fun times with big bikes

So much has happened since the last post, I have now got my big bike licence and got myself my big bike, a CBR600f, its in yellow and black and has a scrape down the side. Im not hugely worried about the condition, as a first big bike I think there is going to be much worse things happening to it in the future.
Ive also got myself lots of fun extras to use while im biking, a nice tank bag, a scala G4 headset, a white and red honda racing motorcycle jacket, a new lid, all nice things.
I am also very excited about the addition to the trip, Paul will be great along side, three of us on the run.
Another big addition since the last post is that I have more or less finished the website for the trip, check www.twowheelstochernobyl.com and let us know what you think.
ride safe
John

New arrival.

Right. I know that in the darkness of my room at 3:30am Ill awake, shaking, covered in sweat and screaming as the realisation of the epic adventure that is soon to unfold infront of me sinks in. Im sure I have nothing to worry about. However, the the thoughts of foreign terrain, foreign people and foreign experiences are a little daunting when you've never actually ridden a bike before. My CBT is approaching and maybe it'll be more exciting and less shit ya pants scary once Im actually riding. Johns worried that I wont enjoy riding but if Im honest it wont matter. This, for me, is an adventure. Having known John for 14 years and Teggert for, Im not actually sure as i have a hazy, drink fueled recolection of a dry humored individual talking in depth about the vast expanse of the universe, I'm confident that I shall be supported and ridiculed appropriately. Am I going to manage this? I know so. Will I enjoy it? We'll see. Much love. Maddison out.

We're getting some buffeting!

Went to sleep last night to the sound of the rain, woke up this morning to the sound of the wind. I don't care, I'm using the bike for work today. I'm working 7 days this week, this half-day Sunday is the closest thing I'm getting to a weekend. I'm using the bike.
The rain had just about dried off by the time I set out on the deserted roads this morning, and I never noticed much wind either, other than a fresh breeze in my helmet trying to compete with the Boom Boom Satellites in my ears and the rattle of my bike's tail panels. I'm sure some sellotape or blu tac or something would fix that.
Anyway, come the afternoon I've got 20 minutes to get home to catch the Grand Prix, something I know I can do in a car. As soon as I'm up on the dual carriageway, I'm belted in the face and my bikes kicked aside as the wind berates me for dismissing it earlier. Both hands on the bars, this may get a little rough.
Leaning at about 60 degrees in order to go in a straight line isn't as comically funny as it seems, and I'm soon zipping up my jacket further at the first opportunity. The waves starting to hit me in the chest trying to topple me backwards getting more frequent, I snarl at smug bastards nodding to me from their K1200s and Blackbirds as I'm struggling to hit 50mph and stay upright. I probably look like I'm nodding back, I'm being shaken about so much. I suppose this was the 'experience' I was looking for when I thought it'd be a good idea to go out in this weather on a naked 125, rather than being in a comfy car.
Soon though, I'm into nice sheltered 40 and 30 zones, tapping and singing out loud to the music only I can hear. That's probably better done in a car too, when I think about it.
So I get in and discover I've missed the first 7 laps of the grand prix, and it all now feels like a wasted struggle. The answer is lying in wait for me in a garage, give it another week to get the money together and I'll be applying for lessons and tests to get on my 400. A faired, faster, heavier, more wind-resistant bike. Oh, yes.

Some pictures that we have taken of us on the 125s, there will be more of these bikes then alot more of us on the big bikes, be prepared to be swamped in pics.
Ride safe everyone

John

A new bike, now I need the new License.

A few days ago I finally came into possession of a 16 year old Honda RVF 400, the 3rd love of my life. The fact that this object is, in fact, not human, and I don't have the license to ride it yet doesn't dissuade my use of the word "love".
The little Honda 400s are one of the very few bikes that I like every aspect of. Usually theres something I can pick out about a bike that I don't like the look of, but with the RVF I love everything; the fox-eye lights, the small but strong and racy looking body, the retro styling of the tail. The only thing wrong with this bike is me.
Having spent the money to buy the bike, I'm now trying to wait a while before going for my lessons and tests. This of course means theres a bike sitting in a garage being neglected while the Summer whiles away. Oh well. I've got the bike now, at least I've got that part out of the way. Thing is, I don't want to get rid of this bike in a year's time when we got to Chernobyl. I wonder how my skeleton feels about going across Europe on a sporty little 400.

More Tests and some denim

Well the last week has been interesting for me. firstly that i decided to buy a pair of the most expensive jeans ever, i was very impressed at the speed they arrived and after that the fit and style of the New Gen Draggin Jeans. They are designed specifically for bikers and designed to protect the rider if the worst happens. i feel very confident wearing them and i do feel like they have made me a better rider with giving me more confidence.
The other big thing that happened this week is that I managed to pass the Module 1 part of my motorbike test first time. i am very chuffed at being able to do it and i really didnt think that I would after all the stories i have heard about people failing for different reasons. It turns out theres nothing to worry about really, just practice and relax while you are riding. Apparently my Module 2 is being booked this week and hopefully I will be through that soon.
After I pass I've decided that I am no longer going to be buying a Kawak Ninja but I think I am now going to be getting a cbr600f, there have been great reviews about them from people I've spoken to most saying that the worst thing about them is that people find them boring with them being so reliable, thats fine with me, it will be good to add some panniers to as well. I'm looking forward to riding it.
Ride safe everyone
John

Bikes, Tests, Money and Sunburn.

Well it's been a while since I've said anything so I thought I'd better start yapping.
Luck seems to have come my way, in the form of a little RVF 400. Or has it? I'm still undecided about that.
I've always wanted a Honda 400 to begin with once I get through my bike tests. CBR, VFR or RVF, I wasn't too fussed which. Last friday morning the aforementioned RVF arrives at the garage I work at, wanting an MOT. Unfortunately we were so busy, unless he wanted to wait about 3 hours we couldn't get it done. So he said he'd come back in a few days, and I thought about how much I wanted one of those bikes, and fantasized about the man returning in a few days claiming it was for sale.
Well he did.
After hearing that this was exactly the bike I was looking for, he offered the very good condition MPH converted RVF for £2,000. And thats where the problem comes up. Technically, I COULD afford this bike, though it would mean having around 30 quid left in my bank account. Insurance would cost around the £350 mark, if paid in installments. The good points about this is I have a place to store the bike until I have passed my test. Also, I think my bike lessons and tests will be paid for by my boss, as he needs me passing this to do MOTs on bikes. Another good point is in September I'll be off the crappy apprentice wage I'm on now and start earning some real money, refilling my bank account, and maybe getting my insurance paid off in one lump.
My bike lessons and tests, however, are on hold until the other apprentice at work gets through his. I really don't know when this will happen, theres a been a few setbacks and I'm not sure when I'll be put onto my lesson and tests. On a plus note, though he always said he never wanted a bike "because they're crap" and the bike license was for MOT purposes only, the other day I caught him in the bottom garage with the CB500 we have there, simply saying "I've got the bug now." He then proceeded to spend the next hour replacing the oil and cleaning the bike.
Soooo....I'm thinking should buy this RVF, this bike I've always wanted and have no money for 2 months, or not buy it and try to wait for another one locally to show up. Working where I have for the past 9 months, this is the only one I've seen.
In other news, John wanted to go out on the bikes tonight and find somewhere to do a bit of a photoshoot, to get some pictures of the bikes and maybe some better ones of ourselves for this blog. However, after spending Sunday down at Croft watching the Touring Cars at which I expected rain more than anything else, I feel like I've been irradiated in the boiling sun, and as a result my face appears to be trying to emigrate from my head. Needless to say I'm not feeling very photogenic (is that a word?), and since my arms have undergone the same treatment, I don't even want to try to put on my bike jacket. Despite it's own feelings to the contrary, I like my skin to be ON my arms. Oh well. I'm just glad that my burns will heal.
Anyway, enough of that, I need to go and plot my bank acccount's downfall.

edit: Apparently my employer isn't going to pay for my bike lessons and tests now, because the other apprentice is costing him too much with retests. So, it's gone from "I've never had anyone fail" to "how are you paying for your lessons?". With the price of the bike added with my car's insurance, tax etc coming up in October, I wonder if I'll be able to get riding this bike at all this year.

Ever been on a bike?

Our followers are growing and i just want to say thankyou to everyone thats following and watching too.
One of our followers recently told me about a great idea to get more people into biking.
There's a promotion at the moment where non-bikers can get a free one-hour "taste" of riding - it's called Get On www.geton.co.uk
anyone you know thats interested in bikes but hasnt ridden before let them know so we can spread the wonder that is biking.
I have also been looking at getting some new bike trousers, i was thinking of getting some leather pants at first but have now decided to get some draggin jeans, ive been looking at the silverback and next gen jeans. the prospect of paying 200 quid to get a pair of jeans ive not seen worries me abit but i guess i can return them if i need to.
The weather and work is stopping me riding as much as i like to. saving for the 600cc ninja has started, looking forward to riding it in a few months.
take care all and ride safe
John

Excuses, Excuses

Well, the British summertime has come and gone, apparently. From blisteringly hot days of being stuck working in a garage, and riding while wearing winter gloves becomes some form of masochist self-torture, to cold, dreary, rainy days where you'd rather sit in a car with dodgy windscreen wipers.
I could complain about anything, I am British after all.
So my days of pottering about on my bike that thinks it's bigger than it actually is (maybe its all the Project Hate I'm listening to while riding) have come to a bit of an end for now. Searching local shops revealed no summer gloves so I ended up ordering some from ebay (had i known i was going to Newcastle on my only Saturday off in a fortnight I wouldn't have bothered) and here I am, still waiting for them to arrive. And now it's raining. And my bike's stranded in the garden while the patio thingy at the bottom gets built. Want more excuses? Theres scaffolding around the house, meaning I'd have to walk round the whole street because my crash helmet won't fit out the garden door.
Ok, I'm also just lazy, but I really do want to get back on the bike. While I can't get as fast as in my mighty Micra, and I usually get annoyed with trying to pull the bike into the garden in it's current state, I do enjoy the ride a hell of a lot more than in a car. The short-lived triumph of beating every car away from lights. The minor sense of accomplishment that follows every corner; shifting weight on a bike and feeling it lean into, and rise out of corners is so much more rewarding than just turning a wheel.
Anyway, for the time being I'm taking a relaxed approach to the whole going-across-Europe thing. Around the end of August-ish I should be getting put through my big bike lessons and tests, as part of my employment. So because of this I've got a sort of "it'll all work out" attitude, but partly also because I'm letting John do all the worrying and, erm, work. Hey, this was all his idea.

i love to talk about bikes

a quick post today, i met some great guys at work today (no names), we started talking about bike, it turned out he had amongst others a gsxr1400 and a busa. but the more interesting thing was he told me he had a tomtom with stereo scala headset with mp3 connection and he has told me the audio is quite clear and it works really well. he basically has the exact setup i want and had confirmed it all works, looks like thats what ill be getting
apparently using the scala and tomtom directions can still be heard clearly at 150mph, im guessing that was on the autobahn or maybe a test track because obviously no one is allowed to to that kind of speed on uk roads.
take care friends and ride safe
john

work gets in the way of my bike

im on the only day off in whats worked out to be 14 days, meaning ive had hardly any time to ride or blog, i will be trying to make up for it in the future.
physically there hasnt been alot happening with the trip, we have decided the trip is going to be taking place in june/july of next year and that we will be setting a more exact date towards the end of the year but again that isnt really new.
on the communicator front i decided to probably go for the scala since most of the bad reviews about it are about the lack of sound, and i found a guide on hard wiring a set of in ear headphones into them and i feel im good enough with electronics to give it a go. the scala set that comes with the tomtom is only a mono one and wouldnt be what i need anyway.
i want to thank the people that are following and the people that are watching us but not following for whatever reason, i know there have been problems when people are trying to follow and hopefully that is now sorted.
an update on the hardware side is that i decided to get a netbook this week, with the 10.1" screen its gonna fit well into the panniers which will let me take loads of pictures and video while we are away and it means i can update the blog on a day to day basis. the price that i paid for it too i couldnt say no. on a technical note ive done away with windows on it and am running ubuntu which is running really well.
ill try and update the blog more often
john

Big Earth, Sat Nav and the biking life

With the silly hours ive been in work the last week i have neglected the blog abit and ive decided i should update today. the first main thing is to give a huge shoutout to Big Earth and all the people there who gave us a massive shoutout the other day on twitter, thanks guys.
other things ive thought about this week are to do with sat nav for the trip but i will be keeping after the trip, as far as i can see its between a version of the tomtom rider or a version of the garmin zumo. i have found a site that sells a zumo 500 deluxe with an upgrade to east and west europe maps for a total of 269 quid, i know its a discontinued model but the price is fantastic, i have also heard very good reviews bout the zumo. the only thing that holds me back from getting it, other than having no money after having to renew my car insurance, is that the tomtom comes with a scala rider headset that i was talking about in a previous post, am i saving money by getting these things at the same time? does it have all the connections i want like the mp3 player connection? only time will tell.
i have also been thinking of places we would like to pass through on the trip but havnt yet found and route, if anyone has any ideas id love to hear.
my final thought is about something someone said to me the other day, someone asked me why i got all worked up about motorbikes and the whole motorbike lifestyle, i just talked about it being amazing and the total freedom of it all, to which i got a blank look, i asked if he had ever been on a bike before to which i got a no, i decided after a while of thinking about it that if youve never experienced bikes and riding and everything that goes with it then people would never understand, maybe im just thinking about it all too much, i just like bikes.

CG legal again

Right, well I've finally had my bike MOTed. Seeing how I work in an MOT garage you'd have thought I'd have done it sooner than now, 2 months out of date. I blame the garden. And failing to realize when it was due. Anyway, it's done now, and I've now got to get practice for riding a bike I suppose, screaming down the dual carriageway at 62mph. Me screaming, not the bike, trying to will the legal speed limit out of 125ccs of commuter Honda. Bring it on.

bike to bike communication

ive felt ill today which is the last day off for a while, ive been looking at the possibility of finding bike to bike communicators that i could connect a mobile phone and satnav to through bluetooth and mp3 player to through a cable connection. i also wanted to have one that i could use in-ear headphones with too this would obviously remove the need for earplugs and would still keep audio quality. i have found a few sets that tick most of the boxes but price is quite high. i have found something called the Cardo Scala Rider, it seems to do almost everything i need but has no way of connecting in ear headphones and on the reviews sound quality is an issue, but some reviews say sound quality is fine, im guessing its all to do with which bike and which lid people use. the other bonus of the scala is that for the price of one set of the others i could get a twin set which would be all i need. at the moment this is what im heading towards. i will not be buying it yet and there are always new ones being sold but if nothing changes the £250 will be going on this set.
John

First Post on First Blog

As the title suggests this is the first post on my first blog, and I'm not sure what to write. At this point i am just going to write the first thing that comes into my head and eventually I'm sure there will be some sort of pattern occur.
This blog is to mainly keep a record of plans and inform people about the trip and to ultimately raise money for Unicef. At this point the trip is in the very early stages and there are still some major hurdles to overcome. On the plus side we have spoken to Unicef who are very happy for us to do the trip and even though it isn't possible to meet the people in the Ukraine that we are hopefully raising money for we have decided to take a day trip to the town of Pripyat which we feel is the next best thing.
At the moment, and especially at work I seem to think of motorbiking and being on a motorbike everyday, which usually brings me onto the trip. Above all else I hope the trip is a success and we do what we are planning.
I still have many questions for myself at this point and I am working through them one by one, questions like how long would it take to get through the EU country boarders? and how far is it sensible to ride each day? do we stop in at places on the way or just ride on? where do we sleep? all the way to silly questions like which set to use to communicate between the bikes?
I've already spoken to quite a few people that have been very helpful about so many aspects of the trip and have wished us well and pledged their support, I only hope this will continue as well.
John