Welcome
This website affords me an opportunity to speak about my adventures, and share my world [uninterrupted] with anyone who choses to ‘tune-in’. If you do, then welcome to my world and echo chamber.
I am a lifelong biker, and I am still as enthused as I was when I started out.
Background / about me
My motorcycle journey started back in 1981 on a Suzuki TS50 ER XK, which feels like yesterday to me. I passed my motorcycle test in 1982, on a Yamaha RD250LC: the last year of 250’s before 125cc became mandatory; no pressure then! It has been an incredible journey ever since then, and I am keener now than when I started. I would wager that you feel the same way too if you are a biker, or have been a biker previously.
I have owned many great bikes over the years. From a Yamaha RD250 and 350 LC, Honda 400/4, Honda Fireblades’, Honda CBR1000F, Kawasaki ZX900 E2, BMW K1200R, Honda ST1300 Pan European, Kawasaki ZX12R, KTM 660SMR, Kawasaki ZZR11/12/14, and many more besides. Too many to list.
There will be no expert analysis of anything with me, just my personal views and honest opinion. I’m not a journalist, nor am I an expert, and claim to be neither!
personal life
I live in a village a few miles from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, U.K.
Fortunately, there are lots of great roads to explore, literally on my doorstep. A far cry from the gridlocked city mayhem before moving here.
Originally I lived in London. I never did enjoy life there though, no matter how hard I tried to convince myself otherwise. Not for me at all. I much prefer a more peaceful existence, and a slower pace of life.
In recent times I have endured some significant health issues. In fact I was unsure if I would ever get back to relative normality on several occasions. I am not going to dwell, nor be too specific. Consequently I now see life very differently as a result of those moments.
Pro photography was a very enjoyable time in my life, along with the I.T and web design etc. So I am not a Luddite.
Video was a new medium though, so I needed a deep-dive into Adobe Premiere Pro; which I thoroughly enjoy, both learning and using. The platform or ‘ecosystem’ being a familiar format to me from said photography background.
Biking is a great therapy. But especially for anyone with any mental health issues, such as ‘post trauma’ like myself, or depression; the clichés about freedom and the ‘open-road’, all become true. Sometimes being alone and enjoying the ride is all the solace and peace we need. Including the adrenaline fuelled stuff too!
Another highly subjective topic indeed. We are all different of course, and for me the diagnosis and treatment has helped me immensely. Thankfully times have changed, with the stigma around mental health diminished, there’s no need to feel ashamed when thus afflicted.
With huge regret, it has cost me a lot of friendships… I miss my friends immeasurably. There’s no recourse with this, so I have to reluctantly accept the status quo
Now though, I enjoy much better interactions with people, and slowly I am gaining new friends and mates to be around. Life lesson learned.
Current Motorcycle
Currently I am riding a BMW R1200GS TE LC.
I have four Givi Trekker Outback cases to use (2 x 37ltr panniers, 1 x 42ltr top box, 1 x 58ltr top box). I also have various roll-top bags for my camping clobber if needed. I prefer to travel as light as I can, so I always whittle everything down to the bare minimum.
There’s a lot to like about the GS. I considered the XR before I bought the GS, but I wanted to slow myself down a lot, and the XR wouldn’t help me with that. Then I went to buy a V-Strom during lockdown, but the dealer in question was so bloody rude it was an easy decision to let him keep it. I was coming from a ZZR1400. Hence.
It has worked. The ‘bike is an amazing B road blaster if needs be, or it can pootle about in touring mode with aplomb. So versatile, I absolutely love the GS.
An old friend of mine (who was an ex racing instructor), and an amazingly talented rider himself, he used to ride a GS and he explained that no one really needed more than 100 BHP for the road. I cannot argue with that, or anything else he used to say, as he was always right. His experience was valued by myself obviously. So mine is obviously 125 BHP ish (mine’s got a Remus can, and some other minor mod’s), and I am not left wanting.
I still crack-on don’t get me wrong. Certainly the GS can hustle when it needs to. So what I am saying is, that I am happy with what I have right now. A Swiss army penknife type of motorcycle, that actually suits me and for my intended purpose.
Another major consideration for me was my physical size. The RT was also considered, and there was nothing wrong with it. But being tall, and with some medical ailments notwithstanding, the GS was the right choice.
The GSA was not being sought. Again, nothing wrong with them of course, they too are amazing, it was just personal preference and riding style that dictated the standard GS. No regrets.
Mirror extenders and Puig touring screen suit me perfectly. Took a while to fathom out which screen worked the best, but the Puig was the best for touring every time.
End of the justifications.
My blogging and vlogging
I blog and vlog about my motorcycle adventures. Lots of topics will be covered, though I am an expert in none of them. I’m just an everyday biker with a lot of experience.
I cover motorcycles, kit reviews, touring, camping, day trips, and of course weekends away. Local, national and international travel; mostly UK presently.
Planning all my own tours and day trips is very enjoyable. I create my own routes for satnav files, to ensure a very specific routing and itinerary. Nothing unique I know, but it’s how I prefer to roll; planning, and creating my own adventures.
Occasionally I explain how I go about certain elements of the route planning process I use, but mostly I just outline the topic though as it is very subjective.
Camping features a lot in my touring adventures. I do use hotels & b&b’s too, and sometimes I just prefer a trip using only hotels, or a mixture with camping days. It just depends on a few variables: locality, prices, weather, security, mood etc.
motorcycle racing fan
Yes it’s true, I’m a big fan of motorcycle racing. Most classes of short circuit and roads. I watch other racing if I see it on the telly.
From the mid eighties to the present day, I have followed racing. I am a frequent visitor to BSB as the races are so intense and close. We are very lucky to have such an ultra competitive race series at a national level here in the UK.
in closing
Biking is my passion in life. It has been frustrating at times (breakdowns and weather), but mostly it has been hugely rewarding. I think that being a biker has helped me immensely. Not just overcome some deep adversity in my life, but to also reward me with some great friends and adventures along the way.
See you out on the road soon. If you do see me out-and-about, please come and say hi. Or drop me a message on my contact page, or via my YouTube channel, or other social media channels. I love to meet new people.
This ‘project’ has been many years in the planning. To see it now coming to fruition is also a realisation that I need to get busy and get on with it. So without any further ado…
Contact me HERE