Saul

My would be 'Stop fucking singing".

Nah I'll keep this one, I have a couple of others that could go back but my Kady is the good one

Had an Amazon delivery. Of course I didn’t order a delusional 17 year old who thinks she’s a cat but that is what I got.

Here you go Six

Na I didn't want to be there let alone take pics.

Fooking expensive morning, took the Mrs to the local Equine store as she had to have a new coat and boots. I had a bit of a head from yesterdays out out antics which didn't help. Anyway 300 quid lighter, and that was in the sale and a 'bargain actually' the Mrs tells me I was going to raise my blood sugar by going to the in store cafe. Only to be told that the breakfast menu is only served until 11:00 and the lunch menu starts serving at 12:00, given it was 11:19 I could only have coffee, so off I flounced elsewhere. I hate these bloody posh places I really don't fit in there. Now chilling watching rugby, on the bright side at least the Mrs is happy.

Well Odie is pretty joyful with his new Hare.

Well done Bob.

Working overnight all weekend, first shift last night. Not moaning my kids are big and I want the triple time. Boxing day will be my day down the pub singing carols.

Great ride report Bob.

I didn’t sit on it. To be honest I don’t think it would be for me. A very nice quality bike to look at but for me I am not a fan of it’s styling or size. Also if, and I have given it a lot of thought, I were to change my bike I would only be comfortable spending 5 or 6 thousand not 9. I don’t want to borrow any money and to spunk a big chunk of my savings on what is effectively a toy for me is not something I am going to do. It’s not fair to my family. I think I got sucked in by the last salesman I talked to about what I could do rather than think what I should do or even want to do. Sorry if that is a boring answer and perhaps I should keep my thought processes in my head rather than live them out on a forum. Just got excited about getting a new shiny rather than thinking first. If I have sent you to sleep with my naval gazing you can thank me when you wake.

I did notice

Going a bit stir crazy this morning as I still can’t walk far so decided another Bimble on the bike was on the cards. Wind and rain but that doesn’t really matter if you have good gear so I set off. Originally I was going to North Cornwall Motorcycles in Bude, but changed my mind on the way out of Bodmin as the link road to Camelford was closed so I headed for Wadebridge instead. Had a ride around Wadebridge but the town was packed, hardly surprising given the time of year, so I didn’t get off and headed south again to Newquay. Thinking on the way that Newquay would also be overrun I turned off at Indian Queens and headed to Dameralls Cafe for a cup of tea and a bacon roll. The cafe is always busy there, not because of bikers although that is there target audience but with builders and workers from the local industrial estate. Today there were also 4 armed police officers there as well. Doesn’t feel right seeing policemen wearing guns on their hip, alien to normal experience. Well as I was at Dameralls it would haven been daft not to go in and have a look at the bikes. The have a very healthy turnover of bikes there always several new and different bikes for sale. Interesting. Anyway in contrast to the Kawasaki centre the staff don’t grill you there, always say hello but leave you to your own devices unless you ask. I think I prefer that. They had a nice R1200RT which was a coincidence giving that Pedro mentioned one. It was nice and at 9k seemed reasonably priced. I did notice that they had sold a z900RS and I can see Pete’s point of view from certain angles it does look quite bulbous. they had some Harleys as always but they are a bit odd looking to me. I saw a lovely Triumph Speed Twin, very nice indeed. Also saw a Royal Enfield Hunter in the flesh for the first time. They also had a couple of very low mileage Interceptors for sale, one with 555 on the clock and one with 600 miles. I don’t understand why you would sell a bike after just doing 500 or 600 miles. Gonna spend the afternoon washing the Himalayan now the sun is out. It may me smile when I filled the bike on the way home as I worked out the mpg and was surprised to see 97. Obviously the last tankful covered the cold snap we have just had, mucho careful riding does benefit mpg.

I dunno at 17 she prolly doesn't have to worry about that just yet.

I like the single seat police version of the RT, seems a bit to much bike for most of what I do, I saw a real nice one for sale the other day inside my budget. Oil Heads are cool though but not sure I want a big shaftie again.

Totally agree with that, even the ones that are retro styled have fooking great rads and weird looking exhausts. I saw a Kawasaki yesterday, believe it was an H2, with stupid looking little winglets on it. FFS.

Gonna stay with one bike, I am not against a Strom, but in a total move away from what I was looking at before, I was having a serious look at a Honda NC750X or even a CB500X . Don't know yet, I am not going to do anything until the new year and I may even wait for the new Reg. I am sort of reconciling myself to the more modern plastic fantastic look as modern retro styled bikes just don't look right with radiators to me. Unless I go for a Royal Enfield twin which is still aircooled, not sure how happy I would be with it long term. But to flip flop yet again the Z650RS could be a contender although I am not sure I could live with the rad and weird looking exhaust. I do like a lot about the NC750X, looks like it would be very easy to live with but I am not sure I am ready to let go of the Himalayan yet. I have had a look at a Versys but I find it ugly, I also find the CF Moto 650 MT/GT interesting, a lot of bike for the money, but resale values don't seem to hold up to well. Also to consider is a used BMW F700/800GS or F. Plus I need to see how my short arse fits on any of them. Tis just a headfire, going to give it a while, I am under no pressure to do anything.

I sort of agree, but when you see the one side by side with the original, there was one next to a classic z1000 yesterday the difference is not massive. The one thing that sticks out like a real eyesore is the radiator, they just don't look right on a retro styled bike.

She was chuffed with it for sure. It was just nice to spend some time with her, such a good kid. The best behaved of my tribe for sure. I am normally dealing with the dramas of the other two and sometimes the good one is left to her own devices which is not fair. I always spoil her if I get the chance Happy with her Oss

Tis for an over thinker like me My Mrs knows, I was talking to her about it, her response was buy it, she knows which way the winds blows with me. We have been together 30 years.

I have a mate at work with a Strom and Tiger, you can guess I may have heard that already

Yep well observed, I had lost the urge and I thought I was done, funnily enough two wheels is addictive and I think I had forgotten or chose not to remember that in the daily grind. Trying to convince myself maybe. Currently the internal debate is whether I should be sensible and have one bike or go against what I believe about garage queens and have two

Yeah I don't really care if people like it or not, I do, but the point for me is that I think I would want something more powerful in the future. I want to start traveling a little and building up the distance in time and there is the seed to buy something more powerful eventually. To give the salesman I met today his due, he saw it I must be unintentionally giving off some sort of a I want a bigger bike vibe.

She was off to do horse stuff so that will be burnt off When we got in the cafe I told her to take her coat off, she said no because people wouldn't know she was a proper equestrian, suppose part of being 17 is giving a fuck what strangers in the cafe think

A break in the weather seemed like to good an opportunity to miss this morning so I decided to ride down to Lanner to have a look around Cornwall Kawasaki Center. It's a dealership I have never been to before and a decent 35 mile ride from my place. A joy to be out in the sunshine for a change, the road were relatively clear until I got to Truro which was gridlocked as is to often the case. I think specifically today was the last day of school for several schools and obviously the Christmas shopping factor. Once I was through that snarl up I headed down towards Falmouth, until I got to the Treluswell roundabout. As a side point I think they should change the name of Treluswell to what's that fucking smell because I don't know what it is and you can't miss it, stinking! At Treluswell you turn right and follow the road to Lanner which is the last bastion of civilisation before you hit the Zombie apocalypse that is Redruth. Go there on a Saturday night and you would understand. I have to say I was very impressed with the salesman at the Kawasaki center, he was very good at his job, after 10 mins or so of supposedly idle chat, he new I had no finance on my bike, where and who I bought it from, how much I paid and many other details about me before I even realised it. Don't mind but it struck me he was a very slick operator and very good at his job. Even after I finished looking around and went to leave he was keen for me to stay for a coffee. There were lots of nice bikes there, several I could have bought and been very happy with, even though I only went for a look and reason to have a ride. The hade a lovely old Z1000 but at £12K it was a tad spendy but I do recognise that is what they fetch nowadays. I was more surprised at the GT550, the despatch riders darling, for £3995, that strikes me as quite a lot for an old workhorse no matter how good. I can't see that it ever was a poster bike. They did have a Ducati Scrambler that took my eye, very nice looking bike. A very smart BMW1200GS. Respect to Pedro but that bike is just way to big for me, much as i like that sort of thing I could not imagine riding something that big daily. I had a long loving look at the new Z900RS, if I had the disposable cash and followed my heart I could see myself on one. Just the cut of my jib. Finally what would probably be the best upgrade for me was a traded in Versys 650, 6 months old with 3k on it and every extra. See how good matey was at his job I am even talking like I want to change and I genuinely don't. I know it's not popular here but I do like the soft friendly non intimidatory nature of my Himalayan. It has to frugal bimble factor which appeals. Its paid for and I can afford to run it, it is guaranteed for over 2 more years it would be daft to change. I blame Pedros brilliant Moroccan ride report for planting the seed of doubt that I need to do more long distance adventures. Now I am off to have a doze before work to night and think of anything but bikes.