Issue 166 May 2012

WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK HALF BOOK 100% ITALIAN MOTORCYCLES From the editor... If this is the first time edge bikes, concentrating then you already knew that… Benzina you’ve seen TRD, hello and instead on Derry boots Didn’t you? UPSET UPSET welcome! If you’re interested and grey imports like the I’m not suggesting that

HI-CAM HI-CAM benzina__ NIGHT NIGHT in motorcycles there’s a Honda Bros. we’re in the business of very good chance you’ll find Which is not to suggest revealing secrets, you’re

CLASSIC something you enjoy in this that TRD’s world was devoid unlikely to read anything in issue; and assuming you of colour, far from it, but its the Digest that you weren’t MV&MAGNI MV&MAGNI I T A L I A N M O T O R C Y C L E S do, check out the previous readers were all-year-round, aware of beforehand; it’s just high-mileage riders who that where the big glossy THE REAL COMEBACK REAL COMEBACK THE two because they are both

ORIGINS ORIGINS available free via the Archive weren’t impressed by flash, magazines strive to sell the page of the web site. frippery and glitz. They spent airbrushed, highly-stylised, Given that there are only enough time riding in crap aspirational world the big two issues in that archive, a weather that the last thing manufacturers want you to IN THE END IN THE new reader would be forgiven they needed was someone buy; we are content to give for thinking we are a recent pissing down their backs and away the wonderful world of addition to the world of telling them it was raining. A motorcycling in all its warts motorcycle mags and that courier might well consider and all glory. Issue 7 Issue GIRL ON A (BLOODY FAST) MOTORCYCLE MOTORCYCLE FAST) A (BLOODY ON GIRL KID 500/4 BENELLI GENIUS MOVES MOVES we chose to start with issue buying an £800 riding suit if The Brough Superior 1 | Benzina 164 because of a slightly the reliable word on the street is undeniably a rare and warped sense of humour; is that they will get a good beautiful thing, and a Finally something you’ll want to read: (besides the Rider’s Digest - obviously) Benzina is a quarterly but TRD has actually, as the few years decent weather genuine work of automotive magazine showcasing classic Italian bikes in a high quality format. The 21 x 24 cm landscape layout maths suggests, been around protection from it; but a art – which is why we have shows motorcycles the way they’re meant to be seen. In fact Benzina is more like a book than a since 1997. serious long-termer is highly featured it in this issue – but traditional magazine - heavyweight paperstock, 88 ad free pages and nothing that won’t be as Originally it was a print unlikely to splash that kind of at the same time we never relevant in a couple of years time as it is today, often with ground breaking stories and always with a magazine delivered free cash for a piece of kit whose lose track of the fact that love for the planet’s finest motorcycles. For more information and to buy visit teambenzina.co.uk to London’s thousands of main justification for its price you could buy a wrecker for couriers and was entirely tag, is the manufacturers’ literally a thousandth of the financed by despatchlogo. When you ride a bike price that will leave you with industry recruitment adverts. for 50+ hours a week, it isn’t a a million dollar smile after a For a while during the ‘Loadsa lifestyle, it’s a way of life! short spirited ride. money!’ boom of the mid It’s no surprise then If you like our style you to late eighties, good riders that couriers who consider might consider clicking on the could earn the sort of money themselves lucky to clear donation button; and if you’ve that would allow them, if much above minimum wage got a product or service they were so inclined, to buy these days, tend to be more that you’d like intelligent the newest slickest piece of aware of the inalienable motorcyclists to know about, machinery on the market; but truths of motorcycling life; you might want to consider by the time TRD arrived on like the fact that just about advertising in our pages. the scene a decade later, the everything is made in a single courier business had become factory somewhere in the Dave Gurman an infinitely leaner meaner far east, where the parts are world. As a result the articles bunged in plastic bags and that provided the light relief labelled as Ying Yang specials between despatch company for a tenner, Suzuki’s Original ads offering ever decreasing Equipment for £120, Triumph’s rates of pay, rarely even for £165, Harley’s for £298 and benzinaCLASSIC bothered to name check the MV’s for whatever they damn- Catch Dave every Thursday latest designer kit or cutting well feel like charging you! But between 6 and 8pm (GMT) ITALIAN on www.bikerfm.co.uk

M O T O R C Y C L E S ISSUE 166 May 2012 3 59. The Code of the Road 122. Motorcycle Girl Racer Polly takes a leaf from the Mandy meets Contents... US Marines’ book Megabucks

7. In the Saddle 27. The Boy Biker 64. Street Triple 126. The Shamrocks The anti-anarchy Our new boy went AWOL Is Rod Young completely Cops in clover backlash so we’re repeating a out to lunch? classic column from the 133. Book Review 11. Rider’s Lives original BB. 77. Bangkok Biker Jonathan gives us the An elder statesman Jupiter’s Traveller Jacqui low-down on stolen 29. Nut & Bolts indulges her instincts speed and Japan’s 12. Image of the Month Tea, tools and motorcycle wars Watch that Mason boy fly! visualisation! 78. Manx Milestones Rachel’s very personal 142. Bitz 14. Six & the City 30. Two Wheels To The End Of take on the TT Italian ultra exotica, Hornet Boy’s being a The World Thundersprint, scooter stinker about stinky Our intrepid Irish 88. Three Superiors bling, a weekend travellers follow the And not even one of them adventure and couple of 17. Cagiva Rapture switchback road south is a nun charity rides. What machine should a newly born again biker 53. The Clutch Cable 100. Blez Has Big Fun buy? Our Midwest Blez, BMW, Brecon correspondent considers Beacons – nuff said the ageing process

Editor Contributors Cartoons Dave Gurman Tinks, Oldlongdog, Martin Newman, Simon Kewer Rod Young, Paul Browne, Thomas Day, Polly Taylor, Assistant editor Jacqui Furneaux, Rachel Clegg, Jonathan Boorstein, The opinions and comments of contributors Peter Martin Paul Blezard and Lyn Funnell within this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor. Design Photographs Simon Gardner Howard Boylan, Dave Gurman, Contacts Duncan Longden, Peter Martin, Paul Browne, Editorial Web site Thomas Day, Polly Taylor, Hattie Claxton, Dave Gurman Advertising Stewart Pettey Jacqui Furneaux, Peter Greste, +44 (0) 20 8707 0655 Peter Martin Brough Superior Motorcycles Ltd, +44 (0) 7948 897093 +44 (0) 7973 818579 Paul Blezard, Llewellyn Pavey and Lyn Funnell [email protected] [email protected]

4 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 5 In The Saddle...

Dear TRD, it’s not very fast, sexy or (also an ex air-cooled Being new to TRD I’ve exciting (much like most RD owner) no idea who ‘Anarchy BMWs were for decades, 2012’ may be, but I’m not then...), but the Honda is Dear Peter, surprised he/she hides a much cleverer and more Your review of the behind a pseudonym. sophisticated machine Honda NC700X seemed Having tapped-out some than I’d anticipated. And to be more of an 1,431 words for what looks is it such a crime to have autobiography of the like a proper road-test of a bit of handy storage writer than information the new Honda NC700X space right there in front about the motorcycle/ (issue 165), one has to read of you, even if some full- scooter. I know the author 1,235 of them before ‘A’12’ face helmets are indeed didn’t care much for the admits that he/she never a ‘tight squeeze’? And... dealership, has some even bothered to sling a neither Honda nor any attitude problems with leg over the thing! Despite other manufacturer is people less aggressive this, the bike still gets a trying to “force their vision than himself (sounds like right old slagging for all of motorcycles for the an ideal candidate for a sorts of opinionated and, in masses” on you or anyone Harley and a Village People some cases, near-paranoid else A’12, they’re simply outfit), once rode an reasons. offering alternatives to suit Yamaha RD250 and fancied I shan’t dissect the different needs and tastes. himself to “be like Kenny,” article sentence-by- A’12 is correct in noting and I know all sorts of stuff sentence, but having that some ‘noted experts’ about this person’s likes ridden an NC700X precisely – well, one anyway – and dislikes in everything 321.2 miles in late January who attended the NC’s from personalities to (65.9mpg average) I will press launch claimed that furniture, but about all say that any pre-conceived others ‘just don’t get it’, I learned about the NX700X notions I may have held but at least those others was what I figured out prior to riding it were soon had gone to the trouble of for myself by standing dispelled. I’ll concede riding it. next to one at the that you don’t have to Keep up the good work! International Motorcycle ride an NC to deduce that Tom Stewart Show last winter. Nice

6 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 7 In The Saddle... In The Saddle... pictures, though. As one of interested in his prejudices consciously present them in ”That said, Peter has Lidl for a fiver t’other day. my favorite SF characters, or what he thinks a bike a manner that would suggest spoken to Honda and Dear Dave, Better remain anonymous Louis Wu, once said, “Louis looks like. I want to know to the innocent reader that booked an NC700X for a The mag is really for this. Wu, I found your challenge what its like to ride. Also it was a sensible bona fide proper test ride so providing brilliant… Apple 502 verbose. When challenging as a Maxi-scooter owner road test. I had been fully he can be persuaded to Only wish I could hold London a Kzin, a simple scream and enthusiast, I do object prepared to put my hands actually throw a leg over it, it in my hand and read it of rage will suffice. You to being told that I don’t up and point to the release you can look forward to his on’t throne. Here is a loony Dear Dave, scream and you leap.” have any passion for date, passing the whole – very personal – opinion of bungee story. In my third Your Digest looks Too many words, too little riding! If he is so up his thing off as an April Fools its capabilities next month. week at a proper courier interesting I’ve read it on information. As someone own a*** to bother riding joke; but as it turned out, Lastly (phew!), I’d company I bungeed a the Internet. who occasionally writes a bike, I think he should nobody saw fit to blame me. point out that I ride a 650 padded envelope from W1 How can I get monthly a bike review, what I stick to whatever his day Thomas Day’s email Burgman myself and if you on’t back of my ER5 with editions? learned from this article job is – hopefully not as a was addressed to assistant read last month’s editorial my one spare stretchy. I was Thanks is that no one gives a bike journalist! editor Peter Martin and his it will be obvious that I halfway down Marylebone Phil Read MBE flying crap about the Regards reply pretty much sums up don’t subscribe to Anarchy’s Road when, PING! And said reviewer. We want to learn Tim Bounds my thinking: opinion of maxi scooter envelope bounced off the The following letter was something useful about “We liked the subversive owners any more than Tim back of the Kwak and down written to Lyn Funnell by the the motorcycle. Funnily enough Anarchy nature of a piece that wasn’t does. Then again I wouldn’t the busy road behind me. President of L.A.M.A. Cuba Thomas Day is a journalist and he’s afraid to express a highly dream of permitting my I was lucky… lorries after he saw her article in Minnesota Motorcycle actually very passionate personal opinion of a bike. personal opinion to get didn’t run over it, for I last month’s TRD. Monthly Magazine about bikes. In fact he was TRD was created decades in the way of allowing was thankfully in Boris’s www.mnmotorcycle.com really looking forward to ago as a light-hearted somebody else to express bus lane. I leaped off and Hello Lyn, riding the Honda – he had antidote to the usual bike test theirs within these pages grabbed the split bag. A Of course I remember you Dear Dave, high hopes for it. He wrote crap that all the other mags – Ed laptop burst forth when with meet each other Firstly I’m glad to see to me back in December put out. You know the kind, There was a stationary that sunny day May 3th 2011 Riders Digest back - makes saying, “I’m looking at doing where the editor is jetted off Dear Dave, shop in Marlybone High at Morro Cabaña Fortress, it a change to the standard a test for the Honda NC700x. (first class) to a (first class) I have discovered that is St that sold exactly the was great to meet you and to biker mag drivel. Do you Seems an ideal bike for hotel somewhere sunny and what an iPad is for; reading same padded envelope, talk to you for a while. have a mailing list alert couriers and those that want warm to eat (first class) food the new improved RD in so with the help of some The article is really good, system so that I know when an all rounder.” It’s just that and then regurgitate all the bed or on the throne while tape and scissors, twenty and for sure it will help us a new issue is published? once he got there, for all the meaningless PR guff that her indoors is watching minutes later I delivered and will let people all over I have to say I loved reasons he gave, it left him the bike company supplies that Sunday night drama the package to an address the world to know about us. your story about your cold. He’s all grown up and in the press pack... Any test crap on TV. I can’t tell you in SW6. You now what? Many people, journey across London! he was on his own time so it is subjective at the best how much I enjoyed the Three further weeks reporters, photographers, This is exactly why I love was his prerogative to ride of times; if I say the brakes new RD. Well done and have passed and all is well. writers come to Cuba, talk bikes/scoots, and it really away – it’s not like anyone have a ‘nice progressive good luck with it; it must Although the first three and talk and they promise to captured the fun and was paying him to test it. feel’ you might find them a take a lot of work. hours had me sweating a do this or that to finally do freedom of biking. Sod the It was interesting bit grabby... 140hp may be I was getting more than bit… waiting for that call… nothing... BUT YOU DID IT, miserable killjoys! however, to note just how ‘a bit underpowered’ to you a little cheesed off with “Five oh two, five oh two, thank you very much on my Talking of which - much annoyance – if and far too much for me - the style of the old one; five oh two!” behalf and in the name of judging by Mr Anarchy’s not downright anger – who knows? it definitely fell into the You know that this all the Cuban motorcyclists article ‘Duller than a was directed at Anarchy And that’s the point; “glossy” mould more and confession is totally true. thank you. Deauville’ on his non ride for having the temerity is the reader any better off more, whereas your style Strong laptop or padded Dave called me and it was of the Honda 700X, he to respond to a set of being told by us? We thought is much more readable envelope I don’t know… I really good to talk to him, must be a real miserable circumstances the way he that they could make and the articles are more did pray a bit too! he wanted the pictures in git. Sorry, but I found did, rather than me for up their own minds from interesting and unusual. I totally agree you can’t the original size but for me the whole article a deciding not only to publish the pics and the Jon have too many bungees; in it’s impossible because of bit pointless. I’m not his ruminations but also to specifications. Llanymddyfri fact I bought a tube full in our internet speed, I have to

8 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 9 In The Saddle... Rider’s Lives apologize for that. Anyway magazine (possibly May) as Common Market was spot Name: Plonk lane near home. I bounced exceptions of course. Its better we are in contact, thank you I think it would be of great on and brought back my front wheel off of the now than like it was in the 60’s very much. interest to our members. memories of married front wheel of an oncoming and 70’s where all we did was Adolfo R. Prieto Rosell Obviously, any credits and soldiers discussing how Presidente Nacional acknowledgements would they had taught their ranged rover. fight each other. L.A.M.A. – Cuba be correctly given to your families to survive NBC What was your most What do you think is the magazine and yourself. conditions. memorable ride? worst thing about Dear Dave, Kind Regards Also that the cock- I’ve had thousands of motorcycling? Alan Taylor kindly Martin Gliddon ups that come out of memorable rides over the The worst is the way the forwarded a copy of the Media Manager Europe are normally our Digest to me so I could read XJS Club Midlands idiots fault. They are not years. The first that springs to knob headed bureaucrats your article on the Treble www.xjsclub.org really interested in us mind was a run back in the follow Brussels etc and will not Express – very impressive. except in getting us to What was your first late 60’s. Our club had met up let us just get on with our lives, Alan is a close Thanks for your kind vote for the scum. George motorcycling experience? with some other clubs, there making it harder and harder to neighbour and friend of words Martin. We would be Galloway’s Respect Party Approx 10 years old on a were about 60-70 bikes and we enjoy riding as free as possible. mine and also shares the happy for you to reproduce is needed. Can I give a passion of owning a Jaguar the article to let your recommendation to Tanya neighbours Frances Barnett on were riding around the lanes Also our English climate is not XJS – sorry but I’m not a four-wheeled compadres Batteries. Bought a battery the wasteland near my parents’ in Berkshire. As it got late and very favourable to an old git bike man although the know what a friendly off them last October. It home. I later bought it off him dark I was riding up front with like me. I don’t enjoy getting sound and sight of a compassionate bunch we failed last Thursday before and used it until I got my first the Pres and looking back, and wet and cold much and pulling Harley does do some motorcyclists really are – Ed Easter. The AA man gave me road bike a BSA C15 250 at the as far as I could see there was down my tent in ice has lost its strange things to me... a chitty saying the battery I also wish that the Hi Dave, was cream crackered. age of 15 years. a snake of headlights. In the attraction. classic car community TRD165 was excellent I phoned Tanya midday What is your current bike? early hours we pulled into a Name an improvement showed the same kind as usual. It had some very on the Tuesday after Easter Regular daily use bike is a field where we partied with a you’d like to see for the next of kindred spirit and good comments on the and they accepted the AA’s chopped Harley 1340 Evo. Also nice big bonfire. generation? compassion that the biker Guzzi Club forum too. word over the phone and have a chopped 1948 Harley What would be the ideal Get the system to back off, community shows, it really I totally agree a replacement battery was is a credit to you all. with RS250 Squib, my on my desk 10:00 next day. 45 that I’ve owned for 44 years soundtrack to the above? we’re not such a big problem For my sins, I am the comment was tongue in Excellent service and and a Harley Dyna 1340 also Easy Rider sound track is and more environmentally Editor of the XJS Club cheek. Though it does of course my wheels are chopped. All self built with ideal. If I were to compile one friendly than most other Midlands magazine, which look like the standard now rounder and the help from friends and family, it would probably consist of transport. Help the kids get on is distributed monthly calming down at 30ish bike achieves warp factor two of them from scratch in Sabbath, Zeppelin, Floyd, Rush, the road and stop making it so to Club members and is taking place. No harm speed easily. notables in the Jaguar in that, it is taking place www.tayna.co.uk the living room. Marillion, Bonamassa, Deep hard for them. and Museum world. with me. Look forward to many What bike would you most Purple, Within Temptation and How would you like to be Having the connection, Oldlongdog’s article more copies. like to ride/own? of course my bruv Trog and remembered? I would really love to was superb. The piece about Ride safe, Mine his band. I found out last April how feature your article in a being with the Artillery Ian Dunmore, What was your hairiest What do you think is the best I will be remembered when I future edition of our Club and the real purpose of the An ancient Guzzisti. moment on a bike? thing about motorcycling? died and was revived. I’m most After 52 years of riding The whole life style and the proud of my family and friends. I’ve had many hairy moments way it has evolved. It’s all I’ve Big love to them all with huge and a few accidents. One ever known and all I’ve ever thanks. Long live the true biker that springs to mind was on done. I’m proud of the way lifestyle, ride as free as possible the Evo going round a sharp lots of patch clubs now get and enjoy what I have had for left hand bend on a country on well together – with some the last 62 years!

10 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 11 12 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 Photography Duncan Longden www.duncan-photo.com 13 Thursday “Do you reckon it’s the rides a Mille) and we get on to Following on from last plug?” I ask hopefully the subject of car valeting and month, Stinky had broken “I have no idea and I’m not the problems of the waste down, posh couple had even going to try as it’s buried water from them. We digress Six and the City been helpful and Hornet deep in the bike somewhere. on to bike valeting and the Boy had received the call It will need to be recovered – various different chemicals for assistance; I’ll place a call for it now” that we use to clean our bikes. I had broken down about Now? Really? At 7.30pm Being a bit of a half-arsed a mile from home so HB when all the garages tree hugger (try to do my wasn’t too long in coming are closed? bit for the environment – to my rescue, with a look of “Oh yes – good point. recycling etc) I mention that I resigned exasperation on Well, I’ll log it so you can call use biodegradable bike his face. them up and they’ll pick it up cleaning stuff. “It’s not my fault! It when you need it doing.” “Ah – Muc-off? I use that just stopped!” That’s more like it. Two on the Mille,” he tells me (I have “Yeah, yeah, likely story! days later, it’s loaded up and no idea if it is biodegradable). What have you done – carted off to Russell Motors. “No, I use Bilt & Hamber – or rather what haven’t In the afternoon I get a text great stuff.” you done?” from Hornet Boy, informing “What about your wheels What ya trying to say? me that the bike is a write- – I can never get them done That I don’t look after my off and there’s nothing they as well as I want – and I don’t bikes? How very dare you. can do. Instantly, I’m on the want to take the brake caliper I really have no idea why phone to Mike at Russell off to do it properly.” it stopped, it just did; but I Motors demanding to know Warming to my subject, I can believe it’s down to lack why. His gloomy voice and extol the virtues of different of maintenance and/or lack diagnosis almost has me in types of brushes, the power of of understanding about tears as I can’t believe my little Wonder Wheels (possibly not 2-strokes. I get it back home stink-wheel has had it. Then environmentally friendly and (well HB does) and call out I pick up on a voice in the maybe slightly acidic, but gets the AA – they’ve actually background that I recognise – a great clean) and some other been pretty good with my it’s HB chatting away. little bits that I like to use. bikes and I pay them enough, “You bastard! You rotten He stopped working and so they can deal with it. git! There’s nothing wrong looked at me; “Oh no, I can’t do anything with that bike!” I accuse him. “How come you know so with that”, says the man, after Silence, then “Nah, you’re much about this? It’s not like he’s charged the battery and right. It’s fine, but we had you ever clean your bikes.” managed to get it going a you going then didn’t we? Now that is fighting talk couple of times just for it to Anyway, it was just the plug – and you sir, can just feck splutter to a stop as soon as it was fouled – don’t you know right off! the throttle was dropped. anything about 2-strokes?” Ask me to sacrifice a Visions of the god-awful new-born puppy by all Gas Gas with the cracked Tuesday means, but you NEVER alternator came back to At work and I’m talking pass judgment on my haunt me. to a building contractor (who bike-keeping!

14 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 15 CAGIVA RAPTURE

s with many of the best things in life, I I’d be the proud owner of a Laverda Jota. came to own a Cagiva Raptor through At college I even owned a brand new, Ano great effort on my part; it seemed licenced and insured Honda C90; it was all to choose me. going to plan. However, a lorry reduced it and me to a twisted heap on Camberwell Regrettably, I am something of a born- New Road, and unfortunately my student again-biker having spent my best motorcycling grant wouldn’t stretch to beer, curry and years (and what little fortune I possessed) getting the bike fixed. One has to have priorities. scuba-diving. Like most late 70s teenagers, I pored lasciviously over motorcycle I received a modicum of wry sympathy mags and ‘borrowed’ other people’s bikes and elastoplast from a quirky girl I was friends with varying degrees of legality and with on the same course as me. And she was insurance. I was certain that before long the reason I didn’t buy another bike for two

ISSUE 166 May 2012 17 on a ‘giant trailie’. So instead we had a series of lamentable old bangers (VW Beetle – doors fell off; Triumph Toledo – skidded into a ditch at Beckhampton roundabout, to the strains of the Floyd), which at least kept us dry if not mobile.

Meanwhile I learned to change gear on motorcycles with levers that were on the side of the tank, through the tank or even under it. Mastery was gained of yet more levers for advance-and-retard, air, throttle, half- compression and exhaust-valve lifters; twist- grips had not been invented yet. The sound decades; I didn’t need to because her dad of thudding slopers was as intoxicating as the was the legendary P&M Panther Owner, Sid smell of old leather saddles, 4-star petrol and Wilkinson. When I was eventually considered hot Castrol. I rode round the ring at shows presentable enough to ‘meet the parents’ he and rallies, and on the road as a passenger took me into his suburban garage in Marlow, in flimsy sidecars that had first seen action which from the outside seemed unlikely in WWI, or even earlier as Edwardian dog- to hold fourteen old bikes. Four of them baskets. I spent all my other weekends were sidecar outfits, and there were enough dressed up in rubber and jumping into the frames, wheels and engines hanging from the sea from a perfectly serviceable boat. It was walls and ceiling to build at least five more the best of lives. priceless classics. It couldn’t last, though; despite my Unlike many women, Darling Sweetpants indolence, procrastination and the booming has never objected to me having a bike but hollowness of my bank account, the pressure back then we could only afford one vehicle, to get a bike had reached bursting point. and she hates being cold and wet. On top of On doctor’s orders I had to suspend diving that, weekend trips always seemed to involve activities for a while and was so frustrated more luggage and carrier-bags (and things by the ever-increasing traffic that the ‘duh ‘that-mustn’t-be-folded’) than would fit even moment’ had finally arrived. But what to buy…? I didn’t fancy L-plates and a 125cc, so I needed to take the full test as well. This I duly did - and that’s a topic for full-blown article in its own right.

I wanted something that I could use for real travelling, for getting past the endless queues of vacuous, bimbling numpties too timorous to overtake a horsebox travelling at 40mph on a country road. I wanted to do more than keep up with the traffic; I wanted a Laverda Jota.

18 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 19 Exotic Italian frame, forks and brakes; styling by the same bloke who did the Ducati Monster and a nice reliable V-twin from the Suzuki SV650 – looking good! 2002 model and only £1,500… why so cheap? Because it’s a Category C write-off… Damn. Oh well, faint heart never kissed a pig; it doesn’t look too bad and I’ll probably bin it a couple of times myself while I’m learning the ropes. No point spoiling a perfectly good Laverda Jota. The nice man from wesellcrashedbikes.com said he’d deliver it for free as I hadn’t haggled. I decide to live with the scratched tank as it’s remember to cancel the order two years later. a robust plastic job, so it won’t rust or dent. I’ll live with the dented silencer, for now. However, a trip to the local Cagiva dealer leaves me ashen-faced with the quoted cost Resourcefulness is the progeny of need of a new can, brake reservoir, indicator lens, and I soon discovered that most of the small rubberised footpeg and levers. I discover that bits on a Raptor come from more commonly Cagiva are part of MV Augusta (it says so on available bikes. Levers can be had anywhere the frame) and that they are in the process for naff-all money and a generic brake of being bought by Harley Davidson, of all reservoir was acquired, furtled and fitted I knew a lot more about what I didn’t want that four cylinders were too many; far too people! I order the reservoir, footpeg and for even less. New Renthal bars in matching than what I did. I’d learnt on a 500cc twin of complicated and the bike would sound like levers but they never arrive, not even when I anodised grey cost about £25. Likewise a a dullness and anonymity ideally suited to its a sewing machine. If three cylinders were task. It had the wherewithal to reach 70mph good enough for a Laverda Jota then I would (required for the bike test), albeit reluctantly certainly not have more! like an old riding-school horse. It had anti-lock brakes but not the clever electronic ones, just This was ridiculous; I knew hardly anything the sort too weak to lock-up the front wheel about modern bikes and I certainly couldn’t however hard you panicked. It was quite afford a new one, so I’d just have to get on the possibly a Suzuki but I never bothered to look. web for a look-see. There were sports bikes I wanted something exotic and Italian… like a aplenty but I’m too lanky to curl up on one of Laverda Jota. those. And lots of Harleys but I don’t need any ploughing done. What about a BMW1200GS? However, I was well aware of the fate No thanks, I’ve already got a Landrover. of many a born-again-biker. I didn’t want I just want something that looks like a proper to find myself smeared all over the front of motorbike, with a decent headlight and a transit van, as the statistics suggested I handlebars that keep my bum below my chin. would do within three months. I needed Ah-ha, what’s this Cagiva Raptor thing…? something sensible as well as flash and exotic. And while I had the brain engaged I thought A 650cc twin, round headlight and something easy to service, with cheap and upright riding position, a spiritual successor abundant parts might be a good idea. In a to my brother’s 1972 Triumph Tiger (a moment of inexplicable prejudice I decided smaller capacity Bonnie with a single carb).

20 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 21 made me a little wary. Then I noticed the rear comes on after a short while at the lights but tyre was squarer than a Harris Tweed jacket the bike has never overheated. Later injected with leather elbow patches. With new tyres it models come with an oil cooler so I guess handles better than I can handle it; choose that’s an option for a future upgrade. The seat where you want to be and that’s where it is comfortable enough between fuel stops goes. Brakes are stupendous, far stronger and I never get a backache despite being 6’4”. than they need to be on a bike this light. It’s also quite low so those less lofty can reach They must not be grabbed or you’ll be off – I the ground with ease. know, they had me twice before I learned to treat them like those on an old Citroen (get Bad points are; no clock, unforgiveable on on them early but lightly). However, my last a bike with a digital speedo; no grab rail, if it ‘emergency’ produced a perfectly controlled has pillion pegs it needs a grab rail – simples; stoppie, so they can be tamed, even by headlight no good for riding at night; mirrors, someone like me. nice view of my arms; windblast, above 70mph is tiring for a tall bloke. Interestingly, all those The tank holds 17 litres and the warning issues apart from the clock have been addressed light comes on at around 175 miles leaving on later models and on mine I’ve sorted all about 2.5 litres, so you do the maths. The fan bar the mirrors (I move my arms) and grab rail.

pair of original indicators from Wemoto cost Going round them is no more tiresome than going less than a large doner kebab, and I pinched round corners. the pillion footpeg for duty at the front. One more task: take off the rear brake pedal, The carburetted SV650 engine (later warm it gently with a blowtorch and wallop it versions are injected) pulls easily from low straight again with a rubber mallet. Job done revs right up to the limiter, and there’s a nice - off we go! wodge of power at the top end. This means you can choose how you want to ride it. You So what’s it like, you ask? Well, given my can chunter along country lanes, short-shifting lack of experience with anything less than and admiring the view or wring its neck at eighty years old it seemed absolutely bloody every change. The gearing seems perfectly marvellous! Within ten minutes of getting a set up to deliver everything the engine has to new MoT I was up on the A46 from Stroud offer. Trickling through town is also a pleasure to Badminton seeing what ton-up biking felt because the bike is light, narrow and easy to like (just kidding, officer… no, really… I didn’t, steer with ‘proper’ handlebars. Being a V-Twin honest)! And that is the point; objectively this it has plenty of engine braking, so it’s possible bike will go past 99.9% of the cars you’ll ever to lurch about if you’re cack-handed with the meet on the roads, and any it won’t will have throttle - but that’s your fault, not the bike’s. cost a prince’s ransom. For all practical purposes, lorries, vans and tractors (or anything driven by Handling was more problematic as it someone wearing a hat) are simply nonexistent. tended to fall suddenly into corners and

22 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 23 I put a small Givi screen on for the windblast, a ‘middle weight’, a ‘starter bike’ and most decent headlight from a Suzuki Bandit (same as patronising of all, ‘one for the ladies’. Conventional on the newer Raptors) and can now tell the time wisdom says I should be ‘sniffy’ about the engine courtesy of modifying a strange watch-based being from another more ‘common’ machine. It Christmas present with a drill, a tap washer and a also says I should want to ‘upgrade’ to a ‘proper’ hand-fabricated bracket. motorcycle, to something with more power and at least 1000cc. Conventional wisdom is The beauty of bikes is you can take the basic an oxymoron. offering and change the things you don’t like; it’s expected and everybody does it. Ironically, In extravagant moments I find myself customising your car makes you a bit of a fancying a Morini Corsaro or a KTM Superduke, ‘saddo’… Anyway, my Raptor came with a carbon both being pumped-up versions of what I hugger and matching bellypan, which gives it a already have. But are they really better bikes? ‘certain look’ but more importantly keeps some They are certainly more expensive and more of the muck off it. I’ve also changed the brake powerful, and they accelerate faster and reach reservoirs for anodised versions from Rizoma higher top speeds. But these are quantitative Racing; partly because they won’t break if I fall assessments not qualitative ones. Our society off again but mainly because they’re gorgeous. runs on the myth that bigger is better, that more is more. We assert that quality is improved by Ebay as been a constant source of cheap quantity. Well, I’ve put that theory to the test. used parts which means the bike now has unmolested cans both sides, a front wheel Given that I like just about everything about without scratches and there is a growing pile my Cagiva Raptor 650, one would suppose that of spare levers, ignition modules, footpegs and the version with the legendary Suzuki TL1000 other Raptornalia waiting in the garage for engine would be so much better. The nice rides like an angry bull. These attributes are power is absorbed by its extra weight, which whatever fate has to throw at us in the future. people at DMA Racing in Brinkworth gave me fun at times but ultimately a bit tiresome. In makes it something of a lumbering titan. They There is also much good advice, swapping of the chance to find out. And surprise, surprise… lazy mode it’s half asleep but when roused, don’t make them any more but there are plenty parts and general biking bonhomie to be had on it definitely is faster. In fact I often found I was both your licence and your life are in peril. It is of equivalent machines available today. And they a web-forum called the Raptor Chapter. going 10mph faster than I expected to be. And simply far more powerful than it needs to be. sell in huge numbers because we are addicted to herein lies the problem; the world we bike in is excess, we equate quality with size and price. We You’ll notice by now I haven’t told you what constrained not only by the law but also by a The 650 is a joy by comparison. Ever alert, are no longer able to judge whether something the top speed and HP figures are and I’m not need for self-preservation. This means having it will pounce like a cat the instant a gap in the is fit for purpose, perhaps because we no longer going to. If you’re about to Google them it shows to travel at speeds well below that which the traffic appears; it is perfectly set up for the roads know what the purpose of a bike is. We are you’ve missed the point. All you need to know is TL1000 engine will deliver in a bike as light and we ride on. It rewards the rider whatever their unable to determine how much is enough. that this bike is good enough to use every day, nimble as a Raptor. mood. When I took the 1000cc Raptor back to to put a smile on your face and get you home DMA Racing I told them that I preferred the 650 I’ll need to replace my Raptor 650 eventually in the rain. It’ll carry your shopping and your Using the top two gears is more or less version. They weren’t surprised as the previous but whatever I get will have to have the same sleeping bag, or your best girl on the back. It’ll superfluous on anything but motorways. owner had traded it in for a 650. Says it all, really qualitative virtues and real world rideablity. out-handle most things, starts easily and won’t Opportunistic bursts of acceleration are The new MV Augusta 675 triple looks cost a fortune to buy or run; it’s everything you impeded by an irritating pause either to change Lightness and agility are virtues in their own interesting… need from a motorbike. down or as the magnificent beast fills its lungs right. By a serendipitous fluke the Laverda Jota prior to propelling you into the next county and the Cagiva Raptor 650 have exactly the same Oldlongdog But it’s probably not everything you at the speed of light. The alternative is to leave power to weight ratio, so in some ways I have got desire. Conventional wisdom says this is a it in 3rd or 4th gear all the time, in which case it what I always wanted. However the Jota’s extra

24 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 25 Referral Fees No Rider The Boy Biker t is, perhaps, one of the tugging. Then came that worst feelings in the initial panic and the barrage Iworld, like someone has of ‘s’ words, before my head Accident Support taken your guts in the palm began thumping and the of their hand and keeps tears started flow. They twisting and wrenching. were angry tears that were Your vision goes all funny soon smothered by all my NotFreephone all claims services 08081 are 296051 the same. and all background noise mates coming over to tell I knew would have to go fades away until all you can me not to worry. So I took a towards another bike. Then hear is your heart racing. few deep breaths and called I got another present. “Hello Thankfully, you have a choice to This is a feeling that, the police. They wasted half is that Mr Newman?” “Yes” at some point, most an hour asking me irrelevant “Kent Police here we have motorcyclists will probably questions when they seen your bike in Woolwich contact us first. feel because it is what could’ve been out looking and were wondering if you happens when you return to for my pride and joy; then could go and have a look.” your parking space and find the CCTV turned up nothing, We jump on dad’s bike and • Specialist motorcycle accident solicitors nothing there. so it was time to call the scream down to the back Accident Let me start at the troops. It didn’t take long end of an ominous looking • Nationwide network of partner motorcycle dealers beginning. It was the end to have an army of spotters council estate in Woolwich • Complete service from start to finish aimed at handling all Claim Service of the day when I went to out doing their thing. — and there it was, on a my bag for my bike keys. Despite being repeatedly footpath, just sitting there. aspects of your claim Bike Recovery That’s when I got the mini told it would turn up sooner It wasn’t locked and some • Transfer your case from insurance appointed solicitors version of the above, the or later, I still knew that local lads told us that it had & Storage racing heart and that feeling there was a chance I would been there a while, so I’m - it’s free and easy to do in the pit of my stomach. never see it again or if I did quite lucky that it hadn’t • £250 bike accessory vouchers to help get you back on After repeatedly checking that it would be in an been re-stolen. Repairs irreparable state. I felt a huge wave of relief the road my bag and pockets and scouring every square inch It was a horrible thought, wash over me. I couldn’t • £100 bike accessory vouchers when you recommend of my college buildings for that someone from my own quite believe I had my bike Vehicle Hire back with so little damage: a a friend a couple of hours, I drew the college, who knew me, stole conclusion that the keys had my keys and came back in little crack; a bent lever; and • True no win, no fee - you’ll never see a bill from us been lost, and scrounged the night to steal my bike. some mud. Easily fixed and I Replacement was back on the road happy • Customer charter - we look after you and your bike a lift home from Jack, I only have third party, so I Helmet & planning to return the next had lost the cost of the bike, as ever! • No deductions from any settlement, you keep 100% of Clothing day with the spare keys — but I also felt a massive sense Unfortunately the same whatever amount we recover problem solved. of loss of community. When can’t be said for my mate You know where I’m I rode my bike I felt part of Jack. He had a nasty accident going with this. I got off something much bigger the other day and has written the bus to college turned — going to bike meets his bandit off. Get well the corner helmet in hand, and writing for a magazine soon mate. and there it was… gone! — suddenly I felt I’d lost it Lastly massive thanks Make the right choice britishbritish motorcyclistsmotorcyclists ffederationederation Everything stood still. The all. I thought it was all over, to everyone who went out first thing I remember doing my transport, my fun, and looking for me and helped rideraccidentsupport.co.uk is opening my mouth and my career. me through a difficult time. emitting a rather strong It was my 18th birthday expletive. Then the hand a couple of days later and freephone 08081 296051 I got a load of cash, which Lampkin & Co - Motorcycle Accident Solicitors reached inside and began Martin Newman are proud to be a corporate member of the bmf.

ISSUE 166 May 2012 27 Nuts & Bolts

ast month I was discussing So, I need a four point that awkward mounting that most important of all mounting system, 2 high up, done. Almost invisible, Lworkshop tools, the old 2 low down, all as far apart easy to make, good and grey matter. I was advocating as possible. There’s nothing strong. I had it finished 10 the use of a chair and a cup at the bottom near the front minutes later. of tea as a practical way to of the engine, no frame at So what’s the moral of solve mechanical problems, all. Nothing at the bottom the story? I guess it’s that sitting down, looking at near the back, no frame, old favourite, more haste, the problem and thinking just a big air gap. Equally, less speed. Had I just sat it through can often be the there’s nothing for the top down and thought about best way forward. rear mount. The top front it initially, I wouldn’t have However, sometimes has some chunky looking wasted 5 hours and a load it’s difficult to do this, framework, but it’s covered of materials. Even if the especially when you’ve put by the indicator fairing. solution had taken me all a load of time pressures on I’m under pressure to sort afternoon to discover, I’d yourself. I’m particularly this lot out, so after working have had a far more pleasant guilty of this myself and out the top mounts quite and restful time! having the self control easily, I dive into the difficult Something else that to actually not rush into lower rear area, where all is people say a lot is this “If the job, can be almost airy space and start trying it looks right, it usually is impossible at times. to conjure up a sky hook to right”, certainly in terms of Many of you that have hang the sidecar off. I spend any kind of engineering, this read my words before will a solid afternoon chopping is true. What I really like to know that I’m a sidecar and grinding away at strips try to achieve is a method specialist; very recently I of steel and tube before of working backwards was working on a subframe finally completing this part from something that looks design for a Kawasaki of the subframe and almost right in my head, to the Z1000. Like most modern immediately realising two nuts and bolts of achieving bikes, they don’t really have things: 1. It was bloody ugly. that solution. much in the way of a frame; 2. It wasn’t actually going to Next time you are stuck the manufacturers just bolt be that good. with tricky mechanical everything onto the engine I put the kettle on, sat problem, try to visualise and hope for the best. down and had a good look what it will look like when CLICK TO WEBSITE Ok, that might be a slight at the offending area. Within it’s fixed. With a bit of just search for your model simplification, but if you’re half an hour, a really neat and luck, your brain will fill in of bike you will be surprised expecting to find anything simple engineering solution the gaps. how many parts we have even remotely frame like, presented itself to me. I Happy spannering! you’ll need to be looking just needed one very small at a cruiser or some of the piece of steel strip, bolted smaller bikes these days. in the right place, and I had Rod Young www.wemoto.com28 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 29 Two Wheels To The End Of The World

30 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 31 YUKON YELLOWHEAD HIGHWAY YELLOWSTONE PARK

e wake up in Deadhorse and the stay with him and his young family rather than weather has changed for the spend money on the guesthouse. For the next Wbetter, it is a cold but clear day. three days we hang out with the Bolz family After eating our fill from the breakfast buffet and enjoy the most wonderful hospitality. and carrying enough pre-wrapped food to- Michael is an artist and he airbrushes a picture go with us, we ride back the way we came. of the Americas onto the lid of one of Maeve’s Retracing our steps is so much easier, the small panniers, providing her with a bottle of red lift in temperature really helps and we enjoy a paint and a toothpick so that she can map much more gentle two days back to Fairbanks. the route we travel as we go along. We had Once back in our B’n’B we get to relax properly new tyres fitted in the local Harley dealership, for the first time in a week. ate well and slept even better. Along with his wife Danielle and their two sons Conor and While walking around the city centre we Liam, they make us feel so welcome that when meet a local motorcyclist on his Triumph Tiger. we leave a few days later I feel homesick, not We get talking and tell him where we’ve been for Dublin, but for Fairbanks. And have done and what we plan to do, and he insists that we ever since.

As we made our way back down the into the churned mud of the hard shoulder. Alaskan Highway something had changed. After parking the bikes we went inside for We had survived the Haul Road and my diesel much needed coffee and some advice on the error, Maeve had dropped her bike in an road ahead. We were now in Yukon province uncharacteristic lapse of concentration near (think of North America married to West Clare) Livengood and the radiator on my bike had and we meet two armed Fisheries and Game been holed and repaired. Six weeks ago we officers. They are out visiting the restaurants had been in Toronto awaiting delivery of our and diners on the highway to inform their new bikes and now we had covered more owners that it’s illegal to buy fish that is not mileage than the average leisure rider does in sold by a licensed vendor. a year. Our pace had changed as well. Rather than having to be somewhere by a certain time Picture the scene; one cop is explaining the or day it became obvious that we didn’t need law to the owner who is nodding vigorously to keep a hard schedule. We decided where we and telling the cop that that’s the way he wanted to go and we headed in that direction. always does things and he’d never buy fish The only appointments we would now keep from a hunter, blah, blah, blah…Meanwhile, were ones for service work, so we pointed our we’re chatting over coffee with the waitress bikes towards Vancouver some 3,350km away. about northern Canada and where’s good to On the afternoon of the third rain-soaked stay and eat, when two hunters walk in, take a day in a row we decided to stop off at the seat right behind us and start unloading their Rancheria Motel and diner, still on the Alaska catch onto the table. The waitress then collects Highway. We rode off the unpaved gravel and it and carries it off into the kitchen. Everyone

32 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 33 34 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 35 pauses as the hunters realise who the cops are, has hills that make driving a heavy rig on it the cops realise that the owner is bullshitting next to impossible, so we would have it more them, the poor waitress realises that she has or less to ourselves. He told us that he’d seen dropped everyone in it, and the cops realise so much wildlife on this road that he called it that they’ve caught everyone red-handed. ‘The Cassiar Safari’. We would find it at Junction Then something very Irish happens; the first 36 of the Alaskan Highway, a quiet truck stop cop drains his coffee and thanks the owner for and the location of Sally’s Café. If all we’d ever his time and with a series of nods to and from got from riding thousands of kilometres on everyone concerned they leave and head on to these cold, badly surfaced roads was breakfast their next port of call. ‘If you don’t acknowledge in Sally’s Café, then the trip would have been it, it never happened!’ more than worth it. We left after a full breakfast and were rewarded with a roller-coaster ride Other road users were critical to us in this through the wilderness. part of the world. None more than the truck drivers who carry supplies up and down the The road stretches 725km south to the highway in all weathers. They know every Yellowhead Highway and across to Stewart, inch of the place as well as where to stay and Canada’s most northerly access to the Pacific eat, what the weather is going to do and Ocean. It was originally built to serve the gold, where the cops lie in wait for speeders. One jade, copper and asbestos mines in Cassiar and of them recommended we head south on Telegraph Creek. All the mines are now shut the ‘Cassiar Highway’ in British Columbia. It down and the town of Cassiar is abandoned.

36 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 37 38 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 39 reminded me of the mountain roads back home. We passed Tatogga Lake and travelled on to the campsite in Kinaskan National Park. The Park is on the bank of a long lake of the same name and the well maintained campsite is run by a couple from Bavaria. We park up the bikes and cook a small meal on our fire before watching the sun going down over the lake. There is a palpable sense of isolation here. The Cassiar road is one of the best kept secrets in Canada. Lake, where we stop for lunch. Either side of the road the terrain rolls away to deep, clear The following morning we break camp and lakes and fast flowing rivers, some of which are after a few kilometres come across a number of almost level with our tyres. big helicopters and propeller planes parked on a dirt landing-strip alongside the road at Bob We leave town on sealed tarmac, which Quinn Lake. There’s no standing on ceremony turns back to gravel again pretty soon. The here; the passengers from one of the planes road alternates between hard-pressed mud are unloading their own luggage while the (which is as good as blacktop) to deep gravel pilot smokes a cigarette. with berms at the sides. Just as we start to get the hang of it the road drops away to the As we sped along the winding banks of the left with wet, heavy shale across the entire Bell Irving River I noticed something way ahead The first thing we notice is how different there is a large jewellery store and mining highway. We come out of the corner straight on the road. Slowing down I realized it was an the road is from the Alaska Highway. After just museum, with lots of jade rocks and old mining on to a metal-decked bridge – not a lot of adult black bear and he or she didn’t seem too one kilometre it drops sharply downhill and to equipment. We enjoy the free coffee and have fun on a fully loaded GS with wet, muddy concerned about getting out of the way. Not the left, in the first of what is to be a refreshing a look round, leaving with a local map and knobblies! The mighty Stikine river, swollen knowing what to do we simply kept slowing series of corners and changes in elevation. warnings of terrible road conditions ahead. with snowmelt and rain is just a few feet below down and were relieved when the bear finally The ‘Cassiar’ continues to treat us to some of While the weather is beautiful today we’ve the deck of the bridge. We are amazed by the decided to wander off in the other direction. the best motorcycling roads we’ve been on been told the previous few days’ rain and the power of the river and stop for a few minutes We follow the road up into the Skeena so far. We pass Boya Lake where the mineral snowmelt are causing the roads to flood, and to take photos before crossing the bridge and Mountains and on either side of us there are rich waters turns it a deep turquoise, a colour entire towns could be blocked off. A few miles climbing the hill on the far side. several dormant volcanoes. We are now quite that somehow seems to make the water seem later we do indeed come to a flooded section high up and we can see the snow line several denser. The traffic is also refreshingly light of road but it’s shallow enough for us to The ascent was steep and led us up the with only a few RVs for company and none of ride through. appropriately named ‘Gnat Hill’ – the biting the 18-wheelers we’ve been passing on the insects in this part of the world are ferocious. Alaskan Highway. We are travelling through Shortly afterwards we hit our first section of The road climbed and switched back several the land of the First Nations Iskut tribe and gravel which has just been freshly graded and times, giving us an elevated view of the river their place names are mixed in with those of soaked with our old friend calcium chloride. and the bridge we had just crossed. Along the early settlers such as Dease Lake. Places There then follows 10km of deep, slippery the road we came upon some horses, some of named by the miners and prospectors tend mud, which our newly fitted tyres don’t seem which had cowbells tied around their necks. to be very literal – Mud Lake, for instance. to make much of an impact on. However, we Shortly afterward the gravel ended and we Riding on we come to Jade City, which boasts make it to the end and are rewarded with a were in a long valley called 40 Mile Flats. Shaded a population of 12. On one side of the road fast section of road into the town of Dease on either side by mature evergreen trees it

40 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 39 important for shipping out the ore that had ‘industry’ left is tourism. It boasts the highest been mined in the north of the province. recorded annual snowfall anywhere in the Now the main industry seemed to be tourism world, an incredible 40 feet. It’s also the only and logging. The town looks like it’s run by a town in southern Alaska accessible by road, heritage committee as all the buildings have albeit through Canada. been preserved as they were in the early 20th century gold rush. We pitched our tent at the We ask about somewhere to eat and are Rainey Creek Campground and headed off for directed to an old US school bus that has been a bit of exploring. converted into a fish and chip van by a woman from Oregon. The halibut is freshly landed that Whilst Stewart is a typical of many well afternoon and we get talking to a couple from maintained and picture perfect towns in BC, Stewart who have come over just for the eat Hyder is the complete opposite. Both are on here. They tell us the following story: the same inlet either side of the US/Canadian border and, having ridden along to the end ‘Some years ago, a guy camping on one of of the paved road, we drop down into what the streets in Hyder was attacked and killed by was once a boomtown, rich with prospectors a bear. Once a bear has attacked or been fed, and another port for the mining industry. All it then associates humans with food and will around are damaged and dilapidated buildings attack again, so it has to be destroyed. Rather – it’s pretty much a ghost town and the only than call the authorities (there are no police or hundred feet above us. We ride on, eventually landslides. At the far end of the valley the Bear dropping down to a settlement called Bell 2 Glacier is a mass of blue-white ice sloping for breakfast and fuel, before heading on to down into the lake through what’s left of the Meziadin Junction. trees. We can see where the ice breaks off and falls into the water. While it’s not exactly action Here the road continues south to where we packed, there is a sense of colossal forces at really should be heading but we are tempted work. It stores huge amounts of fresh water by the road west, which runs 65km to the and without glaciers like these our species towns of Stewart and Hyder. It’s a dead-end would be in a lot of trouble. We feel privileged road so we’ll have to come back the same way to be here to see nature ‘doing her thing’ in to continue our journey, but something in me such a big way. has changed. I used to need to surround myself with people but now I want to avoid contact A bit further on I notice another bear wherever possible. I’m so much happier out up ahead on the side of the road. Being here in the wilderness, riding with Maeve at better prepared this time I stop to take some our own pace and knowing that most of the pictures. We’re delighted to see she has not people we will meet have a similar mindset one, but two cubs with her. Careful not to to us. get between ‘mum’ and her babies I take as many pictures as I can before getting cocky It doesn’t take long before our diversion and insisting that Maeve gets in the picture rewards us with yet more breathtaking scenery. with them. Fifteen minutes later we ride Snow capped mountains loom either side of into the town of Stewart, located at the top the road, scarred to the bedrock by numerous of the Portland canal. The town was once

42 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 43 parks services in the town) the locals decided our work cut out for us tomorrow. Sure enough to leave his body in the tent and use him as several roads are closed. Landslides and bait. A few days later the bear returned to avalanches caused by the melting snow have feed and was shot by one of the townspeople, taken several lives in the last few days so we who then reported the incident as a fresh bear ride on the higher, summer-only roads through attack. The full story only came to light when the forests and mountains. The isolation is the authorities flew in and did an autopsy splendid. The iPods’ go flat and the battery on the animal and found the guy’s hand in on the camera dies. We eat food cooked over its stomach. a naked flame and camp in the backwoods. When we finally ride into Whistler it seems way We leave ‘The Schoolbus’ none too sure too populated for us; it’s all a bit ‘Starbucks and of what we’d just heard and head over to the Oakley shades’ to be taken seriously. From here Glacier Bar (the town’s watering hole) for a we take the Sky to Sea Highway into Vancouver coffee. However, after listening to a couple of and get our bikes serviced by the good people the locals talking about their guns and their at Pacific Yamaha. time in the military, I begin to believe the bear tale might well be true. Watching them drive After a few days of city life we’re happy off in their vast SUVs (after more than ‘a few’ to get back out to the country and we head beers) we’re relieved to be heading back to the west towards Alberta. The plan is to cross the safety of Stewart for the evening. It’s been a border into Montana but on the way there long day and the stories about flood damage we get to spend several days in the town of and blocked roads suggest we’ll probably have Nelson, BC. The place is the perfect antidote

44 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 45 to the big city with small cafes and Mom and After the sophistication of rural Canada this Pop stores. We ride trails from one highway was something of a shock, so before we got to the next and before long find ourselves on a starring role in Deliverance 2 we finished the border. We’d spent the guts of six of the refuelling and quickly headed south to spend eight weeks we’d been on the road in Canada, a few days in Missoula with some old friends done so in other national parks in Montana, working as a cashier on his summer break. crossing from one side to the other, meeting of Maeve. Alaska and Canada, and we expect things to One of the perks of his job is access to the many people on the way, enjoying scenery be a certain way – remote, backwoodsy and rest of the park and all it’s curious plants. that is described universally in Canadian as Missoula is a University town and a ‘garden cooking on our own fire. So we are a little bit He asks me what I think of Yellowstone. ‘awesome’ and visiting quirky places. Canada is city’, with a rich history of inter-tribal warfare. dismayed to find a fully serviced campsite “It’s a wonderful place”, I reply, “a pity about a place everyone should experience, especially The High School is named after the valley where suffocating with Winnebagos, each one the the humans though.” He laughs. “They’re not the further north you go. There’s a resilience these battles were fought – it’s called ‘Hellgate size of a 55-seater coach. A disturbing number humans, they’re Tourons,” he says. “Half tourist, to the people there, a friendliness that goes High’. The nearby mountains had some of of them are towing a seemingly obligatory half moron. If they ever got out of their trucks, beyond common courtesy, but also a sense the best pass roads we’d ridden including GL1800 trike, which for some reason is nature might touch them – and then we’d have of knowledge. They are aware just how much one called Going to the Sun Road. Next stop always gold. a problem.” their country has to offer and they are rightly Wyoming and the legendary Yellowstone Park. proud of it. Yellowstone runs its own police force and The park is stuffed full of wildlife; bears, as the teeming hoards ride around the park’s We crossed the border into Montana with moose, foxes, deer, bison, wolves, eagles – you figure-of-eight road on their trikes and pick up little or no delay. The first town we got to bore get the whole lot. It takes a full day to ride trucks, they get tickets for breaking the strict the wonderful name of ‘Eureka’. We stopped at a around it on a motorcycle and according to 40mph speed limit. And as it’s only a single gas station where we met the guy that Billy Bob geologists it is actually the crater of the worlds lane road, when somebody is pulled over (or Thornton must have modelled his character on biggest volcano. This seems to make some they stop to gawp at a rock from the comfort of in the movie U turn. This brown-toothed, ‘life sense as the place is jam-packed with hot their giant truck) the tail-backs are horrific. support system for sweat-stained clothing’ springs, geysers, and weird sandstone stacks scrutinised me and demanded to know why that look like they come from the moon. We, During a visit to the restaurant and general I “ain’t ridin’ no chewmercun motorsikcle?” of course, have opted to camp here, having store I got talking to Will, a botany student

46 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 47

48 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 49 Later Maeve and I head out for a spin on the now known as ‘The Holy Roller’. I find myself bikes. It’s not long before we get stuck behind comparing notes with him on the Alaskan a bunch of cars whilst someone takes a picture Highway and asking advice on which roads of an eagle. We pick our way past, probably to take in Mexico. He was a nice enough guy illegally, and grateful none of the park rangers and seemed to really enjoy what he was are around. It’s rare to meet a pedestrian and doing. I could feel my cynicism melting away. the one we do meet is rare indeed. He’s got To be honest I don’t know if the wheel was close-cropped hair, combat shorts, a crumpled cheating, but he certainty put the fun into T-shirt and hiking boots – and he’s carrying a fundamentalist. full size crucifix. I decide to stop and say hello. As we shake hands I introduce myself and I explained that I had to go and then he did explain that we’re from Dublin and riding our something I really wasn’t expecting. He put his bikes from Alaska to Ushuaia. I tell him that he’s hand on my shoulder and said a prayer for me. the first person I’ve ever seen walking through He asked his god to bless me and keep me safe a park carrying a full size wooden cross. He on the road and he did it with an undeniable introduces himself as Bob. He is a reformed sincerity that left me feeling privileged. As I cocaine dealer and addict, and used to be an all rode away I couldn’t help but think that I’d round nasty piece of work. After several failed stopped to mock this guy but while I didn’t attempts at rehabilitation he found God and share his faith I certainty respected it. I learned decided to make himself the crucifix, and start something new that day. walking and preaching. Paul Browne And walk he did. In the previous six years he’s covered 1,000 miles a year, reaching parts of nearly every state in the US as well as some of Canada and Mexico. Periodically the foot of his cross would wear down from being dragged along the road and he would present himself at general stores in small towns where he would have a piece of wood cut to fill the space that had worn away.

One year he decided to go to the bike meeting at Sturgess, California to spread the good word. It had been a long few weeks and the cross was worn down to almost a point. When he asked some of the bad-ass Harley riders for directions to the nearest hardware store they got talking and went with him. In addition to some plywood, they also purchased a large rubber wheel (the type you’d see on a delivery trolley) and fitted it to the base of the cross. He hasn’t needed to repair it since. He explains that because of the wheel he is

50 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 51 up the creek... The Clutch Cable Devon sun, pubs by the river, seafood and skinny dips...

Holiday Flat - Kingswear, Dartmouth Sleeps four, carparking, garden, dogs welcome - 10% off for Digest readers www.upthecreek-in-kingswear.co.uk 01666 505295 Simon Gardner

Graphic Design ince I turned 50 and started calling than most when it comes to perceiving change myself a “geezer,” I’ve suspected there in my surroundings – or myself. I once rode to Swill come a time when I will stop feeling work through a tornado-decimated hometown like “me” and begin to feel like an old guy. and didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. When someone pointed out the fact that I’d IMAGINATION Humans are not great at noticing gradual been forced to ride around a house that had change. We don’t miss our vanishing freedoms been planted in my lane on the main street, I until they’re long gone. We don’t notice that was completely dumbfounded. (In my defense, enquiries: our kids are beginning to look at us as if we why should I have noticed a stationary building are not-quite-geniuses until they turn into on the road? The house was never a threat to my teenagers and make it perfectly clear that we safety, unlike the lethal and unpredictable traffic are barely-qualified-idiots in their eyes. Some in that west Texas town.) [email protected] of us don’t notice that we are no longer athletic until we ‘suddenly’ are barely able to walk Up to a couple of years ago, I was around the neighborhood. I might be worse pretty active and moderately athletic for an

52 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 53 My left hip failed in exactly that manner. The hip is a fairly simple ball and socket arrangement, not that different from a car’s ball joint but not nearly as competently executed. My femur’s head was more like an egg. The pelvis socket was oval and poorly formed. My existence discredits the whole ‘intelligent design’ theory. At the least, whoever is responsible for my body was one seriously untalented manufacturing engineer. This fact explains (after 63 years of ‘use and abuse’) why I have never been fast, quick, or nimble on my feet. You can’t change direction quickly if you have to turn in discreet increments like a 1960’s B-movie robot. Last year, it became obvious that my left hip had pushed out all the shock-absorbing and lubricating cartilage and the bone-on-bone contact was grinding out solid material like a dull drill bit. After a year of avoidance, I decided to give in to a hip replacement. The next three months of convalescence, physical therapy, disability, and pain were pretty close to one of those clutch cable failure moments. At five months, I’m overweight, lazy 60-year-old. I could still play but not a disaster. Starting and stopping did, in his sleep. Not screaming in terror and getting around pretty well, but I am not back a reasonable tennis and racquetball game, gets complicated, but everything between is going down in flames like the passengers in his to full function. I may never be. shoot baskets with my grandson, put in a 20- minimally inconvenienced. The stretched and car.” A snapped end-of-life-cable seems like a mile day on a bicycle, and get around a single- frayed cables are another issue. reasonable way to go. ‘Recovery’ is always a relative term. track trail fairly quickly. I taught approximately My father never recovered from his WWII 20 motorcycle safety classes a summer. By your When I was a young man, my injuries all The kind of cable failure that seems to be experience. When he put away his Navy standards, I was probably a typical American occurred fast. I was up and riding and, bam! I more common, however, is the stretching and slug, but by my degraded measure I felt pretty was on my ass and broken. When I was really fraying process. The cable strands stretch and much like me. young, healing happened fast, too. When I break, one at a time, causing more stress to the was 28, I broke all of the toes on my left foot remaining support, which slowly weakens and How does that happen? What change in a high-side crash. Two months later, I was becomes less predictable from the additional occurs that turns a motorcyclist into an old guy racing. Now, I sprain something, or break it load. The friction zone becomes vague and who tells dumb stories about ‘back in the day’ or get it surgically replaced, and six months clutch operation feels less reliable. The general when he could straddle a bike? A friend, Chris later I’m still rehabilitating myself. If I’m lucky, contact with the power train changes as the Luhman, suggested that the aging process the moment I go from-me-to-old will be like clutch does its job less effectively, less precisely. might be a lot like a failing clutch cable. Those my young injuries. I’ll be doing something I Sometimes the cable failure is because there simple and generally reliable cables fail in love with people I care about and, pop! A fatal was a flaw in the basic design: a poor cable-end a couple of ways that seem like an accurate stroke or heart attack takes me out so fast I solder connection, a too-sharp turn in the cable metaphor for late life. I’ve had a few clutch don’t have time for any part of my life to flash that results in excessive stress in a small area, or cables go instantly and it’s usually a surprise, before my eyes. “I want to die like my grandpa poor materials that aren’t up to the required job.

54 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 55 uniform he was done with all forms calisthenics before breakfast every morning. in bottles. Whatever comes of my exercise . . . I’m the one that’s gonna have to die, when of adventure and he tried to live a calm, He was done with that sort of exercise when routine, it’s only apparent to me and my it’s time for me to die. So let me live my life the predictable life from that point on. he left the Navy. Pioneering fitness expert Jack limited capabilities. way I want to.” I prefer to live as much of my life After finishing his college degree he took a LaLanne was from my father’s generation, but as possible on two wheels. teaching job and held that exact same job, in LaLanne’s peers considered him a freak, not After replacing my worn out left hip the same town, for the next 44 years. He was a role model. Most of our peers consider us and putting in an hour or more a day on the Thomas Day a fairly active, athletic man until a series of freaks for riding motorcycles when we could therapy routine for four months, I’m back www.mnmotorcycle.com cardiac and cancer incidents put him on oxygen be sitting in a comfortable rolling living room, on the 250, commuting to work every day, http://geezerwithagrudge.blogspot.co.uk and a walker in his early 70’s. Once again, he but more of us are concerned with our physical and putting in some recreational miles on All Rights Reserved © 2012 Thomas W. Day did not recover any of his previous self. He lived fitness than were our parents’ generation. That and off road. I’m not ready for primetime another 20 years but from the outside he was may keep the clutch cables lubed longer and it but I could probably do a long trip without clearly not the same man he had been. might even prevent some breakage. incident, and I think I’m ready for the safety- training season. Of course, the human body In many ways, I’ve failed to live up to the ‘Fitness’ has a different meaning when you is a lot more complicated than a clutch cable standards my father set, but physically I’d pass 50. At 60, it means ‘clinging desperately or an entire motorcycle transmission for that like to do better. When I was going through to what I have.’ If I skip a day, I backslide about matter. I have no guarantee that fixing my my physical therapy routine this morning, three. If I skip a week, I’m all the way back to new hip will give me another 12,000 miles or I identified one big difference between my disabled. As best I can tell, my appearance even another weekend. So, I’m just going to father and me: I can’t imagine him doing bears no reflection of the work I’ve been doing have to pretend that I can plan on those miles 50 deep-knee squats, more than 100 leg over the last year. I feel stronger but I’m no and that weekend, and carry on as best I can. extensions and lifts, and a half-hour of prettier, and the only six-pack I possess comes As Jimi said, “I’m gonna wave my freak flag high

56 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 57 The Code Of The Road iding to Paris has always been a massive On Good Friday we woke up bright and dream of mine. Last summer I rode the early around 6am to get on the road to RSt Tropez HOG Rally from Brighton over Folkstone. It was a beautiful morning and the 4 days so the distance isn’t daunting. five of us, myself on my H-D 48, Hattie on her H-D 883 Iron, Tom on his H-D XR1200, Sam Paris is probably my favourite city in on his Kawasaki Z1000 and Graham on his the world and the short 300 mile ride from Kawasaki ZX10 set off on the A27 towards Brighton to Paris seems like the perfect way Folkstone. It was absolutely to get there. Plus I have always wanted to ride freezing but the sun was around the L’arc du Triomphe on my Harley- shining and we were all happy! Davidson 48 and park up under the The ride was absolutely Eiffel Tower for a offee with beautiful; we stayed on the a group of friends. A27 to Pevensey where I also wanted it becomes the A259 to show people and largely follows the that you can do coast all the way to a trip like this on Folkestone.Every a budget and that time I looked in my travelling by bike wing mirror and is the best way to saw my 4 friends do it. riding behind me in convoy, Back in February, I I instantly had remembered the 4-day a massive grin weekend over Easter was on my face! coming up and I thought this would be the perfect time for We were running very late by the my long weekend in Paris. time we got to Folkstone and we had missed our train. We were then all allocated to separate We found a ‘cheap as chips’ hostel for £30 trains as we went through the gate. We pulled a night each, including a secure garage 10 up to get some food and a coffee at Le Shuttle’s minutes south of Champs Elysee by Metro. We food hall and spoke to the information desk booked Le Shuttle early, which cost us around who told us to let the marshals at the gates £50 each. A 2 night stay in Paris so far costing know we were together and we should be able us £110 each! I figured petrol would be another to get on the same train. £100 or so there and back and that just left food and drink. The Thursday evening before We rode to the queue of the next available Good Friday we packed our bags and went train and the marshal let us all through to the pub to plan our route down (which to together. Bikers are really taken care of when be honest didn’t get that far). We decided we using the tunnel, we were given priority would sort it out when we got to the tunnel. over other traffic and were all kept together.

58 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 59 hard without her hands on the throttle and then cut out. We got the bikes on the train and decided to take a look at her bike on theway over. At first we thought it was the stand (which cuts the engine out if it’s still in gear) was stuck. This didn’t seem to be the case. We relaxed as we were not able to start the bike until we got off at Calais so were not able to test it anyway.

We tried to start the bike at Calais to get it While we were riding up to the train I heard off the train. It started once, revved incredibly an unhealthy bike sound. Hattie was riding high and then cut off again. We took all our next to me and every time she pulled the bikes off and pulled up on the platform. The clutch in it made a high pitched buzzing. train pulled away and all of a sudden we realised I didn’t think anything of it and thought it was we were the only people on the platform at just because the bike was hot or something. Calais Shuttle. It was like a ghost town! We felt Tom also heard it and looked a bit worried. stranded. We couldn’t get Hattie’s bike to start, We stopped to be let on the back of the train didn’t have any jump leads and didn’t know and Hattie’s bike wasn’t happy. She had it in what to do. A security car pulled up and we neutral and the engine started revving really were getting iron stares from the men inside. I

called the nearest Harley Davidson dealership, was either pay a small fortune to get Hattie’s which was around the corner but they were bike fixed or turn around. It was already about closed because it was Good Friday. I called my 5pm and we had a good 3 to 4 hours ride to AA cover but unfortunately this didn’t cover Paris and we still had no idea where we were Europe and we would only be able to get a tow going. Bikers stick together, we weren’t going to a garage, which would cost €250 to get to to go if we couldn’t all go and we had to thre and then more to fix the bike.

The boys tried to fix the bike for hours. We managed to get the attention of a pick up van and an American chap stopped to see if we needed help. He had a small toolbox which meant we could do some more investigating but without a computer to hook up to the bike we were pretty stuck. We managed to jump start the bike but as soon as we let go of the throttle the engine died. The moment came when we realised that all we could do

60 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 61 make sure Hattie got home safe. Hattie is very Holmes Hill and the team there said they had independent but at 5ft nothing it wasn’t very never seen a problem like it. The starter switch easy for her to push the bike around. had gone and this had drained the battery. There would have been no way we would We managed to get on a train going home have been able to fix it on our own. In the end thanks to the helpful staff at Calais. Although we went for some good rides that weekend we were all extremely disappointed we knew and I really fell in love with riding around we had made the right decision. The fact that Sussex again. bikers stick together and all help each other out is one of the main things I love about The moral of this story is that we would riding. Whenever you see a fellow biker pulled never leave a biker behind. Paris will always be over on the side of the road you pull over to there and we will still make it this year. But in see if you can help. It’s like an unwritten code. the meantime, Hattie, as a new biker, has learnt We couldn’t have gone on without Hattie and that she will never be left stranded on her bike quite frankly it would have been wrong. and I believe that I will never be either.

We got off the train at Folkstone where Polly Taylor Hattie was picked up by a recovery van and taken home. Me and the boys had an awesome Twitter @polly4harley ride back to Brighton as the sun was going down. We got home and had a night out in https://www.facebook.com/profile. Brighton, Paris style; we went to a French php?id=100002455542053 restaurant and had a really good time. Hattie was able to get her bike fixed the next day at Shaw Speed and Custom Harley-Davidson at

ISSUE 166 May 2012 63 STREET TRIPLE STREET TRIPLE STREET TRIPLE

64 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 65 long range ensuring that the polar ice caps resemble a of year and on a naked bike I’d surely die of be a litre motor? There is no way on Earth that Fox’s Glacier Mint in less time than it takes to exposure within seconds. Nonsense of course, amount of lusty, torquey exuberance can be MiddleweighT say “carbon footprint” (but I’m not quite so sure it was even deeper into the winter by the time contained within the confines of three tiny ou can’t ride to Edinburgh that the ‘Digest would have picked up the tab the Triumph arrived, equally well equipped as cylinders. Mind you, even the engineering for lunch”, I was told. When I for that one). it wasn’t, with acres of plastic fairing. I’ve never geniuses at Triumph can miss a trick from “Yresponded that yes, I could and time to time. They could have saved a fortune indeed had ridden to Edinburgh for lunch in cost and a load of weight by ditching the that very weekend on a BMW Megamoto my gearbox. Completely unnecessary. Whack it in protagonist got a bit flustered. top and off you go. So, where are we? Devon. Nice, this is a great road, what happens if I do Apparently he didn’t mean that it was this? Wow! All these flashy blue lights come impossible, but that I shouldn’t be riding to on around the rev counter. OK Triumph, I take Edinburgh or any other far-flung places for it back. So that’s what the gearbox is for, it’s a any kind of victuals as it was both selfish and sort of foot operated switch for the on board bad for the environment. Far be it for me to light show. You have to hand it to them, British point out that all of his, and indeed most of engineering genius. all motorcycle journeys made these days, are purely for pleasure. And very far be it for me to I’m really having fun now, so in order to further point out that I could have jumped on extend the fun into tomorrow I’ll need a place a jet to Prague for lunch, for far less than the to stay, the Street Triple doesn’t accommodate cost of the fuel the BMW used, thereby virtually a tent, although I did once manage to pack one

So I rode a Triumph Street Triple to Land’s understood why more people don’t ride all year End for lunch in an heroic bid to save the round and why so many of those that that do planet. How did I manage that then, I hear you insist upon covering up a perfectly handsome ask? Well, it was easy, I had a Cornish pasty motorcycle with what amounts to little more at about 1.10pm! Oh, the planet saving part? than Tupperware? Well it’s obvious really, the little Trumpet only has a 675cc engine against the Beemer’s 1200. I Back to the plan, it’s early ‘o clock and I’m can hear those polar bears breathing an audible gassed up and ready to go. There isn’t actually sigh of relief (which is quite appropriate, since a plan of course, I’m just going to ride to Land’s the Street Triple was pure white – which is not End, have lunch then see what the rest of the entirely my cup of herbal tea – and it did attract day brings. I head out of London and find an awful lot of attention. Fortunately, not from myself naturally drawn to my favourite roads in large white cars with lights on top). Another Dorset where the little Triumph and I worked reason I was given for not riding to Edinburgh out a few little problems. First off, where have for lunch was that it was far too cold at this time they hidden the other 400cc? Surely this must

66 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 67 68 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 69 key by a member of the Land’s End staff. He told me that someone had handed in a key about 10 minutes ago with a Triumph key fob. I immediately assumed that it must be mine as there were no other bikes (or indeed cars) in the car park. When I asked if I could have it back, he asked me what colour my bike was. I told him it was white and he confirmed that this was, indeed, the colour of the bike that the key had been found next to. He then carried on with his duties. I asked if I might have the key now, to which he retorted that no, I couldn’t, as he’d given it to some other bloke a few minutes earlier.

I ran outside in a blind panic, fully expecting to see the Triple vanishing into the distance, only to find it exactly where I left it, locked. I put my hand in my pocket and found the key there, where it had been all the while. I resisted the urge to go back inside and find out if I’d been the subject of some weird Cornish along with a weekends luggage on its bigger brother, the Speed Triple, but then again, you’ve not seen my new tent. I call Bryan, the best bike valeter in the world, not because the Triumph is filthy, but because he lives in Goldsithney, near Penzance in Cornwall and I’ve not seen him for ages due to his choice of location. The evening entertainment sorted, I cross the moors and hit the end of the known world at about 1pm.

Land’s End doesn’t get very busy in the depths of winter, so I had my run of the place, including the slightly oddly placed ‘famous’ sign, which is actually on private property. Apparently some old chap charges you £15 to take a photo if you happen to be over the line. Behind the line, which is about two metres from the sign, you can snap away all day for free. Decidedly odd. Further confusion ensued when I was asked if I’d lost my bike

70 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 71 controlled by a tiny old man who looked at the space around him, which was totally devoid FATMAGGOT.COM of cars and any sign of life other than 1.5 scale genetically mutated seagulls, scratched his head and said that he didn’t know where I would be able to park as it was so busy that day. I squeezed in next to some fresh air and Custom Printing for Bike Clubs Shops & Events a rusty old chain. A few hours later, having liberated the aforementioned articles from the shop (“if a bloke comes in on a bike, give them to him”) and amused myself by watching seagulls terrorise people, I set off home, happy in the knowledge that the next five hours would be pure biking joy.

If you excuse the practicality issues (there is Biker Gifts no provision for luggage and pillions need not apply), which you should if you’ve chosen this bike, there is nothing I can find fault with, the fit and finish is superb, not just for a bike in this price bracket, but for any bike. Although it’s a small bike, it’s all day comfortable, not once Very Rude T Shirts did I feel like stopping due to fatigue or pain initiation wind up, or if the lad had been driven and considering the enthusiastic riding, I’m not insane by excessive pasty eating. Instead I about to complain about the fuel consumption headed to Penzance where I played happily either. So it appears that the genius British with the fishing boats, chased the helicopter engineers have made a small bike comfortable, and avoided speaking to any locals for a few a small engine better than a larger engine and hours. But it was no good, during this time a budget bike that (white paint job aside) looks I received a call from a London based friend a million dollars. Jolly good show. asking, that since I was in Cornwall, could I pick up a spiders web and a few other witchy things If you’ve read any of my previous bike tests, Full onsite setup for printing at rallies/shows from a slightly odd shop in Mevagissey. you’ll know that I’m not big on the technical niceties of exactly how many kittens will be I met Bryan on his glorious old NS400R saved on your local high street when you do an and we headed back to his for a night of the emergency stop, or how much smoke will pour best hospitality imaginable, thanks Lauren and from the rear tyre as you apply the throttle, nor Bryan for a great night! how many cakes you need to eat to produce clothing - mugs - promotional items enough energy to countersteer the bike around Awoken by the unmistakable music made a fifty nine degree left hander if the camber of by a 2 stroke triple, which was Bryan leaving the road is neutral. However, my editor believes 07905 440970 / [email protected] for work, I left early and headed to Mevagissey that some of you want to know these things, so which is a tiny Cornish fishing port with an I’ll just add that unless your current bike was even tinier car park on the harbour. This was last ridden by Casey Stoner, you will be entirely

72 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 73 ecstatic with all the provided engine and the same comical lack of practicality, (but you chassis parts. This bike stops, turns and goes can get a tent and a weekends luggage on it, immaculately and requires just enough rider trust me), it’s got massive performance, it’s a input to keep you engaged but not exhausted. sight cheaper, and if all that isn’t enough, stunt Triumph have addressed two of the issues that ace Kevin Carmichael has had both and he decided the fate of my Speed Triple (which agrees with me. was replaced by a Ducati Multistrada over two years ago): the seat no longer tries to eat If anyone still has concern for my impact into the tank; and the truly dreadfully spongy upon the environment, never fear, there is brakes have been revolutionized. It’s good to a small tree growing from the saddle of my see a factory respond to genuine consumer old Russian bike and following a recent trip complaints because I know I wasn’t the only to Wales, my other Russian bike has enough one who had these problems. Sadly, they have organic matter secreted about it’s steelwork to failed to address the third and most important start a small, but hopefully 100% organic, lentil issue, it still encourages hooliganism and the farm, which will offset any damage or offence frightening of sheep so I shall not be buying caused during the pursuit of this article… one (it’s four cakes, by the way, two and a half if they have cherries on the top. Next month I’ll Rod Young be providing a useful cake comparison chart for you to cut out and keep). www.triumph.co.uk

Forget the Speed Triple, if you like these bikes just get the Street. It looks the same, has

74 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 75 “Funny But Thoughtful” Bangkok biker

“Dave Gurman is the thinking motorcyclist’s Jezza. ife has a charming if initially alarming He’s deeper, balder, funnier and infinitely less irritating - and he’s had way of showing you the right way to go a lifelong passion for bikes!” Lif you let it. With no inkling of how I was later to be well and truly smitten by motorcycle “Dave Gurman makes you glad that you’re riding and glad that you’re reading” – Austin Vince travel, I decided to sling my hook from life in the UK and see what other things were on offer “Dave’s ability to capture segments of life and express them in a personal and uplifting manner in the world. creates many a snigger through to full on laugh out loud moments.” – Neil ‘Nelly’ Hudd “I have three words for Dave Gurman’s Book - Starting in Bangkok, I spent four months He was Thai and spoke no English. I was I LOVE IT!” – Harriet Ridley carrying my few possessions on my back English and spoke no Thai, other than the round Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, greeting ‘Sabaidee’ and ‘Cap koon kah’ for returning to Bangkok before going south to ‘thank you’. He motioned for me to hop behind Only Malaysia. Although I was a bit older than most him on the pillion seat. So with no thought other backpackers the travelling life had made about whether this was a sensible thing to do £5.99 me somewhat bold and able to do things I considering I neither knew this man, his riding wouldn’t previously have had the nerve to ability or intentions, I did as he indicated and even attempt. climbed on behind him wearing a tee-shirt with loose cotton trousers and no helmet. It had been quite tough-going in those countries and I needed a bit of relaxation and Oh how I did giggle on the back as we quiet, which even in the crazily busy city of whizzed around the sights of Central Bangkok Bangkok was readily available in the peaceful and then to the stadium where there was a Can be ordered from any wats (temples). Serene monks pass on a little meeting of Harley Davidson owners, and a vast good bookshop - calm by giving meditation lessons to curious array of similarly customised bikes. There must available ex-stock from: visitors with an hour or two to spare in between have been a hundred or more. I took a photo of

sightseeing at the Grand Palace or gawking at him and then he took me back to the wat I had The Ace Cafe, London strippers and ladyboys. been looking for when we’d met no more than The Shop in the Clouds an hour earlier. (Ponderosa) Horseshoe Pass, I was on my way to such a wat when my Llangollen attention was diverted by a very striking He wanted to wait for me but I suggested as motorbike. I had my own motorbike at home kindly as I could in sign language that I might www.amazon.co.uk (a Suzuki GS 500E) and I was rather missing it. be quite a long time and that he should go. I Mine was a boring black but this eye-magnet shook his hand and went inside the wat. I met www.mapsman.com was customised in bright red with gorgeous the head monk who, in impeccable English yellow Thai dragons. It was unusual to see such told me that I must trust my inner instincts and www.traveldriplus.com a thing in South-East Asia as most motorbikes not be afraid to follow where I would be led.

were only 125cc and it stood out because After the experience I’d just had, I think I could www.wemoto.com of it’s size as much as for its colour. Sitting have told him a thing or two about that! Or by post from: Dave Gurman, 48 astride it, unashamedly posing, was a weirdly Argyle Avenue, Hounslow, TW3 2LF – dressed man who appeared to be delighted at cheque for £7.99 (£2 p&p) my interest. Jacqui Furneaux

76 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 77 Manx Milestones

78 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 79 NAKED woman, bovine madness and But the bold, oddball approach to a ‘sexy’ near arrests – the ingredients for the calendar is entirely fitting. What could be more Amaking of next year’s TT calendar are bold and bonkers than riding a two-wheeled unconventional, to say the least. Who needs rocket around 37 and three quarter miles of Pirelli professionals when you’ve got a budget regular road and its accompanying fixtures blonde from Rochdale and a handful of Manx – lampposts, curbstones, dry stone walls farm animals? and houses?

CERTAIN moments in life prompt you to Yet the TT’s not just about danger and question whether you’re awake or whether maximum velocity thrills. Its history spans Dad Dad you’ve been slipped a hallucinogenic drug. 105 years – in fact, the inaugural TT took And standing in a field stark-naked, with a place before the Titanic was even ordered. recorded the sound of an AJS warming up (a interpreting it in an artistic manner. I researched huge ‘K’ painted on my front and umpteen Throughout those hundred plus years the TT wonderful ‘growl’) before the classic lap on my dozens of unusual tales from the race’s 105- cows trying to lick my arse, was one of those has witnessed huge leaps in technological dictaphone, which I then listened to on my year history and used each tale as inspiration occasions. If LSD advocate Prof Timothy Leary development and hundreds of spectacular return journey. On the same dictaphone there for the images, which I sketched out as I was were to have appeared in a Carry on Film, this events at each of its sections. It was these TT was also a recording of a very funny TT press researching. There are enough shots for each of would be it. Here, in a field on the Isle of Man’s tales that caught my interest. conference - the combination of the humour, the 37 and three quarter miles of the course – spectacular TT course, a rather surreal vision of the visceral thrill of a classic engine and the so this calendar is part one, if you like. what a TT calendar should be was slowly – and The idea to create an arty / slightly post TT blues, got me thinking…. strangely – starting to take shape, however comedic TT calendar struck me on the journey “Why the cows?” you may be thinking. bonkers it seemed. back from TT 2010. Being a total anorak, I’d Within a week I’d decided to create a Well, John Surtees hit a cow at Glen Helen TT calendar – one that did justice to the during practice in 1958. Every image and every quirky history of the Isle of Man TT races by prop – including John McGuinness’ leathers,

Granddad

80 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 81 October

82 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 83 Guy Martin’s signboard and Phil Read’s leathers were always set-backs, including the weather, March – are relevant to telling a TT tale. very keen speed walkers and on one day the photographer even forgot the camera. It was The calendar also nods to my own heritage all very Carry On. – both my dad and granddad were TT racers (though dad more than granddad) – an I’d get back after doing the pictures, obsession with TT history and an interest in shower, and then head to the Start to cover the images. All the props are genuine, kindly lent to TT as a journalist for the Yorkshire Post. By the me by Guy Martin, John McGuinness (in whose end of race week I was a total zombie and I still leathers I was almost arrested), Ian Lougher, my have flashbacks of almost being run over with father, a farmer (who lent me the goose) and an no clothes on at Creg Ny Baa. eccentric Manxman. Even the jerry can in the Brandywell image has a history – it belongs to The photographer – who transformed my veteran TT racer Vin Duckett. crude sketches and poorly articulated ideas into great shots – is Aljazeera’s Africa reporter With the exception of Brandish Corner, and a former BBC foreign correspondent; more which was foolishly shot at rush hour, all the at home in a war zone than legging it round pictures were taken at around 4am over a the TT course with a woman with a penchant four-week period throughout the TT and Manx for extreme nudity. Making the calendar was December Grand Prix. My alarm would go off at 3am – hilarious – I’ve never giggled as much in my life. I’d get ready, grab Peter (photographer) and I hope you have a giggle too! Shaz (assistant), we’d load the van and go to whichever sections we’d planned. But there Rachel Clegg www.rachaelclegg.com

84 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 85 19TH ANNUAL ACE CAFE REUNION RIDE WITH THE ROCKERS BRIGHTON BURN-UP

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ISSUE 166 May 2012 87 Three Superiors

88 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 89 n Sunday, 12 December 2010, I curator, and includes such members as Lauren headed uptown to Phillips du Pury Hutton, Laurence Fishburne, and the late Oon Park Avenue in New York to see Dennis Hopper. the 1925 Brough Superior SS100 Alpine Grand Sport Prototype the auction house had The novelty at Phillips, as a short article in on view. Once owned and raced by George that weekend’s New York Times pointed out, was Brough himself, the SS100 had had a pre- that the Brough was not a lot in a traditional auction estimate of $600,000 to $700,000US. motorcycle auction at Bonham’s, say, or Mid- America. “The black motorcycle sits in a show window on Park Avenue in Manhattan, sharing shopping attention with an auction of jewelry,” wrote Phil Patton, the reporter. Patton went on to obliquely quote the Brough’s owner, Michael FitzSimons as having said “that the sale of a motorcycle among standout furniture and other products of design could be a landmark, increasing appreciation of motorcycles”. Could have fooled me. The article appeared in the Automobile section, not in the Arts section as is usual with The Times’ auction coverage. Part of Phillips’ Design Masters sale, the motorcycle was being offered alongside Getting to the showroom to see the Brough never seen a real one. It was presented as a lots of works created by Le Corbusier, Carlo proved to be half the fun. I had to cross through museum quality object in space. Touching it Bugatti, Piero Fornasetti, George Nakashima, a Sikh demonstration against genocide in was possible, but clearly not encouraged. For and Charlotte Perriand, among many others. general and the 1984 Sikh genocide in India the record, the Brough was both longer and A large and beautiful early Shoji Hamada jar in particular. The Sikh group was trying to narrower than I thought it would be, but the whose provenance includes British potter get Indian minister Kamal Nath, whom some rest was close enough to what I had expected. Bernard Leach had an estimate of $20,000 to believe is responsible for the massacre, tried in $30,000. the U.S. courts. Curiously, the Brough Superior After about fifteen minutes of drooling, I I was about to see was once also owned by decided I really should look at the other lots That industrial design in general and Prince R. Chagla of India. on display, although even the Hamada pot was motorcycle design in particular can be taken out of my budget for that week. The sale was seriously aesthetically is nothing new. That Whether it was in spite of The Times’ piece filled with other than iconic works by mostly partly informed the conceit of the Solomon R. or because of the Sikh rally, I was just about the iconic designers, but even minor works by Guggenheim Museum’s flashy, controversial, only person there. The Brough was in an alcove major artists are not without interest. and ultimately shallow 1998 show ‘The Art by itself. What few other visitors who were at of the Motorcycle’. The exhibition may have Phillips didn’t even give the Brough a glance, What became increasingly apparent as claimed to explore ideas of freedom, romance, let alone wander in for a closer view. I looked at lot after lot was how misplaced and mobility; but what it did do was make it Brough was here. He was not an artist or a fashionable for the rich, upmarket rider to Not a problem for me. I was happy to be designer in the same sense as René Herbst or come out of the closet as a motorcyclist. It alone with the SS100. I had been reading about Dirk Van Erp was; Brough was much more a also launched the Guggenheim Motorcycle the Brough and its legend for years; had seen stylist. Furthermore, a motorcycle isn’t just an Club, led by Thomas Kerns, the exhibition many, many excellent photographs; but had object in space: it’s a moving object in space.

90 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 91 92 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 93 It was unusual (if not unheard of) for of which approximately one third survive. any two motorcycles to have the exact same Between 1924 and 1940, more than 380 SS100s configuration, since each was built to the were produced. Most Brough Superiors were needs and specifications of the owner. for the UK market, but some were exported.

Each motorcycle was effectively built twice Thanks to the enthusiasm of the Meyer in the Nottingham factory. First the parts were Brothers, Austria was Brough’s largest foreign fitted together. Then the motorcycle was taken market. Brough himself was not ungrateful. He apart and the components were plated or was well-connected and when he heard that painted as needed (or specified). Finally the Austria might be ‘annexed’ by Nazi Germany, motorcycle was reassembled. he sent word to the Meyers, who were Jewish. They escaped and re-established themselves Furthermore, each one was tested for its in London. specific performance. The SS100 meant that it was tested to go for 100 mph or better; the SS80, In addition to motorcycles, Brough Superior 80 mph or better. The results were certified also manufactured sidecars and motorcars. The by George Brough himself. Of course, Brough later sidecars had an auxiliary fuel tank that Superiors set more than 50 world records for could feed petrol into the motorcycle’s tank the flying mile or kilometer between 1920 and with a pressurized hand pump. Between 85 1940, with and without sidecars. and 100 motorcars were produced between 1935 and 1939, of which perhaps two More than 3,000 Broughs were dozen survive. For all intents and purposes, My musings were interrupted when one hand, $450,000 is consistent with what another manufactured between 1919 and 1940, Brough Superior was an early casualty of of the staff offered espresso and biscotti, both Brough Superior went for at auction in the UK a excellent. Odd pairing with the Brough though, few months later. but did make sense for the rest of the sale. Then again, what would make a good pairing Some 85 or more years after the prototype with an SS100? A cup of tea and a digestive? Alpine Grand Sport was first built and a year or so after its spectacular failure at Phillips, its After taking a second long look at the successor, the SS101, set a record at Bonneville SS100, I decided to buy the auction catalogue. Flats (see Linda Wilsmore’s article last month). To my surprise I wasn’t charged for it. Generally It’s the sort of ironic anecdote of which legends speaking, free catalogues are only given to are made. And the Brough has always been known bidders and I wasn’t even dressed to as much about the legend as performance. be mistaken for one. I was dressed to look at a Broughs have the glamour. motorcycle: jeans and a leather jacket. For the more than twenty year span Looking back, that alone should have been between the world wars, George Brough an inkling. The Brough failed to sell at auction. produced rugged racing machines for daring While the call-in bid was approximately young aristocrats as well as more serious $450,000, it fell short of the reserve. Insiders (and well off) enthusiasts. Dubbed the “Rolls- later speculated that the reserve was $600,000 Royce of Motorcycles” by H.D. Teague of The (the bottom end of the estimated sale price), Motor Cycle, Broughs were more bespoke but that remains unconfirmed. On the other than customized.

94 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 95 brand that prided itself on quality and speed Lawrence’s, Cairns eventually published Head one bike for speed and take it to Bonneville. – e.g., 124 mph at Brooklands in 1939 – is in injuries in motor-cyclists, the importance of the The sale took eleven months to complete; some ways best known for a fatal crash at a crash helmet in 1941. That same year, helmets Bonneville, three years. moderate 60 mph. became mandatory for British soldiers while on duty. That Upham is based in Austria, the country Lawrence was already well-known as a rider that bought so many Brough Superiors so during World War I, with a series of motorcycles Lawrence’s motorcycle didn’t sustain any many years ago, seems to be one of those odd all named Boanerges, or Son of Thunder, from catastrophic damage. Once repaired, it was coincidences. When the motorcycle market the New Testament. He picked up his first sold and sold again, eventually winding up on dropped in 1996, Upham, who had owned and Brough Superior in 1922 and was smitten. A display in the Imperial War Museum in London. operated three companies in the UK selling World War II. Called into the war effort, Brough Mk I, Lawrence dubbed it George I and began a As for George VIII, Brough claimed in 1937 that British, Italian, and Japanese motorcycles, went effectively ceased civilian production of lively correspondence with Brough himself. he had kept it for his own use in remembrance touring to find a place to operate a business, if motorcycles, assembling only a few from bits of his friend. He actually sold it to Robin Miller he couldn’t sell in England. and parts lying about. The company continued Brough was no slouch when it came in 1935. as an engineering firm after the war, though it to soliciting celebrity endorsements and Austria was his solution, or salvation. did not resume production of the motorcycles. managed to prevail on Lawrence. One Of course, Lawrence isn’t the only famous He met his wife there and now operates However manufacturing parts continued result was an advertisement describing name to be associated with the Brough Brough Superior Motorcycles Ltd. out of a 700 through to the end of the sixties. “Two Superiors” – that is, Lawrence and the Superior. Jay Leno, the American television year old former farmhouse. As for building Brough. Richard Knowles adapted the tag personality, who has several, also let the entire motorcycles – as opposed to just After Brough’s death in 1970 and his wife’s line for his book, Two Superiors: the motor- Brough Superior Team (Team Brough) use his manufacturing some 16,500 different British a decade later, the name and intellectual cycling friendship of George Brough and T.E. garage in Burbank to prepare for the successful motorcycle parts – Upham claims it was property passed into other hands and was Lawrence, which is more about Lawrence and attempt to break the AMA 1350-A-VG speed happenstance. “We were approached to build eventually purchased by another firm, Carmac, his interest in motorcycling than in just his record. And Von Dutch’s 1931 SS80, whose one and we continued”. which intended to bring the Brough Superior Brough Superiors. Miller, incidentally, doesn’t provenance includes the actor Steve McQueen, back into limited production. A handful think the two men were particularly close. was offered at auction in 2011. While Upham declines to provide the were built. actual number his company builds a year or George IV was Lawrence’s first SS100. A very different auction was indirectly has built so far, he does confirm there was a Peter Miller’s Brough Superior: the He would order four more after that. He was behind the SS101’s success at Bonneville. It was waiting list, but they’re catching up. “We’re a complete story, published in 2010, is highly waiting for George VIII to be delivered when for Brough Superior’s brand and intellectual secretive bunch,” he explains. recommended to anyone who wants, well, he was killed in May 1935. The attending property and was handled through Bonham’s. the complete story. Readable and incredibly neurosurgeon, Hugh Cairns, went on to make The auction house approached Mark Upham Published reports indicated that a handful well-researched, it’s the most exhaustive the cause of Lawrence’s death, (head injuries), at Half Moon Bay during a Legend of the is produced each year for people who enjoy book on Brough and the Brough Superior to a special study. Noting the unnecessary deaths Motorcycle Concours d’elegance in 2008. Brough Superiors, each replica going for date. Miller’s assessment of Brough as a rider, of dispatch riders in circumstances similar to According to Upham, he was the only known $250,000 or more a piece. Each motorcycle is a salesman, a designer, and a manufacturer ‘old Brougher’ at Half Moon. effectively a custom built one-off, handmade alone is worth reading, whether or not one to higher standards than were possible agrees with the conclusions. Upham placed a sealed bid. He had been when the first Brough Superiors rolled out of fascinated by the Brough Superior since 1977. Nottingham. Of course, when discussing the Brough He was also uniquely qualified. His other Superior there is the slight matter of one of company, British Only Austria, specializes Jared Zaugg, Upham’s Business Development its most famous owners, the five foot two T. E. in parts for older, vintage, and antique Consultant in the United States, puckishly Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia motorcycles. Upham’s original idea was to suggested in an article in Motorcycle Classics (or Florence of Belgravia, according to Steve make Brough Superior parts outside the that advances in metallurgy and manufacturing Wilson in Down the road). It is ironic that a Brough Club, although he did promise to build make the new Broughs superior to the old ones.

96 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 97 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK YOUR AD COULD BE HERE REACH THOUSANDS OF POTENTIAL If so, Upham’s line could then well make Ever challenging,” he said, adding ruefully, a ‘third superior’ to go alongside Lawrence “And it takes up a lot of time and money.” and the original motorcycles. FitzSimons, CUSTOMERS EACH MONTH incidentally, is Upham’s East Coast Sales As for the Brough Superior at Phillips, and Business Development Consultant in there was a happy ending. The auction and its the US. publicity generated enough interest that the GREAT RATES SS100 found a new owner through a private In addition, there is a range of Brough sale for what FitzSimons gently described Superior branded merchandise, including not as more than what he would have received FULLY INTERACTIVE LINKS TO only the usual tee shirts, but also watches, through Phillips. jackets, and riding suits. Many of those are handed over to specialists. For example, Jonathan Boorstein YOUR COMPANY WEBSITE & EMAIL someone who wants a Brough Superior riding suit would go to Lewis Leathers to have it made to order. CONTACT “You have to give the customers what they want,” Upham explained. “And look after them the way they want to be looked after.” PETER MARTIN For the moment, Upham has no plans to expand his business any further. “To do the Brough Superior is a lifetime achievement. [email protected]

98 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 99 Blez Has Big Fun ...on a gaggle of GSs

100 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 101 entertaining roads that mid-Wales and the Brecon Beacons have to offer. I reverted to the 650 initially, and thoroughly enjoyed chasing the ‘pack’ of fellow journos who had set off shortly before me. The little single could be pushed right over in the hairpins with the brakes still on and the ABS just starting to come in on both wheels, yet still be fired out of the corners with very respectable acceleration.

At Llangadog we re-grouped and I took £5,295 G650GS single, and rode it the twenty- the opportunity to switch back to the R1200GS odd miles up into the Black Mountains for the Rallye, and on the next faster and more flowing tarmac photo session. With only 48bhp, it has section of the A4069, it was in its element. no more power than the Funduro of nearly When we reached Llandovery I held back to twenty years ago, but it somehow felt lighter give myself a clear run at one of my favourite and more nimble, and I thoroughly enjoyed sections of the A40, as it’s part of the Cambrian chucking it through the twisties on the A4069. and Red Kite rallies, which I’ve been doing since A quick check of the spec reveals it’s actually 5 1994. The big twin didn’t disappoint me and I’d kilos heavier than the original single, thanks to caught up with the ‘pack’ by the time our run didn’t take much persuading to accept an Auriol and Gaston Rahier had used to win the having ABS but despite the tank being reduced leader pulled into the lay-by at Llywel after invitation to ride the latest machines in famous African rally, twice each, from 1981 from 17 to 14lt; all I can say is that it carries its an exhilarating thrash through the tree-lined BMW’s 2012 GS range because I’ve been a to 1985. weight very well. The range shouldn’t be any bends of the Myddfai hills. I just wish my HP2 ‘Gelände/Strasse’ fan for decades. shorter either, since BMW is claiming it will do had that smoother and more powerful engine! I Since then I have ridden pretty much 63mpg at a constant 75mph. All that torquey power doesn’t come cheap My first experience of this ‘on and off-road’ every variant of this icon of our times both on though: the basic R1200GS costs £10,595 and breed was second hand, way back in the early and off-road, in competition and just for fun. After a few passes for the photographer, the Rallye version will set you back £12,145 eighties, when my friend and mentor, the I have owned an R100GS, an R1150GS and an I swapped to the other end of the scale and - gulp. late great Dave ‘Wheelie King’ Taylor bought HP2, which I turned into a kind of lightweight threw a leg over the R1200GS Rallye. It was my one of the original R80G/S models and raved 1200 tourer following a life of abuse at BMW’s first experience of the revitalised ‘oilhead’ twin, At this point I swapped to the Sertão 650 about how great it was. I didn’t actually get to off-road centre in Wales. I’ve also had a lot of which now boasts double overhead cams that single, which is the newest machine in the ride one of the dual purpose boxer twins for experience on the smaller 650 Funduro and a not only make the engine slightly narrower GS range. It’s more off-road oriented than myself until 1988, when I took a yellow and brief dalliance with a KTM 640. than before but also boost power to 110bhp black R100GS ‘bumble bee’ all over the south – 5bhp more than its SOHC predecessor and of England, including exploring lots of green Anyway, suffice it to say that all this 10bhp up on the original 2004 R1200GS. I lanes in Hampshire and Surrey. At the time, experience of the GS range made me curious could feel the extra ‘pep’ as I blasted it up the there was no other standard bike on which to try the latest versions of the breed. There road but my attempts at lifting the front wheel you could switch from gentle trail riding one were six different bikes to be sampled – five were foiled by the anti-spin technology, which minute to burning up the autobahn at 110mph ‘special editions’ of existing models and the is another innovation since I last rode one of the next. new Sertão 650 single. these machines. (You can turn it off, along with the ABS, if you want to). I had similar adventures on the last of the After thrashing my trusty Tmax superscoot ‘air-head’ line, the R100GS Dakar, with its huge from London to Swansea I jumped straight The real fun started when we headed off fuel tank, inspired by the machines that Hubert onto the cheapest bike in the collection, the into the hills for a lap of some of the most

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ADVENTURE TRAVEL BOOKS COM BY SAM MANI Into Africa - Under Asian Skies - Distant Suns - and now... TORTILLAS to TOTEMS Sam Manicom’s latest travel book takes you on a gripping rollercoaster of a two-wheeled journey across the dramatic landscapes of Mexico, the USA and Canada. There are canyons, cowboys, idyllic beaches, bears, mountains, Californian vineyards, gun-toting policemen with grudges, glaciers, exploding volcanoes, dodgy border crossings and some of the most stunning open roads that a traveller could ever wish to see. What do the reviewers say about Sam Manicom’s books? 'One of the best story tellers of adventure in the world today.'

Side Stand Up Radio - USA

World of BMW - ‘Inspirational Reading’ Motorcycle Monthly - ‘Sam Manicom’s books are highly recommended’ London Bikers - ‘Compelling Reading’ Moto Guzzi Club - ‘Sam has the gift to describe the G650GS, with spoked wheels, a 21 rather width of the road in the way that advanced people and places!’ than 19 inch front hoop and more suspension police riders are taught to do, and he continued Honda Trail Bike Riders - ‘Completely engaging’ travel. It’s very similar to the old 650 Dakar to do so as I followed directly behind him for BM Riders Club - ‘Superbly entertaining’ and would probably still have that moniker if the first time. I’ve happily followed some very The Road Magazine - ‘Masterful writing’ ASO, the organisers of the famous rally, weren’t good riders at very high speeds riding this way TBM – Trail Bike Magazine - ‘Truly involving so protective of the name. Ironically the Rally on country roads from Scotland to Bavaria, but and enthralling’ hasn’t actually been held anywhere near Dakar, I don’t feel entirely comfortable doing so when The Riders Digest - ‘Technicolour descriptions’ or indeed in Africa, since it was moved to South I’m on my own. I can never quite convince America in 2009. Apparently sertão means myself that the increase in forward vision from City Bike Magazine USA - ‘Clear and unpretentious’ ‘backwoods’ or ‘bush’ in Portuguese, and the riding on the wrong side of the road will be Motorcycle Sport and Leisure - ‘One of the world’s leading Brazilian Rally do Sertão is the same sort of sufficient to give me enough time to get myself motorcycle authors’ event as the Dakar itself. back onto my side of the road if I meet a loon ISBN: 978-0955657337 ‘Few travel writers can conjure up sights like myself coming the other way. and smells so provocatively as Sam’ Anyway, the better suspended, lightweight single was a good machine to be on as our run I also worry about ‘freaking out’ less from The Daily Record leader took us off the A40 onto the ‘white’ roads gung-ho drivers, who might be tempted to south of Trecastle, which were very narrow and instinctively swerve onto the wrong side of much strewn with gravel and other slippery the road (for them), just as I move over to the TORTILLAS to TOTEMS substances. I’d already noticed that he was same piece of tarmac. It was no great surprise maximising his sight lines by using the whole to discover, over dinner that evening, that our SIDETRACKED BY THE UNEXPECTED 106 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 107 www.sam-manicom.com 108 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 109 T2T Flyer2:Layout 1 12/2/12 12:52 Page 2

power delivery and excellent handling – it OTHER ADVENTURE TRAVEL BOOKS actually reminded me of a Ducati – and didn’t NICOM feel under-braked either, despite the single BY SAM MA front disc. I reminded myself that this ‘cooking’ version of the 800 twin actually has a smidge more power than the old R100RS of the 1970s which, at the time, was one of the fastest, most powerful and most desirable motorbicycles that money could buy. I can guarantee that this ‘poor man’s 800’ will use a lot less petrol than the carburetted air-cooled BMW twins of old run leader was indeed an advanced police too. You’d have been lucky to get much more rider. He said the key to the technique is never than 35mpg out of them, whereas I have a to go faster than a speed at which you can friend who gets a carefully calculated 65mpg stop in the distance you can see ahead, which from his F650GS while touring Europe with makes sense. Honda Varadildos that guzzle ‘gas’ at about the same rate as an old boxer 1000. The F650GS is 'A captivating book for all, 'Sam has the skills of the This is a great story which this is the story of an story teller and this book reads with the ease of a On the faster A470 the Sertão felt more also 8kg lighter and over two inches lower than enlightening, yet daunting easily transports you into novel. Distant Suns has it all: ‘busy’ than the G650GS I’d ridden earlier, but the flashier F800GS, and there’s a kit to lower journey across fourteen three years of journey across love, good guys, bad guys, that’s probably because I’d ridden the 1200 in it even further for those who are short of leg. African countries by Asia. He manages to bring beauty, danger, history, between – I can’t believe the gearing is any The relatively low centre of gravity makes it motorcycle.’ Aerostich the sounds, scents and heat geography and last but not different. It’s less cramped than the more road- feel a lot lighter than its 199kgs (wet) and for of Asia to life without wordy least-bikes! A fast, easy and 'This is a great adventure oriented version and has a taller screen too, £6,9250 on the road, it’s actually a lot of bike for overkill.’ Horizons Unlimited thoroughly enjoyable read.' and a really enjoyable read.' and would definitely suit those with long legs the money. webbikeworld Johnnie Walker - BBC 'This is one helluvan better than the ‘standard’ machine. However, Radio Two ‘Drive Time’ adventure!' ‘Distant Suns doesn't just at £6,735, it’s nearly £1500 more than the If you’re as confused as I was by BMW’s Canyonchasers.com document the journey 'In the range of Motorcycle basic version. perverse nomenclature, the G650s are the 650 through Southern Africa and Travel Books out there, this ‘The thing I most enjoyed singles, whereas the F650GS is the one that’s South America, Sam also one pulls no punches. In the about this book was the After a handful of miles we stopped for really an 800 twin, but there also used to be describes cultural gritty bits, you can feel the feeling that I was there with differences, traditions and another bike swap and then turned onto the a single called the F650GS, which back in grit. I liked it a lot.' him as he went through lifestyles of the various more challenging A4059 to Hirwaun. For this 2000 was the fuel-injected single-cylinder Motorcycle.co.uk everything.’ London countries they cross, whilst section, and all the way back to base, I rode Bikers.com 'The word-pictures that bring painting a vivid picture of the the confusingly mis-named F650GS, which is a good travel book to life are terrain they cross. A truly ‘A unique and wonderful actually an 800! It uses a milder version of the all here.’ The Road involving and enthralling adventure.’ Ted Simon parallel twin fitted to the F800GS in exactly read.' TBM - Trail Bike author of Jupiter’s Travels the same frame, but with less suspension Magazine travel, alloy wheels and a single front disc on a 17in rim. It has ‘only’ 71bhp, compared to the get your copies from: 85bhp of its higher-spec’ed (and higher seated) www.sam-manicom.com ‘brother’ but that still felt like plenty more poke after the 48bhp single! ‘where every day is an adventure’ or I felt immediately at home on the user- www.traveldriplus.com friendly twin, which has a creamy smooth ‘quality kit for serious fun’ 110 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 111 pp121 TRD138 07/04/09 11:14 AM Page 1

successor to the original F650 Funduro. I hope my own experience certainly bears that out. Si, that’s clear?! of course, taught Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman the rudiments of off-road riding For the last fifteen miles back to the hotel before they went ‘The Long Way Round’ the in Swansea I hopped onto an F800GS and was world on a pair of R1150GS Adventures back in immediately seduced by the extra poke of its 2002, and then took Charley’s skills to a higher 85bhp engine, although the higher placement level in preparation for his ill-fated attempt on of its weight does make it noticeably less the Dakar in 2006 – which Si himself finished. ‘chuckable’ into a roundabout and it is more of a stretch, both to swing a leg over and to The 2012 GS Trophy reach the ground once you’re on board. I’m We were also told about the 2012 edition also amazed by how loud the standard exhaust of the GS Trophy, a two-yearly event that pits is, too – I don’t know how BMW got it through teams of amateur BMW GS owners from a dozen the EU’s noise regs – you would swear it had a different countries in a competition combining Proven rorty aftermarket pipe fitted. The F800GS costs both riding skills and teamwork. The British recommended £7,995 on the road. team was victorious in 2010 in South Africa and expert and the competition to select members of this in rider At the evening presentation we were given year’s British team will take place this month claims a brief run-down of the history of the GS ‘brand’ at the BMF Show in Peterborough (May 18th- and shown some great archive footage of the 20th), with the last twenty riders short-listed trail-blazing big twins, which competed with great success in both the International Six Days Trial and the Paris-Dakar rally. Talking of the ‘World’s Toughest Rally’, one of our hosts What our clients say: was multiple Dakar finisher and thoroughly "Special thanks to Michael Wheatley at RSS for all his support, likeable Aussie Si Pavey, whom I’ve known good counsel, and all the little ways he went above and beyond." since he ran a motorcycle project for bad boys "It has only been 8mths and it’s all done and dusted. As well as in South East London in the mid-90s. He set up being great solicitors they are also very friendly and understand- BMW GB’s off-road centre in partnership with ing. Everything has been explained to me and they kept me up to the late, great John Deacon, and then took sole date during this period." charge, with the help of wife Linley, when John tragically lost his life in Syria while competing in the Masters Rally in 2001.

Helping motorcyclists since 1994 BMW GB’s marketing manager, Tony Jakeman, reminded us that the R1200GS has If you have been involved been the number one selling big bike in the in an accident and would UK for a couple of years now (if you count like our help call us the standard 1200 and Adventure versions as one) and that its genuine ability to keep going when the tarmac runs out is a key part 0208 246 4900 of the GS ‘DNA’. Si Pavey added that with any of the GS range “People feel they can have a go at all kinds of on and off road events” and

112 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 113 doing their final shoot-out in the main arena Our instructor was Norfolk farmer Kevin on the Sunday. The three people chosen will Hammand, who was also a member of the get an all-expenses paid trip to South America winning GS Trophy team in 2010. I’d chosen to compete with similar BMW owners from an R1200GS as my first steed of the day and all over the world on F800GSs kitted out with was immediately reminded of how the big loads of Touratech extras. If you own a GS and Beemer’s sticking-out ‘pots’ make it much you fancy your chances, the competition costs easier to pick up than most machines weighing £150 to enter. a quarter of a tonne.

The following day we had our own version The basics continued with a quick lesson of the off-road challenge at the 4,000 acre in feet and body positioning while standing Walters Arena off-road motorsport complex. up on the pegs, but then we moved on to The idea was to give us journos a short ‘taster’ some more entertaining exercises. First we version of the off road courses which are practised braking hard in a straight line now offered at three levels, from beginner to on a loose surface, then with flicking the would-be Dakar hero (there’s also an enduro bike sideways on the back brake (the ABS course on lightweight Husqvarnas and another is disabled on all the off road school bikes). to teach spannering skills to Adventure Things got even more interesting when we bike riders). had to ride along slowly, on a steady throttle deliberately locking the front wheel and The off-road complex is a few miles from without touching the clutch lever. Apparently the Ystradgynlais base, and once we’d ridden this can really freak out some novices but up there our first lesson was the simple but it’s not actually as intimidating as you might essential one of picking up a fallen machine. imagine, and leaves a satisfying skid mark

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Beemer up and down steep climbs, along the top of earthen bunds and through the woods. When we did some photos on one of the steepest climbs I took the opportunity to swap the 800 for another R1200GS Adventure. Traveldri-Plus It felt good to be following JP through the woods on an equally monstrous machine until, Quality Kit For Serious Fun! using a combination of superior skill and site knowledge, he snookered me at a steep, slow and tricky turn on soft, mossy ground, with a really nasty camber. I came at it from the wrong which can be an unbroken line in the dirt 50 angle, lost my momentum and ground to a halt yards long if you do it right. in an ungainly sideways slide.

We moved out of the central area with I just about managed to get going again, some follow-my-leader trail riding to a hill with some difficulty but then JP led us to what where we practised our newly-honed skills by can only be described as a trials section up a riding down the loose slope both with and steep and very rough gully about a quarter without using the brakes, and also stopping of a mile long. I was willing to give it a go on and re-starting half way down. Apparently this the 1200 until our fearless leader pointed out is another exercise, which some dirt novices that I was riding Si Pavey’s personal machine find profoundly disturbing, and some really and that it might be wiser to swap back to the struggle with it, even if they’ve been riding F800GS. It’s just as well I did, because even on big road bikes for years. I guess, having been riding bikes of all sizes off road for thirty years now, such things have become second nature to me. What freaks me out is the idea of attempting a double jump 30 feet in the air on a modern motocross course or, heaven forbid, a somersault! After a bit of ‘puddle jumping’ for the photographers it was time for lunch in the nearby community centre café, which is within sight of Sarn Helen, an ancient and famous Roman Road.

For me, the real fun came after lunch when we split into ‘novice’ and ‘expert’ groups www.traveldriplus.com and fellow-journo, expert trials rider and experienced instructor Jon Pearson led the ‘expert’ group on a merry dance all over the site. Mail Order Hotline Since Jon was riding an R1200GS Adventure, the Sertão that I started the afternoon on 01647 24523 seemed like cheating, so I swapped it for an F800GS. We followed JP as he rode the huge

116 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 117 the lighter machine, the gully stretched my mediocre trials riding skills to the limit. I had to stop when the rider in front halted, and 111th1th - 113th3th needed assistance to get going again, and then ignominiously toppled over when I tried to put my foot down on thin air. So I finally got my come-uppance. JP then proceeded to ride his R1200GSA up the ‘section’ unassisted, MMayay 22012012 thereby putting me firmly in my place as a “has- been who never was”! Touché and chapeau, monsieur, as the French say.

Guest Speakers*: There was just time for a final photo session of skid turns and powerslides before heading î Nick Sanders back to base. All in all, it had been a thoroughly î Sam Manicom enjoyable day and a half, which had served very î Graham Hoskins well to demonstrate the breadth and versatility î Robert Wicks of the GS range. There’s a bike there for all sizes î Paddy Tyson and both sexes and many tastes and pockets. î Andreas Hulsmann There’s also a huge range of accessories to add Exhibitors: both ‘bling’ and practicality to all these models, from SatNavs and panniers to LED indicators î Touratech Tractive Suspension Units and heated grips. There are also gadgets î Cotswold Outdoor agogo available from Touratech, whose UK î Scala HQ just happens to be right opposite the Dad and Son Do Dakar in 2013 î FTR Suspension BMW Rider Training and Off Road Skills centres By the time you read this, it will have î Motorcycle Outreach in the same Ystradgynlais trading estate. been officially announced that Si Pavey is î Husqvarna Furthermore, Touratech UK is run by former going back to South America next January î Husaberg Pavey pupil, Dakar finisher and co-founder of for his ninth crack at the Dakar rally, but î AJP the annual Dawn to Dusk off road challenge this time he’ll be accompanied by his son Other Attractions: Nick Plumb who’s been well known to various Llewellyn, both of them riding Husqvarna Digest stalwarts since he was a Sarf London 449s. (Husqvarna is of course owned by î Travel Photography Workshop tearaway. Turns out he’s a fellow fan of electric BMW now and Si pointed out that his new î Tyre Plugging Workshop bicycles too, but that’s another story! Jeez, it’s a rally machine will have more power and î Guided Road Rides small world! about half the weight of the 650 on which î Guided Trail Rides he completed the ‘Race to Dakar’ as the sole Paul Blezard finisher in Charley Boorman’s three man Off Road Arena team in 2006). Now well into his forties, Pavey Many thanks to all at World of BMW for a admitted that son Llew rides faster than him, great couple of days. For more information “but not necessarily better!” And in case you Beer Tent about BMW road and off-road training courses were wondering, Mrs Pavey rides bikes on visit www.worldofbmw.com and for more and off road too. Linley has her own specially Camping ONLY £12 PER PERSON information on the whole GS range, go to lowered HP2 1200 on which she completed a www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk Globebusters tour in America. VISIT WWW.TOURATECH.CO.UK FOR MORE INFORMATION 118 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 119 Tel: 01639 841765 *subject to confirmation GREAT LIVE BOOZE BLUESfor ‘n’ New2012 MUSIC!BLUES Real Ale, Cider and

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120 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 121 122 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 123 124 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 125 THE SHAMROCKS eale Street in Memphis must and plays live Stax music, I spotted a group be the most Fun Place in the of men in the road wearing waistcoats with Bwhole world. SHAMROCKS on the back, and clutching pints of beer. They all waved to us and invited If you went to a Metallica concert, followed us to have a drink. It was obvious that they by a fillet steak and sex with George Clooney were bikers. (insert your own Fantasy Name here) it would still be like tea and stale cake with your great Being a curious female journalist, I stopped aunt compared to a night in Beale Street! If to ask them who they were and what they were there’s no Beale Street in Heaven, I ain’t going! doing there. But the noise and alcohol levels I was recently on a trip along the Mississipi were too high to have a sensible conversation, from Memphis to Natchez. After an absolutely so I took a few wobbly photos and promised scrumptious meal in BB King’s ‘Itta Bena’ we to make contact when I got home to England. all ambled along Beale Street, surrounded by We walked along the road, and there in a side music everywhere. Outside The Rum Boogie street were their bikes, all neatly lined up in a Café, which is lined with Stax memorabilia row. I took another wobbly photo and couldn’t

ISSUE 166 May 2012 127 help wondering how the Shamrocks were We support several different charity going to get their bikes home at the end of causes which include, but are not limited to, the evening! Law Enforcement, Veteran’s Affairs, Children, Animals, and Medical Research and Treatment. This is their description from their site: In addition to self-initiated cause support, the ‘Originally founded in Vermont as a club Shamrocks MC is very active in supporting for Federal Law Enforcement Officers, the other clubs with their charity efforts. Shamrocks MC is now a motorcycle club with membership containing and open to all male, Originally, the membership of the US law enforcement officers without regard to Shamrocks MC was comprised solely of Federal level of government. Law Enforcement Officers. As time went by we felt the need to recognize our professional bond most of our members claim and are proud of Hillbilly, etc. New Members may have their The Shamrocks MC is a non-profit with all levels of government law enforcement. their Irish heritage.’ Road Names chosen for them, and if anyone organization designed to promote Today the Shamrocks MC welcomes all US Law misbehaves they can be renamed! Generally brotherhood between all members of our Enforcement Officers, not just Federal, into The Shamrocks have Chapters nationwide, they already have nicknames from their job. nation’s law enforcement community. The its ranks. from Texas to Canada with great names, All the Shamrocks call each other by their Shamrocks MC is also committed to the service including; Mother. North Country. Black Irish. Road Names. and support of organizations that assist with No matter what background our members Rebel Irish. Wicked Irish. Fenian. Fighting law enforcement, veteran, and select charity possess one can rest assured that if you see Irish. Lucky 7. Southern 8. Golden Isles. Dead The Shamrocks MC is a 100% Law issues, as well as supporting the efforts of a big white Shamrock on their back, you Rabbits. Lone Star. Enforcement only M/C. - Local police, State other allied clubs. We are bonded by history are looking at one of this country’s finest Troopers, and US Federal Agents. You MUST and united by principles. professionals. While not a club requirement, They all have different variations of the be an active or retired Cop to join the SRMC. Shamrock logo. Their waistcoats are called Even with a Law Enforcement background, vests. The patches on the top and bottom new Members aren’t automatically accepted. on the back of the vests are called Rockers. The Shamrocks are highly selective. They have The bottom Rocker represents the State, e.g. to ‘prospect’ around the Club for a while before New York or Mississippi, that the Chapter is being Patched in to the Brotherhood. chartered out of. The Shamrock in the middle is the Club’s symbol. When I spoke to the Shamrocks in Beale Street, they all claimed Irish heritage. It All the Shamrocks have nicknames, or seemed more important to them than their Road Names as they’re called, like Rocket, Skip, Law Enforcement past! About 90%, of the

128 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 129 saying meaning “Our Day will Come”. This is in reference to the Northern Ireland issue. Most of the Shamrocks have Irish heritage, some members with family in Ireland, and Irish sovereignty is a touchy subject. I asked if they would welcome any British bikers who were on holiday there. Their reply was; “The SRMC always looks to make new friends, even Englishmen! HAHAHAAH! So if any folks from across the Pond come over we would hoist a Guinness with them!” Shamrocks come from Irish heritage. It is not a club requirement though. The SRMC holds The Shamrocks. Motto is; ‘Under English a National Rally (or meeting) once a year. All law you are innocent till proven IRISH.’ Tiocfaidh Chapters attend and Club business is discussed, ar la. (I pointed out to Rocket that nowadays issues are ironed out, and lots of BEER! It was ‘Under English law you are innocent till held in Memphis last year, which is where I proven ENGLISH!’) met them. Many thanks to Rocket, the National Vice Chapters have meetings once a month President, for answering all my questions. that are called “Church”, wherein local Chapter business is discussed. Drinks, food, and good Lyn Funnell times take place after Church is over. No women are allowed to be “Patch Holders” (members). If you fancy an unforgettable biking But they do attend some events. The SRMC holiday, I strongly recommend hiring a Harley prides itself in its charity work. Chapters from and following the Highway 61 Blues Trail down across the US participate, sponsor, and assist in the Mississippi. many charity events. Charity work is an integral part of their Clubs. You can pick up a bike in Memphis, plus all the gear, and drop it off in New Orleans. Tiocfaidh ar La is written at the bottom of their websites. It’s an Irish Republican You’ll have wonderful weather, fantastic food and magnificent music all the way!

Useful Information:

www.shamrocksmcvt.com

Bike Hire: www.eaglerider.com

The Blues Trail: www.msbluestrail.org

130 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 131 BOOK REVIEW: Spies and Samurai A Hero. by Jonathan Boorstein Today, like before. ritics and reviewers among a handful of Friends get asked a lot of of The Riders’ Digest. There Cquestions. The range was a documentary playing goes from the absurd – do on British radio about Ernest you actually read the books Degner’s defection from East or see the movies you review Germany with a suitcase full (yes) – to the ridiculous – how of motorcycle engineering can you pan that show or secrets just as the Berlin Wall restaurant and put all those (and crisis) was boiling over. includes a motorcycle). It is people out of work (how can Though I wasn’t listening therefore only appropriate you present inferior product to the programme – I don’t that riding pillion this month at inflated prices and con all live in the UK – I could take is a book and author even that hard-earned money out more arcane and obscure: of your customers?). “He applied the Jeffrey W. Alexander’s Japan’s Somewhere near, if not German V1 and V2 Motorcycle Wars: An Industry at, the bottom of the list, is, rocket technology History. Just as well. As an how do you pick the books or to the two-stroke.” Isle of Man TT winner and movies or plays or restaurants lap record leader, Oxley knows you review? It’s the result part in the thread because a thing or two about riding of a series of sliding scales: I had read Stealing Speed, motorcycles, something that’s new books over older books; Mat Oxley’s very good book not as certain with the very better known writers over about the Degner affair. scholarly Alexander. less famous ones; and topical After the show and The basic story of interests over niche interests. thread were over, there was Degner’s defection in the It’s not just “the kindness of a brief chat with The Riders’ summer of 1961 has been strangers” that leaves many Digest’s overworked and known for more than 20

Sportsuite Race-Evo Boots Thunder Sport Gloves RS-1000 Helmet Brave a debut novel unreviewed overwhelmed editor, and years. It has been outlined Art. 5212 Art. 8060 Art. 2224 Art. 7140 £ 1,199.99 £ 164.99 £ 164.99 starting at £ 124.99 nor the meanness of the Oxley’s book was selected in a number of motorcycle mainstream that leaves for review despite its histories and encyclopedias many a motorcycle book not being recent (it was as well as detailed in many unnoticed. published in 2009); its being articles in classic motorcycle Held celebrates its anniversary; 66 years of experience and continuous development let a Of course there are a niche interest even within magazines. Oxley credits Jan simple product become a Hero. Globally renowned quality and innovation for 66 years, produced exceptions: selections that the motorcycling community Leek’s MZ: The Racers (1991) with passion and real world function, phenomenal defy logic and statistical (motorcycle history in general as his source for first learning comfort and safety come as standard. since 1946 A Hero – today, like before. norms. This month is one of and racing history in particular); about the tale. those exceptions. and Oxley himself not being The summary sounds like

Telephone: 01423 790 121 // www.facebook.com/heldriderequipment www.held-uk.co.uk The selections grew out exactly a household name the logline of a classic sixties of a thread on Facebook (even if that household spy movie: Degner, the newly

132 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 133 anointed star racer of East and a rotary valve to produce a But the success was pudding-bowl, battle-basin give him, and the East could the two-stroke. He succeeds Germany’s MZ factory, steals two-stroke that had twice the colored, if not overshadowed, helmets with padded Leia not. By 1962 Degner and magnificently with the first. the engineering secrets horsepower of a four-stroke by two factors: the Cold War Organa ear muffs. Race Suzuki made history and won This is motorcycle porn at its that Walter Kaaden used to without supercharging. He may and international motorcycle organizers treated the racers championships. Shortly after best. Everything goes into the make a two-stroke one of the have been the first to realize racing itself. MZ reaches the as performing circus animals, that a sad but not surprising motor with a straightforward most powerful motorcycles that a two-stroke is a resonant pinnacle of its success at though at least the Italians accident (considering the narrative drive that never to date. Right after Paul device, rather like a pipe organ. what many (including Oxley and Japanese treated theirs conditions under which the loses momentum or track of Petry, a friend, smuggles Resonance and harmonics, and me) consider the height as pampered pets. riders raced) ended Degner’s the story. It’s a fast read that Degner’s wife and children not valves, would produce of the Cold War: the two year Why did the racers take career and he began a long reads fast. Oxley gets the past the checkpoints of the more power. period marked by the Bay risks under those conditions? decline, dying alone in 1983 maximum amount of tension recently built Berlin Wall, Kaaden added rotary of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Were they mercenary at 51. and suspense in the racing Degner defects, selling valve induction to the Crisis, and more significant in adrenaline junkies willing to Kaaden took Degner’s sequences, whether around Kaaden’s technology to expansion chamber system. terms of how this industrial die for glory? Oxley suggests defection personally but it a circuit or through military Suzuki. Within a year, the The rotary valve was a bit of espionage drama plays out, not. It’s not a death wish. also ended MZ’s hopes for a checkpoints. You won’t put it Japanese manufacturers pre-war technology Kaaden the Berlin Wall. Oxley is clearly The kick comes from world championship. He went down until you finish reading were dominating the racing learned about from Daniel of the ‘Commie Menace’ cheating death, going all out on to see other defections it, and won’t stop talking tracks, turning Degner and Zimmerman, a motorcycling school but he keeps things to the edge, but coming back from his team and more of about it (at least until your Suzuki into world champions friend. The boost port clean: what he presents here to tell the tale. A quote from his innovations stolen, as well mates decide the only way to and contributing to Japan’s is documented, or can be. Degner’s son, Olaf, is all the shut you up is to toss you out ultimate dominance of the “Baggy leathers, More important, it provides more chilling: “They risked “This is motorcycle of a twelfth-storey window). global motorcycle market. oversized Biggles the context, the reasons why everything…for nothing”. porn at its best” As for the second, Although Stealing Speed steampunk the stakes were so high for so Oxley doesn’t explore as the end of East Germany. according to Oxley, “This follows the rise and fall of the goggles and many of the players. what was going on in Japan He died in 1996, well after book is about two men and more colorful Degner, Kaaden pudding bowl More nuanced, detailed, at the time. He leaves it that MZ: The Racers revealed to their motorcycles: one who is Oxley’s real hero. Dubbing and more than a bit the Big Four manufacturers the world his contribution to chose loyalty and lost, but Kaaden the “father of the helmets” autobiographical is Oxley’s were upstarts who needed motorcycle technology. died a happy man, the other modern two-stroke”, Oxley Kaaden found through library review of the dark side of a technological boost such The story practically tells who chose betrayal and details the five year period in research. It had been used motorcycle racing at that as Kaaden’s two-stroke to itself. But is the book any won, but ended his life a which Kaaden revolutionized by Zundapp in the thirties. time. Bad roads, insensitive get noticed and thereby sell good? For that, let’s take a look broken man.” the technology. Supercharging The extra transfer port fed race organizers, and primitive motorcycles. The hungriest at another German: Johann Here Oxley is less had been prohibited in cooler oil and gas to the machines and protective gear was Suzuki, which at that Wolfgang von Goethe. He successful. Part of the sanctioned races. Kaaden’s overheated and under oiled made the sport dangerous, point was last and least of observed that there are three problem is that it would slow innovations turned the two- pistons. “German motorcycle marked by death or career- the four. Its president, Suzuki questions in criticism (and down the narrative drive and stroke into the little engine mechanics as well as rocket ending injuries. Oxley cites Shunzo, was particularly reviewing): What is the artist Oxley doesn’t let anything that could. science was years ahead the TT, a circuit he knows all keen to get MZ’s secret (or writer) trying to do? Did he slow that down. Even things He applied the German of everyone else,” Oxley too well, as having claimed technology. The company’s (or she) succeed? And was it that initially seem extraneous V1 and V2 rocket technology notes dryly. 227 lives in its first 100 years. fixer, Jimmy Matsumiya, was worth doing? turn out to be relevant by he worked on under Werner Kaaden’s two-stroke did Circuits were not well given the assignment. Oxley is attempting three the time he finishes the von Braun during World well from its first entries in world maintained surfaces, but Kaaden may have been things in Stealing Speed. The book. Part of the problem is War II to the two-stroke. competition in the mid-fifties. rather paved roads in cities approached first but turned first is to tell the full story; that real life isn’t ever quite Kaaden developed an By 1959, both Kaaden and MZ or between cities. Protection the offer down. Degner was the second to set up a sort of that neat and symmetrical. expansion chamber which was had earned the respect and was comprised of baggy much more interested. He contrasting lives of Degner It could just as easily be combined with his adaptations attention of the other racers leathers, oversized Biggles wanted the fame, fortune and Kaaden; and the third argued that the contrast is of earlier designs for a boost port and motorcycle companies. steampunk goggles and and freedom the West could is a defense and apology for between types of loyalty:

134 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 135 one to himself and one to with von Braun on V1 pulse political numbers. Back in his friends and co-workers. jet engines. the sixties, he wrote one of Energineered with the Neither man seems to have Oxley acknowledges that his more (in)famous ditties, high-tech functionality of been particularly loyal to a he doesn’t know whether Wernher von Braun, whose cause or country. Kaaden knew about the death “allegiance is ruled by A Hero. More important is that camps, adding that Kaaden expedience” and “Don’t say Today, like before. what Oxley has here is a must have heard rumors. I he’s hypocritical, say rather fine nest of vipers. There share Oxley’s skepticism, but he’s apolitical”. isn’t one person who can more damning is that the Kaaden managed to be be described as admirable, rockets were built by slave just as much a Vicar of Bray, though many do admirable labor under conditions that but without changing his things. Degner is an arrogant, were regarded as appalling address, unlike Degner and self-centered thief. He didn’t and inhumane at the time. von Braun. Kaaden was a need Kaaden’s secrets to Interestingly, and perhaps good Nazi when the Nazis defect. But he refuses to as damning, is that he were in power; he was a steal anything unless the destroyed much of what good communist when the deal includes freedom for he had been working on to communists were in power; his wife and children (from and he was undoubtedly whom he is later estranged). “Well-written a good capitalist when Suzuki and Matsumiya aren’t and well Germany was finally reunited. much better since they researched, What Oxley has here is commissioned the theft, it fills out an a deeply flawed figure. Like though there is something important moment Ezra Pound, Kaaden is a funny about the Japanese man of undisputed genius, stealing industrial secrets in motorcycle whose contributions to his from their former allies. history” field are unquestionable; The biggest stumbling prevent any technical secrets unlike Pound, Kaaden block to Oxley’s conceit from falling into enemy never received or enjoyed is his designated hero, hands as Germany collapsed the recognition for those Kaaden. Oxley claims that at the end of the war. contributions he deserved Kaaden was neither a Nazi Kaaden hid what he had in his lifetime. As a human nor a communist. Kaaden done in the war during his being Kaaden comes off

Jacket Tortosa Helmet Alcatar certainly starts out that debrief with the Allied Forces. as unsavory as Pound Art. 6226 Art. 7265 starting at £ 499.99 starting at £ 109.99 way: he was a motorcycle Declining an invitation to or Degner. nut who apprenticed join von Braun in the US, Oxley’s assertion that at DKW while studying Kaaden headed into the Kaaden’s loyalty was somehow mechanical engineering Russian sector to join his rewarded with happiness Held celebrates its anniversary; 66 years of experience and continuous development let a at Chemnitz. The Nazis rise family and eventually wound leaves a bad taste in the mouth. simple product become a Hero. Globally renowned quality and innovation for 66 years, produced to power and Kaaden joins up as a test engineer at MZ, On the other hand, without with passion and real world function, phenomenal the Hitlerjugend, for which declining offers to leave. focusing on Kaaden and comfort and safety come as standard. since 1946 A Hero – today, like before. Oxley makes the usual Here in the US, we have a how he advanced two-stroke disclaimers. With the war and legendary singer/songwriter engineering, Oxley wouldn’t

Telephone: 01423 790 121 // www.facebook.com/heldriderequipment www.held-uk.co.uk Kaaden’s undisputed genius, named Tom Lehrer who have set up his third point he gets deployed to work specialized in novelty and properly, which is the two-

136 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 137 stroke itself. The epilogue Stealing Speed pops four not only brings the history of out of five wheelies. If there’s the two-stroke up to the date not a two-stroke in your of publication (three years future, it’s not for want of ago), but also speculates on Oxley’s efforts. A Hero. a new two-stroke revival. The Today, like before. two-stroke turns out to be Japan’s Motorcycle Wars Oxley’s passion. covers the industry before, Simply put, he feels during, and after that same the two-stroke is a better critical decade that Stealing engine than the four- Speed does. The book stroke. Direct injection explains why Suzuki took technology addresses the the extreme measures it did emissions issues that helped and puts the choice in the the two-stroke’s eclipse context of the period’s brutal in the eighties (an eclipse manufacturing ecosystem of an historian, the find was pure supercharged by various gold: it was a huge gap in the rule changes designed to “In other words, if literature waiting to be filled. eliminate competition to the you win races, you His research question, as a four-stroke; a direct parallel sell motorcycles.” retro rocketeer might phrase to what had happened in it, is what ever happened the fifties before Kaaden marketplace, competition, to the Japanese motorcycle came along). Even riders not economy, rider education, industry? into speed can appreciate and vehicle registration. By Alexander has a theory the potential advantages the way, Degner does get about the answer, as well as of the lighter, more nimble his mention - barely two why the question is important: two-stroke as a street-legal paragraphs’ worth - while there are lessons to be learned vehicle. Oxley notes that KTM Kaaden gets none. from Japan’s experience that certainly thinks so. Alexander became interested could be applied to Asia’s Is the book worthwhile? in the history of motorcycle contemporary emerging Definitely. Well-written and production in Japan after he economies. The academic well-researched, it fills out stumbled across an old picture approach requires the

Jacket Uncover Pants Icano Helmet Darcon an important moment in book of Japanese motorcycles researcher to state clearly Art. 6121 Art. 6163 Art. 7125 starting at £ 279.99 starting at £ 229.99 starting at £ 81.99 motorcycle history. It also built since 1945. He realized what he or she intends to do succeeds as a defense of the that most of the manufacturers at the beginning, repeat it two-stroke in general. I’m were no longer in business. at least once a chapter, and sold. It wasn’t as successful Furthermore, little information rephrase and restate it at the Held celebrates its anniversary; 66 years of experience and continuous development let a in terms of the intersecting was available about how or what end. This keeps the researcher simple product become a Hero. Globally renowned quality and innovation for 66 years, produced character arcs of the main happened to those companies. (and any peer review) on with passion and real world function, phenomenal players but Oxley would have There had once been track. It’s also a great cheat for comfort and safety come as standard. since 1946 A Hero – today, like before. to be Graham Greene or John more than 200 manufacturers the first of Goethe’s dicta. Le Carré to pull that off, and producing motorcycles and According to Alexander,

Telephone: 01423 790 121 // www.facebook.com/heldriderequipment www.held-uk.co.uk would have produced a very, now there are four, a rate of the surviving Big Four shared very different book. failure greater than 98%. For a handful of characteristics,

138 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 139 one or more of which the ubiquitous and deadly In my opinion, Alexander dozens of other companies machines: the motorcycle”. makes his case. To ape lacked. These are: war time His final section recommends academic phrasing, it might precision manufacturing and broader driver education and be worth further study to Visit The Somme management experience; the tighter vehicle registration in investigate whether his resultant understanding of the China, India, and the ‘Little criteria apply to the successes importance of mass production Dragons’ of Southeast Asia. and failures of motorcycle andBattlefields stay in the and die-casting techniques; the He writes in a good industries in other countries swift development of a product academic style. He keeps in general and the UK in Best Biker’s Bed & Breakfast in Picardy technologically equivalent to sentences short; strives particular during the post- European models; and a strong for clarity, even if it means war period. As such, it financial position – or capacity redundancy; and keeps his doesn’t just fill in a gap in to secure development subordinate clauses from the literature but expands capital for rapid investment in getting too insubordinate. the scope of knowledge in advanced production equipment. His selection of anecdotes the field. Suzuki, incidentally, manufactured Given Alexander’s mania munitions during World War II. “In 1871, it became for rider and driver safety, The actual case studies of illegal to travel I can’t in clear conscience failure and success indicate a by road when rate him on the basis of history of technical achievement naked, regardless one to five wheelies, a stunt as well as cognizance “of the of how hot the he would most likely want design, production, and sales weather was” outlawed. Instead I give him strategies needed to leap ahead three cages, each with a full of their competitors on the track hit a nice balance between complement of air bags and and in the showroom.” In other the popular and the seat belts. words, if you win races, you scholarly. In 1871, it became Both books are available sell motorcycles. illegal to travel by road through Amazon. Neither Alexander builds his when naked, regardless of man has a blog or a web site case and his case studies how hot the weather was. that I could find. by following changes in the In 1896, the first motorcycle economy and technology arrived in Japan: an 1895 Jonathan Boorstein – manufacturing as well as Hildebrand and Wolfmuller. motorcycles – along with In the early part of the 20th changes in licensing and century the Japanese called vehicle registration. He is a motorcycle tetsuba, or iron Martin and Kate Pegler fond of statistics about horse. The first motorcycle Orchard Farm motorcycle fatalities. It’s no race was held in 1901. 80360 COMBLES, NORTHERN FRANCE surprise the introduction In 1908, Harley-Davidson begins with “In China, India, began selling motorcycles TEL: 00333 22 86 56 72 and Southeast Asia today in Japan, becoming over its EMAIL: [email protected] an important business war 25 year run something of a or visit is being fought among model of sales, support, and www.martinpegler.com hundreds of manufacturers distribution to the postwar of one of the world’s most Big Four.

140 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 141 Bitz www.thundersprint.com Bitz Thundersprint 2012 that incredible eight cylinder it must have been like to be Young And Old At The howl – the most soul stirring a Honda factory mechanic World’s Biggest Motorcycling engine note in motorcycling. I when Jim was winning his six Street Party can’t wait to run this fabulous world championships.” Keep the weekend of legend on the world’s smallest Yet another exotic May 12th/13th free as the GP track on May 13th. Make Honda comes in the form of worlds biggest motorcycling title in the British Superbike proud to bring the best of and very light, weighing sure that you’re there to share Frenchman Phillippe Hanus’ street party is happening championship as well as British motorcycle racing under 45kgs – just over this historic moment.” CBX1300. Phil is bringing two in the centre of Northwich, competing in the MotoGP Red talent from the past, present 90lbs. However, the under- Honda 6s to the event – a road Cheshire. With over 120 race Bull Rookies Championship in and future to our very own GP financed Moto Guzzi factory Hailwood’s Honda race bike and a turbo-charged, entries, and 100 cavalcaders, Spain – considered to be an in a car park for what will be could not afford to develop As a back up, Sammy nitro burning dragster. there will be a feast for any essential first step on the way a truly memorable moment in it to its full potential, and it will be bringing Ronald Frank Melling is desperately motorcycle sport.” was withdrawn from racing Agoston’s fabulous tribute trying to persuade the crazy Sammy Miller’s Eight in 1957. to the Mike Hailwood RC181 Frenchman not to try to Cylinder Moto Guzzi Debuts Honda - the bike on which launch the dragster down the at the Thundersprint. Mike beat Giacomo Agostini start straight. “Phil’s a lovely Few people would in the legendary 1967 Senior bloke and a super talented dispute that the most exotic TT. Hearing Sam scream racer,” Frank says, “but racing motorcycle ever built the Honda round the tight stopping a 200mph classic is the iconic, eight cylinder Thundersprint track always drag bike before it ends up on Moto Guzzi. Now, the only has the spectators shouting Marks and Spencer’s roof will race worthy example of this for more. The Thundersprint’s be a challenge for anyone. fantastic machine will star at other legend, Jim Redman, Watch this space!” Thundersprint 2012. “There is always one bike Jim Ross makes a regular The Guzzi Otto Cilindri was which has been missing from appearance with his ex-works designed by the legendary the Museum’s collection,” says Aermacchi whilst the crowd’s Giulio Cesare Carcano for Sammy Miller, “and that’s the favourite, David Clarke, heads classic racing fan and, like the to competing in Grands Prix. the 1955 GP season. Despite Guzzi V8. There’s never been a a large 50cc entry with his rest of the Thundersprint, the For 14 year old Joe Francis, the its complexity, the bike was more complex, or technically ultra rare Itom GP bike. paddock has completely free Thundersprint is very much a immediately competitive with sophisticated, motorcycle For more information admission with no keep out local event being half an hour a top speed of over 170mph. raced and we just had to will also be Honda mounted contact Frank Melling on: or VIP signs! from his home in Chester. The V8 engine is both tiny have one. – this time on board Clive 01928 740 498 or e-mail: Kyle Ryde and Joe Francis, Thundersprint organiser, “But for me, it was no use Brooker’s CR750. Clive said: [email protected] two of Britain’s future World Frank Melling, said: “Kyle and having the bike sat on a plinth “Jim always demands that Championship contenders, Joe are the future of British in the museum surrounded the bike is in full race trim will be joining a whole host World Championship racing by photographs of the old GP because the Thundersprint of current superstars on and this is why we are so stars. I wanted a bike which is his only competitive event the track. Kyle is currently pleased to have them at the ran like the original machines of the year. He’s right on top defending his 125 GP class Thundersprint. We are very so that everyone could hear of the job and I know what

142 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 143 Bitz Bitz Dying to Ride to promote motorcycle When they get to there, Memorial Run awareness among drivers of there will be a Dying to other vehicles on our roads. Ride Motorcycle Awareness There is an annual Presentation, and the Memorial Memory Ride, which this year for our Fallen Riders. Then live will include the 1st Annual entertainment by the band Memorial for Fallen Riders on “Night Train.” Right now Squires the 9th June 2012. The ride are offering free camping will register and start at 9 for those who come on a Aster Place in Newcastle, and motorcycle, with a small fee Dying to Ride is a non profit make its first stop at the Robin for those in other vehicles. Motorcycle Awareness Group, Hood Inn to lay a memorial So, after an evening of live founded in 2010 by Teresa stone and have a moment of entertainment, nobody needs Mills Davenport after her silence for lost riders. They to ride home. husband Rob was killed will then head south to the while out for a ride on his campground at the Squires More info at: motorbike. Since then she has Bar Café near Sherburn in http://dyingtoride.org been working hard to gain Elmet, West Yorks, with two support and media coverage rest and fuel stops on the way.

More MV Agusta F3s rider to change gears without us forlornly licking the arrive in the UK using the clutch or shutting showroom window but if you The first two batches the throttle. They say it helps really want to give the bank of MV Agusta’s ‘drop dead shave vital tenths of a second manager a coronary then gorgeous’ F3 675cc sports off a lap time, while also there’s an Oro version, which machines have sold out making the machine easier to comes with gold-coloured immediately but a fresh batch use in the urban environment. swing-arm and frame plates, is on its way UK importer We say the rider losing some as well as Öhlins forks, TTX The Poker Run Riders then progress along As with all good biking MotoGB in Lancashire, which weight has the same effect rear shock and Brembo On Sunday 20th May, Ride a route to four more events, the real fun starts at should allow all current back and is a bit cheaper… There’s Monobloc calipers. It costs the Wave is holding its annual checkpoints, collecting a 4pm at the Selsey Bill Lifeboat orders to be fulfilled. also a new engine map to give £19,999. Poker Run to raise money playing card at each stop station where live music, The bike is bristling with the F3 even smoother idling for the RNLI. Entry costs £5 before ending t Selsey Bill. After dancing girls and the usual hi-tech gizmology, such and improved performance at More drooling and wishing (all of which goes to the much head scratching the fun and games will take place, a counter-rotating crank, low to medium revs. your life away at lifeboats) and it starts 11am at judges will declare the winning accompanied by the requisite advanced ECU system, The ‘bog standard’ F3 is www.mvagusta.co.uk Newlands Corner, Guildford. ‘hand’ later in the evening. foaming refreshment. Traction Control and a ‘Ride- priced at £10,299, with an By-Wire’ throttle system. MV’s extra £300 for the EAS version. More info at: optional EAS (Electronically For most of us humble Digest http://www.ridethewave. Assisted Shift) allows the Types that’s going to leave org.uk/2.html

144 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 145 Bitz Bitz Touratech Travel Event VE (UK) is the official importer for the Leo Vince range of scooter exhausts with offerings for machines right through from 50cc up to 800cc. The SBK One range are fully homologated to comply with EU road use regulations. They come with a removable baffle for track use (and no doubt by the occasional urban scallywag…) carry a full UK warranty and they Pimp My Ride look the mutt’s nuts. VE (UK) Britain’s leading with a range of body kits to And to try to ensure scooter parts emporium has a create a one off machine nobody falls off unnecessarily On 11th to 13th May, the unit for the first time in the a tubeless tyre – and if that vast array of custom goodies when combined with lighting, the company have taken annual pilgrimage for adventure UK. Also available for a good doesn’t work then how to to make your scoot the envy mirrors, grips and decal sets. on the Schwalbe range of bike riders and overland rummage is Cotswold Outdoor, change the whole damn thing. of all your mates. Headlamps, The range covers scooters scooter tyres, which vary kit-fiends is taking place at FTR Suspension and Scala, The world renowned indicators, and tail lamps are from leading manufacturers from stylish whitewall Touratech’s Welsh HQ in Brecon. who will be demonstrating Walters Arena (see Blez’s easy modifications that any including Aprilia, Gilera, versions for classic scoots Naturally, it involves camping, their G9 ‘multi-client’ intercom. article on page 105) will be owner can undertake, but Honda, MBK, Peugeot, Piaggio, to semi-slick sports rubber larking about in the woods Disappointingly, there’s also a open for testing bikes from you can go that extra mile Yamaha, and many more, as and the Weatherman range. on great big bikes with huge big Tesco right on the doorstep, Husqvarna and AJS, and there well as universal fitting parts. These last ones are aimed at knobbly tyres and a chance to which rather spoils the illusion will be guided road and trail keeping you upright in the compare different brands of of rugged adventure (but rides on your own bike with kind of weather the typical Gore-tex underpants over a certainly takes the toil out of skill levels to suit both the UK based Digest Reader will few pints of real ale (courtesy of the supermarket run). timid and the hooner. There experience on the way to the the local Felinfoel Brewery) and Guest speakers include will also be a chance to talk to shops for a bottle of cider a curry, burger or kebab from such luminaries as Nick people from the Motorcycle and twenty Rothmans – cold, Xtreme Organix. Sanders, Sam Manicom, Chris Outreach charity and to pissing rain. Retail therapy will be Scott, Robert Wicks and Paddy various individuals seeking provided by Touratech Tyson. Andreas Hulsman is sponsorship for trips around More info at: themselves with some over from Germany to give a the world in aid of other www.ve-uk.com package deals at ‘show prices’ tutorial on photography and good causes. and a chance to poke and prod the resident mechanic will be More info at: their new ‘Tractive’ suspension demonstrating how to plug www.touratech.co.uk

146 WWW.THERIDERSDIGEST.CO.UK ISSUE 166 May 2012 147 Join the adventure

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