Well its been an unbelievably busy month! I’ve been rushed off my feet on a personal level and my motorcycling life has been just as busy!

I’m lucky enough to have two motorcycles, one of the great benefits of this…. If one is off the road, you don’t loose riding time. So, what do you do when BOTH are off the road? Go a little nuts is the answer.

The VN1500 has been having its head bearings done, this is now complete, I’m back on the road. The Royal Star Venture is another matter.

During a recent ride a got a rear puncture, with it being late afternoon, the recovery company could only send a car recovery truck. The (very nice admittedly) gentleman strapped the bike to the truck like he was wrestling a bear. Straps all over and wrenching the handlebars down. It got me home.

After the tyre was changed the bike still felt ‘off’ and tried to throw me off at one point. Much searching (and discounting things) later, I believe he has damaged the risers in some way (Thank fully the recovery company appear to be paying out!).

Now, you may ask (if you are not bored and have got this far) why am I rambling on about this?

Its all about the help I have received.

My father died a few years ago… He was the one who got me into motorcycles, he was my idol in many ways and he was always the one I turned to (when working on my bikes) when I needed to double check things, needed advice or needed reassurance that what I have done was correct. Obviously, I no longer have that.

This past few weeks though, I have found my saviors….. The Venture Riders!

In my experience of on-line forums, they tend to end up as d**k waving contests… with people arguing over who is right and trying to force their knowledge on people. The home of the keyboard warriors.

Venture Riders is a lot different.

Oil leak …… Here is a video showing you where you should be looking

Need LED Lights … here’s a link

Nearly crash your bike? …. Three pages of tips, advice and possibles (Seriously they have saintly patience, the amount of ‘typing out loud’ I did and they still kept coming back offering advice)

Ammo Sale …. Wait what? (As a Brit I’ll admit the guns stuff goes way over my head, the only gun most of us here in the UK ever hold is a water pistol!)

They have been a mind saver! Problems with my bikes are usually never far from my mind. Having a place to air these thoughts has been brilliant.

It begs the question….why can’t all forums be like this? I’m sure there are more out there, but almost all I see seem to end up with someone making a sarcastic (or just plain nasty) comment.

So here is my golden tip for the day… If you are going to join a forum, be nice, offer advice if you can, just don’t be a d*k!.

You can find the Venture Riders at ventureriders.org.

Whilst Im here… Tyres (or Tires)

Im a funny one when it comes to those bits of rubber hitting the road.

During my research on this blog, one thing I kept seeing was the following…

‘I just put my tyre pressure to what it says on the sidewall’

The figure on the sidewall is the maximum PSI you should put in your tyre NOT the pressure you should run at.

Get a manual (or view one online) and set your pressure to the manufacturers recommended settings.

You can +/- a few PSI to counter the fact your tyres may have different properties to the original spec (but don’t exceed max on the sidewall!)

Motorcycle makers spend Millions (Billions?) in R&D making sure the set up is correct.

Dave from the local bike cafe doesn’t.

I’m pleased to say the sun is back out. After a week of miserable rain, I’ve finally been able to get the bikes back out.

The VN1500 has had its new front tyre fitted, it doesn’t quite feel right though. A tad unsteady, so that will be getting a thorough checking over this week.

I’m very lucky where I work. Its a town on an intersection of biking roads. We must get 20-30 bikes an hour passing. Sports bikes, GS’s (which i’m apparently to call adventure bikes?) Tourers and of course V-Twin cruisers.

Obviously, the last range of bikes are the ones that get my attention the most. The burble of these massive twins reverberates off the building walls. When a few come through its a magical sound.

Most are Japanese. Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki and the odd Suzuki. A few are ‘the real deal’ …. A few are Harley-Davidsons.

I’ve never quite understood though, why? Why, buy an actual Harley?

I must absolutely stress, this isn’t in any way a Harley bashing article. I love Harleys. They are the starting point for what I love. The classic HD designs spawned a whole range of Japanese cruisers. Designed to look like a Harley.

The Used price differences between a Harley and its cloned Japanese brethren, are astonishing.

(The keen eyed among you may have noted, I never used new prices, that’s because over here in the UK, you can only buy a Harley or an Indian new, all other V-twin cruisers available in the U.S have been discontinued by the Japanese manufacturers (no the Kawasaki Vulcan S doesn’t count).)

A 2010 Harley Davidson Softail FLSTC (14,269 miles)- £9,999

A 2010 Suzuki VL1800 (7,878 miles) – £7,499

That’s a 25% increase in price, for a motorcycle, that to 99.9% of people, looks exactly the same and will ride in a similar fashion.

Now, there is a huge, gaping, monumental, black hole sized gap in my understanding. I’ve never ridden a Harley….Ever. Not a Sportster or and Electra Glide. Never once has my leg sat astride one of these Milwaukee monsters with an engine running and the road ahead of me (I have sat on them at Motorcycle shows and they felt small, but ill put that down to the location).

My car is a 5-Series BMW. I’ve been told many a time ‘don’t know why you get BMW’s and stuff, just get a Ford’. However, they DO drive better, they are more comfortable and give a far better driving experience.

So maybe, in the case of Harley, this is the answer… something i’m yet to experience.. the feel.

Is it ‘just better’ riding a Harley over a Vulcan or a Royal Star. Does the feeling it gives you knowing you are on the original eclipse all other reasons?

Or, is it the badge?

Is it the fact that it’s a real Harley? Never can anyone say to you ‘Nice Harley mate’ for you to respond with a long-winded ramble about how its actually a Yamaha, knowing deep inside you want to just respond ‘Cheers’.

Hell’s Angels ride Harley’s …so did the Terminator. Sons of Anarchy was a whole TV show revolving around bad-ass Harley riders… Not a V-Star (or Dragstar as we call them here in the UK) in sight. They are the real f***ing deal, the top dog in the cruiser Motorcycle world.

Whilst looking into this, it came across pretty strong that national pride played a part for may in the U.S. Buying something American made. Harley Davidson are an Internationally recognised brand. An icon of Americana.

This sense can extend globally too. Many have seen the idyllic pictures and movies of people riding the American dream on the Highways of California, through the mountain passes of the Rockies or the historic Route 66. The images of the never ending road and the lone rider. Maybe here in the UK, its a way of bringing that dream to Batley or Bourton-on-the-Water.

Honestly, this whole article borders on pointless, because, I don’t actually care why people ride a Harley. This article came about because….. I want one….but I don’t know why.

Maybe soon ill be writing an article…..’Why I ride a Harley’?

“I bet you spend more time cleaning it than riding it” Asks the polite man

“Ha, ha” I reply

I’ve never actually understood why having a clean and shiny motorcycle seems to quasi-offend people.

I must clarify, I don’t actually spend more time cleaning my Motorcycle than riding it. However, it does take up a lot of my time.

Both my bikes (Kawasaki VN1500 Nomad and Yamaha Royal Star Venture) have a lot of chrome, both have hard colour matched saddlebags, The Venture a top box and fairing. Cleaning them properly takes time… and often lots of effort.

I love motorcycles, the more time I can spend around mine the better. Cleaning them gives me that opportunity. As a father with a young son, its not always practical to spend the day riding… so what better way to keep on biking, than with polish and a cloth.

Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way…

A. Don’t use a pressure washer.

The Youtube videos where you see someone smashing water at their bikes at 200mph astounds me and makes me cringe every time. For a really dirty bike use Muc-Off or S100 spray cleaner. (They really do work very well, if they didn’t for you read the instructions again) Only use a normal hose pipe or even better….. a Watering can!

B. Buy a decent bike wash.

Don’t use dishwashing liquids, they will scratch your paint. Also, use the two-bucket method (one has the ‘suds’ in – one just water for rinsing off your dirty sponge)

C. Get yourself a Clay Mitt

Claying your Motorcycle will remove all the hard to see contaminates and bits of muck on your paintwork. I wouldn’t worry about getting a clay bar (you WILL drop it). A quality clay mitt will do just as good a job. (Tip, use a clean spray bottle with a Bike wash and water, don’t worry about clay lube)

D. Don’t use waterless wash and wax if your bike has visible dirt on it.

Waterless wash and wax is brilliant stuff, if you bike needs a quick going over. However, if you can SEE dirt, you will have to give it a proper wash.

E. Do not use Autosol solvol on chrome, unless its pitted.

Autosol is a harsh cleaner, it will leave small scratches on the chrome. If you are buying a chrome polish get something that looks like a liquid, you will thank me for it.

F. Take things off if you can

When bikes have saddlebags, the amount of crap that gets between them and the rear fender is unbelievable. The same goes with under many seats. Take em off! It can also help prevent corrosion in these ‘unseen’ places.

G. Polish Twice.

You will miss a spot, so do it one more time. I can understand ignoring this advice on a car, but not a bike.

H. Invest in quality microfibre cloths.

Try not to use an old t-shirt, they could scratch the paintwork.

I. Remember to wax

A good (it DOSEN‘T have to be expensive) wax will finish your bike nicely.

J. Don’t forgot your wheels

Cleaning will differ if they are painted or chrome. Just apply the same technique as on the rest of the bike.

Clean your bike as follows…..

Big clean

1. Remove saddlebags and seat (cover where the seat goes with a plastic bag or similar)
2. Spray Muc off /S100 or similar
3. Remove with a light hosepipe spraying or watering can (don’t worry about drying at this stage)
4. Wash with the two bucket method – rinse with you hose/can again
5. Use a clay mitt on all paintwork – don’t forget the frame where visible
6. Wash again
7. Dry with a microfibre towel (don’t use a leaf blower!)
8. Clean chrome with a mild chrome cleaner
9. Polish paintwork with a good quality polish
10. Now do it again
11. Wax (only use a very light layer of wax and do it twice)
12. Put saddle bags and seat back on
13. Clean seat with a quality leather cleaner

If, like me, you like a pre ride clean…

1. Use a Waterless wash and wax (Again, only if the bike has NO visible dirt)
2. Wipe over with a microfiber cloth
3. Use a quick shine detailer
4. Wipe over with a microfiber cloth

Some of you will think this is all a bit over the top, but I love it … Now, where’s that cloth…..

I don’t often pay attention to the big Motorcycle press here in the UK. Much of what they cover holds little interest, sure, the products they cover have two wheels, but the constant barrage of 200bhp superbikes and BMW GS’s, while interesting to many, are not going to be parked in my garage anytime soon.

Indeed, at the 2018 Motorcycle show at the NEC in Birmingham, I sat on a Ducati Panigale V4, and at 6’4″ and 16st (220lbs), I just looked silly.

However, when MCN covered the potential release of Indians new bagger I was interested.

(see full article here
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2019/april/indian-raptor-2020/ )

Half way down the article came this line..

“It will likely move the electronics on again (the latest bikes already have power modes) with traction control a distinct possibility as well as cornering ABS and other touring comforts like hill hold braking“

I found myself mildly annoyed… ‘power modes… abs….hill hold….its not a Mercedes! .. I bet its got sat nav…you don’t need sat nav for a Sunday ride out!’

Motorcycles are about freedom…….. you, the bike, the road. They are about being different (maybe a little bad ass?) they are about going out for a ride knowing the danger and risk.

Motorcycles are supposed to be, even at their most complicated, simple. I dare say that the great motorcycle movies we have all seen over the years would have been vastly different had this technology been available.

Steve Mcqueens jump in the great escape? Maybe he’d have been caught by the Nazis if he sat, ensuring his power was set to ‘sport’ instead of just jumping.

Peter Fonda simply throwing his watch away would have taken about two hours of film, watch – abs ripped out – Sat nav gone ……

Now the keen eyed among you will have noticed I ride a Yamaha Royal Star Venture, complete with Radio and Cruise control. Well, two things…

1. You should do as I say and not as I do ….

2. Cruise control on a motorcycle designed to go ‘coast to coast’ is just sensible and listening to AC/DC or Motorhead whilst riding is just frickin’ cool.

My anti-tech rant is not just a guy approaching middle age shouting at the clouds (honest). Its actually born out of a genuine concern. Motorcycling and motorcyclists is/are changing.

I fear many are turning to riding, not out of a love of motorcycles, but because they can. They have a few quid, go take their test and jump on a bike. The increase in technology allows them a false sense that their Motorcycle is somehow more safe because of the tech.

The days of the ‘biker’ are slowly dwindling, giving way to ‘people who ride a Motorbike’.

Maybe this is why fewer ‘bikers’ nod……

So, where to start without boring the pants off you in my first paragraph.

OK, the boring bit, Im 38, live on the border of the North Yorkshire moors in the United Kingdom and love motorcycles…I mean love them… as in, my mood is affected when I know I won’t be riding that day.

My current Motorcycles are a 2002 Yamaha XVZ 1300 Royal Star Ventue and a 2002 Kawasaki VN1500 Nomad. 

(Are you seeing the BIG V link now?)

Previous bikes include..

Derbi GPR50

Honda Rebel CA125

Honda Shadow VT125

Honda CBR 600F

Yamaha FZR 400

Honda CBR 400

VTR1000 Firestorm

Yamaha R1 (’98 Carbed .. A proper one)

Honda VFR750

Honda Goldwing GL1500

Honda Hornet CB600F

Kawasaki VN 800 Vulcan

Thats the first time I have wrote down the bikes Ive owned … it seems a shorter list than I imagined.

Thats me, I hope you will follow this blog, but, Ill warn you in advance…I will use ‘…….’ many time and I will moan…… a lot as you will see in my first ‘real’ blog…….

Rider of Big and V-Twin motorcycles (get it!)