Throttled

My American uncle fought in the Vietnam war. He was a gunner on helicopters until he was bitten by a rat and sent to Japan where the treatment was a series of injections into the stomach, using a needle so large at first, they left four small scar/holes. He died in his early 60s of a really rare and weird form of cancer. The covid vaccine is a piece of pish! I did not even feel it go in.

I fitted some Michelin Cross Climates to my Volvo 940 (rear wheel drive) for the Beast from the East snow in 2018 and they worked really well on the snow. I could rive past stuck 4x4s. Work also fitted them to the vans and the difference was amazing.

The seat and space between them (top box fitted) is very similar for the Versys 650 Mk II and 1000 Mk I. I have had my son as a pillion for hours at time and he was happy on both bikes. I am 6'2" and he is now 5'10". He likes the top box to lean on. The biggest difference between the bikes is that at 70 mph the 650 is working harder and vibrating more than the 1000. But, I happily put nearly 20k on my 650 with the longest rides being Swansea to Glasgow and Newtownards to Donegal town, both not by the most direct route. If you do go for the 650, I would suggest you get grip puppies and go for the SW Motech footrests with the rubber pads to virtually eliminate vibrations.

This http://www.mactools.co.uk/rate-mac-tools-products/100-piece-screwdriver-bit-set-2 with this http://www.mactools.co.uk/rate-mac-tools-products/ratcheting-45-tooth-screwdriver-with-mac-grip-handle-accepts-14-hex-bits

Anything that is on the insurance list of approved products (found on any insurance comparison website). Usually anything that is Thatcham or Sold Secure.

The FortNine video and study of fuel stabilisers has put me off ever using them.

A big adventure bike did not even make sense when Ewan and Charlie made them very popular with the Long Way Round. They would have got on better with smaller, lighter bikes, like the Kawasaki KLR650 or even the BMW F650. I think that the larger bikes have morphed into adventure tourers, which are for long distances on road.

I liberated a can of GT85 from my old work. I was looking for something in the stationery store and found boxes of it. No idea why, presume it was a mistake. From my present work they have turned a blind eye to us taking home hand sanitiser and face masks, but I suppose if it keeps us safe, then why not.

Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden. A longer version of the Henry Cole Scandinavian World's Greatest Motorcycle Rides, so add in Stockholm and loop back to Denmark.

Got a new chain for when I am out and about to replace one where the plastic casing cracked apart and it would be easy to get snips into the cables inside. Went for the Bennets recommended Milenco Coleraine 12mm chain and it is HUGE! For portable it would have better going for the 9mm. I was tempted by the larger chain for the price of the smaller because the packaging and chain sleeve was marked. Oh, well. It fits in the top box and it will mean I have the biggest f**k off chain at the motorcycle parking bays.

Rode it to the bank, managing to dodge the rain. Banks are one of the few places till open here! Gave it a very good hose down and Muc Off, as there is still signs of grit on the roads, even after 2 days rain.

I did the NC500 before it was called that, and it was busy in Durness and Ullapool in August anyway. I would as far in advance as where you would like to stay will let you.

That is an old post! I remember that debate. I stand by what I said. If "filtering" past a line of cars into the face of oncoming traffic, that should be treated more like overtaking. Filtering is between vehicles all going in the same direction. Each poses different hazards.

I had that on the M6 Staffordshire and the A9 near Blairgowrie after accidents. Filter past lots of stuck vehicles and then open road for miles. On the A9 I rode from north of Blairgowrie to Inverness with most of the time to myself. What a joy.

You should include Kintyre in the trip.

I think I filter less now because cars have got wider.

Done!

Arrived today, thanks. It is an object of great beauty and to be both April and December is a great honour.

C90 Adventures shows just how to tour massive distances on a low powered bike. https://c90adventures.co.uk/ I did some big Scotland tours on my 125cc and was quite happy. Even now, with a 1000cc bike, I am happy cruising at 50ish.

If the UK had retained the death penalty, then there would have been a potential of 58 executions of people whose convictions have subsequently been overturned, as they were victims of miscarriages of justice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_miscarriage_of_justice_cases#United_Kingdom There are others presently in prison appealing their convictions. That list includes other countries with adversarial justice systems similar to ours, where there has also been a shocking number of miscarriages of justice regarding murders. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/death-penalty.aspx In the USA "Since 1976, 1,348 people have been executed in the US, but in that time 136 people have been exonerated from death row on the grounds that they categorically could not have committed the crime for which they were sentenced to death. In other words, for every ten people on death row who are executed, at least one person on death row is innocent." How barbaric is that? Anyone who wants the death penalty has to be able to say they would watch someone they know, whom they know did not commit a murder, die in front of them and still believe that was the right thing to do.

Ian Hislop educates Priti Patel on why the death penalty is wrong. Our criminal justice system makes far too many mistakes to re-introduce the death penalty.

Took the cover off, ran the engine, pushed it up and down the path, took off some rust and then pout it away again. There is way too much salt on the roads to take it out. The local council have even started to grit the side roads and carparks where I live, which they did not do previously.

I picked my first bike because I wanted something relatively cheap, with a reliable engine that could be used all year round and off road. So it was the Kawasaki KLE500. I had also realised that if MCN loved a bike, it was unlikely I could fit on it and if they hated it, I would probably like it. They had the KLE500 as one of their lowest rated bikes reviewed.

Ordered mine. So excited!

Biker meeting place, at the south end of the seafront car park on Gallowgate St.