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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In the 1970s a working man
would put on his working clothes, and whether it was an office suit or rough
neck gear, he would then don lightweight weatherproof overalls, carry his
possessions, his lunch and even his working shoes in a backpack; pull on his Doc
Martin boots, fix his helmet and he was good to go. Of course if it was a dry
day, he would put the weatherproof
overalls in his
backpack. It was dangerous riding a motorbike, but then, like the bikers of
today, he had balls.
I hardly use my car these days, I put on my protective gear and head out in all
weathers. I love lane splitting on the dual carriageways and passing those folks
sitting in their cars as the slow moving traffic queue edges forward. Jumping
the queues in the city is a breeze, one minute you are 300 yards back and next,
you are up there near the front at the traffic lights.
So, if you like a bit of danger, enjoy the adrenalin rush, riding out in all
weathers, and you have enormous balls, get yourself a motorbike and wave at
those poor sods stuck in traffic queues as you pass them on your way to work or
heading out for a country road blast.
Sure, you might get
killed but that's what makes it exciting
-
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Finally - An Airbag
Solution!
For some
months, I have been hankering after an airbag system
and considered one that fitted over my jacket, one that fitted under my jacket
or purchasing a jacket with a built in airbag. I finally decided that an airbag
that could fit inside my jacket could prove to be the best solution. The other
week, I put on my winter gear which consisted of several layers of clothing,
topped with my Rev'it Gore-Tex touring jacket. Needless to state, that there was
not enough room inside for wearing an airbag, especially if it inflated during a
crash.
I always wear a backpack to carry my stuff, so during my research I was
pleasantly surprised to discover that Helite supply a backpack with an airbag
built into it. It proved to be the ideal solution and I can wear it with all my
jackets. The icing on the cake: it inflates to support your neck and helmet from
moving in any direction (a turtle neck inflation) in the event of being thrown
off the bike, especially during a highside.
BugMoto has produced an interesting video on riding a motorcycle in old age -
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Dog Tags &
Dedicated Knee Armour Protection!
Apparently motorcyclists are
30 times more likely to be involved in a road accident than car owners. When I
am out and about on one of my motorbikes I always
wear
set of dog tags around my neck from
Armydogtags.
I purchased
a
set 10 years ago as I figured that dog tags could prove ideal in the
case of an accident.
I went for the 'Special Forces' type which
are all
black including the chain and I have my name and address on one tag and my next of kin details with
phone numbers on the other.
Despite some recent videos from motorbike reviewers about their reasons for NOT
wearing armoured clothing, All my motorbike jackets and trousers have armour protection
pads slipped in. However, with regards to my trousers, I leave in any hip
protection armour but remove the knee armour. For a guaranteed fit over my knees
I use a pair of heavy duty Forcefield Grid Knee
Protectors which fit over each knee like a stocking with 2 sets of Velcro draw
in tags for each one. The Forcefield website seems to be under some sort of
construction at the moment but
Sportsbikeshop has different types on offer.
No matter how careful I ride, no matter if I stick to within the speed limits, I
have lost count of the times I have had to swerve to avoid an oncoming vehicle
on the wrong side of the road at a corner or someone coming out of a driveway
onto the main road. Shit happens, especially when riding on diesel oil spills
from trucks and buses at roundabouts, and especially when it is raining, and
very often luck has a lot to do with escaping injury, even death on UK roads.
Of course, there are no absolute guarantees of protection, especially during a
'high side' at speed which can throw you up and high into the air and tumble
when you hit the deck. In this video, the guy got off lightly as his speed was
not too excessive and the fall was not from a great height. One of these days, I must
invest in an airbag system and a matching jacket for use when I am riding my
sports bikes.
________________________________
Honda NX500 Motorcycle
- 1st Country Ramble!
After my Honda had received its 600 mile service, I decided to take it
out for a country ramble up in the hills of Duns and on some proper
off-road trails. The following video, finally made up my mind that at my
age, off-road riding was not for me. I was very fortunate that my tyres
were not damaged on those rocks and that I did not crash and damage my
new bike. In any case, having searched the internet for designated
off-road motorbike trails up in the hills of Duns in the Scottish
Borders of Scotland, I came up short. The last thing I want is to fall
foul of a farmer who resents me riding on his land.
However, riding the bike on those narrow 'single traffic' roads on the
hills, overlooking Duns and the Scottish Borders proved to be very
enjoyable. This was one of the reasons for
purchasing the Honda NX500 and it is working out very well.
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The Joy of Motorbiking!
Someone who likes to tour the UK or any other
country on his tourer will
enjoy the feeling of freedom, where his thoughts regarding the troubles of the
world and even his own life are far removed as he concentrates on his riding
down the highway and taking in the pleasant views. The guy on his adventure bike
on casual country road rambles and who enjoys off-road thrills has certainly put
everything else at the back of his mind. Then there is the guy on his
sports bike, carving up those twisty corners and he certainly has no other thoughts,
due to a massive adrenalin rush and his brain being fully occupied in keeping
his body alive. I guess Guy Martin
sums up motorbiking best, “the reason I do it, is because if you do it
wrong, it will kill you.
If you think it’s too dangerous then go home and cut your lawn and leave us to
it.” Of course, Guy was a TT racer but riding a motorbike on UK roads is
also dangerous. There are a myriad of
quotes to describe the joy of motorbiking and the one which best encapsulates the
above is “your bike is discovery; your bike
is freedom. It doesn’t matter where you are, when you’re on the saddle, you’re
taken away.”
I have one great
regret; I wish I had passed my motorbike test at 16 years old, back in the 1960s instead of
waiting until 2014. I must book bed and breakfast on the Isle of Man before I
get too old. The Isle of Man TT commences in May and I have a comfy seat in front of my television and some beer to watch the highlights. In the meantime, British Superbikes, World
Superbikes and MotoGP are back on the TV.
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Becoming a Biker!
If you are young or old, becoming a
biker is fairly easy and it is a gradual migration. At the very least, at 15
years and 9 months or over, you can apply for a provisional motorcycle licence
or
providing you have a car driving licence, you can then 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 £5,103.00 in
the UK.
