is a great hobby. There are
a few good websites that offer a varied collection of model motorcycles for the
avid collector.
Situated in a nice glass display cabinet, 'ready made' die cast model motorcycles are very
collectable. There are all sorts of models, those going back in time and many up
to date but usually a couple of years behind the present motorbikes. Of course
there are those large scale 1:4 die cast models which you can build like the
expensive one in the video below from
Pocher which I think is on a limited run
but can still be found on American sites like
Scale Auto Worksand European sites
Autograph Webshop and
arsTECHNICA -
________________________________
23rd July 2023
A Retro Kawasaki?
I love my sports motorbikes but a retro could be the 3rd motorbike in
my garage. The Missenden Flyer, in his video below, makes a great case for the
Kawasaki
Z900 RS SE Motorcycle and I agree with his
analysis of the bike but I want something much lighter in weight.
A nice video from the Missenden Flyer on the Kawasaki Z900 RS SE -
________________________________
14th July 2023
Second Hand Motorcycles!
I often spend time browsing the second hand motorcycles in the
Motorcycle News (MCN) and
Autotrader bike guides. There are some
fantastic bargains to be had and I am often sorely tempted. However, the minimum
specification has to include a bike with ABS brakes.
These days, virtually ever motor vehicle has ABS brakes
with incredible stopping power on dry and wet roads. When you are on your
motorcycle, travelling on a dual carriageway at
speed in the outside lane,
especially on wet roads and you leave a safe, sizeable gap from a vehicle in front,
then as sure as night follows day, somebody will nip into the gap from the
nearside lane at a slower speed, causing you to brake very heavily to avoid a
collision. I reckon on today's fast roads with heavy traffic, ABS brakes on a
second hand motorcycle are an absolute must.
There are some great bargains to be had like this one on MCN -
________________________________
14th July 2023
Freddie Frith!
Frederick (Freddie) Lee Frith (30 May 1909 – 24 May
1988 Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England) was
a British Grand Prix motorcycle road racing world champion. A former stonemason and
later a motor cycle retailer in Grimsby,he was a stylish rider and five times winner of the Isle
of Man TT. Frith was one of the few to win TT races before and after the Second
World War. He won the 1935 Junior Manx Grand Prix and then joined the Norton team for the 1936
TT Races. It was a winning combination as he claimed the Junior TT and finished
second in the Senior TT as well as winning the 350cc European Championship.
In 1937 he went one better in the Senior and took a brilliant win and setting
the first 90 mph plus lap of the Snaefell Mountain Course. After
finishing third in the 1939 Senior, he missed the 1947 TT due to a practice
spill on a 500cc Moto Guzzi. Turning to Velocettes in 1948 he won the Junior
Race, repeating this success a year later. Freddie was the first ever 350cc
World Champion in 1949, winning all five events of the inaugural campaign, using
a single-overhead-camshaft engine in the Ulster race.
Frith,
alongside other riders from BSA, Ariel and Matchless works teams, served in the
army during World War 2 at the Infantry Driving Maintenance School stationed
at Keswick, where officers and NCOs learned how to ride cross-country. Sgt.
Freddie Frith taught teams of four on Norton 500s over Skiddaw in all weathers.
A special treat on the last day was reserved for roadwork, following Frith's
track-style fast cornering.
Freddie passed away on the 24th May 1988 at the age of 79 years in
Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England.
________________________________
11th July 2023
The Indian Scout Motorcycle!
I test rode the
Indian Scout back in 2015 and thoroughly
enjoyed it; although I managed to spin its bum around on the wet cobbles of the
High Street in Edinburgh - thanks to the buses dropping oil whilst sitting at
the traffic lights.
It has phenomenal torque without any traction control, so care has to be taken
when moving away from rest on wet roads. I would have purchased one in a
heartbeat if it had not been for the seating position which did not agree with
my lower back. The
History of Indian Motorcycles is well worth
a read.
Saltire Motorcycles in Edinburgh, Scotland
is an official Indian Dealership.
A nice video on the Indian Scout -
________________________________
8th July 2023
BMW M1000R Roadster Motorcycle
The
BMW M1000R roadster is probably the one
motorbike that would cause me to trade in my 2018 Triumph Speed Triple RS. In
basic form the M1000R costs £19,480.00 which is not reasonable money for a
motorcycle because there are lots of bikes out there costing a lot less and yet
on the road provide just as much fun.
I can afford the BMW M1000R but its just 'bike lust' and I will get over it. The
quick solution for getting over it is to jump on my
Triumph Speed Triple RS and
hit the country roads.
Lamb Chop Rides the BMW M1000R -
________________________________
5th July 2023
Yamaha NIKEN GT (2023) for a 90
Year Old!
The
Yamaha NIKEN GT motorcycle three wheeler is
an interesting machine. I was down in Yorkshire the other month at a barbeque
and met up with a 90 year old fella who had purchased and still owned the
previous NIKEN model. He had been a biker for most of his life, riding various
motorbikes but in old age, he figured that a three wheeler was the ideal
solution to maintain his freedom on the road rather than getting a car.
Its not cheap at £16,210 but it offers a hell of a lot for the money. I don't
think I am ready to trade in my motorbikes just yet but there may come a time
(if I am lucky) whereby I will follow the same route in older age and purchase a
Yamaha NIKEN GT. Of course, if you are young and stepping up to a larger 900cc
motorbike, the NIKEN might just be worth a test ride.
A neat video from Bennetts Bike Social on the NIKEN GT -
________________________________
4th July 2023
Royal Enfield Scram 411 Scrambler!
From the video reviews, the
Royal Enfield Scram 411 leans more towards
an urban biker lifestyle and yet appears ideal for country road trips and
capable of some light green lane excursions.
There are some neat
accessories and an in-depth video from
English Biker Dan -
________________________________
4th July 2023
Geoff Duke!
Geoffrey Ernest DukeOBE (29 March 1923 – 1 May 2015), born in St. Helens, Lancashire,
was a British multiple motorcycle Grand Prix Road racing world champion. He
raced several brands of motorcycle: Norton, Gilera, BMW, NSU and Benelli. After
retirement from competition, he was a businessman based in the Isle of Man.
After reaching the status of Team Sergeant in the Royal Signals Motorcycle
Display Team, The White Helmets, Geoff was a prominent figure in racing in the
1950s, winning six world championships and six Isle of Man TT races. First
entering the Isle of Man Manx Grand Prix in 1948, he retired after four laps of
the Junior race. He came to prominence after the 1949 events, finishing second
in the Junior race, after remounting due to a spill, and winning the Senior race
with a record lap and race-average speeds. He also won the 1949 Senior Clubmans
TT. He signed to the Norton works team for the 1950 TT, finishing second in
the Junior TT and breaking both lap and race records in the Senior TT. He
briefly dabbled in Formula One, entering the 1961 German Grand Prix in a
private Cooper-Climax. Although forced to withdraw from that event as his car
was not yet ready, he did race in the non-championship Kanonloppet at Karlskoga two
weeks later. In 1963, he formed a racing team – Scuderia Duke, with riders Derek
Minter and John Hartle – to race the 1957 Gileras against Mike Hailwood riding
the MV Agusta. During 1964, Geoff was appointed Competition Manager for Royal
Enfield motorcycles, helping to develop their new GP250 clubman's-category
volume-production road racer.
He was the most famous rider to adopt one-piece leathers - he had enlisted his
local tailor, Frank Barker, to make the first of his now famous one-piece race
suits. Geoff had previously used a one-piece lining under his two-piece leather
racing suit, to facilitate easy movement, for which he received "ribald remarks
from my team-mates!" He was named Sportsman of the Year in 1951, and was awarded
the RAC Segrave Trophy. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British
Empire (OBE) in the 1953 New Year Honours "for services to British Motor-Cycle
racing."
After retiring from racing, Geoff became a businessman, initially in the motor
trade and later in shipping services to the Isle of Man. He died, aged 92, at
his home on the Isle of Man on 1 May 2015 after being ill for some time. His
funeral cortege assembled at TT Grandstand, Glencrutchery Road, Douglas, Isle of
Man on 10 May, prior to a last lap of the Snaefell Mountain Course, followed by
a private family funeral service.
________________________________
11th June 2023
Valentino Rossi - A
Hard Act to Follow!
Valentino Rossi is a hard act to follow and selecting a suitable replacement to
support in MotoGP
has proven difficult. There are a number of young Italian riders who have
trained with his VR46 Riders Academy - Franco Morbidelli, Luca Marini,
Andrea Migno, Nicolò Bulega, Romano Fenati, Marco Bezzecchi and Francesco 'Pecco' Bagnaia.
Luca Marina and
Marco Bezzecchiare
currently with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team
but I am drawn more to
Francesco 'Pecco' Bagnaia (image below) who
is 26 years of age and after training with Rossi's VR46 Riders Academy, races
for the Ducati Lenovo Team.
Click on Pecco's image to read his biography -
________________________________
8th June 2023
Beryl Swain - TT Racer!
The 2023 TT is in full swing with Dunlop and Hickman battling it out for the top spots. However, women are
also in the mix and all thanks to Beryl Swain who led the way, back in 1962.
Beryl Swain (22 January 1936 – 15 May 2007) was a female road racer from the
London area. In 1962, she was
noted for being the first woman to compete in a TT race for solo motorcycles on
the Isle of Man TT course, a rare occurrence to this day on one of the world's
most famous races held on closed public roads. This 1962 upset led the
male-dominated world of motorcycle racing to revoke her international licence
via the introduction of a minimum weight limit which she could not meet, due to
the perception of the sport being too dangerous for women. The resulting ban
on female entrants persisted until Hilary Musson competed in 1978.
Beryl
finished 22nd on a 50cc race-prepared Itom after two laps of the Mountain
circuit in the 1962 Race. Her average speed was 48.3mph after her bike lost top
gear on the second lap. After her racing career was cut short, Beryl, who was
previously an office worker, embarked on a retail management career with grocery
supermarkets around the London area. She retired to Woodford Essex and later Epping, becoming secretary to WI local branches of the Women's
Institute and
helping organise meals on wheels for the elderly. Laterly she suffered from Alzheimer's
disease and died on May 15, 2007, aged 71.
If you are in the market for a lighter naked sports motorbike which weighs in at
188Kg wet, and is loaded with rider aid tech, then the Street RS fit the bill.
Unfortunately the Moto 2 variant of this motorcycle is now as rare as hen's
teeth.
________________________________
8th June 2023
John Surtees!
John
Norman Surtees, CBE (11 February 1934 – 10 March 2017) was a British Grand
Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver. On his way to become a
seven-time Grand Prix motorcycle World Champion, he won his first title in 1956,
and followed with three consecutive doubles between 1958 and 1960, winning six
World Championships in both the 500 and 350cc classes. Surtees then made the
move to the pinnacle of Motorsport, the Formula 1 World Championship, and in
1964 made motor racing history by becoming the F1 World Champion. To this day
Surtees remains the only person to have won World Championships on both two and
four wheels. He founded the Surtees Racing Organisation team that competed as a
constructor in Formula One, Formula 2 and Formula 5000 from 1970 to 1978. He was
also the ambassador of the Racing Steps Foundation.
Surtees was the son of a south-London motorcycle dealer. His father Jack Surtees
was an accomplished grasstrack competitor and in 1948 was the South Eastern
Centre Sidecar Champion. He had his first professional outing, which they won,
in the sidecar of his father's Vincent at the age of 14. However, when race
officials discovered Surtees's age, they were disqualified. He entered his first
race at 15 in a grasstrack competition. In 1950, at the age of 16, he went to
work for the Vincent factory as an apprentice. He first gained prominence in
1951 when he gave Norton star Geoff Duke a strong challenge in an ACU race at
the Thruxton Circuit. In 1955, Norton race chief Joe Craig gave Surtees his
first factory sponsored ride aboard the Nortons. He finished the year by beating
reigning world champion Duke at Silverstone and then at Brands Hatch. However,
with Norton in financial trouble and uncertain about their racing plans, Surtees
accepted an offer to race for the MV Agusta factory racing team, where he soon
earned the nickname figlio del vento (son of the wind).
In 1960, at the age of 26, Surtees switched from motorcycles to cars full-time,
making his Formula 1 debut racing in the 1960 BRDC International Trophy Silverstone Team
Lotus. He made an immediate
impact with a second-place finish in only his second Formula One World
Championship race, at the 1960
British Grand Prix, and a pole position at his third, the 1960 Portuguese Grand
Prix. In 1996,
Surtees was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. The FIM
honoured him as a Grand Prix "Legend" in 2003. Already a Member of the Order of
the British Empire (MBE), he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the
British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours and a Commander of the Order
of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to
motorsport. In 2013 he was awarded the 2012 Segrave Trophy in recognition of
multiple world championships, and being the only person to win world titles on 2
and 4 wheels.
Surtees died of respiratory failure on 10 March 2017 at St George's Hospital in
London, at the age of 83. He was buried, next to his son Henry, at St. Peter and
St. Paul's Church in Lingfield, Surrey.
________________________________
8th June 2023
The Honda CBR650R Sports
Motorcycle!
Today, I sat my rear on the
Honda CBR650R
Sports Motorcycle (in a showroom) and was pleasantly surprised by the
seating position, mainly due to the bars being slightly raised. There are
rumours that this bike is due to be discontinued even although it remains very
popular.
It is a pity that it weighs in at 208Kg (wet) which makes it one of the heaviest
600cc motorbikes out there and lags behind the other brands for tech. It is
possible that in 2024, Honda will refresh the CBR650R rather than shelve it -
perhaps they might even bring it out as a lighter twin rather than with the
current
liquid cooled 4-stroke inline
engine.
Considering that the ZX-6R features a 636cc liquid cooled 4-stroke inline four
engine delivering 124PS at 13,000 rpm and 69 N.m of torque at 10,800 rpm, it is
reasonably lightweight at 198Kg (wet). It is equipped with Kawasaki KIBS
traction control, ABS powerful brakes, TFT Screen, and is supplied with an
up/down quick shifter.
________________________________
5th June 2023
Barry Sheene!
Barry Steven Frank SheeneMBE (11
September 1950 – 10 March 2003) was a British professional motorcycle racer. He
competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing and was a two-time world champion,
winning consecutive 500cc titles in 1976 and 1977. Sheene began
competitive motorcycle racing in 1968, winning his first races at Brands
Hatch riding father Frank's 125cc and 250cc Bultacos. He improved to second
behind Chas Mortimer in 1969 in the 125cc class on the Bultaco. By 1970, Sheene
had become the British 125cc champion at age 20, riding a former Suzuki factory
racing team motorcycle that he purchased for £2,000.
In the 1976
season,
he won five 500cc Grands
Prix,
bringing him the World
Championship. He
took the Championship again in the 1977
season with
six victories. Sheene's 1977 title remained
as Britain's last solo motorcycle world championship until Danny Kent in 2015 in
the Moto3 category. Finding fame and wealth through racing, Sheene had houses
in Putney, in south-west London, and in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, and in 1977 he
purchased a 700-year-old manor house in Charlwood, Surrey once owned by the
actress Gladys Cooper. He was contracted by Faberge to promote
their Brut aftershave lotion.
In 1975 while on crutches, Sheene met
fashion-model-turned-glamour-model Stephanie McLean, who was Penthouse Pet of
the Month for April 1970 and Pet of the Year in 1971, while they were working
together on a photoshoot for Chrysler. She left her first husband for Sheene and
after she had divorced, the couple married in 1984, having a son and a daughter.
Sheene enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, socialising with friends such as James Hunt, Ringo Starr and George
Harrison, drinking and smoking heavily. He even had a hole drilled through the
chin-bar on his full-face helmet allowing him to smoke right up to the start of
a race.
After a racing career stretching from 1968 to 1984, he retired from competition
and relocated to Australia, working as a motorsport commentator and property
developer. In July 2002, at the age of 51, Sheene was diagnosed with cancer of
the oesophagus and stomach. Refusing conventional treatments involving
chemotherapy, Sheene instead opted for a holistic approach involving a strict
diet devised by Austrian healer Rudolf Breuss, intended to starve the cancer of
nourishment. He died at a hospital on Queensland's Gold Coast in
2003, aged 52, having suffered from the condition for eight months.Sheene and his wife Stephanie
had two children, Sidonie and Freddie.
________________________________
5th June 2023
The Aprilia RS660 Sports
Motorcycle!
The other day, I watched the Isle of Man TT Supersport race which was an
absolute blast. Those 600cc motorbikes are performance tweaked but it got me
thinking - what would be an ideal stock 600cc sports bike for the road?
Every second day, I hone in on a new motorcycle that takes my fancy and the
Aprilia RS660 certainly ticks the boxes. As
much as I like the idea of a lightweight 'classic' retro motorcycle, a
lightweight sports bike is also appealing.
The RS660 is not cheap at £10,300 but it offers a lot for the money.
It is very lightweight at 183Kg (wet) with a 660cc parallel twin engine, full
multi-map cornering electronic traction control aids, brilliant Brembo brakes,
and is supplied with an up/down quick shifter. According to the video reviews,
it offers awesome handling.
________________________________
4th June 2023
Mike the Bike!
Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood (April 1940 – 23 March 1981) was an English professional motorcycle
racer and racing driver. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest racers of all time. He
competed in the Grand Prix motorcycle world championships from 1958 to 1967 and in Formula One between 1963 and 1974. Hailwood was known as ‘Mike the Bike’ because of his natural
riding ability on motorcycles with a range of engine capacities.
A nine-time world champion, Hailwood won 76 Grand Prix races during his motorcycle
racing career, including 14 Isle of Man TT victories and four consecutive 500cc
world championships. After his motorcycle racing career concluded, he went on to
compete in Formula One and other classes of car racing, becoming one of the few
men to compete at Grand Prix level in both motorcycle and car racing. He
returned to motorcycle racing at the age of 38, taking victory at the 1978 Isle
of Man TT.
During his car racing career, Hailwood raced in Formula One and World Sports
Cars, but never achieved the same level of success that he had found on
motorcycles. He participated in 50 Formula One Grands Prix, starting with an
early phase between 1963 and 1965, debuting in the British Grand Prix on 20 July
1963, achieving two podium finishes and scoring a total of 29 championship
points. He
was in contention for a victory at his first Formula One race in six years,
the 1971 Italian Grand Prix. The first five finishers were covered by only 0.61
seconds, and Hailwood was fourth, 0.18s behind the winner Peter Gethin. He
won the 1972 Formula Two European title and earned a podium finish at the 1969
24 Hours of Le Mans. Hailwood ran three full seasons in the European
Shellsport F5000 series 1969-71 and was 2nd in the 1972 Tasman F5000 series in
which he drove a 5000 engined F1 chassis.
Following his retirement from motor sport, in late 1979 Hailwood established a
Honda-based retail motorcycle dealership in Birmingham named 'Hailwood and
Gould' in partnership with former motorcycle racer Rodney Gould.
On
Saturday 21 March 1981, Hailwood set off in his Rover SD1 with his children
Michelle and David to collect some fish and chips. As they returned along the
A435 Alcester Road through Portway, Warwickshire, near their home in Tanworth-in-Arden, a lorry made an illegal turn through the
barriers onto the central reservation, and their car collided with it. Michelle,
aged nine, was killed instantly. Mike and David were taken to hospital, where
Mike died two days later from severe internal injuries. He
was 40 years old. David survived with minor injuries. The lorry driver was fined
£100.
________________________________
1st June 2023
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650!
Whether you are young and just starting out riding motorcycles or an old guy
like me, hankering back to British 'classic' motorcycles of the the 1960s, the Royal
Enfield Interceptor certainly ticks most boxes. Perhaps the only downside is the
wet weight at 217Kg - I tend to keep my motorbikes, so (later) when I enter my
80s, 217Kg just might prove a bit on the heavy side to move around in the
garage.
It is certainly on my 2024 bike 'wish list' although a 650cc motorbike which has
less weight might be more advantageous. There are plenty of second-hand bikes
available on
Autotrader and
MCN.
Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930 – November 7,
1980)was an American
actor. His antihero persona, emphasised during the height of the counterculture
of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw for his films of the 1960s and
1970s. He was nicknamed the "King of Cool" and used the alias Harvey Mushman in
motor races.
McQueen received an Academy Award nomination for his role in The Sand
Pebbles 1966). His other popular films include The Cincinnati
Kid (1965), Nevada Smith (1966), The Thomas Crown
Affair (1968), Bullitt (1968), The Getaway (1972), and Papillon (1973). In
addition, he starred in the all-star ensemble films The Magnificent
Seven (1960), The Great Escape (1963), and The Towering Inferno (1974). In 1974,
McQueen became the highest-paid movie star in the world, although he did not act
in film for another four years. He was combative with directors and producers,
but his popularity placed him in high demand and enabled him to command the
largest salaries.
McQueen
was an avid motorcycle and race car enthusiast. When he had the opportunity to
drive in a movie, he performed many of his own stunts, including some of the car
chases in Bullitt and
the motorcycle chase in The Great Escape. Although the jump over the fence
in The Great Escape was done by Bud
Ekins for
insurance purposes, McQueen did have considerable screen time riding his 650 Triumph
TR6 Trophy motorcycle.
It was difficult to find riders as skilled as McQueen. At
one point, using editing, McQueen is seen in a German uniform chasing himself on
another bike.
McQueen developed a persistent cough in 1978. He gave up cigarettes and
underwent antibiotic treatments without improvement. His shortness of breath
grew more pronounced, and on December 22, 1979, after filming a biopsy revealed pleural mesothelioma cancer associated with asbestos exposure
for which there is no known cure. On November 7, 1980, McQueen died
of a heart attack at 3:45 a.m. at a Juárez hospital, 12 hours after surgery to
remove or reduce numerous metastatic tumors in his neck and abdomen. He was 50
years old. According to the El Paso Times, McQueen died in his sleep. Leonard
DeWitt of the Ventura Missionary Church presided over McQueen's memorial
service. McQueen was cremated, and his ashes were spread in the Pacific Ocean.
For
most folks a
Ferrari is out if the question but a Kawasaki ZX-10R
Performance is a terrific alternative. Today, it can be purchased with £1,000 or
more off the £18,499 list price.
Now, as most Ferrari owners are aware, it is not for everyday use. You clean it,
polish it, and admire it whilst sitting in your man cave. Often, you just sit with a
beer and enjoy its beauty. Its a bit like looking at your beautiful girlfriend, and
the adrenalin boost, well that's the thrill of riding it. You take it out on a dry, sunny
Sunday and enjoy a country road blast to meet up with your pals for a nice
lunch. Its all about the handling and the sheer enjoyment, even when
you stick to the speed limit and enjoy carving up those corners.
Norton Atelier opens in London and is breaking new ground for motorcycle retail. Based at the Bike Shed in Old Street, London, the Atelier is Norton’s first move
outside the walls of its HQ in Solihull. Not only is it home to examples of the
current model range, including a Commando
961 SP and
a V4SV,
the Atelier also holds the first items from Norton’s new off-bike collection,
created by Savile Row tailor, Nick Tentis.
Yesterday was a grand day out - the winter covers came off my motorbikes, and I hit the country roads of the
Scottish Borders on my Triumph Speed Triple RS - awesome.
The Icing on the Cake: MotoGP, the TT on the Isle of Man, the Northwest
200, World Superbikes, British Superbikes and The Motorbike Show are
back on ITV4 and Quest!
Some of my favourite links and a terrific video of a battle on the track
between Rossi and Lorenzo -
The
Honda Forza 350 Scooter could be the ideal
transport for urban travel and a scoot into the city for breakfast, lunch and a
walkabout. Perhaps a scoot with the girlfriend on the back for an evening meal
and then to a late night cinema.
Of course, you don't want to be wearing heavy biker protected clothing, so a
visit online to
Knox is worth a look as they offer biker
protected casual lightweight clothing for walking around the city. You also
don't want to get caught in the rain travelling home so a visit online to
Bikestop can get you an overall rain suit
for wearing over your Knox clothing.
The Forza 350 kerb weight is 184Kg and has all the power required for urban travel and topping off at
around 85 miles per hour, it should be safe enough at 75 miles per hour to stay
with the traffic on the dual carriageway or even for a short trip on the
motorway. Lane splitting should not prove a problem and if the gap is too tight,
the mirrors easily fold in whilst travelling.
Coming in at £5,799 it offers a great deal of space for carrying your gear and
when parked up, you can switch your bag and
Oxford Security Chain (under the
seat) for two full face helmets and your biking gloves
UPDATE: I had this great idea of
getting a lightweight scooter in my old age and today, I took the Honda Forza 350 out for a test ride. The scooter was a hoot to ride and had
plenty of power. It was too easy to pop it up to 50 mph and strangely enough it did not feel like I was doing 50 mph. On
the dual carriageway, 70 mph came up quick enough with more power on
tap. Of course, it was not anywhere as fast as my sports bikes but fast
enough for me not to be disappointed. If I had any criticism, it
was that the saddle was fairly broad and when standing at the traffic
lights on both feet, I felt a slight discomfort in my spread thighs.
Unfortunately, I had to pass on the idea of a scooter as the upright
seating position played havoc with my lower back vertebrae which prefers
a more leaning forward position.
________________________________
11th January 2023
The Best Retro Motorcycles for
2023!
The new Norton Commando is certainly a
dream motorbike -
The
Royal Enfield Classic 500 (Bullet) is no longer manufactured for the UK but it is
available second-hand at reasonable mileages and prices.
Videos of the
motorcycle -
________________________________
27th November
2022
T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of
Arabia)
Thomas Edward
Lawrence CB DSO (16 August 1888 – 19 May 1935) was a British archaeologist, army
officer, diplomat, and writer, who became renowned for his role in the Arab
Revolt (1916–1918) and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915–1918) against the
Ottoman Empire during the First World War. The breadth and variety of his
activities and associations, and his ability to describe them vividly in
writing, earned him international fame as Lawrence of Arabia, a title used for
the 1962 film based on his wartime activities.
Lawrence was a keen motorcyclist and owned eight Brough Superior motorcycles at
different times. His last SS100 (Registration GW 2275) is privately owned but
has been on loan to the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu and the Imperial War
Museum in London. He was also an avid reader of Thomas Malory's Le Morte
d'Arthur and carried a copy on his campaigns. He read an account of Eugene
Vinaver's discovery of the Winchester Manuscript of the Morte in The Times in
1934, and he motorcycled from Manchester to Winchester to meet Vinaver.
On 13 May 1935, Lawrence was fatally injured in an accident on his Brough
Superior SS100 motorcycle in Dorset close to his cottage Clouds Hill, near
Wareham, just two months after leaving military service. A dip in the road
obstructed his view of two boys on their bicycles; he swerved to avoid them,
lost control, and was thrown over the handlebars. He died six days later on 19
May 1935, aged 46.
Lawrence's book, the 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' is the autobiographical account
of the experiences of British Army Colonel T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of
Arabia"), of serving as a military advisor to Bedouin forces during the Arab
Revolt against the Ottoman Empire of 1916 to 1918. It was completed in February
1922, but first published in December 1926.
Videos of the Janus Halcyon 450 Motorcycle and the
Janus Website -
________________________________
28th November
2022
The Wardill Story
The video below covers the origins and current development of
Wardhill Motorcycles -
________________________________
25th November 2021
The Royal Enfield Classic 350
The new
Royal Enfield Classic 350 was recently
announced and I must admit it looks the business. They have kept the 'classic'
retro style and added some modern technology. Surely the ideal motorbike for an
easy ride down country lanes and to stop for lunch or even better, a picnic
where you can sit and admire the view - the Classic 350 as well.
The bike is a steal at around £4K in the UK. It would make a great all rounder
for those starting out on motorbikes and for those who love country blasts on
their sports bikes, a nice 2nd bike to take it easy on any Sunday -
________________________________
11th October 2021
Yamaha R7 Motorcycle
Yamaha have launched the
Yamaha R7 Supersport Motorcycle which is
devoid of rider aids, other than ABS, and judging by the following video, a
blast to ride and a lot of fun -
The anniversary edition is beautiful -
________________________________
26th September 2021
Royal Enfield Continental GT
I am liking the feedback from the
Royal Enfield Continental GT
reviews. It appears to be tremendous value for the money and comes across as a
terrific modern version of a 'Classic' 1960s motorcycle.
especially
when riding a motorbike. My Honda NX500 adventure motorcycle has proved to
be an excellent choice and thanks to the weather I have been able to fully
develop new clothing for this year's late Autumn and Winter periods. 
freezing.
Worse still, after a few miles on the dual carriageway, the areas under my arms
were also freezing. My new
I purchased an
