Essex Rospa Advanced Motorcyclist monthly ride

I went out with the others in the eram club yesterday for my first day out riding in a few months. the weather held good all day apart from a few small rain showers that only lasted a short while but not long enough for me to get wet inside my NOT waterproof clothes. the roads stayed damp to wet most of the day so it gave me a good chance to learn about the new conti's. They seem to take a while to warm up but it was only 7deg for most of the day so thats not a big surprise. but when they really do offer great grip and feel, even on the damp roads i was able to get pretty good lean angles with confidence. A good day out was had by all those that attended with a stretched out route from The BP services in Boreham to a small cafe a the side of a fishing lake in Stowmarket.

Pictures will be posted Here

Tyres Update

Well i have now done a couple of hundred miles on the new Conti Road Attack 2's in the cold wet mornings and the dry but still chilly evenings and i must say i am very happy with them. They respond well to steering inputs and feel confident in the wet and dry under acceleration and braking. Just have to see how long they last now, i think that with some months of winter riding ahead the center will wear somewhat more than the rest from the lesser lean angles so it wont be a fair test but thats just the way it is.

New tyres fitted today

I went for the new Conti Road Attack 2 tyres as the few reviews i had read all said how good they are. They are right there very grippy straight out the box and very quick turners, it shocked me at first how easy the bike turned into corners these are quicker than the Mich pr'2 and there quite sporty for a sport touring tyre. The Conti's seem quite confident in the wet as half the roads home were still wet. I really need to get used to the quick turn in as it did catch me out a few times in the 20 mile ride home. Also i saw a great custom painted new fireblade while at Essex Honda today. They sent the panels away for painting for the customer before collection.

If you look at my blog comment and become a follower so you get notified of updates. Thanks Stuart

Rothmans Fireblade

Tyres Oh Tyres

Well the Avon Storm 2 Ultras have been very nice to ride on. plenty of grip and feel and i recon the best in the wet out of Mich Pilot road 2's and Dunlop Roadsmarts. The rear tyre has done 8000 Miles and is now starting to flatten on the top, but the front has done about 1000-1500ish miles less and is on the wear limiters in the middle and half way around the tyre. Also i have noticed that when at just the right speeds that the way the tread has worn makes the bars vibrate quit bad these speeds are when very slow,about 40-50mph and 90-100mph at 120 the vibration is so bad it makes my eyes shake and i cant see anything. I have noticed that with these tyres i dont seem to get to the edge on the front but the back has nearly no chicken strips either side. So what to do now i need more tyres. Go back to PR'2 which last well but dont perform quit as well for me or give avon a 2nd chance?

PS i know i said there was next to no chicken strips on the rear and the picture makes it look like ive never been around a corner, its because its crappy weather lately so the edges that dont get used get dirty. i was below the word Storm on the edge of the treads in the summer.

Had a great ride with the ERAM group on Sunday to Ely.

Was knackered when I got home 260 miles richer.

The VFR performed perfectly as she always does.

630 miles OFFROAD from Dover to Lands End via Motorcycle [Part 1]

Top 10 Jumps

Top 10 Jumps

The best bloopers ever

Rospa Advanced Test Today.

been out for the test today and passed with a Gold grade. Im very pleased with myself at the moment. Now its time to treat the bike to new chain and sprockets.

Rinspeed's first underwater Car

VFR Uddate

Well the old girl is no well in the 83k miles and still going strong, shes just had a oil change a week ago and the old oil still looked new after 6k miles. I think she will need new chain and sprockets soon as the sprockets have done 40k miles and the 2nd chain has done 15k miles and is still good but has some tight spots. Heres some pictures from the EAMG full members ride i went on to uppingham on sunday.

PHAMOUS - OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO (MidiMafia feat. Chanel)

iPhone 4 - PRANK!!!!

Star Wars Subway Car

Patrese & Wife - subtitled

Update

Well myself and the Vfr have been out the last 2 Sundays 1st to the Cotswolds which was a great day out and a lot of miles for a short day and then to the super sausage cafe the next weekend which was again a great days riding. I have managed to reduce the rear chicken strips a bit more now we have the hot weather and nice dry , clean roads to ride on. i think she (the vfr) will have a rest this weekend and maybe a oil change as were at that mileage again. Shes at 82K miles now and still going strong but i do feel a bit guilty when i get home from these long rides that i might have ridern her a bit to hard all day, but shes always ready for more the next weekend so maybe she likes it?

2 PIECE (So Cosmo)

Just watched this i liked the song but must say the video is better imo.

Fitted the replacement avon tyre

Well the replacement front tyre has been fitted and it rides like a dream. loverly and smooth just as it should be. Also if you need a Minibus from the Chelmsford area please look here and call for a price. http://www.gems-minibuses.co.uk/

Well theres been no updates

Because its a Honda VFR they never really need much doing. We've been on a few group rides lately which have been fun and its nearly time for the replacement avon front tyre to be fitted and for a oil & filter change thats it for now though.

New rear wheel bearings fitted

This morning myself and a friend stripped the back wheel/drive assy off the vfr and fitted new wheel and drive sprocket bearings. It took about 3 hours i guess and was surprisingly a very simply task. I was lucky that nothing was seized and all the bolts had previously been greased. So the old girl is riding like a treat again. O and i forgot to record the wheel bearing job so no video to help you, but you can always message me and i will try to help with instructions.

INTERACTIVE HOOK-UP - Start Here

This Sunday

Have to fit new rear wheel bearings to the vfr. Not bad really that they have lasted 80K miles. Hope to fit my camera to my cap so i can record the event to help others with this job. Will post it to youtube when done.

Avon tyre update

Have just had a call from the tyre supplier and was told that Avon have inspected the tyre and as the usage is so low that they will send a new tyre FOC to me. They didn't offcause admit to any fault with the first tyre but thats what i kind of suspected would happern. So thanks Avon for not just b s ing me around.

Forks Refitted

I got the fork sliders back from the powder coaters on Friday evening so they were dropped of at Essex Honda motorcycle shop for the rebuild on Saturday morning. They were finished at the end of the day so i ran home to fit them. Wow its nice to ride a bike again after these weeks of it. I went for a ride with the EAMG full members on Sunday and really got back into the grove again. Still no news on Avon front tyre, i can assure you i wont be buying any Avon tyres in the future if this is the normal wait for returns. Im sure that wont break there hearts to here but its still four tyres a year they wont be selling.

Avon trye update

Well having called the tyre supplier to ask for an update they say that there is no news yet. so Avon have had the tyre for about 3 weeks now and haven't come to a conclusion. It makes me think they either hope i will simply forget all about it or they have an lot of faulty tyres to test. so i am awaiting a return call from the supplier or Avon soon. On a different point the newly powder coated fork lowers should be ready for collection in the next couple of days so i can get the front end back on my bike and use it again. Hooray i've missed a load of good weather and rides out with the club already and its starting to get me down a bit.

BWOM-The Road to Gumption Part 1

This guy and his friend Tracy have given me a idea. Save some money have a year of work and travel

SEXY WORKOUT TIME! (Shayloss style)

i like this video its funny

Update on tyre and forks

Well the forks are out and waiting for there new powder coat finish on the lower parts so they should look a bit prettier in a couple of weeks time. Avon have the front tyre still i haven't heard anything from them so will have to start chasing them on Monday as 2 weeks should (in my mind) be plenty of time to test it.

Have decided while i wait for my front tyre to be returned from Avon that i will strip the forks and have the bottoms cleaned and powder coated as there in really bad condition. But should i get the wheels done while im at it. The front will be out anyway and the rear is no big trouble to remove?

Just would like to say if your in charge of making the weather what it is, Thanks its been great riding in the warmer weather.

Just set up a Dailybooth http://dailybooth.com/stu2316 haven't quiet figured it out yet.

Great way to mount gps to bike

I have bought a great and simple device for fitting my Garmin Zumo to my bike in a manner that keeps the unit behind the screen and out the way of the major controls i got it direct from the manufacturer. http://www.telferizer.com

Well the front Avon storm 2 ultra has been removed and is definitely the problem with the front end. I have spoke to the supplier and they advised me of where to send it for testing so that was done yesterday. Now the wait begins. The fitter at the bike shop has told me story's about tyre firms claiming the tyre has a puncture or been ridden flat and thats whats coursed the damage, will have to wait and see what Avon say as i have ridden about 250 miles on this tyre now and 40 odd miles the morning it was removed so there is for a fact no puncture or been run flat. I have the old tyre back on now and the vibrations and wobbles have gone.

went for my first ride of the year with the full members of EAMG today. we had a great ride out to the stradistall cafe and back. the roads were nice and dry but still quite dusty from the road salt and i realy got to ride with a descent pace and get a good feel for the avon storm st 2 ultra tyres. and i can say there very good heres a pick of the rear with very small chicken strips considering the conditions.

Another cold start this morning so a slow steady ride to work. saw a small car that had run of the road and flipped onto its roof in the field next to the road, there was police aware stickers on it so no cause to investigate. this evenings ride home was somewhat more spirited then this mornings trip. im starting to get the feel again for riding on dry grippy roads. didn't get the front tyre/wheel checked on Wednesday as the shop i use was to busy so hopefully next week . will be nice to get rid of the handlebar shakes.

The ride home in the dry

well theres a horrible shake and wobble in the front tyre i hadn't noticed before due to riding so slow in the bad conditions. will take the bike to the shop on wednesday and get it checked out. it was fine with the pr2 front so i guess its a bad tyre?

Cold frosty morning ride to work on new tyres

I have a set of the new Avon Storm ST 2 Ultra tyres on now after years of using Mich Pilot road 2's they feel allright and the horrid feeling i had with the last front tyre is gone so i can ride with confidence again which is nice. so far i would say buy a set but time will tell when i find out how long they last.

My first blog post

have a look at my youtube videos http://www.youtube.com/user/stu2316