Saul

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 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.

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.

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.

The wind was gusting, think we have a yellow warning today. Himalayan was very stable though, I was being blown around but the bike was rock steady.

Crusty

Loving the six word action

After days of Ice and Gout it was a joy just to get out on two wheels again. Twas blowing a hooly and pissing down but that didn’t matter just had to get out there. First order of business was to de muff the bike, they work well but I just don’t like them. Not being precious I can pop them back on quickly enough if the temperature drops and needs must. Also I had a pair of boots with Gortex that I wanted to try. The are Gaerne brand, never heard of it but they were only £17 from EBay. Advertised as worn once and I would believe it they are spotless with no signs of wear at all. Anyway they passed a 25 mile test in the deluge so hopefully I have got a bargain. I was a bit concerned that the bikes battery would struggle in the cold but it fired the bike no issue at all. I popped down to Fowey town quay to get a picture next to the Rook with a Book. Then rode over to Caffa Mill to get a picture of the Bodinnick Car Ferry. I spent a few weeks working on that. Twas a lovely job but the boss was an unbearable two hat so it didn’t last. Nothing like a mini bimble to lift your mood, I am a happy bunny for the first time in days, well until the kids piss me off anyway

@Pedro for me too, I have loved his ride report.

Yeah I love his stuff, not sure I have racked up five years but have been watching for several years.

Fuck knows, going to seriously look at preventing it in future though, not at all fun. On meds from the Doc which is helping. Gout sounds like a joke thing, bloody debilitating. If I have to live on rabbit food for the rest of my life I will to rid myself of Gout.

Anybody watch this guy, I don't know why but I find his video compulsive viewing. He has made some interesting custom bikes over the years and brought loads of stuff back from the dead.

I watched that video and agree completely. I would like one.

Looks like a bleddy nice day there. I haven't ridden mine for the best part of 10 days and am really missing it. Obviously the weather was a factor but I couldn't have got on the thing anyway as the gout is back with avengence. I am going to ride it on Monday no matter how many layers I have to put on.

No mad keen on mince pies. Will eat them though. Weirdly we were given a food hamper this week with these inside. Quite nice but they were free which puts them in pole position for me

Beautiful

Took the Mrs Christmas shopping today, she called me a 'Fucking Twat!' before we even left

The R100RS without question. Angry ornery sort of beast. Loads of torque, I forget the number, and a joy to travel on for hours on end. Also I have never ridden behind a better fairing. Old school technology but beautifully made and 100 % trustworthy. Thirsty though and the brakes were not close to modern standards. Also a rather weak alternator and a gearbox that took skill to use without protest. None of it deal breaking but stuff to consider. The K100RS had 20 bhp more but was much more clinical. A good bike much better than the R100 on paper but you don’t ride on paper. The R100 has so much character and I instantly regretted selling it, the K100 left me a bit cold really. Put it this way the R had a name the K didn’t.

Depends which Aero, now a 9000 Aero had a lot of potential. Or a 93 Viggen both with the 2.3 Turbo motor. Mind you the Viggen would try and kill you quite regularly. I know a Scottish chap who had a much modified 9000 Aero running 600 BHP, munching gearboxes was his hobby. You genuinely meet the best people through the Saab community. I was a Mod on UKSaabs for years and still think of the owner of that site as a friend.