Gerontious

that's about familiarity and an expectation that the journey you've made a 1000 times will be the same today as it has been every other time. as a consequence you're more likely to be on auto-pilot, distracted by other more important things, like that text alert you just heard.

They describe helmet law as "outrageous legislation" and with thinking like that its not an organisation I want to be involved with in any way.

I get a consistent 65mpg from my 2018 1000cc whereas I got 48mpg from my 2000 1100. For my purposes its all about torque and especially, though obviously not exclusively, in the mountains. and effortless motorway cruising for the 'getting there'. adding luggage or carrying a pillion has a no appreciable effect on performance. I can ride in any 'mode' I like and be confident there's always 'more' on tap. its been a long time since I last rode anything under 750cc, so im not exactly well placed to pass judgement on smaller bikes. These days it seems to be more about affordability, especially insurance that determines what you ride. unless you're a tad perverse. (obviously) But.. I would be interested to read what the OP on his ZZR600D1's, opinion if he were ever to try, for an extended period a much larger and more modern Kawasaki. or go the other direction to one of these new 300cc bikes. (which I've always thought were rather smashing.. though too small for my frame.) at the end off the day its not what you ride, its that you ride.

Plastic cutlery is the sort of thing I would consider backpacking. but on a motorbike? really? No. Plastic plates and dishes, yes. practical. but I will always find room for metal cutlery. wrapped in a tea towel and stashed with the rest of the camping gear in the dry-bag. knife, fork, desert and teaspoon. and a sharp knife with a plastic handle for cutting bread etc. sorted.

If it’s a 916 then it has to be the Senna special.

I’m organising our normal week away for after the August Bank holiday, by which time, all being well, things will have settled down to a new ‘normal’. It will be interesting to see the reality of Brexit on going to Europe. I should have my new passport by then. Obviously if everything goes pear shaped and the gang need to bale out. Then I will likely just go on my own again or with any brave soul prepared to take a chance. So, either a week in the German Eifel. Or, longer on a ‘make it up as I go along’ type of holiday. Like 2020 turned out to be. what can you do aside from remaining optimistic... things can only get better once the vaccine rollout goes up a few notches. They are saying we should see a turn around by Easter. Which is 13 weeks away. So far as holidays abroad go, that should be the first proper test.

It starts at $75 US so, PayPal makes that simpler, he does plug and play looms for various bikes if you want that too. Then there’s import duty and VAT. Something we will likely have to start getting used to again. All in looking at circa £100. I’m still umming and aahing

Ive been thinking of ordering one of these, from Japan. which makes it a bit pricey. but its only money. Specifications and Features: - 4 threaded insert nuts provide case mounting and fuse panel installation mounting points - comes with an assortment of ATM fuses, one for each output circuit and a few extras - 8 hot + outputs (2 unswitched circuits, 6 switched circuits) - Switched circuits are turned off when the bike is shut down. An unswitched circuit is always hot - can be used for charging the battery - 8 ground outputs - much better to ground your auxiliary circuits here than on a bike’s frame - maximum fuse panel capacity 60 Amps (40A/20A - switched/unswitched) - maximum circuit capacity 20 Amps (15A continuous) - maximum output wire size 12 AWG (3 sqmm) - all hardware is stainless steel (except input posts which are tin plated steel) - black satin polycarbonate cover makes unit splash-proof yet allows it to breathe and stay cool - cover mounting tabs on each end can be broken off or left on, depending on mounting choice - simple robust design means no overheating and no problems with vibration - I designed this fuse panel with ease of mounting a priority. Therefore there are many mounting options: Dual Lock on back of case, fine threaded screws from back of panel, self tapping screws from inside through PCB inserts to panel, or nuts and screws on the case mounting ears at each end of the case. See further down this page for optional mounting accessory choices. I used 2 machine screws, one each on opposite corners of the mounting tabs for my VStrom installation, straight into the underseat plastic.

A little bit of good news.. one less potential complication removed.

I have been stabbed. in the back and the chest. collapsed lung. needed a transfusion and spent 4 weeks in hospital. I didn't need to witness it, I experienced it. it is terrible. As a child I was involved in a very minor way with the A34 murders. The man who did it spent 45yrs in prison. I'm glad they didn't hang him. I'm glad he spent 45yrs behind bars until he died. he killed a girl I can't remember though my mum has a photo of me sat next to her at her birthday party.

one is one too many.

Timothy Evans. Hung 1950 He had the vocabulary of a 14yr old and the mental age of a 10yr old In January 2003, the Home Office awarded Timothy Evans's half-sister, Mary Westlake, and his sister, Eileen Ashby, ex gratia payments as compensation for the miscarriage of justice in Evans's trial. The independent assessor for the Home Office, Lord Brennan QC, accepted that "the conviction and execution of Timothy Evans for the murder of his child was wrongful and a miscarriage of justice" and that "there is no evidence to implicate Timothy Evans in the murder of his wife.

I’m one of the lucky ones I guess. COVID restrictions don’t affect me at all. I should be offered the vaccine in the next month or two. No plans for anything between now and summer. January, booking the tunnel for September. Then watching what happens at Easter if holidays are possible by then, if not then Summer... see what happens.

I suppose as posh as it’s possible for an ex kinda gog to be... though I managed to avoid going native. Off. Over. Prang. Are my lexicon. Binning just adds drama I guess. And who doesn’t like a bit of drama? I’m not sure it’s the word I would use though for an off that might be no more dramatic than a slightly scraped mirror

working, as normal, despite tier 4 from tomorrow. five nights from tonight, so will be looking forward to 7am Monday morning.

when you speak of 'binning' a bike.. are you saying you came off in 2004 and the bike was only fit for the bin. ie a write off. or for the parts bin. or is binning the new and improved way of saying you simply came off. Ive come off twice since 1980 and neither time was the bike 'binned'.

Its a great aid to confidence, especially with a new and unfamiliar bike if you can flat foot it at a standstill. The huge increase in weight can easily catch you off guard. When buying second hand, try to look forward and consider if any extras/accessories are important, or may be important in the future. These may come included or may help sway the decision in one direction or another. A bike Ive owned and have always thought is an ideal 'first' for all sorts of reasons is the F800 series. The F800S or F800ST. These now fall within your budget and come with some very nice extras like ABS. Belt drive. underseat fuel tank, for a low, confidence inspiring centre of gravity. Great as commuters and can tour. in both cases there are 3 seats available. low, standard and high.

my phone provides internet for the laptop and desktop upstairs. I don't have a TV.

I can definitely recommend a 998cc twist & go.

Same here, the snow started at 4am and because it was so cold has stuck, and it continues to fall. My bike is now grounded as even if its possible to get to the nearest main road. its impossible to get back up the hill and leaving it at the side of the road is not an option.. it would effectively be uninsured. So... now waiting for the thaw. -2 tonight and near zero for the foreseeable, so its not going to happen soon.

Today marks 250 days to go.. so, not long until the countdown begins in earnest.

worked and slept. my 'weekend' starts today, back at work Wednesday night at 9. but, this weekend hasn't exactly been a non-event. I had some Apple gift cards for Christmas and so, armed with them. plus the trade-in value on my current phone. I bit the bullet on Saturday and upgraded. new phone is slated to arrive between the 6th and 8th.

This year was a bit different, to say the least. Out of a group of 8 only I was prepared to take the risk of an enforced, by law. Quarantine. In the event that didn’t happen but only because I followed the rules and only stayed in countries off the naughty list. Which at the time was Germany, Italy and Liechtenstein. All we can hope is that next year is a little less complicated or risky.

Good Planning. It’s 255 miles from the tunnel to our hotel. I couldn’t care less if people have a naked bike. All that I ask is that their bike is capable of motorway speeds. And they can manage 65 miles in one go... as that is the longest leg of the ride across.