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A Cave, A Gratin, And Tired
Andy is making his way back up through central France now. The day is uneventful save for the quiche that's not a quiche and the GS1250 is "having a moment".
Last Day Of Fun In France
It's a lovely start to Bogger's last day in France. Malestroit is pretty and interesting, the museum is fascinating, and there's food aplenty. Shame the ferry crossing is not up to scratch.
Drawing You In
Our resident cynic Ren is bemoaning the tactics of salesfolk. It's a trap - IT'S A TRAP!! Anyone would think shops have to sell things to make a profit.
Not Much To Report, Save For More Wonderous Views
All in all it's a fairly uneventful day on the road for Andy as he makes his way homeward bound. The scenery is good, the accommodation too, although the big GS has a "moment".
A Day Of Classic And Vintage Vehicles
A rest day for Bogger? Hardly. There's classic and vintage and fast motorcycles and cars. There's posh places and new friends. Food and booze too much as you'd expect.
Anaerobic Gasket Maker
Anaerobic Gasket Maker?!? What the deuce is that? Well between Ren's mumblings and memories you might find just the merest hint of useful information. Maybe...
Cracks, Vultures, And Cow Jams
Andy is having a fascinating ride through Spain today. Cows that won't "moooooove", gaps in the scenery, gaps in the tarmac, and he's trying his hand at geology.
Skeggy Epilogue
In the final reckoning was the trip to Skeg-Vegas a rip-roaring failure or and majestic success? Neither - but you already knew that. Still, here's Ren's tuppence on the issue at hand.
Everyone Has Their Troubles
A long, cold and moist ride today for Bogger and Pete. Turns out their host isn't having the best of days either. Fear not there's still beer and smiles.
Prologue, Rain, Lost, And Hot
Another short winter break in Shropshire. This time Much Wenlock provides the location and the weather does what winter weather does. It'll be fine, hopefully.
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Brief Ride On A Honda Innova 125 - By Ren Withnell
Uncle Johnse said :-
The two sets of wheels are very different.
I've not tried to fit wave wheels on an innova, but when the two bikes are parked side by side you can see that they won't fit.
That said, there are many geniuses out there who can make anything fit with machining and spacers etc.
I just think that it would be a pain to do especially when there are the correctly fitting ones available from places like Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines,Thailand etc.
I have brought back cast wheels for Honda C90s from the far east in the past so more recent models are well catered for.
02/06/2026 12:20:34 UTC
Honley Venturer RX-3 First Look
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Teehee! Initially I'm disgruntled when folks try free advertising on here without any context or input otherwise. However I ought to be pleased to know BAT is popular enough to warrant the efforts. Anyhoo I've removed the link and other details because I'm a big old meanie.
You wouldn't believe how many emails I get offering to improve my rankings and increase my profits (what profits?).
Upt'. Maps? you're a big boy now and I know you have access to Google maps. You just like to moan and grumble doncha. As for getting money out of me - quite right - no chance. If however anyone fancies giving me money in return for an advertising banner or two I'm open to offers.
01/06/2026 13:10:32 UTC
Honley Venturer RX-3 First Look
Upt'North ¹ said :-
We might even get maps Ian.
Pffffffftttttt.
Money from Ed? They don't know who they are dealing with!
Upt and laughing me big woolly socks off.
01/06/2026 12:22:08 UTC
Honley Venturer RX-3 First Look
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Obviously an expert here Ren, better pay attention (or better still pay him some money(!)
01/06/2026 12:18:28 UTC
Honley Venturer RX-3 First Look
Jordan Gilbert said :-
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Respond with stop to opt out.
01/06/2026 12:05:10 UTC
Drawing You In
nab301 said :-
@ young Upt , Tyre prices for two wheelers have always been a bone of contention (unless you're riding a Honda 50) in which case they're probably cheaper than a branded bicycle tyre.
My BMW used to chomp through 3 sets a year in the early years and the first bike I had to cover 10k miles on one set was strangely the Bandit 600, was it coincidence that the recommended pressures were 33psi and 36psi as opposed to the more generic 36 /42psi or was the 4cyl engine kinder to the tyres than a big twin? The biggest difference is improvement in grip over the decades.
Back in the 90's I had a works supplied VW Golf Diesel which covered 60k miles on the OE tyres and strangely I don't recall it lacking in grip...
Nigel
30/05/2026 17:52:46 UTC
Drawing You In
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Rod, Nidge, Ed, intrestin innit? Other participants are also readily available.
We go on about how great or not our fuel consumption is then happily spend on other vehicle parts and accessories which often make a bigger difference on the overall cost of vehicle ownership.
An example.....Er'Indoors last motor, just part exchanged was 13 years old and lost £7k in depreciation over that period of time and I put two sets of tyres on it which were £250 a set for X Climates. I'm not doing the math but that must equate to cheap motoring over 55k miles.
My Pan which I ran for around 8 or 9 years probably returned low 50's and over around 30K miles used around 6 sets of Bridgestones at around an average of £250 a set, depreciation was £400. Yes it didn't like tyres.
The VSTrom is better on mpg and tyres but depreciation will be greater, I would say around £1500 at this point.
That's a lot of math.
The Toyota is astonishing with regards fuel economy and the tyres are sensible but depreciation will be horrendous.
Upt and just drivin and ridin.
30/05/2026 09:19:06 UTC
Drawing You In
ROD¹ said :-
Good point about the accuracy of the app and indeed vehicle read outs in general.
My BM is fairly accurate showing 64 mpg when the actual mpg is 63. My wife's mokka shows that it is achieving 10 percent more than the actual mpg.
29/05/2026 22:47:54 UTC
Drawing You In
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Pffffffftttttt.
Blummin kids.
No not checking against actual real measurements, plus we have been keeping the tanks full or thereabouts because of the activities of the Orange Cockwomble. It's provably never been below half a tank since March.
Pffffffftttttt.
Upt. That's young Upt of the North.
29/05/2026 21:04:23 UTC
Drawing You In
nab301 said :-
Ren , The panniers were empty , they were just used to store bike gear at my destination (warm weather and all that) , so the decreased mpg was possibly aerodynamic issues ?
There's always an Enfield 700cc powered Berkeley from the 60's or for aerodynamics a K1 BMW 1100 bike, either way looking forward to the winter 125cc streamliner project!
The standard 1.0l old model Aygo will easily do around 50mpg for small outlay but 75mpg with the HEV is impressive. Upt , do you ever do an mpg check based on a fill up just to compare with the app.... nige the Luddite! Also are you sure the 90 score on the app isn't your estimated age based on mpg achieved as opposed to your driving prowess... (sorry !)
Nigel
29/05/2026 16:59:31 UTC
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nab301 said :-
I can (possibly mistakenly!) remember in the 70's, petrol (post decimalisation) being 30p per gallon ,my Yamaha 80 (yes it was a two stroke) could be filled for 50p , 1.5 gallon tank but when I search I'm told that petrol prices at the time were around 90p per gallon... it was however a time of shortages, queues, abusive customers , (working part time in a filling station, no different from today I guess) and exponential price rises but still a lot cheaper than todays €1.90 per litre / €8.62 per gallon.
Nigel
09/05/2026 17:28:34 UTC
Glyn said :-
Just to add my bit, I remember 3 star petrol ( that had to be mixed with oil in my bantam ) was three shillings and six pence a gallon! I’m so old I cant be arsed to do the conversion to this modern day numeration stuff. What was wrong with 12 pence in a shilling, a florin, a half crown, 10 Bob etc? I would add that my first wage packet was for £4 per week out of which was deducted 10 shillings and 3d for whatever the government needed it for. Hopefully it was better spent back then. I’ve just spent a week in Munich and either the authorities have more money or they’re spending it more wisely. Not a single pothole to be seen anywhere.
09/05/2026 10:58:06 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
A pound a gallon!!!! Robbery!!! Mind you ROD that's back when a pound was the average annual wage.
Let me think. When I started riding I can still picture the sign at Gilsons Garage, £1.65 per gallon. And it was a pound for a can of pop in the club.
Today it's £1.52 per litre or £6.90 per gallon. I'm paying over bloody £3 for a bottle of cola. On my straw poll cola is a bit cheaper or petrol is more expensive these days, but not all that much!
09/05/2026 06:18:33 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
I was about to respond but I thought Ian would trump me with lower prices for a pint.
My pints when first going decimal were 12p for special mild or special bitter.
I also seem to remember a conversation where people were saying that they would stop driving when fuel reached £1.00 per gallon!
I hope things improve with your knee Ian.
The doctors advice to strengthen surrounding muscles sounds good.
08/05/2026 12:03:11 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
20p a pint? Extortion. My first pint was in the High Force Hotel after a school walking club hike from High Cup Nick, passing the crashed Wellington(?) bomber up on the high fells and fording the Tees just above the waterfall. We must have been mad as any slip would have seeen us doing a Professor Moriarty. I remember the beer as being 1/9d (one shilling and ninepence) or about 9p in new money.
You lot don't know you're born although it's more recent in your memories than in mine.
In other news, visited a physio yesterday who confirmed I have a torn meniscus in my kne. Basically not much can be done other than exercise to strengthen surrounding muscles, and time. Maybe up to a couple of months of the latter....
Surgery is no longer recommended.
08/05/2026 10:15:18 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Goodness me you're REALLY old Upt'! When I were an 18 year old yoof my night out was a fiver. £2 of petrol into the H100A (2 stroke, this is what put me off 2 strokes). 2 quids worth of juice would see me right for a full week's riding. A whole £1 to get into Maxime's Rock Night in Wigan, leaving the remaining £2 for 2 cans of Coca Cola. I'd spend the evening failing to gain the affections of various "rock chicks" then ride home through the cold and the rain.
It was this time in my life I gave up drinking. The nights I was sober and failing with the girls were much more fun than the nights I got drunk while still failing with the girls. Sleeping in a warm bed sober is so much nicer than trying to sleep on Wigan Bus Station with a hangover.
Right - I have reviewed Ian's words and images re compressing the string. Now armed with the diagram and a better comprehension I can see the problem. This all leads me to be thankful I live in a time where we have hard rubber cush drives, it's a wonder anyone from the 40s and 50s has and fingers left!
08/05/2026 08:15:07 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Made me think....yes I know....I shouldn't.
I'm sure the first pint of beer I bought in the late seventies was about 20p in new money. It would have been in Talke Working Mens Club in North Staffordshire, it had a great snooker room underneath the main building. Happy days, I was probably running a Gilera Trial 50 and petrol was 17 new pennies a litre.
Upt.
07/05/2026 17:19:34 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Show off. Don't come on this ere forum for the aged flaunting your wealth. It's tough being a pensioner you know. I remember when you could go to the flicks, catch a PMT bus there and back and have a bag of tripe and chips in proper newspaper for 10 bob. Maybe even play around on the back seat of the bus too!
Tell that to the kids today and they won't believe you.
07/05/2026 17:11:24 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
What ya gonna do with the £3.64 that you could steal from my account Upt'?
07/05/2026 15:32:10 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ed, of course I'll oblige. You deserve it.
Please post you bank account and credit card details including your security and pin's and I'll get right onto it. You're welcome.
No what should I spend it all on?
Upt and Sincere.
07/05/2026 10:19:34 UTC
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Upt'North ¹ said :-
I would think the power blip starts at 8000 rpm Ian and disappears around 8100 rpm, just as you're wearing the handlebars as a tooth brace. I had a derestricted DT125 which was surprisingly chirpy.
Upt.
02/06/2026 16:30:07 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ay up me ducks.
Been thinkin (yes I know I shouldn't) about where to ride this year and got thinking about alternative mountain areas. Then thought about the High Tatras in Slovakia (is that still a place?) and thought some reprobate on here may have ridden the area or visited at some time. I would love to hear any relevant or for that matter irrelevant views, Bogger did you get to the Tatras in Poland. One forgets.
Pffffffftttttt.
Upt and anxiously waiting.
02/06/2026 16:26:36 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Good to hear the knee is improving Glyn. I seem to remember it was a replacement? If so, the rehab does take a long time but you'll get there in the end. Mine is a torn meniscus. Claude reckones 3 - 6 months at my sort of age so I'm half way there. These knees are a right bummer.
I must say, being out of touch as I am, at those hp figures. Do they come with a corresponding lack of flexibility? I was sorely disappointed with the little grey import 400 4 I briefly owned. Even after sorting out its various problems it was totally gutless under 6,000 rpm which to me is generally a maximum. A red line at 14K was not something I appreciated.
02/06/2026 16:19:00 UTC
Glyn said :-
I think you’re right Rod, that KR1 has 59.1 hp in a 250, so 31 for the Aprilia (half its size) is not implausible. I’m getting rather eager to collect it but Mrs Glyn has organised a little excursion to Croatia for 10 days from tomorrow. Ian, I’m still struggling with the knee and it’s seeming lack of flexibility. I am getting out and about a bit with the intruder having covered 250 miles this year. I can get comfortable for a while but have to keep repositioning my foot every other mile to avoid the build up of pain. The Aprilia may be a bit different as I don’t think I’ll be able to touch the ground on both side’s simultaneously so the knee could be held a bit straighter to reach the pegs.
02/06/2026 15:21:26 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
The figure of 31 hp is about right for a performance two stroke of the 1990s.
I owned a KR1. 130mph.
https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/kawasaki/kawasaki_kr1%20s.htm...
02/06/2026 11:41:53 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
That is indeed an enormous amount of power for a 125. I remember vaguely that the Manx Norton only just managed 50 bhp ie 100 bhp / litre - this would be 240!!!! It does seem a little unrealistic to me but then what do I know?
Good luck with it anyway.
02/06/2026 10:19:37 UTC
Glyn said :-
Yes Ed it is me ( I seem to have forgotten how to post) and yes Up’t the previous owner is a Suzuki Kettle fan owning several complete bikes and hundreds of parts. This little Aprilia is a complete bike apart from the carb to airbox rubber that is missing ( I’ve already tracked one down and it’s on the way). Rod, you’re right about power, it’s rated at 31 hp which is huge for a 125, I seem to remember my Honda CRF 125 put out about 14. However, the engine probably needs a full rebuild every 10k and this one’s done 20k. The MOT history is not very inspiring which seems to suggest it’s not been loved or well maintained but then, it’s not really that type of bike. I’ve seen them on sale for about £1500 which gives me few hundred to spend on “fairly cheap” parts.
02/06/2026 09:20:36 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
A 125cc bike with some power!
These bike are no longer available today, not because no one purchased them, but because the nanny state decided that we couldn't have them.
Yes Upt many bits of GT750 in those racks.
01/06/2026 09:09:36 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
2 stroke!!! ARRRGH!!! Why oh Why oh Why oh Why oh Why oh Why oh WHY!!!
Anyhow. I'm guessing it's Glyn - looks like it should keep you in the garage and out of trouble for a little while.
Quality may once upon a time have been attributed to the country of origin but those times are long behind us. Today it's about the level of effort and care a company puts into a product. This is currently the only reservation I have about the seemingly innumerable brands that are appearing in the market.
I have absolutely no doubt ZXMoto and CFMoto and Benda etc etc could create a truly wonderful, well built, long lasting and reliable motorcycle. They can buy bearings from the same place Suzuki can, they can get engine casings cast and coated in the same place or at least with the same machinery Honda uses, I'm sure Bosch are as happy to supply fuel injection and ABS systems to anyone who's gonna pay, and there's probably more talented programmers in India than anywhere else who can code fuel mappings and ignition systems.
Kawasaki has experience though. They'll know you need an extra clip here or the wire rubs through to the frame. Don't use a spring clip on that shaft, it needs a circlip. Well at least I think that's true - we all too often see major long established marques cocking up big time with recalls and serious failures. Honda's chocolate camshafts back in the VF750 days and KTM's equally soft camshafts in the 890s recently are 2 bad examples.
My other concern is are these players in it for the long game? Build some pretty bikes - sell them at prices that undercut the competitors - then when any problems arise just shut up shop and re-open with a new brand name and repeat. Will I be able to get parts for this model in 8 years time? Mind you if the Big 4 don't pull their fingers out will I be able to get parts for my CB500X in 8 years time? The future is never certain.
01/06/2026 08:29:37 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Well done fella, someone likes GT750's.
Ring a ding.
Upt.
31/05/2026 16:26:19 UTC
Random Link - Odd Reasons To Be In Wales