Wheelie Imaginative

This is possibly the most innovative use of a recycling bin I have ever come across.

Someone needing a front wing for their Landrover looked at one and came up with this.

MCN Festival of Motorcycling

I recently found myself at the MCN Festival of Motorcycling at the Peterborough Showground. I’d been a couple of years ago and had a good time wandering around buying things and looking at all of the new bikes.

This time, I’m afraid, was a bit of a disappointment to be honest. A lot of the smaller dealers were missing, as were the quality spares and tool stalls. It seemed to be an even split between big companies and market traders selling cheap tat. 

Local constabulary seem to be taking speeding seriously

This is something that was noticeable when MCN took over the running of the Scottish Motorcycle Show years ago. I rarely bother going to that one now. It looks like they’re working their very own brand of ‘magic’ on this show now too. Maybe for that reason it also seemed much quieter than when I was last there a couple of years ago.

Inflatable marketing

However, I did get to try out a couple of interesting bikes for size, even though I’m not in the market for another new bike right now. Honest!

Ducati Scramblers

I really liked the Ducati Street Scrambler, but was a bit put off by all that plumbing sitting inches behind the front wheel. 

That was much the same reason that I didn’t go for a Monster when they first appeared. Look how popular they are, so what do I know?

Indian’s Scout and Scout Sixty are lovely machines and I’d have one in a heartbeat, if I had the money and the room. In fact, despite that I may just book a test ride later on in the year anyway as Edinburgh has acquired an Indian dealership and I know the owner from when he ran an MZ dealership years ago.

 

Triumph Street Twin

The same goes for Triumph’s Tiger 800 XC and the standard Street Twin, although I’m not that keen on its scrambler cousin. The pipework, once again, doesn’t do it for me.

 

Triumph Street Twin Scrambler in matt black

Unfortunately, as seems to be usual when I have a large sum of money burning a hole in my pocket I couldn’t seem to find anything worth spending it on. My haul for the day was a couple of disc-locks and a bandana.

 The reverse is usually true as well. Whenever I’m penniless loads of things catch my eye.

Not quite sure what this has to do with motorcycling, but it takes all sorts, I suppose

Unless I had to be in the vicinity anyway I don’t think I’d make a trip specially to go to this show again. All the bikes I tried out for size are readily available locally and I ended up spending my money on a new jacket and gloves on eBay when I got back.

Anyway, just look at all the pretty pictures.

"Here kitty, kitty..."

Who says that there are no old, bold bikers?

New Enfield Bullet in faux airforce pain

Strangely painted BSA A65

Triumph Bonneville 750 for sale, seller was open to offers.

Ducati's version of "Any colour you want..."

So Far, So Good

(Birthday card)

Wall Game

Out shopping for furniture recently and these were on sale in one shop. 
Seems that motorcycling is trendy again.

Michelin Man

I hate wearing waterproofs on the bike. I’ve always hated them. I accept their necessity, but I still hate them.

(Cartoon by Ian Douglas)

Tanker

A friend recently had a lot of problems with his bike misbehaving. It was an intermittent problem which came and went. In the end it turned out to be just a blocked fuel filter. 

Having cleaned out all of the goop which had accumulated on the old filter the problem went away and hasn’t reappeared, although that might be down to fitting an additional external filter which gets cleaned regularly.

Many years ago I used to work for the oil company ESSO, so believe me when I tell you that you should never, ever fill up in a petrol station if there’s a tanker lorry on the forecourt. Over the years the underground fuel tanks in petrol stations get all sorts of contaminants in them, water, rust, sand etc. 

When the tanker delivers its load of fuel all that rubbish gets stirred up and goes swirling around in the underground tanks. If you fill up at this point all of that rubbish ends up in your bike. 

So, be warned. 

Dirty Work

You can't see the kid's face being hosed down, but his whole posture suggests that he's not happy..

(Via: Facebook)