The Rocket arrives

Picked it up this morning. Spent a few hours riding around Cotswold and Wilts roads. What a stupendous engine! The sound, the feel the power to make multi-car 5th gear overtakes a doddle.

Oh happy days!

Insurance sorted for the Rocket

The cheapest quote was through eBike insurance. They are competitive but you gotta few hoops to jump through. During the online application process it stated that they would check my drivers license and no claims discount.
That's good and efficient I thought.
Then I got the quote for £273 and that was OK as well (cheapest I found).
A few minutes later I got several emails from them saying they have me covered but they need me to send them proof of my no claims and a copy of my drivers license

Hang on a minute. I though you had checked all this on the various databases!!

Goodbye Tiger, hello Rocket

After 3 years of enjoyable riding on my Tiger 1050 I decided it was time for a change. I wanted to try a completely different biking experience and that's why I've just ordered a Triumph Rocket 3 Roadster!!

The credit crunch

Well it's affected me in that i've just canceled my motorcyle tour to southern France with the Biker's Oracle forum. I just can't justify spending over a grand in the current economic climate.
I'm also going to put replacing my exhaust on hold for the moment.

Exhaust update

I got my replacement end plate but i'm still waiting for the replacement baffle. So, until that arrives i've taken the other baffle out and the noise is now great. I just hope the neighbours understand.

I've also been thinking about going back to a high level exhaust, but in carbon. I like the carbon look. Which one to choose though. Zard? Quill? Blue Flame?

Decisions, decisions!

Baffled!

When I started the bike up the other day it seemed a little louder than usual. Checked the exhaust only to find that baffle in the lower pipe of my Campbell Sidewinder had disappeared.

Initial thoughts were that some low-life scumbag had stolen it. Now, i'm not so sure. I'm beginning to wonder if the three securing screws on the end plate have worked themselves loose over time and the back pressure of the exhaust had blown the end plate and baffle out.

I mean, why would a thief only take one baffle and not the other. Don't know.
Anyway, I phoned John Campbell at Campbell Custom Exhausts yesterday and he's sending out a replacement baffle and end plate. He didn't mention any money. Top man!

A trip to Beaulieu

Rode down to the Beaulieu Motorcycle World event today. This an annual event held in the grounds of Beaulieu estate in the New Forest in Hampshire. The weather forecast wasn't great but too my surprise it turned out to be a rather nice day. I even got a bit sunburnt without realising it.

The event started with display by UKFMX, a motocross stunt show.



This was followed by a Vintage Motorcycle Club parade and then Solent Supermotos. I stayed long enough to watch Steve Colley perform his "mororcycle ballet"

After his show I had a quick look around the National Motor Museum which is in the Beaulieu grounds. Some very interesting cars and bikes on display, such as the Sunbeam below. The first car to break the 200mph barrier



If you want more photos, visit the Bikers Oracle Tiger Forum and look for a thread called "Beaulieu 2008"