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Essex Advanced Motorcyclist Group
February 2015
Welcome to TUG Chairman’s Piece
2
Test Passes
4
Membership Info
7
Observer Coordinator
8
Reveiller Rides 2015
12
Dates for the Diary
20
A Year with the KTM
21
Membership Renewal
22
Picture Gallery
28
Enjoy the read and special thanks to John Tullet & Chris Johnson who have contributed a lot to recent issues of Tug. Without their contributions I think TUG would have hung up it’s boots!
Africa Experience
32
Events Report
37
Destination Rated
41
Remember please email any articles, pictures or other stuff to cchilds@eamg.org.uk.
Further Training
42
Dear Members, The holiday season is over and it was back to work for many of us, I hope you had a great Christmas and a not too heavy New Year, I inadvertently overdid the New Year as a certain celebratory Cuban cigar did not go down too well and I felt rough for days! February looks like being a proper cold one. As I write this, the outlook suggests car weather for a while longer. Lets hope spring comes early so we can look forward to some great riding in 2015!
Colin
Editor
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And follow us on Twitter.
Essex Advanced Motorcyclist Group Promoting Excellence in Motorcycling Since 1982
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CHAIRMAN’S PIECE February 2015 Ok, so the weather's not been particularly motorcycle friendly since before Christmas but there is at least less winter in front of us than behind. Whilst the road conditions have not been great, we have, at least, not been blessed by the weather forecast by the doom and despondency brokers in the press. It was therefore fantastic that when Richard Parker and I arranged a social ride for all members on Sunday 11th January that we had a huge turnout of 33 riders and 1 pillion. Sure, it was chilly but the roads were predominantly dry except where Essex Highways had applied excessive amounts of salt to the roads around Gt. Dunmow and the further we rode the drier the roads were. Setting off in two Groups about 5 minutes apart we all arrived at the Red Lodge Cafe about the same time apart. The standard of riding and control was pleasing to watch and everyone, with out exception, had a thoroughly enjoyable days riding. With so many riders out, perhaps the formula of having a social ride for associates on the same day as the Full member rides to the same destination over the same or similar route may be the way to encourage greater participation amongst the group. To this end, I will run a ride alongside Richard's next couple of rides to try to get us all out and about! Unfortunately, Steve and Lester Harris of Harris Performance in Hertford will now be unable to be our guest speakers in March as Steve has to fly to the United States on business on that day so I will try to rearrange for them to come along later in the year. This Group Night is the AGM so please come along and show support for the Committee which works hard in the background to keep EAMG running and organising events and marketing the Group. It is quite a thankless task but we are always looking for extra hands on board to help out and spread the load - many hands make light work as they say! Later in the year I also intend to run three midweek rides to military sites of interest. I will be riding to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in Lincolnshire, the Muck-
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leburgh Military Collection on the North Norfolk Coast and the Tank Museum at Bovington in Dorset. If you are interested in these trips then please keep an eye on the EAMG Forum or the EAMG facebook page for details. The traditional Easter Saturday run to the Super Sausage Cafe falls on 4th April this year and is a great day out in the Spring sunshine that I have arranged specially! Details of this ride have already been posted on Facebook and the EAMG Forum. Looking forward to riding with you in 2015 Chris Reed Remember, it's not how fast you ride, it's how you ride fast!
Essex Advanced Motorcyclist Group Promoting Excellence in Motorcycling Since 1982
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CONGRATULATIONS Recent Test Passes John Tullet 10th January 2015 RoSPA Re-Test (Gold) Examiner Mark Anderson
Steve Marler 9th November 2014 RoSPA Test (Bronze) Examiner Mick Jones Observer Phil Jones
Michel Couque 6th December 2014 RoSPA Re-Test (Gold) Examiner Tony Gabb
Fiona Newsome 13th December 2014 RoSPA Test (Bronze) Examiner Mark Anderson Observer Geoff Preston
Laura Windram 7th December 2014 RoSPA Re-Test (Gold) Examiner Graham Allen
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MOTORCYCLE TYRES AND TUBES RIDE IN RIDE OUT FITTED FREE
Car and Van Tyres
All Makes — All Sizes Vintage Classic Modern Road Off Road Race
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T: 0844 888 0999 F: 0844 888 4190
www.ridemaster.co.uk “If you have a crash and it wasn’t your fault we can manage your claim free of charge. That means we will represent you and communicate with your insurance company, the at -fault insurance company, your repairer and, most importantly, YOU to resolve liability in your favour and manage your claim until your bike is back with you, fully repaired. In the unfortunate event that a bike is damaged, bikers may not be aware that once their insurer is notified, the insurer will arrange for their approved repairer to collect their bike. This may not be ideal for a number of reasons, that’s why Ridemaster will work with your chosen local repairer where they know you and know your bikes’ history. Call Ridemaster first and we’ll take the pain out of a bad day.”
Page 9
Membership Information Dear Members & Prospective Members, The membership form is on the website or page 22 if you wish to join or if you are renewing. If you have paid up and haven’t received your membership card please let a committee member know. Please also note the feedback form on page 18 it will be most helpful if as many members as possible can fill one in and get them to John Tullett. Also please remember to spread the word about EAMG, recommendation is such a valuable tool and current members are always the best advocates for what a good group this is.
Membership Fees for 2015
New Associate Members
...£55.00 (Includes AGT Training)
Associate Member Renewal
...£40.00 (Includes AGT Training)
Full Member Renewal
...£25.00
Social Member
...£25.00
Full Member Training
...£20.00
(For more information on Full Member Training see page 42)
Membership
Number
Full
119
Associate
43
Social
1
Total
163
Essex Advanced Motorcyclist Group Promoting Excellence in Motorcycling Since 1982
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OBSERVER COORDINATOR John Tullett Associate Group Training If you experience the rest of the attendees suddenly breaking into song then there is a good chance that you will have gone to the wrong room as, for 2015, we will be holding our AGTs in the Sixth Form Common Room at Moulsham School, which is located on the first floor just to the left of the Refectory. The Sixth Form Common Room proved to be a popular choice with those who attended the October 2014 AGT, when we were relocated as a result of a double booking. Some perceived that the room offered better acoustics but more were likely to have been influenced by the presence of a coffee machine.... Our first AGT of the year is scheduled for 8th February with a Q&A session starting at 09:30 prompt. After the January break, it would be great to see high attendance levels. Group Nights Towards the end of 2014 Sarah Jackson approached me with an idea for a Group Night speaker and, as a result, I am pleased to confirm that we have Gary Taylor booked to speak at our Group Night meeting on 7th April. Gary runs the Experience Africa trips for Riders For Health and Sarah and her other half Nick are signed up for 2016. Hopefully, they will be supplying articles for TUG to keep us informed about their trip. You can find out more via their blog at https://www.justgiving.com/2-Wheels-4-Zambia/ We also have the ever popular Gary Baldwin from Rapid Training booked to speak at the Group Night meeting on 5th May. If you have any ideas for speakers you would like to see at a future Group Night then please have a word with any member of the Committee. Member Feedback I received some feedback to my October 2014 column, where I had been questioning why we sometimes experience disappointing attendance levels at some training events. Unfortunately, I could not fully investigate the matters raised - which I believe dated from 2012 - as the member did not wish to make an issue of them. Nevertheless, two points were agreed at the November Committee meeting, as follows:
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1.
Group members who have any concerns or problems relating to their training should contact me, as Observer Coordinator, as soon as possible to enable them to be addressed. Issues raised will be treated with full confidentiality; and
2.
Some Group members might find it beneficial for the differences between FMT and FTFM, which do sound quite similar, to be further clarified.
Full Member Training (FMT) John Tipper has been running Full Member Training (FMT) days for many years and these offer a great way of enabling full members to identify/address any bad habits whilst developing their riding skills. You will be riding with a RoSPA Gold (or higher) level Observer and, usually, one other full member over a predefined route of around 200 miles. This will give you an opportunity to ride on some unfamiliar roads and periodically 'take a break' while the second full member is being observed. You will be debriefed during the ride and given a comprehensive ride report form. Several refreshment stops are incorporated into each route. The cost to attend a FMT day is ÂŁ45 (considerably less than comparable commercial training). John Tipper takes great care to ensure that each 'pair' of riders are matched in terms of their experience levels, ability and aspirations. Many full members have attended FMTs prior to taking a RoSPA test or re-test; to check their riding skills; or to prepare for Observer training. Further Training for Full Members (FTFM) Further Training for Full Members (FTFM) is a relatively recent introduction and provides full members with an opportunity to attend training with a personal 1-to-1 Observer, in the same way that they would have done as an Associate. We request full members to make a ÂŁ10 contribution for each ride to help offset observer expenses. Your Observer will be at least RoSPA Gold level. It is difficult to provide precise guidance on the mileage and duration of a FTFM ride, as inevitably there will be some variations in approach between different Observers and the requirements of the full member undergoing training. A typical Associate training ride is likely to cover 40-60 miles but, in comparison, a FTFM ride will probably cover a slightly higher distance - if only because the need to stop and discuss riding issues should be reduced. Most Full members sign up for FTFM to help prepare to take a RoSPA test or retest but FTFM can also be used to help address specific riding issues or to develop your riding skills. Your Observer will be seeking to train you to a standard where you can achieve a
Essex Advanced Motorcyclist Group Promoting Excellence in Motorcycling Since 1982
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good level RoSPA pass. You can sign up for FTFM when you complete your membership form or you can pay your additional ÂŁ20 at any time during the year, whenever it is most convenient for you. Just let me know and I will allocate you to a suitable Observer. FTFM is designed to be flexible, so if you want to pay when you submit your membership form but to commence your training later in the year that is no problem. By having a series of rides with your 1-to-1 Observer, FTFM will enable you to demonstrate that any riding issues identified at the start of your training are addressed before you take a retest or achieve your training objectives. If there is sufficient Observer capacity at AGTs Full members signed up for FTFM will be able to attend an observed ride, but we will give priority to Associate members (as Full members have the option of attending a social ride at the AGT). Pre-Riding Checks I heard of a recent case where a member achieved a test pass but the grade was downgraded because they were not fully conversant with 'POWER' machine checks. I would like to think this was an isolated instance, given how critical it is to always ensure a bike is roadworthy before you ride it, but it offers a salutary reminder to the rest of us of how important it is to fully prepare for tests and retests. I was recently reminded why machine checks are important when I wanted to practise some slow riding, only to be confronted by a screw neatly embedded in my flat rear tyre. POWER - The 'old' version of Motorcycle Roadcraft used this mnemonic to cover: Petrol; Oil; Water; Electrics; & Rubber checks. POWERSBEST - Is the standard checklist adopted by EAMG since 2006 (when John Tipper discussed these checks at an AGT and included a related article in TUG) : POWER as above, plus Steering; Brakes; Equipment; Suspension; & Transmission checks. POWDDERSS - Is the checklist in the 2013 version of Motorcycle Roadcraft and this covers: Petrol; Oil; Water; Damage/Drive; Electrics; Rubber; Steering/Suspension checks. You should pick a checklist that works for you and is tailored to your bike. It is important that you actually know how to perform the checks and what the settings are for your bike as the examiner is likely to ask some additional questions to confirm your level
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of knowledge. Expect The Unexpected I was reminded of the need to 'expect the unexpected' on a recent practise ride. While checking over my VFR I spotted that some mice had enjoyed chewing a cloth and plastic bag located under the seat (although my cats have some explaining to do this was not too unexpected, as a mouse nest had been discovered in the air box when I sold my old FireBlade to Allenby Motorcycles). After completing my pre-ride checks and making sure that no vital wires or brake lines had been nibbled I set off and all was going well until I reached Shonks Mill Road, near Stanford Rivers, about 15 miles into my ride. I was just exiting a left hand bend before entering a tight right hander, so grabbed a quick glance into my left mirror only to spot a mouse contentedly sitting on the back of my glove seemingly enjoying the ride. Fortunately, having kept pet rats for many years, this did not distract me too much and I returned my attention to the fast approaching bend and away from the metal roadside barriers ahead. When I looked again the mouse had disappeared, I am not sure if he decided to jump off or to return to the nice warm fairing cavity. In future I can see I will have to add an extra 'R' (for rodents) to my pre-ride checks. Should any members have any training related queries then please contact me on 01277 623860 (before 21:30 please), text 07570 992801, e-mail jtullett@eamg.org.uk or send me a PM via the Message Board.
Essex Advanced Motorcyclist Group Promoting Excellence in Motorcycling Since 1982
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REVEILLER RIDES—2015 ITINERARY By John & Audrey Tipper It seems eons ago since Audrey suggested it’s time to redecorate the house! Straightforward decoration is simple enough but add a job list that goes back several years and you have a task that’ll take months; and so it was. Our enthusiasm got the better of us when we ordered new carpet, new bed and furniture suite before purchasing paint and brushes; Fishpools had to store everything for months, we just weren’t ready! Nevertheless, we now have somewhere to sleep, sit and turn our thoughts to riding this year. We’ve already received several enquiries about our itinerary so apologies for being a little vague, concentrating on the house, we really weren’t sure but we will be running two rides to Germany. Why not France I hear you say? With tales of over pricing and gendarmes hiding behind bushes with radar guns raising revenue by dishing out €90.00 (or more) fines, our appetite for France is waning a little so I make no apologies for planning two rides to Germany. Full details will be available at February’s Group night. In the meantime, here is a brief summary of the rides we’re organising. If you’d like further information, please come and see us at Group nights or email me at info@reveillerrides.co.uk
RV1501 12 Days
Tue 30 Jun to Sun 12 July
Schwarzwald & Bavaria
Bordering with Austria, our south eastern location in Bavaria is mountainous and truly spectacular. Our four star hotel where we stay for five nights is located in Ruhpolding. Boasting a fully equipped wellness centre including an indoor swimming pool, Finnish sauna, aromatic steam bath, Japanese mineral stone bath, shower garden, relaxing room and, weather permitting, sunbathing in the Japanese garden, we’re sure to be spoilt for choice. A free bus pass covering the local area and a free pass for the Rauschberg cable car will be available, ideal for those riders or riders with spouses wishing to relax to take time off the bike. Spouses uncomfortable riding long distances but would like to join us at the hotel in Ruhpolding can fly into Salzburg Airport and we’ll arrange for the hotel minibus to pick you up. For riders wishing to enjoy the roads and scenery of the region, the picturesque alpine village of Ruhpolding is located on the Deutsche Alpenstrasse, Germany’s famous alpine
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road so great riding abounds. The quaint villages of Reit im Winkl, Inzell and Berchtesgaden are all within easy reach and the Austrian city of Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace, is just a short ride away. A ride to Rossfeld Strasse, its summit overlooking Ober-Salzburg to Austria and “Kehlsteinhaus”, Hitler's "Eagle's Nest", designed and built for the dictator’s 50th Birthday, will be on our optional ‘excursion’ schedule. While in the area, we can also visit the underground salt mine in Berchtesgarden, Lake Konigsee for a beautiful lake cruise and Germany’s Olympic Bobsleigh run. We also hope to arrange for Rudi, the hotel owner, to lead us on a ride over the 2,505 meter Grossglockner pass from Austria to Italy.
Taking an afternoon Eurotunnel crossing, we’ll spend our first night close to Calais ensuring that our ride through the Ardennes and leafy forests of Belgium to Luxembourg gets off to a great start. We continue southeast to a Motorad approved hotel located in the heart of Schwarzwald, Germany’s Black Forest. We can’t miss the opportunity to ride some of the superb roads of this region so we have booked for two nights. We then continue east across the Schwäbische Alb (Swabian Jura) a low mountain range in Baden-Wütteremberg, before joining a short stretch of Autobahn. Turning south to avoid München Centre we pick up the Deutsche Alpenstrasse at Bernau for our picturesque run to Ruhpolding. Our return to Calais takes a more northern route via three overnight stops; our final night’s accommodation being within 100 miles of Calais enabling us to take an early afternoon Le Shuttle crossing.
Essex Advanced Motorcyclist Group Promoting Excellence in Motorcycling Since 1982
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RV1502
Mid September – Thuringia, Germany
Our ride to the Harz Mountains last year was a revelation. We found this former GDR jewel eye wateringly spectacular and the riding wasn’t bad either. Deserted, billiard table smooth tarmac through open, flowing countryside intermixed with forests and quaint, half-timbered towns and villages. “Why haven’t I thought of this region before” was a striking comment made to me by one of the Group’s most experienced bike tourists.
Thuringia nestles between the Harz and Northern Bavaria, in the heart of Germany. Audrey and I haven’t been to this region before but we are planning a visit in February to check it out. Oberhof, is world famous for its langlauf (cross country) skiing centre and hosting the Biathlon World Cup so we’ll have to hope we can drive there in winter! Details of this six or seven days ride will be announced in March. If for any reason this doesn’t work out, we’ll organise a 5 day ride to the Ardennes and Mosel using Luxembourg as our base. About Us We can think of few more stimulating ways to see a country than from the seat of a motorcycle. Whether or not you’re away for a quick hop over the Channel or on a full multi-day tour, you’re sure to return home feeling invigorated having forgotten life’s every day routine. If you feel the same, join us to experience the stunning scenery, outstanding traffic free biking roads and biker friendly people that Europe has to offer. Our 2015 program presents a variety of rides that suit all tastes. For new members or those who don’t know us, we have been EAMG members since 1992; I have been an Observer with the Group since 1995 and both Audrey and I hold RoSPA Gold certificates. Having ridden abroad regularly for well over 20 years and organised UK and European rides on a voluntary basis for EAMG for over 10 years, we
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have the experience to provide you with the opportunity to enjoy some of the best biking roads, whether or not you’ve ridden abroad before, as well as providing a great way of meeting other members with interests similar to our own. Individual aspirations and ability vary so great care is taken to ensure no one has to ride above their comfort zone without restricting expectations of more experienced riders. We ride with you unless you prefer to ride with your own group of friends or ride individually. We’ll select wonderful routes for you to ride, provide detailed route plans, arrange Channel crossings and accommodation predominantly in 3 or 4 Star hotels, most having been visited and approved by us; many will have swimming pools so be sure to take your cossie! Our rides are open to all members of the Group, including Associates but please be realistic. Make sure you are comfortable with the Estimated Daily Mileages (EDM) shown when the ride details are announced. Places are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. It is a requirement that you have: Personal Medical Insurance, Roadside Recovery and Repatriation Insurance and carry an EEC Health Insurance Card which is available at http:// www.ehic.org.uk. We are all passionate about our bikes, we love riding and we love the freedom they give us. You have the opportunity to savour some of the best roads we’ve ridden and to experience the warm hospitality that we have enjoyed. There is no better way to see a country, to feel the ambience and to relish the stunning scenery than by motorcycle. If you’ve not ridden with us before, see our pictures on www.reveillerrides.smugmug.com for a flavour of what’s available to you. Our sincere thanks to those who have joined us before, we hope our plans for 2015 appeal to you; we would be delighted if you can join us again this year. John & Audrey Tipper info@reveillerrides.co.uk
Essex Advanced Motorcyclist Group Promoting Excellence in Motorcycling Since 1982
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Professional, bespoke service available 24/7 Immediate, no obligation quote
If you can’t afford a helicopter 2b Transport is the next best thing!!
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EAMG Members are you looking to renew your bike, car or household insurance? If so why not try Carole Nash, you maybe able to earn the group a donation. Please use the number below and quote the reference number
0800 083 4422 Quote Ref 1460
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P. McKelvey & Co Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors
Services available include:
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St Lawrence House 2 Gridiron Place Upminster Essex RM14 2BE
All Full Member Rides will leave Sainsburys Springfield, Chelmsford, at 9.30am
Page 22
2015 February
March
3rd 8th 22nd
Group Night - AGM AGT & Full Member Ride Richards Full Member Ride (Depart from Sainsburys, Springfield 9.30am) 22nd WSB Season Starts 13—15th Motorcycle Live London 3rd 8th 15th 22nd 29th 29th
April
4th 4th 7th 12th 26th
May
3rd 5th 10th 17th 24th 30th 31st
Diary 2014
June
2nd 7th 14th 21st 28th
Group Night AGT & Full Member Ride (9.15 Start Moulsham School) Observer Peer to Peer Ride Richards Full Member Ride (Depart from Sainsburys, Springfield 9.30am) Full Member Training MotoGP Season Starts Super Sausage Run (Provisional Date) BSB Season Starts Group Night (Gary Taylor from Riders for Health) AGT & Full Member Ride (9.15 Start Moulsham School) Richards Full Member Ride (Depart from Sainsburys, Springfield 9.30am) Geoff Prestons Day Trip to France Group Night (Gary Baldwin from Rapid Training) AGT & Full Member Ride (9.15 Start Moulsham School) Observer Peer to Peer Ride Full Member Training Isle of Man TT Richards Full Member Ride (Depart from Sainsburys, Springfield 9.30am) Group Night AGT & Full Member Ride (9.15 Start Moulsham School) Slow Riding Day Boys Toys @ Hylands Park Richards Full Member Ride (Depart from Sainsburys, Springfield 9.30am)
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A YEAR WITH THE KTM 1190 Chris Johnson I bought a KTM 1190 Adventure in late November 2013 to replace the unloved FJR 1300. After a year and a moderate 7000 miles it is time to take stock of it. There are any number of reviews of the KTM available online, made by experienced professional motorcycle journalists, which give a balanced appraisal of the bike and its capabilities. I shall not attempt to emulate them; suffice to say that it is probably the most capable of the current crop of Adventure bikes off-road. Since I, in common with the vast majority of riders of such bikes, never venture off-road if I can avoid it this capability is irrelevant. My overall impression is that it is a powerful but very stable bike which is great fun, and very comfortable, to ride , but gives no surprises. Bad roads, greasy surfaces, gravel ... it does not twitch, slip or squirm; unlike any other bike I have ever known except for the Fireblade. Before singing its praises in detail here are a few minor quibbles: Price - it is not a cheap bike. you could buy yourself a Yamaha MT07, ship it to the USA, have a fortnight's riding there staying at good hotels, and end up with a week in a top-end New Orleans brothel and still have change from the purchase price. Maintenance - my 'man' in Penge, when informed that I had bought a KTM, told me that he did not service them. He had tried and they took twice as long as other bikes. In truth you do need a lot more than a set of spanners, some cross-head screwdrivers, and a few Allen keys for routine maintenance. Changing the headlamp bulb requires the removal of eight pieces of bodywork held on by 34 Torx screws (of three different types) and a bolt. The toolkit which comes with the bike reflects this; it is more than double the size of normal ones and contains a couple of items which seem more suitable for a gynaecologist than a bike mechanic. I used it recently to try to remove the tax disc holder. I found a suitable Torx bit, and a crossbar but, even with a steel tube as an extension rod the bolt was rock solid. My impact screwdriver needed two adapters in tandem to fit the bit, and there was too much give in the column for any real impact effect. I gave up. My 'man' was right. Cleaning - I am not much of a one for cleaning a bike. After a winter or wet run I will hose it down to remove salt and crud., but washing with detergent is more sporadic, and polish is unheard of. I guess an unfaired bike is going to be more difficult anyway, but with the possible exception of the front mudguard the brute is a nightmare to clean. Where other bike manufacturers would use steel tube or an alloy beam KTM prefer alloy girder struts with complex external reinforcing flanges. To clean those you need a pressure washer or a plentiful supply of cotton buds and more patience than Job. Imagine cleaning a bike made from Meccano and you will get the general idea. Then there are the spoked wheels, a silencer mounted so snugly that its inner side can only be cleaned by poking down a thin strip of cloth to act as a loofah, and a mass of tubes and components behind the engine which look like a small, but Continued on Page 30>
Essex Advanced Motorcyclist Group Promoting Excellence in Motorcycling Since 1982
Building, Civil Engineering and Maintenance
Extensions - Garages - Loft Conversions
Blockpaving Driveways - Patios
All Types of Roofing
Carpentry - Brickwork
Water Main and Sewer Repairs and Renewal
Fencing - Replacement Windows (uPVC, Hardwood, Aluminium)
uPVC Cladding, Fascias, Soffits
Underpinning - Landscaping
Painting and Decorating Fully Insured (But not yet Needed!)
For free no-obligation quote, phone Clint on
01621 828276 (Office) 07836 277223 (Mobile) Domestic and Commercial Work Undertaken Insurance Work also Welcome Member of The Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors Flagstaff Farm, Green Lane, Althorne, Essex, CM3 6BQ
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5th 7th 12th 19th 26th
August
2nd 4th 9th 23rd
September
1st 6th 6th 13th 20th
October
4th 6th 11th 18th 25th
November
1st 3rd 8th
December
1st 6th 13th
Richards Full Member Ride (Depart from Sainsburys, Springfield 9.30am) Group Night AGT & Full Member Ride Observer Peer to Peer Ride Full Member Training Richards Full Member Ride (Depart from Sainsburys, Springfield 9.30am) Group Night AGT & Full Member Ride Audrey & Johns Social Ride Group Night AGT & Full Member Ride Air Ambulance Run (Departs from Ford Dunton) Richards Full Member Ride (Depart from Sainsburys, Springfield 9.30am) Slow Riding Day
Group Nights @ 19:30, AGTs @ 9:15 am
July
Richards Full Member Ride (Depart from Sainsburys, Springfield 9.30am) Group Night AGT & Full Member Ride Full Member Training Observer Peer to Peer Ride Richards Full Member Ride (Depart from Sainsburys, Springfield 9.30am) Group Night AGT & Full Member Ride Group Night AGT & Full Member Ride Richards Full Member Ride (Depart from Sainsburys, Springfield 9.30am)
Diary 2014
Essex Advanced Motorcyclist Group Promoting Excellence in Motorcycling Since 1982
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Picture Gallery ■ Picture Gallery ■ Picture
Christmas Quiz Night
www.eamg.org.uk
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Gallery ■ Picture Gallery ■ Picture Gallery January Group Night
Red Lodge Run
Essex Advanced Motorcyclist Group Promoting Excellence in Motorcycling Since 1982
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<Continued from Page 21
complex, oil refinery. People like Paul Steggles might see this as a challenge. I am not like Paul Steggles. Alternator - The clever electrics in the bike consume pretty much all the power the alternator can produce. In winter if you use the heated grips and a heated jacket the battery will gradually discharge. It does not have a vigorous turnover at the best of times, so you learn always to leave it connected to a conditioning charger when garaged. Horn - it has a horn button, and there appears to be a horn hidden under the headlamp. However, unless you remove your earplugs and stick your head between the forks, pressing the horn button produces no perceptible noise. If you actually want to give audible warning to other road users a useful enhancement would be to fit a bicycle bell. Size - it is a big bike. Short-arses like me learn to dread stopping it on anything other than level ground. However, it is an Adventure bike, they are tall by design, you bought it whilst presumably in your right mind, so stop complaining and get over it, Chris! Gearshift - tricky to find neutral when the bike is warmed up. Throttle - I shouldn't really grumble about this. It has a fly-by-wire throttle. On the oldfashioned mechanical systems rolling up beyond half throttle made very little difference until the revs were high, since the physics of induction meant that a larger opening was only significant for high air volumes. On the KTM opening to half throttle is interpreted as meaning "I want half the power which I could get at these revs" and that is what it delivers. If you want to go ape then you have to cramp your wrist and wind it right open. Actually in the first three gears you also need to turn off the traction control as well. I liked the old-fashioned behaviour, which means I ideally would like the ultra-modern technology to simulate the incidental behaviour of one which is over a hundred years old. In all honesty I have to admit that even at half throttle the acceleration is ballistic. V-twin - after 40 years of inline fours the engine still seems lumpy and ready to stall below 3000 rpm. This means that for slow speed turns, such as after a traffic light, I tend to treat it as a slow -riding exercise and use clutch and rear brake as well as throttle. This is almost certainly a problem with the rider, and not the bike. On the plus side, see Handling below. Recalls - when I took the bike in to have the new stability control software installed they also fixed four or five 'recall' features. Since these seemed less than fundamental I am not sure whether this should count as a minus, or a plus for unusually conscientious interpretation of warranty responsibilities. I think that has dredged the barrel for things I could find to grumble about. Now for some more positive features: Handling - is very good indeed. It always feels 'planted' and secure, even on bad road surfaces. Judging by the tyre wear they have a harder composition than any tyre I have ridden on since the infamous bakelite Dunlop K505's which came with the Divvie, but the roadholding seems as
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good as with soft sports rubber. I think this is a tribute to the suspension design rather than the traction control, since if that was cutting in a light would flash, and it doesn't. Actually a V-twin is said to be 'grippier' than an inline four because the uneven firing sequence gives the tyres time to relax slightly, although this seems counter-intuitive to me. I really like this predictability, since I am not one of those muscular types who enjoys mastering a bike's deficiencies. Performance - more than adequate. I like the urgency of the acceleration, and on the rare occasions when I have experimented with Rain Mode, which restricts the output to 100 bhp and softens the responses, I miss it. They say you do not need more than 90 bhp on a road bike, but the extra 60 are good to have in reserve. Electronic Gubbins - it certainly has a lot of these, including a very advanced stability control system. I have no objections in principle to ABS and traction control, but I would hate to ride in a manner which relied on them. I see them as something which potentially could save my butt if I hit a patch of diesel whilst cornering, but I would be unhappy if the lights showing they had been activated came on during normal riding, with the possible exception of teaching a Subaru Impreza its place in the pecking order at the traffic lights GP. The suspension is also set electrically. It is not adaptive; just a substitute for clicking and twirling adjusters. This means that, when I enquired, MCT could not set up the suspension since it meant changing constants in the ECU program. I am happy with the suspension at its factory setting for Street use, although I have Sport and Comfort modes available, and can also set for the load on the bike but I seldom carry loads or a pillion (I suppose this might be useful after a substantial all -day breakfast). There is a comprehensive menu of things you can set and display; so much in fact that using the menu system when riding is a folly akin to texting. You can set up your favourites for primary display (heated grip setting, trip mileage, air temperature, battery voltage and fuel consumption are mine during the winter). There is a tyre pressure monitoring system, but this just records changes since you set out rather than absolute pressures, so you still have to freeze your fingers undoing dust caps before setting out on a cold morning. Since you can normally feel if a tyre is down 2 or 3 psi by the handling of a bike I am not sure of its value. Finish - some question the finish on KTM's but apart from the silencer end cap, which corroded and was replaced under warranty, it seems to have held up to winter riding quite well. Ask me again in a few years. In conclusion the proof of the pudding with the KTM is that I now ride it in preference to the Blade; my long-time love. It doesn't brake quite as well as the Blade, but then nothing does, and it probably cannot corner as fast, but once again my days of scraping footpegs have been over since I broke a few ribs seven years ago. However I can ride 300 very enjoyable miles on it and arrive back home without feeling totally knackered. It is not a purchase I regret in the slightest. I just wish my legs were a tiny bit longer.
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The Experience Africa Experience Nick Jackson, Associate Member It was MotoGP at Silverstone 2012, fellow associate Sarah Jackson (yep Mrs Jackson) and I were at the event for the complete three days as we had been every year since 2010. We love MotoGP, and are both nerdy enough to want to attend the complete weekend. But, you don’t sit on yer backside in the stand for the whole three days, you peruse the exhibits, and…. stuff. Experiencing the citadel of motorsport is fantastic, as well as the privilege of paying through the nose for a cup of tea or a sandwich. So it was that we came across the Riders For Health (now just ‘Riders’) stand resplendent in its bright orange canopy and approachable welcoming charm. We encountered Gary Taylor and some delightful volunteers; collecting money for the charity and planting a seed in the minds of anyone who tarried for a while that you too, could join with the charity’s work in Africa (in fact just like those MotoGP stars who had been shown on the big screen all over the weekend smiling away and inviting you to dial a donation on your phone via SMS). We bought some natty t-shirts, and I was chatting to the guy who designed them. We were totally taken by the charity, what it does, the enthusiasm of Gary and his colleagues, and we dreamily agreed “we will do that one day”. It is a big commitment: it’s a lot of money for an ordinary Jo and Joanne, there is a lot of fundraising to do, and you need to know how to ride an off-road bike (neither of us ever had). So we parked it in the bucket list. Every subsequent year we went back to the stand to look at the pictures; put some money in the box, buy books and more t-shirts (my midriff kept inflating so bigger sizes necessary) and chat to the volunteers. But in 2014, Sarah quite rightly said “Jackson” (I don’t have the honour of a given name in our house) “if we don’t do this now, we never will, because there will always be a reason not to do it”. And as ever, she was right: Damn. Riders For Health: 2-Wheels-4-Zambia So we paid the deposits and booked up an off-road lesson with our host and ‘all things Riders’ mentor; Gary Taylor. We are going to Zambia on an ‘Experience Africa’ trip in April 2016, riding from Lusaka to Livingstone off-road and
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visiting Riders health centres en-route. After consulting Gary and the good people at Riders, we had a steer on fundraising options. The cost of the accommodation and organisation of the visit when you are in Zambia is £2000 each. In addition to this you need to raise a further £2000 each as a charitable donation; Riders will either both buy and donate the mightily robust Yamaha AG200 motorcycle you will use to the local medical workers, or it goes to support their general body of work (maintenance, training etc.). You must also pay for your own air fare to Zambia. Some people raise all the money through fundraising and sponsorship although this method means the charity cannot claim ‘gift aid’ on the donations, which can amount to a good extra boost to the sum raised. Therefore we decided to pay for the trip ourselves, and raise only the charitable donation (a total of £4000); this means that all donations from UK taxpayers attract gift aid. We also felt it gives the added reassurance that nobody else is funding what might look like a doddle of a holiday! We eventually decided to use JustGiving as our vehicle, and we set up a ‘team’ consisting of us two, called 2-Wheels-4-Zambia. At the time of writing we have raised £900 odd of our £4000 target. Learn to ride on knobbly tyres So it was in September that we ‘rocked up’ to Dunstable Moto X Park to have our first ride off road. Our first concern was a practical one: Now it’s fair to say that my brilliant wife Sarah is, let’s be honest, a little bit of a short-arse and off-road bikes (hereafter abbreviated to MX bikes) are often err… tall. Our fears however were quickly allayed, when bikes of all heights came of the back of a large Mercedes van. They were all 250cc AJP bikes made in Portugal apparently, and yes indeed there was a nice model ready to go for those sporting a lesser hereditarily linear quantum of leg length. Lids (those ones with a peak), armour, gloves and boots were provided, and those garish baggy shirts and trousers you see MX riders wearing. We would have been wise to take some liners, our oversight but noted for future. It was a pleasant day, not too hot. After a safety briefing from Gary and some starter instructions, we started some simple manoeuvres. We were assured that it‘s okay to drop an off-road bike, they are made for it (indeed, they actually like it). You are shown how to mount and dis-
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mount (not just a case of throwing yer leg over), also how to pick them up if they go down. The weirdest thing for me was to learn that you can actually steer an off-roader very effectively by weighting the pegs from a standing position. I did a lot of track days last year, and also ride about 10,000 miles a year as a commuter into London, believe me on my BMW RT, that does not work, (counter-steering does very nicely thank you). Of course as you are often standing on an off-roader, your elbows are not behind the bars in text book counter-steering fashion, so that technique goes in the bin if you have to turn it
standing up. Another strange one for me; I always put the balls of my feet on the pegs (yes I know Roadcraft doesn’t agree) but the default on an MX is that you stand with the peg right in the middle (where you arches are) of your feet and as such proper MX boots have this bit reinforced. The boots incidentally are stiff as hell in the soles and ankles, this is for good reason but takes some getting used to. You also change gear using the tip of the boot, not over and under your big toe. As with good slow manoeuvring on a road bike however, good control of the clutch and throttle are vital, but you use the front and rear brakes rather differently, and to achieve different things (back brake much more important). I’m not even going to attempt to explain this further; I urge you go get a lesson ‘cos it’s BRILLIANT FUN! In spite of all my commuter mileage, I’m rather proud of the fact that I ain’t binned a bike for 10 years (oh all right, except when a kamikaze montjac deer floored me in 2010, which to me doesn’t count). This was about to change… Ambition can outweigh talent, but not for all After some 40 mins, I was getting along famously. I was faster than everyone else around the (very simple) field course adjacent to the park, and I thought “bloody hell I’m a natural!” The common sense that prevails when I’m on the road should have prevailed, because at the next hairpin, I thought “yes, a bit of extra gas out of here would be fun”.
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However, teaching better cornering technique was to come later, and if I’d waited, Gary would have demonstrated in a controlled and clear manner that keeping your leading leg outstretched is crucial. So yes, ambition outweighed talent, and I suffered the indignity of first having the bike shove my boot squarely into ground, twist on its axis (pivot point being my leg including lateral collateral knee ligament) and then as an encore, right itself in true high-side style and throw 100 kg of middle aged man off the top and dumping him on his back like Frank Bruno exiting a world title fight. I knew I’d hurt my knee before I’d even landed. The ever attentive Gary shouted from a distance “you all right”? “Yeah no prob” which was rather economical with the truth; pride hurt as much as knee. I have a long history of knee problems, and I immediately realised I been punished for my impetuosity, and my day was over as I checked and said knee swelled up like a space-hopper, but I stayed, watched, listened and learned some more. I still learned much from this as I enviously watched the rest of the group learn how to emergency stop on a slippery surface, slide both back and then front wheels, perform ‘stoppies’, corner quickly in that classic ‘leg out’ MX fashion and jump / negotiate obstacles. Another important crossover rule with road bikes was apparent; look where you want to be, not where you are. Sarah had a great time: She takes things steady, she listens and learns, is cautious (ahem), but I was shamefacedly relieved that she too ditched a bike later in the day; my male dignity is saved at the bell! Nobody else ‘binned’ for the entire day, only us Jacksons. What did we learn? This is brilliant fun, and it teaches you that a bike can slide and there’s no need to tear the seat with your bottom cheeks in panic (unless you are me of course). In fact, any training manual for road bikes will tell you that the last thing to do if you lose grip is snap the throttle shut or grab a handful of instant & fullon brake, so I’m convinced this can make you a better road rider. Gary is an excellent teacher, and now Sarah keeps pestering to buy off-road bikes so that we can go ‘green-laning’ (yes, and we
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need a new kitchen too right, as well as another two motorbikes?). Our new techniques (okay not mine, stop sniggering at the back) will be invaluable in Africa. Just do it! I am certainly going to need at least one more lesson (quelle surprise?), and Riders recommend that you take a lesson before you leave. We will not need persuading; my only problem is how I’m going to fit this is with all the track days I want to do next year too. Do you know what – just do it! I haven’t written much in this piece on the actual trip to Zambia, and the work of Riders of which we have become very passionate. This is for a good reason: Gary Taylor will be giving us a monthly group night talk on Tues 7th April. We hope you will become enthused about the work, and consider going yourself perhaps? Most importantly, go and have a ride on those funny bikes with the knobbly tyres, learn something new, and hey, fall off (you almost certainly won’t hurt yourself, I am a habitual joint-damager from all sources so not a good example). Finally, Gary and Sarah are looking to do an off road day with the highly recommended Patsy Quick. Anyone interested? We’ll keep you posted. Repairs In case you were wondering; long story short, one expensive knee op later (on the other knee curiously – don’t ask) and I’m now right as rain and rarin’ to go again (ahem, notwithstanding a torn hamstring in the meantime in an unrelated incident, not sure I should be out on my own really). To find our site, go to www.justgiving.com and search for 2-Wheels-4-Zambia.
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EAMG Events Report! Chris Johnson This riding period was dominated by the weather, in one way or another, but first we must have a brief prequel. In the last Events Report I had no information about the post-AGT run on 9th November 2014. A little more detail did trickle out in Forum posts after the TUG deadline. Colin led a group of about ten to the Blue Egg Cafe in Great Bardfield (this is a new one for me) and then Spider took a splinter group off to Newmarket. A week later Chris Reed, at fairly short notice, arranged a short 70-mile breakfast run. Possibly because of the lack of early information only Chris (obviously), Andy Parnham, Gareth Mycock, Fiona Newsome and myself turned up for it. Although the start time was posted as 09:00 prompt we waited a few minutes for Fiona to appear. It was a very grey, misty day. Some surprise was expressed that I had chosen to come on the Fireblade rather than the 'rugged' KTM. The logic behind this was simple; it would be a short run and even with my 90-mile 'location penalty' it should not be too tiring, and the Blade is sadly underused nowadays. This was a poor choice, but not for the obvious reason, because on the KTM I wear a newish Nolan Evo helmet which is remarkable for not misting up or leaking. Unfortunately it projects forward quite a bit, and whilst this peak effect is a bonus when riding into an afternoon sun, on a sports bike you have to hold your head constantly upright in order to see the road. Consequently on the Blade I wear an elderly Arai which suffers from all the ills that hel-
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mets are prone to. We went up the B184 to Saffron Waldon and then headed through Linton towards the Comfort Cafe. By this time the mist was becoming more like fog, the Arai visor was misting up on both sides, and wiping it gave only seconds of relief. I dropped back, and eventually had to keep the visor open. Then my spectacles misted up just as rapidly, on both sides! I proceeded at a lonely crawl, but when the fog had turned back to a mere mist again I found the others patiently waiting for me. One member had to get back home quickly, but the rest of us enjoyed a very long breakfast and natter.at the cafe, and then returned via the A505 and B1368 to Standon and the Birchanger Services. Another week, another ride. Richard Parker held a Full Member ride to St Ives on the 23rd November. It was a very, very wet day after a night of downpours. I doggedly set out to join it despite the driving rain, but unfortunately water damage meant that they decided to close the Dartford Crossing approach as I was coming up to it. The police were supervising the closure while potholes were patched, so there was no sneaking past them. They opened up the approach again at 09:15, but by then it was too late to get to Chelmsford in time. I considered riding independently to St Ives, but decided that Sod's Law would kick in if I tried. This turned out to be a good call. The reports back from the ten waterfowl who went on the ride showed an admirable consistency. It poured, the roads were flooded and muddy, and as time went on it just got worse. At the coffee stop fifty miles into the ride all were agreed that it was time to call it a day. The flooding was even worse on the way back, with the Finchingfield to Dunmow stretch being under two feet of water as opposed to a mere fourteen inches on the way out. A 2-stroke, with its low-mounted carburettors, would never have made it through. Poor Graham (Spider) got a puncture, which must have been easy to locate from the bubbles, but ended up being rescued and taken back home in a van. Dave acted as back marker. I am not sure if there was any ride after the AGT on 7th December. I had a streaming cold and did not attend. The next 'real' ride was to be Richard Parker's run to Stowmarket on 14th December. In the event a cancellation was posted at 08:05 that morning because of icy roads. Too late for me, but since I was on the Blade (KTM out of action with ECU upgrade problems) which does not have heated grips, by the time I reached Catford my fingers were frozen, the prospect of ice once out of town seemed imminent, and so I turned tail and returned home. This time being a wimp paid off. The final ride for this report took place on Sunday 11th January 2015 to Red Lodge, and was a joint effort by Chris Reed and Richard Parker open to all members. It
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was subject to weather conditions, but was declared 'ON' by Forum and Facebook posts the evening before. In the event 33 bikes turned up on what was a fine, windy, and very cold, but frost-free morning. My rule-of-thumb is not to venture out on the bike if the temperature is below 4 C. When I left it was 1 C, but there was no frost or ice on the fountain, I had gone large with the addition of woolly long johns, thick rugby socks and an extra vest, plus the usual heated jacket, and decided that for a chance to have a run in January rules were meant to be broken, even if it meant waddling out to the bike like a Michelin Man. I am writing this the day after the run, so I ought to remember it well enough. I do not. I blame hypothermia; it sounds better than senile decay. I think we had a pretty standard run out to Haverhill and then up the A143 to Bury St Edmunds, but after that things got a bit vague until we were riding down the Brandon road to Barton Mills. The roads had not yet been dried out completely by the wind, and it was so cold that it felt as if they ought to be icy, but in fact they were not. In truth the nearest we came to a slippery bit was a swathe of diesel at a roundabout immediately after setting out. There were two groups; one led by Richard with Geoff tailing, and the other by Chris with Mike as back marker. Neither group had any incidents. Richard's set out first and thus arrived first at Red Lodge. Chris's group then had a long wait to be served, but fortunately arrived just before several hundred (slight exaggeration) cyclists did. It became quite a long lunch stop. The route back was a conventional one through Clare, Finchingfield and Dunmow to get back to the Boreham McDonalds soon after 14:00. Richard probably used his clever back route to get out of Clare, but Chris stuck to the conventional, and unfortunately rather dull, exit towards Steeple Bumpstead. It was an enjoyable ride, although for me a slightly warmer day would have made it even more enjoyable. My attempts to mount and dismount the KTM are ungainly at the best of times, and the extra layers of clothing made them actively comical. I think I may stick to the four-degree rule in future. I am not sure when the TUG deadline is, but I doubt there will be another ride before it, so I am putting this report to bed.
Essex Advanced Motorcyclist Group Promoting Excellence in Motorcycling Since 1982
rst I would like to wish Colin Snow a speedy recovery, following a ‘SMIDSY’ incident where someone ulled out in front of him on his way to the Biker’s Retreat, leading to a broken leg and skin grafts. Hope see you back on two wheels soon! or the benefit of new Associes I would like to clarify at we offer two main train-
bacon_motorcycle@btconnect.com
www.baconsmotorcycles.co.uk Open 9am-6pm Mon to Sat
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DESTINATION RATED Red Lodge Cafe - Bury St Edmunds
Turnpike Road (old A11), Newmarket , Suffolk, IP28 8LB Open 24 Hours a Day. Food 3.5/5 Home cooked breakfast from the ladies is all I can say. Several visits and always tasty! Service 3.5/5 Good service though can be a slow if busy, as was the case recently. Glad we got there before the enemy (A big group of cyclists!) Price 3/5 Reasonable breakfasts but the big boy costs over ÂŁ7, though to be fair, its a big old plate of food! Capacity 3/5 Plenty of room unless you arrive as a very big group. Parking 4/5 Loads of parking outside & across the road.
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Further Training Opportunities for Full Members Have you ever wondered if your riding skill is still as good as it was when you passed your IAM or RoSPA Test? Is your RoSPA Retest fast approaching and you feel you’d like a refresher to check that bad habits have not crept into your riding? We are all only as good as the day we are actually riding our bikes. How good our riding was last year or even last month may not be as good as we think it is; complacency can be fatal. EAMG provide two Further Training Schemes for Full Members: Full Member Training (FMT) – One-day training courses available four times a year Further Training for Full Members (FTFM) – Assignment to an Observer for 1 to 1 training These courses are provided to check riding skills haven’t deteriorated, for those wishing to take a higher grade of test such as RoSPA or for those preparing for qualification as an EAMG Observer. Full Member Training Four FMT Courses take place during ‘summer time’ between March and October. Participation is entirely voluntary and those taking part do not have to join each ride. Training is for your benefit and enjoyment; it is not a mandatory requirement that you go on to take a RoSPA test. To ensure the highest possible standard, Observers undertaking this training will hold a current RoSPA Gold certificate. You will not be riding in one large group. Where possible you will be riding with an Observer and one other Full Member giving you the opportunity to have a 'rest' while your partner is being observed. Every effort will be made to match your riding experience, ability and aspirations with your partner, any miss matching being addressed at the first refreshment stop. The routes, approx. 200 miles, will cover a variety of roads and include several debriefing stops and two refreshment stops. Joining details will be sent by email or post a few days before the event. Events this year:
Joining Fee
29th March
24th May
£45.00
26th July
18th October
Contact John Tipper, 8 Carlton Ave, London N14 4UA. Email: jtipper@eamg.org.uk Tel : 0208 360 8590
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Further Training for Full Members You will be assigned to an Observer and rides will be arranged on a one to one basis when mutually convenient. Although not mandatory, unlike FMT, the training will be structured as preparation for a further test such as RoSPA. To apply to join this scheme: Apply to the Membership Secretary either at membership renewal or during the season. You will be asked to pay an additional Membership Fee (details below). Your Application will be passed to the Observer Co-ordinator who will assign you to the first available Observer. Where feasible, geographical location will be considered. You will be expected to pay the Observer a contribution (details below) towards fuel costs. Participation must be renewed annually.
Name: Address:
Post Code:
Tel:
Email: Riding Experience:
Aspirations:
Typical annual mileage:
Machine:
FTFM - 2015 Membership Secretary
Observer Co-ordinator
Teri Olley
John Tullett
tba
jtullett@eamg.org.uk
Additional Membership Fee
Contribution to Observer
ÂŁ20 pa
ÂŁ10 per ride
Essex Advanced Motorcyclist Group Promoting Excellence in Motorcycling Since 1982
ESSEX ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS GROUP Colin Childs, Editor University of Essex Printing Services, contact Hannah 01206 872822 for more information. Please mention EAMG when replying to advertisers - it identifies you!
http://www.eamg.org.uk Affiliated to the British Motorcyclists Federation Registered Charity Number 1107703
Disclaimer and Copyright Notice: The articles published herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Essex Advanced Motorcyclists Group. They are the opinions of individual contributors and are published with a view that free expression promotes discussion and interest. Any spelling or grammatical errors are the responsibility of the editor and a society that pays footballers more than teachers. Inclusion of adverts is not to be construed as EAMG endorsement, although most advertisers are excellent, but seek personal recommendations.Text Š EAMG 2011. Illustrations Š EAMG 2010, except where indicated otherwise. Group material may be reproduced provided acknowledgement is given to EAMG and the original author.
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Essex Advanced Motorcyclist Group Promoting Excellence in Motorcycling Since 1982