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...It's about bikes... and travels... mostly on bikes!
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A Dodgy Hip, A Mesh Seat Cover, And Pants
In trying to reduce leakage in the rain our brave and heroic half-wit Ren has got himself a cunning and devious plan. However this idea is causing him issues because he's getting old now and the newness has worn off.
Bedfordshire Is Not In France
And they're off to France! Well Bedfordshire today, but they will get to France eventually... hopefully... maybe?
The Last Day Of A Big Ride
It's Andy's last day of an epic trip. Save for some wind (no not that kind of wind) it seems all rather mundane somehow. Anyhow he's home and safe after over 4,500 miles.
Home And Epilogue
Just a brief summary of the return leg from Much Wenlock and Ren's thoughts of the lovely little town.
A Holiday In Normandy - Prologue
France! Well northern France because our soft arsed lazy writers can't be bothered to go any further. It's time for excuses and explanations as to why The Dynamic Muppets are off on holiday and not an exciting expedition.
A Holiday In Normandy
Title page for A Holiday In Normandy
Rain In Northern France
Yep - the rain has returned, the temperature is colder, and the accommodation is below par. Andy must be getting closer to Blighty now, obviously.
Comparison Is The Thief Of Joy
It's probably best not to compare things, there's always something bigger faster smarter lighter neater more stylish etc etc etc... And yet we are a competitive species. Ren is trying to rationalise logic against feelings.
Bogger Back To Base
Just a few notes for His Boggerness on the final ride home. It's been a crazy, fun and yet somehow relaxing adventure. Go figure!
Much Wenlock - Charming, Dry, And Cold
It's an easy and pleasant day in and around Much Wenlock for The Dynamic Muppets. It might even have been romantic if it weren't for Ren, the mean old grumpy curmudgeon.
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A Dodgy Hip, A Mesh Seat Cover, And Pants
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Oh the first damp feeling in the nethers is always a pleasure. Why is it always so damn cold too.
I'll watch out for your findings with much interest. But no pictures please of wet bits.
My Weise Hydra leather pants (sorry Ian but pants is the new norm for troosers) are still not broken in and I think require a good soaking on the outside, I've probably done around 3000 miles in'em but they feel like they need 30,000 more. I can't say if they keep the water out either as they've seen little wet.
I read about the overtrousers with interest, I'll have a look if they sell them in big boy sizes. Do they fold down to nowt? We need to know. I've never used a mesh covering and I don't think I ever will but never underestimate "monkey butt" and always remember with regards the Savlon; lips first!
Upt.
28/07/2026 12:53:16 UTC
A Dodgy Hip, A Mesh Seat Cover, And Pants
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Pants? Pants?!!!! They are what we wear UNDER our trousers! Or maybe you're trying to curry favour with your transatlantic readers. You must have some....
I had a pair of those full length zip type but found them very unwieldy. The best overtrousers I had were Helly Hansen trawlermen's bib & braces made of reinforced vinyl and available in a fetching shade of navy blue (and probably bright yellow). Not very elegant but very strong and with welded seams didn't leak. The bib part also stopped water running up under the jacket. Well, didn't stop it but kept it away from the oh so tender flesh underneath. I think I may have mentioned them here before. I still have a pair in the boot of the car.
Mind you I think I've mentioned everything I know here at some time in the last 10 years or so. Maybe I'm your oldest / longest lasting / most persistent (delete as appropriate) contributor.
Oh by the way some of your pics aren't appearing - just the descriptors. Oh, they've appeared now......
28/07/2026 11:34:29 UTC
Honda CB 125 F Test Ride Review
Martin said :-
So, today I collected my (almost) new 2023 Honda CB125F. I say almost new because it had just 70 miles on the clock when I collected it. Reading the owners manual Honda advise gentle riding for the first 300 miles with no specific speed limit. This is in contrast to my old GS125 which Suzuki advised should not exceed 5000rpm for the first 200 miles if memory serves. As 5000rpm was equivalent to just over 30 mph my ride home from Aylesbury to the furthest corner of North Wales was very protracted with stops about every 50 miles for a rest. Luckily my Honda was only 30 miles from home and not knowing the running in requirement until home and the manual consulted I decided to take the scenic route home through the lanes and back roads of rural Monmouthshire using minimal power on the winding roads. The journey took a full hour and I was quite pleased to get off the bike on reaching home in the Forest of Dean. I have never found 125s very comfortable on long trips and usually stop after about 50 miles. The seat on the CB125F does look quite broad and comfortable so I was disappointed that I found it no more comfortable than previous 125s I have owned. What I did like about the bike was the smooth running at low revs, being able to pootle along at 20 mph in top (5th) gear. My previous lightweight bike, a Kawasaki Z250 SL was most unhappy below 3000 rpm which meant much gear changing in restricted areas. Obviously the CB will require a lot of gear changing to give its best performance but it is nice to ride in a relaxed manner when in the mood. I assume the smooth running is a result of the offset bore, a relatively long stroke and also a softer camshaft profile optimised for economy and flexibilty. One of the biggest attractions of the CB125F was its amazing claimed economy, 189 mpg is claimed by Honda though I am not aware under what conditions this was achieved. Presumably a mixture of urban and rural riding perhaps not including dual carriageways? While the chassis and suspension is entirely conventional with spindly forks and twin shocks at the rear the handling seems entirely predictable and reassuring. As I will be restricting speed for the next 200 miles I will brim the tank next time out to find out how far the bike will travel on a gallon of fuel. As various reviews of the bike have said the bike is nicely made and it is not obvious that the model is Honda's cheapest road bike. When looking for a bike I was specifically looking for a 2021-2024 bike as these were built in Italy, the current model is now made in China and has a stop/start function which I feel I could do without.
27/07/2026 21:41:18 UTC
CB500X Miles Per Gallon
Martin said :-
Hi Gents, thanks for your helpful comments. Ian, I like the thought that handguards or muffs work better than heated grips as powering the grips must absorb engine power obviously. Like you I used a bike (GS125) to commute for seven years in all weathers though to be honest I usually took the car in bad weather when leaving the house. As I was a shift worker I reckoned I was far less likely to fall asleep on the way home from a night shift if I was on the bike! Thanks for the link. ROD, thanks for sharing your experience of muffs, something I have yet to try. Nab, thanks for finding out the alternator output, it does appear that powering the grips should be within the capability of the bike but as you say perhaps taking the power demand close to the limit of the alternator. As the bike has the heated grips already fitted I will not remove them but only use them as strictly necessary.
27/07/2026 20:30:57 UTC
Suzuki DL250 V-Strom 6 Month Review
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Those temperatures sound reasonable to me. I find my infra red thermometer very useful for things like this. Oops just realised I'd already said that above.....
26/07/2026 13:47:56 UTC
Suzuki DL250 V-Strom 6 Month Review
nab301 said :-
I got out my infra red thermometer recently and pointed it at various parts of my DL250 engine after a long run on a hot day while still running . Fan never switched on, cylinder head area was the hottest at 95° c , cylinder/barrel (coolant water jacket basically )was 85°c at the top and cooler lower down , the cores in the radiator were approx 85®c at the top and 70®c or less at the bottom .
My old year'2000 CB500 used to run so cool that in winter I'd blank off most of the radiator , maybe I'll try that on the Suzuki..
Nigel
26/07/2026 12:48:01 UTC
Bedfordshire Is Not In France
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Handling is a peculiar thing nab301. The "full luggage" setup does make the bike heavier yet seemingly doesn't mess up the ability to carve a corner. Either that or I find it easy to adjust as required.
As for the fuel consumption I've never done the numbers but I'm aware it'll sup a little more when loaded. Luckily again it's not vastly different.
I've always been pleasantly surprised how marginal the differences are between unloaded and loaded.
26/07/2026 09:11:42 UTC
Review of the Honda CLR 125 City Fly - By Ren Withnell
nab301 said :-
Seals are readily available , Wemoto or David silvers , there appears to be some chrome platers in NI , maybe if you contact the VMCC NI link below , they may be able to recommend someone to replate the stanchions, otherwise contact David Silvers with the part number , while they currently have nothing in stock they will contact you if the part becomes available.
Nigel
https://vmccni.org.uk/...
25/07/2026 18:28:04 UTC
Bedfordshire Is Not In France
nab301 said :-
Ren , I bet the bike handles better and does more mpg without the camping gear!
Nigel
25/07/2026 17:28:11 UTC
CB500X Miles Per Gallon
nab301 said :-
Martin , Honda don't seem to list the output of the '21 on CB125F alternator but a google search suggests 190w output with approx 130w as the standard drain when running. Theoretically 50w grips should be ok but with only a 5a/h battery listed I'd imagine that other than on full throttle the battery may discharge . Also as that year model has a combined starter / alternator I'm not sure if overloading it could damage what might be an expensive replacement?
Nigel
25/07/2026 17:20:25 UTC
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nab301 said :-
Glyn , looking forward to seeing and hopefully hearing the fruits of your labours , will you be stripping the engine?
Nigel
26/06/2026 14:53:36 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Ooooh eeeee ouch! I'm glad you didn't post your gory sliced digit Glyn (Flyn). You can show us when it's healed a little and we can imagine the rest. As for the heat... Enough already but it won't be long until I'm griping about the rain/cold dagnammit. The nights are already drawing in.
26/06/2026 09:57:29 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I managed to slice a couple of mm off a finger with the angle grinder a couple of weeks ago removing the chain from the Herald*. I'm usually very cautious around them but a moment's inattention...... It's taken to now to heal up.
*And what's wrong with split links I ask you? Someone had gone to the length of fitting a continuous O ring chain at some time in the bike's 3,000 km life while studioudly ignoring the dreadful suspension units.
Goldie silencer arrived yesterday and it's in new condition. A bargain at just over £30. It does say pre 1985 bikes but this is invisible when fitted. Too hot for anything today.
25/06/2026 10:13:31 UTC
Glyn said :-
Oh no I’ve spelt my name wrong again. It’s these fat fingers I’m working with. Talking of fingers, I almost removed the top of my middle finger right hand in an incident with a sun lounger in Croatia 3 weeks ago. It took 5 stitches to reattach and weeks of dressings which I’m still doing. I’ve got some fairly gruesome pictures of aforesaid digit but I’m sure the Ed wouldn’t be impressed if I were to post one.
24/06/2026 20:54:01 UTC
Flyn said :-
Ian is right Up’t, not really my style to clear-coat it. I’ve decided to respray it colour number 8 in Elfenbein 732 which is a BMW ivory colour. Elfenbein is a direct German translation for “Elephants tusk”. It’s the colour that I painted the BMW K1100 2 years back. However, this time there will be no evidence of the colours that went before.
24/06/2026 20:48:49 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
It's like archaeology (or a time machine) when you get down through the layers like that, and as Upt' says it would be interesting to keep it. But I think that would offend your aesthetic sensibilities.
Re vinyl dye, the Steib came with a seat cover which is red and would clash with the BSA red so will probably dye that black as well. At the moment, the only passenger provision is a box full of pavers left over from a patio to keep the chair wheel down on left handers although this is scorned by some "experts". No idea why as an empty sidecar limits the speed round these bends. I can understand if a passenger is occasionally carried that you need to understand the handling in different configurations.
24/06/2026 10:17:29 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I wondered where that screwdriver had gone, have you got my 10 mill socket too!
I'd smooth that off and lacquer it as a homage to rattle cans.
You're welcome.
Who'd have thought it, Glyn a screwdriver thief?
Upt.
24/06/2026 09:21:38 UTC
Glyn said :-
Sorry forgot the image
24/06/2026 07:52:40 UTC
Glyn said :-
That is a remarkable upgrade for £15 Ian. It looks brand new. Talking about unsuitable colours this is the rear section of the little Aprilia. It has had 14 owners and been 7 different colours.
24/06/2026 07:51:34 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Looking good fella, like Ren, I have little sense of style and taste but the brown and black bike did look a little daft.
Looking forward to your ride report.
Upt.
11/06/2026 10:06:12 UTC
Latest Chit-Chat
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Occasional Lurker said :-
Once again, the MCN owned "Visordown" web-site, has posted yet another "teaser" regarding a new GB500, for the UK ...
Scant on details, they were certain it was based on the Indian market CB350 H'ness , and was bored out to 501cc ...and gave a power output of 27 bhp ... They also claimed, trademarking of the GB500 name, was confirmed for Europe ... I know some voted to leave, but, I for one, hope that this also means us ..!!!
I have just last week, sold my 1989 GB500TT,at an auction in the National Motorcycle Museum... It went for a whisker over my reserve, and my creaky knees, and sore wrists, may just be tempted to have a closer look at this new offering ...
Hers's hoping for ally rims, spokes, and an exhaust from the Australian model, ( a fully chromed exhaust, and not just a heat-shield)... Regards, Tony
28/07/2026 14:24:05 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
DOH!
27/07/2026 16:52:26 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
You can't undo stoopid.
27/07/2026 08:40:02 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
I think that the post must be magnetic!
27/07/2026 07:57:35 UTC
Henrik said :-
Topbox will destroy ballance ,... the proof:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1HwQQzamYr/...
26/07/2026 21:02:43 UTC
Henrik said :-
Topbox will destroy ballance ,... the proof:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1MQhhyH8Wi/
26/07/2026 21:00:39 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I'd once got as far as the Loire going south and stopped at a small hotel in the early afternoon as the rain was so bad. I switched on the TV and saw there was a relentless band of depressions rolling in from the Atlantic so I decided to cut my trip short and headed back to Cherbourg the following day. Glad I did as the weather turned from bad to worse.
I also abandoned a planned trip before even setting off as the storms were again coming in thick and fast. I can (could) cope with the odd day but day after day is just no fun at all apart from being more dangerous than I will accept.
20/07/2026 14:58:59 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I find the rain very tiring Ed, much more so on a motorsiccle than a 4 wheeled contrivance. Thankfully my rides can be chosen when sun is forecast in the most part but on a trip it's a lottery. Some of the more dire private motorcycle weather I've experienced has been in Belgium, France, Spain etc. There's nothing to do about it, just try to arrive safely and get the kit ready for the next day. On one occasion approaching Lille from Belgique land it was frightening for me, Er'Indoors probably slept through it. But the waves coming off the HGV tyres and the lying water will hopefully never be repeated, throw in loud thunder and lightening, foreigners doing what foreigners do and it adds up to a good night's sleep.
Thankfully Jenny had the barn ready at the "Silent Picket" for the bike and kit and the tea in the pot.
Upt.
20/07/2026 12:57:32 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Hoomans are weird Upt'. I'm planning a trip or two at the moment and when I envision riding to each destination I'm seeing glorious sunshine and dry roads in my mind - because that's what we've had this last few weeks. I have to mentally force myself to envision cold and rain and wind otherwise I get carried away on a wave of enthusiasm thinking it'll be all terribly easy and pleasant.
Take this weekend. By the time Sharon and I had covered our 200 mile ride we were indeed a little tired but we'd enjoyed a lovely day. It was easy cruising up the motorway to Lancaster (otherwise it would have taken all day), it was easy carving the corners across the countryside's main roads, it was easy pottering along the single track, it was easy stopping for a brew and sitting outside. 200 miles of mixed road types was easy.
Well perhaps we should plan our trips based on 200 mile days if it's that easy? It's not so easy when it's wet and cold, it can be blummin' hard work. It's hard to see through the rain, it's hard being cold, it's hard trying to constantly calculate grip levels. 200 miles of even the straightest of roads in the rain is a challenge.
We can hope for good weather, we must plan for inclement weather in a country where weather forecasts are only good for a couple of days at best.
20/07/2026 12:23:09 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Put some old oil, brake fluid, rubber bits, a sprinkling of metal filings, some animal poop, a dollop of pollen, bits of grass and twigs, not forgetting some dried remains of washer fluid in a food mixer for approximately 30 seconds. Voilà, soapy looking horribleness.
The slipperiness seems to be heightened on smooth continental roads, probably because of the melting tar rising to the surface. Don't ride in the rain, it's stoopid.
We had a damp morning on Saturday after what seems like an eternity, couldn't wait for the sun to come back out. Strange innit, we want it to rain but when it does we don't. We hoomans are weird.
20/07/2026 09:33:08 UTC
Random Link - CBF 125 OE TVS Tyres...Yikes!