Life on two wheels

It would be incorrect to say that I have always been interested in motorbikes. Cars were and probably always will be my first love (after personal relationships, of course) but over the years my interest in ‘bikes has grown. Initially my curiosity was purely abstract – appreciating cycles as engineering exercises. But that approach can only take you so far.

Getting to the point of taking lessons and applying for the crucial licence has taken some time. It was always too dangerous, too time consuming, too confusing or too expensive. Despite the potential objections and obstacles - sometimes it seems that the process has been made deliberately difficult – I was bound to give in sooner or later.

The catalyst was an initiative called “get on” (www.geton.co.uk) which allows novices to take an hour’s free riding instruction without obligation. My hour was spent with Midland School of Motorcycling (http://www.midlandschoolofmotorcycling.co.uk/) picking up the basics of riding.

Some of those basics are quite alien to car drivers; in particular the art of low speed control by slipping the clutch and using plenty of revs. Then there is remembering that your right foot controls the back brake while the fingers on your right hand should gently squeeze the lever for the front brake.

Picking up those essentials stood me in good stead a few weeks later when I completed my Compulsory Basic Training (CBT). For those unfamiliar with the process, this is a day’s instruction which starts off away from the road, revisiting the basics and practicing moving, stopping, steering and changing gear. The bit which filled me with dread was the prospect of the on-road part of the training.

In the end it seemed silly to have come so far and not see the thing through. So, on one of the first really warm days of the year, I took to the roads of South Warwickshire under the watchful eye of my instructor, Paul. You couldn’t ask for a better introduction, riding through beautiful scenery on quiet roads. True you feel more exposed on a ‘bike but you also feel more involved, enjoying a connection with the environment that simply isn’t possible in a car. Tackling town traffic was less fun, there is an awful lot going on around you in a tourist-packed Stratford-upon-Avon and the last thing anyone else cares about is a tyro biker. Even that was, in retrospect, enjoyable but the best part of the ride was the return to base. Given some liberty to open the throttle as wide as I dared (which doesn’t do much on a learner’s 125cc ‘bike) on a flowing A-road was sheer joy. Braking for bends, changing gear as much for the sake of it as the need of it, leaning around corners it was enough to affirm that I need motorcycling in my life.

New A-Team film

*Warning - non-motoring related post*

Like, I suspect, many people in their early to mid thirties I have fond memories of Saturday tea times watching The A Team. Half an hour of good versus bad with lots of chases, explosions and no bad language or death. Probably the best part of the programme was the opening titles and theme music.

With that in mind I watched the trailer for the new A-Team film, which is clearly inspired by those opening words and chords. Sadly, and inexplicably, the voiceover lacks the punch of the television series - surely cinema is supposed to be bigger, brasher and more powerful than TV. I also hope that the music hasn't been remixed, reimagined or otherwise messed about; it was pretty near perfect for the show and would translate to the big screen without alteration. At the moment I'm worried that the film will prove disappointing. Then again it is probably better than trailers that over-sell the feature they're promoting.

I suppose I'll have to get myself down to the cinema when it goes on general release and find out for myself. If I remember I may even follow up this post with a film review.

Random things I love: Steampunk keyboard/computer

Once again, apologies for the lack of updates – blame the pressures of work, or my laziness, or the weather. Or whatever.

Anyway, I had to share this rather magnificent computer keyboard and Victorian-style PC. Which were brought to my attention by my mate Si.

There is something about the whole Steampunk aesthetic which I love. The care and craft that goes in to creating old-fashioned-looking versions of modern appliances shows that even mundane appliances can be turned into something approaching works of art. What is even more impressive is the way so much stuff is made using recycled parts – things reclaimed from the rubbish or charity shops. It shows that recycled does not have to mean ugly or low quality.

I also love the clothing style associated with Steampunk. There is something inside me that loves cravats, waistcoats, pocket watches and so-on.

I’m not sure I could adopt it as a lifestyle but it has definitely woken something in me.

Interesting model strategy from Volkswagen

Yesterday VW announced prices for the Scirocco and Golf R models. The surprising thing, for me at least, was that the Golf is the more expensive, more powerful, four-wheel drive version. The Scirocco seems quite reasonably priced at £26,945 whilst the Golf is nearly £30,000 which seems somewhat expensive but I’m sure Volkswagen knows what it is doing.



What puzzles me is why, if front-wheel drive and ‘XDS’ electronic traction control is enough for the 252bhp coupé, the hatchback with only 14bhp more (a 5.56% increase) needs to send power to all four wheels. I’d have given both models the same power and the ability to send power to the back wheels.



Just one thought remains, is Volkswagen planning an even more powerful, four-wheel drive Scirocco? How about a 300bhp, six-cylinder coupé? Well, it is nice to imagine.

Good things

Here are a few things I’ve seen in the last week that have cheered me up.

First is this concept by Daihatsu.



Called ‘basket’ it is designed, if I recall the press release correctly, for family trips to the vegetable patch. It is such an odd design brief and I feel I should hate it but it is so quirky I’m quite taken with the idea. Although production seems unlikely maybe Daihatsu has designs on the market vacated by the Mini Moke and Citroen Mehari.


Then I saw a retro-styled Honda electric car.



The EV-N is an electric city car with solar panels on the roof and a strong resemblance to the 1960s Honda N360. It has a similar ‘cute’ appeal to the Fiat 500 and MINI and it looks as though it would make a good rival to Toyota’s iQ. Sadly, it seems there are no plans to put it into production. On the other hand I can’t help thinking that it would be even better with a small, high-revving engine in place of the battery drivetrain.


Finally, it isn’t just small cars that appeal.



McLaren’s new supercar didn’t appeal to me when I first saw it, however I was asked to do a news story on the MP4-12C. Familiarising myself with the 12C’s details left me feeling rather more positive towards the new British supercar. Obviously McLaren’s web site would talk-up its latest offering but just looking at some of the components is a reminder that good engineering can be beautiful. I particularly like the carbon tub with its smooth curves.

The Honda and Daihatsu will be on display at the Tokyo Motor Show. The McLaren can bee seen at www.mclarenautomotive.com
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Arrivals and departures

O.K. Sorry for the lack of updates but things have been pretty busy here. If I'm not at work I'm either writing or at the gym. It is all good but leaves the poor old blog a bit neglected. Since my last update covered part of my search for a new car it seemed logical to resume by saying that I have found one. A 1998 Honda Prelude VTi, a rare manual example. Despite my general enthusiasm for automatic transmissions I think the synchromesh gearbox is the one to have if you're going to buy a Prelude. Given the rumours of problematic auto-boxes the DIY-transmission certainly seems like a safer bet.

So far I am delighted with it. Some minor details feel a little penny pinched compared with my old 1989 Preludes. Things like the lack of seat memory and unlined coin tray suggest that the accountants took their pound of flesh. Somehow fake wood on the centre console is poor compensation for what has been lost. At least the double wishbone suspension and four-wheel steering escaped the axe - a large part of the pleasure of driving the Prelude is down to the way it handles and steers. Unfortunately I can't make a direct comparison with my old Preludes but not only is there an improvement in grip and responsiveness but also the ride is much more comfortable.

Other noticeable improvements over the old Prelude include more performance and surprising smoothness from the V-tec engine. Especially gratifying is the smoother transition between the two cam profiles - the 1992 Prelude I drove, which gave me my first taste of Honda's variable valve timing and lift technology, suffered a noticeable step between the two stages. Despite the improved performance fuel economy seems no worse than my old, automatic Prelude and a 60-litre fuel tank gives more than adequate range - at the expense of a big bill if you have to refill and almost empty tank.



Getting the Prelude meant saying goodbye to my Citroen BX14. Sold to a BX enthusiast I'm happy that it has gone to a good home. I must admit I never bonded with 'Pierre' in the way that I did with the BX I had before, Claude. Funny how both French cars gained nicknames but neither my current Honda nor any of the others received that honour.

Car buying blog

Just been to have a look at a 4.0-litre Jaguar XJ. It was a Sovereign which means it has all the toys (if that matters) on a J-plate.

What an interesting car. Objectively it ticks all the boxes. Decent performance, refinement, lots of leather, air conditioning that seems to do its job, nice power steering (not over light, despite what the press often said at the time) and the sort of ride and handling mix that puts almost everything else to shame. I took it for a reasonably long drive over roads I knew well and it did everything I could ask without complaint.

And yet doubt remains. Some of it is doubt over the condition of the car I was driving. Nothing too serious, but a bit of rust here and there which you’d want to deal with sooner rather than later and a rather more serious question mark over the ABS warning light. Maybe the sensors just need cleaning (a common enough case on the XJ40) or maybe they need replacing? It all looked like a bit of a gamble.

Final nail in the Jaguar’s coffin has to be the colour. Metallic gold is somewhat more “pub landlord” than “young gentleman”. My search continues.