Life on a bike is good

Good Friday bank holiday and the Old Dragon says 'Why don't you get out on the bike'....gob smacked or what.  I wasn't going to let an opportunity like that pass though so off I went.  Trouble was I didn't have anywhere to go planned so we started with a basic premise that I wanted to see the sea.  Now, living in Hampshire you're fairly spoilt for choice there so I started with a fun road to ride down towards Romsey and Totton.  And there I was at Calshot with a huge grin on my face having had great fun putting into practice riding tips gleaned from my little Brother.

One of the reasons I wanted to return to biking was as a way of escaping and dealing with my stress.  For my sins I have a job that has more than its fair share of that.  So far I have been out on three relatively minor trips all of which have been massively enjoyable and have very effectively taken me away from the daily grind.  I have met some wonderful people, seen some lovely places and always come back with a silly grin.  I am now firmly of the opinion that motorcycling is in fact the greatest leisure activity ever invented and should probably be made available on the NHS....now there's an idea, I quite fancy the job of Minister for Motorcycling !

Calshot on Good Friday...it really was a very good Friday !

Play Day

Victory Cross Country

Yesterday was a brilliant day.  Having been thoroughly converted to cruisers, little brother and I visited the Thunder Road demo day at the Arrow Mill Hotel not far from Stratford-on-Avon.  A very enjoyable day ensued riding around on various flavours of Victory bikes.  The Vegas 8-Ball was interesting !  I'm not sure that really suits me, and the Cross Country was a revelation.  This is easily the largest bike I've ridden, equipped with panniers, top box and an armchair for the pillion passenger.  Much to my surprise it handled beautifully and was a joy to ride.  Running boards took a bit of getting used too, but that's a minor point.  It was remarkably comfortable, the huge V-twin is just so sexy and I had visions of loading up the old Dragon and heading out across Europe.  Now, how am I going to get that many pennies in the same place at the same time ?

Easy Rider !

Victory Hammer

In my time I have had the good fortune to ride many different types of bikes.  I've ridden sports bikes, street fighters, naked bikes, touring types and adventure bikes (what we used to call trailies) but I've never ridden cruisers.  Until last week that is when I was offered a quick blast on a 2011 Victory Hammer.

Wow, what a bike.  I had worried on my return to biking I would return to my wilder inclinations to 'ride it like I stole it' tendencies of my earlier days.  I pleased to say that hasn't been the case but there is still a temptation to make relatively rapid progress.  However, the Victory cures all that.  The feet forward relaxed and supremely comfortable seat encourages biking at a far more leisurely pace.  The gorgeous 106ci V twin engine (that's 1731cc in metric) lopes along making the most wonderful music and you just watch the world pass by.  I could really get used to this, a whole new biking experience opens up before me and I finally get the whole Harley thing.  The Victory is in a different league though so far as quality engineering is concerned which is also something very appealing to me.  I need one, just got to convince the old dragon now !

Ride of Respect 2011

I have always had a thing about supporting forces personnel who have served their country so when the opportunity to pay my respects and raise some money for the Afghan Heroes charity came along I jumped at it.  It was only made better by the fact that I could combine this with a run on the bike and a get together with my brother.  As expected the biker fraternity turned out in force with approximately 10,000 bikes and a further 3,000 pillion passengers in attendance.  The atmosphere was terrific, the patriotism refreshing and the emotion very genuine.  I admit it bought a tear to my eye and a lump throat riding through the villages surrounding Wootton Bassett, sorry that would be Royal Wootton Bassett.  There were many onlookers clapping and waving flags in support of the ride.  And as for the run through the town centre, well, that nearly finished me off.  Never have I been so grateful for a full face helmet.  Congratulations to all the bikers who took part in this and similar rides around the country.  You are, as I remembered from my younger days, the most genuine and likeable bunch of people I have ever had the privilege to associate with.  Respect to our troops and bikers, true Brits every one.

The new bike

Well I say new, it is in fact a 12 year old Suzuki GSX600F, and what a beautiful bike it is.  I remember these when the were originally launched and quickly labelled the 'teapot'.  It is one of those designs you either love or hate.  Fortunately I love it and always have.  This particular example has, and continues to be, a much loved machine, it is immaculate and an absolute pleasure to ride.  I look forward to much fun over the coming months as I indulge my burgeoning mid-life crisis.

Got there at last !

The weather over December and January was fun wasn't it !  All sorts of nasty stuff conspired to prevent me finally pocketing the full licence until March 2nd...but I got there with not so much a a minor mark to my name.  My thanks go to Luke at Rider Training in Brackley for some brilliant instruction and also to Steve and Paul for their company, advice and superb banter.  The Direct Access course not only got me the licence I have longed for but was also the most fun I've had in years.  Thanks Chaps.