Tag Archives: motorcycle

Aussie Motorcycle Expo 2012

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Volty at the front of the pack! (front, left) at the Australian Motorcycle Expo 2012

Well here I am at the Australian Motorcycle Expo in Melbourne. I’ve just rolled up on Volty to find an array of KTMs, BMWs, Harley Davidsons and other generally very large flash motorbikes parked outside. It’s ok – a couple of Harley blokes give me an appreciative nod as I park up my modest 250cc retro-style Suzuki, throw the side stand down, and try not to notice that the bike next to me (a BMW GS 1200 laden with Touratech luggage) utterly dwarfs my own ride!

Love the Bonnie – but purple paintwork?

Inside, the place is absolutely heaving. I make a beeline for my favourite marques – Triumph, Royal Enfield and Moto Guzzi. There’s a Bonneville T100, gleaming and beautiful –  though I can’t decide if the metallic purple paintwork is stylish or just a bit tacky. There’s a sturdy old Enfield C5, army green, beautiful design – and I have a pang of wishing our UNICEF India trip hadn’t been cancelled earlier this year: how I would love to ride one of those Enfields.

Moto Guzzi V7 – the object of my affection (till I saw the price tag!)

But all bets are off when I hit the Moto Guzzi stand – there’s a gorgeous red and white V7 Special, shiny and new, right there on display. I can’t resist and throw a leg over: aw, the seat’s so incredibly comfortable, the handlebars and footpegs just the right height…

I hop off before an over-eager salesperson swoops to get me talking about putting down a deposit (I wish!). That’s the trouble with these expos – too many temptations!

Volty – my pride and joy

After a couple of hours’ ogling, I’m all motorbiked out. Volty‘s sitting in the sunshine outside, metallic bronze paintwork gleaming, chrome all glinting…reminding me that I already have a perfectly decent ride! A quick burst on the throttle and we’re off – skimming through the city streets of Melbourne, taking some well-practised shortcuts, dodging the traffic, beating the lights, then heading out along the coast road. It’s a beautiful day for a ride: the sun is warm and Volty’s humming.

Who needs a Guzzi when I’ve got my Suzuki?

Love my bike. 🙂

Back On Two Wheels

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Ready to ride again!

Well after months without a motorbike, today I took delivery of a brand new retro-style Suzuki TU250X – kind of a mini Triumph Bonneville (so I’m telling myself, as no way can I afford a Bonnie right now!).

I’ve never owned a brand new bike before and Ive already been told all the things I have to do to “run it in” – which basically boils down to not hammering the crap out of it early on: not that that’s my riding style at all, I’m more of a laid-back, cruisey kinda rider, it has to be said.

It’s always exciting getting a new bike. So much fun getting to grips with a different kind of ride, discovering the bike’s distinctive “personality” and all its little quirks and charms. How I’ve missed my weekend ride-outs, days at a time lost in adventures on the road, here, there and everywhere. Can’t wait to be on the road again!

My new pride and joy. 🙂

“Volty” and I have been getting acquainted and a few laps round the carpark have already highlighted some of the key differences about this bike compared with my cruiser. The most noticeable thing is the gear/back brake pedals being in a completely different postion – under my knees rather than out in front. This is going to take some practice, as I instinctively keep putting my left foot forward to change gear and then wondering why I’m treading air!

The engine also has a very different kind of a sound – more of a “thumper”, this one. Ooh and did I mention it has fuel-injection, which gives it an added kind of hum. Can’t wait to get out on proper roads and see what it sounds like at full speed.

But that’s for tomorrow. For now, I’m feet up with the Suzuki manual, poring over all the bike’s little features – ooh, a tool kit compartment… Early night for me – I’m out riding tomorrow!