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

Not this time

Well folks, it was Shaun Varga who won the Twist n Go competition, not me. The current issue has his first article about the prize - the Yamaha T Max.

I'm vaguely disappointed. It's always a shame not to win, but I enjoyed the day out at Jack's Hill Cafe. But since then I've had a separate article published in the magazine, and I am preparing more for submission to T&G and its sister publication, Scootering.

Well done Shaun! I'm looking forward to the next installment - and remember - keep the shiny side up!

Ride out published

The report of the day out in Towcester is published in Twist & Go magazine - see my Scratchypen blog for more details.

Still no news of a winner, but watch this space, as soon as I know, you'll know.

The Devil Rides Out

OK, not the Devil. Two other winners of the first part of the Twist and Go prize rode out with me.
After a two hour, 110 mile ride with the temperature around freezing, I got to Jacks Hill Cafe (watch out for the 'Ton-up day' in July) on the A5 around 7.45 am, just enough time to thaw out, down a big mug of tea, and get ready for the assessment. 
We were under the watchful eyes of Mark and Graham from Rapid Training and spent nearly three hours riding around the Northamptonshire countryside. It was about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on! We took turns to lead the group on a varied selection of motorcycles; me on my GS500F, a 1982 BMW R80 and a Honda 300 scooter. The instructors were on a Honda 600 Hornet and Suzuki GSX-R 750. Just having the opportunity to follow those guys was an education; their observation on my abilities - even more of an education.
We were treated to lunch, or in my case the 'bigger' all day breakfast which was a damned good prize on its own, and then the long ride home.

As yet, we still don't know the result, but just getting to the assessment day was great - When the result is known, you will be (almost) the first to know... watch this space!