Motorbikin' Bits and Bobs....

[Fozzer]

Looks like your sorted for the daily grocery run , even be able to rest a bag of spuds on your fairing .

The throw-over bags will come in handy for storing my Pyjamas, toothbrush and toothpaste, comfy slippers, and spare socks and pants, for the overnight-stop visits to my family...

...sorted!.... ...!

Paul.... ... ....!

[Ian Warren]

Done and Dunner !

[Fozzer]

Last Sundays trip with Daisy, from Hereford to Abergavenny (24 miles) to meet up with all the bikers.

A 45 minute video of the return journey back home...so crack out a beer!...>>>

(I had noticed, too late, that I had recorded it at 720 in stead of 1080 resolution....more care needed next time!... :doh: ...)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uoz2fz7dnlhdi ... n.mp4?dl=0

*************************************
Many thanks for the replies, Chums!... ....!

Log...
....glad you like my new (zero miles) MPH speedometer nestling in the chrome and polished aluminium instrument cluster right in front of me all the time!
Much more sensible that the usual speedometer, etc, array fitted to the top of the tank, (like the Harleys, etc,), where you have to take your eyes off the road ahead, and look down, with dire consequences!
(The Harley 48 and 72 have a more sensible arrangement, sitting in between the handlebars!).... ...!
When the needle is at 12-O-clock she is hurrying along at a speed of 45 MPH!
Comfortable speeds range form 40 to 50 MPH with the occasional, exciting burst to 65 MPH!
Speeds of 80 MPH sound like the engine is going to explode...(but it never does!)... ....!
(Cruisers were never designed to go FAST!).... ....!

Tug....
...glad you liked the "music"!.... :dance: ....!
I've decided to remove the sound of the engine, transmission whine, and wind noise, and replace it with comforting mood music instead!
If a narrow angle, 45 degree, single crankpin, Knucklehead or Flathead vee-twin engine was located between my knees I would be more than delighted to include the glorious engine sound.
My 360 degree (BOTH pistons up and down together!) vertical twin engine doesn't sound quite the same!
...and the associated wind and transmission whine noise can be infuriating!
So its music from now on!
(A couple of my Rebel videos I have included the pre-recorder sound of a Harley Davidson...but its easy to hear that its a fake!.... ...).

Camera attachments:
Attached to the Bike....too much camera shake...(British road surfaces)!
Attached to the Helmet....too much spinning around!
Attached to a Chest Harness...the best to view the speedo and the road ahead!

Sound recording:
I've yet to try out my new Digital Sound Recorder...and I need a good quality microphone to go with it.
...'trubble is...I'm not very good at talking on the fly...(unlike my American biker Cousins!).... ....!

I've got loads of videos to show. Problem is I can only upload and store one video at a time on "Dropbox", and I have to take care not to delete them for a while, (to replace them with a different video) resulting in a broken link!
(Uploading to You-Tube is a bit complicated for me, at the moment).... :? ....!

So, there you go Chums...
..thanks for all the replies!


Lots more videos of the Honda Rebel and the Yamaha RX-S 100

Paul.....Weather slowly getting warmer and drier!.... ...!

P.S...I've finally given up on the bikers friendly wave to; "BMW Boxer" riders!. They ignore us like we are carrying some sort of infectious disease!.... ...!

[Ian Warren]

Some of those peoples on the open road were booting it .. vanished in minutes.

[Fozzer]

Some of those peoples on the open road were booting it .. vanished in minutes.

60MPH speed limit on our English Trunk Roads, Ian.

My cruising speed is normally 45-55 MPH, so they mostly overtake me!

(The needle at 12-O'clock on my Speedo reads 45 MPH).

I'm in no hurry to get somewhere!... ...!

Paul....just cruisin'.... ...!

[Fozzer]

Sunday the 3rd of April.

Hello Chums!

The weather was slightly warmer than of late, so I pre-prepared my Sunday Dinner, packed a cheese and pickle sandwich, donned my biking leathers, and took the plunge for a trip to Abergavenny in Wales to meet up with all the other bikers!
A good journey there, but no videos, 'cos its a bit of a rigmarole fitting the camera chest harness to me!
Quite a few bikers there, but the cool weather keeps most of the usual crowd away until it gets; "sunnier"!
Left Abergavenny and took the Dual Carriageway (Freeway) A40 to Monmouth, then climbed up into The Royal Forest of Dean to Coleford and a visit to one of my Sons and Daughter-in-Law.
Then on to Cinderford, still in the Forest, to call on another of my Sons and Daughter-in-Law!
Looked at my watch, and remembering the weather forecast warning of heavy rain in the afternoon, I girded my loins and made my way back out of the Forest (unscathed!) back onto the A49 Trunk road to Ross-on-Wye, and then back to Hereford again on the A49.
Popped into Sainsbury's Superstore to pick up a bottle of Vino and a Chicken Korma for my supper!
Arrived back home to switch on my trusty gas cooker for my Sunday Dinner; Steak and Kidney Pie with everything! (took 30 minutes)....
...Double yummy!

All together, a 100-mile all-round trip on my Honda Cruiser, which was nice, spoilt only by the terrible wind noise in my ears, even with my foam earplugs in...they NEVER work!.... ....
...so I have now ordered a pair of these, in the hope that they work, and prevent my hearing from being destroyed any further!...>>>

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alpine-Motosafe ... TE_3p_dp_1

65+ years of daily motorcycling plays havoc with one's hearing!

Still got funny old weather: Cold at nights and slightly mild during the day!

Come on SUMMER!...I need more Warmth!... ...!

Paul.... ...!

[Ian Warren]

Come on Paul .. NZ roads are more exciting and as Greg found out Yesterday so are the Pie Shops , Funny the parts of the UK are almost the size off the south Island .. fact is we are bigger

[Fozzer]

Come on Paul .. NZ roads are more exciting and as Greg found out Yesterday so are the Pie Shops , Funny the parts of the UK are almost the size off the south Island .. fact is we are bigger

I am curious (as always), Ian.....
.....we English seem to be fascinated with surrounding ourselves, and the countryside, with hedges and fences, which restrict the views in all directions, unlike the USA, where everything is "open"!
American neighbours gardens are like one big open field, whereas we box ourselves in with Privet and Hawthorne hedges!

I ride in the countryside is like a ride down a tunnel of vegetation!

Do the NZ urban and countryside places have the views restricted in the same way as ours?
...or is it open, like the US system?

I long for a ride along Historic Route 66, with no bloody hedges in the way!

Look Ma!...no hedges!...>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ0fEMeyURU

Paul.... ....!

[Ian Warren]

I am curious (as always), Ian.....
.....we English seem to be fascinated with surrounding ourselves, and the countryside, with hedges and fences, which restrict the views in all directions, unlike the USA, where everything is "open"!
American neighbours gardens are like one big open field, whereas we box ourselves in with Privet and Hawthorne hedges!

I ride in the countryside is like a ride down a tunnel of vegetation!

Do the NZ urban and countryside places have the views restricted in the same way as ours?
...or is it open, like the US system?

Around New Zealand its around 40% open and 25% with hedgerow and 35% forest and native bush.

[Fozzer]

Around New Zealand its around 40% open and 25% with hedgerow and 35% forest and native bush.

Ian.... ....

Past experience has taught me to keep well away from natives with; "bushes"..... ....!

Paul.... ... ... ...!

[Ian Warren]

Come on Paul .... fall off your bike , you would love it

[Fozzer]

I don't know why it is, but recently, although I always wear ear plugs on my motorcycle rides, I seem to be suffering very badly with wind noise in my ears.
It can become quite painful at times, and it becomes more noticeable as I become more deaf with increasing age!

I wear an open face helmet (with a drop-down visor) which probably allows wind to enter the helmet, as opposed to a full face helmet.
(The open face helmet allows better/safer visibility all round).

I purchased (£23) these motorcycle filter ear plugs the other day, and tried them out on a long ride last Sunday (150 miles)....>>>

https://www.alpinehearingprotection.co.uk/motorcycle/

In anticipation of a noisy ride, I used the maximum filter in the plugs. Even so, unless the plugs are firmly fitted deep into the ear canal, wind noise can easily by-pass them!

There is nothing more uncomfortable than excessive wind, etc, noise in the ear-'oles!
(Apart from getting an ear-bending from the Missus after arriving home late from the Pub).

I'm sure, after 65+ years of daily motorcycling, my hearing has probably suffered somewhat over the years!

...Pardon?.... ...!

Paul.... ...!

Next on the list: A new, tight-fitting, open face helmet.... ...!
(I'm sure my old head has shrunk since I purchased my present helmet!).

[Ian Warren]

Always a fullfaced helmet rider, lot more comfy when riding in the rain and winter.

[deeknow]

I've tried ear-plugs a few times, esp when going on touring rides where I think there'll be some boring motorway bits, but I just can't stand the way they dull the sound of the motor, you lose almost all the feedback that makes it fun if you ask me. So ... no more ear plugs for me, I'd sooner go deaf

PS, I know its not a "motor" bike but I bought this a couple of weeks ago, been commuting on it and planning to ride in the local Cyclocross winter series here in Hamilton coming up over next few months. Should be some good ole dirty fun It's even got disk-brakes which makes me feel like I'm on my motorbike on the downhills at least

[Fozzer]

I've tried ear-plugs a few times, esp when going on touring rides where I think there'll be some boring motorway bits, but I just can't stand the way they dull the sound of the motor, you lose almost all the feedback that makes it fun if you ask me. So ... no more ear plugs for me, I'd sooner go deaf

PS, I know its not a "motor" bike but I bought this a couple of weeks ago, been commuting on it and planning to ride in the local Cyclocross winter series here in Hamilton coming up over next few months. Should be some good ole dirty fun It's even got disk-brakes which makes me feel like I'm on my motorbike on the downhills at least

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1646/260 ... fe_z_d.jpg

I love the sound of my various motors; singles, (triples?) twins, fours; 4-stroke and 2-stroke..... ...!

...its the high pressure, "white noise", created by the wind in the ears, that causes so much pain and discomfort!

The ground-shaking sound of a 90 degree vee-twin Ducati 999, or Harley Davidson 45 degree vee-twin Knucklehead or Flathead is to die for, but it is drowned out by all the howling wind noise in my ears...in my "open face" helmet!
(Full face helmets are far too claustrophobic for me, and restrict all round, safe vision).



Short trips to the shops at <25MPH are fine, but any speed over 40MPH, especially into a head-wind, without any ear protection, is a recipe for drastic hearing loss over time!
Hearing loss due to my "old age" is bad enough, and I don't want to increase the speed of loss if I can possibly help it!
Any loss of hearing cannot be recovered!

Push Bikes!
Some of my motor-biking family are now into "off-roading" on their VERY EXPENSIVE Mountain bikes!
Their new Push Bikes cost more than some of my Motorbikes!

In my opinion, Push Bikes need a nice vee-twin engine fitted in the frame.... ....!

Paul...still experimenting with various ear plugs... ...!

[Fozzer]

Recent video recording of my exciting? shopping trip to Sainsbury's and back again... ....>>>

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wqfneea1o5hik ... l.mp4?dl=0

Sorry for the water on the lens at the beginning.... ....

...and the horrendous sound recorded in my SJ Cam 4000 video camera (Go-Pro type)!

I'm still experimenting with trying to record sound via a separate sound recorder and quality clip-on microphone!
(The mics fitted inside the video cameras really don't work very successfully!).

Trying to find somewhere to fit the camera, on the bike or on me, for all occasions, is always a headache!
The tight-fitting chest harness restrict my breathing.... ....
..and I always feel like a a prat, with the camera stuck on my Helmet....folks point and laugh!... ...!
I have yet to find a successful way of fitting the Camera safely to my Honda Cruiser Motorcycle (Handlebar camera clips always break off!).

So, there you go Chums....The trip was successful and I came home with lots of goodies to eat and drink!... ....!

Weather getting warmer...more video trips on the way! ........!

Paul..... ...!

[Ian Warren]

And I'd still gotta dig up the other Paul's Mo Moo .. thing with two wheels .

[Fozzer]

Well....

...I just think I wasted £23 on those fancy, filtered Ear Plugs.....>>> https://www.alpinehearingprotection.co.uk/motorcycle/ .... ....!

The reason being, is that they are designed to let external sounds pass through them via a small vented filter!

This allows all the sort of noises through, that I am trying to block-out!

This afternoon was a nice warm sunny day, so I got out my old squidgy ear plugs; this sort...>>>

http://www.thesafetysupplycompany.co.uk ... 0wod_lEMWQ

Warmed up my engine while I twirled the ear plugs between my thumb an fingers to reduce their size, and inserted them as deep into my ears as I could, which then expanded, making sure that they completely blocked my ear canals....
Wheeled my bike out onto the road and enjoyed a fantastic trip around the countryside with just the hum of my engine being transmitted through my cranium/skull...(including close-up speech with the Petrol Station Attendant!).
No more screaming wind noise destroying my hearing, allowing a much more pleasant and safer ride!

Although the foam ear plugs are cheap and cheerful, the secret is to make sure that they fit properly, deep inside the ear canal to block out all high pressure sound waves!

I hope I have now cured the problem!.... ....!

Paul....Wind in the hair.....but not in the ears!.... ...!

[Fozzer]

Its a wet, bloody miserable day, here in England, so no Motorbiking!.... ...!

So...in between preparing and cooking...and eating some fantastic meals....

I am "Chrome-casting" some youtube videos from my PC to my TV, to watch whilst I devour my culinary creations in comfort!!

Today its a trip from Bishop to Reno, up the I-395, amongst some breath-taking Sierra Nevada scenery!

https://youtu.be/SbwujqhE2sI

Wishing I was there on my Motorcycle!

(A journey I often take in my Cessna 150 in FSX).... ....!

Paul.... ...!

[Fozzer]

Latest updates to Fozzer's exciting; "World Of Motorcycles"...>>>>

http://forums.simviation.com/phpBB3/vie ... &start=390

Two wheels, and a big grin!... ...!

Paul.... ....!