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.