Motorbiking
"Biker" for me usually means motorbiking, though I also have a couple of mountain-bikes... see Trail Bike
My current motorbikes are a Honda CBR600RR ABS 2017 and a Kawasaki Ninja Z250SL.
Previously I have owned: Kawasaki ZX4-RR (Ninja anniversary edition), Honda CRF300 Rally, Honda CBR600RR 2005, Honda CBR600FW, Honda VF750F, Yamaha FJ600, Suzuki GSX750EX, Yamaha FJ750, Yamaha XJ900, Kawasaki Z750 and I passed my riding test on my Kawasaki KH250.
See also my Motorbiking web links
Always a treat to ride to St. Tropez, the charming little port on the Côte d’Azur. Blue sky and strong sunshine were today moderated by a chilly wind from the northeast. I met with my long-standing friend Denis who lives in St. Tropez, also of the French bike club AMA; we haven't met since just before the first lockdown, more than two years ago.
Why read when you can ride? Put simply, I read for motivation and inspiration - they ride so much better than we do. You can see what they do on the bikes on TV but not why they do it, and what it takes behind the scenes. Not that any of these books are fully frank, the riders are public sportsmen so their image is carefully cultivated by their representatives and for the benefit of their sponsors.
The book about Valentino Rossi is written by a journalist so is in the third person in the style of a long article in Motorcycle News; Boorman’s and Rutter’s are written by the rider with an associate writer, ie ghost writer, and are the better for the professional writer’s input. Charley Boorman’s style is at once intimate, biker to biker, but with the polish (and thus detachment) of a TV documentary voice-over. It’s easy to imagine Michael Rutter telling his tales over a few pints in a Manx pub, tidying them up for publication and making a nice book with it all in for his grandchildren and fans.
London GBMCC crowd at the usual pub. First time I’ve been for a while, good to see friends, new faces and new bikes; still only a small crowd but the weather’s looking up, diary plans are being worked on and bikes are getting readied for trips away..
A couple of runs on the Col de l’Espigoulier (723 m.) just outside Marseille to scrub in the new tyres fitted yesterday. There are a couple of pesky red and green lines to wear off. More fine spring weather.
That’s now six riding days on the bounce. I’ve not been able to do that since 2019. A few niggles and aches but overall, I think that counts as regaining “Bike fitness” and so looks good for my plans for later in the year.
My ride for today: NC750X with automatic gear shift and twin clutch, Honda’s DCT system. Really an overgrown scooter, fuel under the seat and stowage at the front. But much less tiring to ride than my sportsbike, it also returns staggering fuel economy (I used less than 5 litres for 200 km in Sport mode), both of which extend the bike and the rider’s range. As a 750 twin there’s more than enough power. Put simply, you’ll get further on the NC750X than an RR but it might not be as much fun.
More photos: Test ride: NC750X DCT - Grand Canyon of the Verdon
Subcategories
Alps Biker 2016
I'm riding light for a week on the mountain roads of the Alps. No laptop, although I do have my SLR camera but photos will have to wait till I'm back in Marseille..
I left Marseille for a long ride north via the Col de la Croix Haute (1179 m.) to Saint-Gervais under Mont Blanc. A bit of rain towards the end of the day which cleaned the Provence dust off my white leathers and boots but didn't soak me through.
