Finally got the blade out for the first time this year this morning for a couple of hours some things I've noticed on my ride: It's bloody windy today, really had to wrestle the bike to keep it in a straight line at time New sportsmarts seem good, only just scrubbed in but seem better than the standard bridgestones! I'm very rusty! Roads are crap, still salt in places and pot holes everywhere ! New white wheels are going to be a bugger to keep clean!! Most importantly loved being out on the bike again
yeah we still need more rain to wash that Damn salt away. not been not today but will try and get out tomorrow as new rear to scrub in. but you are correct about the wind, it's blowing a gale here Simon
I was up in Lincolnshire today. Very hard to keep the bike in a straight line with the wind in places!
Yep, my first ride of the year too (apart from the snowy ride up to dobles for my service last week) and was really nice to be out. Really struck me today just how easy it is to let the speed drift up. Spent far too much time watching the damn speedo. Bike felt great though, but late pm on the Sussex roads you may as well be commuting on a 125 for 80% of the time.
I try to avoid riding in harsh wind like i do the rain although i dont let it phase me as i was out in all weather on my old 600, but a 1litre bike is harder to constrain in the wet. The trick with the wind it to relax on the bars and grip the tank with your knees. I found, like at the beginning of any riding season, is that getting back on the bike feels like having 500bhp under you, so you need to be careful with how quickly things appear in front of you, keep your observations looking forward and watch out for the trail of salt in the middle of your lane especially when approaching bents when you want to switch your road position.
I learnt to ride in Palmerston North... Now that's wind... We used to get regular 50knots or so cross wind westerly on the main road to the gorge (Napier Road)... Wellington has the rep, but palmy gets almost as much wind, just better weather with it... You used to actually have to physically lean the whole bike into it H
I had a cheeky day off on Monday and went over to Wales for the day. Went to Bangor, Bala and round Snowdonia. Fantastic!!! Weather was mostly fine but still loads of salt and shite on the road. It was weird on some of the roads round Snowdon. Road was perfectly dry but there was about 4ft of snow piled up either side of the road. Enjoy the riding.
Went to Crowthorne today to check my honda code for a prize... Won nothing... On the way back stopped by at Blade Honda in Reading to get a lead for my optimate (Left the last one on my old 600F when I traded it in... Muppet)... Boy what a lot of bikes and (old) bikers out today... Lovely weather but... H
