Gremlin's Tall Stories

Saturday night, I had spoken to Toto about riding on Sunday, but he was working. He did want a txt to see where I was going, as he wanted a short ride somewhere, so perhaps he could meet up. I got to bed late on Saturday, ok, 4am Sunday, with Daylight Savings taken into account, so I wasn’t up before midday Sunday anyway.

Once I had read up on the Zumo 660 vs 550 (currently have the 550, and I won’t upgrade to the 660) and planned a route – maximising the fuel range, as the 2nd fuel ...

Saturday morning, I’m up and about… hang on, no, got to bed in the early hours, so rose around midday Kicked my arse into gear, and got to Botany Honda before they closed. Annoyed the guys as usual, and showed them the LED strips, as they had been interested in how they would look. Of course, I get the piss taken out of me, but I bet they all secretly desire some themselves.

GiJoe is nowhere to be seen, despite a txt, so he must be otherwise occupied. I head off to Motomail to ...

Well, following on from the adventures of the previous weekend (previously blogged) an old idea was resurrected. My boss has a blackbird has had spotlights fitted for a couple of years, specifically for night riding in the country.

They sit between his fairing and mirrors on custom brackets, angled up and out. They rectify a common problem motorcyclists have. As you lean into a corner, your headlight points at the ground right in front of the bike. Lean more, the problem gets worse. ...

Following on from the circus that took place Saturday and the early hours of Sunday (previous blog post) the headlight needed a more serious looking at.

While at Dargaville the previous day I had pointed out to GiJoe his scottoiler was empty (after he constantly annoyed me reminding me how mine was getting low). Unlike his (under the seat) my scottoiler is on my trellis frame, allowing me to see the level constantly, even adjust it on the fly (seldom do tho). If you run them out though, ...

After enjoying the Coro Loop, I knew I didn't need to do much to tempt GiJoe into a Cape Reinga ride. For those not familiar, its the top of the North Island. Not considered a day trip by most, its a little over 1000km with the route we take, and we finish during the night (depending on when we leave Auckland naturally). In the past two trips up, the first, we helped a biker who broke his ankle on the gravel at the top, delaying our trip by over 4 hours, getting home around 5am, and the chap who ...

After joining Toto and GiJoe in pootling down to see Mr Qmoto himself this Wednesday just past, Toto was keen for more riding. Hassling GiJoe during Thursday, who in turn hassles me, we decide on a Coro Loop at night, excusing it as training. Have to do night rides I guess.

Naturally, there's no time like the present, so Thursday night it is. Scampering home to swap into more appropriate gear (draggins to Quasi the previous evening were just a tad cold), I get caught up in a problem, ...

Yip, it might come as a surprise to some, but I have only done one track day so far. People always think I've done more, but in reality, when I'm at the track I'm normally marshaling.

The track day was a Frosty one, full course Taupo, and I was aboard my ZX10R. Quite different to Hampton Downs and my KTM Supermoto. I knew the Hampton track layout, having marshaled, but braking points and some lines were a bit of a mystery.

It all started during the week. Devil, a good ...

Another weekend, another ride. Thinking of a route during the week, I didn't know what to choose. Reading the wandering comrades threads about his new bike, I thought doing some of that might appeal, but couldn't be bothered going to Wellington. I did think him suffering through snow, hail, rain etc was typical of him, but then, the weather wasn't that surprising.

Reading MSTRS thread late on Friday night gave me the hatchings of a better plan, and an excuse to pop over the Napier ...