Time for a new pair of tyres

My Tiger came fitted with a pair of Pirelli Scorpion Trail tyres from new. I have always been a fan of Pirelli / Metzeller tyres ( they are part of the same group of companies), and have used them on many of my previous motorcycles.

So, they'll be alright won't they? Er, no. They are pretty shocking if I'm being honest. And, I am not the only Tiger owner to think so. There is a wealth of internet forum threads debating just how bad the Scorpion Trail tyres are. I am of the opinion that they were part of the Triumph accounting department's cost cutting measures.

The Pirelli's did a job. They just didn't do it very well. Ever since I first got the bike, they have never been exactly confidence inspiring. This lack of confidence was even more evident if there was a hint of moisture in the air. Something of an issue what with living in the UK. My first trip on the Tiger in the rain, had me wondering if I had bought the wrong bike!

I experimented with different tyre pressures, but resigned to the fact that I would have to change them sooner rather than later. I looked at the various options and settled on either a pair of Conti Trail Attack 2's, or Michelin Anakee 3's. The Michelin's were on a special price promotion at the time. So, discounted Michelin Anakee 3's it is then.

I have had a pair of the Michelin's sat next to my workbench ready to fit for a few weeks. I was just having trouble finding the time to fit them. I also had a few long motorway trips to do. So, rather than square off my new tyres I decided to kill the Pirelli's instead.

I finally got round to fitting the Michelins this week. The Pirelli's were worn down to about 3mm, so still perfectly legal. But, the front was wearing unevenly and the rear was squared off.

 

Nasty worn Pirelli Scorpion Trail front tyre



Even worse badly squared off rear



Front: New Michelin Anakee 3 on the left and old Pirelli Scorpion Trail on the right.

Rear: Old Pirelli Scorpion Trail on the left and new Michelin Anakee 3 on the right.
 

The Michelins were a bit of a pain to fit. The bead area was difficult to seat, especially on the front. This meant using a little more pressure than I liked. But, the tyres eventually went on with a satisfying pop, and I was able to breath again!

The Michelins have a cool looking tread pattern that has little teeth within the main tread. Lets hope they "bite" into the road better than the Pirellis did!

I now need a chance to get out and ride so that I can see how they perform. There has been constant rain for the last few days, and lots of flooding and surface water. So, it may be a while before I can report my thoughts. Watch this space.
 

Weekend Away- First Mini Tour: Day 3

After a great nights sleep, I woke up just after six. It had not been as cold during the night as the previous few nights, and I had slept right through.
Unknowingly, I had forgotten to turn off the alarm on my phone. It had been going off since 05:45, which is when I had been getting up for work earlier in the week. I had not heard my alarm going off, but Rosie in the next tent had. She didn't go on about it much! I went for shower, to wake up properly, and to give Rosie a chance to calm down.
After walking back from the ablution block, a few other campers had begun to stir. Camp stoves were fired up, and the salivating aromas of sizzling bacon and fresh coffee filed the air. This was devoured with an ample helping of humorous banter, as we geared up for the days ride ahead.

The ride out in the Welsh countryside, on stunning roads is always a highlight of these weekends. There is something special about riding along with 30 or so other motorcycles. It's not about terrorising the locals. It's about enjoying the ride, the scenery, and the camaraderie.
The ride got off to a bang........literally! We all started to move off, when there was the sound of a bike crashing just to my right. Greg had put his bike into gear, stalled his bike and toppled over. Straight on to Simon's bike which was next to him. This had knocked Simon's bike over, with him and his daughter Cloe being thrown off it in all the commotion. Simon had just completed a major rebuild and repaint of his bike. This was it's first time out, so it was not the start he was after!
The bikes were quickly picked up, and the damage assessed. It turned out to be minimal scratches on both bikes, a slightly shocked Cloe, and a broken pillion foot peg on Simon's bike.
Quick as a flash Dean had his tool kit out and was swapping the foot pegs on Simon's and Greg's bikes, so both of them could carry on with the ride.
Finally, we all got going and headed over to Newtown. The A483 is just one of those roads that gets better each time you ride it. Half way to Newtown we realised that some of the group was missing. Sometime shortly after the car park incident with Greg, some of the riders near the back had somehow taken the wrong route. We would try and catch them up at some point later in the day.
After a leg stretch and coffee break we left Newtown on the A470 for Dolgellau, enjoying the stunning scenery even if the weather had turned a bit chilly.
The very twisty and challenging B4405, A493 along the coast, and the A487 came  and went with all of us eventually arriving in Aberystwyth for a late lunch stop. I was amazed at how the promenade had been rebuild following the devastating winter storms. It was like nothing had happened.

From Aberystwyth we took the A485, and A482 through Tregaron and Lampeter. This is another amazingly technical, twisting route. I have to admit to upping the pace a little, and putting my Tiger through it's paces. I was beginning to really love my new Tiger, although the front suspension was trying to tie itself in knots at times. This may have been due to the corner entry speeds I was attempting, as I successfully scampered away from the rampaging pack of Italian thoroughbreds giving chase.

We arrived back at camp, exchanging tales of Marquez style elbow down cornering, and tyres protesting at being asked to handle so much remapped power. None of which actually happened, but you now how blokes are!
This banter continued, and developed into local ale induced depravity, accompanied by some fine food at the local pub.
A great end to another memorable weekend. Some videos of the weekend can be seen on my YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/timcrasher

Weekend Away- First mini tour: Day 2

I don't know if it was because I am fast approaching 40, the crisp, cool Welsh mountain air, or a combination of the two. But, I awoke several times during the night in need of a pee. I don't remember consuming multiple litres of any kind of beverage before going to bed, so I was a bit puzzled as to why this happened.
Climbing out of a cosy sleeping bag, and exiting a tiny tent into the wilds of the Wales to water the bushes lost its appeal after the third, or it might of been the forth time!
The night sky was quite spectacular though. A clear night sky with no light pollution always makes me stop and stare. It truly is one of natures free gifts.
I was freezing my arse off at 2am, stood in a empty campsite looking at the night sky. I could feel all of the stress from my daily life drifting away never to return. Well, at least not until Wednesday when I returned to work!
I climbed back into my sleeping bag and dozed off only to be woken at around 5am by the locals. The sun was coming up, "so why wasn't I" seemed to be the theme. There was such a cacophony of noise coming from the local wildlife, it was like being in a David Attenborough documentary.
I knew it would be cold once I breached the confines of the down filled plushness of my sleeping bag, so I lay there a while. But, it was no good. My bladder alarm was going off, so I made a move to get up.
The three S's got me going, and I was ready for the day ahead. Because the rest of the guys and girls from the forum would not be arriving until at least after lunch, I had the morning to myself. And, I had a plan.
I wanted to try some filming up on the empty mountain roads nearby. So, after a nice bowl of porridge and some coffee I set off.
I headed for the top of the A4069. This is a great road ( one of the best in the UK), and has a stunning view across the valleys from the top. The road begins with a twisty run through the trees, alongside a rolling stream. But as you approach the foot of the mountain pass the scenery changes. In fact there is a cattle grid that marks the change. One side of the cattle grid is a typical country road. The other is much more barren, more mountainous.
I made my way up towards the top, avoiding the sheep feeding on the grass that grows right next to the road. Perhaps carbon-monoxide adds a little something to the fresh dew laden offerings. Heston Blumenthal will be trying it next!
Because it was still early, the top of the mountain was still shrouded in the low lying morning mist. When I got to the observation point at the top, visibility was less than 100mtrs. So, I rode back down the road to just below the cloud line, and stopped on a side road below the famous hairpin section.

I wanted to try capturing a time lapse video of my bike and the sun coming up, to use in one of my Vlogs. This seemed like a good spot, so I set up my camera and lined up the shot.

 Here you can see my Drift camera set up using an Ikea kitchen timer, a tripod to take the time lapse shots.
I set up the camera to take a shot every three seconds, finishing with a shot of my Tiger at the end. I used my top case as a secure base for the tripod, so I could frame the bike a little better.
I set the timer to thirty minutes, pressed go on the camera, then sat back and watched the sun come up.
I got my stove out and made myself a cup of coffee and enjoyed it with a piece of walnut cake I had with me. It helped to pass the time! I saw two cars go by in all the time I was up here. Bliss.

Once I had finished with the camera, I made my way over to another favourite road at the other end of the Black Mountains, the A4560 near Crickhowell.
I did some more filming here. One of the shots I wanted involved me setting up the camera on a rock for some drive-by clips. I set the camera rolling and rode back and forth a few times. As, I was returning to collect my camera, a large van pulled up right in front of it blocking the shot completely! I parked my bike and retrieved my camera, much to the bemusement of the van driver! I then had to explain what I was doing. He was very apologetic, and asked about my YouTube channel. I gave him one of my stickers with the link, so he could check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/user/timcrasher

With the filming done, I set off for Crickhowell for some fuel. I headed back towards the campsite as the others would soon be arriving, and I felt like a spot of lunch.
Just passed Brecon, I spotted a bike parked in a layby at the side of the road. It was Dave and Rosie, who were heading for the campsite. They ride a Tiger 955, and had stopped for smoke, and a leg stretch. I stopped to say hello, and Dave and Rosie told me they were just talking about how it would be funny if I came round the corner! Spooky!

They were heading to a biker café just past the campsite, and insisted I joined them for lunch. I'm glad I did. Monster burgers all round. And, the sun was blazing. It was like a summers day, not mid-April. After lunch we rode to the campsite, so they could set up their tent.
We were soon joined by the others, as they arrived from all parts of the country, as well as a few from Denmark and Norway. It truly was an international affair.
Once everyone had set up camp and said their hellos, we all retired to the local pub for some good food, good beer, and even better banter. The weekend is looking good!

Weekend away- First mini tour: Day 1

One of the reasons for buying my Tiger 800XC, was that it should be a good bike for touring trips. Nice comfortable riding position, decent tank range, and the ability to carry all my camping gear on an adventure, is what these bikes are all about.
Well recently, I was able to put my Tiger to the test during a weekend away in Wales. The weekend of 11-13/04/14 was one of the AF1 Aprilia Caponord forum UK meets. Although I no longer have my Caponord, I am still an active member of the forum. They are a great bunch of guys and girls, and the camping weekends held in Wales are a great event.
Due to work, I was able to have an extra day in Wales. The weather forecast looked good, so I assembled my vast mountain of camping equipment and attached it to the bike. I always end up taking too much stuff with me, but this year was going to be different. I had sorted through my stuff, and was only taking about a third of what I would normally. It was only a weekend after all!
With the bike loaded, I set off for the valleys of Wales just after rush hour. I had all day to get to the campsite in Llandovery, so I made most of the bright sunshine and the empty tarmac.
                                                                                        

I stopped after about an hour for a leg stretch and to check all my gear had not become loose. I also uploaded this  photo to let my work mates know I was having a great time riding in the sunshine.

As I neared Abergavenny, the sun disappeared behind the increasing cloud and it became a little bit chilly. I decided a spot of lunch at the bus station café would warm me up a bit. The bus station café is popular with bikers, as the roads all around are nice and twisty. Even though it was a Thursday lunchtime, there were about 10 bikes of all types parked up outside. You can expect over a hundred bikes on a sunny weekend day during the summer.

I ordered a cheese and tomato sandwich, a hot chocolate, and a chocolate covered flapjack that caught my eye. I took a seat and was soon after presented with the largest doorstop sandwich I had ever seen. The bread was from the local bakers, and was nice and soft with a great texture. It was awesome. Just the thing to set me up for the ride over to Llandovery on the A40.

 

Proper Man's Sandwich!

 

I left the bus station, and after a quick refuel ( for the bike this time) I set off west along the A40.

The A40, west from Abergavenny, is fast and flowing with great visibility. It becomes a bit of a racetrack at weekends. But, on a weekday afternoon it is very quiet.

It started off as a nice relaxing ride through the countryside. But, the section from Brecon to Llandovery is a particular favourite of mine. The relaxing ride became a little more spirited, and just past Sennybridge, I surprised a guy on a silver ZX12R with the pace of a fully laden Tiger 800XC!

I arrived at the campsite mid afternoon. http://www.erwlon.co.uk/. It is a great site with good facilities, and friendly staff. It has even won "Loo of the Year". I set up my tent, and had the top site all to myself.

Tent up and time for a brew

 











The others would be arriving the next day, so I had a relaxing evening chilling out with a book and some tunes on my phone. I went to the local supermarket for a few provisions. I put the stove on and cooked up a delicious mushroom risotto for dinner. This was washed down with a glass or two of wine, while I watched the Hawk jets from RAF Valley carrying out some low level training. A great end to a great day.

Tutoro Chain Oiler

As I am planning on using my Tiger for some touring trips, I thought I would install a chain oiler.
There are many different types of chain oiler on the market. Some rely on an electrical or vacuum connection to the motorcycle. But, some like the Tutoro use an independent method of operation.

I have fitted Tutoro chain oilers to a few of my previous bikes. I really like the simple design, with no complicated systems to go wrong.
The Tutoro uses an oil reservoir mounted to the motorcycle, with a delivery tube feeding the oil to the rear sprocket and chain. The simple action of a weighted plunger operated by the movement of the motorcycle operates the oil flow. A tapered screw allows for the oil flow rate to be adjusted.

I ordered my oiler kit, taking advantage of a discount promotion from the Tiger800.co.uk forum. I ordered the delux edition. The kit came the next day, and was very comprehensive.

.

 

The first task was finding a suitable location to mount the oil reservoir. I wanted somewhere that would require the minimal amount of modification, was east to get to for filling, but was nicely tucked out of the way of it getting knocked etc.

I settled on fixing the reservoir to the outside of the battery tray, just under the rider seat on the left hand side. The reservoir fits nicely in this area. It would also be easy to route the oil delivery tube from there. There is a small right angled flange on the outside of the battery tray. This would be an ideal place to fit the mounting bracket.

Here you can see how I mounted the reservoir

 

I drilled a 6mm hole in the flange, and used the angled pieces supplied in the kit to mount the reservoir. To stop any unnecessary vibration, which could increase the oil flow rate, I used a small piece of self adhesive closed cell foam to act of a damper between the reservoir and the plastic panel. You can just see it in the top of these four photos.

With the reservoir mounted, I set about mounting the delivery tube.

Rather than using the bendable tube with the external wire coil, as recommended, I thought I could make the installation slightly neater. I wanted the oil delivery tube to drip oil onto the rear sprocket at about the 7-8 o'clock position. This is where the rear sprocket "shark fin" is mounted. I thought if I could mount the oil delivery tube to the shark fin, it would be secure and unobtrusive.

I removed the shark fin and looked at how I could mount the oil delivery tube to it. The kit contains some self adhesive clips for the tubing. But, these would not fit to the curved surfaces of the shark fin.

So, after a cup of tea to think things over, I decided to mount the oil delivery tube through the shark fin instead of to it.

I marked where I wanted the tube to pass through the shark fin, and drilled two 5.5mm holes. This is a fraction smaller than the outside diameter of the tubing, so it would be gripped slightly. I then passed the tubing through the shark fin, and into position.

I then refitted the shark fin loosely to check the fit. As you can see, it is a very neat solution.
I then routed the oil delivery tube up to the reservoir. I ran the tubing up the inside of the swing arm, and held it in place with a small cable tie. This is the only additional securing point that is needed, as the tubing is held in position by other components for the remaining routing.

 

I then ran the tubing behind the middle chain guard mounting, and through the chain running block, just behind the front chain guard mounting. I had to trim a little chamfer on the outside bottom edge of the chain running block. This allowed for the tubing to run behind the middle chain guard mount, and be gripped slightly by the chain running block. I then cut the tube to length, and attached it to the reservoir.

 

After bleeding the system, and setting the oil feed rate, the job was complete.
Overall the Tutoro chain oiler system was easy to fit, and has been delivering a nice even coat of oil to the chain.
I have covered about 1,000 miles with the oiler fitted. After, some initial adjustments to the feed rate, I am very happy with the results. The chain has a slight sheen of oil, yet I am getting very minimal oil residue covering the rear components of my bike. But, this is easily removed during cleaning.
Check out  http://www.tutorochainoiler.com/ for more information on this great range of oilers.





Screen Modification

One of the things that I find annoying on the Tiger is the screen. The bike came with a Genuine accessory touring screen as part of the promotional package I got when I bought it.
I have tried adjusting the screen in various positions. But, no matter where I adjust it I am getting an excessive amount of wind buffeting. This makes riding the bike for any length of time uncomfortable, and tiring.
I suffered with wind buffeting on my Aprilia Caponord. It took lots of experimentation with various screens and additions to try and eliminate it. I don't want to have these issues with the Tiger too. I am planning on doing some long tours on the Tiger, so the screen needs to be looked at.
I wanted to keep the touring screen if possible, due to it's larger size. I have the standard screen to revert back to if necessary, so I have nothing to loose by modifying the touring screen.
I found a MRA screen from an old Honda Fireblade that I used to own. The screen was cracked, but the vario spoiler was fine. So, I removed the spoiler and tried it for size against the Tiger screen.

The mountings matched the curvature of the Tiger screen. So, I set about mounting the spoiler.
First I had to measure, mark, and drill the mounting holes for the spoiler.

 It was a bit nervous about drilling the screen. I started with a small drill bit, and increased the hole size one  drill bit at a time until they were 5.5mm. The holes needed to be drilled at a slight angle to suit the mounting studs on the spoiler. I trial fitted the spoiler at this stage.

The spoiler fitted really well. I removed the masking tape, and fitted the backing plates on the mounts to secure the spoiler to the screen.

I am really pleased how the job turned out. I have tried the spoiler in various positions, and there is a noticeable difference. The buffeting is reduced. But, the screen still flexes on its lower mountings. This leads to screen wobble at higher speeds. There is a replacement set of mounts available from Touratech for the BMW R1200GS which use a similar mount. I may see if these are a direct replacement.
But, for now I am happy with the results. If I can get the position of the spoiler to where it works well, I may cut a spoiler from a second hand stock screen that I have. This would match the lines at the top of the screen better.

Hugger and chain guard extension

Having fitted the rear mudguard extension, I thought I would complete the rear end protection by fitting a hugger.
I am not normally a fan of huggers. But, I am fed up of how dirty the Tiger gets. I also don't like the fibreglass and carbon huggers. They get stone chipped easily, and start to look a mess.
So, I looked at the R&G hugger. It is made of black ABS plastic, similar to the chain guard. This helps it to blend in and look like an original part.
Fitting was easy. All the mounting holes lined up, and the additional security of industrial Velcro makes it feel secure. There is also an optional plastic rivet to secure the chain guard to the hugger. This needs a 5.5mm hole to be drilled through the chain guard and hugger. This helps to keep the chain guard in position.
The plastic rivet supplied by R&G was a bit flimsy, so I replaced it with a stronger version from my spares supply.

Overall I am really happy with how it looks. I just hope it helps to keep things clean.

I also made and fitted, a small extension for the chain guard. The standard chain guard is about an inch too short. This means that chain oil can get flung off the chain and rear sprocket, decorating the rear of the bike in the process.
I took a piece of scrap ABS plastic and cut out an extension piece.

 I drilled a 5mm hole in the extension, and the chain guard. I then secured the extension to the chain guard with a stainless button head bolt, washer, and locknut.

 

This is just an experiment. But, I am confident that it will work. I may end up modifying the shape a little. I need to clock up a few miles to see how it performs.

Rear Mudguard Extension

I am getting really fed up of washing my new Tiger. I have never owned a bike that gets so dirty, so quickly.
As soon as I have cleaned it, a short ride later and it is dirtier than before I started! So, I decided to to something about it.
I already have a front mudguard extension and a Shock Sock fitted. I needed to do something about protecting my rear end a little better. I found out that Triumph makes a rear mudguard extension. This could be the solution.
I enquired about the rear extension at my dealer. I was told that it was no longer available. It was shown on the parts selector, but the part number was discontinued. Aaaahhhhhh!!
But, all was not lost. A quick internet search discovered that the part number had changed. This new number was still not recognised by the parts department at my dealer. Another internet search and success. Total Triumph in Taunton have loads of the new part in stock. So, I placed an order.
The extension arrived quickly. It looked just like the original part, but was wider and slightly longer.
In total it took less than 15 minutes to fit. You replace the original rear undershield part, with the new extension piece using the original fittings.
Overall, it was a great success. the extension is nicely intergrated, and seems to protect things well. I'll have to wait until I get caught in the rain for a true test of it's performance.

 Here you can see the extension fitted. It is the lower section. As you can see, it is a good bit bigger all round compared to the original part in the centre.

Leo Vince Slip-on Can

While the standard can on the Tiger sounds good, I thought that I would prefer something with more of a roar!

There are various slip-on cans on the market. And, a great deal of difference in their prices! I wanted something well made, good looking, good value, and with a deeper tone.

After doing some research, I chose a Leo Vince Stainless Slip-on. These cans get a lot of good feedback from owners that have fitted them. I purchased mine from Moto GB via their Ebay shop.

Having fitted Leo Vince cans to some of my previous bikes, I knew that the can would be an excellent fit. This one didn't disappoint. It took less than fifteen minutes to fit. There are some nice touches like the twin carbon fibre straps, and nicely turned spacers.

The can has a removable baffle, but I have left it in for the time being. The engine map will need to changed if I am to run the can with the baffle removed.

As it is, the can sounds great. It has a deeper sound compared to the standard can. And, at 4,000 rpm and above the sound gets better and better. The engine mapping seems to cope with running the can with the baffle in, with the seamless, smooth power unchanged. There is a little rumbling and popping on the overrun, but nothing I wasn't expecting. I will run it for a few hundred miles to evaluate things before making any mapping changes as necessary.

My current Bike

Following an accident where my beloved Aprilia ETV1000 Caponord was written off, I have recently purchased a new motorcycle.

I made a short list which included a few different styles and makes of bike. But, as the Adventure style of bike suits my needs better than most, that is where I concentrated my search. The Adventure models have exploded onto the market. All the major manufacturers have one in their range.  

I used to love my Caponord. It had a excellent mix of real world power, handling, and comfort. My broken, ageing body certainly approved of the latter. It was a typical  Italian mistress though, and required constant attention to keep her in tip top condition. There is a great following for these motorcycles. They are often overlooked, when compared to the overpriced, and in my opinion, inferior German competition. Check outhttp://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?15-ETV1000-CapoNord-(all-years)  for more information. This is a great forum for all things Caponord, with a great bunch of knowledgeable owners.

                                                        My Aprilia ETV1000 Caponord

What I needed was a motorcycle with the performance, handling, and comfort of the Caponord, but in a modern, lighter, fuel efficient package.

The bike I have bought is a Triumph Tiger 800XC. I have owned it for just over three weeks. And, so far it is everything I had hoped it would be.

                                                        My new Triumph Tiger 800XC

It may only be an 800, compared to the 1000cc engine Caponord, but the Tiger is considerably lighter. It feels much more nimble, and the three cylinder engine has ample performance. It also sounds amazing. The engine is super smooth, with a nice flat torque curve, which make the engine very flexible. You can rev it and have fun, or you can leave it in top gear and ride it like an automatic.

I have just finished running the engine in. During the running in period, I have been achieving around 65-70mpg. This has lowered slightly now I am riding it a little harder, but is still in the high 50's-low 60's. This is great news for future touring trips, as it means that I should achieve a decent tank range.

The handling is not quite as sure footed as the Caponord, due to it having a skinny 21" front wheel. It feels like the bike wants to run wide. But, it is only noticeable when riding in a more spirited fashion. Ninety five present of the time it handles really well.

The front suspension is not adjustable. I may have to look into different springs and damping if it becomes an issue. The rear suspension is adjustable for preload and combined damping adjustment. It feels firm as standard, but seems to cope well for my style of riding.

The Tiger came with a few extras as part of a promotion by Triumph. These were heated grips, adjustable touring screen, top case, and top case pillion back rest pad. The standard equipment is also very good. The rider seat is height adjustable ( I have it set in the tall position), and it also has span adjustable levers, and handguards.

The instruments are clear and provide all the information needed. It has displays for average and instantaneous fuel economy, twin trip meters, a gear indicator, and a fuel gauge.  

I have also added a tank protector, front mudguard extender, main stand, and headlamp protector as part of the deal.

After the bike was delivered, I added a set of Hepco and Becker Gobi panniers for when I go touring. I went for the black panniers. And so that the Triumph top case would blend in, I had the metal insert powder coated in satin black.

I also added some protection. I added a R&G shock sock to keep the rear suspension clean. The rear of the bike gets very dirty, very quickly, and this gives me peace of mind. I may have to consider fitting a hugger if this does not provide enough protection.

I have also fitted a sump guard, and engine bars from Adventure Spec. These are simply the best you can buy. They fit really well, and look amazing. I highly recommend them.

This is how the Tiger looks now.

Overall I am really pleased with the bike. But, I can feel the need for a few more accessories soon. It puts a smile on my face every time I ride it. Lets hope it takes me on some interesting adventures.

A Brief Introduction to my Blog

So what is my Blog about?

I have thought of documenting my motorcycle trips and adventures for a while. A story is not a story unless it has been told. Otherwise it is just some writing on a sheet of paper.

So, I thought I would start a blog to share my interests with others.

I have an unhealthy interest in mechanical objects and engineering. I have always had a fascination for how things work, and why they are designed the way they are. It started at an early age. But, I am becoming more inquisitive the older I get.

From a humble bicycle to the most powerful super car. If it looks good, goes well, and puts a tingle in my trouser region, then it gets my attention. But, my real passion is motorcycles.

My whole life revolves around motorcycles. They are my work, my hobby, and my greatest love. I ride everyday, and have done so since my late teens.

I have been lucky enough to own many different types and models of motorcycle over the years. From humble commuter machines to the latest sports bikes. From barely legal Supermoto's to wheelie monster super naked's. I love them all.

There is a motorcycle for everyone, and every type of riding. Whether you are riding to the shops, or crossing a continent, a motorcycle will turn your journey into an adventure.

These days my riding has gone from knee down tyre shredding antics, to more sedate touring and pleasure riding. If I can combine my motorcycling with a bit of camping, then that is even better.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog, as much as I enjoy writing it.