Local Art Group - Life Drawing
6 years ago
Monday, 10 February 2020
Thursday, 25 July 2019
Reflecting on my SOUTH AFRICA and NAMIBIA motorcycle adventures
2010 keeps returning to my memory. In February of that year I motorcycled 4,000 miles in South Africa. It was brilliant in all respects.
In September 2011 5 motomates accompanied me. We included Namibia. We plan to go again sometime soon. Click HERE for the start. At end of page just click on Newer Post. Thank you for taking an interest.
Wednesday, 30 January 2019
I Was Thinking of Buying a New Motorcycle!
At the moment I am off the road and therefore so is my motorcycle (on a SORN*).
On a Battery Charger plugged into the primary Aux Power Port.
I have spent much of the last 6 months adventure riding vicariously and also researching new motorcycles. www.rtw-adventures.com has been very helpful in both of the above. I have travelled with Pavel on his Yamaha 660Z Tenere all over the place - Ireland, Germany, Mongolia, Poland and many other countries.
In addition to the moto adventure rides there is a lot of very good information regarding motorcycle equipment, riding techniques, motorcycle gear and motorcycle reviews.
My trusty 2005 BMW R1150GS-ADV records 53,106 miles on the odometer. 314 miles since the previous fill up.
I have owned the motorcycle from new. It has been a brilliant machine. Mostly it has been used for touring - Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Isle of Man, Scotland and England. I have also toured South Africa and Namibia on rented motorcycles: A BMW R1200GS and a Yamaha 660Z Tenere. Click South Africa and South Africa and Namibia for those specific moto adventures. Watch this space for more.
During my 'off-road' recuperation I have been contemplating selling my BMW and buying a lighter, more up to date machine for when I get back on the road. BUT it appears that there is no light but big motorbike available. I am 6'2" and 100kgs (16st 220lbs). There are big bikes out there of course, but none of them are light. The light motorcycles are just too darn small. The big bikes like the Triumph Explorer, Yamaha Super Tenere, Suzuki V-Strom 1000 are all good motorbikes in their own way, but just about as heavy as my 1150 BMW GSA. The Ducati Multistrada Enduro 1200 is a beautiful motorcycle, but it is €20,000 and heavy. The Honda Africa Twin would be a contender, but, again, expensive.
Here are some pics of the motorcycles that I have considered:
A big factor for me is the switch gear. The 'old' BMW switch gear is so functional, intuitive, and safe.
The original turn indicator switches - thumb the left switch for left turn and thumb the right switch for right turn. Right thumb the cancel switch to cancel. Intuitive, easy, ergonomic and very robust. This is a reason that I would not consider a new BMW 1250 GSA with Mickey Mouse turn indicators and OTT riding modes.
So I have decided to keep my old BMW. The Touring panniers work well as does the soft luggage. The bike can carry a load of camping gear and after 13 years with this motorbike I have had a lot of experience with configuring the gear. Another factor is insurance premiums are relatively reasonable AND I don't even think about losing the motorcycle through theft when it is parked outside a hotel somewhere for the night. Click here maybe?
*Statutory Off-Road Notice (UK untaxed vehicle kept off public roads)
Motorcycle off the road in the garage
On a Battery Charger plugged into the primary Aux Power Port.
Aux Power Port
Auto Charger
In addition to the moto adventure rides there is a lot of very good information regarding motorcycle equipment, riding techniques, motorcycle gear and motorcycle reviews.
My trusty 2005 BMW R1150GS-ADV records 53,106 miles on the odometer. 314 miles since the previous fill up.
Odometer
During my 'off-road' recuperation I have been contemplating selling my BMW and buying a lighter, more up to date machine for when I get back on the road. BUT it appears that there is no light but big motorbike available. I am 6'2" and 100kgs (16st 220lbs). There are big bikes out there of course, but none of them are light. The light motorcycles are just too darn small. The big bikes like the Triumph Explorer, Yamaha Super Tenere, Suzuki V-Strom 1000 are all good motorbikes in their own way, but just about as heavy as my 1150 BMW GSA. The Ducati Multistrada Enduro 1200 is a beautiful motorcycle, but it is €20,000 and heavy. The Honda Africa Twin would be a contender, but, again, expensive.
Here are some pics of the motorcycles that I have considered:
Ducati Multistrada Enduro 1200 - BEAUTIFUL
KTM 1290 Super Adventure R - also beautiful
Honda Africa Twin 1000 - Excellent Moto
Triumph Explorer 1200 - Good Moto
Suzuki Vstrom 1000 - Excellent Value
SWM - Interesting Moto
MotGuzzi STELVIO 1200NTX - W.N.T.L?
A big factor for me is the switch gear. The 'old' BMW switch gear is so functional, intuitive, and safe.
Left Turn and Horn
Right Turn and Cancel Left or Right Turn
So I have decided to keep my old BMW. The Touring panniers work well as does the soft luggage. The bike can carry a load of camping gear and after 13 years with this motorbike I have had a lot of experience with configuring the gear. Another factor is insurance premiums are relatively reasonable AND I don't even think about losing the motorcycle through theft when it is parked outside a hotel somewhere for the night. Click here maybe?
Ibis Hotel Rotterdam
*Statutory Off-Road Notice (UK untaxed vehicle kept off public roads)
Saturday, 5 January 2019
Haven't Posted For A While
I have just been checking ClustrMaps and discovered that there is still a lot of interest in my motorcycle blog. My apologies, therefore, for not posting for a while but I am planning to do some interesting moto adventures in 2019 and will record them in the usual (hopefully humorous) way.
On the agenda is:
1. Ride east to Norfolk. Have a look at The Broads and then ride south through Suffolk and then Essex. I know very little about these counties and plan to correct that. The pics should be interesting.
2. A night ride around London starting at the Ace Cafe at around 10:00 pm. This will include Euston Road, St Pancras, Regents' Park, Thames Embankment, Elephant and Castle, Westminster.
3. A day ride to Greenwich Observatory and Greenwich Park plus Primrose Hill.
4. A ride up to Stranraer in Scotland, ferry to Larne in Northern Ireland and ride the west coast to Shannon.
My motorcycle is on a SORN* at the moment. In the UK this means *Statutory Off-Road Notice. My body is also on a SORN but that is being sorted by the wonderful NHS in this country. The motorbike is now 13 years old and has some 53,000 miles on the clock. Before getting it re-road taxed it will need an MOT but that should present no problem. I'll take the bike to my expert mechanic Walter at Jim Hill Motorcycles in early March.
So long for now. Jet.
Tuesday, 15 August 2017
Tuesday, 17 May 2016
Moto ADV: A Grand Day Out.
It was a sunny if cool spring day. The decision was made to RV in Yorkshire at Holmfirth (famous town where "Last of the Summer Wine" was filmed). Here is the 'flight' plan:
Insert 'flight' plan into sleeve window on jacket. Get bike out of garage and GO ........
Turn left onto B5023 towards Wirksworth. Ride past the Puss-in-Boots.
In this country we mostly navigate by pubs. This is a great pub.
Straight on at The Railway Inn.
Through the picturesque village of Idridgehay.
Idridgehay has a shop and a saddlery.......
....... and a farm opposite the shop.
Having exited Wirksworth I am now heading towards Middleton.
Springtime in England means Daffodils and Tulips. Mainly Daffodils.
The views from Middleton are very pretty.
Next on the 'Flight' plan is turn onto the A5012 towards Newhaven...
..... and head for the Holly Bush at Grange Mill.
Ride past the Holly Bush and the road takes you through Pikehall which is just after the turn off to Parwich.
We seem to be more or less on track!
Pikehall is really a farm and a few houses. But very charming.
It also has Daffodils!
Newhaven hoves into view......
At Newhaven there is a caravan & camping site, a garage and a T-junction!
This is the T-junction. Right turn on the A515 Ashbourne to Buxton road.
Ride past the Jug & Glass.
One of these days soon I am going to call in here for a pint of their best ale!
But for now I have to make the RV at 12:00 and all this stopping is not doing my average very much good.
Onward and northward to Buxton.
Buxton is a lovely Derbyshire spa town with a magnificent opera house.
Next village is Chapel-en-le-Frith. Nice name!
And then through Hayfield. This is just before the town.
Actually the road kind of by-passes Hayfield. Here is a farm right on the outskirts.
I can show you the sign post if you like!
Hayfield is the birthplace of Arthur Lowe of Dad's Army fame.
I think that I have a slight perversion! Washing on washing lines fascinates me.....
Finally made it into Holmfirth and the co-ordinates match the 'flight' plan - hooray!
We had a nice lunch and a pleasant chat in the sunshine. Thanks for the rendezvous Mike. It was grand day out. WNTL?
Insert 'flight' plan into sleeve window on jacket. Get bike out of garage and GO ........
Turn left onto B5023 towards Wirksworth. Ride past the Puss-in-Boots.
In this country we mostly navigate by pubs. This is a great pub.
Straight on at The Railway Inn.
Through the picturesque village of Idridgehay.
Idridgehay has a shop and a saddlery.......
Next turn will be in the market town of Wirksworth in the Derbyshire High Peak district. Left at The Lime Kiln.
Springtime in England means Daffodils and Tulips. Mainly Daffodils.
The views from Middleton are very pretty.
Next on the 'Flight' plan is turn onto the A5012 towards Newhaven...
..... and head for the Holly Bush at Grange Mill.
Ride past the Holly Bush and the road takes you through Pikehall which is just after the turn off to Parwich.
We seem to be more or less on track!
Pikehall is really a farm and a few houses. But very charming.
It also has Daffodils!
Newhaven hoves into view......
At Newhaven there is a caravan & camping site, a garage and a T-junction!
This is the T-junction. Right turn on the A515 Ashbourne to Buxton road.
Ride past the Jug & Glass.
One of these days soon I am going to call in here for a pint of their best ale!
But for now I have to make the RV at 12:00 and all this stopping is not doing my average very much good.
Onward and northward to Buxton.
Buxton is a lovely Derbyshire spa town with a magnificent opera house.
Next village is Chapel-en-le-Frith. Nice name!
And then through Hayfield. This is just before the town.
Actually the road kind of by-passes Hayfield. Here is a farm right on the outskirts.
I can show you the sign post if you like!
I think that I have a slight perversion! Washing on washing lines fascinates me.....
Finally made it into Holmfirth and the co-ordinates match the 'flight' plan - hooray!
N53 34 14.0 W001 47 10.0
And, yes, this is Holmfirth!
And here is Mike! Hey these RVs really work well!
Friday, 15 January 2016
Moto ADV: Planning Johannesburg, Botswana, Namibia Adventure!
Click here for a plan to ride from Johannesburg (Midrand) to Calvinia
OR Click here for Johannesburg to Calvinia via Kang.
Click here for Calvinia to Johannesburg via Kimberley, Bloemfontein and Henley-on-Klip.
Two week ride: Approximately 3,000 miles. 75 hours on the bike. 13 nights. 6 hours per day. 3 hours AM and 3 hours PM. Total Cost £2,500.
Fly to Johannesburg. Hire motorbikes from Centurion near Midrand and Pretoria. Route north and west via Botswana and Namibia to Windhoek. Then south to Calvinia. Then north and east to Centurion.
TBA.
OR Click here for Johannesburg to Calvinia via Kang.
Click here for Calvinia to Johannesburg via Kimberley, Bloemfontein and Henley-on-Klip.
Two week ride: Approximately 3,000 miles. 75 hours on the bike. 13 nights. 6 hours per day. 3 hours AM and 3 hours PM. Total Cost £2,500.
Fly to Johannesburg. Hire motorbikes from Centurion near Midrand and Pretoria. Route north and west via Botswana and Namibia to Windhoek. Then south to Calvinia. Then north and east to Centurion.
TBA.
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