Still looking ...

I'm still looking around for the perfect new machine, big scooter, adventure bike, tourer? Anyway in the mean time the GS500f is still doing good service, We are just about to clock 16000 miles.

I've got some time off work coming soon, so I will be booking a test ride on a Honda Silverwing, and paying a visit to my local BMW dealer, as I found that their prices weren't as bad as I had originally thought. Might even give Triumph a glance.

While my search for a new bike continues, I am occupying my spare time by warming up for the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists (IAM) test. I've done a couple of observed runs under the watchful eye of my allocated observer and I'm glad to say that what I learned 25 years ago (30 years for my car training) has stuck with me, and I just need some fine tuning to bring me back up to standard.

Dave, my mentor, has bought a bike mounted camera so that he can film the ride and play it back with his comments - video evidence, guilty as charged! I think it is a good teaching tool, as they say a picture paints a thousand words, and you can see exactly where it all goes wrong. He is experimenting with it to see how useful it is.

I don't suppose you want to see the video, do you ... ?

...

You do?

...

Are you sure?

...

OK then.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWnp4W9Blg8&feature=plcp

A Change is as good as ...

I've had the Suzuki GS500F for nearly two years, and covered loads of miles! Now the engine has loosened up she really flies. She still returns over 65 mpg, too. But is it time to think about trading her for something different, or should I keep her 'til she's knackered?

The other thing to consider is whether I should look for a motorcycle or scooter? The bike handles really well, but the Burgman I had before also handled well, only let down by the smaller diameter wheels. But the 'big scoots' have better weather protection and on-board storage. Whereas 'proper motorcycles' perform better. Bit of a quandary.

Honda Deauville

My thoughts so far ...
1 - I shall be commuting for the next few years, so if I splash out on a bike I will want it to be reliable, and not too expensive to run.
2 - I only commute. I don't ride for pleasure, although this may change later, but is not a big consideration now.
3 - I need at least 400cc - I have to travel on motorways a lot. I don't want to go bigger than about 650cc otherwise servicing costs become expensive.
4 - The GS500F has a sports fairing which offers minimal protection from the weather. The Burgman that I owned before, was better in inclement weather.
5 - The GS has no on-board storage, so I wear a rucksack. Big scoots have under-seat storage of varying sizes. I'm not fond of top-boxes as they have an adverse effect on handling.

Suzuki Burgman 400

What have I found ...
Motorcycle-wise, I like the Honda Deauville. The new model is 700cc, it has a good sized screen and has shaft drive. Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki have nothing comparable, BMW are too big, too expensive and Triumph have nothing that appeals. The next best thing would possibly be a Suzuki Vstrom, Kawasaki Versys, HondaTransalp  or Yamaha Tenere which are all 650cc, but a more 'adventure bike' stance.

Big scoots, well, Suzuki have Burgmans of 400cc and 650cc, Honda has the 600cc Silver Wing, Yamaha the 400cc Majesty and the 500cc TMax. Aprillia have their big 850cc, which although bigger, is cheaper than some others.

Yamaha TMax

There is also the Sym MaxSym. A 400cc scoot whose lines are similar to the small Burgman. Piaggio have the new X10 at 350cc. Pity they are not importing the X10, 500cc. Perhaps I should take a trip to Europe.

But there is no rush, any ideas or suggestions from you avid readers out there?

Spring in the air ... or is it?

After a few days of sunshine and dry roads, I got the feeling that spring had arrived.
The GS500F has been going well all winter. She was serviced at 11350 miles, 2000 miles ago, and has just gone in for her annual MOT test (for those outside the UK, this is a test of road-worthiness carried out by government certified inspectors). Other than a liberal covering of road grime and filth there is nothing wrong.
Being able to ride on dry roads is a real pleasure, excitement returns to the bends and the bike's full potential can be used.

The 500 cc air-cooled twin is still returning 65-70 mph (Imperial) depending on whether I do the slow, stop-start route to Gosport or Fareham, or the flowing motorway route to Winchester or Havant (or the occasional blast into the New Forest).

It must have been because I cleaned it, because the weather has recently taken a turn for the worse, lots of English rain. Next week I gotta go back to work after a week's holiday. Apart from having to do a full, five day stint, the first day is due to be a long trip to Frimley Park, in Surrey. Let's hope it's a dry day, otherwise, after 50 miles, I'll arrive pretty soggy. Then there will be the run home ...

 M3 between J4 and J4a - © Copyright Nigel Cox and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Six thousand miles, actually

Back in November I bought the Suzuki GS500F with 4000 miles on the clock. On Thursday we passed the 10,000 mile mark.

This momentous event happened on my way home from work. I'd left my office in Winchester at 5.00pm and headed out of the city along Bar End Road. I ducked under the busy M3 and joined the unclassified road that runs through Morestead and on to the B3035 at Corhampton.
From the A31 the road rises steeply and arrives at the top of the downs with a satisfying long left hander that opens to a short straight section. As the road starts to descend you need to ease back on the throttle and move tight to the left hand verge. Snick it down into fifth for the tight right and left bends that precede the drop down in to Morestead.
The 40mph limit keeps things steady through the cross roads and the tight left as you head back up on to the downs.

10000 miles here! Keep to the left ready for the right hander dropping down to Owslebury cross roads.

The road rises and there is a series of rights (here was the 10000 mark) before the drop down to the Owslebury crossroads. You need care here as the road is fast and straight but, like all crossroads, drivers can go in any direction without warning.
Straight through and up the other side of the dip where the road closes in and there is a slight left at the brow before you see the warning signs for a '30mph' left as you drop sharply into a very tight, '25mph' right. Back uphill into a wooded section where there are a series of bends, opening to a drop where there is a crossroads on a sweeping right hander. The road rises again into another wooded section and more bends that need to be read carefully. Watch out for debris. There may be washout from the side of the road, or branches, flints, gravel. Keep your speed down so that you can pick a safer line if necessary.

Awkward right turn round the bollard

As you clear the trees there is a cross roads were I leave the 'main' road and take the right turn towards Bishops Waltham. This road has a poor surface, drops from the junction then rises up between high hedgerows. The straight section ends in a shallow right followed by a tight left where there is usually more debris. There is a tight section running down, between houses and past the pub, to the B3035, just as it runs in to Bishops Waltham.

It's a nice run when the weather's good, but be careful when conditions are anything but perfect.