belfastguzzi

Hey Mac, there's a problem with your story – if you can remember it, you weren't there! (The other day I mentioned Gong to Jihem and he can't remember seeing them – so we know that he was definitely there!)

Here's that Duc Scrambler from Cologne I love it. If I gave him the Griso and €8,000???????????????

Are you a man or a mouse? Oh talking about mice, clearly the important lesson to be taken from the P.Roper Post is that in dire circumstances, when on the road and the V.11 (inevitably) breaks down and you are stranded without help (possibly because you smell like a fish and no-one will come within a mile), you can survive by eating your nourishing waxed cotton jacket on the walk-out. Try that with cordura, polyurethane and kevlar!

Sorry, that jacket is leather (made in Pakistan), not waxed cotton and not lovingly crafted and rubbed by an English tailoring-man. Therefore it cannot possibly be 'the real thing', as required by Orson, the British Queen and Steve McQueen. I think we do have to agree it has to be Barbour, or nothing.

everyone should have a hobby

Record user? Is that a quaint Scots term for 'old bastxxx'

Ikea candle? Is that some sort of hip Scots term for this stuff? I know that you dribble it down your jacket front, but no, I don't recommend total immersion.

...seems Orson was right. I saw the price of some B*lst&ff stuff. I was thinking of Barbour prices (which themselves are twice wots reasonable) but the B*lst&ff prices were X times greater. Deary me. (I trust that's all vague enough to keep the lawyers at bay.) So, the solution is obvious. A tin of Barbour reproofing wax is £5.97. You'll get a quality cotton jacket maybe like this 'amphibious cotton' jacket for about £80 or so So buy the jacket or get one in the sales for £40, slather it in Barbour wax, give it a go-over with a hairdryer and Bob's your uncle for £50 or thereabouts – a fraction of the cost – for a unique hand-finished item that's both practical and fashionable. With this approach, I reckon you could afford to go the whole hog. Forget the cotton. Get the real deal Waxed Harris Tweed This Commodore Jacket in tweed would be just the ticket for the treatment Two tins of reproofing wax may be required for this material. Candle wax would probably be cheaper again – and offer more protection in an accident.

It's Mr and Mrs Guzzirider. Quiz point for me at last. Though don't ask me which is which.

Very funny that your post 'skipped' too! Very funny that your post 'skipped' too! As it happens, I just bought an old vinyl Blood Sweat and Tears, in a 2nd hand bookshop. 40,000 Headmen will, I'm quite convinced, now sound just as it should, just as it did, once upon a special time. The iTunes BS&T download didn't quite hit the spot in the same way. Nor did the digital Mountain tracks: not quite. I'm sure they need the vinyl, but perhaps it's best to keep imagining that, rather than put it to the test? (No, I'd be very pleased to get my mits on it. I'll pm.) Don't forget, you've potentially got 300 (em, 299) hand-modeled plastic flowerpots there. Fire-up the oven. click click click click click click click click

I might make it obligatory for all attendees at the 2009 UK meet to come suitably attired. And imagine the smell around the campfire: oily wax seeping from the riders and unburnt 'Euro lll' lean emissions wafting from the bikes ~ memorable ~ PS I have 3 jackets of various design and size and 1 very old pair of trousers, so if you can't afford to buy into The Look (you fibber, Orson) we could set-up a hire service for the weekend. (I'm thinking that a photo thread is called for, both to illustrate examples of 'suitable attire' – and to vet aspiring event attendees.)

Illogical: moi?! Saw this: "Speaking of The Look, the Barbour is also instantly recognizable by its classic signature tartan interior cotton lining, which is also very comfortable. And best of all is the "Made in England" label, along with its gaggle of Royal seals, attesting to Barbour's official appointments to various Kings and Queens. The International certainly doesn't replace any of the modern motorcycle jackets with their high-tech fabrics, CE-approved armor, Gore-Tex liners and Nylon zippers. The decision to buy a Barbour International comes from the same set of illogical emotions that "force" one to come to the decision that only a Moto Guzzi Le Mans, Ducati Paul Smart 1000 or Triumph Thruxton will do as the next bike. Owners of those classics or any other vintage British or European make will surely want to complete The Look by going all the way with an International. And while you're at it, how about a pudding bowl helmet and some stringback gloves?"

Funnily enough, the place where I bought my Griso sells jet skis. There's foresight for you.

The Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod had to be abandoned of course. This new £104 million road upgrade. through Belfast, is submerged under 20' of water. Road engineers, eh! This guy is standing on the roof of his car. I really think that we have as much chance of summer weather in May next year, as we have in 'the summer'.

har har that's the last time I stand behind that moto-bicycle!

Thanks Jaap We'll stick with the 22-25 May weekend. There are pluses and minuses to having it on the Bank Holiday, but the big important plus is that it will make it easier for some people to take an extra day. If you are thinking of taking a longer holiday again at that time, the NW 200 roadraces may be on the previous Saturday. You could also have a good visit around Donegal. If so, I could also try to get some extra days off that week.

Follow the links to see / hear video. You may need to have QuickTime 7 to see it. We had one day of dry weather this week so I took some time and went out on the Griso with a video recorder, to capture the exhaust sound. There aren't loads of high speed roars as I kept to small roads, where the police wouldn't be. I don't think that they would take kindly to finding a bike with both a loud exhaust and a video camera on it. The ride does show a range of conditions: low revs, high revs, up hill, down hill, level. The sound should be pretty good with decent in-ear phones or headphones, or a mighty hi-fi! There is a short snippet that will download quickly. The main movie is 12 minutes long, so you need broadband and a bit of patience, but once it starts loading you can play it while it continues to download. Short snippet The ride – the full 12 minute movie

Does the Bank Holiday weekend date actually help many people?

Well I'm still assuming that the NW will be on the previous weekend. We won't know until October announcement. It worked ok for me this year, as I was crossing in the opposite direction:

Yes, yes, Mrs Guzzirider can come.

And Stelvios are more than welcome, I say. Perfect Stelvio riding roads, I say.

Oh no, very sorry to hear that, as others will be too. Do let me know if you ever think that you can get a few days off and want to come over any other time. D

Summer has now moved in the annual calendar to May, I reckon. It's certainly not in July or August anymore. So Ulster Rally next May, bank holiday time, Friday 22nd to Monday 25th May 2009? Every now and again the bike mags feature the North Coast road. The current issue of Bike (Sept 2008) has a cover feature, 'Seven Days in Northern Ireland'. It covers part of the route that I'd do during the V.11 / Guzzi meet: coast road and Torr Head. Have a look. It also mentions the Sperrins, which was part of the wish list. The other main area that I mentioned before is 'St Patrick's Country': Strangford lough and down to Newcastle / Mourne mountains area – you could call it the south coast road. The biggest problem is finding somewhere suitable to stay. The Slaney Inn, that I mentioned before, is apparently closing. Nothing to do with the Harley Davidson rallies I'm sure. I'll try to get out and about a bit in the next couple of weeks to see if I can spot somewhere else. Maybe 15 to 20 people? The ones who indicated before that they're interested are: BFG Guzzirider Helen Ballabio Bertie Baldini Antonio (has Antonio got a bike now?) MacHaggisGuzzi Martin Barrett Jaap plus loose Danish women Gary Wambiker Grossohc Ferguzzi Soren plus loose Scots kilt

Celebrations. You'll be having twa neeps for tea on Saturday then!

Yeah. Weasels and haggis both. Dumb animals.