Eunos Chump

I had to put a new front tyre on the VFR today, after I lost the front end going around a bend recently. That's the first time it's happened (excluding that trip into the scenery on my 125), but didn't result in a spill. Replacement is another Pilot Road 3, mileage is now 48,800ish - let's see how long it lasts.  Old one barely lasted longer than the rear, but then that did manage at least 10K. Pilot Road 4 has been announced , not available until next year though.  In the meantime, have another pic of the new VFR800:

I started playing this last weekend, when the dreadful weather prevented me doing anything else. It's a space MMORPG and it's a quite a bit like that golden oldie  Elite , except it's massively complex. In fact it's almost overwhelming at first and I would have given up within a couple of days, but for the weather and the fact it's free for the 1st month. I'm still not sure if I like it, but I'm compelled to keep going.

Went to see Gravity in 3D - was absolutely blown away.  It's just incredible.

It's long overdue, but finally Honda are producing a new version of the VFR800.  Looks really good, unlike the hideous VFR1200.  Will it be sensibly priced though? Traction control, more midrange torque and 10KG less weight, apparently.

Put a new battery on the VFR this weekend (it was getting a bit weak), which I bought from my local dealer as it was only a couple of quid more than buying it online.  I think that's the first time I've bought anything there, after 3 years of browsing. They had a new Yamaha XV950 outside, really didn't like it.  This is the bike lashed-up to cash in on the cafe-racer scene, but I can't see there being much of a market for it in the UK.  It takes some commitment to get a full license here, probably more than most scene-moron posers could muster.  And then there's the lack of authenticity - you don't build a cafe racer by ticking boxes on an order form.  Verdict: rubbish. Reminder to self: serviced Berlingo (oil/air filter), now at 92K.

Cracking weather for the last one of the year; theme was Italian stuff.  It was a sea of red Ferraris, but they don't really push my buttons these days.  Fiat Dino, do like. Really coming around to these, they look better in the metal than photos.  Would be costly to run though, and there's loads of expensive bodywork for me to smash...

One of my garages in GTA V features a tatty roadster and a beaten-up sportsbike; I just need a caravan out front to complete the set.

I've recently installed a chain oiler on the VFR, seeing as it clocks up so many miles.  I've fitted a PDOiler , which is electronic and fully automatic.  You fill it with oil, and at a set interval the pump shunts down some oil to the wick.  The wick is stranded, so it acts like a brush when the chain comes into contact with it. Finding a spot for the pump was a bit awkward - I didn't want to put it under the seat as that would make it awkward to refill.  I settled for this spot, where it remains clear of the swing-arm. The wick position is a compromise too, ideally it should be further forward from the sprocket.  The shape of the single-sided swing arm is the cause. Controller is velcro'd under the seat, with the power feed tapped off the heated-grips relay.  I've set it to 9, which is the fastest - it fires every 90 seconds or so. Initially I had the green supply pipe running behind the swing-arm, but after a few hundred miles it got loo...

Say hello... Wave goodbye... I didn't record the exact mileage covered, but it's certainly in the region of 10-12,000 miles.  I love these tyres, absolutely rock solid, and until they bring out a Pilot Road 4 I'll keep buying them.

...in Los Santos: It's just staggeringly good, and amazing that this was squeezed from piss-poor console hardware. So much time have I spent on it, I briefly forgot which side of the road to drive on last weekend, and hear police sirens even when I'm in bed.

Breakfast at Sammy Miller's museum in the New Forest this morning (and free entry thanks to BMCT membership).  It's a lovely place, I'd like to live there. Of course I would block the entrance, brick up the doors and windows and generally behave as if a zombie apocalypse is about to kick off, but then I'm not good at sharing toys.

Watched Rush today, very impressed.  It does take some liberties with the story (and some of them are pretty big), but regardless it's a great film and certainly up there with Grand Prix and Le Mans . Lots of interesting behind-the-scenes photos here .

I've built myself a new PC - AMD CPU (of course), solid-state drive... and Windows 7 x64.  It now boots in 16 seconds flat, but then it did take 2 days to build, thanks to Microsoft ensuring the installation process is just as buggy and awkward as every other OS they've ever released. I'm using all this computational firepower to play OpenTTD , which is essentially the deeply addictive management sim Transport Tycoon , first released in 1995:

Serviced the VFR today, must remember next one is at 52,200.  Decided to bite the bullet and replace the brake fluid; the bike's linked ABS system is very involved to bleed if you need to replace any of the components, but I changed the fluid by simply pumping the old stuff out of each bleed nipple (there are 5, and the rear caliper needs to come off).  Cleaned out all the calipers (loads of life left in the pads), and repainted the corroded front forks.

Here today, my tomorrow Where you lead I will follow all that kissing No passion missing Come live with me And you too, whatever you are

I've recently joined the BMCT .  It was originally founded to build the National Motorcycle Museum , but is now a charity promoting heritage British motorbike engineering.  As a member, you get free access to 11 transport museums (including Beaulieu and Sammy Miller's in the New Forest), all for £20 a year.  Most of these museums make good destinations for ride-outs, and have decent cafes attached, so it's win-win!

1957 2013

I've got nowhere to put it, but I'm sorely tempted...

Despite what Rotten Tomatoes says, Airport 1975 is a classic film!  It starred a young Erik Estrada (Ponch from CHiPs) as the doomed flight engineer, so there's your tenuous link to motorbikes too. Not sure what Erik is talking about here... perhaps he's due a visit from Operation Yewtree?

8 months after I originally planned to go, I finally had my EPIC TRIP TO WALES this weekend.  Here's the VFR at Llyn Tegid as proof.  I used some of the Bike magazine recommended route , and once into the valleys there are some incredible roads; endless smooth bends, beautifully maintained tarmac, and very little traffic.  Sensible speed limits too, it makes southern England look positively third world in comparison. That was Saturday, the ride back on Sunday was awful .  It rained constantly from the moment I left the pub where I was staying, until I got over the bridge.  And it was cold, and windy, I could barely see for spray, and after about 3 hours it started to get past my waterproofs.  The only worse ride I can recall was getting caught in snow last winter. Despite this, it was still worth it because in the dry those roads are simply fantastic.  Care is needed; a 20mph bend can have no more warning than one you can take at 60, and there's ...

It's a big silver sea lion, I want it! Yesterday, Chris and I finally made it to Loomies for breakfast (the last attempt was extremely unsuccessful ). There were Harleys present and I was tempted again, I should be ashamed but I'm not.

Sound advice about the approaching storm here .

Spent yesterday doing the level 1 training at Silverstone with the California Superbike School . They offer 4 levels, and as each builds on the lessons of the previous, you must do them in order, regardless of how bloody great you think you are.  It's a long day (7am to 6pm), there's a lot to learn, but it's extremely rewarding and I strongly recommend it. Mirrors and speedo are taped up, to avoid distractions Level 1 is very good for noobs like myself who've never been on track. Although the focus is on track riding, much of what you learn is useful on the road.  The format is a classroom session which will concentrate on a specific objective, followed by 25 minutes of track, then a short break where you can top up with water, free bananas and crisps.  Finally, a school that encourages you to eat crisps!  They're not meant as a treat though, you need the salt as electrolyte, while the bananas are for potassium. Cornering is the sole objective of lev...

Putting together a jigsaw puzzle that's been disassembled at high speed, with no pictures to work from, is very tedious.  It's done though, and I've just been out for a spin.  The top fairing panel doesn't quite line up so it looks very much like a binned bike.  Some fittings are either lost or broken too.  I reckon an OEM panel will be required for a proper repair.  If it wasn't so bleeding hot I'd be out playing on it! I picked up my Alpinestars leather jacket today, it had been in for alteration by Nine Lives Leather as I've lost a couple of stone since buying it.  Now it's a snug fit and you'd never know 4" had been taken out of the waist, it's superb workmanship.

This was just super , especially filtering past miles of stationary traffic on the VFR.  I saw some celebs too - I squeezed past Max Chilton walking behind an F1 truck (you know, Max Chilton as in " taking the final spot on the grid in the Marussia is Max Chilton ").  I also walked past Dougie Lampkin, the motorbike bloke.  What else are you supposed to do?  1967 Ferrari F1 car.  You can't get this close to such cars anywhere else.  Brabham-Repco  2013 F1 cars - DRS detail below  Broken down Mercedes Broken down McLaren causes massive multi-million-pound traffic jam  Why aren't we driving cars like this yet?  This is a 1978 Lanci prototype, that's 35 years ago! Now for some bikes - my favourite first, the Honda NR McGuinness Fireblade  Britten V1000, here from New Zealand   Rows of historic BMWs, just imagine the damage a rabid CBR could cause here; it'd be like a ...