Monday, 21 May 2012
Stolen Skorpion
Was sent details of a black Skorpion stolen in Brighton.
As there aren't that many Skorpions in Britain, could you keep an eye out for it and be wary if you're offered spares from a (non standard) matt black bike.
Owner posted on 'The Rev Counter' e-group: post
Spread the word - it could be your bike next!
Owner posted on 'The Rev Counter' e-group: post
Spread the word - it could be your bike next!
Sunday, 20 May 2012
Coupes Moto Legende - not long now!
After all the planning, our trip to France is nearly upon us. On Wednesday, me, mr combo, Terry, and Gareth will be heading off to the Coupes Moto Legende near Dijon. I'll be going on my Traveller, mr combo on his Triumph Sprint ST, Terry on his Skorpion Tour and Gareth on his Derbi Mulhacén Café 659.
This means that 3 of the 4 of us will, in keeping with the title of this blog, be 'Touring on Singles'.
I had a 'test pack' of my luggage and found that I ended up with plenty of room left. This means that either am I very disciplined, or I've forgotten something! Knowing how paranoid I am, I'll spend the next couple of days racking my brain trying to think about 'the forgotten thing'!
I've had a look on the Web, and the weather for the time we'll be there doesn't look too bad.
Looks like I'll be packing my lightweight kilt and my Borat style mankini!!!
My plan is to try and update the blog and my Facebook page from my netbook while I'm away. Whether or not I manage to do this is another question!
Will take LOTS of photos and videos and will post them when I get back.
I had a 'test pack' of my luggage and found that I ended up with plenty of room left. This means that either am I very disciplined, or I've forgotten something! Knowing how paranoid I am, I'll spend the next couple of days racking my brain trying to think about 'the forgotten thing'!
I've had a look on the Web, and the weather for the time we'll be there doesn't look too bad.
My plan is to try and update the blog and my Facebook page from my netbook while I'm away. Whether or not I manage to do this is another question!
Will take LOTS of photos and videos and will post them when I get back.
Friday, 18 May 2012
Safety always
I don't think I've posted this one before on the blog, but it's an interesting look at motorcycling in 1965.
Lots to look out for here:
Like how Tom's gauntlets are so wide that rain water would run down his sleeves and fill them up.
I take it he's got some kind of throttle lock that allows him to take away with hand off the bars.
Had white line paint not been invented yet?
Lots of cool old cars (spot the bubble car at 3:00).
Tom really likes hand signals, doesn't he?
Despite comments on YouTube about Tom not stopping for the lady at the crossing (5:34), at that time the rule was that someone wanting to cross signalled to road users to stop by placing one foot on the road.
Note guest appearance by Spandau Ballet at 7:26!
Here's one produced by BMW in the 70s. I remember seeing this at the 'BMW Roadshow' when they launched the R100RS.
I remember thinking the way the rider 'spins' the bike on its stand at 0:54 was cool. What they didn't tell you was that doing this wore your stand so much that it snaps! Don't ask!
Now for those of us who grew up in the 70s, Donald Pleasance voicing one of the scarier public information films.
"Oi! look there's sumun' in tha w'ota" See, people talked like that before Eastenders!
Lots to look out for here:
Like how Tom's gauntlets are so wide that rain water would run down his sleeves and fill them up.
I take it he's got some kind of throttle lock that allows him to take away with hand off the bars.
Had white line paint not been invented yet?
Lots of cool old cars (spot the bubble car at 3:00).
Tom really likes hand signals, doesn't he?
Despite comments on YouTube about Tom not stopping for the lady at the crossing (5:34), at that time the rule was that someone wanting to cross signalled to road users to stop by placing one foot on the road.
Note guest appearance by Spandau Ballet at 7:26!
Here's one produced by BMW in the 70s. I remember seeing this at the 'BMW Roadshow' when they launched the R100RS.
I remember thinking the way the rider 'spins' the bike on its stand at 0:54 was cool. What they didn't tell you was that doing this wore your stand so much that it snaps! Don't ask!
Now for those of us who grew up in the 70s, Donald Pleasance voicing one of the scarier public information films.
"Oi! look there's sumun' in tha w'ota" See, people talked like that before Eastenders!
Friday bike
It's an RD 350, but not as we know it........
It's an Indian built Rajdoot RD 350! After Yamaha stopped building the very successful RD 350 in the mid 70s, Indian firm Escorts bought the rights and built their version from 1983 to 1990. It different from the Yamaha version mainly in having a drum front brake and a detuned engine. It was sold as a competitor to the Enfield 350, and although you'd expect it to be a runaway success (well, which would you choose?), it was never a commercial success due to high fuel consumption, very expensive and difficult to obtain spares, and a lack of dealers who could work on one. Pity, as it would be a lot sportier, and certainly MUCH cooler than an Enfield. Wikipedia
It's an Indian built Rajdoot RD 350! After Yamaha stopped building the very successful RD 350 in the mid 70s, Indian firm Escorts bought the rights and built their version from 1983 to 1990. It different from the Yamaha version mainly in having a drum front brake and a detuned engine. It was sold as a competitor to the Enfield 350, and although you'd expect it to be a runaway success (well, which would you choose?), it was never a commercial success due to high fuel consumption, very expensive and difficult to obtain spares, and a lack of dealers who could work on one. Pity, as it would be a lot sportier, and certainly MUCH cooler than an Enfield. Wikipedia
I would imagine that this was fairly 'racy' advertising for India in the 80s!
Friday, 11 May 2012
Friday bike
Ho, ho, ho, - this is going to upset some people!!
Contemporary artist Grayson Perry, more well known as a ceramicist, has turned his attention towards motorcycles and created a Harley custom called 'Kenilworth AM1'.
He's also designed his own leathers based on the Cerne Abbas giant sculpture.
Grayson curated an exhibition at the British Museum called 'The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman' and there's a explanatory video here.
I think Grayson makes a valid point when he likens the custom bike scene to 'traditional' crafts like making a suit of armour, in that craftsmen make something individual to order.
Grayson is also well known for his transvestism, so it might be better if he didn't turn up at a Harley rally on Kenilworth dressed as his alter ego, Claire!
Contemporary artist Grayson Perry, more well known as a ceramicist, has turned his attention towards motorcycles and created a Harley custom called 'Kenilworth AM1'.
He's also designed his own leathers based on the Cerne Abbas giant sculpture.
Cerne Abbas giant
Grayson curated an exhibition at the British Museum called 'The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman' and there's a explanatory video here.
I think Grayson makes a valid point when he likens the custom bike scene to 'traditional' crafts like making a suit of armour, in that craftsmen make something individual to order.
Grayson is also well known for his transvestism, so it might be better if he didn't turn up at a Harley rally on Kenilworth dressed as his alter ego, Claire!
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Interesting sculpture/fountain of the week
This time it's not the sculpture that's 'interesting', but the reaction of some people to it. An artist in Arizona has unveiled a (distinctly unerotic) nude statue, but people seen to find something in it to complain about.
Here's a bit of video of an article on television. statue
You could not imagine for a moment that anyone in Europe would object to a sculpture like this on grounds of it being 'shocking'. Not particularly interesting, yes; or not of very high artistic merit, possibly; but certainly not offensive.
I find it very strange that the US is moving further and further away from Europe culturally and morally, whilst moving closer to a country like Iran - I thought they were supposed to be the 'bad guys'.
You could not imagine for a moment that anyone in Europe would object to a sculpture like this on grounds of it being 'shocking'. Not particularly interesting, yes; or not of very high artistic merit, possibly; but certainly not offensive.
I find it very strange that the US is moving further and further away from Europe culturally and morally, whilst moving closer to a country like Iran - I thought they were supposed to be the 'bad guys'.
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