Today I have mostly...

.... been fulfilling youthful dreams.

I've HAGM on Champ's 750 Turbot and Dodger's CBX. Two bikes that I have
*always* wanted to ride.

The Turbot is lovely, a *proper* Kawasaki. The mid-range grunt when the
boost comes in as astonishing. Nearly as astonishing as the *complete*
absence of any engine braking at all. Fortunately the brakes work. The
temptation to stare constantly at the boost gauge probably passes after
a while.

The CBX is in amazingly good shape for its year, it feels really tight
to ride, no nasty rattles or clonks. That engine is an absolute jewel,
smooth as silk, and willing to rev. Probably all the way to the redline.
I expect... *coff*. And the noise it makes is wonderful. The brakes are
80's Honda, which is fine so long as you remember that.

I also had a shot on Bonners' 10R. **** me, what an animal[1]. The
engine is *gorgeous*, but the riding position is absolutely crippling
for someone my size and shape. I was getting a crick in my neck within a
few miles.

The bike that surprised me most, however, was dwb's V-Strom. It's
lovely! Nice grunty engine that whisked me up to 120 in surprisingly
short order, and the handling is *instantly* confidence inspiring. I can
see one of them in my future.

Thank you gents, one and all. I enjoyed that enormously.

It was nice to see a few having a go at the GTS too.

[1] The bike's a bit lively too...

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets
and Ducati Race Engineer.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Lucky you! I have been mostly in the office for 10 hours on top of 12
hours yesterday clearing a ludicrous backlog of work. It's amazing much
you can get done with no one else in the office, no E Mails and no phone
calls.

Thankfully I am now on 3 weeks holiday.

Something tells me he'll be pleased to know someone else likes his bike.

 

Wicked Uncle Nigel emerged from their own little world to say

and another one emerges from the closet....

 

Paul Corfield emerged from their own little world to say

Going anywhere nice?

 

Emerges? In Nigel's case I would have thought "waves flag even more
vigorously" is more appropriate.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, dwb

Ahem. I have no idea what either of you is alluding to. At all.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets
and Ducati Race Engineer.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Heh - Glad you enjoyed riding the Strom - after TOG had his little go he
reckoned it felt a bit strangled

 

I'l have one too when I get this job thingy sorted.

 

He has to say that - can't admit to liking something like the Strom.

What did he arrive on? the 53 feet special?

 

provided I can drag myself to Trailfinders I will probably pop off to
either Madrid or Rome in week 2 for a few days followed by Berlin for a
few days in week 3. I also fancy a few days in the Lakes - we shall see
how things pan out.

 

Paul Corfield emerged from their own little world to say

Well, I hope you have a nice time whether at home or travelling.

I'll have to check out this Trailfinders company. I may take the
opportunity of a bit of travel myself. It seems that nobody wants to give
me money for research so I'll have to wait for the next round of
opportunities i.e. starting Oct 2006.

I could get a job but I'm disinclined to do that as a) I'm a lazy bastard
and b) I've still got redundancy money in the bank

 

snip

Jealous.

First half of today I have mostly been staring out of the window and
reretting not going.

Having just woken up, I'm thankful I never attempted the 6 hour ride as
the tail end of last weeks flu and last nights bottle of red hit home
and I have been sleeping the sleep of the weak and exhausted.

Never mind at least I've got my mums 70th birthday party tomorrow to
look forward to.

Still jealous though.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Donald

Probably a good call. There's a definite nip in the air. I'm actually
*fucking* glad I'm not camping there tonight. Sleep is a great healer,
y'know.

Awww... She'll love you for it.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets
and Ducati Race Engineer.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Paul Corfield

Have a good one, Paul. Everyone needs a recharge from time to time.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets
and Ducati Race Engineer.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Kate was quite keen to go, me trashing Emily, the bike and myself has
stopped that. However, seeing as it's currently 4C outside I am glad I
am not camping tonight. Mine dew given the choice I'd rather be
freezing my nads off in a tent than the current situation IYSWIM.

 

I've always found them very good indeed. I've booked flights and hotels
with them for years and nothing has ever gone wrong and the deals are
always pretty decent.

Well that root cause I can understand.

While that one is a bonus.

 

I did like it - comfy, nice handling, but the engine is a bit flat. It
has plenty of torque low down, and is revvy, and just when you think
it's really going to start motoring, it doesn't, IYSWIM.

It needs either more torque low down to make up for the lack of top end,
or more top end, Or, in an ideal world, both.

No, the 30mpg[1] Trophy.

[1] Which is what it returned on a vigorous ride up there. Ouch.

 

The Older Gentleman scribbled:

If dan had been around Sunday I was going to put the TRE on his bike so
he could see what difference it made.

It basically does what you've just described - not bottom end, but top.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, frag

It's all subjective though.

I was, quite frankly, astonished to see 120 on the clock when I looked
down after giving it some teddy on my HAGM. In fact, my first clue that
I was going quite fast was when I shifted my leg position and my leg
wanted to go backwards in the slipstream...

The (aftermarket) screen is astonishingly effective. I wonder if that's
slightly deceived TOG regarding the power?

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets
and Ducati Race Engineer.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Actually, that's entirely possible. It was (as you say) incredibly
serene behind that windbreak.