Safety first...

Everyone knows a woolly hat is part of PPE, surely?

Festive Greetings...

The difference a day makes

Sunday I spent most of the day tooling around lanes and tracks in a nice warm sun.

Monday saw my commute in a slightly different weather.

Hey ho.

Giving in..

Since I had the Speed Triple I've had a tin of Massey Ferguson Stoneleigh grey paint in the cupboard. The Trumpet was going to be painted in it, but I changed my mind and so the tin has stayed in the back of the cupboard since. It came out recently to paint my cider press frame, and has sat on the bench taunting me since.

It was no good, I wanted to see how it would look.

I decided to brush it on and then give it a bloody good cut and buff once the paint has cured.

Having used it before, I know it dries off darker, and I can't wait. The ideas have changed a little (again) for the bike, and post chrimble I shall be looking around for some more parts.

Things that go bang in the night

I took a chance on a bored sunday afternoon and started some ginger beer brewing to an old poacher's recipe. Things went quite well and I've been drinking the refreshing beverage after bottling it in old flip top Grolsch bottles. See, there is a use for Lager after all.

I had decided to use an old glass lemonade bottle as well, as it had larger capacity. Well the other night I heard a bang, but thought it was the cats playing up. In the morning I grab my helmet from the worktop and find the inside wet and whiffing of a familiar smell...

Oh dear.

Apparently the lemonade bottle couldn't stand the pressure of ginger beer...

More yoke

Got some time last night to do a quick test fit. Really I should have slotted some bars in there, but I haven't bought/made them yet and that gives away how undecided I am. Anyway the yoke fitted and it looked sekshual.

SB#3 yoke

Big thanks go out to my mate Al and his Dad for working with me and realising my top yoke dreams. Yes, YOKE, not yolk or triple clamp.

50mm step so I can run the FZR600 front end with no ground clearance worries. Sweet.

Oh and it looks stunning.

Dragon Rally 2009

As a bit of a leader to Dragon 2010 I suppose I should stick the little tale of this years Dragon Rally up.

Right, I shall start at the beginning. After I had such good fun last year, there was no way I was going to miss this year's Dragon. Alan had seen the photo's and heard the tales and was dead keen to join, we were also to be joined by Ben and Dan. Sadly Ben was firmly snowed in in Surrey, and Dan, coming from near Epping Forest, got as far as Reading on the Thursday night before carb icing put paid to his trip. You were missed guys.

Friday dawned with snow having fallen from about 11pm thursday night. Al and I contemplated the outdoor scene over bacon butties before we decided we should probably get going. This meant clearing the snow from the drive and from the shed so we could get the bikes out! Al bravely set to whilst I fannied around with the final packing.

Once underway, the worst part being getting out of New Inn especially as the melted snow on the road revealed a long pool of diesel, we made good progress with the roads being quite clear of people, after all who ventures out on a snowy friday for fun? A swift stop for a fried breakfast at the cafe at Cwmdu set us up and we pressed on. Not far from the cafe I spotted the mountains in my mirrors so pulled over for a photo opportunity.

and pretty much as Al was saying "it'd be lovely if the sky cleared", ahead of us it did.

Travelling along the A470 we didn't see much traffic, but the snow had stopped falling and we were just enjoying the views. Pausing at a set of roadworks I said to Al it'd be a good chance for a picture but there was nowhere to pull in. He promptly rode through the cones into the roadworks. Good plan! Tucked away in the bottom of the valley was a farmhouse, wonder if they had any sledges to make use of? Off again and the sky remained blue and the roads clear. As the valley opened out it seemed rude not to get a quick few snaps. Something continental about this one?

After heading into Aber and then finding it chocabloc with traffic we turned towards Machynlleth and pulled into the White Lion for a refreshing bevvy. We'd just missed the boys from the MZ club by 5 minutes, as we found out later.

Friday night was spent in a bunkhouse in Dolgellau, I have no pictures mainly because I was tipsy. Whoops.

So onto Saturday. We had met the MZ boys in the bunkhouse and they were all prepped and ready whilst I still minced about in my romper suit nursing a rough head and rougher bowels...

We set off a while after them and could see that there hadn't been much snow falling in the night. The Ten crept over the 1000 mile mark and a lay by turned up so we stopped for some more pics.

We'd decided to head over the Llanberis Pass through Snowdonia, but first we had to stop for another fried breakfast in Porthmadog. We'd caught up with the other boys and were starting to spot more bikes laden with camping kit. After finding the first cafe only did sausage baps we wandered on and found another that did a proper "full plate, sit down breakfast". Nyom.

Pressing on with our belly's full and warm we rode through Beddgelert and past the previous year's site. Time to brave the camera and get one with both of us in.

We were soon rising with the hills as the road threaded it's way towards the Pass and Snowdon. It was getting colder and icier too. Well in for a penny and all that. We made it over with no problems, but boy was it truly awesome seeing the mountain so close and so snowy. Down into Llanberis for a few more pics.

Pressing on and we got to the coast. We stopped by the Menai bridge for some more shots and Al found a bottle of piss masquerading as a bottle of white wine. Just an interesting side note you understand.

By now we were wondering where the snow had gone, even though the wind was a bit nippy. Over the bridge and onto Anglesey then down the back roads to find the control caravan to get our entry stickers and directions. The weather had obviously got bored with snow so we had hail instead at this point as the wind whipped across the fields.

Chatting to some scottish guys and one of them had a sweetly done SV650 dual sporter. Didn't have chance to get the finer points from him, but I thought it was quite tidy.

Not far to go to the site which was on the Trac Mon circuit and after some bike manouvering and measuring we got the tent up and sorted out. Just time to nip off to get some beer then ;) Alan enjoys the moment as the sun sets.

Once with beers in our hands we had a wonder round the site to see what was interesting there. The range of machinery there is always great, though I noticed this year there were less of the old boys with the brit stuff. An increase in sports bikes too, with even a new blade there luggaged up. Anyway we spotted a nice Sunbeam and after some discussion with another viewer we decided it was a 350. Actually he did by checking on the casings! I'd spotted a bright yellow DR earlier, subtley blending in with the background. Also lurking about were some people doing it the hard way, respect to them, kinda stylish too...

There's such a range of bikes there, this caféd Norton was sitting alongside a clean T140 and just out of shot was an NSR125 and a CBR125, both on L-plates.

Finally we came across this stunning Vincent, given the value of the bike, how many people do you know would be out on their D16s?

Then the drinking started in earnest and I packed the camera away safe, leaving only the mobile to grab a couple of pics of some of the fireworks

And Al in the beer tent.

That is Al, honest...the beer filter may have been applied to the camera. We retired at some point having drunk all the beers, shared a bottle of brandy with the MZ boys and chatted to a whole bunch of interesting characters. Back in the tent it was time to rustle up some food and we polished off some pasta n sauce with bread before turning in and listening to people discussing which one of them was Spartacus.

Finally sunday dawned and very pleasant it was too. By pleasant I mean not snowing, hailing or raining. Dry in fact would've been a better way of describing it. Oh and bitter. After the now routine taking of some pills and consumption of a snickers we broke camp, packed up and joined the other early risers heading out.

It was definitely colder and as we got off Anglesey the snow started again. There were plenty of walkers and the like about unloading their cars in lay-bys. Snowy lay-bys that I really didn't fancy my chances of stopping gracefully in, so we pulled over by the side of the road to snap some pics of Llyn Ogwen that was frozen over. It was feeling like we shouldn't be hanging around with the weather so after a quick snap more we moved on.

Stopping for breakfast in the Machninations cafe we polished off another hearty fried plateful and planned the rest of the route. Al was going to split off at Rhyader and head back to Bristol, and I was going to press on south. Not long after leaving the cafe the skies let us have some rain, then some sleet and it was really getting cold by the time we parted in Rhyader.

The rest of the trip felt a little lonelier as I didn't have the light of Al's bike glinting in my mirror, or the knowledge that if I binned it someone would be able to call for help. Funny how your mind works. I arrived home to a cup of tea and snow. Shattered, smelly, cold and hungry but bloody contented with my lot. Roll on next year.

Eire in May

I've dug out some of the writing I've done, and will stick it up here. This is as good a place as any to start. I'll go back through the blog and add the other parts where relevant; Arran, Dent and Dragon Rally.

Anyway, I went to Eire with my g/f and a bunch of others in May, this is the tale.

800 miles, 16 bikes, 5 days, 2 ferry crossings, 4 tank fills.

First proper trip for me on the Tenere and the first big trip for my girlfriend since passing her test last Dec. Not my usual way of travelling as we were part of an organised tour, so had little to do in the way of preparing routes, stops, campsites etc. Instead we had the luxury of a hotel or B&B at the end of each day and a guide with a knowledge of where was good to eat and drink.

Without sounding too gushing I am very proud of my girlfriend who's riding improved 100 fold in the 5 days. I'm also proud that she got all her kit packed into 2 x US-10s, one of which I carried on top of my kit in a US-20. More praise for Kriega also, we had some rough weather at the end of the week and not a drop entered in.

Anyway, onwards.

Monday was 120miles from home using the Heads of the Valleys and then meeting the rest of the group at Pont Abraham service before carrying on to Fishguard. Relaxed ferry crossing with blue skies and kind seas

Disembarking we mustered and rode the short distance to the first hotel in Wexford. Food consumed we consumed some Guiness to aid our sleep in our 4 star beds...next morning a full fry up and onto...

Tuesday. Route from Wexford to Dingle. 200miles of mixed roads and glorious sunshine. Stopping for lunch in Lismore the two of us shirked the toursit trap of the castle and instead ensconced ourselves in 'Eamonn's Place' for a lunch of home made soup (a subject close to my heart), shandy and sarnies.

Returning to the bikes we had time to wander to the castle for a nose around and to dodge the busloads of american toursists.

back on the road and the roads got smaller. A lucky crash, ie. he was still walking after it, saw proceedings halted after one of our number cartwheeled his bike into a hedge. Once the wheels of recovery were put in motion we carried on. Up the Connor Pass and pausing at the top to drink in the heady views.

Downwards into Dingle and into an evening of far too much Guiness.

Wednesday brought a hangover and talk of rain. Leaving the B&B in brightness we carried on and took in the Ring of Kerry after a stop at Inch where I took the opportunity to have a little play on the sand with the Tenere.

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We had a little drizzle but nothing heavy thankfully. Rolling into Rosscarberry we had another cracking hotel, only 3 stars this time, but still a pleasant sauna and swimming pool :eusa_whistle: a huge chinese in the evening provided a good finish. The skies had opened by now and we were thankful for the hotel-provided umbrellas for the walk back.

Thursday and after another hearty fried feast on we went. The weather was definitely on the turn but we got lucky for most of the day with just cloud. A stop in Kinsale gave us the chance to watch the Grey Mullet in the water and a chance to water the bushes...

Saddling back up we carried on to Cobh and were greeted by the scent of the sea long before we came close. Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic and a chance for the 'lucky' ones to take up the spare places on the ship before it set sail across the Atlantic.

There's not much there now to make note of this sadly, and this morose Heron pretty much sums up the vibe.

After lunch I thought I'd give the camera mount on the bike a go. Sadly the vibes meant most pictures were incredibly fuzzy but I got one of this long low bridge over the water, with the girlfriend caught in shot too.

The planned route along the coast to Waterford was put aside due to very heavy fog so main roads were used to eat up the miles. Afternoon tea was consumed and the bikes were left under the careful gaze of the crossed up crow.

Waterford was quite uneventful and after a nondescript run to Rosslare and the fast-cat we mustered once more for the homeward stretch. Tea and tiffin at Pont Abraham and back up the Valleys.

All in it was a pleasant trip and certainly a good bunch to be with. There were precious few incidents and plenty of laughs. Both bikes performed faultlessly and the chance to do some intensive miles certainly helped with the girlfriend's riding.

Like all good trips there are a few stories that shouldn't be aired publicly but the chance to see new sights was an unmissable one.

More butchery

Tis done now...

Now got a link pipe to make...

Butchery

With things in limbo on SB#3 I've been doing a bit of fettling on the Tenere. Having sold the Leo Vince silencers I decided to go back to my original plan of a single silencer for less weight, and also to potentially have a second dummy silencer for tool storage etc.

I like Supertrapps, I've used them on my Speed Triple, SB#3 had one on, the Flat Bastard (SB#1) had discs on the end, my old DR-moto had a White Bros E-series silencer... all using the same disc technology. Plus dibble can't poke things down it to see if you've got a baffle in or not...

So I sized up and set to one of the pair of old Micron aluminium race silencers I had in the shed.

The old outlet spout was removed; first I drilled the rivets out, then I wiggled it, then I hammered it, then I cut if off.

After smoothing the cut back I test fitted the outlet, flipped, to the silencer. Bit more cutting needed on the perforated tube...

A bit more wiggling and then it was time to test the supertrapp end plates.

Looks like they should fit in snug, don't worry that's not how it'll look finally. more work to be done and the silencers will probably be finished in black with polished end caps.

Dent

Saturday saw a nice run up to the tiny village of Dent in the Yorkshire Dales. A chance to chew the fat and drink beer. Main reason for the occurrence was a Cossack rally. A few pics were snapped and top of the pile for desirability for me was this 2wd handshift gem-

Cracking Moto Guzzi Falcone (?) single as well. Sounded great chuffing on tickover.

The roads in and out were just lovely, even if autumn had decided to polish the surface with damp.

I also had some fantastic Tiffin from a little bakery in Sedbergh.

Dragon2010

No pics, but I've got my payment confirmation and I can't wait for the next four months to pass.

Baby's arse

Like, smoooooth, baby.

Still with a final top stopper to go on, but it's getting there.

Crashing

Sucks a fat one. You'd think after all these years and 9 crashes I would have learnt something? Apparently not. I used my Tenere to perforate a hedge yesterday in the wet. Could've been worse, could also have been better.

The bike is better off than me, and most parts were hammered straight yesterday afternoon whilst I cruised on the adrenaline highway. A big "fuck you" to the four bikes that rode past whilst I was picking myself and the bike up. Thanks to the old dude in the van who stopped the traffic (it's a left-right blind section) and made sure things were working.

Fill 'er up!

A chance to do some welding on the SR tank tonight. Finally. New filler welded in, tap fittings on and a few pinholes sealed. A good evening.