David and I had an excellent time at this always friendly show. I do a lot of shows and I always reckon this show is one of the best for the public. Some of the traders mentioned that there was so much on (especially those mental stuntriders) that people were not shopping enough but I reckon people want a show, not a motorcycle kit market.

Also the South West bikers are amongst the friendliest I come across and the ear plugs and cannisters went down very well.

Our latest prize bike winner, Steven Branton, collecting his CCM from the White Dalton offices.  Steven, 50 from Andover, originally picked up the winning ticket 4 years ago at the NEC show and has religiously checked the web-site every week since and couldn’t quite believe it when his number came up.

Steven is a real petrol head and was delighted to win the CCM, opting for the red one signed by Carl Fogarty. He currently rides a Suzuki GSXR1000K4 and also owns a Porsche 993 and a BMW M3, which he uses at track days. He has recently been involved in setting up a new business, DAS, based in Andover specialising in performance car tuning for most marques but with a particular interest in BMW E36 Coupes.

Good luck Steven from all at White Dalton.

Not withstanding the photo, it is Andrew blogging this site. We had an excellent time at the Bulldog Bash with a much lighter police presence this year. I always think the Bash is amongst the safest and most easy going of all the big shows we do. Special thanks go out to Dusty and Smudge, two of the organising Hell’s Angels who really looked after me and Jo, Dusty especially for pulling our van out of what was pretty light mud. Dusty, if you get this can you make contact because there are a few bottles of wine for you, as a thank you for getting us out.

We were lucky to have a really good bunch of traders around us, and we were fed genuine Pakistani Chick pea curry from the stand opposite us. I made the mistake of wolfing it down, and turning a very strange colour as the chilli’s bit back. I also lost my voice for about 10 minutes which cheered Jo up no end. Next to us was an excellent airbrush artist from Theme Colour, and Dave, once I get my new bike, you can airbrush my tank!

I really hope this festival can be kept running. I have made contact with the HAMC and their solicitors as a reference for the organised and sensible way this show is run.

Finally, thanks to the Red Devils for the photos. My dad is an ex Para and was chuffed with the photo. Jo was slightly less chuffed. The Para to the left of her didn’t quite know what to do with his hands. That explains the rather suprised look from Jo. Little rascals these Paras.

Here are a few photos from the 2009 Bulldog Bash show at Long Marston Airfield in Warwickshire which Jo and Andrew attended over the weekend.

I have finally had to admit defeat and accept that, after fracturing my scaphoid and having it pinned, my wrist is not as strong as it used to be. Therefore, riding my 749 has become increasingly painful even on the shortest of journeys.  Once I finally got passed my stubborn streak and realised that perhaps I should be looking at something with a less sporty bias, I started with my wish list for the bike; something like this:

1. I must be able to ride it longer than 5 minutes without being in pain;
2. I want to be able to go Court and go touring on it so good luggage is essential;
3. It must be fun;
4. It must start every time you push the button and be considerably cheaper to run than a Ducati.

I very quickly started considering BMW’s because of their ‘bullet-proof’ reputation and I know they do good luggage designed specifically for their bikes.  Initially, I considered the old R1150GS.  However, there is a problem with this bike for men like me who aren’t blessed with the longest legs in the world.  I looked at Mr. Dalton’s R1200GS.  The length of the leg was not so much of a factor with this bike, but it does weigh about 4.5 tonnes.  At this point I was thinking I would have to look elsewhere, but before I did, I was reliably informed that BMW had a relatively new model which would probably suit me more: The F800GS.

When looking into this bike, I found that at last BMW were starting to realise that not all their riders are 6′6” with a 42” inside leg.  They do a lowered seat.  Off I trundled then to BMW Wollaston in Northampton where I test rode the 800 with a lowered seat.  Whilst manageable, I did think I could do with it lowered just a little bit more.  When mentioning this, I was told that you can get an aftermarket replacement shock spring which lowers the bike about 1” further.  I was so taken with the bike on my test ride that I put in my order for a yellow and black one a couple of days later.  I took delivery of the bike last week.

I have just ridden my F800 all weekend and have to say that it was a cracking choice.  The bike is awesome as an all-rounder and loads of fun to ride.  I will shortly write a blog about the first 600 miles spent running in the bike, but I can already say that the 3-piece hard luggage is really good and really easy to take on and off.  It has a nice touch of being easily expandable.

A quick plug here:  I have to say that Steve Nash of Wollaston Motorrad has been very helpful throughout the purchase of this bike.  He managed to source me one, get all the extras fitted etc and through to me in under a week.  I am impressed and grateful.

Finally (and worryingly) Andrew says that I am two years ahead of him in buying my first BMW.  How many gadgets and devices I will have attached to my bike by the time I reach his grand old age?

Last weekend, Rhiannon and I attended the ‘On Two Wheels’ Event in Kingsbury Square in Aylesbury town centre.  It was good to meet quite a few local bikers and IAM instructors.  Both my Duke and Rhiannon’s Triumph seemed to draw quite a bit of attention from passers by…  most seemed to show good taste and preferred the Ducati!

This mini show was not just restricted to motorbikes as there was a bicycle stunt show and a ‘Cycle Aylesbury’ stand helping people out by servicing their bicycles.  As someone who spends quite a bit of time not only on my motorbike but also on my bicycle around Aylesbury, it is good to see how 2-wheel friendly the town is.

Have a look at the photos to see what you missed if you weren’t there…

Here’s a live action report and photo from the BMF show in Somerset. It’s only modestly busy yet there has been a good stream of people stopping by the White Dalton stand, poking the tyres on my race bike, and admiring the CCM FT35s prize bike. David and I must have given prize draw tickets to virtually everyone at the show.
The forecast is good, so we’re looking forward to meeting loads more of you tomorrow.

Well its been a while since I updated my blog but a lot has been happening as far as biking goes.  After six years of riding my sit up and beg style gsx1400 I’ve moved over to a crouching style rocket in the guise of a Kawasaki ZX12R.

I’ve never had a fully faired bike before but my Dad has had a ZZR11OO for some years so I’ve always fancied a big Kwak.  As a big lad it goes without saying I need a big bike.  I did look at the other obvious options of either a Busa or Blackbird but the ZX looked pretty and was up for the right price.

Although the GSX1400 is no slow coach the power of this machine is like nothing I have ever ridden.  I cannot get over how well this bike pulls in any gear and from any speed.  You just twist the right grip, point it and it just goes.  I would love to get it on a track and see what it will do although one thing is clear…I will never be able to exploit the full potential of this machine!!!

In addition to the power I’ve been surprised how well this thing goes round corners with not much in the way of chicken strips left on the tyres.  I think another week or so and if I get some dry days to go out and play I don’t think there will be much left of these.

Where it does not score as well as the old GSX, (which I don’t yet have the heart to sell) is comfort.  I think having a rather large gut probably does not help so there are 3 options.

1. Lose weight.
2. Sell the ZX12R or
3. Put up with the more crouched position because it is a fantastic machine.

So option 3 it is.  Oh and there is the other downside- approximately 30miles per gallon- or less!!!  Looks like an expensive summer then as I am about to ride a 1000miles in 24 hours for the Royal British Legion organised event “Iron Butt” and then the following week riding to see my brother in Austria (which I have just worked out will cost me at least £400 in petrol!!!

Updates to follow!!!

Chef

Photos from the 2009 Club Aprilia Meet

Here it is folks, the final design for my White Dalton sponsored helmets. The commentators love the distinctive polka dots and the cartoon racing barrister on the back gets a grin from everyone. I’m proud to wear it and to race for White Dalton.
All the best,

This weekend was my turn to drive the big white whale, as I was with Paul and Chef at this really friendly and enjoyable show set in the car park of a wildlife park. What was really nice was my wife and kids could come, along with my in laws. A big thank you to all of the other exhibitors who helped out when my brother in law’s wheelchair needed running repairs. Our stand was next to SBW Motorad, and now being old enough to feel no hint of embarrassment to like the big German mile munchers, I felt myself getting drawn to the Adventurer with it’s very clever suspension by I also like the K1300S – it seemed ideal to me, a mile eating sports tourer with a shaft drive, because I really do hate chain maintenance. Even Fast bikes who don’t broadcast their legal columnist (me) ides a German boxer twin really rated the K1300, and got to grips with the paralever suspension. I like it on my GS but I really did not like it on the R1200RT where the steering had too little feedback for me.

There were loads of Hertfordshire Police officers there for bike safe runs, a brave guy in a speed camera van, a whole bunch of scooterists next to us, and I managed to miss all the stunt riding, but Chef said it was good. Luckily I also missed the country dancing displays as well, but these seem well recieved by a slightly bewildered bunch of bikers. The weather made a difference, but the real magic of that show was how relaxed and friendly people were. Paul came up by ‘Blade and Chef bowled up on his newish toy, a big red ZX12. Well, I say big. After my GS everything feels like a mini moto. Tony Moore from Moores Motorcycles in St Albans was opposite us, and seemd to have a lot of people interested in his stock of Yamahas. There was a very tidy R6 there, as well as the new naked Divvy 600 which our Jo might have a think about, along with the Hornet, and a GS500.

Paul keeps trying to get me to ride his ‘Blade but I am resisting. I have got sports bikes out of my system and I don’t want to relapse into changing tyres every few weeks, and chains and sprockets three times a year. We saw some old friends and some current and former clients, all of who were saying nice things and wishing us well. Sara, if you are reading this from sunny Perth Anita a former client of yours with a rather distinctive Dutch surname asked to be remembered to you. I really hope this show is run next year. There were loads of bikers accompanied by their families. Predominantly 30 something Dads had come out on their bikes and met up with wives and children who had been around the wildlife park and this is exactly what my wife and kids had done, and they had a really enjoyable day. It would be nice to combine a family day with a ride out. My only regret is not putting on a bit of sun block because my head now has the colour of a busted pomegranate. There were a lot of useful local motorcycle services there and I picked up cards for leather repairers (but I have to say Graham at GLF accessories would always be my first choice for repairs) and saw Tim and his family from Hein Gericke, Luton. Hein Gericke have got a new waterproof cool leather 2 piece suit out, which I have to say I am seriously thinking about. Tim resisted the temptation to start rubbing his hands together after Charlie from HG Luton had already given my wallet a serious going over for my last winter waterproofs.