Wow! What a climax to the Six Nations rugby tournament this year!

Unfortunately, I was unable to go to Cardiff today and had to settle for watching on television, but I was there in spirit and heart!

30-3 to Wales, best ever win over England and took the Championship in style!

Well done boys, you’ve made a nation proud!

My mate Bledd, was at the game in Cardiff and took this super picture, which kinda says it all really!!!!!!!

Sorry about the poor quality, but you’ll get the drift!

Cymru am byth!

Dookes

In my last post I showed you all the cut in Harley’s rear tyre.
What I didn’t say was that I thought that the front was looking a bit “tired” as well…sorry, pun just had to be done!

So the other day it was about time to get something done about it! I also thought that I should treat the old girl to a service as well and then just at the right time my friends at Plymouth Harley Davidson offered a special deal on servicing! Excellent timing, so I booked Harley in.

Then the deal got even better, included in the service was that Harley would be collected from home and delivered back afterwards, that alone saved me a fifty mile round trip, deal definitely on!

Ok so yes; a 10,000 mile service, a pair of new Dunlop H-D tyres, new brake pads front and back, you could say I was spending serious money, but hey that collection thing impressed me!

What’s more, when she arrived back Harley had also been washed and polished. I was very impressed, not just by the bells and whistles, but by the whole customer service experience and the work undertaken which is all very neat and clean. So thank you Plymouth Harley Davidson for a job well done and for being nice people to do business with, quite a team! (And usual disclaimer) http://www.plymouthharley-davidson.co.uk/

Some of you regular blog followers will notice Harley is looking a little different than when on a road trip. The touring screen is off, as are the panniers, making her look quite sleek and ….well, sexy!

The only trouble now is that with new tyres and brake pads I’ve got to be really careful for the next 100 miles or so, in order to make sure that I keep the rubber down and the chrome up! After that the round black things should be scrubbed and the pads nicely bedded in, then we can really ride!

Yeah, it’s motorcycle porn and I love it!

Never ridden? Never lived!

Dookes

Simple little word isn’t it? …and it just might save your life, if you ride on two wheels!

It’s an acronym that we two wheelers use to remind us what to check before getting on the bike and riding. It stands for:

Petrol – check you have some in the tank and it’s not leaking. It’s also a good idea to turn the tap to “open”!

Oil – check your engine and gearbox levels, cos things break without it!

Water – Check you cooling system levels. Not applicable on Harley as she is air cooled, but I use it to check her wheels as she has nice wire spokes, lovely, but can work loose and go all wobbly!

Electrics – All working, lights good, no blown fuses.

Rubber – Tyres, correct pressure, tread OK, no damage……and that was where I was glad of the checks!

I fancied a little ride at the weekend as the weather was getting sort of, well, nice. There I was in the Dookes Man-Cave doing my pre-flight checks and I found this in my rear tyre…..

Obviously the yellow arrow is not what I’m talking about and the smear is where I gave the tyre a wipe to see what was going on! The nasty bit is a pretty deep cut/split right in the tread, about an inch and a quarter long and also bang in the centre of the tyre, trip out cancelled! What a b****r! Mind you, it’s better that waking up in hospital after the thing goes bang at 70 mph!

So remember, whatever you are about to give a good hard ride, always check your rubber!!!!!

Ride it hard, ride it well!

Dookes

Hapus Dydd Dewi Sant!

Tonight, golwythi cig oen, cennin â chaws, celeriac a tatws (lamb chops, leek gratin, celeriac and potatoes to you!).
Oh and a drop of red wine!

Iechyd da!

Dookes

The technical term is “Countersteering”!

Now this might make sense to some of you other two-wheeled pilots, but I’m sure to anybody who has never ridden a motorbike, at least in the front seat, you may be thinking that the big D has finally lost the plot!

Let me explain….

As many of you know, I have for a long time been an “Advanced Motorcyclist”. By this I mean that I have completed the RoSPA Advanced Motorcyclist course and passed the assessment. Then subsequently I have regularly been assessed to ensure that the correct standard is maintained…and you think that this motorbike game is just about throwing your leg over the machine and off we go?  Think again!!!

One of the mantras of the Advanced Riding approach is continuous improvement and revision. The other day the latest copy of the Harley Owners Group magazine dropped through my letterbox and near the back was a very interesting article about Counter-steering that got me thinking. OK, you are now saying; “Come on Dookes, what the hell are you on about?”  Well to put it simply, it is about the principle that to go round a bend, you have to turn the handlebar in the opposite direction to the bend.  Honestly, you do!  Yeah, I know, it all sounds screwy and by now you are convinced that I have totally lost it….bear with me, whilst I explain. In fact, anyone who has ever ridden a motorbike or even a pedal bicycle has used counter-steering without even realising it.

It’s all about physics really. We all know that a bike, motor or otherwise, goes round a bend a whole lot better when it is leaning into the curve. To get the thing to lean, you actually do two things; one is you slightly and probably unconsciously, shift your weight to the inside of the bend and in addition you then counter-steer. To put it another way, you actually push the handlebars into the bend; turn right, push right; turn left, push left. For the vast majority of people on two wheels this is achieved without too much input, if any, from their brain. There are times however, when it all starts to go wrong, that it can be very helpful to have a clearer understanding of the principle, ‘cos it can get you out of trouble!

One of the most common causes of accidents people have on two wheels, excepting the “Sorry mate I didn’t see you” pillocks, is through not successfully making a turn. Sometimes this leads to an excursion into what the late great James Hunt used to describe as “Going Agricultural’ i.e. into the grass; or worse still drifting into oncoming traffic!

So, last Saturday morning, with the temperature at Zero degrees and a trip to the Plymouth Harley Dealership beckoning, Harley and I hit the road. As it was nice and quiet, I took the opportunity to practice my counter-steering technique. What I discovered about my own riding was quite interesting too! Firstly I rode as normal, but made a mental note of what I was doing. After about ten miles I stopped to turn the temperature down on my heated jacket and gloves, cos I was a bit too hot, at the same time I had a think about what I had been doing. I was surprised to discover that my counter-steering seemed to be less of push right, go right; more like pull left, go right! It all adds up to the same thing in the movement of the wheel after all… For the next 20 miles or so I tried a few different takes on the theme and soon I was in the groove.

It’s amazing really how just a small amount of thought and revision can assist your technique immensely, not to mention that with physics doing the work it’s a lot easier to negotiate the twists on a big bike like Harley!

One thing though….DO NOT try this in your car…it won’t work!!!

Harley amongst friends.

It’s all Counterintuitive really!

Dookes

With thanks to Becky Tillman of Rider’s Edge for the inspiration to get out and revise!

Hello everyone!

I hope the winter is being kind to you. Here in the extreme South West of the UK, things are briefly looking up after months of rain (since June I think), and more recently snow and ice. Yesterday we were treated to yet more rain and last night it blew a pretty impressive gale as well, but this morning……Sunshine!!!!!!   So Harley and I hit the road!

Not a very epic ride I’m afraid, just sixty miles, but far enough to try out the new toys, as in heated gloves and jacket, not forgetting the Schuberth C3 crash helmet. I’m pleased to report all worked superbly, the heated gear was very nice, though I didn’t need to turn it up very high as the morning was quite warm. The helmet however, is just sublime! It’s a fantastic piece of German manufacturing, flip face, integral sun visor, double glazed visor (honestly!) and as quiet as you like. Comfy too. I’m very happy with it!

The only downside of the morning is that Harley is now plastered in Cornish mud, so I’m off to get out the pressure washer and Zip Wax, see ya in about five hours!

To ride or to ride? That is the question!

Dookes

Hi Gang.

OK, I’ve been rubbish for not updating the blog since we went to the Auvergne in early November! In my defence this is supposed to be about the travels of a Geezer on a Harley… and guess what? With the crap weather since the beginning of time, Harley and I have not ventured out much!

We did have a brief trip to Colin at Thor Motorcycles to fit the new clutch hub that I mentioned earlier in the year. Lovely job team, Harley is much smoother now thanks for the attention to detail.

I managed to slip up to Brum for the Motorcycle Live Exhibition in mid November. Lots of really nice bikes and stuff at the show, including an old friend, Captain America from the Easy Rider film.

The plastic took a bit of a hammering with a new Schuberth bone dome and a nice set of Gerbings heated gloves and jacket. The latter Mrs D has converted into a Christmas present, excellent, thanks darling!

Well here we are at the end of the year. I can’t say I sorry to see the end of 2012, too much pain for one year, too many good people gone too many hard hearted bastards still about !  It’s goodbye to my mother in law, a bonkers larger than life lady who filled any room with her presence! Mrs D’s Uncle Joe, an amazing Polish guy who fought and escaped from the Nazis in Poland, walked across occupied France to Spain, joined the Royal Air Force and took the fight back to Hitler!  Spitfire MkIX, 145 (Polish) Squadron RAF, Tunisia 1943; Made in Memory of Uncle Joe.

On top of that, Mrs Dookes also lost her faithful gun-dog Dabster at the end of summer after a brief fight with bone cancer, just a bummer of a year!

To be fair, there were high points and some of those you good people have shared with me. I can’t dwell on the bad things too much after the freedom and highs of the Alps. We gained more Great Nieces and Nephews as well.

Of course there was also the wonderful Welsh Grand Slam in the Six Nations Championship, did I tell you I was there in Cardiff when we won it? Thought so! Well here’s a reminder!

All that remains now is to wish you all a very Happy New Year, Blwyddyn Newydd Dda. Lets hope it stops raining soon and we can get out and ride!

In the meantime relax with a little bit of Bob Seger and think of me on my Harley as you listen; take it away Bob! Click here

Dookes

Hi Gang!

Just a quick one to say hello, as I’m not on Harley this does not count as an official blog entry.

Mrs Dookes and I are just coming to the end of a splendid ten day break in France. We pootled down the Autoroute to Montluçon, hung a left and ended up in the Allier region. Very rural, very quiet, very food and wine orientated; just what the Doc ordered!

The view from the Gîte.

Also, Clermont Auvergne, great Rugby team, pretty good beer!

France; such a big country, so many different wines, so little time….!

See you all soon. Dookes (& Mrs Dookes)

Thank goodness that bloody awful summer is behind us! Amazing though, as the days get shorter and the temperature starts to drop, we actually get some really nice days to get out and ride.  So last Saturday Harley and I got out and enjoyed life for a few hours.

Just two minutes from Dookes H.Q. I had to stop and grab these pics, what a great place we live in!

On the edge of Bodmin Moor.

I rode from home over to Saltash then followed the A38 back West. Remember how I liked that Mirage Jet on a pole in France last June?  Well this is our own local version!

 It’s an English Electric Lightning, one hot bird, as supersonic as you like. Twin Rolls Royce Avons with reheat, could go to over 80,000ft altitude and out run Concorde for a laugh! Once upon a time a young Dookes dreamed of flying them, until he sat in one and realised that his legs were too long, bang out and leave your knees behind, no thanks, I’ll go heavies instead! Then I got grounded anyway, but that’s another story.  This Cold War warrior is the mascot of Castle Motors/Air Services of Liskeard; as I was passing I grabbed a photo for you folks to see. Neat eh?

Well, after a really nice ride I had to get back to H.Q. and do domestic type jobs, but hey we had a nice sunset!

Off to France on Thursday, not on bike this time…got to give Mrs Dookes some attention!

Ride into the Sunset!

Dookes

Next year Harley Davidson is celebrating it’s 110th Anniversary and will be producing a bunch of “Special” bikes for customers to shell out their hard earned cash at “special” prices!!  Anyway, I received an invite to visit the Plymouth Dealership a couple of weekends ago to preview the new models.  Now as I own a 100th Anniversary Model I’m afraid I couldn’t resist, as a 110 model would make a great stable mate for my existing treasured two wheeled friend…..!!!

I’ve gotta say I was massively disappointed. True, there were some 2013 bikes on show, however all were Sportsters. There was one very nice extremely limited edition (only 200 worldwide), but no big twins and no tourers either!

All was not lost though, as a very good sausage sandwich, brown sauce of course, was enjoyed and a limited edition freebie HD 110 badge was received. Good to see Bodmin Chris as well and allow Service Boss Kirk to prise cash out of my wallet for a few small spares. Oh yes, I did ride Harley there as well!

II guess you could pin this one on me!!!!