Modern Vespa

Okay, in the event of a zombie attack, that would have benefits.

You'd probably get there 28 days later as well. Seriously though, did you have fun? I had fun for precisely three weeks, but then I have a short attention span (as most of you know already).

It was sort of fun.... there is a satisfaction in managing the changes properly and you cringe when you don't.

I think what happens to people is that they learn, then they get into POWAH and leather romper suits and talking shit at biker cafes. None of that is very appealing.

Scooter riders talk a better class of rot.

Bwahahaha

You see having had loads of manual bikes I think I actually prefer a twist and go especially if it's on a Mana which I loved riding.

Just not having to think about the up an down shifts is a pleasure.

There I've said it.

Bill XX

Wonder to back up your previous statement for me there's less bullshit involved with scooter people than biker people.

Ducks.

I think the only reason to ride one in Central London would be if the satisfaction of a gear change well executed overrode the fact that you have to make them in the first place.

As Doug pointed out yesterday, I'm following his pattern. I expect I'd hate the first week of commuting, find the next three weeks quite satisfying in a strange Aspergers-like way, and then get bored.

I think if I'd one however many million gear-changes that Bill has, then I'd never want to see a clutch or gear-pedal ever again. I'll have you know that my new romper suit is textile, although I am partial to a pair of chaps in leather. This, and a bit of Doug's advice yesterday is now why I'm reconsidering the Mana in favour of a 600cc ish manual (non-sportsbike) [perhaps a few years old Kawasaki Versys] plus either a 125 or 200cc Modern Vespa of some description.

Either way, the SH will be going over the Summer. Haven't changed my plans to doing BikeSafe + LAM/IAM training though - that looks like fun regardless of what PTW I'm on.

Totally, thoroughly, recommended. Fun, fun, fun, and you get to learn to live rather than just survive.

Bill, I have the same problem as you do. I wanted to scoot and play. I would have settled for working in the front garden. Instead we have temps in the low 50's, wind in the high 20's and rain.

So much for sunny California. Bugger.

And I'm test-blog riding the Madass 125 tomorrow. Shall we have a time+continent altered fun ride together Wonder? But yes, I'm pining to ride the Bajaj to Detroit for work one day next week. Shifty for ever, but appreciating the commuter TNG, yeah.

And yes, we've just purchased a Transit Connect this week (goodbye MINI) for camping and family fun but mostly for SCOOTER TRANSPORT to various unsavory rallies and such. Can't wait.

Here's a crazy idea - why not ride the scooter to the rally ?

I know it's a bit mad but just think of it........

Well done for spotting the other reason that I don't really want to ride another shifty for a while because after all those years of riding a manual I developed - and please forgive me for the spelling tynosinavitus wrong in my left wrist from the thousands of gear changes that I was doing in a day. Doug will no doubt tell me how to spell that correctly at some point.
Even now I get a build up of what feels like fleshy matter in just under the skin of my left wrist which I break up with the forceful use of my digits and its goes away for a few months.

Granted you do lose the gift of engine braking and you also lose the gift of booting it down a gear but life and riding is so much easier with a twisty.

I think a 600 is the way to go David and no disrespect to you or your riding ability but I'd worry about you alot if you went for the Mana.
It's a rocketship of the highest order and even I would think that owning one would be a waste because I'd want to keep pushing it to see just what I could get away with and that's not a good idea.
That bike deserves to be given the beans on a daily basis mostly in a country where the roads are safer than here.
The blessing with the GT is that I pretty much know what I can get way with and I'm happy with that.

On the point of leather chaps I can honestly say in my 5 years in the wilderness I owned a very fetching pair of black leather chaps and when I retired I sold them to a nice man in Tunbridge Wells.

Love and Rocketships

Bill XX

Edit - TechGuy if the weather holds off I may well drive home and get bring the GT back up to London for Sunday and Monday.
I'm glad I did take the cage last night because it threw it down until about 7am this morning.

See I'm doing it again.

IT'S ALL ABOUT POWAH-WAH-WAH-wah-wah-wah [monster truck announcer voice].

i know what you lot are like - somebody's going to get leather rompers then everyone's going to want a set.

one's not enough?

I respect your opinion (w.r.t. experience), but I'm not looking to go super-fast-POWAH, especially not in town.

I'm perfectly happy with the SH in town. In fact, I think it's a bit overpowered for commuting amongst drivers of SE London versus the madmen of the West, given my route is now entirely 20 or 30mph limit roads.

Out of town, I've basically replacing my gliding at the weekends with 5-6 hour rides out into the greenery. That's where the SH lets me down a bit: it's too small (physically), there's no weather protection and it's not very involving.

I'll be arranging for a bunch of test rides in a couple of months anyway. I think I'll try out the Mana amongst that bunch, if for no other reason that I'm curious how well it works from an engineering POV.


David

PS Having just re-read why I want something bigger for the countryside, aside from the lack of PTW aspect, I could be describing a car! Except for the fact that I've wanted a motorbike since I was 4...[/i]

I'll rock the boat, I like being awkward, I prefer riding my new manual as I feel more involved and alert. Though saying that tomorow will be only my second venture into town on it.

another lovely donking afternoon, this time in the tourist district. maver and sarah made the trip all the way down from Beccles to eat pasta with us, and then queue for the London Eye. doug, jim, and stuart rounded out the party.

doug came back to mine to take my pashley for a test ride as it sounds as though he's going pushbike shopping tomorrow.

we're off to get cheese and bisquites for dinner now

And where pray tell is that lovely picture of me puckering up to you, with you wearing Jim's specs, making an oh-so-funny face?

It wasn't a bad afternoon out on Old London Town was it ?

When we first arrived we were outraged to see a BMW Coupe parked in half of the available bike bays so Genie approached the nearest available policeman and vented her displeasure at the transgression.
He politely informed us that on Sundays the owner was perfectly entitled to park his car in the bike bays even if he was a knob. The BMW owner by the way, not the policeman who happened to be very nice indeed.
Always nice to meet a pleasant, helpful and articulate member of the police force.

I thought the food and service was pretty good today at Bella Pasta but I
I almost died when that bowl of ice cream came out at the end.
I'm surprised that more of you didn't offer to help finish it off.

Thanks once again for Maver and Sarah and also young Stuart for making the journey.
How did the rest of your trip to the Smoke go ? How was the Eye ?

We must think about a ride up into Suffolk at some point later this year and hang out with the Norwich Crue.

One thing that I should have mentioned yesterday was while we were walking along the Embankment we crossed over Waterloo Bridge on our way to Covent Garden and saw a homeless guy asking for "any spare change" but at the same time texting on his mobile.
Now is it me or was there anything wrong with that picture ?

Answers on a postcard.

Bill XX

You should know that in most areas of London, on a bank holiday, as all single yellow lines are up for grabs by scoots and cars, so m/c bays are up for grabs by cars and scoots. As a driver of both, I often use a m/c bay for the car because it is so small it fits, and many weekend drivers don't know the rules, then have to gently explain to a cross scooterist that the yellow lines can be his or hers for the taking.

Fay.

Add some acronyms and emoticoms to soften the rough sound of the above.

Just received this link wrt the Wootton Bassett ride.

http://unitysupportriders.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=303.0;attach=97

If that doesn't work I'll provide it separately, let me know.

Fay - I should know alot of things but I don't.

I'm a Maidstone Boy born and bred and eventhough I've been visiting London pretty much every weekend for the past 6 months there is still a fair amount I don't know about the place so forgive my ignorance.

Bill

I have a bit of a headache this morning but it'll be sorted by a top up this afternoon. My very talented pals Over the Wall have just returned from a brief tour of Engerland and are hosting a single lunch today. It's an online release but they insisted on having a rather special run of blue vinyl 7"s printed and the anticipation of getting to see these (and buy one) would probably be painful if it wasn't eclipsed by the suffering caused by last night's wine adventure.

Anyway, I urge all to seek out their songs and have a wee listen (ETA: start here) - they're very good even despite being my mates and on top of this they're both excellent fellows. Also be warned that the band of which I am a member has largely completed recording an album and as soon as that becomes available I'll probably be mentioning it often.

I have no idea which nation won last night's wine contest but I do know I had a great night deciding.

Just a local trying to help out. There are that many wrinkles. I love the fact that I've been getting around this capital city for over half a century and learn something every day.

lunch with the Donks and Donkettes was great, really enjoeyed bella pasta, great venue, had a hoot getting there saw lots of sites crossing central londonistan on foot and following the meal sarah and i ran back to the eye and took advantage of our merlin passes for a spin, great views 8) then we went to "bill's cube" in the turbine hall at the tate modern, surreal experience, almost mystical, especilly just after i walked into the wall at the back with my eyes wide open and i swear i saw stars briefly

other exhibits that had me in awe included this one, but i can't help thinking they've hung it upside down........



i think it's called:-

"oi luv, get the kitchen roll, i've knocked the bastard paint over...."

can't find a picture of the 3 canvasas in the "sqiuggle" collection but they were class, almost identical to each other, bit like spot the difference 8)

i feel a galleries of suffolk DKSC tour is on the cards............

Maver I'm so glad you did the box of death thing.

Did you pile on regardless or did you walk in slowly with your hand extended ? Reading your post back I've just answered that question.

From the outside it just looks like a huge container in a spaceship that contains a dark secret but from the inside......

I suggest that everyone should give it a go and test your faith in the darkness.

A ride North East is a promise at some point this year and we can get the GT's to really stretch thier legs.

Look in your dairy.

Bill X

Anyway we saw Bill Oddie at a Garden Centre today so beat that.

Goodie Goodie Yum Yum.

Bill XX

do not approach bill oddie with any of his carchphrases, he's a manic depressive and will probably beat you to death, true.


bit like the father ted scene with the "i don't believe it" directed at one Richard Wilson

And that's the very reason I didn't approach him.

Oddly enough the BBC can't pay that well because he was driving a beaten up Renault Clio.

I dare anyone to make the Joe Walsh connection.

Bill XX

Dammit Janet, another lunch missed!

When might the next one be?

Bar Italia seems to be dead on it's feet so looking for somewhere else to socialise?

Fay

The BBC pay absolute arse unless you are J Ross.

I know this because I did a work experience placement in the fees team at BBC Brookmans Park. Many of the repeat fees people get are in the order of a couple of sandwiches and a coffee.

Sounds like everyone had fun! I did a fair number of miles over the weekend, many of them a bit soggy. Nothing like almost reaching the end of the flooded patch only to discover the surprise bonus pothole hiding under the mud.

i asked some wag the other day to estimate my income, given my profile and 'success'.

'about' 100k was his estimate. This year I might make 10% of that.

Bill won't be poor, but to keep his green credentials a Clio is a good idea. He'll not earn a lot from the Beeb, and in good years public speaking and corporates will be his principal income. That at the moment will be well down

You won't see him hawking the big Issue, but I keep looking at maybe getting a small concession..............

Yes Fay, a creative income is very sporadic indeed. One month gravy, the next......

Bill Oddie began to pursue a career after university as a pop singer - I don't know if anyone knew that. I found it out listening "Songs for the Dog and Duck" and he's on it.

Listening to him croon is both fun and good. What might have been, instead of doing the Funky Gibbon and running away from kittehs that threatened the GPO Tower?

Nice jumper....

Good God. He looks like one of the Monkees.

It's not the best cover, is it.

He appears to have killed a ginger sheep, and is holding some shopping in his right hand.

Groovy, baby.

I think he has just done the amazing vanishing hand trick.
Fay

If I met Bill Oddie looking like that I would demand both his hands where I could see them at all times.

Is it the side burns Alice?

More the double chin.

In that picture he looks a lot like my old English teacher. I won't name any names to protect her anonymity.

Now I once bought a Goodies LP and on that record was a track by Bill Oddie called Show me the way.

It's kind of a gospel song but boy he does it some credit.

Fay we've got nothing really planned apart from a "Speed Ride" to the coast on May 2nd which Marc and I are leading but we'll keep you posted just as you promise not to show off your slight of hand.

I have finally sorted out my steering alingment by the cunning use of electrical tape placed in the dead centre of the front mudguard and then running it along the middle towards the legshield, then with the headlight unit off line up the castellated underside of the clocks with the tape and whallop it's true with the bars.
Tighten up the pinch bolt and Bob's your Uncle.
I rode it once and then adjusted it slightly and now it not only feels right it looks right.
I only had to donate 1 screw to our Lord Jesus but yeah I'm very chuffed.
The good news is that this weekend will be dry.

More later.

Bill XX

Edit - Insurance came through today. £120 a year fully comp. Not bad at all.

Edit 2 I met a Trade Plater today who gets paid more than me for just collecting and delivering luxury cars.
Very annoying.