Martin Barrett

It's a work in progress The long way down

I saw the piece you used and it reminded me of a classic bottle opener/can punch. Now that would be cool, if you had enough clearance to actually get the bottle under it when the stand was down.

He wrote it up well, and didn't try to put any spin on it. After a couple of successful brushes with the media - BBC Radio, national newspaper - The Independent and an author researching a book we unfortunately had a less than pleasant experience with a woman's general interest/gossip magazine, who just wanted to put so much spin on the article that we were totally misrepresented, the final print was better but not by much. We kept the moral high ground and didn't take their fee along with it's restrictions, but all the others were done gratis as Debs is just wants to pass the experience on, so wasn't done for monetary gain anyway.

sorry brought a warm feeling to my heart, or it could be the G&T. Sorry can't offer any constructive advise, but good luck anyway. reminds me need to get some Araldite to plug the chip in my head light glass.

If it turns over it's not the side stand/clutch/neutral safety they all stop it turning as does the kill switch. It does sound like the heat sink thing, the only other thing along this side could be a coil/or other sensor breaking down but I don't really have a clue sorry.

Is this a low energy efficient light bulb other wise it will get cross posted in the GW thread?

Have you guys considered a California? I must admit I was a little stiff after yesterdays 530mile 12 1/2 hour jaunt, first long one since last year

I’d booked some time off work for last weekend. It was a fallback in case I wanted to make it to the UK Guzzi Owners Club’s Scottish Rally. Having missed the Highland Fling and the Erin’s new format for this year. As it happened it fell over school holidays with a day owed and my normal days off falling during the week I was able to spend most of the Holiday at home with the family. The weather was awful so very little was done until later in the week. Deb’s had a family bereavement and went to spend time with her mother, leaving me at home with the kids for three days. As my reward for not killing or inflicting visible harm upon them my reward was to escape on the bike on the next day for they’d be back at school. The weather had been good over the weekend with the “sunny intervals” actually being full sunshine. With more of the same promised for Monday we were game on Route planned on the Sunday night. Decided that didn’t need to make an early start, none of that arrive at first landmark at sunrise for this trip. So went for my normal “early turn” alarm of 05:45. Like a kid on Christmas morning I was up before the alarm and having breakfasted and put air in my tyres I was on my way at six. The bright weather was no where to be seen, it was very misty. If this holds up it’d take the edge off the day. I have to skirt Cambridge which involves a brief spell on the M11. I come down the slip having built my speed up and move out to the outside lane earliest. But I hold back as I’ve seen a small car which hadn’t built his speed up try and slot between two lorries. Having made it on to the main carriageway he’s still not built his speed up which forces the second artic (tractor unit and semi trailer) to swerve violently into the outside lane. Lots of dust kicked up and I can envisage it jack knifing or going over, settles down and completes his overtake. Some people just don’t have a clue. First stop at Littleport [2] was a memorial sculpture to William Harley father of William Harley who went on to found HD. He was born there and emigrated aged 24, so a bit of a tenuous connection. Then east wards past the USAF airbases Lakenheath and Mildenhall. You could tell the American influence as a coach stopped, presumably to make a school run pick up, and the following vehicle made no attempt to overtake it. We don’t have US style “School Bus” complete with flashing lights and prohibitions of passing when stopped. Also saw two m/cycles both riders had high vis tabards and duly went into Mildenhall. Sorry no pictures of aircraft, still misty, no “gate guard” , the ones on the pan at Mildenhall were to far from the fence and I didn’t fancy being dragged off.. I followed a LHD Ford Tarrus with official USAF tags* (learning the lingo ) and contemplated the pros and cons of bring it from the US instead of procuring UK vehicles for use over here. I fuelled up a Bury St Edmunds and as I rejoined I saw a German FJ1200 trailing 2 luggage straps. He’d obviously lost something off the back. Bad Karma points for me for not going after him as he’d already gone up the slip road in the wrong direction., they’d not be off set by the checking for a thumbs up from the m/cyclist who was making a phone call at the side of the road, who I’d earlier checked on. I took the tourist route along the A1120 from Stowmarket to Yoxford, very picturesque, even in the early morning mist. Too nice to enjoy the sweeping bends between the villages to stop and take pictures so you’d have to trust me on that As I approached my next landmark on the coast, the mist had cleared – thank you sea breeze. But I wasn’t so keen on the light smattering of rain. Southwold [3] looking for The Battery. I had picture off the Internet and Gun Hill was marked on the map, but as I ran along the sea front I found a pair of cannons so stopped to take pictures just in case and then went on to the expected ones. As normal can’t post landmark or even the erroneous ones because it seems that some people have been misdirected to the pair not the battery so here’s some shots of Guzzi by the sea to bide you by till November. Moved northwards along the coast and the mist had now truly gone. Next point was a Coastal Mine Clearance Memorial at Mundesley [4] I’d just parked the Guzzi up to take the photograph and a Silver BMW R1150RT pulls up. Tim West he is also doing the RBR, he should have been holidaying in Bulgaria but had to cancel as his wife was sitting with a sick relative, so he also had leave to do a bit of RBR. He had a nice imprint of a pigeon on his screen, where it’s takeoff run wasn’t quite as quick as his BMW, no damage to the bike but he didn’t stop to check on the pigeon. This was my 184th landmark visited and the first time I’d met another RBRer on the road. Over looking Mundesley was this giant golf ball, Okay it’s not as big as Fylindales ( just checked it would seem that 2 of the 3 43m dia geodesic domes have been replaced with a tetrahedron but you old guys know what I mean) So in the interests of a trip to Cuba here’s a picture. (I just Googled Fylindales and the first site is how to break in/scale the fences/cut the equipment wires etc – early morning call from Special Branch expected ) A couple of exposures later, just enough to reduce my sperm count, I continued on to King’s Lynn [5], for a 14th Century tower from a Franciscan priory, they left the tower standing during the dissolution of the monasteries as a marker for ships and used the rest of the stones elsewhere in the town. I fuelled at 160mile on the outskirts of town taking 15.49L, I think this is most I’ve ever done on a tank and by my MDR approx 1.6L left still though I’d not change it further. My next was a statute of Mathew Flinders in Donington [6]. In the part of Stevenage where I live a lot of the streets are named after explorers and when I moved here in 89 the house we bought was in Flinders Close. The plaque that goes with the statue starts off with “Matthew Flinders , is more famous in Australia than in England” how very true at least this statue is connected with a person who came from the town not a once removed connection. Pressing on north I have to endure the Boston inner ring road poorly sign posted and very congested even on a motorcycle. As I leave the built up area I catch up behind a Police van of some sorts, the markings are not that clear but has blue strobes fitted in to the roof. Not wishing to take the piss I put in (legal) overtakes so that I’m now immediately behind it. As we leave the next 40mph limit and enter the nationals (60) it gives a brief left indication , inviting me to overtake. I’m not to happy with the view I’ve got and can make out a junction warning sign and a bend so decline. Straight after the bend is another 40 limit. But as we emerge from this one, there is a sweeping right hander and a junction on the left from which a tractor and trailer are emerging. I’m able to get out and past the van prior to the junction and then positioned to continue past the tractor and gently move on to my next an old windmill that form parts of Batesman’s Brewery and visitor centre[7]. Very picturesque but it’s best not to do the tour or partake in samples. Have to retrace my steps back towards Boston. I round a bend and I come across the Police van parked on my nearside facing me, so a slight scrub of speed to ensure I go past it’s open rear at a suitable speed, not sure if it was set up for myself or oncoming traffic or both. Lincolnshire had the highest density of speed cameras I’d see all day, only one other late show but probably set up for the other but not sure, just have to wait to see what comes through the post. My next landmark is a pair of village crosses just to the north of Nottingham [8]. The A617 has suffered from zealous attentions of the road safety brigade and it’s whole length is now subject to a 50 mph limit (or less), lots of signs on lampposts featuring a bouquet and wording “Better to arrive late” and some “think bike” ones later. Some of the villages had speed readers that showed your speed and when under 30 say “thank you”. I’m getting low on fuel but I recon I can get to the motorway services on my leg down the slab, I do 15miles after the lamp comes on with 154miles on the trip .I decide against food stop and make do with a snickers bar to supplement the apple/Satsuma/couple of breakfast bars I’d been snacking on at the rate of one a stop for the last 4 stops. My next is the Inclined plane museum at Foxton [9] this is a system that replaced the flight of 10 locks on the canal, here’s my panoramic of the locks, hopefully a click on the picture will take you to a bigger version. Very impressive and there was 1 boat going up and another going down. I’d just missed them at the passing place half way. Apparently the Inclined Plane could do a pair of boats in 10 minutes as opposed to the 45 it takes to do the lock stair case. Next a church spire in Oundle [10] on route I’d got blitzed by a 999 type Ducati, he turned and was on his way back out otherwise I’d not have clue what it was. I saw him coming so had slowed as not sure what it was, but he went past me like I was standing. My problem was finding a reasonable view of the spire that it would fill the viewfinder and be able to get the bike in. So ended up with top half of spire protruding over a house with the bike parked in front, not the best picture I’ve ever taken. Quick blast homeward to a point that must be less than 20 miles from home for a medieval bridge[11] I’m working out the distances can I do it without another fuel stop. I think I can. I do the picture and then head out to the Guzzi owner club meeting as it’s the first Monday of the month, we meet about 5 miles from my home. It’s a nice night, I’m the ninth bike there at 8:30 and one more arrives a bit later but after some have left. That’s 530 miles, 10 landmarks in just over 12 hours giving me an additional 195 points taking my total now to 11 landmarks 215/1900 points a Standard award

This is the one my local Heal Bar came up with now on my spares ring - seems to have got damp in my jacket pocket

Have you considered Ventura Bike Pack. Permanent fitting the rails that run below the seat rails and then the changeable grab rail/sports rack to the full loop and hang either 1 or 2 bags on it dependant if have a pillon or not. They're a bit pricey but very well recommended by the people who have them - on my wish list

Whats this umbrella thing that's mentioned on rule 1? I then thought of golfing umbrellas. How do you hold it when taking a swing/shot? You can't so why bother having one in the first place? No need for a man to have an umbrella let alone share one. A tight neck on your coat and if you've long hair you can wear a hat. Unless you have to wear a suit then I suppose does away with the coat thing and only alternative is an umbrella - I hate them and Gerogi Markov wasn't a fan either.

Well they do ride/test everything as if it was a sports bike.

I'm waiting for the Rugby sevens but the golf has over run - but at least it's on normal tv - ought to check the interactive digital bit just to make sure it's not on one of the other feed option you get on digital. I hope you didn't pay for the FA Cup I'm given to understand that it wasn't that good a game - but my son's a Man Utd fan Just hit the red button - it is - means I've missed half the programme

I quite like it. Wouldn't want one though. I think one of the bike mags said it allowed for more front end grip so was less likely to wash out in a low side

Mine are 165 so probably not

That's a bit of a bugger My lock barrels and keys are both numbered, without a key number I don't see how you can get replacements - Lock smith? Though might just have to replace the barrels as a set - might be able to take them out yourself I'd imagine that they're fairly generic

Good story about the snake. And I'm not going to poke the God thing with a long stick either, except to keep it out of the silly banter section Mr Forrest has light the blue touch paper and sat back with a couple of schooners with a bucket on his head and a sheet of plate steel stuffed up his jumper ((ala Ned Kelly) I also did my research at the movies ) for his Friday night entertainment. Anyway God told me she's applied for English citizenship to make up for St George being Turkish (not that there's anything wrong in being from Anatolia/Turkey) (Bigger spade required - pause to change foot etc)

Don't know but the other way is what key number?

Haven't a clue about the question posed. But I think it's a very apt name with respect to the V11. I know the Moto GP is held/was (at least this year) Lemans. But to most Lemans cunjours up the 24hrs and the knock on from there is the image of GT (Gran Turisimo) Last year the V11 Trefen in Germany coincided with the 24hrs Lemans. I was at the Chunnel and you couldn't move for Porsche 911s. Saw Nobles and NSX and other strange exotica that would only normally see in the glossies or the TV. Here's my take on two Gentleman's trans Europe express ( sorry is a repost form the original report)

Picking up on the road sign element I didn't see any Fords (or any other makes of car) only the river bed running along the road and just to prove the point that you don't need a GS here's looking back, just a hard standing for the photo Is this a game all V11s can play or do you need to have a registration plate OE03WF?

The Eldest Lad has one. The wife has her website and blog about the Youngest lad I've peeked but not commited It does explain what you were doing in Brazil selling carnivals I'm sure a Highland fling report and then something Landy based followed buy a literary book report on that one about the rabbits and carrots will have it snowballing

I've got mine mounted outside on the pillion peg hanger, and no spacers. Offer them up loose and wind them in. A fair amount of play in all the arms But I did have a weld go on first usage - perhaps a tweak of the arm would have been better Arrgh that's better - bodge repair and coated in dirt

Cheers Guy

Today - not the 5th March 2006 I rubbed shoulders with royalty. HRH Duke of Kent. The story The acceptable face of Hertfordshire Constabulary as my gut is hidden behind the monitor