Mark's World of motorbikes, cars and stuff...

Tail tidy for the Triple..

2010-07-05T23:15:00.000+01:00

I wasn't a fan of the extra long number plate bracket on the Triple so managed to source a tail tidy on ebay. It makes a massive difference to the rear of the bike and i much prefer the looks of it now

Before -

Scorpion cans fitted to the Triple...

2010-07-05T23:05:00.001+01:00

People were placing bets as to how long it would be before i ripped the standard exhausts off the Triple, and replaced them with something a bit louder.... Well, it didn't take long!!

Here it is, with some shiny Scorpion cans fitted. Much better...

A blast from the past...

2010-07-05T22:38:00.001+01:00

A couple of pictures of my beloved 600 Bandit... My first big bike :o)

Some more pictures of the Triple

2010-06-05T22:28:00.001+01:00

Decided to get rid of the Triple...

2010-06-05T22:19:00.003+01:00

Well, after just over 3 years, I've decided the time has come for me to say goodbye to my Triumph Speed Triple.....

And replace it with another one! I've traded my 2005 955i model in for a 2009 1050 model. It only has 2000 miles on the clock and has some nice Carbon Fibre add-ons. I took it for a test ride today and loved it. Climbing on the 1050 felt very familiar, although the seat feels more plush and the clocks are more up to date looking.

I clicked the gear lever down and the bike didn't make the 'clunk' that i'm used to, but went into gear with a click. On the move, the bike feels very similar to the 955i. Plenty of torque and low down grunt whenever you ask for it. The Brembo brakes are definitely sharper feeling than my standard Triumph brakes and the bike seems smoother still (the 955i is very smooth as it is). Anyway, I loved riding the bike and the hour long test ride turned into more like an hour and 45 minutes! The salesmen was looking a bit worried when we arrived back!

I managed to squeeze a little more money out of the salesman for my bike as part exchange and signed on the dotted line! I am hopefully picking the bike up in a few days but here are a few pictures taken today...

New wheels on the 'wagon'

2010-05-05T21:28:00.000+01:00

Well, I've been bitten by the modification bug once again and decided to get a new set of wheels and tyres for the car as 2 of the original tyres were past their best and probably wouldn't scrape through the MOT in July (that's my excuse and i'm sticking to it!)

I like the fact that the car is reasonably understated and shocks people when it tears off from the traffic lights! Not that I let the boy racer in me come out at every set of traffic lights of course!! Because i didn't want to give the car too much bling, i opted for BK 299 wheels in an anthracite finish....

A few more pics of the 'wagon'

2010-05-05T21:22:00.000+01:00

Scoobie doo!

2010-05-05T21:12:00.001+01:00

We've been looking around at estate cars for quite some time as we could do with something big enough to chuck the dogs in, along with the camping gear...

I should have gone down the sensible route and bought a diesel estate or people carrier but that's just not me!

Instead, i started looking at Subaru... I really like the idea of a Forester S Turbo, but have always had a soft spot for the Impreza. After looking at quite a lot of them, we decided that the Impreza Sportwagon would do what we wanted.

We've ended up with a 2002 Bug eye Impreza WRX with Prodrive Performance Package (PPP). This ups the horsepower a bit and unleashes more of that unique rumble that reallt appeals to my ears!

Just a bit snowy this morning!

2010-01-05T07:27:00.002Z

Chopped the Triple's exhaust down a bit...

2009-12-04T19:56:00.001Z

I've always liked the look of stubby exhausts on bikes and decided to take a deep breath and attack my Devil silencer with a hacksaw and a Dremel multi-tool! Here are some photos of the transformation, followed by video clips of the silencer at standard length and chopped down...

A couple of video clips of the SV with and without silencer!

2009-11-13T17:55:00.000Z

Gemma's SV

2009-11-13T17:49:00.000Z

Gemma's SV has now got an exhaust on, which is louder than a gnat's fart! It's a Stubby Scorpion exhaust and sounds really nice. A real deep, rumbly sound. It also looks much nicer than the standard can as shown below...

Mini wheels

2009-08-25T09:26:00.003+01:00

After the mini's last MOT, i had an advisory for 2 tyres... The CooperS is fitted with run flat tyres which are noisy, follow ridges in the road (due to their sharp profile) and cost a fortune! Sooo, i looked at replacement wheels and got a full set of 4 wheels with standard tyres for £550! It was going to cost me just under £300 for 2 run flat tyres, and it will save me in the long run as standard tyres will cost less to replace when the time comes.. Plus, i reckon these ones look great! They're GP replicas... They got a bit grubby on this drive though! The photos were taken at the Ponderosa cafe on the Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen. It was a cold, wet day but still good fun chucking the mini around!

Our old 'banger'

2009-08-25T09:07:00.005+01:00

Because our money tree appears to have died and things are pretty tight, we decided to sell Gemma's car and pay off the finance. The original plan then was for me to use my bike for work but it rains too much!! Instead, i've bought a 1995 BMW 320i coupe, just like my first ever BMW, which was a 318is coupe. I paid £620 for it after finding it on ebay! I thought it would have shot up to over £1000 when i saw it on there but i got a bid in at the last minute and won!

It's a bit rough around the edges but really nice for a 14 year old car... It drives really well and i have that straight six noise back at last :o)

Project TW125

2009-08-25T08:46:00.005+01:00

I had Gemma's bike in pieces in the shed for ages but finally got around to re-building it and giving it a new paint job. I wish we could have kept it really, but had to sell it due to being hard up and having 3 bikes in the shed! Anyway, here are some pictures of the bike before, during and then after the transformation....

Before..

During...

After...

Blimey... been a while since i updated this!

2009-08-25T08:43:00.001+01:00

I've been pretty busy lately and have neglected my blog so thought it was time i added some more to it...

I've got a few pics to upload and a few stories to tell so watch this space!

Mini Un-zipped!

2008-05-21T19:28:00.003+01:00

Decided to get a roof decal for the mini but didn't want to go for the obvious so hunted around until i found something a bit different...

Some more pics of the bike

2008-05-21T19:25:00.001+01:00

New toy..

2008-05-18T09:53:00.002+01:00

I've bought myself a DRZ400 to fill the gap left by the bug. It's much cheaper to own and run than the beetle and should give me chance to see how i fair on the muddy stuff! Not been off-road yet but it's great fun on the road!

Sold the beetle..

2008-05-18T09:49:00.003+01:00

Well, the time came to sell the beetle. It wasn't getting the attention it deserved, partly because of lack of funds and partly because i don't know enough about how they work to keep on top of things.

It was a great car and i'm hoping to get another one sometime in the future.

The rising cost of living has had quite a big say in this! Food, Gas, electric, council tax, petrol, the list goes on...

Anyway, here's a photo of the bug to keep the memory alive!

Some more pictures of the mini

2008-03-07T22:29:00.002Z

New car (again!!)

2008-03-02T17:35:00.002Z

I've only had the Z3 for 6 months but it's proved very thirsty for such a small car. I was hoping it wouldn't have such a bad drink problem, especially compared with my old 5 series, but i was wrong. I love the looks and handling of the Z3, not to mention the noise it makes, but i'm fed up of feeding it's habit! I was getting barely more than 55 miles from £10 worth of fuel so it's had to go...
I've stuck with BMW but have lost the familiar badge... Here's the new car which i should be collecting on Thursday with a bit of luck! It's a Mini Cooper S. It's all Dawn's fault for buying a Mini One last year and letting me have a go! It has 170 bhp and is only 0.7 of a second behind the Z3 0-60mph! Not bad for a 1.6!

Gemma's new bike

2008-03-02T17:31:00.002Z

Well, Gemma's taken the plunge and now has her very own 'big' bike. We still have the TW125, which is currently in bits!, but Gemma's main ride now is a Suzuki SV650. Here it is...

It's restricted to 33bhp for the next 11 months but then the restrictors can come out and the full power can be unleashed.

Mini roadtrip..

2007-10-29T20:06:00.000Z

I decided to get out in the new car today and headed off into Wales. To begin with, I headed up to the Ponderosa, a cafe at the highest point of the Horseshoe Pass. From there I headed down towards Llangollen, before picking up a single track road and heading out to Corwen and then Bala. Here are some photos i took when i stopped, by the lake at Bala and on the single track road...

some more photos..

2007-10-21T19:57:00.001+01:00

I've just put a deposit down on a BMW Z3

2007-10-21T16:39:00.000+01:00

I love the 5 series but decided it was time for a change.. I'm just copying off Dawn really! Can't have her buying a new car without me! hee hee! Anyway, after looking around at various cars i decided on a BMW Z3. I'm a fan of BMW's anyway and already familiar with the silky 2.8L six cylinder engine.

I looked at a number of 3 series coupe's and convertibles but haven't really seen any nice, low mileage example inside my budget. i considered a Mini Cooper S too but they're a bit expensive at the moment too.

Anyway, I've gone for a 2.8L Z3. It's a 1999 T-reg with only 55,000 miles on the clock and full BMW service history. It's a very tidy example and comes with heated & electrically adjustable seats. The heated seats are a novelty for me although they can make you feel like you've wet your pants! It's the same colour scheme as the car which featured in James Bond - Goldeneye! I'll be picking the car up on Friday with a bit of luck but here's a few pictures of it..

Dawn's just got a Mini One!

2007-10-21T16:35:00.000+01:00

Dawn's finally got hold of a Mini One with low mileage and in great condition. It seems to have taken ages to find a nice example. There are tons of Coopers out there but we seemed to struggle finding a One. Anyway, here are some pics..

Dawn's wedding..

2007-10-17T13:20:00.000+01:00

My sister, Dawn, tied the knot with Darren on October 5th. Here are a few random photos, including some of my car which i used to pick them up from the hotel, the day after the wedding...

More photos can be found at by following the link below..

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v293/banditnovice/Dawns%20wedding%205th%20Oct%2007/

Camping Trip Creetown with Northwest Bikers

2007-08-27T19:42:00.000+01:00

VW Show at Tatton Park

2007-08-12T16:07:00.000+01:00

We've just got back from the VWNW show at Tatton Park. I really want a Baja now! Here are some photos from the show...

Pictures from our camping trip to Anglesey

2007-07-15T18:46:00.000+01:00

Trearddur bay (where we camped)...

Newborough Warren...

This is my sister Dawn. You can hire her as a scarecrow if you like!

Dawn's Bug has eyelids...

2007-07-09T19:27:00.001+01:00

I've got Dawn an early Birthday present. A pair of eyelids for the bug...

more pics of the bug

2007-06-28T14:31:00.000+01:00

Southport Motorshow 2007

2007-06-24T16:04:00.000+01:00

Here are some photos from our visit to the Southport motorshow.. The Lancia Integrale reminds me of playing Sega Rally on the Sega Saturn!

Dawn's getting a Classic Bug!

2007-06-24T15:41:00.000+01:00

We went to have a look at a 1973 VW Beetle last night and my sister, Dawn, has decided to buy it. It's a great looking car and drives superbly. I've always liked classic beetles but i've never had the chance to own one. Even now that I am used to driving modern cars, I would seriously consider buying one after the test drive last night. This one comes with all bills and paperwork from when it was bought new and a detailed pack with photos of the restoration which took place in 2001.

Here are some photos of the Bug...

Rideout 28th May

2007-05-28T21:57:00.000+01:00

Started out lovely but we had rain, hale and sleet on the way home! First time i've ridden this bike on twisty roads with Gemma on the back so it was a bit of a challenge.. didn't like the wet roads much either! Anyway, had a good day and have just about thawed out now!

Some photos from the rideout..

I've fitted a high-level exhaust to the bike

2007-05-19T11:36:00.000+01:00

The standard exhaust is stainless steel but looked very long and was mounted so that it hid part of the rear wheel. The rear wheel is mounted on a single-sided swingarm and I think it's a shame to obscure the view!

Anyway, I managed to find a bargain on Ebay. I got myself a road legal Devil 'Magnum' exhaust with removable baffle. It looks much better on the bike and came with all the bits to adapt the pillion footpeg mount. It only took me around 30 minutes to remove the standard can and fit this one!

With the baffle in, the exhaust sounded much the same as the stock can but I've since removed the baffle and it sounds lovely now! It's not overly loud but gives a nice deep rumble at tickover and a deep growl when on the move.

Here are a few of photos of the bike. The first one shows the bike with the standard can while the next couple show the new exhaust fitted..

Thundersprint 2007

2007-05-13T15:52:00.000+01:00

Here are a few photos taken at the Thundersprint in Northwich this year. More information on the event can be found at their website, http://www.thundersprint.com/ The first picture shows Ryuichi Kiyonari heading out into the town centre on a race bike!

A few more photos can be found here...
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v293/banditnovice/

The Hastings May Day Run

2007-05-09T10:16:00.000+01:00

We went down to Hastings for the May Day run at the weekends. I think we must have been followed by a big grey cloud judging by the weather! It was very blustery and rained off and on all weekend. That being said, there were still plenty of bikes there of all shapes and sizes, as you can see below!

Fireblade quad!

Looks like short circuit....

2007-05-05T18:24:00.000+01:00

Johnny 5 is alive!

and some more... just call me David Bailey!

2007-05-05T18:22:00.000+01:00

Some more photos of the new bike...

2007-05-05T18:03:00.000+01:00

Speed four - Speed Triple

2007-05-01T16:24:00.000+01:00

Well, i've had the Speed 4 for almost 12 months and I'm just about to swap it for a Speed Triple! I've enjoyed my time with the Speed 4 but the Speed Triple isn't quite as frantic as the Four and it has more room for pillion passengers and luggage too. I'd love to get my hands on the new shape Triple but my bank balance disagrees! I've found a spotless 2005 plate Speed Triple with only 600 miles on the clock! I've been out on it for a couple of hours this afternoon and have paid my deposit.. Just got to wait for a collection date now! Anyway, here it is...

Wirral Egg Run 2007

2007-04-02T10:51:00.000+01:00

The Wirral Egg run is a charity event which takes place every year attracting bikers from all over the country and even from continental Europe.

The 2007 event sets out to raise money for the Jelly Bean appeal which is seeking to raise money for children on the Wirral and has four areas that it is addressing which take the form of wishes.

Wish one: a Children’s Assessment and Treatment services (CATs) a friendly place for sick children.

Wish two: Extra equipment for premature and sick newborn babies on the Neonatal Unit - because it is one of the most difficult times of their lives.

Wish Three: rooms for families with sick children - because it’s so hard to have a child in hospital.

Wish Four: a one-stop Assessment Centre at the Child Development Centre because special children need special facilities.

The 2006 unofficial egg run raised £5000 which was wholly donated to the Jelly Bean appeal and helped them reach target one. The 2007 event aims to improve considerably on the monies donated to the Jelly Bean appeal by raising the profile and by gaining approval of the relevant authorities which by its nature will provide greater public awareness and deliver the channels by which donations may be collected.

This years Egg Run was officially recognised and traffic management was lead by the police this time round! I've been on the Egg Run for a few years now and I have never seen so many people taking part and lining the streets in support of the run. The weather was fantastic for the day and, from what i saw, the run went without a hitch.

I was involved in marshalling the event. It was the role of the mashalls to assist the police with traffic control, keep an eye on riders taking part and to be a point of contact for anyone needing assistance even if that was just pointing out where the toilets were!

I work on behalf of Unilever who donated some home and personal care products. I sold them to friends and family, raising £110. I've also put up a donations form in the canteen which has around £60 on so far!

Here are some photos from the event..

Thanks to everyone who has donated money to the Appeal and to Unilever for Donating the products which raised even more money! I'll try to get a bike count and a total for the money raised on the day and post it on here...

Weekend in the Lake District

2007-02-21T19:00:00.000Z

Well, I haven't added any new info to my blog for a while so thought it was about time I updated it. It was Gemma's birthday on Monday so I booked B&B in Windermere for the weekend. We did some exploring while we were there and found some lovely roads which I am hoping to return to on the bike in summer. Here are some photos I took on the Wrynose & Hardknott passes and on the banks of Lake Wastwater...

NEC International motorcycle & scooter Show 2006

2006-11-03T11:19:00.000Z

Well, what a great show. We went to the NEC last year and I was a bit disappointed but this year was great. Plenty to look at and drool over!

I particularly liked the Buell's and some of the BMW's.

Here are a couple of shots from the show and a link to my gallery too

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v293/banditnovice/NEC2006/?action=view&slideshow=true

Update : My morning of advanced training...

2006-10-02T20:48:00.000+01:00

Well, I really enjoyed my morning out with Malcom, instructor and owner of Grainger motorcycle training in Warrington.

We headed out towards Holmes Chapel and i was in front to begin with. Malcom gave directions over the radio but didn't say an awful lot until we pulled over to talk about the ride so far. Malcom then led for a while to show the correct road position to be taken. We pulled over again for a short chat before heading out with me in front once again. The morning went well and I've decided that joining RoSPA and doing further training towards the RoSPA test is the way to go.

The Grainger School of motoring website can be found here http://www.grainger-som.piczo.com

and the RoSPA website can be found here http://www.rospa.co.uk/drivertraining/courses/advanced_tests/motorcycle_scooter.htm

I'm hoping to start the training early next year. My time is taken up with a mixture of work and DIY at the moment as I am preparing my house for sale!

Gemma has started big bike lessons

2006-09-27T07:33:00.001+01:00

Gemma had her first big bike lesson on Saturday and it went very well. The bike stayed shiny side up, Gemma stayed the right way up and she mastered the art of clutch control too. Her next lesson is this coming Saturday and she should be taking to the roads after a bit of practice at the training centre.

I went down to the training centre with her last Saturday and have ended up booking a morning of advanced training for myself on Friday!
Watch this space for progress reports! With a bit of luck Gemma will have her un-restricted licence in a few weeks... Just have to hope she doesn't leave me for dust once she gets out there on a big bike!

Back to school... bike school that is!

2006-09-27T07:33:00.000+01:00

I've decided to go back to school... bike school that is!

I've had my full motorbike licence for almost 3 years now and have learned a lot from riding out with other people aswell as just developing my own skills each and every time I take to 2 wheels. Recently I've found that I'm lacking in confidence and reluctant to push my bike. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the thrill of acceleration and leaning into corners but I find myself slowing down, possibly a bit too much, when I find myself on unknown roads.

I'd prefer to be safe rather than sorry but there is room for improvement. I'm getting better at reading the road but have decided to have a few advanced riding lessons. I've got a session booked with Grangers School of Motoring in Warrington after meeting one of their instructors last weekend when Gemma went for her first big bike lesson. They can be contacted on 01925 759569. They offer everything from CBT to advanced training.

I go back to 'school' on Friday morning so I will report back soon, unless i get a detention!

Appleby - August Bank Holiday

2006-08-30T16:37:00.000+01:00

Well, i finished work at 6am Saturday, went to bed for a few hours and then dragged the bikes out, ready for a weekend away with some of the gang from Northwest Bikers.

Janie and Andy have a Caravan in Appleby and had invited us to stay with them for the weekend. We loaded Gemma's bike on Andy's bike trailer along with Josh's Gillera 50 then headed North.

Myself and Janie were on our bikes and Andy followed up in the pickup. We had a good ride up considering it was bank holiday weekend. We left the motorway and stopped off somewhere near Tebay where we met Andy, Gemma and Josh. We unloaded the 2 bikes off the trailer and then Gemma and Josh joined in the 2 wheel fun while Andy went off to the caravan to put the kettle on!

We were joined at the caravan by Simon, Lisa, Harriet, Nic, Paul & Mark. We had a lovely chinese meal and a few drinks! Some people had more drinks than others and paid for it overnight ;o) eh Lisa?!

On the Sunday we all headed down to a small cafe where we had breakfast before splitting off into groups. Andy took the dogs, Bonnie and Clyde for a wander round Grizedale forest. Lisa, Harriet & Nic went for a walk and Simon, Janie, Paul, Mark, Gemma and myself all went out for a ride. We headed over the Kirkstone pass where we stopped to watch some car trials on a hillside in the middle of nowhere! (see pictures below) We were really lucky with the weather on Saturday and for the best part of Sunday but we did get a bit damp on the way back to the caravan. We had plenty of time to dry out though and enjoyed a lovely BBQ. There were drinks flowing again but I couldn't join in as I was working from 6am on Monday so, unfortunately, had to leave the gang at around 9pm.

The weather had taken a turn for the worse and parts of the M6, near the Blackpool junction were flooded. The roads had been wet but pretty clear up to this point. Aqua-planing is an interesting experience on 2 wheels, that's for sure! My leather pants stood up to the weather well although they had doubled in weight with all the water they had soaked up! My top half was bone dry, thanks to an Alpinestars Waterproof top I borrowed from Janie. I still managed to get home in just under 2 hours so can't complain really..

Here's a link to some photos i took when we stopped after spotting some car trials taking place on a hillside.. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v293/banditnovice/Appleby%2026-27th%20Aug/

Camping trip with Northwest Bikers...

2006-08-14T13:19:00.000+01:00

We've just spent a weeked in Wales with a few of the gang from Northwest Bikers. We stayed on a campsite next to Y Giler Arms, which is located in a tiny little place called Rhydlydan, just off the A5, about 1 mile east of Pentrefoelas. Here's a link to their website.. http://www.giler.co.uk/ They offer Bed & Breakfast along with lunch and evening meals if required. Camping was very reasonable at £5 per tent, per night! The shower block and toilet were a bit small and in a very run down out building but we were fortunate as Janie & Andy took their motor home. The motor home pitch cost £10 per night, including electric and water which seemed very reasonable. We had a lovely Sunday roast before leaving the site.. It was a struggle getting into the leathers and climbing on the bikes after that!

We set off from here at around 6:30 and arrived just in time to pitch the tent before it went dark. Gemma took her bike and I loaded mine up... as you can see from the photos, it's surprising how much stuff you can load onto the Speed Four!

More photos can be found here... http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v293/banditnovice/Camping%2011th%20-%2013th%20August/

and here... http://groups.msn.com/NorthwestBikers/campingweekendpentrefolas.msnw

The Fuel Rooms

2006-08-04T17:14:00.000+01:00

The fuel Rooms has only recently been set up but is growing very quickly. It's a site with tons of information, reviews, stories, etc. regarding anything with an engine! A number of the Northwest Bikers members have joined up already.

I have recently submitted a review of my Triumph Speed Four which will hopefully be featured sometime soon.

The Fuel Rooms can be found at http://www.thefuelrooms.co.uk

Fitted a hugger...

2006-07-28T16:01:00.000+01:00

A big thank you to Janie for letting me pinch the can and hugger from her bike before she sells it! I fitted the hugger yesterday with help from Andy, Janie's husband. The hugger should help to keep the front of the swingarm and the spring clean. Here are some pictures of the new hugger...

Fitted LED's and exhaust..

2006-07-25T06:25:00.000+01:00

I decided to fit some LED indicators to the bike so i could do away with the standard big, ugly ones. I went for Dr. Bike indicators from J&S after hearing they are the same thing as Motrax, but half the price! I had to fit an aftermarket flasher relay to reduce the flash rate but now they look great.

I was also offered a Triumph race can by a friend and fitted it on Sunday. The bike now rumbles on tickover and sounds great on the move. The race can looks better too as it's shorter than the standard can and has a carbon finish.

Here are a few photos i took last night...

Blimey.... the bike howls!

2006-07-18T00:40:00.000+01:00

Well, The bike broke the 1000 mile barrier 2 Sundays ago so is fully run in. I am still getting used to revving the bike up to it's 14,000rpm red line! It doesn't feel natural after being used to the low revving ZRX. The speed 4 howls as the revs get above 7,000rpm and it just seems to pull and pull!

I'm still happy with the handling of the bike and love the way it can change direction really quickly. It's a whole new style of riding comapred with the ZRX so i'm learning all the time.

The only slight issue I have found with the bike is that it doesn't like slow speeds at low revs. Anything below 3000rpm and things get quite juddery. This can soon be overcome with either more revs, in a lower gear or by simply slipping the clutch. Some people see this as a problem but i just see it as a quirk and something i can happily get along with in return for a great handling bike.

A few more photos from the rideout yesterday

2006-07-03T07:53:00.001+01:00

2nd July rideout..

2006-07-03T07:53:00.000+01:00

Gemma did her first BIG rideout yesterday on her own bike. We headed towards whitchurch and met up with the Northwest biker gang at the Midway Transport Cafe where the A49 and A41 meet. We then headed off into Wales taking in the scenery around lake vyrnwy and then Lake Bala. We did a wide variety of roads including a single track road complete with gravel, dried mud and sheep! Gemma's bike was suited more to this type of road and the little bike came into it's own! Here are some photos from the day including a few of mine and Gemma's bikes...

300 miles and 6000rpm

2006-07-01T11:11:00.000+01:00

Well, i broke the 300 mile barrier last night and can now use up to 6000rpm. The bike is much happier now it is able to rev a little higher. I'm feeling more confident with the bike every time i go out on it. It desperately needs a wash now after been splattered with hunreds of flies last night! I thought i was wearing my tinted visor until i realised it was just fly guts, Yuk!

I've got the bike booked in for it's first service on Thursday when it will also be fitted with a set of R&G crash bungs. By the time i get home from the dealer, i reckon i'll be up to 600 miles which releases another 1000rpm for use!

First impressions of the Triumph...

2006-06-29T11:26:00.000+01:00

Well, the bike has been impressive so far. I'm restricted to 5000rpm for another 90 miles due to running the bike in but it has great potential. The bike feels much lighter than the ZRX and handles so much easier. I can concentrate on the road ahead more on this bike as i feel more relaxed. It turns in with no effort at all... i just look at where i want to end up and the bike just seems to get there. Once leaning into a corner it holds a good line and feels very stable. The clutch is very smooth and the gearbox is far less clunky than the ZRX. The gearchange feels very similar to my bandit and that was silky. The throttle response is excellent and it is very smooth, possibly down to this bike being fuel injected.

I think you either love or hate the looks of the Speed Four with it's bug eyes and ram air intakes sticking out at the front. I personally love it and it certainly turns heads. I don't ever recall seeing a red Speed Four but it suits the bike. Red wouldn't normally be my first choice for a bike but this just seems to work.

A friend of mine has given me a little black box which clicks in under the seat. This means that both lamps are lit when using dipped beam. In standard form only one lamp would be lit but it looks a bit wonky like that! Almost like it's winking!

The only thing i miss is a fuel gauge but i'm sure i'll survive without one. The bike has a warning light anyway and i tend to fill up every 100 miles anyway as the ZRX wouldn't do much more than that without using reserve.

I've done around 210 miles since picking the bike up on Tuesday afternoon so only 90 to go before i can use up to 6000rpm. Once i reach 1000 miles i can play without worrying about keeping the revs down. Probably wont take long to get there as I'll be playing out at every opportunity!

First photos of my new bike...

2006-06-27T19:25:00.000+01:00

Not a very glamourous setting but here's a few i took just as i got home and the heavens opened.. damn British weather!

Goodbye Kwak... Hello Triumph...

2006-06-26T23:01:00.001+01:00

Well, the time has come to part with my ZRX1100. It's served me well but it's time to move on to something new. I love the looks of the ZRX, the sound is addictive and it's comfortable riding two-up but i fancy trying something with a sporting nature. I think maybe i was being a bit ambitious chosing the ZRX as my next bike after the bandit 600 although i can handle it ok on open roads. Things just get a bit tricky on tight twisties and when trying to move the bike around in small spaces. I will be sorry to see it go really...

I'm not a massive fan of most of the faired bikes so i have struggled to find something to suit but i think i may have done it.. I have always liked the styling of the Speed Triple and Speed Four although they are not to everyones taste. They are verging on ugly but they are cool in my opinion. I couldn't afford to insure the Speed Triple or Four when i started out in biking but now i have a couple of years no claims, things are different. A friend of ours has a Speed four and when i saw and heard it, it made me want one all over again!

I started out looking at used examples but noticed quite a few really good deals on brand new fours. Trouble was, they'd nearly all been snapped up! I finally found one in a Triumph dealer in Blackburn and headed over there this morning to see what kind of deal i could get. I got a good offer for the ZRX and got the four at a great price too. With a bit of luck i'll be picking it up tomorrow! Can't wait! It's like being a little boy waiting for Christmas!

Here are some photos of the Speed four in the same 'Tornado Red' as mine...

Another few pics of the Speed four...

2006-06-26T23:01:00.000+01:00

Gemma's TW gets a makeover!!

2006-06-13T16:59:00.001+01:00

I've spent most of the day cleaning Gemma's TW and painting the exhaust and swingarm. The salt and dirt from the roads had made the exhaust and swingarm look tatty so i decided to give them a lick of paint to tidy things up a bit. It's amazing how much difference it's made to the overall appearance.. I'd just finished cleaning it up when it started raining cats & dogs! Typical!

A nice ride to Delamere Forest

2006-06-13T16:54:00.000+01:00

We went out for a gentle ride around Delamere forest and the Tarporley area on Sunday and had a great time. I took a few photos when we stopped for ice cream at the Railway Cafe in Delamere. The ice cream there is great! Gemma did really well on the twisty country lanes.

Some better pictures of Gemma's new wheels..

2006-06-10T10:28:00.000+01:00

Gemma now has her own 2 wheels!

2006-06-09T09:29:00.000+01:00

After much searching we found a Second hand Yamaha TW125 Trailway at a very reasonable price. It's a 2000 bike and is a little bit rough around the edges but nothing a good clean and polish wont sort out. The headlamp mounting brackets are broken but i've ordered an aftermarket headlamp and surround so, assuming it fits, the bike should look good. The steering head bearing has excessive play in it which leads to chattering under heavy breaking... Might get away with tightnening the bearing up although fitting a new one wont be too difficult if that's what the bike needs.

I rode the bike home last night and had a laugh! It doesn't have a very high top speed but it goes well and is fairly quiet and smooth. The knobbly balloon tyres make a humming noise, similar to a land rover at anything over 15mph! The controls are all very light and easy to use... An ideal bike for a beginner or someone wanting a bit of fun at the weekends without going at silly speeds. Here's a phot of Gemma's new wheels... It's not the best quality picture because i took it using my phone...

Gemma's doing her CBT !!

2006-05-18T19:46:00.000+01:00

Gemma has been bitten by the motorbike bug and has booked her CBT !!

We've been looking at 125's for her and like the look of the Suzuki van van and Yamaha TW. They are much more sturdy looking than most 125's and I think they are quite cool looking!

The suzuki... The Yamaha...

There are some nice sports bikes around but plastics can be quite costly and, being Gemma's first bike, it's probably a good idea to go for something more robust to begin with.

TotalBMW magazine

2006-05-11T10:14:00.001+01:00

Well, back in December, not many days before Christmas, I was invited to have my car featured in TotalBMW magazine. They were looking for three BMW 5 series cars which were used on a daily basis and not wrapped in cotton wool. The cars, all E39's were all modified and it was amazing how different they looked. I was surprised how big the feature was with mine having it's own 2 page spread! Here's a taster of the photos taken on the day...

I was approached by TotalBMW after sticking a photo of my car on the BMW5 forum which can be found at http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/ . TotalBMW magazine website can be found at http://www.totalbmwmag.com/

Some photos from the Thundersprint 2006

2006-05-07T22:42:00.000+01:00

Some of the bikes were definitely home built - just look at the beer can used here on no.44 !

Northwich Thundersprint this weekend!

2006-05-04T10:38:00.001+01:00

http://www.thundersprint.com/

The main event takes place on Sunday 7th May although there will be a number of manufacturers showing off their bikes on the Saturday, along with some trade stalls. Sunday consists of a cavalcade of bikes through the streets of Northwich and the Thundersprint itself. The Thundersprint is basically a series of short sprint races around quite a technical, tight course. This gives people the chance to see the machines, mostly race bikes, in all their glory. There are races throughout the day which take place on a makeshift circuit constructed on the M&S carpark. There is even an aerobatic display performed by a Spitfire at around 13:20. Leon Haslam will be there, along with a number of other famous racers from past and present. It's a great way to get very close to machines which are normally kept away from Joe Public.

Best thing about the show is the fact that it is all completely free, including parking! All in all a great day to be had... Just hope the weather holds out.

Treated myself to some leathers..

2006-05-04T10:38:00.000+01:00

Well, after going on a couple of rides with the NWB group i decided it was time to invest in some decent leg gear. I've got a couple of armoured jackets but, until now, i haven't had any armoured trousers. I ended up going for a 2 piece set by Akito. Here's a photo of me in my new Power Ranger suit...

I've been pleasantly surprised by how supple the leather is. Leathers i've tried in the past have been restrictive when it came to getting on the bike, let alone actually riding it! These are very soft and comfortable.

My bike was handling like an old barge...

2006-04-27T02:32:00.002+01:00

I've spent a few months away from the bike due to my dodgy back and, when i got back in the saddle, i didn't feel comfortable at all. The bike felt unstable at slow speeds and the cornering ability was rubbish! I put it down to me needing to build my confidence in the bike but that wasn't the only problem. Since i got the bike, back in June 2005, it's had a tendancy to follow white lines and overbanding. I did improve this by tweaking the suspension but the problem was still there. The profile of the front tyre has always been shallow but i put it down to the tyres being meant for touring. It was fitted with Bridgestone BT020's.

After wrestling the bike round Wales on a ride out I decided something had to be done so tackled the suspension again. It improved slightly but i was still unhappy with it. I am a member of Northwest Bikers so i took the bike along to the last pub meet where it was decided that my front tyre was to blame. Simon, a member of the group owns a ZRX, fitted with the same tyres and comparing the two, it was obvious there was a problem. My tyre's profile was far too shallow and looked almost square compared with Simon's. I took Simon's up the road and the difference was instant.

I went off to the tyre shop earlier today and had a new tyre fitted to the front. What a difference! It goes round corners now! i was so dis-heartened after the ride to Wales that I even considered getting rid of the bike if a solution couldn't be found! Now I am glad I didn't!

My bike just got louder!

2006-04-27T02:32:00.001+01:00

After spending the afternoon scrubbing my new front tyre in, Simon from Northwest Bikers offered to remove the 'removable' baffle from my exhaust. I've tried in the past but gave up after almost lifting the bike off the ground by it's baffle! The can just didn't want to part with it! Simon came up with another plan... Take the can off and push the baffle out - Simple idea but it worked! The bike has a lovely rumble to it on tickover and sounds like a muscle bike should on the move. The bike feels more responsive now and definitely pulls harder. Before the baffle was removed the bike sounded a bit spluttery on tickover and almost seemed a bit choked up on the move.

Definitely a worthwhile job!

northwest Bikers

2006-04-27T02:32:00.000+01:00

A friendly, fast growing group of bikers from the Northwest of England. Among other things, the group organises rides all over the Northwest and beyond. There's a wide variety of bikes and riding abilities so everyone is catered for.

The main website can be found here http://www.northwestbikers.co.uk/

And the MSN website can be found here http://groups.msn.com/NorthwestBikers The MSN website has a message board where lots of information is shared including technical bike stuff and details of rides.

The group meet at the Bulls Head in Clotton, Tarporley every 2 weeks. The last meeting being Tuesday 25th March.

The 'cancelled' Wirral Egg Run

2006-04-02T16:32:00.000+01:00

Here's a link to some photos from the Wirral Egg run today. The event happens each year just before easter and the aims are to raise money for charity and to deliver Easter Eggs to poorly kids at Clatterbrige hospital. For an event which was supposedly cancelled due to the police and local authorities raising their concerns, the turn out was pretty impressive! there were hundreds, if not thousands of bikes of all shapes and sizes.

Here are a few pictures from the Run

And a link to a small slideshow too http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v293/banditnovice/Egg%20run%202006/?action=view&slideshow=true

A few pictures of my bike

2006-03-15T17:48:00.000Z

Just been out on the bike for the first time in ages. My thumbs are now frozen and my leg is killing due to the sciatica, but it was worth it! I headed up to Delamere Forest, not far from here, and took some pictures when i stopped to stretch my legs.

Sciatica

2006-01-26T03:46:00.000Z

I was diagnosed with Sciatica in October 2005 and I'm still waiting for an appointment to see a physio. It's a nasty condition which has stopped me using my bike as i can't get my leg over! Well, i can get my leg over but can't get off without a great deal of discomfort and without worrying about dropping the bike. I currently have hardly any feeling in the 2 smallest toes on my right foot and tingling from my right bum cheek right down the back of my right leg. This tingling turns to pain and can last for hours on end. If you have any hints or tips on how to ease the discomfort, i'd appreciate them!

I got myself a minimoto!

2006-01-26T03:37:00.000Z

Well, after looking at them at various shows and on the internet, i finally decided to treat myself to a minmoto for a laugh. I've got problems with my back and right leg at the moment though so I haven't been able to play on it too much. I'll get some pictures of it next time i'm off work.

I got it from http://www.warringtonminimoto.co.uk/ They have some great bikes there, including this mini chopper!

Car service

2006-01-26T03:33:00.000Z

I had my car serviced recently and was very pleased with the way me and my car were treated. I took it to BMTec in Manchester. http://www.bmtec.co.uk/ They carried out an inspection 1 service and fitted an anti roll bar linkage to the front too. It came to £200 altogether which was £4o less than i was quoted locally for the service alone. They even washed and hoovered the car!

National Motorcycle Show 2006

2006-01-05T03:10:00.000Z

The show takes place at the G-mex in Manchester from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th January.

I'm going on Sunday. Really looking forward to it! I've been for the last few years and it gets bigger and better all the time. Last year, the show was at bursting point so a new venue could well be neeeded if it continues to grow.

Here's a link to the official website http://www.bikeshowseurope.com/manchester%2006.htm

and one or two photos of what you can expect to see...

Magazine photoshoot

2005-12-21T07:19:00.000Z

I went to Bicester on Monday to take part in a photoshoot for Total BMW magazine. I was contacted via an online forum http://www.bmw5.co.uk/ and asked if i would like my car to be featured. I haven't been given a date for when the feature will be published but here is a link to some photos i took on the day... http://photobucket.com/albums/v293/banditnovice/photoshoot/?action=view&slideshow=true

Here are a few photos to give you a taster..

NEC International Motorcycle & Scooter Show

2005-11-22T10:15:00.000Z

I went to the show at the beginning of November and was a little bit disappointed. There was plenty to look at but some manufacturers chose not to display at this years show. Anyway, here are a few sample photos and a link to where i have more photos saved... http://photobucket.com/albums/v293/banditnovice/NEC2005/?action=view&slideshow=true

Spent a couple of hours in the car last night...

2005-10-30T09:09:00.000Z

....and loved every minute of it.

The car felt quick when i took it for a test drive but i didn't push it then as the automatic box and general feel of the car was quite strange after driving the smaller E36. Last night we took the car out for a spin and the car felt better and better as i got more used to it. On paper the car will do 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds and i am inclined to believe that after a couple of quick get-aways using Sport mode! It's impressive from a standstill but also when increasing speed whilst already on the move.

I was expecting to notice a big drop in mpg after driving the E36 but i got 110miles out of £15 worth of petrol. I used to get 80-90miles to £10 worth of petrol in the E36 so the E39 isn't as bad as expected - working out at 80 miles per £10. This works out at around 33mpg for a mixture of motorway and town driving so i can't complain. Not that the mpg figure means a lot when the car goes as well as this does. It's well worth the extra few pence for each mile!

I was a bit concerned that it might get a bit boring to drive with being an auto but with this model you get the option of Sport and Semi-auto modes to keep you entertained! The sound the car makes in Sport mode is great! It's not loud but has just enough growl to remind you of it's sporty nature.

Soooo, up to now, I have been very impressed.

My new baby!

2005-10-29T23:02:00.000+01:00

I picked the new car up last night!

2005-10-29T10:48:00.000+01:00

And it's great! I'm stuck in work today but I'm hoping to get some photos later and will stick them on here later or tomorrow. The E36 coupe is a great car and i will miss it but the E39 is a whole new ball game! Smooth, refined, quick, sounds great and looks great!

Watch this space for photos....

MY BMW E36 318is Coupe is sold !!

2005-10-21T14:04:00.000+01:00

My car is sold, subject to it passing it's MOT tomorrow. I don't see any problems so i will be off to pick up the new car before the end of the week hopefully!

New car on the way.....

2005-10-18T10:12:00.000+01:00

Well, I put a deposit down on my next BMW yesterday!

It's a 1998 E39 528i SE with only 51500 miles on the clock!
It is fitted with deep dish 18" BMW wheels, has a very dark green leather interior (looks almost black), bodykit, Schnitzer mirros and small roof and boot spoilers.

My uncle heard about the car and phoned me so i went to see it without knowing what to expect really. I was dreading the car looking like a boy racer machine when i heard about it but was pleasantly surprised when i got there. It's a stunner!

Here's a photo taken with my phone, which is rubbish! I will post more once my 318 coupe is sold and i pick this new one up

Should i buy a minimoto ??

2005-10-06T23:56:00.000+01:00

I keep looking at minimotos and really fancy getting my hands on one for a laugh. I don't want to spend too much money as i don't plan to race it or anything. It will be purely for fun...

I've also been looking at the go-ped style scooters too and they look great fun.

I'm hoping to pick up one of these 'toys' up at the International Motorcycle Show at the NEC in November

What do you think?

Update : The NEC was a bit of a disappointment when it comes to minimotos. There were a few small stalls selling them but they were competition models and too expensive to warrant buying one just for fun. I'll keep my eyes open when i visit the National bike show at the G-Mex, Manchester in January. Watch this space!

Photos from the Leigh on Sea Meet

2005-10-05T20:10:00.000+01:00

Jamtart - Anna

Muppet Paster - Jase, Andy W - Andy W!, Pussyhorse - Rab

Karter - Karim, Wildblue - James, Trix - Clare

Pussyhorse - Rab

The view from our hotel room....

Rab, Mrs K & Mr K

Gio - Peter, Jonah - Joan!

Kasandrich - Rich, Sniffer - Stu, Me!, Gio - Peter

Immokk - Cherie

Peter, Joan & Anna

Southend on sea

2005-10-03T06:59:00.000+01:00

What a weekend!! Met up with some of the gang from the Gin House forum at the weekend. It was good to put some more faces to names. The weather was mixed on the way down so i took the car but it was stunning on Sunday which really made me regret leaving the bike at home! I've got a few photos from the meet so watch this space....

A few photos taken by other forum members can be found here http://www.thegin-house.com/forum/album.php

DVD : The Long Way Round

2005-09-28T05:24:00.000+01:00

I bought the 2 DVD set of the series first shown on Sky One and have watched it a couple of times already! It's a great series and i'd recommend it to everyone, not just biking enthusiasts.

For those of you who don't know, it's a documentary following Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman as they embark on a journey from London to New york, the long way round! They do this on BMW bikes and come across some very tough conditions and terrain.

It has it's funny moments, scary moments and also gives you an insight into the lives of people living in some of the most remote places in the world.

Definitely worth watching!

ZRX1100 Tyre Pressures

2005-09-28T05:13:00.000+01:00

I've been riding my bike on the tyre pressures recommended by the manufacturer since i got it but it has always felt slightly heavy at the front end. At anything over 20mph the weight was hardly noticeable but at low speeds it was too heavy! I decided to do a bit of research and found that the recommended tyre pressures don't go down too well with any ZRX owners! The best pressures to run are 36psi in the front and 42psi in the rear. It now feels like a different bike!

Reliant's to Russia...

2005-09-27T02:45:00.000+01:00

It's the Extremetrifle gang at it again... this time taking a collection of Reliant Robins on a 4000 mile journey to Russia!

http://www.extremetrifle.com/3/r2r_intro.php

Cheeseyrider...

2005-09-27T02:30:00.000+01:00

These guys are nuts but it looks like great fun...

http://www.extremetrifle.com/3/cheesyrider_index.php

They basically took a load of Honda 90's, customised them ever so slightly and then headed of to the Moto Faro Rally in Portugal... only 1500 miles!

Suspension settings

2005-09-27T01:05:00.000+01:00

Since buying my bike back in June, it's always felt more suited to riding with a pillion. This was all very well but i'd prefer it to be more suited to riding solo as that's how i spend 75% of my time. My confidence in the bike has never been as good as it could be when riding solo so i decided to have a go at playing with the suspension settings.

I was pleasantly surprised at how simple the settings are to adjust. My bike sits on 2 springs rather than the 1 that most modern bikes use nowadays. This makes adjusting the settings very easy as the springs are situated outside the swing-arm instead of being tucked away at the base of the bike. Following advice i found on the ZRX forum, http://www.zrxoc.com/board/showpost.php?p=131&postcount=1, i've managed to get the bike feeling much better.

The ZRX differs from most bikes in the way that it has an eccentric chain adjuster which normally has the rear wheel spindle toward the top. By adjusting this so that the spindle is toward the bottom, the rear of the bike rides slightly higher, giving the bike a quicker turn in. I also like the look of the bike with it's rear slightly higher.

Fuel - Panic buying! (continued)

2005-09-13T15:17:00.000+01:00

well, things haven't improved really! 2 of the petrol stations i passed earlier this afternoon were closed and the other 2 had streams of 10-15 cars waiting to get in! My bike is full up but my car will need some more petrol by the end of the week so i hope the police stick to their word and keep the roads clear of barricades. I wonder if i'll get paid if i can't get into work due to lack of fuel... hmmmm

Fuel - Panic buying!

2005-09-13T09:01:00.000+01:00

Well, I spent 20 minutes queuing for petrol to fill the bike up yesterday due to everyone panic buying! Forecourts all over the country were in chaos as people queued for petrol fearing it could run out due to the blockades in France. I wouldn't have bothered waiting to fill the bike up if it hadn't been almost empty. A number of the filling stations near here ran out of Petrol by early afternoon and ended up closing early. Have you been affected by the panic buying??

The Ponderosa Cafe, Llangollen

2005-09-12T11:05:00.000+01:00

The Ponderosa is situated on the Horseshoe Pass, Langollen. Normally the views up there are great on a clear day but, when it's not, all you will get to see is mist and sheep! Weekends are the best time to head up there if it's bikes you want to see. It becomes quite busy when the weather is good. The food and drink up there is very reasonably priced and there are quite a lot of car parking spaces along with designated bike parking areas. The roads are great, but watch out for the cattle grids and sheep!

More info can be found here http://www.ponderosacafe.co.uk

Some photos from my trip to Llangollen today..

2005-09-11T19:00:00.000+01:00

Here are some photos of my trip to Llangollen this afternoon. We stopped off at the Ponderosa Cafe on the Horseshoe Pass for a cuppa along with a load of other bikers!

Southport

2005-09-10T12:55:00.000+01:00

A good place to visit at the weekend is Southport. It attracts tons of bikers with machines of all different shapes and sizes! There's a large section of off-road parking available for bikes close to the boating lake. Here are a few photos i took a couple of weekends ago..