Sparkle

Since the sun is currently shining my new helmet got its first outing this weekend. My wife reckons that I have enough motorcycle helmets, but there's always room for another one, especially if it's a 1970s retro glitter one.

Edit: not to be outdone, Norman posted a picture of his new headgear on his blog 

Vital Spark

I needed a new battery for my MZ Skorpion and had heard good things about Motobatt maintenance-free ones, so I decided to give one a try.

They are not a standard lead acid battery, but use AMG (Absorbed Glass Matt) technology which they reckon can give up to 20% higher cranking power, useful for owners of big singles that don’t get started up that regularly.

I bought online and the battery was delivered by courier a few days later. They are certainly distinctive, being a very bright yellow.

Is it any better? Well, as advertised I didn’t need to charge it up before fitting and the MB9U model I bought went straight into the existing space under the seat. A friend who bought a slightly larger one had to cut off the ‘tag’ used to locate the top of the rubber battery strap to fit his in. I’ve not had any problems in starting the bike and it performed perfectly on my recent Irish trip.

To be fair, the Yuasa battery it replaced had given perfectly good service for many years, but had started to need more frequent attention as I had let it completely drain over the last couple of winters as I don't have power in the shed. 

I guess only time will tell if it will last any longer than the old one but in the meantime I'm quite happy with its performance to date.

Home Sweet Home

Ireland, like parts of Scotland, has a large number of empty and abandoned cottages like these two I came across in Co. Tyrone.

Dunlop Memorial Gardens

Joey's Bar, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim

Ballymoney is a small town in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland known amongst motorcyclists mostly for being the hometown of Joey Dunlop and family, and visitors to the Northwest 200 races invariably make their way there to stop off at Joey’s Bar and pay a visit to the memorial gardens nearby.

I’ve posted some photos of the Joey Dunlop garden before here. At the time that was the extent of the gardens. When I visited this year I found that they had extended the gardens and added an area for Joey’s younger brother Robert Dunlop who also died after a crash whilst racing.

It is laid out as two separate gardens with the path between the two running under an arched laurel wreath. Both gardens have a statue and details of their various race victories.

It’s a quiet spot dedicated to two extraordinary talents sadly no longer with us.

whiskEy

In homage to my weekend away, this evening’s tipple will be Jamesons Irish Whiskey.

Irish Thunderbird

Of all of the older bikes I came across last weekend in Garrison my favourite had to be this Triumph Thunderbird TR6. It wasn't the smartest or shiniest bike there, but had acquired that lovely patina which comes from frequent use.

I do like to see old bikes actually being ridden rather than hidden away and polished within an inch of their existence.