Daves Blog

We spent the weekend going round various dealers to look at my short list of bikes and I’ve reached a decision… sort of…

The Kawasaki GTR1400 is a no go. Firstly it does feel very top heavy, secondly the mirrors give a great view of the panniers, thirdly the panniers look like a complete afterthought and are positioned at the strangest angles both from the side and top view. However, the absolute worst bit of all is the exhaust… it is positively the ugliest side fitted exhaust of any bike ever created to date.

I can’t imagine what the designers were thinking when they came up with such a monstrosity and can only assume they went to the same school of design as the Suzuki B-King exhaust designers. Admittedly, I didn’t get to ride one, but quite frankly I don’t want to because it could be the best bike on the planet, but with those looks I could never enjoy owning one.

Had a good look over a BMW K1200GT. Again I wasn’t able to ride one and the BMW dealers we visited weren’t even sure how they could arrange a test ride. To my eyes, it’s nowhere near as ugly as the Kawasaki, but it is the most clinical looking bike I’ve ever seen. Obviously some people will like that, but I don’t.

The slab sided uninteresting fairing is the first thing I see followed closely by the odd shaped seat that seemed to push both me and Meike on the pillion forwards and felt very cramped.

The cockpit is positively the most uninteresting cockpit I think I’ve seen on a bike and I’m not sure I could ever get over the odd shaped handlebars, no matter how clever the adjustment mechanism is.

I know these are all, apart from the seat, aesthetic issues, but they are important to me. I don’t honestly think I could live with the BMW especially when you take into account that I like to do my own servicing and my nearest dealer is over 30 miles away. Not a huge distance, but much further than other dealers.

So, where does this leave me? With the Yamaha FJR1300 as I suspected.

We had a really good look over one at Phoenix Motorcycles in Trowbridge and there’s no doubt it is the best looking and feeling bike of them all. I was able to sit on it as with the others and it was the one that felt the most right, at least at a stand still.

I’ll be going along for a test ride later in the week and of course that’s going to tell me a lot more. I’ve done about as much research as I can on the web and it seems the FJR still scores very highly in a lot of Sport Touring tests. I am though concerned about a couple of issues…

Stability. After my experience with the ST1300 there is no way on this planet that I ever want to relive it. Yamaha recommend that you don’t fit a top box and panniers at the same time, but their reasoning for this is confusing. Some places suggest it is because of stability but many other places, including Yamaha, elude to it being so as not to over load the bike.

Interestingly, trying to Google the issue produces more reports of ST1300 instability and not one I can find for an FJR. It’s been discussed on a number of the FJR forums, but many, many people are riding it seems with a top box and panniers together with no issues. The nearest I could come to any information was on one forum where some people said there was a vortex created behind a solo rider and when a top box is fitted this can upset the bike a little. Putting something between the rider and top box solved it for everyone. As I’m only ever likely to want a top box on when riding with Meike as pillion all the evidence suggests I won’t experience a problem. Hopefully the test ride will convince me.

Another issue I’ve seen mention of in a few tests is ground clearance which apparently isn’t great but again I can’t find any real mention of it in the FJR forums. Videos on YouTube certainly don’t suggest there’s an issue under normal riding conditions.

Interestingly the FJR won the MotorcycleUSA.com 2008 Super Sport Touring Shootout and I can’t imagine how it could do this if it had any serious issues.

Subject to a successful test ride I suspect I’ll be moving forwards with an FJR as it seems to me to be the bike that most closely meets my criteria. I’ll post again after the ride obviously.

Well as is usual for me, once I’ve made my mind up, I’m progressing full steam ahead. I know I said I was only thinking about selling the ‘wing, and I really was, but I also know from life experience that once you’ve had an idea something isn’t quite right, it probably never will be again.

I would like to say to anyone that reads or references these pages for my Goldwing info, I have absolutely no intention of removing any and I will absolutely support the Goldwing community in any way I can - no matter what bike I’m riding.

Here’s what I want from a bike that we’ll use for touring… not in any specific order…

Balanced manoeuvrability at low speed.
Long distance comfort for both of us. Pillion comfort being very important.
Performance - especially torque available low down the rev range.
Good protection from the elements but allowing fresh, cool air when needed.
Crisp handling that delivers a solid but involved and enjoyable riding experience.
Removable luggage with good capacity.
Luggage that looks like it’s meant to be on the bike.
Bike doesn’t look like something’s missing when the luggage is removed.
Panniers that will take full face helmets.
Easy, good looking, accessible mounting possibilities for Garmin Zumo 550 GPS.

As you can see function and comfort are very important but so is the look. Obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but looks alone will rule out some bikes for me. That might be silly in some peoples books, but I want a bike to enjoy, not just for practicalities.

So, based on these criteria, I think I’ve already eliminated a number of bikes from my list…

Kawasaki GTR1400. Everything I read about this bike tells me it is top heavy making slow speed manoeuvring unstable and hard work and that the engine has a distinct lack of low down torque. It may have a very sporty feel to it and be the quickest and fastest tourer available but without both these factors it’s not ideally suited to touring. Oh, and that exhaust is just plain ugly… sorry, but it is.

I think I’m also eliminating all adventure bikes… That means the Varadero, Triumph Tiger and BMW R1200GS although on this last one I am definitely going to test ride one before making my final decision. I just have a feeling these bikes won’t provide the comfort that we need, but as that’s without experience of them, I will try first.

The clear favourite at the moment from everything I can read is a 2008 Yamaha FJR1300. The only one of my criteria I’m not totally convinced it answers is the mounting of the GPS. However, I’ve arranged to go and have a good look at one this coming Saturday and will be able to test ride one the following week.

Another bike that is definitely up there is the BMW K1200GT. It ticks most of the boxes but I’m still not convinced on the looks. I’ll most likely arrange a test ride to really help me decide.

Decisions, decisions…. arrrrrrggggghhhhhhhhh.

Update 14th April: The Goldwing is Sold. Please don’t respond to this now. Thanks.

Update 4th April: I have been offered a very fair trade in against a new FJR and so I have reduced the price accordingly. This makes it a real bargain. If you’re seriously interested please either leave a comment below so I can send you my phone number or alternatively buy it now or make an offer through eBay. Click here for the eBay advertisement.

I’m selling my 2006 (Late 06 Plate) US Spec GL1800 in Audio/Comfort/Navi/ABS trim together with a unique colour matched trailer all as detailed in this blog. Click the ‘Goldwing’ category on the right for the full story or the ‘Pictures’ link above for a selection of pictures.

It has covered 6000 miles to date and is in absolutely spotless, lovingly cared for, totally unblemished condition and fully serviced with no faults at all.

Premium Audio.
Heated Front and Rear Seats.
Heated Grips.
ABS.
Built in navigation system with Garmin V9 full European coverage maps (inc. DVD and Unlock Code etc.).

Being US spec. all optional wiring is included and although fitted with a tow bar it has never been used for towing apart from a short ride with an empty trailer to get the feel.

I have fitted many accessories and adornments to it as fully documented in this blog but have all the original pieces which will be included with the sale.

The sale does not include my Garmin Zumo 550 and there will be no sign of it having been fitted.

As detailed in this blog any extras have been very carefully fitted and all electronic additions are connected through individual plugs and sockets for ease of maintenance and repair etc.

Fitted extras include:

Mic-Mutes.
12V Power Outlet.
CB Aerial.
Twin Flag Poles (with pennants).
Various Chrome Trims.
Honda Exhaust Outlets.
Passenger Audio Controller.
Colour Matched Top Box Spoiler.
Chrome Rack on extended legs for ease of cleaning.
Kuryakyn Grip Covers.
Fog Lights.
Pannier and Trunk Inner Bags.
Kuryakyn Rack Bag.
Muth Mirrors
+ many more as shown in the pictures and throughout the blog.

Also included will be the full official Honda GL1800 workshop manual on CD.

Price: £14,799.00 ovno

I am based in Wiltshire, UK about 8 miles south of Marlborough and any inspection is welcome at any time.

This is a real bargain. A fully specified GL1800 Goldwing in absolutely as new condition.

I’m thinking, and I do mean just thinking that I might sell the Goldwing and replace it with a more sporty touring bike. It’s a real dilemma at the moment because there’s nothing wrong with the Goldwing and as any one who has one knows, it is a superb motorcycle for touring on. I’m just not absolutely sure any more that it’s right for me.

There’s a few reasons for these thoughts and I’m not sure I can even explain all of them but I’ll give it a go…

Before the Goldwing I had a Honda ST1300 and it was the most unstable and unpredictable motorcycle I ever owned. I could take a few thousand words to explain that, but the point here is that it severely knocked my confidence of modern bikes and made me question if I’d somehow lost my riding skills and ability. Test riding a Goldwing proved to me that rock solid handling is still available and it wasn’t because of anything I was doing incorrectly. I wanted a bike that Meike and I could go touring on comfortably and realising on the test ride just how unbelievably well a Goldwing handles I was convinced it was the right bike for me.

Since then I’ve bought the Bandit and again it’s proved to me that modern bikes can handle extremely well and that any problems with the ST1300 were just that - problems with the ST1300. Of course there are many who’ll refute that but that’s the whole problem with it as is well documented nowadays. Some apparently don’t display any problems, or at least their riders don’t recognise any and yet many others have experienced extremely unpredictable handling with some ending fatally. Honda have never provided an explanation or a cure and so with it being so unpredictable it’s like riding a time bomb with an unknown timer setting.

So now I have two bikes that handle very well but are for distinctly different purposes. The Bandit it sheer motorcycling fun. Sure footed, thoroughly predictable, flickable, rapid when I want it to be - everything you need for the pure thrills of motorcycling. The Goldwing is also sure footed with superb handling and bags of torque and there absolutely isn’t a more comfortable way to get from A to B on two wheels.

As I’m writing this, I think I’m beginning to realise something. When I first got the Goldwing a number of people told me that I wouldn’t like it because you’re not really involved in the ride. At first I argued against this because of course you do have to ride it but I think I’m beginning to feel what they meant. Perhaps it’s a little like being a modern passenger jet pilot. You’re there to control it but you’re not really flying it. I think that’s it. On a Goldwing you absolutely have to be there to control it, but you’re not really riding it in a manner by which you’re really involved with the ride. That will probably sound completely nuts to some people as I suppose it could be read as careless but I don’t meant that. My concentration, observation and awareness is the same whatever bike I’m riding, but the Goldwing somehow seems to require less rider involvement to get from A to B. For comfort, that’s a great attribute but for rider enjoyment and fun, it isn’t.

I look outside and see sun and dry roads and my thoughts go immediately to the Bandit. Being at one with it, exposed to the surroundings with the wind in my face as we carve a smooth, safe, progressing line along the lanes and through the traffic. The sheer thrill of motorcycling that can only be understood by those who already know what I mean. Not riding ridiculously or dangerously fast, just the feeling of being at one with the bike and so perfectly in the zone. The only reason I would take the Goldwing is when I need to be able to carry luggage or want the protection of it’s fairing.

Motorcycling’s a funny world. Generally speaking there’s a whole wide range of bikes from street through adventure, sports, sports touring and tourers that are thought of and accepted by most to be just bikes. While there’s always a minority that will look to sub divide these into their categories, the vast majority just accept them as bikes and don’t place any judgement on your chosen model. Then there are the extremes… scramblers, motocross, Harley-Davidson and yep, the Goldwing. It’s only through ignorance on the part of most people but so many simply don’t see or accept a Goldwing as just another bike. This really doesn’t bother me in the slightest 99% of the time but every now and then it does. When you feel isolated and unaccepted and it prevents you from making friends with people, even if it is their ignorance and problem. The ill perceived image of a Goldwing being an old mans bike only suitable for going in straight lines is just that, but it is wide spread in the biking world. This and the way we’ve recently been treated by the Goldwing Owners Club has made me question whether or not I really want to be part of this extreme. I know in my head that this is a perceived problem on my part but I’m just trying to be totally honest and present all the factors in my thought process.

So, why don’t I just add a top box and panniers to the Bandit? Two reasons… firstly, it’s not that comfortable for me or Meike over long distances and secondly I think after market panniers and top boxes on bikes not designed for them often look truly ridiculous. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to offend anyone with that, it’s just my personal dislike. I don’t want to ruin the lines of the Bandit and despite the fact Suzuki have introduced the GT version with fairing lowers, top box, panniers and sat nav I just don’t think it looks right. To me the Bandit is designed for true road riding and that doesn’t include fitting it out with a couple of suitcases sticking out too far on ugly after market frames.

Nope, I want to leave the Bandit just as it is and have another bike for touring and long distances, one that’s designed for the purpose which means good protection and luggage carrying capability but still enables me to be completely involved in the ride and is not seen by others as an extreme statement to single us out.

So, where does this leave me? Here’s my short list…

BMW K1200GT - I don’t like the fairing, it’s too slab sided and the panniers look like an afterthought and have a weird shape to them.

Moto Guzzi Norge - I don’t even know where my nearest Moto Guzzi dealer is and in any event I don’t like the shape of the fairing.

Honda ST1300 - Never again!

Honda ST1100 - Perhaps but as they haven’t been made for over 5 years it would have to be a very low mileage and absolutely spotless example to make me want it.

Honda XL1000 Varadero - An odd choice maybe, but they’re very popular on mainland Europe and supposed to be sublimely comfortable. They look a bit odd at the front with that screen that seems to jut up from nowhere, but I might test ride one.

Triumph Tiger - I don’t honestly know anything about them other than what I’ve read but as it’s along the same lines as the Varadero it might be worth considering.

Yamaha FJR1300A - I’ve always like the looks of these and it’s a definite contender.

Kawasaki GTR1400 - It’s a contender but there are some things I don’t like about them. The panniers look like and afterthought and the single sided, huge exhaust just looks odd to me. I’m also concerned about them being top heavy from what I’ve read in road tests.

No doubt I’ll share my continued thoughts and these are just that at this stage - thoughts. We’ll see where they lead.

Here’s a couple of pics as promised of the Skidmarx Double Bubble screen…

This screen really does seem to work well. Much better than the stock screen it pushes the air over and around the rider and to some extent the pillion too.

Not exactly the easter holiday weekend we were hoping for. It’s been cold and windy every day and we’ve even had hail and snow at times.

As I said in my previous post we managed to get out for a ride on Good Friday but Saturday was a total wash out. On Sunday we set off for Greasy Joes just for somewhere to head for only to find when we got there he was closed. Greasy Joes closed? OK, well it was Easter Sunday, but that’s the first time we’ve ever found them closed. We ended up having a coffee and lunch in MacDonalds and then headed home. It was freezing cold with the wind blowing from the north and gusting at about 40 mph. Still enjoyed the ride of course, but was glad to be home in the warmth.

Yesterday, Easter Monday was, according to the met office going to be the best of the four days. At the beginning of the weekend they were forecasting sun for Easter Monday but as seems to be usual for them, as each day passed, they were indicating worse weather. However, once the day got here they were still saying it would be dry all day. OK, so we know they’re totally useless at forecasting the weather but they’re usually pretty accurate with their nowcasts.

So I spent an hour in the morning washing the bandit down and cleaning it from the previous couple of days rides. On Friday the roads had been really wet and mucky at first and it looked dirtier than it has ever looked since getting it… nearly a year ago now. Once all clean again and with the chain nicely lubed, we set off for George Whites, again just for somewhere to ride to, have a coffee and a look at all the bikes. As soon as I wheeled the bandit out of the garage I saw light drops of rain landing on the seat and tank cover but looking at the sky it seemed we wouldn’t have to ride far to find the sun so off we went.

Once at George Whites and sitting in the restaurant having a coffee and a bacon bap the heavens opened for a good 5 minutes and everything got a good soaking. On the ride home we got snowed on… not some sort of light drizzly type snow but for a few minutes real, thick, snow. Well done the met office!

Anyway, once home, I set about cleaning the bandit again and it’s now looking like new and ready for it’s next ride.

Not the best Easter weekend on record.

We’re no longer members of the Goldwing Owners Club GB (GWOCGB) it seems.

About a month ago they decided to have a clear out of their web based forum and to do so, rather than do it the right way and simply remove old accounts, the people running it decided to take the short cut approach, delete all the members and have everyone re-join. This means the majority of members post counts are zeroed and the forum is now full of unowned posts.

I say the majority of members because for some odd reason there were a couple this rule didn’t apply to. Not club committee or management members either, just normal paid up members. We joined solely to enjoy camaraderie with other wing owners and riders and I’m not interested in petty minded politics but this was, in mine and others opinions, a thoroughly ill thought out decision. One rule for one and a different rule for another is blatantly unfair and absolutely flies in the face of sensible, reasonable management.

Membership of their forum is a two tiered affair with only a little of it available to the general public and the rest reserved for members. You only get access to the members area by sending an application in with your membership number. This leads to a very awkward forum structure with two for sale sections and two general areas for example.

I suggested in a recent thread on the subject of if the forum shouldn’t be opened to everyone, it would paint a much better image of the club if it were. They should have one forum for club business reserved for members for sure, but the rest absolutely should be a free for all. Unfortunately a number of people including those who make the decisions it seems think there is something of exclusive value in the members area. Well there isn’t, and in my opinion it would give the club a much friendlier face to show that. The result of that would be more members but it seems they can’t see that and rather than speculate to accumulate, they want to shut the doors and preserve some sort of archaic exclusivity.

On the day of the clear out, we rejoined the forum and re-applied for access to the members area as required and this was of course granted. The same day however, I received an email from one of the forum moderators to let me know I’d inadvertently used last years membership number. No problem, I emailed them back immediately explaining I couldn’t find this years cards at the time so would they please check their records. Although I’m certain we paid, I also said that if they couldn’t find us on the records to please send me a new membership form which I’d return immediately - even if it meant paying twice. To be absolutely sure I included our full address in the email.

Our access to the members area was left intact and so assuming everything therefore was in hand I waited to either hear something back.

It was a surprise when late last week, some two to three week later, on reading the forum I discovered that without so much as a single word from anyone we’d had our access to the members area removed. We’d never received a further response to our email. Nothing! Well, that’s just plain rude! Totally ignore us and then chuck us out without so much as a word!

I understand these people are volunteers who work for the club in their own time but that’s no excuse for treating anyone in such an ignorant, rude and discourteous manner. If a jobs worth doing then it’s worth doing properly, even if you are a volunteer. I’m absolutely certain whoever chose this course of action for us wouldn’t like to be treated in such a rude manner and so why would they imagine it’s acceptable for us or anyone else? We are rightly very offended and have understood the message presented loud and clear that the club don’t want us as members.

We’ve met quite a few people from the club over the last couple of years and without exception they’ve all been fun, decent people to mix with. We’ve had a laugh with them, we’re glad to have made their acquaintance and are sorry to now be losing it.

Unfortunately though there are one or two who post regularly on the forum including some of the people who ‘run’ it that presume themselves to be a cut above everyone else and yet constantly demonstrate petty, unionist style politics and very poor management skills - both technical and personal. More than once these people made us question our membership as we know many others have too. Such people with their attitudes will keep down the membership. It’s supposed to be a motorcycle club for people to enjoy the company of others with a common interest and yet there was never more petty obstructive politics and unqualified presumptuous ‘I’m better than you’ attitudes in any organisation before.

Well, we’ve got the message, received loud and clear, and will shove off.

Despite our feelings and the way we’ve been offended I don’t actually wish the club any harm. Obviously the above doesn’t paint a great picture for them but then how could I having been treated the way we have? I only wish they would stop harming themselves.

I’ll of course post more if the situation changes and if anyone there chooses to try and do the right thing but from recent experience it’s doubtful they’ll understand what the right thing is.

My Skidmarx Double Bubble screen arrived on Thursday morning and I fitted it inside of 10 minutes. I’ll post some pictures as soon as I take some but it looks good. The fit doesn’t appear to be as good as that of the previous Vario screen as the very front of the fairing, where the inner fairing meets it, hasn’t clipped back together as well as it should. I’ll probably take a closer look sometime and see if I can’t work out what’s amiss with it. It also wasn’t supplied with an edging strip, but the one off the Vario screen seems to work well although it’s about an inch to short. I’ll get something better when I can.

Yesterday, Good Friday, I got to go out on it a couple of times and can already tell that it’s a marked improvement over the Vario screen. The weather really wasn’t good with strong winds gusting up to 40 to 50mph, but even in these conditions, riding into the wind, I can tell the screen is much better. The buffeting I’d get on my helmet and shoulders has completely gone and the noise inside my helmet is half what it was. Meike riding pillion also commented that it felt smoother to her, and so it seems it works as described.

The first trip in the morning we went to Salisbury to meet up with some friends for coffee. The wind was generally behind or from the right, but even at 70mph, there was no accidental cutting in of the intercom which is a good test for helmet noise levels. On the way home though, riding into the wind, it was cutting in above about 60mph. Later in the day I went out on my own, and it didn’t cut in accidentally once at any speed no matter which way the wind was blowing which shows a great improvement of the screen but also proves when it does cut in it’s coming from Meike’s helmet. Will have to investigate that a little more.

I’m hoping to get more riding in this bank holiday weekend, but the weather is pretty awful. As I type this it’s just 4 degrees and I’m watching hail stones falling outside. Yesterday on my second ride, I rode through a real downpour in Marlborough. In fact all riding all day was on generally damp and mucky roads and the bike has never been so flithy as it is now. I lubed the chain as soon as I got home, but the bike will have to wait to be cleaned until the winds have dropped. At the moment they’re forecasting snow for tomorrow but Monday looks like it should be OK and the best day out of the four. I hope so.

Update: I had a closer look to see why the inner fairing wouldn’t go back as far as it should and realised it’s because the Skidmarx screen is much thicker than either the stock or Vario screens. Therefore when fitted, the front fixings can’t push the inner fairing as far forwards as it should go. Carefully with the use of a Dremel and file I made the front tabs thinner, about half as thick as they were, and now the screen and inner fairing has fitted much better.

Inspired by the last night of the Proms, this is my version of this popular tune. There’s no multi tracking in this or other tricks and it’s played exactly as you hear it which of course, I’m sure, isn’t perfect at all. I used the Tyros 2 Orchestral March style but as usual spent some time choosing the instruments, balances, combinations etc. As usual I then programmed them all into registrations which I then switch with a switch pedal so I don’t have to be too ambitious with my hands.

As is the accepted way, I started the tune at a steady pace but then increased the tempo as it progresses. I’ve included just a few topical pictures in the video but it is mostly me playing and there’s also some out takes, for amusement, at the end.

As always the sound quality of the mp3 is significantly better than that of the video so if you care about the sound and the subtleties in it, then please also listen to the mp3.

I’m sure it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I had a lot of fun playing it and so I hope those interested enjoy it. I am and always will be simply amazed at this instrument that enables me to make such a noise… it’s almost unbelievable.

It’s a while since I posted any of my music, well, if you can call it that. Anyhow this is a simple tune made famous by Elvis Presley and it meant I could put together a little video combining my three favourite things in life… Music, Bikes and… well, see for yourself.

Hope you enjoy it. It’s just for fun.

I should add though that I am absolutely not condoning some of the actions in some of the pictures. I personally think that any beautiful girl that actually goes riding on a motorcycle while wearing a bikini is plain stupid. Any motorcycle rider that takes one is careless and thoughtless beyond belief. If any of these girls are in need of a Teddy Bear… well, they only have to ask lol.