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.
I
receive no
remunerations from any third party mentioned herein. However if you have
enjoyed your visit - please consider donating (the minimum is
£2)
to the
Sick Kids Friends
Foundation
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.
________________________________
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.
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 -
________________________________
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 -
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
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
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.
________________________________
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.
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 -
________________________________
28th November
2022
The Janus Halcyon 450 Motorcycle
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.
