Christmas is here!

Well it is for me. I've eventually got home from work, and I don't have to go back until next year!

The Honda NC750X will get a bit of a rest. We've done nearly 6500 miles since March. Over the break we will be visiting the dealer (Crescent Motorcycles, Southampton) for an upgrade to the digital dash/readout. Issues have been reported that the trip meter resets itself under certain conditions. Not a big deal but, good to get sorted.

While she's there we'll have a new front tyre fitted. The original is just about on the limit, and as we still have plenty of winter to come, some decent grip at the front would be good. A Dunlop Sportmax RoadSmart II will match with the rear, which was replaced at only 450 miles due to a puncture.

Dunlop Sportmax RoadSmart II

Hopefully we'll make time for a rideout and a wash and brush-up, too.

Have a good Christmas, and keep it shiny side up!

A fine pair!

Back in February I announced that I had an IAM red badge - for gaining the Institute of Advanced Motorists certificate (for cars). Now, I am even more pleased to announce that I have passed the IAM's advanced motorcycle test and got a green badge ... to make a fine pair!

Who's a happy biker, then!

I've got a Red Badge

It's good when your training pays off ...

You can get one, too.

http://www.iam.org.uk

Home movies

Though I have recorded many hours of tarmac and traffic, none has been completely newsworthy. But I have found it interesting to review a few situations and learn from what I see.

I have tried editing with Serif Movie Plus, Apple iMovies and Windows Live Movie Maker. iMovies has the nicest transitions, and Serif a pretty good work space, but the best results overall seem to be with Windows.

There are three clips on YouTube, so far:

Winchester to Bishops Waltham 3Apr13 - highlights of a run home from Winchester across Morestead Down

NewForestShortcut 28Apr13 - On a run to Bovingdon Tank Museum we took a shortcut across the New Forest using the B3078

Rush hour traffic 2May13 - A short clip of rush hour traffic, and how not to filter

All these clips a from the Drift attached to the side of my crash helmet, in wide angle at 1080p and 30 fps

Let me know what you think ...

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