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
First impressions count: despite high bars the Z1000SX was easy to handle around the dealer’s yard, slow speed manoeuvring like on a bike skills test. Out on the road, a smooth gearbox and of course lots of power. Surprisingly little wind noise, which, together with the riding position, gives a deceptive impression on speed. Not that easy to read the speedo and rev counter in sunlight nor the various other indications about ABS and traction control; big and stupid displays work best when you’re a rider working hard, the SX display is cluttered, small and dim.
Still riding urban style, the SX isn’t great for manoeuvring past traffic at the lights, I couldn’t pinpoint it to one characteristic but it’s not a bike I’d like to ride for commuting; I’m not thinking of an SX for that but I do visit towns and cities in between mountain pass roads.
Day out rebuilding high intensity riding skills after the winter lay off. Hazy sunshine and a bit fresh up Mt. Sainte Baume at 650 m. or so altitude; not much traffic this weekday so pleasant riding. Yes there's a sinous hill at the end of the road to the right of the photo, down to Nans-les-Pins, not quite as challenging as the Col de l'Espigoulier (723 m..) up from Gemeos but a good workout nonetheless and a change: I ride the Espigoulier a lot!
Warm sunshine on my face for a lunchtime stop for a Tarte Tropezienne and coffee at a friendly roadside boulangerie at St. Maximin. Another stop at La Roquebrussanne for an interesting conversation with an artist-potter making reproductions of Roman ceramics. Then back on the RR for a brisk ride back past the gates of the Paul Ricard track at Le Castellet. Wearing a hi-viz jacket over my ventilated (summer) leathers works well for a practice day where the tendency to balloon isn't a problem as I'm only working at lowish speeds. Keeping the body core warm is definitely an advantage.
My red CBR600RR has been a very good ride. Now I am booked for the GMLE Summercamp in Imst in Austria, it's time to consider a new bike. Following up from my researches on the Kawa stand at Motorcycle Live 2016, I'm booking with a Marseille Kawasaki dealer for a test ride on a 2017 Z1000SX. You don't get much time as a test ride though hopefully enough to see how I get on.
The Großglockner Hochalpenstraße is a magnificent pass road, the highest in Austria; maximum elevation of the road is 2504 m. amongst peaks and glaciers up to 3798 m. It made a huge impression on me on a visit In 2009 when we stayed in Heligenblut, 1288 m., on the southern approach. I remember fondly the engineering of the pass road, the views and the driving challenge. That was a hiking and car trip. I've tried several times since to schedule a motorbike ride there but it's always been too far, too difficult to schedule or simply the weather has been unfavourable. Perhaps this year in August with the GLME Summercamp in Imst: my name is now in the hat and my fingers crossed...
This is the postcard I made in the style I was using at the time, before I started this John HikerBiker site.
See also
GLME 2016 Ascension bike camp | GLME 2015 Ascension bike camp | GLME 2012 best rides | GLME 2012 bike camp
Alps Biker 2016
Lots of happy bikers at the GBMCC London Christmas lunch 2016. It's been a great year for GBMCC, including hosting the GLME 2016 Ascension bike camp in Salisbury in May . A record of 99 bookings for the Christmas lunch, with 50 going on to the RVT where Charlie Hides was the entertainer, others went on to the Leather Social at Comptons.
Hires version of my montage available on the GBMCC site shortly.
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.
