I'm now writing a new Blog for MotoZania.com

Well I've been pretty lax about keeping this blog up to date after my mammoth tour so it will end here.

I am now working as the Business Development Coordinator for UK/Europe for MotoZania.com.

I will be writing a weekly(ish) column (very journalistic term). OK a blog.

I will be testing bikes and gear and generally ranting in my usual way. Do follow as I ride different motorcycles and publish my impressions. From now on go to http://motozaniajkblog.blogspot.com/ or www.motozania.com.

Thanks for following my trip. It will be a hard ACT! to follow. (groan). There will be many more...

Too much happening and too many things not written about

Flamin' Henry but I'm behind on this blog thing. I never wrote about my BMW F800GS test ride in Phoenix. Or all about the tough times in business (Ahhh we're sick of hearing about that!) or my recent work to renovate my little house in England. I think the best thing is to post a load of photos with a simple one-line explanation in order as they appear. (see end of blog).

I'm currently in California looking into getting a new venture going for the DesignR1 brand. It involves design (no surprise there then!) and won't be far away from motorbikes if I can even manage to get a sniff at starting the project in this economic climate.

First off: In October 08 Victory BMW in Chandler AZ let me test the F800GS. It was GREAT to ride but, just as BIKE magazine wrote, the vibration through the bars is bad. I mean bad bad. As in stand in bathtub full of water, hold sharp metal object long enough to shove into an electrical outlet (best do it with the UK 230V for full effect) and enjoy. Flickable, lovable, great style, comfortable and quick. It's a parallel twin. I had Triumphs, Nortons, BSA etc. They shake themselves into little bits but at least they leave a trail of shiny bits, nuts, bolts, number plates, trim, keys, knobs, bulbs, shoes, etc for the rescuers to locate you at night after the Lucas (The Prince of Darkness) electrics have failed. The BMW twin it seemed to me would have you loving every minute until you arrive at which point the motel staff will think you've had a stroke as your whole left side fails to function. Entertaining.

Hyperbole aside (now would I ever exaggerate?) it's a crackin' bike but I'm still sold on the KTM. If only the Austrians would hire a proctologist to analyse why they think cast concrete is the best material for the seat. Gel seat? When I get my KTM I'll strap a mattress to the flippin' saddle.

I was in Hawaii (Sage took us) and watched Arizona lose the Superbowl. I knew Warner shouldn't have trusted in God. I managed to blow a little blues harmonica with a local band but I had severe bronchitis so the power was way down. Still, it was fun.

I have just attended a Harley meet here in Riverside California and met some interesting people like Tim Kuglin the founder of Motozania (biker's social networking website and more www.motozania.com), and Mike Thomas of Kiwi Indian motorcycles. Hey, check out his website for pictures of Anthony Hopkins, Billy Joel, Jesse James (I thought he rode a horse not an Indian?) and Jay Leno. Jay's car is fantastic! Kiwi Indian Motorcycle Company are THE experts it seems www.kiwiindian.com. Anyway, the funny bit was riding to the event with Jax in full racing leathers (Z leathers) on an R1. It was like those tests: Fish, Octopus, Clam, Dolphin, BRICK.

I wore my J.D. Wetherspoon's Beer Festival T-shirt and snapped shots for Scott and the gang back at my local pub. I hope they get into Wetherspoon's monthly mag with these pics. Hi guys!

Oh, and hello to Andy Hart and all the Firemen in Haslemere (thanks for giving me a cardiac arrest by blowing that siren as you past me fixing my bike - you rats!). They put on a great show for biker safety in April and the next one in September will be even bigger.

Whilst home for a few weeks I sobered up one Saturday and me and Ramon my buddy and neighbour rode to Farnborough to sit on bikes and dream. He's on the Harley XR1200 (understandable - he's an accountant) and I'm on the new flat-plane crankshaft R1. Man oh man but I want to try that bike!

Meanwhile back at the ranch...I'll be meeting up with Rusty and his Ducati in LA and I hope to do some ride-outs with a few local California clubs.

Speaking of Ducatis, Brandon Cox, my mate in Phoenix, let me ride his Monster. Superb! Very agile after the R1 and with his Arrow pipes it gives the old earballs a good trashing! Brandon is just opening his own Gymn in Mesa and holds world records for picking up heavy things. I can't decide who the monster is, Brandon or his bike. His wife Terri could be picked up with one hand even by me so I declare his physique overkill.

My R1 needs sprockets so that will keep me busy until the weekend and another big Sage event in Nashville.

Photos in order of appearance from the top:

1) JK gets an American Football shirt from the promo girls. Note my England helmet.

2) BMW F800GS I buzzed around on.

3) Rob the founder of SouthWestRides and his evil but cool Harley.

4) JK on 09 R1.

5) Ramon (Moncho) on XR1200.

6) JK at Riverside Harley event in Wetherspoon Tshirt.

7) Typical custom with typical Harley guy on far left.

8) JK and Mike Thomas of Kiwi Indian.

Random happenings

Pics: Me enjoying sunshine in the back garden just to tick off the boys back in Britain. Cindy fixes my back at our company get-together. Early morning mist over Phoenix on Boxing Day ride out with SW Rides. Fountain Hills AZ fountain blows. Its run by 2 V8 engines! Brandon and wife Terri with his bikes. He let me ride both his Hayabusa and SV1000. I liked the SV better. Sad.

Following my big tour I was nominated a member of South West Rides (http://www.southwestrides.com/) with my very own T-shirt and hefty medallion. Now I'm not a chap that rides in a crowd for several reasons. 1. I LOVE travelling alone. 2. People give me energy and if I get on one of my stand-up routine rants I yap like a Pekinese at a Postman's party. (I'm a stand-up comic - I stand up and people laugh) 3. I think I'm a wobbly crappy rider and shame drives me to solitude. 4. Alone I don't get in embarrassing situations if I have no money and 5. I like to ride at my own pace. Very fast in a straight line on empty roads and very badly round slow, tight bends. The R1's crap slow-speed turning gives me the excuses I need and it's eyeball-flattening acceleration cures all known illnesses immediately.

However, I have from time to time decided I should join a group for a 'blast' on a Sunday morning. The first time I decided to meet others and learn more was in England. So I rode to a pub in the woods near Woking and met a friendly bunch of Gixxer riders. Of course I am always amazed at how welcoming and easy going sports bike riders are. The problem is skill. These lads took off like JamesK from an emotional therapy session. I was so scared and over my limit (and still way behind) that when I finally peeled off at Guildford I thought it was normal to cruise the A3 at 140mph! It took 3 weeks for the adrenaline to subside. So I returned to my poodling about at 90(ish) and hid in laybys when I saw Suzuki GSXR riders.

Then after this big tour and meeting the guys and gals (how Yank is that eh?) I decided to try a ride with a group. They were super! The pace was good, the banter better and oh my goodness do the Yanks ever have some tasty bikes. No wonder at almost 1/2 the UK cost. I saw 2 (as in two) Ducati Desmosedici at the racetrack here in Phoenix. Jay Schroeder rode up and chatted away while I dribbled and drooled all over his carbon-clad hunk. I mean this was like petting a Nile crocodile. A $72,000 croc! The Yanks actually buy and RIDE Ducatis like they are useable every-day transport! I hate them all. Except when they generously say "Hey dude, take er for a spin!".

Anyway, I have since ridden with the SWride gang up the twisties of South Mountain Park to see the mist over Phoenix and the twisting, snaking Tortilla Flats out east. (The pace was sensible but I still had a few heart-skips as the front slid on fine sand around the curves). The old gold-mining town (well 1890's is old here) along Lost Dutchman road on the way out to Tortilla Flats is great.

I guess I should put down my impressions of the bikes I've ridden lately but I'm absolutely washed out with bronchitis (flu and a cold on top lasted 2 weeks) and that put a damper on the Hawaii trip. I'll write about that tomorrow maybe. I need to gather photos first.

Its been ages...too much going on

Well I guess it looks like I dropped off the planet.
I did.

Way back in September I was home in good old Blighty and we actually had some nice weather. Our local Fire Brigade in Haslemere threw a bikers day to emphasize safety and Michelin tyres, amongst others, had a stand. I mention them because I must write their PR dept. about the longevity of these fantastic Michelin Pilot Road tyres. I had worn the old rear tyre to the carcass by St. Petersburg Florida and the chap at a dealer there recommended the Pilot Road for long distance. I've popped in a photo of the bugger after it's done more than 15,000 miles and there is still tread left! And roads in the USA are often pretty rough. Anyway, hundreds of bikers turned up over the course of the day. I think the free burgers and cups of tea were the real draw. That and the sight of so many great bikes. Safety chats were hardly going to be top billing now were they?

I was given a little room to show slides and explain to small groups of British bikers how to enjoy touring the States. I had to laugh at the old 2-stroke James Barnet bikes. I had forgotten that back then nearly all the British right-foot gear-change bikes had a gear indicator at the base of the lever. Try reading that at 60mph in pouring filthy rain. I used to try on my Norton 650 Dominator. Duffer I was.

I was only home a few weeks and did a bit of sightseeing to beautiful Clovelly in Devon http://www.devon-online.com/towns/clovelly and started more jobs around my tiny 1876 terraced house. I think I'll never finish. Then it was back to Phoenix and just in time for the Victory BMW Oktoberfest where I finally got to ride the BMW F800GS. That'll be the next blog.

German sausages and more...

I was rooting around the web and reading stuff on www.southwestrides.com (after reading about my ride online they let me join) when I saw that they meet on Wednesdays in Mesa AZ at a German restaurant called Zur Kate. The menu had Sauerbraten, spaetzle, REAL beer, and Bratwurst etc etc. I was pig sick that a meeting kept me from joining them so last night I rode out there to sample the fare. It was very quiet but the food was great and the beer more so. I learned that some Irish chap had visited on the Wednesday night and that he was riding all the way down to Tierra Del Fuego! I would like to have met him, especilly as I have 3 kids living in Ireland. The Manager is a BMW rider and recommended Victory BMW so I was looking forward to this mornings test of the R1200GS. (See test of R1200GS already posted - this is older by 1 day - doh!)
I'll be back in Phoenix mid October and I'll be sure to visit the South West Rides group at Zur Kate and I want to test that F800GS at Victory's Octoberfest. Now how will I find the motivation to renovate my little house in England's rain when I want to be riding in the sun full of German food? Photos are Haslemere UK sunset vs Phoenix AZ sunset. AZ sunsets usually win...

I test the BMW R1200GS

Well I do feel like a twit. I rode my R1 the 5 miles to the dealership and after a fair bit of time and some simple paperwork I climbed aboard QE2, pulled the lanyard to signal we were about to leave port and pottered off. Unfortunately I was only allowed a brief low-mileage ride because the test BMW had failed headlamps so I was on a used one that was for sale. Used for just 1080 miles. I rode through traffic, road works and on the "freeway" to our offices, had Mark Hammer snap some pics and rode back. Sans my backpack...and my Yamaha keys and phone. I had to have Kristen our temp telesales girl come out with the keys to rescue me! I met 2 cops who were BMW fans and they were stunned at my riding 15000 miles on the R1. They said they get stopped for speeding all the time! Fun lads. Impressions? Well this is BMW's biggest seller and EVERYONE and his dog is buying one thanks to Ewan and Boorman. Not this boy. I'll take the KTM 990 Adventure any day...with a thick fur and gel seat added of course. I did appreciate the friendliness of Victory BMW in Chandler AZ. I will be there in October to try the F800GS. The Good the Bad and the Ugly on the Beemer is below.
Good: Gearchange is very slick. I LOVED the gear indicator. Light clutch. Smooth underway (but only from 1000-6000 rpm) and comfortable. Turns well and handles ok. Brakes were superb but less feel than my R1. Centrestand is easy to use in spite of the bikes size and weight.
Bad: Incredible wind noise around my helmet at just 40mph from the angular, tall windscreen. 5 times as noisey as my R1 and NO WAY could I live with that for 99 days! High and Heavy...and I mean SCAREY heavy. See the small rise of the drive in the photo? 3/4". I couldn't pick the bike up off the side stand due to that extra height! I am long legged but even I was tippy-toe at the lights. I HAD to push it to level ground to get on it and to get it upright to ride away. How do they go on on some sandy hillside?
Ugly: The instrument cluster is ugly and chaotic. Looks like Rainer's plastic bedside alarm clock. (Sorry Rainer...time for a new one eh?) The switchgear is infamous for it's odd layout. I guess one gets used to it so no biggy but the supposed self-cancelling indicators never once self cancelled. I never did get used to the odd lift of the front end as one departs the scene in an unhurried fashion (after the R1 this boat is not wickedly quick - trust me). The motor was slightly harsh above 5000rpm and the sideways shaking at tickover was odd but I suppose it's all a part of "the BMW experience". Acceleration to switch lanes in traffic to survive mobile-phone using SUV drivers and grannies was feeble. But again, the R1 has spoiled me rotten and saved my neck many times. I am a BIG believer in fast, furious acceleration potential. Don't always use it but have it on tap.
Overall: Too big and lardy for my tastes. The KTM felt light and nimble by comparison and has a much nicer engine/gearbox/clutch/controls and instruments. The BMW's only great asset seemed to be comfort of the posterior and that can be fixed on almost any bike for 30 quid or so. ($60)
Want to Try Before I Buy: BMW F800GS, KTM 990 Duke, KTM RC8 and the Kawasaki KLR650. Stay posted folks!

Will this ever end?

Probably not.

I am planning a DesignR1 Full Circle UK/Ireland tour in the near future. There are interviews and articles about this ride to get done and I am certain that I will revisit many of the people and places I saw on this Full Circle USA tour. So....

I will from time to time place photos and updates on things. After all, this blog is now a familiar place for me.

I returned to LA to visit Richard Clark and Rak at Mediaworld logistics on Arbor Vitae near LAX airport. I met Richard at The Wheelie School just north of London. It snowed that morning so we were generously offered another go by Paul the owner/trainer. Richard, like myself, has a UK and USA business and curiously I just learned on this visit that they use ACT! software. We are hoping to do some dirt biking together here in California. He has experience, I have never ridden off-road so perhaps I'll get back to Phoenix and chat with T.E.A.M. Arizona riding school about a little training in that sport. What the heck, I haven't broken a bone in over 3 years!

Thanks to all who followed the ride and I wish you a prosperous, happy future. Don't forget the kids.