Saul

I use this Draper gauge and a cheapie compressor from Lidl. The gauge on the compressor is off but I normally go above what I need and the bring the pressure down with the bleed valve on the gauge. I have an accessory plug on my bike so I can power the compressor from it. Bit bulky but accurate and quick.

Been out for breakfast then a bimble stopping for a photo on the way home. Great weather for it.

interesting read

I understand your reason Clive and to be honest I am a lot like that, just easy going let the world go by most of the time, but sometimes you gotta hold on to what is you. I am lucky with my Mrs she doesn't stop me doing anything with my singing or biking and I have nothing to say about her horse stuff. But we both gave up alot when the kids came along, later in life and doing that you do lose something of yourself and it can effect your head. Sorry if I am reading to much into it mate but think before your jump.

Just been out playing with set up for a trip or two. I don’t think I will need it all for a few days away, after all shoes and a couple of changes in clothes how much am really going to need in the UK. Probably just use the tail pack and cases. I never imagined it but I am finding the tank bag Brilliant for choir. Just an easy way to carry my music and bits

Been out pissing about with a set of throw overs I bought for my Himalayan ages ago and never used. They were cheap so that is a consolation. Got them on ok but don’t know if I will ever use them now as I have some hard cases. Impressions though are that using this sort of bag would be a pain. Not sure I would trust them with much more that a bit of shopping. Also not secure at all so you couldn’t leave anything in them. Plus also pretty sure the would rub where they touch the paint. Back in the corner to dust catch I think.

Practicing now and waking the house up. Singing in a Variety show Saturday night so squeaky bum time until it's done. Wondering why I agreed to do it at the moment. . Washed the bike this morning hoping to get out on it over the weekend as the weather looks good, trip down west on the cards for me.

Zoom in on Photo 2 It’s this place. Pic from their FB profile

Of what ?

I usually call her the Darkness.

Bloody lovely mate, that end of town never gets that busy the holibobs don't find it in numbers. The burger shack is run by an old rugby mates daughter so she looks after us.

Managed to sneak away from the kids to have a spot of lunch with Mrs. Burger and an ice cream never felt so indulgent.

He wouldn't last 10 minutes by the time you lot got hold of him. Fuck me he managed to fall out with SW Motech last week. I had been talking about getting a rack for my CB for a few weeks and he wanted to know what I was getting so I told him I was getting a SW Motech one. Anyway he thought about it and phoned me and said I am going to order what you recommended, yeah right he asked, and I will get two so I can negotiate a discount for us both. Give him his do he saved us £4 each but for fuck sake it wasn't worth the grief. Easy going as I am I said alright. Anyway they were delivered to his place last week, before hand he had arranged for me to pop up for a cuppa to fit them when they arrived. Next thing I know I get a phone called from him saying you'll have to come and get your rack I have just spent 4 hours trying to get this piece of shit you recommended fitted and I haven't got time to do yours, so you'll just have to pick it up. Now I never asked him to fit it I am quite capable of doing it myself. So I go up there and he is still ranting about how shit the rack was to fit and how he scratched his doing the job and he didn't know how I was going to cope. I said I had no problem fitting my other Motech stuff so was surprised he had issues. When I got home I put mine on and it took all of 11 minutes. I messaged him this. He came back that his must have been faulty and a Friday afternoon job and that he has complained to SW Motech. I sent him a message back that he shouldn't call himself a Friday afternoon job and if there is a next time. he should let met fit it for him. Its been tumble weeds from his direction ever since. I think I may have offended him . I have known him years he'll pop up in a few weeks with, with a "Hello mate fancy a cuppa type message" he always does. Like I said angry little fucker all the time. Entertaining though

Cause he is 5'6". He is one of those guys who always has a story to tell about how he was the hero of the hour and saved the day. Tis all drama with him.

I went to a BMW owners club meeting once, only once mind you. I wasn’t the right type for that sort of thing. Did love my old Beamers though.

Got home after 90 miles and bloody enjoyed the ride. I experimented with so E5 to see if it made any difference, can’t say that I noticed any. It was pleasant to be out on my own and not following my angry little mate riding like a tit.

While I was in Plymouth I popped over to GT Motors which has been a big dealership for years to see what they had. Lots was the answer but they are Honda/Kawasaki/Suzuki/Yamaha/Ducati/BSA dealers. Again an interesting place with some lovely stuff but I think I was having a bit of sensory overload by the time I walked around their showrooms. Lots of everything. Good Cafe and friendly staff.

Across the car park from the Triumph dealership there was this place. To be honest I was surprised by the sheer variety of what was on offer. From what I would of thought of as practical transport to stuff that Liberace would have been embarrassed by. Very interesting though, the salesman had me sussed as a browser though as he said: “I see you went in next door, just killing time?” I said yes and mooched around, Twas a friendly exchanges I thought and he was a ginger.

Finally managed to get out today so thought I would pop up to the Triumph dealership in Plymouth, my nearest one. I have a rough idea where it was but it was the perfect opportunity to try out my Nav set up with Google maps on my phone with directions going through Bluetooth to my helmet. Worked really well, also let me listen to a podcast on the way to Anyway worked out to be around 38 miles so just a short hop really. They had some lovely stuff in the showroom and pretty friendly staff who were chatty but didn’t put any pressure tactics into play. I liked the place. Funnily enough I went to look at some Bonnevilles but the the 660 Tiger took my eye. Not that I was seriously looking just interested wanting to waste some time with a destination.

He's trying hard to land that fish.

Yeah but if I am honest it would be the Hornet all day long for me if it were my money. Best value package of all of them for my needs. Plus my SW Motech luggage would got straight on.

Funnily enough I was talking to the salesman up at Damerells a couple of weeks ago about the new trans alp, vstrom, hornet and 8gs thingy. He rated the Suzuki 800 twin motor over the Honda 750. Reconned that despite the figures on paper the Suzuki felt quicker than the Honda. Not that, that is an indicator of the comparison between the bikes I found it interesting just the same as they have demonstrators of all four. Probably say’s more about the salesman riding style or perhaps where the bigger commission lay. I prefer the look of the Hondas personally but if it were my money it would be a new hornet or a 650 vstrom. I like the new trans alp but that 650 strom is a proven icon to my mind. Also I think that new Suzuki 8GS thing is just to weird looking for my liking.

I think that is spot on, I have always had shorter legs but have had big heavy bikes, just gotta ride accordingly. Tis experience plain and simple, strength a little bit. The heaviest I had was 259 kilos and was fine as long as you didn't forget that. And yes I did drop it once on gravel at a junction.

Can almost smell that room from here.