White Dalton Blog

We won’t be at the Birmingham NEC International Motorcycle & Scooter Show this year, which is a pity and unexpected consequence of two major manufacturers pulling out. (continue reading…)

After about 21 years, I have decided to re do my IAM test, and found myself meeting with one of the senior observers for my area, Simon Rawlins. Simon’s tyres showed his Bandit had been ridden a bit, with no chicken strips anywhere on his tyres. They were not cooked like trackday tyres but lets just say he gets use out of all of his tyre.
Having done my test years ago I was glad to see that a lot of the b*llsh*t had gone. I asked Simon whether the test required covering off the back brake at junctions – answer – No! I also remember having to do lifesavers about every 30 seconds, again, this is all gone. As Simon explained the purpose is to turn me into a thinking rider. It transpired Simon and I years ago had been working on the despatch circuit and though our paths never crossed, I was happy to have an ex DR as my observer because I cannot sit in traffic. Simon asked me to ride my normal style, which I did, and at our first pulling over, after about an hours riding, Simon had a few observations for me. Most were pretty complimentary, and Simon said I had clearly done a lot of bike miles and was very comfortable in the saddle. My machine control was comfortable and fluid. So far, so good. Then the areas where I needed improvement, which were observing speed limits, where I was a bit too relaxed, and he gave me a few good tips for smooth overtaking. I had been pulled up before on a Bikesafe course for slightly threatening overtakes, so I was not suprised by this. Because I don’t ride much at the weekends, I was horrified at the standard of weekend drivers. In 3 hours of riding, I had one car go for an overtake just as I was ready to accelerate past it and the lead vehicle. Luckily my sixth sense and a “head bob” by the driver alerted me, so I could stop the manoeuvre. More worryingly a car got bored in the oncoming traffic and went for an overtake forcing me right to the edge of my carriageway with a closing speed of about 120mph. Luckily, I still ride to the “system”, or at least try to, so both of these incidents passed without any casualties, but how the hell a driver can miss my bike with 4 headlights will never cease to bemuse me. It ws a good experience and already I have tidied up my overtakes, and have dropped 2 gears when in town to keep better to 30s and 40’s which I have always tried to observe, but it is a lot easier to observe them in 3rd rather than 4th or 5th. Out on the open road, Simon and I rode pretty enthusiastically, and Simon took me down some roads which really challenged me for speed, positioning and braking. And nobody made me wear any dayglow.

I went to this show at Wanstead RFC in North East London and I have to say it was unimpressive. Apart from meeeting up with a lot of former clients of both mine and the firms, and having met a number of genuinely nice people, the show was poor value for the people who paid £8 to get in, and frankly if I had paid £8 to get in I would have been very disappointed. We won’t be going next year, and the weather was nothing to do with it. Most of the traders and bikers who I spoke to were pretty unimpressed.

I took a chance with buying a pair of allegedly cool, waterproof, protective, perforated leather motorcycle jeans from Hein Gerickes Luton branch. Neither Charlie nor Tim had used them but their basic position was HG would not compromise their brand by selling something which was not up to the job. They are also Goretex and the Gore Company try to avoid putting their name on stuff which does not work. I have to admit I am a bit of an HG fan, so I took a punt. Luckily Charlie ordered up several sets and I fitted into a size on the label I have not fitted into since I left Gibraltar Barracks, so they do come up big. When on they are more of a trouser cut rather than a race jean cut and they look okay, but my Alpine Star Track jeans are a much closer cut. I wore them for the first time in an absolute deluge – for about 15 minutes the skies over Birmingham just exploded with water. Cars were braking to 30mph on the M6 Toll, foglights were going on, and my Schuberth Helmet filled up it pinlock fogshield with water. Basically it was bloody horrible. However my leather jeans did not leak at all. Nor did my Hanwag lace up combat boots (try www.sappershop.com) for the boots that British Squaddies are buying themselves because the Government won’t, and as I was almost expecting a leak I was really alert to wet crotch or my boots filling up. In short, the HG waterproof leather jeans work. Given the choice between waterproof leather and Cordura in an off I will go for leather, so these jeans will be getting a lot of use. The only downside may arise in the winter because the trousers come with a zip in thermal liner which may be a little snug, but then long johns can go on.

These jeans are pricey, but if you ride all year, I reckon they will be one of the most used pieces of kit in your wardrobe. I recommend them.

Chef and Andrew set off to ride 1000 miles in 24 hours or less to join the Iron Butt association and also to raise funds for the Poppy Appeal. The run was organised by the Royal British Legions Rider’s Branch, and was very smoothly operated by them, and in particular Paddy McCreanor who runs the Northern Branch. Chef and Andrew had a few miles to go to get to the start at Squires Cafe near Leeds, and regrettably Chef’s GSX 1400 got hit by a stone in the Highlands of Scotland right in the oil cooler, puncturing it.

Andrew punched on with his mate and fellow Barrister Brian Griffiths, both on BMW 1200 GS bikes, but Brian’s tank range on his Adventure made it the perfect bike for this type of work. Apart from a bit of a numb bum Andrew had no ill effects. Chef slept from Fort William to Luton in a recovery truck! Andrew and Brian completed the run in under 22 hours, the hardest part being the A82 in the dark, along the Great Glen, where the occasional kamikaze red deer added a little bit of interest.