h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi WR, hope I find you well!

It's been a long time, how are your well oiled machines?



Bassman

Sorry I missed this one...

I just bought a new '08 1200GS after trading up from my '04 version.
Still not done the first 1 000k service yet, but hoping to get enough short trips in locally to do so by next week. It's a real bummer to change up just as the power starts coming on at 4000rpm.
I still have my old girl, but with the quantum warp between 80's technology and the current generation, I don't ride her much.
(I'm too scared of the brakes now I know ABS!)

My son has taken over the music, with all my instruments and amplifier and such. My grandson Troy is also very musical - at the age of two!
He dances to beat and loves to sit with his uncle playing the piano. I have an endearing photo of him with a toy guitar around his neck, left hand on the tuning keys and right hand on the strings. It REALLY looks like he's tuning up...!

WR

It was the Bike Show at the NEC (National Exhibition Centre) the first week of the month. I rode across - despite the plummeting temperatures and the poor road conditions. For some reason, it was just a whole lot later this year, maybe a whole month!

The new beemers seem to be fun and funky, I could see me with one - if I had the cash to part with, but I'm also lusting after a Kawasaki 1400 GT as well - the thing's a rocket ship on wheels, by all accounts. I might see if I can get a test ride when the weather improves, but I'll only REALLY want one then and I just don't think it would be a good move to part with that much cash, the way the world's finances are going at present!

The new V-Max looks like a real monster as well, I'd love a quick blast on one of those - maybe with a shot of an original first, in order to be able to do the comparison.... as long as the experience doesn't invlolve a corner for the old one



Bassman

Plummeting temperatures is something we know little about out here.
On Monday I rode out to Cullinan, a small town just East of Pretoria, where my son Alan in building a house for a client. The new BMW ('09 model year apparently) has outside temperature info and showed the temp on my return ride as 36.5C ! Dang that's hot... I had to stop off at a local shopping centre to buy a cold bottled water - half for my thirst and the rest over my head, down my neck and inside my jacket.
Great cooler.
I got lots of goodies from Santa for my bike (To Dad From Dad) to make riding even better and easier. I'm looking at some new riding gear, including off-road boots and a Leatt neck-brace. One member of our club had an off and went head-first into a sandbank at some speed. He had no untoward effects, but the Leatt cracked under the impact. The guy swears by them now and encourages all who ride - especially off-road - to wear them. The Leatt restricts the neck from over-flexing and safely transfers impact from the helmet rim to the shoulder area. It will restrict head turning movement slightly so the 'quick-check-over-the-shoulder' gets done in the mirror.

I did see pix of the new V-max - it does look rather brutish still, and I don't think they can corner as well as my bike, but I must admit they have 'street-cred'! I have not seen the Kawa 1400GT...I'll go look abaht on 'net right now.

WR

You can go off people - 36.5 degrees Huh! It managed to get up to a heady 2 degrees here, according to my car OAT gauge.

I've heard good things about those neck restraints. I'd like to try one. I tell you what I was very disappointed in....

When I went to the NEC show a few years back, there was a stand that was showing helmets with a built-in rear view mirror/periscope device. They were just the best thing since sliced bread - really. There's been no sign of them on sale and I've not been able to find pout why. It's not often a device comes along like that, that I would immediately go out and spend good money on without a second thought, but I undoubtedly would have.



Bassman

I googled it - are you talking about Reevu Helmet ?

Won't work for me - I couldn't focus that close to my eyes without an additional lens. I manage well with bifocals where the lower half is good for the instruments and the upper half for distance.

I have seen mountain bike helmets with mirrors...

WR

I think the optics focus the image at infinity, so it matters not about failing eyesight....

I've filled in their enquiry form - I'll let you know how I get on - thanks for the lead, I couldn't remember the name and reasonably assumed the company had gone to the wall, having not heard anything about them for ages in the press!



Bassman