Realisation

Swinging my leg over a powerful motorcycle did not result in my immediate demise, you will be pleased to hear.  It was not for want of trying on the part of Jupiter Pluvius, various truck drivers and car drivers.  At times visibility was minimal and it must rank as one of the least pleasant journeys I have ever made.  Thinking back, however, the bike behaved superbly; not only running faultlessly but also refusing to be swayed by wind or rain.

Closer to home, on roads more interesting, familiar and considerably dryer than the motorway, I put the CBR through some bends.  The bike inspired such confidence that I found myself taking corners at higher speed than I would on my old 125.  Between the bends it was possible to start exploring the overtaking potential of a 600cc bike with 90-or so horsepower.  At the moment, it is fair to say, there is far more acceleration available than I have confidence to exploit.

It begs the question, what must a 1,000cc bike be like?

Anticipation

There is a certain amount of fear in the air, in addition to considerable quantities of moisture.  A typical September morning in the suburbs of Manchester and perfect conditions to embark on a two-hour ride on an unfamiliar and very powerful motorcycle.

O.K. Maybe not that powerful compared to some modern bikes but a 1997 Honda CBR600 can still put over 90bhp through its back tyre.  I think I did the sums once and calculated that the CBR had the same power to weight ratio as an Audi R8 V10.  I have driven an R8 V10, it was lovely but did at times feel too powerful and now (at a fraction of the cost of an R8) I can enjoy the same sort of performance with half the number of tyres, a quarter of the number of driven wheels and none of the crash protection.

It doesn't help that I have to ride home so that I can swap bike for car to travel down to Exeter and go on holiday.  I don't want to miss the holiday and in between I need to take the bike for a (pre-booked) MOT.  Just have to make sure I leave in plenty of time and take it easy on the ride down.  As long as I'm sensible it will be fine.  After all, as long as I'm sensible with the throttle the CBR need be no more fearsome than the Suzuki GS500E on which I passed my test; or even the CBR125 that I ride almost every day.  And I'm glad I have ridden a 'junior' CBR, it means that the bigger bike does at least feel instantly familiar.  The riding position is similar, the controls are where I expect them to be and everything will be fine.

On the off-chance that it isn't and these are my last words I'd just like to say, "Thank you, it has been fun and I love you all".

Take a break

Everyone needs a holiday from time to time, even Fourwheelsteer is starting to think that a few days away would prove beneficial.  Of course in my mind a break in routine should also mean a new car to drive or a different bike to ride.  So I have been looking at classic car and bike hire as well as rectifying a glaring omission in my life - that I have never visited Cornwall. 

The perfect break would include a self-catering cottage somewhere in Devon or Cornwall along with a few days hire of a Jaguar E-type from a local company.  It remains to be seen whether such a venture is compatible with the budget I can raise...

Four wheels good, two wheels better

Three times last week I ran into heavy traffic, the sort of thing that makes your heart sink when you’re in a car. Luckily I was on my motorcycle; it is great when you can find a third lane to slice through traffic that’s going nowhere. Even though I’m still travelling more slowly than I would on a clear road it is much better to be moving on a bike than not moving in a car.

Biking update: Big Bike Lesson

It has been too long since my last motorbike lesson, a couple of months or so. But I am determined to get my bike licence this year so I need to get a move on.

It was to be my first lesson on a big bike, a 500cc Suzuki twin. Compared with my little Honda it felt huge and heavy; in particular the clutch called for a strong grip although it was beautifully progressive. Even so, it is going to take some getting used to the bike for low-speed manoeuvres.

On the road, however, the Suzuki was fine. The most noticeable thing was how effortless the performance felt compared to my little 125. My little CBR likes to be kept above 7,000rpm but the Suzuki was content to run at half that. The clutch could be ignored almost completely – except for stopping and starting – and the gearbox was so sweet; just a little twitch of the toe to go up or down.

The good news from the lesson was that a couple of thousand miles on the road don’t seem to have led to too many bad habits. In fact my observation and positioning on the road seem to be pretty good. The next step is to get some practice for the Module 1 part of the test. My next lesson is already arranged.

And, as an aside, I was a little concerned about how I’d feel climbing back on to my bike after riding something more potent. It did feel as though I was riding a child’s bike but other than size and lack of power it still feels as beautiful to ride as ever. Of all the vehicles I’ve owned to date my Honda CBR 125R is one of the very best.

Web sites we like: The Getaway Driver

Searching the internet for classic car hire companies (as you do) I came across the site for The Getaway Driver, a company that does classic car hire and overnight breaks.

To me it looks like a well-designed site, the front page is classy and it is easy to navigate. Combined with sections named Getaway Cars, Escape Routes and Hideouts (for vehicles, rout plans and accommodation) it looks slick and stylish.

I like the concept of being able to spend anything from a day upwards on a driving holiday especially if you can organise the car and hotel in one go. A few years ago I did my own, budget version with a hired MGB and based from home – it was great fun and it is an experience I’d love to repeat but with a more upmarket car and maybe an overnight break somewhere.

You can also do a day with an ex-police driver or join one of the driving tours.

Of course I have to make it clear that I’ve not used this company and I have no connection with them, I just like the web site. Check it out here.

Picture of the day: A pair of E-types

From Fourwheelsteer: Motoring Writer

The Jaguar E-type is not short of photogenic details, the tail lamps on the Series 1 were particularly lovely. I also love the way the rain drops have gathered on the curves of this car, which belongs to the Jaguar Heritage Trust. If I were trying again I'd attempt to get the tail lamp more horizontal in the frame.